Mackmen whitewash the Yankees, 6-0 on a soggy track
PHILADELPHIA, April 20, 1910 – They waited and waited. Waited all winter for this day. Then, Mother Nature decided to play a cruel prank and they needed to wait two more agonizing days. Finally, the storm clouds relented and the local baseball bugs were able to make their way to the baseball plant on Lehigh Avenue.
The weatherman’s threat of another round of rain kept some home. A modest (for Opening Day) crowd of approximately 12,000 rooters showed up with their rain gear to cheer on their boys – kicking off the Shibe Park portion of the schedule. The sun made a grand appearance, the ticket sellers drew up their shades, the mighty gates were swung open promptly at 1 o’clock, and the turnstiles began to spin.
As fans started to make their way inside – some to their seats in the double-decked grandstand, others to the sun-bathed bleachers – Kendle’s First Regiment Band began to play Franz von Blon’s march, “Flag of Victory.” As the “bugs” milled around, buying hot dogs, scorecards, and felt pennants, they anxiously awaited their favorites to pop out from their clubhouse.
Finally, just before 2 o’clock, the White Elephants appeared from the third base dugout, resplendent in their fresh, new togs. To the cheers and whoops from their admirers, they trotted out to their positions for a round of practice. All of the old favorites received adulation: Davis, Plank, Murphy, Hartsel, Collins, Bender. As well as the up-and-coming stars: Baker, Barry, McInnis, Strunk.
At twenty minutes to three, a gong was sounded and both teams marched in formation to the center field flag pole for the time-honored Opening Day tradition. Led by Athletics captain Harry Davis and Yankees captain Hal Chase, the teams marched to an accompaniment from Kendle’s Band. With the help of Davis and Chance, Old Glory was hoisted into position and both teams marched back in lockstep to their respective dugouts.
Alfred J. Reach, the former favorite from the old Athletics of the National Association and now magnate of a sporting goods empire, was tabbed to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Home plate umpire Jack Egan presented Reach with a new ball – a “Reach” baseball, naturally. Reach fired a port side shot to Athletics catcher Ira Thomas and the official lid had been lifted on the home season.
As Chief Bender began his warm up tosses, the crowd began to cheer widly in anticipation – baseball was finally here! During his warm up, Bender became upset that a few on-field photographers had gotten too close for his comfort. He motioned for them to leave, but unlike the new National League rule – banning on-field photographers, the lensmen held their ground and Bender finished his warm up.
The Elephants readied at their positions on the heavy, water-logged field. Egan gave Bender the signal and the first pitch was fired to Yankees center fielder Charlie Hemphill. After Hemphill was retired, Harry Wolter doubled to center field. Hal Chase followed with a strike out and with two men down, Birdie Cree slung a sharp single to right. Right fielder Danny Murphy charged the ball and in one smooth motion, fired a strike to Thomas – cutting Wolter down at the plate to end the initial inning.
As Philadelphia’s grizzled lead off man Topsy Hartsel approached to plate to commence the bottom half, a delegate of Topsy’s fan club presented him with a cut glass bowl. Topsy, having doffed his cap, lined a screamer to the bleachers down the left field line. The foul ball missed a Philadelphia police officer’s head by inches. Yankees starter Joe Doyle retired the Athletics without any damage.
The Mackmen broke through in the bottom of the second inning. Davis led off with a single. After Murphy struck out and Jack Barry popped out to shortstop Eddie Foster, Davis decided to get himself into scoring position by stealing second base. Thomas followed with a single but Davis had to be held at third. Bender then lined a bingle to center field, scoring Davis and giving the hometown nine a 1-0 lead.
Bender and Doyle then settled into a pitchers’ duel. The hill toppers from Manhattan kicked up a fuss in their half of the fifth inning. With one down, Ed Sweeney and Doyle reached on back-to-back singles. Hemphill hit a one-hopper to the box that was speared by Bender. The Chief turned and fired to shortstop Jack Barry to begin a twin-killing. Barry, however, dropped the ball in his attempt to avoid Doyle and the Yanks had ’em loaded with one out. After retiring Wolter, captain Chase came to the dish. With two strikes, Bender snapped off one of his famous curves – Chase whiffed and the threat was snuffed.
The 1-0 duel trudged along – Doyle helped out by brilliant fielding plays from outfielders Wolter and Hemphill, that most certainly saved runs. In the top of the eighth, Baker and Davis combined for the defensive play of the contest. Chase smashed a wicked one-hopper to Baker who flagged the ball down. In his haste to nip Chase at first, he made a low throw which was neatly dug out by Davis on the short hop. Had Baker not come up with the ball, Chase would have had at least a two-base hit.
It remained so until the bottom of the eighth frame. That is where “Slow Joe” or “Deliberate Joe” Doyle displayed how he earned his monikers. The Athletics unleashed a fusillade. Eddie Collins led off with a ringing liner past shortstop. Not wasting any time, Collins promptly stole second and third in rapid succession. The Macks had something cooking.
Frank Baker sent Eddie home with a sharp single and the lead was doubled lickety-split. Davis singled, moving Baker up to the next station. Mack, sensing an opportunity to blow the lid off, sent Murphy to sacrifice both runners into scoring position. Young Stuffy McInnis, replacing an injured Barry, came to bat for the first time this season. With each additional base runner, Doyle’s pace became glacial. “Slow Joe” laid one in and McInnis lined a clean single – scoring Baker and Davis. Thomas kept the line moving by shooting a single to right.
Once again, Bender helped himself, lining a single to right field – scoring McInnis. Thomas reaching third and Bender second on Wolter’s throw to the plate. Hartsel followed by lofting a sacrifice fly to center field – scoring the big catcher for the fifth run of the frame. Bender got greedy, however, and was thrown out trying to advance to third base on the play. The inning mercifully came to an end for the New Yorkers. The Mackmen carried a 6-0 into the ninth, needing to secure three outs for the victory.
Bender completed the game by retiring the Yankees in order to secure his twenty-second career shutout in a tidy one hour and fifty minutes. Having witnessed their heroes vanquish the invaders from Manhattan, the happy throng merrily headed for the exits – the first leg of the marathon was a rousing success. Tomorrow will bring another battle.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
- Shortstop Jack Barry had to leave the game after being inadvertently spiked by Yankees pitcher Joe Doyle in the fifth inning. He will be replaced by 19-year old Stuffy McInnis and will probably miss a few games.
- Athletics club president Benjamin F. Shibe was not present at the opening festivities, instead he was off to Cleveland where the Naps will dedicate their new ballpark this afternoon.
- Veteran twirler Cy Morgan is expected in the box for Mr. Mack this afternoon. The Highlanders will counter with Russell Ford who will make his first major league start. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
Naps twirler Joss hurls his second career no-hitter
CHICAGO – Cleveland Naps ace Addie Joss pitched his second career no-hitter yesterday afternoon (April 20), blanking the White Sox, 1-0 at South Side Park. Only three White Sox batters reached base – two on walks and a third on an error by third baseman Bill Bradley.
American League
Yesterday’s scores (April 20, 1910):
- Philadelphia 6, New York 0
- Cleveland 1, Chicago 0
- Washington 12, Boston 4
- St. Louis at Detroit (rain)
National League
Yesterday’s scores (April 20, 1910):
- Philadelphia 6, Brooklyn 2
- New York 4, Boston 0
- Chicago 4, St. Louis 2 (7 innings)
- Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (cold)
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