100 Years Ago Today 6/30/1920: Brooklyn Robins Sweep Twin Bill at Polo Grounds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #63: Wednesday, June 30, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Zack Wheat Erupts for Home Run, Five Runs Batted In; Robins Snap Six Game Skid

Few things make Uncle Robbie happier in life like defeating the New York Giants.  As we know resentment for his old team runs deep.  Beating his decades old rival at the Polo Grounds merely sweetens the prize.  Thus in game one the Robins snap a season high six game losing streak with a commanding 7-3 margin of victory at Coogan's Bluff.  Clarence Mitchell, making his eighth appearance of the season but only his fourth start, keeps the New Yorkers at bay surrendering three late runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts through a full nine innings pitched.  He improves to 4-0 with a 3.38 earned run average.  Giants starter Jesse Barnes on this day does not live up to his billing yielding six runs on seven hits including a home run through six innings pitched.  The Robins score one last time in the seventh against reliever Jesse Winters.  Left fielder Zack Wheat leads Brooklyn's efforts at the plate going 2 for 4 with a triple, home run, and five runs batted in.  Meanwhile Tommy Griffith continues silencing the naysayers with a 2 for 4 day, a run scored and one run batted in.  Making his much welcome return to the lineup Ivy Olson also triples and drives in a run.


Game #64: Wednesday, June 30, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Burleigh Grimes Towers Over Giants; Robins Complete Wednesday Sweep at Polo Grounds

The Robins finish what they start, taking game two and sweeping Wednesday's twin bill from the Giants.  A match more to Uncle Robbie's liking, it's a low scoring affair featuring dominant pitching and timely hitting.  New York scores once in the ninth inning ruining the shutout, but can do little else to thwart Burleigh Grimes' ninth victory of the season against five losses with a 2.28 ERA.  Outside of the one late run Grimes hurls a gem limiting the Giants to just five hits and one walk through nine innings complete.  After four scoreless innings Otto Miller in the fifth drives in Brooklyn's first run of the game.  Ed Konetchy drives in a run on a sac-fly in the seventh, then plates his second run with another sac-fly in the ninth.  High Pockets Kelly drives in the Giants lone run in the last half of the frame.  With a pair of victories the Robins lift themselves up from fourth place back into second, but only by a mere percentage point above the Cubs and Cardinals.                                         

• RECORD: 33-30
• 2nd place; 3.0 GB