They were called "The Miracle Braves," and with good reason. In 1913, the Boston Braves finished in fifth place, 31 games off the pace. In 1914, the Braves found themselves in last place on July 15, 11 games behind the first-place New York Giants -- and then they started winning, and winning, and winning. From July 16 through the end of the regular season, Braves starters Bill James and Dick Rudolph combined for an incredible 35-2 record.

Still, the Braves entered the World Series as heavy underdogs against the battle-tested Athletics, who cruised to their fourth American League pennant in five years with 8 games to spare. Boston traveled to Philadelphia for Games 1 and 2, and James and Rudolph found the City of Brotherly Love quite to their liking. In the opener, Rudolph scattered five hits and allowed just a single (unearned) run, cruising to a 7-1 win over Chief Bender and the Athletics. Braves catcher Hank Gowdy singled, doubled and tripled.

The next day, Bill James permitted just two hits, but he never got a chance to relax because Eddie Plank was solid, too, and after eight frames there were 16 zeroes on the board. In the top of the ninth, Charlie Deal was credited with a double when A's center fielder Amos Strunk lost the ball in the sun, and Deal later scored the game's only run on Les Mann's two-out single to center. In the bottom of the ninth, James escaped a one-out, two-on jam by getting Eddie Murphy to ground into a double play, thus preserving the 1-0 lead.

Game 3 in Boston was a true thriller. The Athletics scored twice in the top of the 10th to take a 4-2 lead, but Boston came right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame. The contest finally ended in the bottom of the 12th, when Mann -- pinch-running for Gowdy, who'd led off with a double -- scored from second base when A's second baseman Donie Bush threw wildly past third.

The winner of Game 3? Bill James, who tossed two innings of scoreless relief. So it was Rudolph's turn in Game 4, and he took advantage. With two outs in the fifth, Braves shortstop Johnny Evers slammed a two-run single to center field, putting Boston ahead 3-1, and that's how it ended. The Miracle Braves had completed their miracle, sweeping the Athletics in four straight games.

Managers:?George Stallings, BOS;?Connie Mack, PHA