October 8, 1925: Pirates tie World Series in Game 2 behind Aldridge’s pitching, Wright and Cuyler home runs

A day after dropping the opening game of the 1925 World Series to the Washington Nationals, the Pittsburgh Pirates turned to right-hander Vic Aldridge, their hottest pitcher during their push for the National League pennant. Minimizing the fallout from two bases-loaded, no-out situations, Aldridge made Glenn Wright and Kiki Cuyler’s home runs stand up for a Series-knotting 3-2 win over the Nationals on October 8 at Forbes Field.

Thirty-seven-year-old Walter Johnson dominated the Pirates’ National or American League-best offense in Game One,1 striking out 10 in a 4-1 Washington win.2 Now Aldridge, acquired in a headline-grabbing deal with the Chicago Cubs in October 1924,3 sought to keep the defending champion Nationals from taking a two-games-to-none lead back home to Griffith Stadium.

A spring-training holdout, Aldridge pitched infrequently during the 1925 season’s first month.4 Soon, however, the 31-year-old Indiana native and former schoolteacher assumed a regular role in Pittsburgh’s rotation. From August 3 through September 19, Aldridge posted a 9-1 record and a 2.36 ERA. The pitcher whom Pittsburgh’s newspapers had mockingly labeled “Victor Aldridge, holdout pitcher” and “Foolish Mr. Vic Caldridge [sic]” in May won eight straight decisions down the stretch.5

The Nationals countered with 36-year-old Stan Coveleski, one of just eight American or National League pitchers authorized to throw the spitball in 1925.6 As a Cleveland Indian, Coveleski had won 22 or more games every season from 1918 through 1921, and he defeated the Brooklyn Robins three times in the 1920 World Series. Traded to Washington for 1925, the Pennsylvania native had rejuvenated his career, tying Johnson for the club lead with 20 wins and pacing the AL with a 2.84 ERA.7

Temporary stands encroached on Forbes Field’s vast outfield, accommodating an overflow crowd of 43,364.8 Outside the ballpark, detectives cracked down on alleged ticket scalpers.9 Thousands of fans across the country followed the action on public magnetic scoreboards, like those at the Pittsburgh Gazette Times and Washington Post.10

Nationals coaches – and famed baseball clowns – Nick Altrock and Al Schacht entertained the Thursday afternoon gathering with a pantomime “movie fight” before the day’s solemn ceremonies began.11 Players on both clubs, wearing black armbands, marched single file from home plate to the center-field flagstaff to honor pitching great Christy Mathewson, who had died a day earlier at age 45.12 Set at half-staff per orders of Commissioner Kenesaw Landis, the flag was raised, then lowered again, as bandleader Danny Nirella’s musicians played a funeral song.13 Nirella’s wife, Vera, then joined the band for the national anthem, her soprano soaring above the crowd without the benefit of a loudspeaker.14

The Pirates took the field for the first. Aldridge threw his warm-up pitches, and first baseman George Grantham walked over and conferred with him.15 The first pitch to leadoff hitter Sam Rice was wild; catcher Earl Smith, third baseman Pie Traynor, and shortstop Wright came over to encourage Aldridge.16 From that point, Aldridge, throwing curveballs exclusively,17 retired the side with little trouble. When center fielder Max Carey, backed up against the right-center stands, hauled in Goose Goslin’s long fly for the third out, Forbes Field “cheered for a full minute,” reported the Pittsburgh Gazette Times.18

Coveleski’s spitballs swiftly dispatched the Pirates in the first,19 and Joe Judge led off the top of the second. Connecting with Aldridge’s knee-high 2-and-2 curve, the Nationals’ first baseman pulled it into the temporary stands in right field.20 The excited Judge missed first base, then returned to give the bag what the Washington Post called “a cheerful kick” before completing his trot.21

As the industrial-smoke-tinged sky turned overcast, Coveleski negated mild threats in the second and third innings.22 The fans began clapping, hoping to spark a rally, when the Pirates batted in the fourth.23 With two outs, Wright drove Coveleski’s fastball high and deep to left. Left fielder Goslin “did everything but dive over the screen temporary fence,” observed the Pittsburgh Gazette Times, but the ball landed in the crowd, in front of the scoreboard.24 The game was tied, 1-1.

Left fielder Clyde Barnhart’s running catch of Judge’s bid for a double and right fielder Cuyler’s home-run-robbing grab of Ossie Bluege’s high fly had kept Washington scoreless in the fourth.25 In the fifth, the Nationals threatened to break the game open. Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh – a 15-year veteran voted AL MVP by a committee of baseball writers two weeks before the World Series26 – led off with a single, and Muddy Ruel singled him to second.

Coveleski dropped down a bunt; Aldridge fielded it and threw to third, too late for the force.27 The bases were loaded with no outs for Rice, who had batted .350 during the season with 227 hits, second in the AL to Al Simmons of the Philadelphia Athletics. In Game One, the 35-year-old center fielder’s fifth-inning bases-loaded single had scored two runs, giving Johnson an iron-plated 3-0 lead.

Pittsburgh manager Bill McKechnie activated his bullpen: first left-hander Emil Yde, then lefty Red Oldham.28 The Pirates’ infield moved up to the grass, and Rice grounded to Aldridge; Smith snagged a high throw to force Peckinpaugh at home.29

Bucky Harris – Washington’s 28-year-old manager and second baseman – hit the first pitch back to the mound, and Aldridge’s throw home beat Ruel for the second out. Goslin, fourth on the AL’s RBI leaderboard,30 then grounded out to Grantham, and the fans “cheered for several minutes,” according to the Pittsburgh Gazette Times.31 Aldridge had preserved the tie.

Stalemate held for the next few innings. Aldridge hit Bluege in the head with a pitch in the sixth, forcing the Nationals third baseman to leave the game.32 In the bottom of the inning, the speedy Carey greeted Bluege’s replacement, 21-year-old rookie Buddy Myer,33 with a first-pitch bunt single toward third. A sacrifice and groundout had Carey 90 feet from home, but Ruel saved Coveleski from a run-scoring wild pitch,34 and Wright followed Traynor’s walk by hitting into an inning-ending force.

The big crowd “groaned in sympathy” over Bluege’s misfortune, laughed when Aldridge swung and missed at a spitter, and “rose and clapped in unison” when the Pirates came to bat in the seventh.35 The game went to the eighth inning.

As with Carey in the sixth, a single, sacrifice, and groundout put Rice on third with two outs in the Washington eighth. Judge popped up to second baseman Eddie Moore to strand Rice.

Moore led off the bottom of the eighth with a bouncer to Peckinpaugh’s right. Peckinpaugh attempted to throw Moore out at first, but the ball slipped out of his hand; newspaper columns by New York Giants manager John McGraw and umpire Billy Evans suggested that the ball was wet from Coveleski’s spitter.36 Carey advanced Moore to second on a hit-and-run groundout.37

On his way to a second-place finish in the NL MVP voting behind Rogers Hornsby of the St. Louis Cardinals, Cuyler had led the NL in runs (144) and triples (26) while placing in the league’s top five in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. But Johnson had struck him out twice in Game One, a performance sportswriter Damon Runyon characterized as “strained and cautious.”38

Coveleski threw a 2-and-1 spitter, and Cuyler lined it to right. The ball struck the hard ground and bounced over the low fence in front of the temporary stands. Under the rules of 1925, it was a home run and a 3-2 Pirates’ lead.39

“It might have been Armistice Day, 1918, the way the paper flew from the upper tiers,” the Pittsburgh Gazette Times gushed. “Hoarse cries, shrill cries, each and all, delighted cries, burst forth in volume.”40

Aldridge took the two-run lead to the ninth, but trouble lurked. Harris walked on a full-count pitch and Myer singled pinch-runner Earl McNeely to second. The formerly jubilant crowd was quiet.41 When Peckinpaugh walked on five pitches, the Nationals again had the bases loaded with no outs.42

Forty-three-year-old Babe Adams, the winner of three World Series games for the Pirates as a rookie in 1909, threw in the bullpen.43 Three-time Deadball Era RBI champ Bobby Veach hit for Ruel. Veach’s sacrifice fly to center scored McNeely; Carey’s strong throw to third kept the other runners from advancing.44

Batting for Coveleski was Dutch Ruether, used as a pinch-hitter more than 170 times during his 11-season pitching career.45 Ruether chased a high pitch for strike three.46

Rice hit a grounder to second. Moore fielded it; turned toward second, considering a force out; and threw to Grantham at first for the final out.47

On 131 pitches, Aldridge had evened up the World Series with his eight-hit complete game.

“The Hoosier schoolmaster gave a mound performance that will stand out when pitching deeds of the October classic are discussed,” the Pittsburgh Gazette Times concluded.48

Washington’s wins in the next two games – one preserved by a controversial Rice catch, the other a Johnson shutout – pushed Pittsburgh to the brink of elimination, but Aldridge again outdueled Coveleski in Game Five to turn the World Series around. The Pirates won twice more at Forbes Field for a seven-game triumph.

Acknowledgments

This article was fact-checked by Kurt Blumenau and copy-edited by Len Levin. SABR member Gary Belleville provided insightful comments on an earlier version of this article.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference.com and Retrosheet.org for pertinent information, including the box score and play-by-play.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT192510080.shtml

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1925/B10080PIT1925.htm

Notes

1 Pittsburgh scored an average of 5.96 runs per game in 1925. The St. Louis Browns were second among NL and AL clubs with 5.83 runs per game.

2 Charles J. Doyle, “Johnson Unrivaled Opening Game Hero: Wealth of Ability, Years of Experience Too Much for Bucs,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 8, 1925: 13.

3 The trade sent Cooperstown-bound second baseman Rabbit Maranville, starting first baseman Charlie Grimm, and Pirates all-time franchise wins leader Wilbur Cooper to Chicago. George Grantham, who started four games at first base during the 1925 World Series, and Al Niehaus, who was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in May 1925, were the rest of Pittsburgh’s return. Irving Vaughan, “Grimm, Cooper, and Maranville Traded to Cubs: Pirates Get Grantham and Aldridge,” Chicago Tribune, October 28, 1924: 23; Edward F. Ballinger, “Pirates Trade Maranville, Cooper and Grimm to Cubs: Bucs Get Aldridge, Grantham, Niehaus in Drastic Shakeup,” Pittsburgh Post, October 28, 1924: 1; “Trade Profit to Bucs, New Yorkers Say: Need of Discipline Is Motive Seen by Experts in Gotham,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 30, 1924: 14.

4 Through May 19, Aldridge had an 8.66 ERA in just four appearances.

5 Charles J. Doyle, “Pirates Stopped by Dodgers, 12 to 7: Grimes Scores Easy Win When Aldridge Fails to Last Route,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 19, 1925: 11; Ralph Davis, “Sport Chat,” Pittsburgh Press, May 20, 1925: 29. 

6 The others were Nationals teammate Allen Russell, Red Faber of the Chicago White Sox, Burleigh Grimes of the Brooklyn Robins, Clarence Mitchell of the Philadelphia Phillies, Jack Quinn of the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Athletics, Urban Shocker of the St. Louis Browns, and Allen Sothoron of the St. Louis Cardinals, “Eight Spitballers Still Doing Stuff in Major Leagues: Mitchell, Grimes and Sothoron Only Ones Left in National; Coveleski, Faber, Quinn, Russell and Shocker in American; Veterans Refute Old Theory,” Pittsburgh Post, August 2, 1925: 3,2.

7 Because of a back injury, he had not pitched in 15 days, since a complete-game win over his Cleveland former teammates on September 22. Frank M. Young, “Goslin Smacks 12 Home Runs Over Fence in Batting Drill,” Washington Post, October 7, 1925: 20.

8 William S. Lampe, “Second Day Crowd 996 Smaller Than Record Attendance,” Pittsburgh Post, October 9, 1925: 18. A wire service account of Game One described the temporary stands: “Pittsburgh owners … ruined their playing field by erecting temporary stands in right and left center fields which encroach far on the playing field. The left field foul line is more than 30 feet shorter than in the regular playing season and the right one is about twenty eight [feet shorter]. …” Monitor, “Gloom Reigns in Smoky City Over Initial Setback,” Scranton (Pennsylvania) Republican, October 8, 1925: 18.

9 “’A Tough Burg,” Scalpers Say: Arrests Discourage Most Speculators! ‘Hangers On’ Are Arrested,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 1.

10 “Thousands See Magnetic Board Mirror Pirate Victory,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 2; “6,000 Fans Cheer at Plays Seen on Post Scoreboard,” Washington Post, October 8, 1925: 28.

11 Chester L. Smith, “Sport Shafts,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 13; Peyton Tracy, “Clowning Around with Nick Altrock And Al Schacht,” baseballhall.org, https://baseballhall.org/discover/short-stops/clowning-around. Accessed October 2025.

12 Lampe, “Second Day Crowd 996 Smaller Than Record Attendance”; Universal Service, “Water-Bucket Wonder Wipes Out Blot on Corsair Flag,” Washington Herald, October 9, 1925: 2.

13 Universal Service, “Water-Bucket Wonder Wipes Out Blot on Corsair Flag”; Paul G. Sullivan, “Series Crowd Finds Sadness, Thrills, Joy: Fans Honor Memory of Mathewson, Then Wilt in Battle Heat,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 16.

14 Universal Service, “Water-Bucket Wonder Wipes Out Blot on Corsair Flag”; “Pittsburgh Press Daily Pictorial,” Pittsburgh Press, October 9, 1925: 48; “Danny Nirella Finds Wife Dead,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, April 8, 1953: 1.

15 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 14.

16 “Causes of Pirates’ Victory Not Found in Game Statistics,” Washington Post, October 9, 1925: 19.

17 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

18 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game”; Frank H. Young, “Alex Ferguson to Oppose Kremer,” Washington Post, October 9, 1925: 22.

19 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

20 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game”; “Causes of Pirates’ Victory Not Found in Game Statistics”; Charles J. Doyle, “World’s Series Chilly Sauce,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 13.

21 Young, “Alex Ferguson to Oppose Kremer.”

22 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

23 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

24 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game”; Charles J. Doyle, “Cuyler, Wright, Aldridge Share Glory: Pirate Hurler Wins Berth as Star of Diamond Classic,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 11.

25 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

26 “Peck Crowned Rajah of All,” Washington Herald, September 24, 1925: 1.

27 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

28 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

29 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

30 Goslin’s 113 RBIs in 1925 trailed only the Tigers’ Harry Heilmann and Bob Meusel of the New York Yankees (134 each) and the Athletics’ Simmons (129).

31 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

32 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.” Bluege missed Games Three and Four to recover from his head injury, then returned for the Series’ final three games. Frank H. Young, “Nats’ Top Form Completely Crushes Enemy; Bluege Is Rarin’ to Go and May Play Today,” Washington Post, October 12, 1925: 13.

33 Myer had made his professional debut with the Southern Association’s New Orleans Pelicans in 1925 before joining the Nationals in September. He had appeared in four regular-season games for Washington.

34 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

35 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

36 Doyle, “Cuyler, Wright, Aldridge Share Glory”; Billy Evans, “Coveleskie’s Spitball Proved Washington Club’s Undoing in Second Game: Responsible for Error by Heckinpaugh [sic],” Pittsburgh Press, October 9, 1925: 37; John J. McGraw, “Nats Did Not Know Cuyler – M’Graw: Harris Learns Kiki’s Hitting Power, but Lesson Proves Costly,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 15. Peckinpaugh was charged with another fielding error later in the inning. He committed a total of eight errors in the World Series, which remain the record as of 2025.

37 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

38 Damon Runyon (Universal Service), “Cuyler ‘Gets Foot out of Bucket, Then It Happens,’” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 1.

39 “The Hit That Evened the Series,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1925: 1; “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Game”; Regis M. Welsh, “Baseball’s ‘Most Valuable’ Meet; Cuyler Sparkles as Peck Fades: ‘Ki Ki’s’ Home Run as Roger Falters Furnishes Drama,” Pittsburgh Post, October 9, 1925: 13.

40 Sullivan, “Series Crowd Finds Sadness, Thrills, Joy.”

41 Welsh, “Baseball’s ‘Most Valuable’ Meet.”

42 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

43 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

44 Denman Thompson, “Peckinpaugh Is Blamed for the Winning Tally,” Washington Evening Star, October 9, 1925: 26.

45 As a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Ruether had three hits, including two triples, and drove in three runs and scored one in his complete-game win over the Chicago White Sox in Game One of the 1919 World Series. He hit .333 in 108 at-bats in 1925.

46 “Detailed Story of Pirate Triumph in Second Series Game.”

47 Welsh, “Baseball’s ‘Most Valuable’ Meet.”

48 Doyle, “Cuyler, Wright, Aldridge Share Glory.”