John Gustav Thompson: Courtesy of : TOM LOTSHAW/The Daily Inter Lake | One of Kalispell’s only residents to ever play Major League Baseball, pitcher John “Gus” Thompson was good at throwing the ball past swinging batters. Thompson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Boston Americans — today’s Red Sox — in the first World Series in October 1903. Originally from Iowa, Thompson had moved to Kalispell around that time with his college sweetheart and wife, Edna Knapp, who graduated in one of the first classes from Flathead High School. Boston fell behind three games to one, then won four straight to clinch the best-of-nine championship. It was a huge win for an underdog team in the American League that formed only a couple years before.That first World Series was heavily attended and a rousing success. It started a tradition that continues today. Thompson shared the baseball milestone with players such as Cy Young, the winningest pitcher in history who helped lead Boston to victory, and “Flying Dutchman” Honus Wagner, a clutch hitter and shortstop for the Pirates and one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gus's final game was September 21, 1906 at the age of 29. He died in Kalispell on March 28, 1958 at the age of 80 and is buried in the Conrad Memorial Cemetery.