Athletics third baseman Frank Baker led the American League with 11 home runs in 1911, but he wouldn't become known by his famous nickname -- "Home Run" -- until the 1911 World Series, which for the first time would alternate cities with each game.

Christy Mathewson, so brilliant in his last World Series seven years earlier, tossed a six-hitter to capture a slim 2-1 decision over the Athletics and Chief Bender in Game 1. Game 2 was tied 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when Frank Baker drove a Rube Marquard pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run homer. The contest ended 3-1, Eddie Plank going the distance to earn the victory.

His Game 2 heroics notwithstanding, it was Game 3 that earned Baker his new nickname. Athletics starter Jack Coombs permitted just three hits, but two of them came in the third inning, and the A's trailed the Giants (and Mathewson) 1-0 after eight innings. But with one out in the top of the ninth, Baker hit his second homer of the World Series, and the clubs went to extra innings. And in the top of the 11th, the A's scored a pair of unearned runs off Mathewson. The Giants did make it close, thanks to their third hit of the game and an error, but it wasn't quite enough and the final was 3-2, Athletics.

Game 4 was delayed for six days by rain, allowing the Giants to start Mathewson again. He wasn't at his best, though, and took a 4-2 loss, as Chief Bender picked up the win.

It was finally the Giants' turn for late-inning heroics in Game 5. Trailing 3-0, they scored a run in the seventh, two more in the ninth and another in the 10th for a 4-3 triumph. The game-ending run came on Fred Merkle's sacrifice fly to deep right field.

Game 6 was no contest, however. Chief Bender won his third straight World Series start, and the Philadelphia hitters pounded Giants starter Red Ames and replacement Hooks Wiltse on their way to an easy 13-2, Series-clinching blowout.

Managers:?Connie Mack, PHA;?John McGraw, NYG