Saturday, May 23, 2020

100 Years Ago Today 5/23/1920: Pirates Elmer Ponder Blanks Brooklyn Robins at Ebbets Field

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary
BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #26: Sunday, May 23, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Losing Pitcher's Duel at Ebbets Field Lends Plenty for Uncle Robbie to Ponder During Train Ride Back to Pittsburgh

The series shifts briefly to Brooklyn for game two before returning back to Pittsburgh for the balance of the Robins five game clash with the Pirates.  Making his fifth start of the season Jeff Pfeffer is opposed by Pirates right-hander Elmer Ponder.  Some 10,000 fans in attendance at Ebbets Field watch as the two hurlers trade goose eggs for eight innings.  In the top of the ninth Pittsburgh manufactures the lone run of the game.  Pfeffer harms his own cause by plunking lead-off hitter Possum Whitted.  Left fielder Fred Nicholson successfully bunts Whitted to second.  With one out first baseman Charlie Grimm slaps a single to left field scoring Whitted.  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth Jimmy Johnson triples to left but is left stranded when Zack Wheat pops out in foul territory to Pirates catcher Walter Schmidt.  Elmer Ponder yields no runs on five hits and no walks with a strikeout in a complete game shutout effort.  No shame in Pfeffer's effort, who surrenders the one earned run on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts through nine innings.  Despite a 1.93 ERA hard luck Pfeffer sees his record drop to 1-4 on the season.  Brooklyn ultimately fails to seize the day.  Pittsburgh now owns a one game lead over the second place Cincinnati Reds.  In third place Brooklyn ends the day 1.5 games out of first.  However, Brooklyn and the Reds are presently tied with a league leading +22 run differential.  The first place Pirates are only +5 in run differential.

  • RECORD: 14-11 (.560)
  • 3rd place; 1.5 GB


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