RICHMOND, Va. -- The 1909 Pirates were Honus Wagner’s team, but the MVP in overcoming Ty Cobb's Tigers in seven tight World Series games was unquestionably rookie Charles 'Babe' Adams, a surprise starter and winner in Game 1, thanks to injuries to several pitchers in manager Fred Clarke’s rotation.
Adams’ wins in Games 1, 5 and 7 (Nick Maddox had the other W for Pittsburgh, in Game 3) set a World Series record for rookie pitchers, one that seems unlikely to ever be broken.
Though Adams’ exploits that fall were his first heroics in a Pittsburgh uniform, they were far from his last, as he remained a Buc until 1926, even contributing a scoreless inning to the team’s 1925 championship.
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
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