Remembering Jimmy Sebring

Today marks what would have been the 142nd birthday of Jimmy Sebring, the outfielder from Hoytville, Pa., who in 1903 becomes the first player to hit a home run in the World Series.

Sebring’s inside-the-park homer off Cy Young – yes, that Cy Young – helps the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Boston 7-3 on Oct. 1, 1903 in Game One of the first-ever World Series.

Sebring’s solo homer past center fielder Chick Stahl with one out in the top of the seventh inning gives the Pirates a 7-0 lead.

Sebring, who drives in four runs in the opener and hits .333 in the Series, spends only a couple of more seasons in the majors before playing in the minors for Harrisburg in 1908.

He is only 27 years old when he dies of kidney disease in 1909 in Williamsport.