On the way home from New York, the Athletics stop in Wilkes-Barre for a quick exhibition
WILKES-BARRE, PA, May 1, 1910 – After enduring a rain-shortened series against the Yankees in New York, manager Connie Mack and most of the regular White Elephants boarded a train at Grand Central Station and headed home. After all, they will begin a series with the Boston Red Sox tomorrow.
The rest of the herd, piloted by first baseman Harry Davis, headed west. West to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and the heart of coal region. Waiting for them were the Wilkes-Barre Barons – defending champions of the New York State League. Nearly 5,000 loyalists packed into Boulevard Park to kick off the Sunday baseball season and watch their hometown club tangle with the powerhouse Athletics. When fans arrived, they expected a lineup of Baker, Collins, Barry, Oldring, and the rest of the stars. Expectation did not meet reality.
With the regular Mackmen back home in Philadelphia, the Athletics’ defensive alignment resembled a team of sandlotters. Utility infielder Morrie Rath, who rarely sees the light of day backing up Baker, Barry, Collins, and Davis, got the start at third base. Young outfielder Amos Strunk, who has yet to appear in a game this year, started in the center pasture. Starting pitcher Jack Coombs was in right field.
Veteran Ben Houser, who toiled in Toronto last year, started at first. The ancient Danny Murphy, who relinquished the keystone position to Eddie Collins in 1908, returned to the second sack. Jack Lapp got the nod behind the pan. Stuffy McInnis, whose playing time will be severely cut with the return of “Black Jack” Barry, was at short, and hefty fly chaser Heinie Heitmuller went to left.
Not wanting to burn a regular starting pitcher with an important home stand commencing, Davis sent former Chicago White Sox pitcher Lou Fiene to toe the slab. Fiene was on loan from the Minneapolis Millers. Barons manager Bill Clymer sent ace Bill Matthews to the box in hopes of showing the visitors that they would be in for a battle. Davis’s Yanigans got to work right away – tallying a pair of runs in the first inning on a two-run single by Murphy.
Matthews would settle in nicely over the next four innings – allowing just one hit and one walk. He would step aside for Donovan in the sixth. The Athletics wasted no time in padding their lead. Murphy walloped a one-out double and scored on Heitmuller’s two-base clout to give the Athletics a 3-0 lead. Davis pulled Fiene after five innings of yeoman’s work and moved Coombs in to pitch the rest of the game. Catcher and defensive whiz Paddy Livingston was summoned to play right field.
The Macks added another in the eighth. Houser led off with a double. With one down, McInnis hit a chopper to second baseman Rabbit Nill. The ball ricocheted of Nill and bounded into the outfield, allowing Houser to race home with the fourth run. The Athletics carried the 4-0 lead into the ninth inning. It was there that the home nine finally gave the home fans something to cheer about.
The Barons scored two runs in lightning quick fashion. A single and double leading off the inning followed by a two-run double by Bill Hopke. “Colby Jack” retired the next two batters before losing the strike zone and walking the next two. The bases were now loaded with two outs and the league’s top hitter, Del Drake, coming to bat. The 5,000 rooters were frenzied. A clean hit would surely tie or possibly win the game. Coombs buckled down and coaxed a ground ball to McInnis, who fired to Houser – sealing the victory.
The box is as follows:
American League
Yesterday’s scores (May 1, 1910):
- Cleveland 5, St. Louis 4 (11 innings)
- Chicago 4, Detroit 3 (15 innings)
National League
Yesterday’s scores (May 1, 1910):
- Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 5
- Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 1
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