SURE WIN WASHED AWAY

The Athletics were cruising to a victory when a downpour erases the game

NEW YORK, April 27, 1910 – Washington. Philadelphia. Boston. New York. No matter where Connie Mack and his traveling production set up shop, the rain seems to follow. Such was the case this afternoon when the Athletics had a sure victory snatched away from them by Mother Nature. The Elephants needed to secure three more outs for an official win.

Approximately 10,000 New Yorkers filed into American League Park on the hilltop to welcome their Yankees home from a road trip. Under a constant threat of heavy rain, the rooters were treated to a pitchers’ duel for the first three innings, between Mack’s spitball artist Cy Morgan and New York’s hefty ball tosser – young lefty Jim Vaughn. Much like last Thursday in Philadelphia, Morgan had the Yanks under his spell. The Macks got their first ever look at the 22-year old Vaughn.

Morgan had no problem controlling his spitball throughout the game. Then, a drizzle commenced in the bottom half of the fourth inning – Morgan, saving some saliva, took to it like a duck to water. The Yankees accounted for just one safety during their four trips to the plate – a fourth inning single by Hal Chase.

Both slabmen breezed through the first three frames with little trouble. Vaughn had a hard time with his control, but pitched a scoreless three innings nonetheless. The Athletics got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. With one out Frank Baker singled to left field and stole second base. Baker went to third when Harry Davis laid down a bunt to Yankees shortstop John Knight. The young shortstop hesitated and Davis was safe at first.

Davis attempted to steal second base by drawing a throw from catcher Ed Sweeney – allowing Baker to sneak in on a delayed double steal. Realizing the plot, Sweeney faked the throw to second to see if he could nab Baker coming down the line. While Baker was anchored at third, Davis froze halfway to second – trying to get into a rundown. Knight ran in to cover second and Sweeney fired to the shortstop. In his haste, he made a wide throw – the ball dribbling away from Knight. Baker, sensing an opening, took off for home. Knight retrieved the ball and made a return toss to Sweeney. The ball short-hopped the catcher and he wasn’t able to hold on as Baker slid over the pan. Safe!

The light drizzle morphed into a steadier rain when the Yankees took their turn in the bottom half of the fourth. Morgan had no worries throwing his wet one in the wet conditions. The rain became heavier still when the Elephants trudged to the plate in the fifth. With one out, Paddy Livingston walked and Morgan followed with a single to right. Unlike his counterpart, Vaughn was having issues with the slippery ball. Topsy Hartsel singled to left. The return throw from left fielder Birdie Cree was butchered by third baseman Jimmy Austin – allowing Livingston to rumble home. Rube Oldring then drove home Morgan with a single to right field. Oldring got greedy, however, and was thrown out trying to take second base in the slop.

With the rain now falling in torrents, home plate umpire Tommy Connolly called time for a rain delay. Both teams sat around for a half hour before Connolly decided that there was no end in sight and called the game. Since, the teams did not play the required five innings that constitute an official contest, the game will be replayed in its entirety at a later date. The statistics from this game will not count.

NOTES:

• Morgan’s superb outing was wasted. Mack will most likely save him for a start next week when the team returns home to Philadelphia.
• As the soaked fans filed for the exits, the Yankees announced that rain checks will be honored for a future date. It received the largest ovation of the afternoon.
• It was learned after the game that the rain did not fall below 110th Street!

American League

Yesterday’s scores (April 27, 1910):

• Boston 11, Washington 1
• Detroit 7, St. Louis 1
• Cleveland 3, Chicago 2
• Philadelphia at New York (rain)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (April 27, 1910):

• New York 3, Philadelphia 2
• Chicago 1, Pittsburgh 0
• Boston 5, Brooklyn 1