100 Years Ago Today 9/13/1920: First Place Brooklyn Robins Open Five Game Lead

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #140: Monday, September 13, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Chicago Cubs vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Jeff Pfeffer Outperforms Chicago Great Pete Alexander

Uncle Robbie couldn't be prouder.  Brooklyn manager, yes, but he's a pitching guru at heart.  Wilbert Robinson witnesses his starter Jeff Pfeffer get the best of 24-game winner Pete Alexander.  Chicago opens the scoring in the first on Fred Merkle's triple scoring Max Flack.  In the Brooklyn second Hi Myers counters with a triple of his own scoring Zack Wheat.  Pete Kilduff drives home Myers and Jeff Pfeffer gives himself a hand by driving home Kilduff for a 3-1 Robins lead.  Brooklyn continues adding on through the eighth.  In the fourth Jeff Pfeffer wields his second hit and drives home his second run.  Zack Wheat and Ray Schmandt drive in runs in the fifth.  Ernie Krueger triples in Brooklyn's seventh and final run for the game.  Max Flack drives home two runs in the ninth against Pfeffer, otherwise no harm done.  Brooklyn takes game one by a seven to three final.  Hi Myers now leads the team with 76 runs batted in.  Pfeffer is charged with three runs on ten hits with one walk and four strikeouts en route to his fifteenth victory against nine losses with a 3.04 ERA.  Grover Cleveland Alexander entered the game with a 4-1 record and a 1.72 in five previous starts against the Robins.  Last time they met Grover Cleveland he shut them out.  On this day he is denied his 25th victory.  In the meantime, Brooklyn wins their season high ninth consecutive game.  The sun drunk Ebbets Field crowd approves.


Game #141: Monday, September 13, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Chicago Cubs vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Overflowing Ebbets Field Crowd Cheers on Tenth Straight Win and Twin Bill Sweep

A near mirror image of game one, except it's Rube Marquard joining with Al Mamaux toeing the rubber and hurling another timely victory.  Brooklyn chips away with runs in the first, fourth and eighth innings.  Ivy Olson stays hot going 3 for 5 with a triple and a run batted in.  Jimmy Johnston elevates his average to .298 with two hits in four trips, with a run scored and one run batted in.  Marquard yields two runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts through four innings.  Al Mamaux follows with five innings of scoreless five-hit ball with two strikeouts for his tenth win.  The game ends on a 6-to-4 force out at second followed by a triumphant roar from the packed Ebbets Field crowd.  Easily 30,000 in attendance, the neighborhood trolley dodgers witness their team earn their season high tenth straight victory.  Brooklyn's present five game lead over the Reds is their largest for the season.  Conversely, the Robins have never been more than three games from the lead. The Reds lose at Philadelphia and the Giants win at the Polo Grounds.

• RECORD: 83-57 (.593)
• 1st Place; 5 GA

EXTRA: AMERICAN LEAGUE RACE

BABE RUTH HITS #49

The Indians will spend a second straight night just one-half game behind the Yankees.  Cleveland defeats the Philadelphia Athletics while the Yankees cut down the Detroit Tigers and therefore no change.  Carl Mays limits the Tigers to a pair of runs on nine hits and three walks en route to his 24th victory of the season against ten losses with a 3.25 ERA.  Ty Cobb musters a double, but no more.  In the sixth inning, Babe Ruth hits his 49th home run for the season - a two run blast into deep right, Wally Pip scores.