WARNING: This column may be particularly painful to fans of this year’s faltering Boston Red Sox.

It’s a look back at the World Series of 1912. Boston won the series over the New York Giants in eight games (more about that unusual number of games later).

Even before the 1912 World Series began, baseball fever had taken hold in the Twin Cities. The reason was Bill Carrigan, Lewiston native who was Boston’s celebrated catcher. He was nicknamed “Rough” Carrigan because of his aggressive stonewall style of play behind the plate.

As the successful Boston season wound down, Lewiston fans were planning a spectacular homecoming for Carrigan. A mass meeting took place at Lewiston City Hall on the evening of Monday, Sept. 30, 1912.

A story in that day’s Lewiston Daily Sun said, “A number of Lewiston business and sporting men got together last week and decided it was up to Lewiston to do something for William F. Carrigan, ‘The Man Who Is Putting Lewiston on the Map.’”

The plan was to solicit funds for a gift and to hold a big parade in Carrigan’s honor. The plans also called for a benefit game between two local baseball teams. That contest would pit the Pilgrims against “an all-star aggregation.”

The report said, “A few of the men interested have already made a preliminary canvass and have received assurance that three or four bands, possibly more, will give their services gratis toward giving Carrigan a proper reception. Autos will also figure prominently and scores of auto owners have already expressed their willingness to give the use of their machines on that evening.”

In the first few days of October, the World Series match-up between the Red Sox and the Giants had taken over the top of the Sun’s front page. Details of each game grabbed the headlines, including game two, in which the big print said, “Carrigan Catches Brilliant Game.“

The Giants had won the first game, and the second game ended in a 6-6 tie for a reason that’s not seen at today’s baseball parks. The 11-inning game was called because of darkness, so that meant eight games were played to decide the Red Sox victory that year.

There was no television and no radio for play-by-play accounts of events. The news came by telegraph.

An advertisement placed by the Music Hall on Lisbon Street declared “Today Tells The Story.” It was the final game of the World Series and that location was to be a principal gathering place where the “biggest and most enthusiastic crowd of the series will be on hand to cheer their favorites on.” The Music Hall urges patrons to “order seats early” for the rally and latest news as the eighth Red Sox-Giants game was played. The ticket also included a “crackerjack vaudeville and picture program.”

The Oct. 17 headline shouted “RED SOX CAPTURE FINAL GAME AND WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.”

The Red Sox earned similar headlines when they again won a World Series in 1918, but that would be the last time such an event would be seen until 86 years later in 2004.

Despite his hometown popularity, Carrigan’s World Series performance in 1912 was somewhat short of stellar. He played in only two of the games and he had no hits.

Nevertheless, Carrigan was undeniably a hero when he arrived in Lewiston on Friday evening, Oct. 18.

“ALL LEWISTON TURNED OUT AT CARRIGAN’S HOME-COMING,” the Sun headline proclaimed, adding that “Good Part of Auburn Also On Hand.” The newspaper described “a parade and reception of unprecedented size and enthusiasm,” and Lewiston Mayor Frank A. Morey drew deafening cheers when he said, “One of the greatest players in the land comes from the City of Lewiston.”

There were more speeches, more band music, and a spectacular fireworks display.

Oh, and the gift presented to Carrigan from the fundraising effort? He received a new Buick touring car from the people of L-A.

Dave Sargent is a freelance writer and a native of Auburn. He can be reached by sending email to [email protected].