100 Years Ago Today 7/12/1920: First Place Brooklyn Robins Sweep Twin Bill at Cubs Park

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #78: Monday, July 12, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Chicago Cubs (make-up 5/11/1920)
Cubs Park

Burleigh Grimes Wins Again

Brooklyn hitters beat Cubs starter Speed Martin like a drum, pounding the right-hander for thirteen runs on sixteen total hits.  Although only seven runs are earned, Martin's effort nevertheless falls short of being considered effective.  The Robins score in all but the fifth, eighth, and ninth innings.  Pete Kilduff is the lone Robins starting player failing to record a hit, but draws three walks, scores twice, and drives in two runs.  All other starters hit safely including Burleigh Grimes who is 1 for 4 with a run batted in.  Replacing catcher Otto Miller as a pinch runner in the fourth, Zack Taylor goes 2 for 3 with a double and two runs batted in.  Hi Myers goes 2 for 3 with a triple, two runs scored, and like Kilduff and Taylor drives in two runs extending his team lead to forty.  In return for consistent starts in right field an appreciative Tommy Griffith continues producing for Wilbert Robinson going 2 for 6 with a double, triple, and a run batted in.  Ed Konetchy lifts his average to .328 with two hits in four at-bats, and Zack Wheat goes 2 for 4 with three runs scored, and one run batted in.  Making his fifteenth start of the season, Burleigh Grimes now Brooklyn's unmitigated ace, yields three earned runs on eight hits and four walks with three strikeouts through nine complete innings.  With a fourth straight victory Burleigh improves to 12-5 with a fine 2.11 earned run average.


Game #79: Monday, July 12, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Chicago Cubs
Cubs Park

Robins Complete Twin Bill Rout at Cubs Park

For a second straight game Cubs manager Fred Mitchell offers his starting pitcher no recourse.  An inactive Chicago bullpen writhes with discomfort as former Federal Leaguer Claude Hendrix surrenders ten runs on thirteen hits and three walks.  Four more fielding errors exacerbate the situation.  That makes ten Chicago errors in the twin bill attributable to ten unearned runs.  On the other hand Brooklyn's Sherry Smith pitches a dandy, limiting the Cubs to a pair of runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts in a complete game effort.  He improves to 5-4 with a 2.18 earned run average.  Pete Kilduff leads the charge with three hits in five at-bats and two runs batted in.  Ed Konetchy also has a three hit day including a triple and a run batted in.  Hi Myers raises his average to .314 with a single, triple, and notches his team leading forty-first run batted in.  Jimmy Johnston and Zack Wheat each register two hits apiece.  The Robins are now winners of five in a row and improve to 9-1 on this road trip.  Despite Cincinnati's victory against the Phillies, Brooklyn adds another half-game to their first place lead over the Reds.

• RECORD: 46-32 (.589)
• First Place; 1.5 GA