OTD Federal League 8/21/1915: Brooklyn Tip Tops Sweep Twin Bill Against St. Louis Terriers at Washington Park

From the desk: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

FEDERAL LEAGUE

St. Louis Terriers

vs.

Brooklyn TipTops

Washington Park

BOXSCORE GAME ONE: Saturday, August 21, 1915 - BR

St. Louis Terriers @ BROOKLYN TIP TOPS

WASHINGTON PARK

Happy Finneran and Al Tesch Lead Tip Tops in Slim Victory Over Terriers

Saturday's opening game features right-hander Dave Davenport twirling for St. Louis opposed by New Jersey native Happy Finneran for Brooklyn.  The Terriers wasted little time getting on the board.  Second baseman Bobby Vaughn walks and scores on center fielder Armando Marsans' base hit.  Afterwhich, Happy Finneran yields no more runs, just two more hits, and no walks over the final eight innings for the win.  Dave Davenport allows two runs in seven innings for the loss; Bob Groom yields one run in relief of Davenport.  Subbing for Ty Helfrich at second base, Tip Top switch-hitter Al Tesch goes 2 for 2 with a double and two runs batted in.  Third baseman Al Halt drives home Brooklyn's third run.  Shortstop Fred Smith leads the Tip Tops with three hits.

• FINAL SCORE: STL 1; BTT 3

BOXSCORE GAME TWO: Saturday, August 21, 1915 - BR

St. Louis Terriers @ BROOKLYN TIP TOPS

WASHINGTON PARK

Jim Bluejacket Hurls Two-Hitter; Tip Tops Sweep Twin Bill

After a scoreless opening frame, a fielding error by Al Tesch in the second leads to a Terrier run.  It would be their last.  In yet another fine mound effort, Federal League original Jim Bluejacket, despite yielding eight walks, allows no earned runs on just two hits for the victory.  The Tip Tops knock St. Louis starter Doc Watson out of the box with four runs in the fourth and two more against Bob Groom before the inning is through.  Brooklyn then scores single runs in the sixth and seventh innings en route to an 8-1 win and twin bill sweep.  Al Halt, Fred Smith, and catcher Mike Simon drive home two runs apiece.  Left fielder Claude Cooper and first baseman Hap Myers each drive in one.  

• FINAL SCORE: STL 1; BTT 8

OTD 10/7/1914: Modecai Brown Lifts Brooklyn Tip Tops Over Buffalo

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

BufFeds/Tip Tops Draw; 2-2

I - BUF 4; BTT 3

II - BUF 3; BTT 1

III - BTT 10; BUF 4

IV- BTT 10; BUF 4

Brooklyn Tip Tops

vs.

Buffalo BufFeds

If nothing else Mordecai Brown's effort against Buffalo opponent Harry Moran helps lift Brooklyn back to .500 and snaps their three game skid.

• BOXSCORE: Wednesday, October 7, 1914 - BR

The Tip Tops score early, often, and late, in a commanding 10-4 victory at Buffalo's International Fair Association Grounds.  Catcher Yip Owens leads the charge going 3 for 3 with a double, home run, and three runs batted in.  Brown helps his own cause with a hit in four plate appearances and a run batted in.  George Anderson, Al Halt, and Steve Evans, each drive in a run apiece.  Making his seventh start for the Tip Tops, the 37-year old Mordecai Brown yields four earned runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts over eight innings for his 14th victory of the season against 12 losses with a 3.61 ERA.  Manager Bradley's bunch improve to 75-75 with four games remaining on Brooklyn's schedule.  Their sole mission now is to avoid slipping into the sub-par second division.

INDIANAPOLIS HOOSIERS CLINCH PENNANT

Otherwise the inaugural Federal League season is drawing to its conclusion.  With their seventh straight victory the Indianapolis Hoosiers clinch the league's first ever pennant by a 1.5 game margin ahead of the Chicago ChiFeds.  The Hoosiers improve to a league best 87-65 with Wednesday's defeat of the St. Louis Terriers, while the ChiFeds sat idle after losing both games of a double-header against the Packers on Tuesday.  The season comes to an end on Thursday, but there's nothing more Chicago can do.

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE NOW!

OTD 9/24/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Welcome Joe Tinker's Chicago ChiFeds to Washington Park

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops defeat Packers; 4-2

I - BTT 6; KCP 2

II - BTT 12; KCP 6

III - KCP 11; BTT 3

IV - KCP 9; BTT 8

V - BTT 3; KCP 2

Chicago ChiFeds

vs

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

Brooklyn rebounds from Wednesday's disheartening 9-8 loss with a much needed victory in Thursday's series finale against the Packers.  The Tips Tops take the series against Kansas City four games against two, and creep 6.5 games back of the Hoosiers.

• BOXSCORE: Thursday, September 24, 1914 - BR

Kansas City opens the scoring on shortstop Johnny Rawlings hit in the fourth.  But the Tip Tops respond with singles runs in the bottom half of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.  Al Halt is 2 for 3 with a double and run batted in.  Steve Evans lifts his average to .357 on 2 for 4 with his 92nd run batted in of the season.  Jim Delahanty accounts for the Tip Tops third run batted in.  Starter Bill Chappelle allows the one earned run on on just four hits and three walks with two strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched for the victory.  However, an increasingly desperate Bill Bradley summons usual starter Ed Lafitte from the bullpen.  Lafitte obliges his manager allowing one unearned run on just one hit and no walks with four strikeouts through the games final 3.2 innings.

Now it's onward to Chicago where Joe Tinker's ChiFeds have moved within one game of first place Indianapolis.  There's yet hope for these Tip Tops.

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE NOW!

OTD 9/19/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Sweep Kansas City; Ed Lafitte Throws No-Hitter

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops lead Packers; 2-0

I - BTT 6; KCP 2

II - BTT 12; KCP 6

Kansas City Packers

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

With a change of opponent, so change the fortunes of Brooklyn.  The Tip Tops get back in the win column with a double-header sweep against the Kansas City Packers at Washington Park.

ED LAFITTE THROWS NO-HITTER

• BOXSCORE: Saturday, September 19, 1914 - BR

In one of the more imperfect gems hurled this season, Brooklyn Tip Tops starter Ed Lafitte allows two unearned runs on no hits and seven walks with one strikeout in a complete game performance.  Otherwise a pair of errors by third baseman Tex Wisterzil and second baseman Jim Delahanty mar Lefitte's shutout effort.  He evens his record at 14-14 with a fine 2.66 ERA.  Solly Hofman goes 1 for 4 with a double and two runs batted in.  Jim Delahanty is 3 for 4 with a double, triple, a run scored, and one run batted in.  Lafitte helps his own cause with a hit and run batted in en route to a 6-2 victory.

TIP TOPS COMPLETE SWEEP

• BOXSCORE: Saturday, September 19, 1914 - BR

Brooklyn rolls to a 12-6 victory in game two.  Right fielder Steve Evans goes 2 for 5 with a double and three runs batted in giving him 90 RBI for the season.  First baseman Solly Hofman is 2 for 5 with a triple and likewise drives in three runs.  Center fielder Al Shaw is 3 for 5 with two runs batted in, and shortstop Al Halt hits his third home run of the season.  Making only his fifth start of the season, Bill Chappelle goes the distance allowing four earned runs on nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts for his third consecutive complete game win.

Brooklyn snaps a five game losing streak, meanwhile the Hoosiers lose their series opener against Buffalo.  And just like that, the Tip Tops are back within 6.5 games of first place with twenty games left to play.

OTD 9/12/1914: Tip Tops Set Stage For First Place Rematch Versus Indianapolis

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops tie Terriers; 2-2

I - BTT 2; STL 1

II - STL 1; BTT 0

III - STL 6; BTT 5

IV - BTT 5; STL 3

FEDERAL LEAGUE 

SHOWDOWN

Indianapolis Hoosiers

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

Brooklyn's come from behind victory on Saturday salvages series split with St. Louis Terriers at Washington Park.

• BOXSCORE: Saturday, September 12, 1914 - BR

Making only his fourth start in 14 appearances for the Tip Tops, Bill Chappelle comes through with a needed clutch performance, allowing St. Louis just two earned runs on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts through nine innings complete.

However Chappelle's day starts ominously upon surrendering two runs in the first inning.  St. Louis then takes a 3-0 lead in the sixth.  Light hitting shortstop Al Bridwell is 1 for 2 against Cheppelle, connecting for his first home run of the season.  An error by Tip Tops left fielder George Anderson accounts for another St. Louis run.  Otherwise the Terriers muster little else.  Brooklyn bunches together four runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth en route to a 5-3 final score.  Catcher Grover Land is big man on campus going 3 for 3 with two runs batted in.  Steve Evans is 3 for 4 with a run batted in.  Getting the start at third base, Ed Gragnier, and shortstop Al Halt each drive in one run apiece.

Manager Bradley could not have asked for a better scenario considering a mere eight days ago his Tip Tops lay eight games out of first place.  They're now winners of eight of their last ten games, while improving to 9-4 in the month of September and 67-60 overall.  Brooklyn thus opens their upcoming five game series versus Indianapolis just three games out of first place.  The Hoosiers are 6-7 over the same 13 game stretch.  They're coming off a six game series loss against Baltimore and in the midst of a three game skid.  These teams last met during Brooklyn's final leg of a four city 19-game road trip.  Brooklyn similarly entered that series 4.5 games out of first place but proceed to lose six straight at Indianapolis.  They leave town 8.5 games back, but have since posted a 13-5 record in the games leading up to this week's rematch against the Hoosiers at Washington Park.

With just 27 games left in the regular season, perhaps the inaugural Federal League pennant lay in the balance.  Lest we forget that with Chicago's victory against the BufFeds, Joe Tinker's ChiFeds are now tied for first place with Indianapolis.

OTD 9/11/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Hand Game to St. Louis Terriers

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Terriers lead Tip Tops; 2-1

I - BTT 2; STL 1

II - STL 1; BTT 0

III - STL 6; BTT 5

St. Louis Terriers

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

MORDECAI BROWN EFFORT GONE FOR NOT

• BOXSCORE: Friday, September 11, 1814 - BR

There will surely be extra infield practice to be had in the morning.  In a game manager Bradley would rather soon forget, Mordecai Brown pitches well but can not overcome seven Brooklyn misplays in the field.  After yielding a run in the top of the first, the Tip Tops respond with three runs in the bottom of the frame.  But their lead is short lived when St. Louis strikes back for three runs in the third.  Resilient Brooklyn takes a 5-4 lead in the sixth, but again hand back two runs in the Terriers very next at bat.  Mordecai Brown surrenders six runs but only two are earned.  He otherwise allows just five hits and no walks with four strikeouts through seven innings for the loss.  Solly Hofman goes 1 for 3 with two runs batted but is responsible for two errors.  Al Halt is 2 for 4 with two runs batted in and is likewise responsible for a pair of misplays at short.  Not one to be left out, Steve Evans scores twice but also commits two errors at first base.  Right fielder Al Shaw is 3 for 4 with a triple, two runs scored, and records two putouts - thank you very much.

Brooklyn loses their second straight and fall behind in the series two games versus one.  The Tip Tops can still draw even with a victory in Saturday's series finale.  Indianapolis is idle on this day and so Brooklyn loses one half game in the standings.  With a 66-60 record the Tip Tops remain in third place 2.5 games back of the second place ChiFeds, and now 4.5 games back of the Hoosiers, with 27 games left to play.

OTD 9/10/1914: St. Louis Terriers Shut Out Brooklyn Tip Tops at Washington Park

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops lead Terriers; 1-0

I - SLT 1; BTT 0

St. Louis Terriers (1-0)

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops (0-1)

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

TIP TOPS WIN STREAK SNAPPED AT SIX

Starting pitchers Doc Watson for the Terriers and Ed LaFitte for Brooklyn keep this game tight as a tourniquet.  But with a run in the fourth the Terriers prevail on to a 1-0 shut out of the Tip Tops in Thursday afternoon's series opener at Washington Park.  Watson limits the BrookFeds to just a pair of hits and five walks with four strikeouts through nine complete for his 11th victory with a stellar 1.89 ERA.  Ed LaFitte is no less effective, just unlucky, upon yielding one earned run on seven hits and just one walk with five strikeouts over nine innings pitched.  His record falls even at 13-13 for the season with a representative 2.82 ERA.  St. Louis center fielder LaRue Kirby's single drives in left fielder Delos Drake for the only run of the game.  Shortstop Al Halt and LeFitte account for Brooklyn's only two hits.

Indianapolis rolls the Terrapins at Baltimore and so the Tip Tips lose one-half game in the standings.  They now sit four games out of first with three days left before the first place Hoosiers arrive at Brooklyn for a potential first place battle where Red Hook meets the south slope.

• Tip Tops Record: 66-59 (.528); 4 GB

OTD 9/5/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Win Third Straight Against Rebels

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops lead Rebels 3-0

I - BTT 7; PIT 6

II - BTT 7; PIT 1

III - BTT 3; PIT 2*

Pittsburgh Rebels

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

Both on the mound and at the plate Brooklyn hurlers win the day.  Tom Seaton notches his 21st victory of the season, and Ed Lafitte goes ten innings and drives in the winning run in game two.  At the plate they join for two hits, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.  Brooklyn wins their third in a row and fourth in their last five.  The Tip Tops (62-58) gain one-half game on Indianapolis to close within 6.5 games of the first place Hoosiers.

• GAME ONE BOXSCORE: Saturday, September 5, 1914 - BR

On the strength of Tom Seaton's right arm, the Tip Tops cruise to a 7-1 victory in the first of Saturday's two games at Washington Park.  Seaton, who last year led the National League with 27 victories, yields a lone unearned run on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts through nine innings to win his 21st decision of the season against ten losses with a 3.06 ERA.  Rebels first baseman Cy Rheam scores Pittsburgh's lone run in the fifth.  Rebels starter Walt Dickson is betrayed by his defenders who commit seven errors behind him.  Dickson yields seven runs but only four are earned.  He nonetheless surrenders 14 hits and one walk with three strikeouts.  Steve Evans is 3 for 4 with a double, and two runs batted in.  Tex Wisterzil and Al Halt each drive in a run apiece.  At the top of the line-up George Anderson and Claude Cooper join for five hits with three runs scored.  Tom Seaton helps his own cause with a triple and two runs scored.

• GAME TWO BOXSCORE: Saturday, September 5, 1914- BR

Brooklyn and Pittsburgh remain stalemated at two through nine.  With two outs in the first, Rebels shortstop Steve Yerks triples to score center fielder Rebel Oakes and third baseman Ed Lennox for an early 2-0 lead.  Like Walt Dickerson in game one, Rebels starter Mysterious Walker is victimized by poor play in the field as Brooklyn ties the game with unearned runs in the fourth and sixth innings.  Brooklyn starter Ed Lafitte retires Pittsburgh in the top of the tenth.  Catcher Yip Owens strokes a double in the bottom half of the frame, and is replaced with pinch-runner Hap Meyers.  After which Ed Lafitte's base hit plates the winning run.  Brooklyn sweeps the day and take a 3-0 lead in the series.  Mysterious Walker loses his 14th decision upon yielding three runs, one earned, on ten hits and seven walks with five strikeouts into the tenth.  The game marks Lafitte's second extra-inning effort this season.  He pitched eleven innings back in April against the Packers.

OTD 9/3/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Returning Home After Series Split at Buffalo

From the desk of:  THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Brooklyn @ Buffalo Split Series

I - BTT 4; BUF 1

II - BUF 3; BTT 1

III - BUF 5; BTT 5*

IV - BTT 10; BUF 2

V - BUF 5; BTT 1

The Tip Tops and Buf-Feds split Thursday's scheduled double-header at Buffalo's International Fair Grounds.  The five game series itself is split down the middle with each gaining two victories and one game suspended in a tie.

GAME ONE

• BOXSCORE: Thursday, September 3, 1914 - BR

Brooklyn scores early and often, then piles on again in the later frames en route to a 10-2 thrashing of the Buf-Feds.  Tip Top starter Bert Maxwell limits Buffalo to a pair of runs on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts through nine innings for his third victory with a 2.94 ERA.  Buf-fed shortstop Baldy Louden goes 2 for 4, and drives in Buffalo's only earned run against Maxwell.  Brooklyn on the other hand is 12 for 39 (.307) as a team with four extra-base hits.  Solly Hofman is big man on campus going 3 for 4 with a double, home run, four runs scored, and two runs batted in.  Jim Delahanty is 4 for 5 with four runs scored.  Steve Evans triples and drives in his 73rd run of the season.  Tex Wisterzil is 2 for 4 with two runs batted in, and shortstop Al Halt drives in a team leading three runs.

GAME TWO

• BOXSCORE: Thursday, September 3, 1914 - BR

Brooklyn scores an unearned run in the fourth, but would threaten no more.  Buffalo starter Fred Anderson allows no earned runs on just five scattered hits and four walks with six strikeouts for his tenth victory of the season with a 3.03 ERA.  Brooklyn commits five costly errors in the game. Starter Bill Chappelle yields five runs, but only two earned, on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts over eight innings pitched.  Buffalo left fielder Joe Agler is 3 for 4 with a run scored.  Center fielder Charlie Hanford is 2 for 4 with two runs scored, and third baseman Fred Smith drives in two runs in three at-bats.  Brooklyn's Steve Evans is 1 for 4 with a walk, and scores the Tip Tops lone run.

*

The Indianapolis Hoosiers defeat Chicago at Weegham Park, and so the Tip Tops lose another half game in the standings.  They now head back home to Brooklyn where they'll remain throughout the balance of September.  Three series down the line awaits another potentially crucial showdown against the Hoosiers.  The last time they met at Indianapolis the Hoosiers swept them in five.  Before Brooklyn can set about turning the tables at home they have ten games ahead of them with which to first close the gap.  The Pittsburgh Rebels and the St. Louis Terriers may indeed prove convenient and conducive opponents in the days leading up to their encounter with Indianapolis.  Brooklyn enters this weekend's series against the last place Rebels at Washington Park three games back of third place Baltimore, and five games back of second place Chicago.

OTD 8/29/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Clinch Series Victory Over Buffalo

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops defeat Buffalo 3-1

I - BTT 6; BUF 2

II - BTT; 7; BUF 5

III - BUF 3; BTT 2

IV - BTT 4; BUF 1

Home/Home Series

Brooklyn Tip Tops

vs.

Buffalo Buf-Feds

FROM

INTERNATIONAL FAIR GROUNDS

Buffalo, New York

Brooklyn clinches a much needed series victory versus Buffalo by a score of 4-1 in Saturday's finale at Washington Park.

• BOXSCORE: Saturday, August 29, 1914 - BR

Buffalo third baseman Fred Smith opens the scoring with an RBI double in the third.  But Tip Tops starter Ed Lafitte would allow no more.  Brooklyn ties the game in the sixth, then pulls away with three more runs in the seventh.  Catcher Grover Land is 2 for 2 with a double and a run scored.  Shortstop Al Halt goes 1 for 3 with a double and a run batted in.  Meanwhile Ed Lafitte helps his own cause with a 2 for 3 day at the plate and two runs batted in.  On the mound he allows just one unearned run on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts through nine innings full.  Lafitte evens his season record at 12-12 with a representative 2.87 ERA.

The home and home series now shifts to Buffalo where Brooklyn and the Buf-Feds will play five.  Since their destabilizing nine game losing streak the Top Tops are now winners of three of their last four.  They're once again a game above .500, and with Indianapolis' loss against Kansas City the Tip Tops gain a full game on the first place Hoosiers whom now lead Brooklyn by 7.5 games in the Federal League standings.

Commemorative Plaque Now!