Athletics ride a strong inning and a bushel of Washington errors to a 6-3 triumph

PHILADELPHIA, May 7, 1910 – For four innings, the 12,000 rooters who were settled into the luxurious baseball plant at Twenty-First and Lehigh Avenue were treated to a pitchers’ duel of the first order. Then, the contest morphed into a runs-a-plenty, error-filled debacle for one frame. Fortunately, for the locals, the final outcome favored the hometown nine.

Washington skipper Jimmy McAleer tabbed young Bob Groom to face the Athletics. Toothpick Bob has hardly been effective this season; in three previous starts, he has allowed sixteen runs. Only one of those starts had even been mediocre. Mr. Mack countered with ace Chief Bender who was aiming for his fourth consecutive victory to kick off the season.

Bender outfoxed the Senators lineup all afternoon. McAleer’s men managed back-to-back hits only once throughout the game. Of the three runs he allowed on the day, only one was earned; the others, courtesy of defensive breakdowns. Through the first four innings, Bender and Groom seemed invincible. The Senators managed but a solitary safety of Bender – an infield single by George Browne. The Mackmen did not fare much better against Groom – securing just two lonely singles through the first four frames. Then, temporarily, the proverbial wheels fell off for both slabmen.

The fifth inning commenced uneventfully. Bender struck out substitute first sacker Tom Crooke leading off the stanza. Red Killefer hit a bounding ball to second baseman Eddie Collins for what should have been the second out of the inning. Eddie did not set himself and sailed the throw over first baseman Harry Davis’s head. As catcher Paddy Livingston retrieved the errant throw, Killefer turned for second and arrived before Paddy’s toss. Gabby Street worked a free pass, putting runners at first and second with one man down. Groom followed by bouncing a one-hopper to Bender who turned and fired to Frank Baker – forcing Killefer at third base.

The Chief could now see his way out of this mess. Clyde Milan, however, shot a single into right field – scoring Street from second base. Right fielder Danny Murphy’s throw home eluded Livingston and Bender (backing up the play) – the ball ending up in the Athletics dugout. Home plate umpire Tommy Connolly (correctly) allowed Groom to score from second base on the dead ball. A heated argument ensued. McAleer, Davis, and Connolly, the belligerents.

Connolly seemed to be sending Groom back to third base. This brought McAleer tearing out of the dugout with the speed of Barney Oldfield’s Blitzen Benz. McAleer contended that Groom was in the process of rounding second and was to be granted two bases on the dead ball. Mack’s captain, Davis, argued that Groom had pulled up at second. The correct call was eventually made – Groom scored and Milan at third base on Murphy’s two-base miscue. Wid Conroy was up next with a chance to give the Nationals a three-run cushion. Bender struck him out to mercifully end the hostilities.

The Mackmen wasted little time in getting both runs back…and then some. Davis led off with a single to right and promptly chugged over to third base on Murphy’s two-bagger to left field. And, with the snap of their fingers, the White Elephants had dinner cooking on the stove. Jack Barry hit a hundred-hopper to shortstop Kid Elberfeld who made a wild throw to Crooke. Davis scored, Murphy trotted to third, and Barry was safe at first. Livingston popped to second baseman Killefer. With Bender next, Groom just needed a ground ball for a twin-killing and escape further damage.

Bender made sure that Groom couldn’t make that escape. The Chief soaked a line drive into right-center field with such speed that even center fielder Deerfoot Milan could not cut it off. The ball sped all the way to the fence – scoring Murphy and Barry. Bender pulled up at third with a ringing, two-run triple. Topsy Hartsel, coaching third, greeted Bender with a pat on the back. The Macks were now ahead 3-2.

McAleer felt the need to draw his infield in with one out. Amos Strunk then hit a bounding ball to Elberfeld at short. The Tobasco Kid got caught with an in-between hop and muffed the grounder. He hurriedly recovered and heaved a wild toss well over Street’s head and to the backstop. Bender scored and Strunk streaked to second. Rube Oldring popped out to first base for the second out. Eddie Collins lined a single up the middle and Strunk raced home. Milan made a vain attempt to catch the speedy Strunk but he had zero chance and the poor throw eluded Street for yet another error – Collins taking third. Baker ended the parade with a chopper to second.

The Senators got to within two runs in their half of the eighth frame. Milan singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Elberfeld’s two-out single to right. The Athletics immediately got that run back. Baker reached when Killefer booted his grounder. Davis was hit by a pitch and Murphy’s bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Barry hit a sacrifice fly which Milan hauled in with a splendid catch in deep center field. Baker walked home with the final run of the game. Once Bender secured the twenty-seventh out, the throng loyalists happily headed for the exits.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• Chief Bender is now 4-0 on the young season. More impressively, he is batting a healthy .571 (8-14).
• Shortstop Jack Barry made the defensive play of the game in the first inning. On a ball hit in the hole by George Browne, Barry ranged far to his right (behind a diving Frank Baker), fielded the ball and made a jump throw on target to first baseman Harry Davis – retiring Browne by an eyelash.
• Second baseman Eddie Collins, 1-4 on the day, was robbed of three hits. Outfielders Clyde Milan and Doc Gessler made sensational catches and second baseman Red Killefer’s leaping catch of Eddie’s liner negated a third.
• There were four hit batsmen in the game. Bender and Groom plunking two apiece.
• Bender’s fifth inning triple was his first three-base hit since July 18, 1907 at Cleveland.
• After an off day on Sunday, the clubs will conclude the four-game set on Monday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (May 7, 1910):

• Philadelphia 6, Washington 3
• Chicago 5, Detroit 3
• Cleveland 4, St. Louis 1
• New York 4, Boston 1 (10 innings)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (May 7, 1910):

• New York 7, Philadelphia 2
• Brooklyn 2, Boston 0
• Pittsburgh at Chicago (rain)
• Cincinnati at St. Louis (rain)

Mackmen exact revenge against Johnson with ninth inning rally, 4-3

PHILADELPHIA, May 6, 1910 – Three weeks ago, the Athletics traveled to Washington to open the current season against these same Senators. On a glorious, sun-splashed afternoon in our nation’s capital, the mighty Mackmen were inches away from being no-hit by Washington’s young slab artist – Walter Johnson. Today, Connie’s boys evened the score.

Mack sent Harry Krause to the box in hopes of keeping the Athletics in the win column. The skipper had other, more well-rested options, but decided to stick with the hot hand. After all, Krause had just blanked the Red Sox on three hits, three day earlier. As expected, the skirmish was a pitchers’ duel through the first half of the game. Krause held Washington scoreless through five innings.

The Macks finally broke through – scoring their first runs of the season against Johnson in the bottom of the fifth. After Ira Thomas had been retired, Krause sliced a double to left and promptly scored on Amos Strunk’s triple down the right field line. Rube Oldring lined a single up the middle and the Athletics had a 2-0 lead.

Washington got one of those runs back in their half of the sixth inning. Wid Conroy started with a lead off double. After Jack Lelivelt was retired, Kid Elberfeld scored Conroy with a single to center. Elberfeld advanced to second on Strunk’s throw home. The Senators had an opening to knot the game, but Krause buckled down and retired Doc Gessler and Tom Crooke to retire the side.

Johnson helped himself in the top half of the seventh. Red Killefer singled, Gabby Street sacrificed him to second, and Johnson followed with a clean single – scoring Killefer to tie the game. It was short-lived, however. The Athletics came right back in the bottom half.

After two had been retired, Strunk dribbled one halfway between the plate and the rubber. Johnson and Street both went after the ball, resulting in a mild collision. After gathering himself, Street picked up the pill and fired to first. The lightning fast Strunk, however, beat Street’s throw. Oldring then drilled a low-liner to left where Lelivelt tried to make a diving catch. The ball caromed off him and rolled away. Strunk raced home from first and Oldring was at second with a two-base hit. Staked to a one-run lead, Krause needed six more outs.

Unlike yesterday’s fiasco, manager McAleer’s shakeup of his lineup seemed to spark his troops. Instead of rolling over, they played with renewed vigor today. Krause walked Gessler with one out in the top of the eight inning. Gessler went to third on Crooke’s single to right field and scored on Killefer’s sacrifice fly. Once again, the game was tied. The Elephants had a another opportunity in the eighth. Frank Baker led off with a bingle and advanced on Harry Davis’s sacrifice bunt. Danny Murphy followed by ripping a liner that was corralled by Elberfeld at short. Baker, thinking the ball was ticketed for the spacious pasture in left, was doubled up and the three all tie moved to the ninth.

Washington had another opportunity in the top of the ninth, and once again, Johnson was right in the middle of it all. The big ball tosser led off with a walk and moved to the next station on Deerfoot Milan’s sacrifice bunt. Once again, Krause bore down on McAleer’s batsmen. He compelled Conroy to lift a lazy fly to Oldring in left, and struck out Lelivelt on three pitches.

Jack Barry led off the bottom of the ninth inning by striking out, and Thomas was quickly dispatched on a foul pop. With two down and Krause up, extra innings seemed like a foregone conclusion. Krause ripped a single to right, however. Strunk followed with a Texas Leaguer to right-center and Krause raced over to third base. Oldring, already with three hits on the day, had a chance to be the hero. The Rube took a viscous cut and connected with one of Johnson’s swifties – lining the ball between third and short and into left field. Krause raced across the pan and the White Elephants were winners! Oldring was immediately mobbed by a throng of bleacherites who hopped over the short wall to give the day’s hero congratulatory pats on the back.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• In three starts this season, Harry Krause is 3-0 with a 1.00 earned run average. All three starts were completed: 27 innings, 15 hits, 3 earned runs, 9 walks, and 16 strikeouts.
• Krause was also one of the offensive stars of the day. 3-4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. He started the winning rally with two down in the ninth and scored the winning run.
• Krause, Amos Strunk, and Rube Oldring, combined for 11 of the 15 hits collected off Walter Johnson.
• Left fielder Topsy Hartsel was ejected in the first inning by home plate umpire Bill Dinneen for arguing about a non-hit by pitch call. With two strikes, Walter Johnson threw an inside fastball that Hartsel claimed hit him. Dinneen called a foul ball and an argument ensued. Hartsel was gone and Strunk finished the at-bat. Johnson got the strike out that was credited to Hartsel. Strunk would finish the game 4-4.
• The two clubs are scheduled to play the third game of the the four-game series this afternoon. Chief Bender is expected to get the nod for the Athletics. First pitch is 3 o’clock.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (May 6, 1910):

• Philadelphia 4, Washington 3
• Chicago 4, Detroit 0
• New York 11, Boston 0
• Cleveland 4, St. Louis 3

National League

Yesterday’s scores (May 6, 1910):

• New York 3, Philadelphia 2
• Boston 8, Brooklyn 5
• Pittsburgh 6, Chicago 1

Cursed by shoddy defense and Morgan’s spitter, Senators are swamped by the Athletics, 10-1

PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 1910 – Poor Jimmy McAleer. The Washington manager brought his struggling club to Shibe Park yesterday to tangle with Connie’s White Elephants, the hottest team in the American League. Mentally, most of his troops never showed up – playing the most lethargic game of ball seen on these grounds all season.

Athletics starter Cy Morgan had complete mastery of his spitball this afternoon; baffling the Washington lineup throughout the game. The Senators managed just three, well scattered, singles, a double by right fielder Doc Gessler, and nary a walk. The Athletics, however, blasted Washington starter Dixie Walker for eleven hits, three of the extra-base variety, and five free passes. The defense didn’t help Walker’s cause, making three official errors (including one by Walker himself) and a host of other blunders. The Senators basically put on a bird-brained exhibition that was hardly becoming of a big league ball club.

The Mackmen jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and salted the game away with a six spot in the bottom of the fourth frame. The way McAleer’s boys resembled a rag tag group of sandlotters from Fishtown, the game, for all intents and purposes, was over. The Senators managed a run off Morgan in the seventh inning. With one down, Kid Elberfeld singled through the box. Gessler was hit by a pitched ball and Tom Crooke dribbled an infield single. George McBride lofted a sacrifice fly to score Elberfeld. Gabby Street fouled out to end the short-lived threat.

Connie’s boys dented the pan twice more in the bottom half of the seventh for the final margin of victory, 10-1. The Senators were never in the game – from opening pitch through the ninth inning. Frank Baker, Danny Murphy, and Jack Barry accounted for six of the eleven hits – with two hits apiece. Baker and Barry each scored twice. Walker wasn’t fooling anyone with his assortment of pitches – he only struck out two on the day – Morgan the victim both times.

The game got so far out of hand so early, that Mr. Mack pulled four of his stars for a breather and inserted seldom-used reserves for some much needed playing time. Amos Strunk replaced Rube Oldring in center field. Morrie Rath replaced Eddie Collins at second base. Stuffy McInnis for Baker at third, and Ben Houser took over for Harry Davis at the initial sack. Hopefully, Washington puts up more of a fight on Friday afternoon.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• Second baseman Eddie Collins, banged up in a home plate collision with Red Sox catcher Bill Carrigan on Tuesday, was expected to receive a few days off, he declared himself fit, however, and was back in the starting lineup.
• Center fielder Rube Oldring, also banged up, started in his usual spot. Both Collins and Oldring were later removed for a rest when the outcome of the game was not in doubt any longer.
• Cy Morgan’s start was his second of the season (April 21) – both complete games. He has pitched 18 innings, and allowed two earned runs on nine hits. This spells trouble for the rest of the American League as Mack has five formidable starters.
• A rare feature of Thursday’s game: Only TWO players from each team were credited with assists. Washington: Gabby Street (3) and Dixie Walker (5). Philadelphia: Eddie Collins (2) and Cy Morgan (4).
• The teams will play the second game of the series at 3:30 this afternoon. Walter Johnson (Senators) and Harry Krause (Athletics) are scheduled to start.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (May 5, 1910):

• Philadelphia 10, Washington 1
• Detroit 5, Chicago 3
• Cleveland 2, St. Louis 1 (10 innings)
• New York at Boston (rain)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (May 5, 1910):

• Philadelphia 9, New York 3
• Boston 1, Brooklyn 0
• Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 0
• Cincinnati 5, St. Louis 2

Wet grounds and frigid conditions postpone the series finale until late June

PHILADELPHIA, May 4, 1910 – A heavy, overnight downpour and brutally cold weather, made for utterly unsuitable conditions to play a game of baseball on these grounds this afternoon.

The Red Sox were suited up in full uniforms at the Hotel Majestic and ready to board taxicabs for Shibe Park, when Connie Mack telephoned Red Sox manager Pat Donovan at 2:15 in the afternoon. Mack informed him that the game will not be played as scheduled and will be made up when Boston comes back to town June 25-29. Both clubs were probably relieved as the conditions would have made playing nine innings unbearable.

The Boston players donned their suits of clothes and high-tailed it to Broad Street Station to catch a train back home where they will begin a series with New York. The Athletics will entertain Washington for four games, starting Thursday at 3:30 in the afternoon. Cy Morgan (Athletics) and Dixie Walker (Senators) are scheduled to kick off the series.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (May 4, 1910):

• New York 4, Washington 2
• Detroit 4, Chicago 0
• St. Louis 3, Cleveland 3 (14 innings)
• Boston at Philadelphia (cold)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (May 4, 1910):

• Pittsburgh 8, Chicago 3
• New York 2, Brooklyn 1
• St. Louis 12, Cincinnati 3
• Philadelphia at Boston (cold)

Harry Krause shuts out the Red Sox for the second time in eleven days, 2-0

PHILADELPHIA, May 3, 1910 – Pardon the Red Sox if they do a jig upon learning they would not have to face Harry Krause again. As long as Connie Mack is calling the shots in Philadelphia, however, the chances of that happening are extremely remote. The young San Franciscan blanked the Speed Boys for the second time in eleven days – this time by a score of 2-0.

Hal toyed with the Sox lineup. Not a single Boston base runner advanced past second base. Five men reached base in total – three singles and two walks. The Red Sox never truly threatened to score. On the other end, Boston’s young flame thrower, Joe Wood, who for all intents and purposes pitched an entire game in the bullpen during yesterday’s thriller, pitched a gem of his own. Wood, with impeccable control, scattered seven hits over eight innings with nary a walk. His Achilles? Holding runners close – the Athletics pilfered four bags. That, and a poorly timed defensive gaffe.

The Mackmen threatened to dent the plate in the very first inning. Topsy Hartsel lined a single to center and moved along on a passed ball by Boston backstop Bill Carrigan. Rube Oldring sacrificed Topsy to third. Eddie Collins smashed a grounder to second baseman Charlie French. He made a split-second decision to come home with the ball. The burly catcher stretched out his leg and, having already secured the ball, waited for Hartsel. The diminutive Topsy had no chance – he slid into Carrigan and came to a dead stop.

Collins then decided to utilize his legs to get himself into scoring position. With Wood paying little attention to Collins’s big lead, he stole second base easily. Frank Baker then lined a sharp single to the left pasture. Left fielder Duffy Lewis charged the ball and unleashed an impressive throw home. While parked on top of the plate, Carrigan secured the globule and tagged Eddie with time to spare. Once again, Rough proved why he is the best in the business at blocking the plate.

The Red Sox got their first hit of the game on Harry Lord’s clean single to right leading off the fourth inning. Sensing that runs would be at a premium on this day, Boston manager Pat Donovan ordered Tris Speaker to sacrifice Lord into scoring position. Harry Hooper grounded out to shortstop Jack Barry – holding Lord at second. Jake Stahl grounded to Baker and, just like that, the Sox went down with nothing across.

The quick-moving pitchers’ duel remained scoreless into the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Hartsel tapped a slow roller. Shortstop Heine Wagner charged, scooped, and threw to first, but Hartsel, hustling all the way, beat the throw. It was his third consecutive hit of the game. Oldring lined out to left fielder Lewis for the second out of the inning. Hartsel then took off for second base. Carrigan’s throw and Hartsel arrived at the keystone sack simultaneously – the ball grazed off Topsy’s left shoulder and caromed into left. Wasting little motion, Hartsel scurried to third on Carrigan’s miscue.

Collins and Wood meet again! As in yesterday’s affair, the game rendered down to a stand-off between the young stars. Wood needed to retire Collins to maintain the scoreless tie. Wood did his part, his defense did not. Collins hit a routine grounder to second. In his haste to nab the speedy Collins, French rushed the play and fumbled the ball. Once the sphere wasn’t fielded cleanly, he had no chance anywhere. Hartsel raced across the pan for the game’s initial run. Eddie stole second, again. Baker then smashed one to French’s right – bringing home Collins. Baker took second on Speaker’s throw home and was left stranded when Harry Davis struck out. Poor, Joe. He was now trailing, 2-0.

The White Elephants carried that score into the top of the ninth inning. The Red Sox had one last chance to solve Krause. Lord tried to reach by dragging a bunt down the first base line. It did not go far enough, and catcher Ira Thomas picked it up and fired to Davis for the first out. Speaker followed by driving a pitch to deep left-center field. Earlier in the fray, that drive would have landed Speaker on second base – possibly third. Mack, however, had his fly chasers playing a no doubles defense and Hartsel ran the ball down in the alley, just shy of the fence, for a huge out. Hooper lofted a can of corn to Danny Murphy in right field to secure Krause’s second whitewash of the fledgling season.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• With Tuesday’s shutout, Harry Krause is now 6-1 versus the Boston Red Sox during his short career.
• Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox was the second game of a 22-game home stand. The Athletics’ next road game isn’t scheduled until May 28 in Boston.
• The two teams will wrap up their three-game series this afternoon – weather permitting.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (May 3, 1910):

• Philadelphia 2, Boston 0
• Washington 8, New York 3
• Detroit 3, Chicago 0
• Cleveland at St. Louis (cold)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (May 3, 1910):

• Brooklyn 4, New York 3
• Philadelphia at Boston (rain)
• St. Louis at Cincinnati (rain)
• Chicago at Pittsburgh (rain)

Down and out, the Athletics stun the Red Sox in a miracle finish, 7-6

PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 1910 – There was little to cheer for eight innings. Defeat was presaged. The few loyalists who remained for what they suspected would be a bitter end, were be treated to a thrill which has never before been witnessed on these grounds. The test of wills boiled down to a standoff between a baby-faced gunslinger and a cocky, young batsman.

The Athletics entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Boston Red Sox, 6-2. They had not safely crossed the pan since the second frame. The small crowd was sitting on their collective hands – quietly waiting for the misery to mercifully come to its conclusion. Boston knuckle baller Eddie Cicotte, though hardly dominant, went back out to finish his game. Connie’s boys had their chances. They peppered Cicotte with eight hits over his eight innings. They were scattered enough that the White Elephants could only muster two runs to this point. The final frame seemed anticlimactic.

***

Harry Davis floated a single to right field to start things off. Danny Murphy smacked a grounder right at shortstop Heinie Wagner who had designs on turning a quick double play. In his haste, Wagner booted the ball – allowing Murphy to reach. Instead of no Elephants on the diamond and two outs, Cicotte now had one foot in a pot of warm water. Jack Barry hit a viscous liner to the left pasture. The ball reached left fielder Duffy Lewis with such speed that Davis had no chance to race home. The sacks were full, not one Athletic had been sent packing, and Cicotte now had both feet in that pot. And, the water was starting to bubble.

The tying run would strut to the plate. However, instead of light-hitting catcher Ira Thomas, who was up next, Mr. Mack pulled the proverbial rabbit out of his derby. Houser…you’re up! Ben Houser, who toiled in relative obscurity for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Eastern League last year, was ordered to pinch hit. Not the typical pinch hitting opportunity. It was his major league debut. Bases loaded, nobody out, and Houser is the potential tying run. No pressure, kid!

Houser whacked a grounder to Wagner. This one was handled cleanly and Wagner shoveled to second baseman Charlie French to force Barry. Davis, however, scored and Houser reached first safely. Mack immediately inserted utility man Morrie Rath to pinch run for Houser. Pitcher Eddie Plank, who battled the Red Sox for nine grueling innings was due next. There was no chance he gets another at-bat. Mack had the luxury of carrying three catchers on his active roster. One of those backstops, Jack Lapp, got the call to grab some lumber.

Jack came through in the clutch – lamming the pill over French’s head for a safety. Murphy raced home and it was now a 6-4 game. The crowd inside the magnificent enclosure grew louder with each batter. Lightning fast outfielder Amos Strunk was called upon to pinch run for Lapp. Mack, sensing an opening, was emptying his bench. Needing two runs to tie, the Athletics had plenty of speed on the base paths.

Grizzled veteran Topsy Hartsel would try to play hero. The diminutive led off hitter, struggling mightily this season, proved no match for Cicotte – uncharacteristically fanning on three pitches. Two were now down. The crowd temporarily grew quiet. Rube Oldring, having already singled and doubled earlier in the game, took his turn. Oldring smashed a liner which nearly obliterated third baseman Harry Lord. Rath scored and only Lewis’s quick retrieval of the ball prevented Strunk from tying the game.

The score now stood at 6-5. The tying and winning runs at third and second, respectively, and Eddie Collins loomed next. Cicotte was being hammered all over the lot and Red Sox skipper Pat Donovan had seen enough. He summoned young flame thrower Joe Wood to secure the twenty-seventh out. Fastball pitcher versus fastball hitter. Power on power. Wood finished his warm up tosses and Collins casually strolled to the pan. The battle now rested on Eddie’s sloped shoulders.

Wood, knowing Collins’s strength, started him off with a curveball right down the middle for strike one – Collins taking all the way. Surely, Wood would now go to his bread and butter. Wrong. He snapped off another bender. This one on the corner. “Strike TWO,” bellowed umpire Jack Egan. A collective groan arose from the remaining customers. Some started for the exits. Two strikes. Two outs. Two on.

Wood took a deep breath. Catcher Bill Carrigan called for the express. Wood kicked and fired a heater – well off the outside corner for ball one. The tension was thick. Collins momentarily stepped out to gather himself – undoubtedly guessing Wood’s next offering. Carrigan decided to go back to the well – the curve for the game-ending strikeout.

The young ball tosser rocked and released what he hoped would be his best curveball yet. It hung and Eddie was waiting for it. He guessed correctly. Collins smashed the ball on a line – bisecting the right side of the infield and rocketing to right field. Strunk and Oldring took off like a pair of spooked rabbits at the crack of the bat. The ball reached right fielder Harry Hooper in a flash. Strunk scored easily. Hooper unleashed a clean throw on a line as Oldring was racing home with the winning run. It was going to be close. Strunk and Frank Baker were motioning for Oldring to slide. Hooper’s throw arrived a split-second late. SAFE!

The Mackmen spilled out of their dugout to celebrate. The few thousand fans that remained were frenzied. A few dozen ran onto the field and tried to carry Eddie off on their shoulders. Collins utilized his speed one final time on this day – racing into the dugout, up the tunnel, and into the safety of the clubhouse. His teammates following closely behind. What a comeback!

***

The Macks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Hartsel opened with an infield single. He reached second on Oldring’s ground out to first and scored on Collins’s single to right field. Collins was left stranded on second when Cicotte retired Baker and Davis.

The Speed Boys responded with a trio of runs in the top of the second. Hooper beat out an infield single after rolling a grounder to Davis at first. Davis fielded the ball cleanly and fed a covering Plank with an underhand toss. Plank, however, could not locate the sack and Hooper was safe. Jake Stahl sacrificed Hooper to second and Wagner walked. Lewis followed with a long triple over Hartsel’s head. The ball rolled to the left field wall and scored both Hooper and Wagner. Carrigan lofted a sacrifice fly to Hartsel for the third run. Cicotte grounded out to end the inning with the Red Sox up, 3-1.

The Athletics got one back in the bottom half. Murphy led off with an infield single. Cicotte fielded the ball and had a slim chance at nabbing Murphy at first. Cicotte fired a wide throw that Stahl could not corral – allowing Murphy to reach second on the error. Barry followed with a tapper to the box. In their haste to retire Black Jack, Cicotte and Carrigan did not communicate and collided with each other – Carrigan’s spikes clipping Cicotte’s ankle in the process. Cicotte gathered himself and threw to first – making another poor throw. Barry was safe on the pitcher’s second error of the inning. Murphy never broke stride and scored easily. Boston’s lead was now 3-2 after two.

That score would remain over the next five innings. The Hubmen would add another run in the top of the eighth inning as a result of sloppy defense – specifically, errors by Hartsel and Barry. The Sox seemed to put the game away in the ninth inning. Hooper started off with an infield single to short. Stahl grounded out to first and Hooper moved up to the third sack. Not able to afford another run, Mack brought the infield in. Wagner hit a grounder to Collins and Hooper broke on contact. Collins’s throw to Thomas was late as Hooper slide home safely. Lewis grounded out to first – sending Wagner to second.

Carrigan hit a sharp single to left which scored Wagner to give Boston a 6-2 cushion. Cicotte then singled to right – moving Carrigan up a base. Lazy base-running cost Boston at least one more run. French lined one up the middle to score Carrigan for Boston’s seventh tally. Or, so everybody thought. Cicotte was loafing to second and center fieder Oldring saw what was happening. Rube charged the ball and fired a strike to Barry to force Cicotte a moment before Carrigan crossed home plate. Carrigan was denied a run and French was denied a hit.

So, the Red Sox took a seemingly safe four-run lead into the ninth inning. Joe Wood had been warming up on-and-off in the Red Sox bullpen since the sixth inning – backing up a teetering Eddie Cicotte. Donovan decided to stick with his starter to try and secure the final three outs. His decision proved fatal.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• The five-run rally was the biggest ninth inning deficit the Athletics have overcome in Shibe Park’s brief history.
• Eddie Plank retired the Red Sox on only THREE pitches in the top of the first inning. Charlie French grounded to third, Harry Lord popped to first, and Tris Speaker grounded to first.
• The two teams will resume hostilities today. Lefty Harry Krause is expected to start for the Athletics.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (May 2, 1910):

• Philadelphia 7, Boston 6
• New York 3, Washington 2
• Cleveland 2, St. Louis 1 (11 innings)
• Detroit at Chicago (rain)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (May 2, 1910):

• Philadelphia 9, Boston 8
• New York 6, Brooklyn 0
• Pittsburgh 5, Chicago 2
• Cincinnati 9, St. Louis 4

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

Thanks to timely hitting and loose defense by New York, Macks rally to win in 11 innings, 4-2

NEW YORK, April 30, 1910 – Suffering from cabin fever after a string of cold and rainy April days, nearly 22,000 loyalists crammed into American League Park to witness the affair between the Athletics and their Yankees. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the long time belligerents engaged in an epic struggle that had many on the edge of their wooden seats.

New York manager George Stallings sent Jack Quinn to the box to face Connie’s boys. Quinn baffled the Athletics through the first six innings – holding the them to three puny singles and nary a walk. No Elephant got beyond second base through the first six. Meanwhile, Chief Bender was effectively wild – holding the Yanks scoreless through the initial three frames. The large throng on Manhattan’s hilltop hung on every pitch.

The Yankees got to Bender in their half of the fourth frame when Birdie Cree rapped a double to left field. Frank LaPorte promptly sacrificed the professor to third and John Knight followed with a rip through Bender’s wickets to give the New Yorkers a 1-0 lead. Knight, then, foolishly tried to steal second base. Catcher Paddy Livingston, the cream of the defensive backstop crop, popped out of his crouch and fired a bullet to second. Knight was out by a country mile. Jimmy Austin then walked and just as foolishly tried to pilfer the second sack. He too died the same death.

The home nine got to work again in the sixth. The hot-hitting Harry Wolter walloped a double to right-center field. On a normal afternoon, with Wolter’s speed, the blast would have been good for at least three bags, or at best, a circuit clout. However, with the overflow crowd roped off in the pasture, the sphere found its way into the band of rooters for a ground rule double.

Before throwing his next pitch, Bender tried to catch Wolter napping. He spun around and fired wildly – allowing Wolter to take third. Hal Chase followed with a lazy fly to center fielder Rube Oldring. The fly ball, of medium depth, was immediately dispatched on a line to Livingston – holding Wolter at third. Cree strolled after Bender momentarily lost the strike zone. LaPorte followed with a slow grounder to third baseman Frank Baker. He tried to turn the around-the-horn, inning-ending double play, but LaPorte beat the throw to first, allowing Wolter to score. Knight rolled a tapper in front of the pan and was thrown out by Paddy to ward off further damage.

Then came the fateful seventh inning for the Yankees – possibly costing them a victory. Quinn quickly got a two strike count on Baker. He curved one and got the big third baseman to swing over the top of it for the first out. Or so everybody thought. The ball eluded catcher Ed Sweeney and allowed Baker to safely reach first base. The Elephants had an opening. Could they take advantage? You betcha!

Harry Davis wasted no time. He laced a double into the right field crowd – sending Baker to third in the process. Danny Murphy hit a bounding ball to Knight who bobbled the chance and threw late to first – scoring Baker and placing runners at the corners. Jack Barry then smashed a liner that nearly took the leather off Quinn’s left hand. The young ball tosser retrieved the ball and desperately fired to first, but Barry’s speed was too much and Davis raced across the pan with the tying run.

Livingston hit a one-hopper to the box. Quinn fielded the ball cleanly and fired to third baseman Jimmy Austin to force Murphy. Barry, feeling frisky, decided to take third base. Sweeney atoned for his error by nabbing the young shortstop for the second out. Bender grounded out to second base – mercifully ending the inning for the Yankees. In a matter of moments, the Yankees went from working on a three-hit shutout to a clean slate. Both pitchers would dig in.

Bender held the Yanks off the board in the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. The Athletics came close to pushing the go-ahead run across in the top of the ninth. Baker reached third with only one out, but Quinn escaped the mess by retiring Davis and Murphy. The game would remain tied until the top of the eleventh inning.

Oldring reached on an infield single to deep short. The Rube then reached second base on Collins’s swinging bunt – Collins retired at first on the play. Oldring then raced home on Baker’s sharp single to right field. The Athletics had their first lead of the battle. Quinn briefly gathered himself by striking out Davis for the second out. Baker then put himself into scoring position by stealing second. Murphy added insurance when he lined an offering to center field to bring home Baker – giving the White Elephants a two-run cushion. Barry ended the inning by grounding out to second.

Sensing the game had slipped away, the large crowd of rooters grew quiet. Bender strolled to the mound needing just three more outs to secure the victory. He would have no issues. The wily veteran retired the Yanks in rapid succession to secure a hard fought, 4-2 triumph for the visitors from Philadelphia.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• The victory catapulted the Athletics (6-4) over the Yankees (5-4) back into second place.
• Yankees first baseman Hal Chase saved a run in the sixth inning by snaring a screaming liner off the bat of Eddie Collins. The ball would have gone for extra bases.
• Yankees center fielder Charlie Hemphill stifled a rally in the eighth inning when he threw out Topsy Hartsel at third base trying to advance on a fly ball.
• Athletics catcher Paddy Livingston continues to play flawless defense. In four starts this year, he has yet to commit an error and has thrown out at least one potential base stealer in every start.
• The Athletics will now head home for a long home stand which starts against the Red Sox on Monday.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (April 30, 1910):

• Philadelphia 4, New York 2 (11 innings)
• Boston 5, Washington 3
• Cleveland 2, St. Louis 1
• Chicago 1, Detroit 0

National League

Yesterday’s scores (April 30, 1910):

• New York 9, Philadelphia 4
• Pittsburgh 1, Chicago 0
• St. Louis 4, Cincinnati 1
• Brooklyn 4, Boston 2

Another day, another rain out. Two teams will try again on Saturday

NEW YORK, April 29, 1910 – In what has become a recurring theme during this young season, a game between the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees has been washed away for the fourth time in less than two weeks.

The game will be made up when the Mackmen return to New York later this season. The decision to postpone the game was made early in the afternoon; only a handful of fans made their way to the hilltop who had not been aware. The two teams will try again today with Chief Bender scheduled to face New York’s Joe Doyle.

American League

Yesterday’s scores (April 29, 1910):

• Boston 9, Washington 3
• Detroit 5, St. Louis 0
• Chicago 6, Cleveland 0
• Philadelphia at New York (rain)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (April 29, 1910):

• Boston 1, Brooklyn 0
• St. Louis 4, Chicago 3 (11 innings)
• New York at Philadelphia (rain)
• Chicago at Pittsburgh (rain)

For the second time in a week, Russell Ford handcuffs the Mackmen, 7-3

NEW YORK, April 28, 1910 – It is not very often that another manager out-thinks, out-manages, out-maneuvers, or, quite simply, outfoxes Connie Mack. Today was one of those days. The man who pulled the fast one over on Mr. Mack was Yankees manager George Stallings.

Just before first pitch, home plate umpire Bill Dinneen called Mack and Stallings to home plate to present their lineup cards. Mack made his way to the dish. Stallings did not – hindering the proceedings. He played around with his lineup card, asking Dinneen to give him a few more moments. Dinneen relented while Mack objected. Mack (correctly) pointed out that the home team must furnish their battery first. So, Stallings sent “Deliberate Joe” Doyle to the box to warm up with catcher Ed Sweeney. The same Joe Doyle whom the Athletics walloped in their home opener last week.

The gamesmanship continued. Mack then announced that Chief Bender would toe the slab for his side. Bender was warming in the bullpen. Meanwhile, Doyle had already misfired, planting a few in the screen. As Topsy Hartsel walked to the plate to commence the afternoon’s proceedings, Stallings called time. He pulled Doyle and tabbed Russell Ford to start the game. Not to be outdone, a dismayed Mack walked back out to Dinneen, while Ford warmed up, and let the big arbiter know that he will go with Jack Coombs instead.

While the Athletics couldn’t touch Ford at Shibe Park last week, they got to work early this afternoon. With one out, Rube Oldring doubled to left-center field. Ford tried to pick Oldring off second but made a wild throw, allowing Rube to take third. Eddie Collins brought Oldring home on a ground out to shortstop John Knight to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead.

The Yankees went to work on “Colby Jack” and got that run back…and more. Charlie Hemphill led off with a walk and went to third on Harry Wolter’s first of four hits on the day. Hal Chase followed with a sharp single to center – scoring Hemphill. Birdie Cree grounded out to first baseman Harry Davis, allowing Wolter and Chase to advance a station. Frank LaPorte lofted a high fly ball to right fielder Danny Murphy. Murphy lost the ball in the late-afternoon sun and Wolter scampered home with the second run. Knight struck out and Jimmy Austin flied out to end the inning.

The belligerents each registered a scoreless second frame. The White Elephants went back to work in the third. With two men down, Hartsel drew a walk and promptly scurried across the pan on Oldring’s long triple to left-center field – tying the score, 2-2. Ford retired the speedy Collins to avert further damage. Mack now looked to Coombs to hold the line.

Coombs would have avoided trouble in the frame if not for some loose defense. Cree led off by smashing a ground ball to Baker who made a stellar stop and throw to Davis to nab the speedy Cree. LaPorte followed with a sharp single to left field. Knight flied out to short center for the second out. With the light-hitting, bottom third of the order coming to bat, Coombs could see his way out. Austin lofted a high fly ball to left field for what should have been the final out of the inning. Hartsel flat out dropped the ball as LaPorte raced home and the hustling Austin reaching second base. Sweeney followed with a lazy fly to left of his own. Same spot, same result! Hartsel dropped the ball. Austin hurried home and just like that, the Yanks were up, 4-2. Ford popped to Baker to mercifully end the inning.

Once again, the Athletics resorted to some two-out magic in their half of the fourth. After Baker and Davis had been retired, Ford lost the plate and walked Murphy. Jack Barry followed with a long double to left-center field and the Athletics were suddenly down just one run. Ford retired Ira Thomas to ward off further damage. With the Athletics now trailing 4-3, and Coombs shaky through the first three innings, Mack was hoping to nurse him through a few more frames before summoning a relief hurler. He was an inning late.

The Yankees, for all intents and purposes, salted the game away in the bottom of the fourth. Hemphill reached on a bunt single leading off the frame. Wolter followed with a bingle of his own and the two men quickly executed a double steal. With two men in scoring position and the dangerous Chase coming to bat, the “Colby Carbine” was in a heap of trouble. Coombs got Chase looking at a called third strike for a small bit of relief.

That relief was short-lived, however. Professor Cree came to the dish and smacked a long triple to the right field fence – scoring Hemphill and Wolter to open up a three run cushion. LaPorte rolled a grounder to Barry who in his haste, or perhaps rusty from his injury-induced layoff, launched a throw so far over Davis’s head that the ball ended up in the grandstand. Cree scored and the Yankees were up, 7-3. Coombs retired Knight and Austin to end the frame and his day’s work.

After yesterday’s deluge, the large hometown crowd on the hilltop was treated to a fine game on a sunny, albeit breezy and cool day. Ford settled into a groove and held the Athletics scoreless the rest of the way – allowing just two hits and a walk over the final five innings. Mack brought in Jimmy Dygert to relieve Coombs. “Sunny Jim” as he is known to his teammates, was making his season debut. The young spitball artist held the Yankees off the board over their final four trip to the plate – scattering three hits and a walk.

The box is as follows:

NOTES:

• Pitcher Jimmy Dygert, catcher Jack Lapp, outfielder Heinie Heitmuller, and infielder Morrie Rath all made their season debuts for the Athletics today.
• Shortstop Jack Barry made his return to the starting lineup for the first time since injuring his ankle during the home opener on April 20.
• Yankees right fielder Harry Wolter finished the game with four hits in five at-bats. It was Wolter’s first four-hit game since August 24, 1907 when he was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.
• The series is scheduled to resume this afternoon at American League Park. Mack is planning on sending Chief Bender to the box.
• With the win, the Yankees (5-3) moved past the Athletics (5-4) into second place in the American League. Both teams trail the Detroit Tigers (7-3).

American League

Yesterday’s scores (April 28, 1910):

• New York 7, Philadelphia 3
• Detroit 7, St. Louis 1
• Washington 2, Boston 1 (12 innings)
• Chicago at Cleveland (rain)

National League

Yesterday’s scores (April 28, 1910):

• New York 5, Philadelphia 2 (13 innings)
• Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 2
• Chicago 2, St. Louis 1
• Brooklyn 10, Boston 3