When Boston Won The World Series: A Chronicle of Boston's Remarkable Victory in the First Modern World Series of 1903

by Bob Ryan

The year 2003 marks the 100th anniversary of the first World Series, in which the upstart Boston squad of the fledgling American League triumped over the Pittsburgh Pirates of the time-honored National League. Starring such legendary players as Boston's Cy Young and Bill Dinneen, and Pittsburgh's Honus Wagner and Deacon Phillippe, When Boston Won the World Series chronicles with stirring detail the events that led up to baseball's first Fall the 1901 creation of the American League, its roster "raids" against National League teams, the sea change of public interest that caused the American League to outsell the National by 500,000 tickets, and the subsequent concession of the Nationals. The resulting handshake deal established a season-ending series which would determine the best baseball team in the world.

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Ryan's fascinating history of the first World Series (in it's modern form) happened to be published the year that Boston would finally break their cursed streak and win the World Series. His book came out about six months before that historic and fun to watch win. The book covers the events that lead to the creation of the World Series.

Way back then, the team wasn't called the Red Sox. They were just the Boston team for the American League. The book though isn't about the team beyond them being the winning team and for the author being a writer for the Boston Globe. Mostly it's about the game, the business and the fans.

As Caveman points out in his well written and funny review the book has some typos but it's still an interesting and good bedtime read. I also read it a chapter or two before bed over the course of about a week. What the book mostly shows is how little baseball has changed. Fans are still fans, business is still business and sports writers are still sports writers. For a better baseball themed rundown on the book, go check out Caveman's list.

What made this book stand out for me were all the photographs and newspaper clippings included along with Ryan's analysis of events. I think I spent as much time enjoying looking at the pictures and reading the old articles as I did with reading the book. As with almost any sports book it helps to have a basic understanding of the game. If you like baseball you will probably like this book.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small, beautiful book written in 2003 about the first Boston World Series victory in 1903. Bob Ryan, who knows a thing or two about Boston sports, tells the story of the first world series on its 100th anniversary. It is a great tale and could be subtitled, the more things change the more they stay the same. Fans back then, called Cranks, were nuts, cared about their team more than was healthy and gambled on every aspect of the game. The papers were filled with outrage and unbalanced suppositions. And the owners inability to control the fans (for the sake of maximum profit) affected the quality of the game. Fans, owners, journalists and managers have not changed. The game has changed, but is still very recognizable and the only unfortunate fact about the book is that it was written just before the second great, golden era of Boston Baseball.

[George Hamblen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read about the first World Series. Bob Ryan has such a way with words. Who knew ticket scalping started in Boston? The game was a lot tougher back then. Way more physical. Bob paints a vivid image of the times. The corresponding pictures are outstanding

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful homage to the first world series.

[Alan Spatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look back at the early days of American League baseball and the first World Series, a little short on content, based as it was on one newspaper’s accounts.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong Red Sox fan, really enjoyed this story about their first World Series win.

[Heath]

The memoir When Boston Won The World Series by Bob Ryan was a very enjoyable book to have read. The theme of this book is, who wants it more? Though there is no protaganoist nor setting, The main baseball club is the Boston Red Sox. This is a special book because they won the first ever world series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The novel demonstrated interesting facts about baseball today and baseball then. It took the reader into the World Series and showed them what it is what like to be a ball player back when everything was different. It was also interesting to read because Boston did not win another world series until 100 years later.

Being the person who I am, one who loves baseball, this was a great book. Learning about pastime baseball was a great reading experience. This book relates to every World Series ever played. The coach always asks, who wants it more? And, whoever wnats it more will win. That is why Boston won and that is why every team wins a World Series, because they want it. I could not have been more happy with this core reading choice and it is defintiley the book for anyone who loves baseball. Thus book gets a 10/10

[Soyeun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brisk, informative run down of the first World Series ever, between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox. Really well done presentation of the context at the time and the specifics of the games. Interesting pieces of historical details; for example, how stadiums had not yet developed crowd control or even organized fan seating. There are photos of a game played with fans standing in the outfield. Jarring!

Three stars for readers who are not baseball fans or disinterested in the Red Sox. Solid 4 stars for Red Sox fans, especially for the thrill of knowing they have won since this book was published. Yay!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Bob Ryan as a columnist, but he's a bit out of his depth here. Occasionally colorful but thin recounting of Boston's 1903 season. He has some interesting insights scattered throughout the book but it's mostly descriptive- he settles for analysis such as answering the question of why the 150 Royal Rooters could disrupt the proceedings in Pittsburgh with the conclusion "they just did."

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a moot point, but still a fun read.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Workmanlike telling of the 1903 Boston Americans season.