100 Years Ago Today 9/27/1920: New York Giants Bow Out of National League Race

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS & LITTLE NAPOLEON'S EMPIRE

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

All eyes were on the Polo Grounds.  New York on this day was supposed to be idle, like the Robins.  But with much ground to make up in the standings and so little time left, the Giants were forced to host a make-up twin bill against the Boston Braves.  Anything short of a sweep meant Brooklyn would clinch the National League pennant.  With two victories the Giants would host the Robins for three decisive games at the Polo Grounds.

Game #150: Monday, September 27, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Boston Braves vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Giants Stave Off Elimination; Art Nehf Wins Number Twenty-One

With Uncle Robbie no doubt hidden somewhere in the stands, John McGraw hands the ball to 20-game winner Art Nehf.  Frankie Frisch and Lee King in the fourth inning stake New York to a 2-0 lead and Nehf makes it hold.  In the midst of his best season, the Giants southpaw limits his former team mates to just one run on seven hits and one walk over nine innings full to earn his 21st win of the season.  Otherwise Braves starter Leo Townsend holds the Giants to just one earned run on four hits and a walk.  New York nevertheless evades elimination and pull within 4 1/2 games of the Robins with five to play.

Game #151: Monday, September 27, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Boston Braves vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Giants Fall Out of Race; Brooklyn Robins Clinch Second National League Pennant in Five Years!

Clearly in a bind, John McGraw calls upon 22-year old rookie Rosy Ryan to pitch game two.  The occasion marks just his third appearance of the season and his first since April.  Ryan duels the likewise little known and seldom used Al Pierotti, who is making just his fifth appearance of the season.  Boston opens the scoring in the first on Walter Holke's base hit.  Larry Doyle and Earl Smith join together in the fourth to tie the game at one.  In the Braves fifth, Al Pierotti aides his own cause with a run batted in.  With one out in the eighth Frankie Frisch ties the score with an inside the park home run launched deep into the right/center gap.  Into the ninth inning they go knotted at two apiece.  Nervousness among the 8,000 in attendance is palpable.  Leading off the top of the ninth, Braves third baseman Tony Boeckel deposits a Rosy Ryan offering deep into the left field stands.  Scattered pockets of Robins fans rejoice.  Pierotti in the bottom half of the ninth retires the Giants in order.  The loss leaves New York five games out of first with only four to play.  

Meanwhile, back in Brooklyn ....