Game 7 of the 1924 World Series was chaos in all the right ways. The Washington Senators hosted the New York Giants at Griffith Stadium in a back-and-forth final that went 12 innings. The footage shows pitchers with windups that look more like dances, and batters laying down bizarre bunts without even squaring up. One guy bunted like he was checking the speed of the pitch in a batting cage, then slid in headfirst, which the narrator points out is actually slower. Later, a player crushes a home run, and while it’s unclear what inning it is, it’s clear the game is tied. Fans and President Calvin Coolidge are shown reacting, with one guy behind the president lifting his hat just to scratch his head.
By the 12th inning, both the players and coaches look worn out. Third base coach has all but given up. Walter Johnson, one of the game’s most legendary pitchers, steps in and shuts things down with a pop-up. But then someone rips a smooth triple, the kind that never stops being fun to watch no matter the era. The game finally ends with a walk-off in the bottom of the 12th. The crowd erupts. One guy leaps so high it looks fake, clearing the foul line like an amateur hurdler. First base coach doesn’t even wait, sprinting to hug his players. The Senators win it all at home, and fans swarm the field in what may have started off orderly but quickly turned into full-blown celebration. That chaotic, charming finish secured Washington’s first World Series title and lives on through grainy footage and goofy windups.