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Miracle Braves of 1914 Team Portrait

Charlie Deal and the Miracle Braves infield

Casey Stengel and Charlie Deal at Dodgers' Oldtimers Day, June 5, 1972

Charlie Deal autographs the photo at right in 1976.

AVAILABLE FOR SALE: 1921 American Caramel Card reprint. EMAIL

CHARLIE DEAL

1972 Reprint. Dimensions: 3.5 x 2 inches

CLAIM TO FAME: 1914 World Series, second game, top of the ninth: Deal scores the only run of the game to win it for Boston's Miracle Braves, 1-0. At the time it was called "the greatest World Series game ever played" (see box below). Deal also played in the 1918 Series for Chicago.

View his career stats baseball-reference.com.

Boston Globe, October 11, 1914 Front Page EXTRA Edition. World Series Game 2 coverage. "Greatest World's Series Game Ever" writes George Stallings. Deal "did a little trick on the bases which really won the game" writes a Boston Globe columnist. Edited version or full column. Cartoon about Deal stealing third in Game 2, from Boston Globe front page.

DEAL'S RUN-IN WITH BABE RUTH: In the summer of 1917, about the time Ruth was suspended for punching umpire Brick Owens, the National Commission investigated a claim filed by Deal against Ruth for $100, the balance due on a car Babe had bought from him in 1916. Ruth hadn't contested the claim, which the Commission took as an admission of guilt, ruling that Ruth could not return to the Red Sox until he paid the $100. Once the Commission discovered that the debt had already been settled, Ruth was given an apology and put back in good standing. (Source: "1918: Babe Ruth and the World Champion Boston Red Sox" by Allan Wood. For sale online.)

THE BABE'S RUN-IN WITH DEAL: In the fourth game of the 1918 World Series. Boston Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth got his first-ever World Series hit. It was to far right field, and as The Babe tried to stretch the hit into a triple, Chicago Cubs Third Baseman Charlie Deal was waiting for him. The ball bounced off the fence, and the relay to Deal was thrown too high. The Babe slid into third -- SAFE! That triple drove in two runs and gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead over the Cubs. The Red Sox won the game and the Series. (Source: "1918: Babe Ruth and the World Champion Boston Red Sox" by Allan Wood. For sale online.)

CONNECTIONS: Friend of Casey Stengel (see photo). Trained Darrell Evans. Worked with Chuck Connors (later of "The Rifleman").

RECORDS: Most Stolen Bases in a 4-Game Series -- 2 in 1914. Tied with teammate Rabbit Maranville the same year. (He held that record at least into the 1970s.)

BIG MONEY YEAR: He once made $9,000 in six months.

UNHAPPY MEMORY: He said he got yanked from a team (I'm not sure which one) and sold for $3,000. He was supposed to get half but only got $300. There was no-one to whom he could appeal.

Born Oct. 1891, Wilkinsburg, PA; Died Sept. 1979, Covina, CA

Batted and threw righthanded. Height, 6 feet; Weight, 160
Lifetime Batting Average: .257.

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