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!
Going for a four-game sweep, the Athletics get rained out and hop a train for New York
BOSTON, April 26, 1910 – In what has become a recurring theme during the almost two weeks of this baseball season, rain forced the postponement of a baseball game. This time it was this afternoon’s game between the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox at Huntington Avenue Grounds. The game was to have been the final one of the four-game series; instead, it will be made up when the Athletics return to Boston at the end of May.
In all, five games were rained out in Major League Baseball on Tuesday – bringing the total to twenty-seven games that have been postponed because of rain, cold, or wet grounds. Twenty-seven! The season is only twelve days old. Red Sox management called the game early, giving both teams a head start on departing for their next destination. The Red Sox departed South Station for Washington last night.
Connie Mack decided to take the the 4 o’clock train in making the short trip to Grand Central Station where the Athletics will tangle with the Yankees. The two teams are scheduled to play four games starting tomorrow afternoon. Jack Coombs will likely make his second start of the season on the hilltop tomorrow.
The Athletics and defending American League champion Detroit Tigers are tied for first place (5-3) at this early juncture.
In the National League, the Phillies have surprised the baseball world by sprinting to a 7-1 start. The world champion Pittsburgh Pirates are a mere one game back and won’t go away quietly.
The Athletics are outhit by a wide margin, but win their third straight game, 4-2
BOSTON, April 25, 1910 – After a Sunday rest, the Athletics and host Red Sox resumed their hostilities on another unseasonably cold day in The Hub of the Solar System. For the third consecutive game, opportunity knocked for both teams, once again, Boston did not answer the door. The Mackmen were outhit by a three to one ratio, but made the most of their chances.
Red Sox manager Patsy Donovan sent the fire balling Joe Wood to the box in hopes of salvaging the third game of the four-game set. Despite being just 20 years of age, Wood and the Athletics are old acquaintances. On October 3, 1908, Wood, just 18, won his first major league game – a rain-shortened, six inning shutout over Mack’s Athletics, 5-0. It was the final game the Athletics ever played in their original home – Columbia Park.
Mack had originally planned to start Chief Bender this afternoon. In a change of plans, however, Mack decided to push Bender back for a start in New York later in the week. Instead, the slender Tommy Atkins was tabbed to make his season debut. The young lefty made his major league debut on the final day of the regular season last year. He was matched up against the great Walter Johnson – and, despite an uneven performance, it was enough to earn the victory.
Of the 4,094 bundled up in wool and fur, there was a special guest at Huntington Avenue Grounds. Former star shortstop George Wright of the 70’s Boston Red Stockings teams was in attendance. The frosty conditions made the hot chocolate vendor everybody’s best friend. The gale blowing out to left field would eventually come into play.
The Athletics looked to start trouble in the very first inning. With two men down, the hot-hitting Eddie Collins singled to left and promptly stole second base. Frank Baker, still mired in his early-season slump, hit a hard come-backer at Wood. The ball took a high hop on the damp field and was sure to go into center field. The younger pitcher leapt in the air and with every bit of his five foot, eleven inch frame, snared the ball and fired to first baseman Jake Stahl to retire the side. Running on contact, Collins would have scored easily on the play.
Boston wasted no time in scoring. Amby McConnell led off with a walk. Harry Lord laid down a bunt to move the runner along. While first baseman Harry Davis charged as the pitch was being delivered, second baseman Collins forgot to cover the bag. Atkins fielded Lord’s bunt and had no play at third. The Red Sox were in business. Donovan ordered Speaker to bunt, and he laid down a beauty toward third base. In a brilliant defensive play, Baker charged the ball and made an off-balance throw to Davis – nipping Speaker by half a step.
Stahl floated one into center field – scoring McConnell. Heinie Wagner hit into a fielder’s choice – forcing Stahl at second with Lord stopping at third base. Harry Niles snuck a grounder past shortstop Stuffy McInnis and the Red Sox had a 2-0 lead. Atkins stopped the bleeding when he got Duffy Lewis to ground out to second.
Collins led off the top of the fourth inning with his team down 2-0. He got a hold of Wood’s fastball and launched a high fly ball in the direction of the short fence in left field. The ball was high enough that it got picked up by the jet stream out to left. The ball started to drift farther and farther. Lewis drifted along until finally reaching the fence. Lewis timed his jump but the sphere landed just out his reach and into the sparsely populated bleachers. It was Eddie’s fifth career home run. Wood got Baker, Davis, and Danny Murphy to fly out in succession to avoid further damage.
The White Elephants kept the pressure on in their half of the fifth inning. McInnis opened with a double to left. The play at second base was so close that when umpire Tommy Connolly made his call, Red Sox captain Lord raced in to argue over his decision. The call, obviously, stood. Ira Thomas fouled out to Lord. McInnis then reached third on a passed ball by catcher Bill Carrigan. Atkins struck out and Hartsel drew a base on base balls. Hartsel broke for second on the first pitch to Oldring. Carrigan avoided making the throw for fear of allowing McInnis to score a cheap run.
Oldring shot a sharp single to left field – easily scoring McInnis. Hartsel, now 36 and having lost a step, was chugging around third. Left fielder Lewis made a perfect, one-hop throw to Carrigan. Hartsel was out by twenty feet. Carrigan, however, muffed the ball on the hop and it bounced to the backstop – scoring Hartsel and allowing Oldring to get all the way to third base. Collins followed with a fly to right-center field. Right fielder Niles caught up to the ball but dropped it immediately, allowing Rube to score the third run of the inning. All of a sudden, the visitors held a 4-2 lead. The snake-bit Baker hit a sharp grounder that was knocked down by McConnell to retire the side.
The score remained 4-2 as the game breezed into the bottom of the ninth inning. Mack decided to keep his young starter in the game with the heart of Boston’s order due up. Lord hit a come-backer to Atkins for the first out, and Speaker followed with a ground ball to Collins for out number two. Stahl, not ready for the shower, poked his third hit of the game to bring up the tying run in the person of Heinie Wagner. The hefty shortstop popped out to Davis and the Athletics have a three-game winning streak.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
Third baseman Frank Baker’s early-season struggles continue. Through eight games, he is hitting a meager .182 with one extra-base hit.
Left fielder Topsy Hartsel isn’t hitting but is getting on base at a healthy clip. After Monday’s 0-1, 3 BB performance, Topsy’s average dipped to .167, but his on-base percentage has soared to .429.
The Athletics averted disaster in the bottom of the fourth inning. Baker was chasing a foul pop off the bat of Heinie Wagner, Baker slipped on the wet grass and crashed against the fence – hurting his hand. He stayed in the game, but that is an injury to keep a keen eye on as the season progresses.
Shortstop Jack Barry (ankle) is getting closer to returning to the starting lineup.
The two teams are slated to complete the four-game set this afternoon (April 26). Weather permitting, of course. The Athletics will then ship off to New York.
Solid stick work by Collins and Davis, and Plank’s gutsy pitching helps Mackmen slide past Red Sox in extras, 5-3
BOSTON, April 23, 1910 – For the second day in a row, the Boston Red Sox had chance after chance to pull away from Mr. Mack’s Athletics. For the second day in a row, they squandered those opportunities. In a back-and-forth affair at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, 13,693 hardy souls braved bitterly cold conditions to witness their Speed Boys fall to the Athletics, 5-3 in 11 grueling innings.
A damp and bone-chilling easterly wind whipped vigorously throughout the nearly two and a half hour marathon. The conditions made for playing a game of baseball less than ideal. Brilliant defense, absent-minded base running, uneven pitching, and negligent coaching were the order of the day. In spite of that, it was a thrilling affair and Mack’s boys were the victors.
Eddie Cicotte, Boston’s robust knuckle baller, started the contest by striking out lead off man Topsy Hartsel with one of his patented floaters. Rube Oldring then slammed a grounder that was ticketed for the left field corner. Red Sox third baseman Harry Lord ranged to his right and speared the ball one-handed. With Rube’s speed, Lord knew he had to hurry. Without setting his feet, he fired across the diamond where his throw pulled first baseman Jake Stahl off the bag and into the running lane. In one motion, Stahl snared the throw and swiped Oldring – saving Lord an error. Eddie Collins struck out to end the top half of the first.
Disaster struck the Red Sox in their half of the third inning thanks to inexperience on the coaching lines. Bill Carrigan reached on an error by shortstop Stuffy McInnis. Cicotte flied out to left field and Amby McConnell drew a walk. With one out and runners at first and second, the hot-hitting Lord had an opportunity to give the Hubmen the lead. Lord looped the ball just over first baseman Harry Davis’s head and into short right field. As Carrigan chugged for third, the ever instinctive Collins sprinted for the ball.
Boston’s 22-year old right fielder, Harry Hooper, who wasn’t in the starting lineup, was manning the third base coach’s box. The play was behind Carrigan, who could not see the ball or the developing play. Waiting for instruction from Hooper, none came. Either not paying attention, or simply suffering from a mental lapse, Hooper just stood there. Carrigan decided to round for home. Collins scooped the ball, turned and fired a strike to catcher Paddy Livingston. Carrigan was more than half way home when he realized that the husky backstop had possession of the ball.
Carrigan dug his spikes into the mud and retreated to his previous station. Livingston discarded his birdcage and commenced pursuit. Paddy won the race – tagging Carrigan, and in the process, keeping McConnell and Lord from taking an extra base. Young star Tris Speaker ended the threat by grounding out to third baseman Frank Baker.
Given a reprieve, the Mackmen took advantage in their half of the fourth inning. Hartsel, struggling to get base hits, drew his customary walk leading off an inning. Trying to put pressure on Cicotte and the Red Sox defense, Mack called for a steal. Red Sox manager Patsy Donovan, sensing the strategy, called for a pitch out. Carrigan fired a seed to McConnell, and Hartsel was out by a country mile. Cicotte, however, was not out of the woods.
Oldring quickly followed with single to center – Philadelphia’s first safety of the contest. Connie stayed aggressive; this time calling for a hit and run with his best hitter at the plate. Collins did his job by lining a sharp base hit by McConnell – sending Oldring to third. Baker followed with a lazy fly ball to deep center field. Speaker dropped the ball. Oldring, who would have scored anyway, trotted home with the first run of the game. Collins, now stuck in no-man’s land, was thrown out trying to reach second base. Cicotte retired Davis to avoid further damage.
The lead was short-lived as Eddie Plank gave the run right back. After striking out Stahl, Heinie Wagner reached on a bunt single. Collins followed with a sensational defensive play. Harry Niles hit a sharp grounder that was destined for right field. Heading to his left, Collins cut the ball off, and, while off-balance, scooped the ball with his glove to Davis for the out. Wagner advancing to second on the play. Duffy Lewis singled to center field – scoring Wagner to tie the game. The inning ended when Livingston did what he does best – throwing out a potential base-stealer.
The game remained 1-1 until the top of the sixth. Hartsel walked…again. Oldring was retired on a slow roller to short; allowing Topsy to reach second. Collins lined a single to center – scoring Hartsel and taking second on Speaker’s throw home. Collins utilized his legs to take third when one of Cicotte’s knucklers rolled away just far enough from Carrigan. Baker walked and Davis sliced a single to right – scoring Collins, sending Baker to third, and giving the Mackmen a 3-1 lead. Danny Murphy followed with a sharp liner to right that Niles corralled with a fine running catch. Davis, thinking the ball would drop in, was half way to second and was doubled up.
Plank seemed to be on his way to an easy victory. However, trouble found him in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a multi-run, late-inning lead, “Gettysburg Eddie” committed the pitcher’s cardinal sin – he walked the lead off batter. Niles drawing the free pass. Lewis popped out to Collins to bring up the struggling Carrigan to the plate. Plank grooved one, and “Rough,” as he is known in The Hub, met the sphere with the sweet spot of his club. The high-arcing blast nestled into the left field bleachers, fair by about ten feet – scoring Niles ahead of him and tying the battle. The 13,000 plus rooters whooped themselves into a frenzy as Carrigan rounded the bases.
Connie’s port side twirler still needed two secure two outs to, at best, keep the game dead-locked. Mercifully, the light-hitting Cicotte followed, and promptly grounded out. McConnell singled and chose to attempt a pilfer of the second sack. He did not choose wisely. As he had three innings earlier, Livingston snuffed out another rally by nailing a potential base thief.
The Red Sox threatened Plank again in the eighth. Lord led off with a single and stole second. With a runner in scoring position and nobody out, the rooters at the rickety enclosure on Huntington Avenue began to strenuously cheer for the hometown nine. Plank buckled down and coaxed a pop up to first from Speaker and a strikeout of Stahl. Wagner, then, threatened to put the Speed Boys ahead. He flared a Plank offering over first base and down the right field line. The crowd grew louder. Davis turned and sprinted to a spot. On the dead run, with his back to the infield, Harry reached out and secured the ball while half way down the line. The crowed groaned. The Athletics exhaled. The was inning was over.
Speaker, the young Texan, reminded all why he is a superior fly chaser. Davis led off the ninth by blasting a Cicotte offering toward the flagpole in right-center field. Speaker, playing Davis to pull, rushed to the flagpole and reached with his gloved hand – pulling in the ball and saving his pitcher at least three bases. Murphy singled but never made it past second base. The Red Sox had a lead off runner in the bottom half of the ninth when Carrigan reached on a McInnis error. He was quickly erased on a Baker to Collins to Davis double play. Free baseball in Beantown!
Boston had a golden opportunity to cop a victory in the bottom of the tenth. Donovan decided to leave Cicotte in the game and Knuckles rewarded him by banging a lead off double down the left field line. With McConnell up next, Donovan called for a sacrifice. He missed on the first pitch, then decided to swing away. It was a fateful decision. He lofted a lazy fly ball to left – Cicotte unable to advance. Red Sox captain Lord then drove a ball into right-center where Murphy chased it down for the second out. Had Cicotte been on third, the game would have been over. Speaker ended the threat by grounding out to short.
Collins opened the eleventh with a hard single to right. Baker, attempting a sacrifice, executed the perfect bunt down the third base line. Lord charged and fired to first, but Baker beat the throw. The Elephants were in business. Davis promptly scorched a base hit past Stahl and into right field – scoring Collins. With Collins’s speed, right fielder Niles had zero chance nabbing Eddie at the plate. He made the throw anyway – allowing Baker to take third base. Murphy walked and the bases were loaded.
Young McInnis hit a slow roller to Wagner at short who momentarily bobbled the ball before throwing to first for the out. The bobble allowed Baker to score. The bases remained loaded with one out and the Athletics were on the verge of more damage. Livingston then popped out to Wagner and Plank followed with a ground out to short.
Plank, now staked to a 5-3 lead, was sent back out for the eleventh inning. The Red Sox needed just one base runner for a chance, and the middle of the order was coming to bat. They went down without so much as a whimper. Eddie retired Stahl, Wagner, and Niles in order to finally secure a hard fought victory.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
With a record of 4-3, the Athletics are over .500 for the first time all season.
Red Sox shortstop Heinie Wagner had six putouts before recording his first assist.
With two more walks today, Topsy Hartsel has increased his on-base percentage to .387, despite sporting a meager .174 batting average.
Catcher Paddy Livingston made a great play on lead off man Jake Stahl in the bottom of the eleventh inning. Stahl popped a foul that was ticketed for the box seats. Livingston went back and reached into the hostile crowd – securing the ball.
Red Sox catcher Bill Carrigan’s game-tying home run in the seventh inning was already his second of the season and third of his career.
After a day off, the teams will resume hostilities on Monday. Chief Bender is expected to take the ball for the Athletics. The Red Sox are planning on sending Joe Wood to the box.
BOSTON, April 22, 1910 – Young southpaw Harry Krause arrived at the Huntington Avenue Grounds this afternoon and held the high-powered Red Sox offense off the board for a full nine innings. It was precarious at times, but a whitewashing, nonetheless.
Connie’s White Elephants arrived at the Hub late this morning and headed to their hotel for a quick lunch before heading to the ball grounds for their first tussle with Boston this season. The Red Sox offense would present a challenge – they had just scored 21 runs in four games against Washington; winning three of the four. The young outfield of Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, and Harry Hooper, dubbed the Speed Boys by the local press, has star potential.
Krause, making his season debut, is coming off a superb 1909 campaign and is on the verge of stardom. The baby-faced San Franciscan finished his maiden campaign 18-8, with seven shutouts and a 1.39 earned run average. Mack is expecting a repeat performance.
The day was cold, grey, and damp. An overnight rain left the outfield a sloppy mess. The Athletics had a promising start to the game as lead off man Topsy Hartsel drew his usual base on balls to commence a contest – this one off Red Sox starter Charley Hall. Rube Oldring and Eddie Collins each followed by grounding into a fielder’s choice. Frank Baker struck out and the Athletics came out with nothing across in their half of the initial frame.
The Red Sox looked as if they would continue their early-season, offensive onslaught in their half of the first. Amby McConnell walked and Harry Lord followed by shooting a single to right. Krause, unable to locate the plate, walked Speaker and the Hubmen had every station occupied with nobody out. Jake Stahl roped a low liner that would have easily plated a pair of runs. However, second baseman Eddie Collins had other plans. He speared the smash and threw to first baseman Harry Davis to double off Speaker who was caught in no-man’s land. Heinie Wagner popped a foul ball to Davis for the final out.
Hall and Krause – after his first inning, high wire act – both settled into a relative groove. The Red Sox had their chances throughout. Three runners reached third base and seven reached second – all without denting the dish a single time. The Red Sox threatened again in the fourth inning. After two were down, Wagner singled and Harry Niles doubled. Hooper had a chance to plate two runs with a safety to the outfield. He got a hold of a Krause offering and sliced it to deep left field where Hartsel flagged it down – and, once again, Krause was off the ropes.
The Elephants finally tallied a run in the sixth inning. Collins doubled to deep center field and advanced to third on Baker’s ground out. Collins scored on a bingle by the struggling Davis and the visitors had a 1-0 lead. The Red Sox avoided further damage in the inning when shortstop Wagner made a running, over-the-shoulder catch on a ball flared by Stuffy McInnis.
The Red Sox kept the pressure on, and each time Krause and the Athletics’ defense answered the call. In the bottom half of the sixth, Boston nearly answered back. Lord was safe on an error by Krause and took second on Speaker’s sacrifice. Stahl worked a walk and Wagner flied out to right fielder Danny Murphy. With two down, Boston manager Patsy Donovan called for a double steal. Lord and Stahl executed it to perfection. Again, two were in scoring position. Once again, Krause buckled down. Niles popped a foul to Davis who snared it at the edge of the grandstand to nullify another Boston rally.
It remained a one-run game until the ninth inning. Ira Thomas hit a slow grounder to second baseman McConnell who bobbled the ball, recovered, then threw the ball in the dirt where Stahl was unable to make the scoop. Krause bunted to Stahl, who foolishly attempted to nab Thomas at second – both runners were safe. Hartsel followed with a sacrifice to Hall who took the out at first. Oldring then split the right-center field gap with a ringing triple that scored both runners to give the Mackmen a 3-0 cushion. Collins fouled out and Baker struck out, ending the frame.
The Red Sox had one last chance. After retiring Stahl and Wagner, Niles singled and Duffy Lewis, pinch hitting for Hooper, got a hit of his own. Bill Carrigan came up to the plate, representing the tying run. As he had all day, Krause focused on the task and coaxed Carrigan to loft a can of corn to Hartsel – ending the hostilities for the day.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
Friday’s decision in Boston was 21-year old Harry Krause’s twentieth career victory and eighth career shutout.
The sky was so dark and ominous that batters from both teams had a tough time seeing and gauging the speed of pitches – especially, Charley Hall’s fastball.
In the eighth inning, Red Sox second baseman Amby McConnell took an inside pitch from Krause which seemed to hit the knob of the bat and called a foul ball. McConnell protested to home plate umpire Bill Dinneen that he was hit on the wrist. Dinneen agreed and awarded McConnell first base.
Mack will send Eddie Plank to the box this afternoon. Red Sox manager Patsy Donovan will counter with knuckleballer Eddie Cicotte.
Athletics are blanked, 1-0 by Yanks pitcher making his starting debut
PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 1910 – New York’s husky new recruit had the Athletics completely baffled before a sparse crowd on a bitterly cold day at Shibe Park this afternoon. Russell Ford, the 27-year old from the Canadian prairie, pitching in his third big league game and making his inaugural major league start, had Connie’s White Elephants twisted in knots all afternoon.
The ball out of Ford’s hand was breaking unlike anything seen before. What was that? Was that a spitter? A splitter? Was there pine tar or some other substance? Perhaps there was an emery board? Veteran first sacker Harry Davis, who in his 15 years in the majors has seen just about everything, struck out four times for the first time in his illustrious career. Davis’s final strikeout, in the ninth inning, left him muttering as he trudged back to the dugout.
Mack’s veteran pitcher, Cy Morgan, was quite formidable himself – matching Ford pitch for pitch. After being blanked by Chief Bender during yesterday’s carnival, the Yankees got to business early this afternoon. Charlie Hemphill led off the game by lofting a mile-high fly ball to the center pasture. High enough to miss the low and thick cloud cover by an eyelash. By the time gravity completed its course, the white sphere had nestled in center fielder Rube Oldring’s well-worn glove.
Harry Wolter followed by lacing a liner over third baseman Frank Baker’s head and down the left field line. The fleet-footed Californian easily made second base. From there, manager George Stallings decided to play the inside game. Wolter promptly broke for third base where even catcher Paddy Livingston’s slingshot could not nip him in time. With captain Hal Chase now at-bat, Stallings called for a suicide squeeze.
Between Wolter’s blazing speed and Chase’s bat control, the childhood friends executed the order with surgical precision. The unsuspecting Morgan decided to go to a full windup with a runner on third base. The instant he rocked into his delivery, Wolter broke for home. Morgan’s pitch was outside to the right hand-hitting Chase who stretched out the lumber and caught the ball with the barrel. The ball rolled to shortstop Stuffy McInnis who neatly retired Chase at first – scoring Wolter with ease. Birdie Cree followed with a base on balls but was eventually thrown out by Livingston while trying to steal second.
The game quickly moved along as the two hurler’s did yeoman’s work in the box. The Yanks had some minor scoring threats throughout the course of the game – but, they were minor brush fires and not fill-fledged conflagrations. As usual, an Athletics’ pitcher was helped out by air-tight defense – this time in the form of a pair of double plays commenced by Baker.
The affair finally reached the ninth frame with the belligerents engaged in a fierce struggle for the outcome. The sky – overcast the entire game – became ominously dark. The air was heavy and a downpour seemed imminent. Morgan escaped the top half with a clean frame and the Mackmen needed one to prolong the battle. Ford, not having been stretched out as a starter, may have been tiring. The Athletics, sensing an opening, had one last chance.
Lead off man Topsy Hartsel struck out to start the ninth. Oldring then smashed the ball to third baseman Jimmy Austin. He knocked it down, but the Rube beat it out for an infield single and the tying run was aboard. Eddie Collins peppered Ford with a one-hopper back to the box. In his haste to retire the fleet Collins, Ford dropped the pill and the winning run was on. Baker then barreled an offering, but it found the leather on the right-hand of the slick-fielding Chase. Two Elephants were down and two more in scoring position.
Up to the plate came Davis. The one Athletic who was utterly flummoxed by Ford’s offerings all day. With one swing of his mighty club, however, Davis would be the instant hero. The small gathering of frozen denizens were now cheering themselves hoarse as Davis dug in. All Jasper needed was a hit to send everyone home happy. It wasn’t meant to be. Ford made quick work of Connie’s captain – sending him down swinging to secure the victory for the Manhattanites.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
Captain Harry Davis made his major league debut on September 21, 1895. Yesterday (April 21) was the first time in his 15-year career that he fanned four times in a single game.
Shortstop Stuffy McInnis made a couple of stellar defensive plays while he holds the position down for injured shortstop Jack Barry.
Third baseman Frank Baker started two nifty double plays to snuff out a couple of New York rallies.
The Athletics did not have a runner reach second base until the ninth inning.
After the game, the White Elephants headed to Broad Street Station where they boarded a train for Boston where they will begin a three-game, weekend series with the Red Sox on Friday.
Young southpaw Harry Krause is expected to make his season debut against the Red Sox on Friday.
Cleveland Naps christen their new park
CLEVELAND – Athletics president Benjamin Shibe, American League president Ban Johnson and a number of other dignitaries helped the Naps christen their new concrete and steel palace – League Park yesterday (April 21) afternoon. While ancient hurler Cy Young began the game for the Naps, he was upstaged by Detroit righty Ed Willett who shutout the Clevelanders, 5-0.
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.
Opening Day festivities at Shibe Park are washed away…again
PHILADELPHIA, April 19, 1910 – For the second day in a row, old Mother Nature made it impossible for baseball to be played at the corner of Twenty-First and Lehigh – or many other towns for that matter.
While the Athletics are whittling the time away at home, the Highlanders are idle in their downtown hotel – giving room service a workout. The grounds crew at Shibe Park has their work cut out for them with the amount of rain that has fallen on the grounds over the last thirty-six hours – making the field more suitable for a fishing derby than a ballgame.
The weather forecast for Wednesday (April 20) is a bit more promising and if the field isn’t overly water-logged, the show will go on. Gates will open promptly at 1 o’clock for the usual Opening Day pomp and circumstance. Kendle’s First Regiment Band will entertain the arriving rooters followed by both teams marching out to center field for the flag-raising ceremony.
The pitching probabilities are Chief Bender for the Athletics and Joe Doyle will toe the rubber for the New Yorkers. Highlanders manager George Stallings stated that Rube Manning would get the start should Doyle be unable to perform. First pitch is scheduled for 3 o’clock.
Rain mars Tuesday’s major league schedule
For the second day in a row, rain did a number on the major league schedule. Only games in Boston and Chicago went off without a hitch. And, for the second consecutive day, the entire National League schedule was washed away. We all remember the line about April showers, but this is something!
Opening Day festivities are postponed, rescheduled for today.
PHILADELPHIA, April 18, 1910 – For the first time in their ten-year history, the Philadelphia Athletics had a home opener postponed by inhospitable weather. Even worse, the weatherman calls for more rain today.
All of the festivities that were scheduled for Monday’s game will go off before today’s game. The gates will be opened at 1 o’clock and Kendle’s First Regiment Band will perform their program with nine musical selections. Al Reach, the sporting goods magnate and member of the old Athletics from the National Association, is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Connie Mack and New York manager George Stallings have still not officially named their starters, but Mack will choose between Chief Bender and Cy Morgan. The Highlanders will select between Joe Doyle and Rube Manning. When, or if, the field is suitable for baseball, first pitch will be at 3 o’clock.
Rain wreaks havoc on Monday’s major league schedule
The Philadelphia area wasn’t the only location to incur Mother Nature’s wrath on Monday. Three of the four American League games were washed away yesterday, while the entire National League docket was erased.
Scoring three in the ninth, Washington cops the rubber game, 4-3
WASHINGTON, April 16, 1910 – Jack Coombs was coming off a solid, if unspectacular season. Connie Mack expects him to elevate his game to the next level this season. For eight strong innings yesterday afternoon, “Colby Jack” was a world-beater. Unfortunately for the Athletics, a ninth inning had to be played.
Approximately 6,000 Washingtonians sat quietly in a light rain on a chilly, windswept day and watched Coombs quietly go about his business – mowing down their lineup with an assortment of fastballs and twelve-to-six curve balls. Senators righty Dixie Walker was no slouch himself – scattering nine hits and striking out two batters. As the game wore on, the winds picked up, making the job of patrolling the outfield utterly precarious.
The Athletics had a chance to break through first on the scoreboard. Danny Murphy led off the top of the second inning with a triple. Jack Barry struck out, bringing up light-hitting Ira Thomas. Thomas grounded to second baseman Germany Schaefer who nailed Murphy at the plate. After retiring Coombs, Walker was out of trouble.
Washington wasted no time in their half. Doc Gessler led off with a triple of his own and promptly scored when Bob Unglaub floated a Texas Leaguer over the head of second baseman Eddie Collins. Coombs buckled down by retiring George McBride, Gabby Street, and Walker in succession – ending the threat. There was little action until Athletics first baseman Harry Davis doubled with one out in the fourth inning. Walker escaped without any damage – Davis stranded on second.
Connie’s troops tallied their first run in the sixth inning. Collins reached on a two-base error by shortstop McBride and went to third on a passed ball by Street. Frank Baker followed with a ringing liner to right field. Gessler speared the sphere and quickly fired it home where it nestled in Street’s mitt – on the money. Collins, sensing he would have been deader than a duck during shotgun season, held his ground. Davis picked Baker up, however, by lofting a deep sacrifice fly to center field – tying the score at one.
The Athletics tacked on another run in the seventh. Barry opened with a single and advanced to second on Thomas’s grounder to the box – Walker making a stellar play to record the out at first. Coombs popped one into foul territory where Unglaub made the catch running away from the infield – allowing Barry to advance to third with two down. Walker had Hartsel buried with a two-strike count, then left a fat one over the dish. Topsy lined a double to the left pasture, giving the visitors their first lead of the skirmish.
The Philadelphians seemed to have salted the game away in the ninth frame. With one out, Barry tripled to deep left field and scored on the very next pitch – a single by Thomas. Coombs followed with a bingle of his own and the Macks looked like they would strike for more runs. Hartsel lofted a fly to center, but with the blustery conditions as they were, it was anything but routine. Clyde Milan looked like a one-armed paper hanger awaiting the ball’s descent before finally securing it for the second out. Rube Oldring hit a bounding ball to third baseman Kid Elberfeld who tagged Thomas passing through.
Having built a 3-1 lead and Coombs seemingly cruising to victory, the locals had little to cheer. They began to clap and cheer half-heartedly as the bottom half of the ninth commenced. That was to try and stay warm more than anything else. Having given up hope, others headed for the exits, and home to a warm supper. When Jack Lelivelt opened with an infield single, the exodus halted. Lelivelt smashed a liner at the hot corner. The ball staggered Baker who knocked it down but could not recover in time to record the out.
The commotion at the rickety enclosure on Florida Avenue grew louder. Elberfeld followed with a single to left and the tying runs were on base. The remaining rooters became louder. With the left-hand hitting Gessler coming to bat, Mack shifted the infield and drew them in – expecting a bunt. Washington skipper McAleer put on the hit-and-run. Gessler grounded the ball through the right side, splitting Collins and Davis, scoring Lelivelt but, inexplicably, Elberfeld stopped at second. With runners at first and second, McAleer ordered Unglaub to sacrifice.
He was unsuccessful on the first two pitches before finally striking out. McBride worked Coombs to a full count. On the next pitch, he lined the ball over Baker’s head and down the left field line, scoring Elberfeld to tie the contest. With Gessler carrying the winning run at third and one out, Coombs and Thomas called a conference. Mack’s decision was to walk the light-hitting Street to load the bases and try for the inning-ending double play.
With Street given the free pass, McAleer lifted him for the fleet-footed Wid Conroy and instructed utility man Red Killefer to grab a bat and hit in the pinch for Walker. The bases now loaded and one out, what was left of the paid crowd of 6,067 was now in a frenzy. Killefer took the first two pitches for strikes before finally working the count full. With Coombs and Killefer engaged in a fierce struggle and the next pitch possibly deciding the game, the crowd became eerily quiet.
Thomas put down the sign and the “Colby Carbine” rocked into his windup. A curve ball! Missed the plate by a foot. “Ball four,” bellowed umpire Billy Evans. Gessler trotted home with the winning tally. As Killefer made his was up the first base line, the crowd jumped the walls and rushed the field to congratulate McAleer and his men.
For Mr. Mack, the Athletics, and especially Jack Coombs, a loss doesn’t get much more devastating. The train ride to Philadelphia will be long and most assuredly quiet.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
This is the third consecutive season the Athletics have started with a 1-2 record.
This is the first time in franchise history that the Athletics have not committed an error through the first three games of a season.
Connie Mack has only used three pitchers through the first three games. The last time that happened was 1908 (Nick Carter, Rube Vickers, Biff Schlitzer).
Athletics third baseman Frank Baker ran into an on-field photographer in the third inning – nearly smashing a $350 camera. The photographer’s head hit Baker’s knee. No injuries or damage.
The Mackmen boarded a train for Philadelphia at Union Station after the game. They will rest on Sunday before kicking off the home season at Shibe Park on Monday afternoon. The game against the New Yorkers will be called at 3 o’clock.
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