1913 World Series, Polo Grounds Bleachers

Image Source: George Grantham Bain Collection. Maintained by Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Image Subject: A view of the New York City Polo Grounds bleachers prior to the October 9, 1913 World Series game between the New York Giants and the visiting Philadelphia Athletics. The Athletics beat the Giants 8-2 with Athletics pitcher Bullet Joe Bush pitching a 5-hit, complete game against losing pitcher Jeff Tesereau.

Fun Fact: The Giants thus became the first National League team since the Chicago Cubs (1906-1908) to win three consecutive pennants. They were also the second club (following the Detroit Tigers 1907-1909 to lose three consecutive World Series; and remain the last to do so.

In Game 3 of the World Series, rookie right-hander Joe Bush throws a complete game, limiting the Giants to five hits in the A’s 8-2 victory at the Polo Grounds. At the age 20 years and 316 days, ‘Bullet Joe’ is the youngest pitcher to start a game in the Fall Classic, 40 days sooner than more recent efforts by Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Jim Palmer (1966), tied for second on the list.

Painting Detail: Printed on 13” x 19” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details, like signage and people in the bleacher crowd, were made using Prismacolor pencils.

Acknowledgement: “This Day in Baseball” website.