The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger: Casey Stengel

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Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 9/15/1918: Bushwick Sweeps Both Ends of Doubleheader Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Dexter Park

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

New York Herald, Monday, September 16, 1918

On Sunday, September 15, 1918, Max Rosner's Bushwicks sweep both ends of a doubleheader from the Brooklyn Royal Giants at Dexter Park.

l; The Brooklyn Citizen, Monday, September 16, 1918

r; Times Union (Brooklyn, NY), Monday, September 16, 1918

GAME ONE - Right-hander Irvin Brooks toes the slab for Brooklyn and is opposed by Lefty Russell, one-time pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Robins.

The Royal Giants open with two runs in the first inning. But Bushwick answers in the second with a six-run burst, highlighted by Lefty Russell's bases-clearing double. Joe Weiss singled and scored in the third, and in the fifth, right fielder Casey Stengel tripled home a run and scored, giving Bushwick a 9-2 lead. The Royal Giants rally for two in the top of the eighth, but Joe Weiss pushes across the Dexter's tenth run in the bottom half. Brooklyn then musters three more runs in the ninth to no avail.

Irvin Brooks surrenders ten runs on 15 hits, four going for extra bases, and four walks with six strikeouts in the loss. Joe Weiss leads Bushwick with four hits, including a double and two runs scored, and Lefty Russell helps himself with two hits and a run scored. Russell allows seven runs on eleven hits and three walks with three strikeouts to win on the mound.

Shortstop John Henry Lloyd leads Brooklyn with three hits, including a double, and left fielder John Donaldson goes 2 for 5 with a triple and two runs scored.

The Brooklyn Citizen, Monday, September 16, 1918

GAME TWO - With George Robinson facing off against Bill Kelleher for Bushwick, the teams traded single runs in the first inning, but not without incident. In the top of the frame, Bushwick catcher Fred Hohman is knocked unconscious by a foul ball off the bat of John Henry Lloyd. After about five minutes, Hohman resumes his position behind the plate.

First baseman Al Birch singled and scored in the bottom of the frame, tying the score at one. After two scoreless innings, Bushwick breaks out with four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Casey Stengel's run-scoring single and third baseman Joe Riconda's two-run home run. The Royal Giants score once in the fifth, then tie the game at five apiece with three runs in the sixth, all the result of Bushwick errors as Bill Kelleher yielded no hits. With one out and two runners on base in the home eighth, second baseman Joe Weiss clears the bases with a triple en route to a 7-5 victory and twin bill sweep in front of a record crowd at Dexter Park.

George Robinson yields seven runs on nine hits and five walks in the loss. Bill Kelleher holds the Royal Giants to five runs on just five hits and five walks with four strikeouts for the win.

Casey Stengel goes 2 for 3 at the plate. However, he lost one fly ball in the sun and simply dropped another otherwise easy chance.

Robinson wields Brooklyn's only extra-base hit. Center fielder William Parks, Oliver Marcell, John Cason, and John Henry Lloyd account for Brooklyn's remaining hits. Through both games, Pop Lloyd totals four hits in ten at-bats.

The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY),

Monday, September 16, 1918

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BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

ONCE UPON A SUMMER, 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:

6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K* (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills, Garden City, NY)
9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)

LINE: 110 innings, 51 runs, 128 hits, 13 walks, 31 strikeouts, 4.17 ERA

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST:

Restoring Baseball Great John Donaldson's Lost Legacy With Negro Leagues Historian and Founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.

Minnesota native Peter Gorton leads a group of historians dedicated to discovering the lost legacy of John Wesley Donaldson. In this episode, we discuss the man, baseball career, and life of one of the more incredible and inspiring athletes to ever play the game, and how his amazing legacy became lost to a nation, most particularly Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Original airdate: March 13, 2021

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 9/14/1918: Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Tietjen and Lang Club; John Donaldson and the Backdrop of WWI

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

The Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ),

Friday, September 13, 1921

On Saturday, September 14, 1918, the Brooklyn Royal Giants played the Tietjen and Lang Shipbuilders team. This was a return match for John Donaldson, who, on Sunday, August 18, took the loss in a 5-2 contest at Nurge's Field. Unfortunately, a full account of this game is yet to be found. The Friday, September 20, 1918, edition of the Jersey Journal, Jersey City, reports the Royal Giants defeated the Tietjen and Lang club but no score is provided.

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The backdrop to the 1918 season is, of course, the World War raging in Europe. Major League baseball played an abbreviated season. The Brooklyn Dodgers ended their 126 game season on September 2 at Philadelphia. The Yankees managed 123 games.

Due to the government's edict of Work of Fight, many industrial aggregations, such as the New York Ship League Team, Bethlehem Steel, Morse Dry Dock, and the Tietjen and Lang team, were very well fortified with major league talent. In fact, in a similar situation, it was the Brooklyn Royal Giants who handed the Camp Mills Soldiers their first defeat this season. Otherwise, some players, like St. Louis' first baseman George Sisler, elected instead to fight.

As noted in the above news clip, the Tietjen and Lang club this day would have featured former Yankee Hal Chase, New York Giant George Burns, and Ollie O'Mara from the Dodgers. When Tietjen and Lang last played the Royal Giants, they featured from the Yankees pitchers Hank Thormahlen and

Ray Caldwell, and outfielders Ping Bodie from the White Sox and Paul Smith, formerly with Cincinnati.

Beyond the realm of Negro teams and their respective stars and future Hall of Famers and the strong local semipros, this further attests to a discernible and representative level of professional competition the 27-year old John Donaldson faced during is his only venture East.

Before he arrived in Brooklyn, John Donaldson had authored no less than eight no-hitters, his most recent coming on July 16, 1917, at Julesburg, Colorado. Among other teams, Donaldson most notably played for J.L. Wilkinson's All-Nations, Kansas City Colts, the winter league Los Angeles White Sox, and Indianapolis ABCs.

The Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ),

Friday, September 13, 1921

On Sunday, September 15, the Brooklyn Royal Giants return to Dexter Park. They will play a twin bill against Bushwick, who will feature former major league pitcher Lefty Russell, joined by the aforementioned Ollie O'Mara, shortstop Babe Ellison formerly of Detroit, and Casey Stengel of the Pirates.

Times Union (Brooklyn, NY),

Saturday, September 14, 1918

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BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

ONCE UPON A SUMMER, 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:

6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K* (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills, Garden City, NY)
9/14/1918 - (W) No account vs. Teitjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)

LINE: 110 innings, 51 runs, 128 hits, 13 walks, 31 strikeouts, 4.17 ERA

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST:

Restoring Baseball Great John Donaldson's Lost Legacy With Negro Leagues Historian and Founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.

Original airdate: March 13, 2021

Monday, August 30, 2021

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 8/30/1921: Giants Sweep Cubs, Winning Streak Reaches Eight; Yankees Win Opener at Griffith Stadium

From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD

100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:

New York Giants & New York Yankees

1921 Season Revisited

In their last season at Hilltop Park, the now formerly known New York Highlanders lose 102 games. Rebranded in 1913 as the Yankees, they move just a few blocks away into the Polo Grounds as tenants of the Senior Circuit's New York Giants. To the chagrin of Giants manager John McGraw, the Americans proceed to lose another 94 games.

Known to hold a grudge, McGraw two full decades later still harbors much animosity not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees. As they were founded at the expense of his rendered defunct Baltimore Orioles.

As long as the Yankees paid their rent, the tenant/landlord relationship with the Giants remains amicably strained. Mainly because the middling Americans, except for one season in 1916, never elevated themselves above the ranks of Junior Circuit also-rans. But that changed in 1919 when they briefly vied for the pennant but tuckered out down the stretch to finish third. A franchise record of 619,164 fans showed up to root for the American League contenders. However, the Yankees' burgeoning success was not yet a pressing issue, per se, for the Giants, who were coming off a second-place finish and their best season at the turnstile in a decade.

Then, in 1920, baseball's tectonic plates shift along the New York/New England fault. The Yankees' purchase of George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox sends seismic waves reverberating throughout the baseball world but none more intense than in Washington Heights.

Ruth's earth-shattering record of 54 home runs was something never experienced before in the history of baseball. However, it was an accomplishment for which John McGraw had little appreciation. He believes players work too hard and earnestly to have their skills disrespected by some miscreant's lone swing of the bat.

Gotham's citizenry never before descended from Coogan's Bluff in such quantity and spectacle as in 1920 as the Giants would set a franchise record with 929,609 reported attendance. However, the New York Nationals faced an economic dilemma of Ruthian proportions. McGraw's disdain for his tenants was heightened when the Yankees outdrew the host Giants in their own home for the first time in each franchise's history. Headlined by Babe Ruth, the Yankees seized the city's attention, evidenced by an all-time major league record of 1,289,422 in attendance.

In 1921, over two million fans would again pack the Polo Grounds. Babe Ruth would continue accomplishing the unimaginable - if the preceding season wasn't surreal enough, he proceeds to top it. All the while, with each passing day, John McGraw grows more incensed. Lest we forget, New York City is still Little Napoleon's empire.

Sharing a ballpark is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the 1921 season to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...

Until then, two major league titans charge headlong into a season-ending October clash at the Polo Grounds. It is New York City's first-ever World's Championship Subway Series. All games are played at the Polo Grounds, making Coogan's Bluff the center of the baseball universe.

This is my replay of that season. Of course, I'll be exercising my creative license whenever and wherever ever possible. But, more than anything, this is about having fun and celebrating New York City's baseball history.

Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE

Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!

GAME #128

BOXSCORE: Tuesday, August 30, 1921 - BR

Chicago Cubs @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Giants Rally Late to Complete Sweep of Cubs; McGrawmen Win Eighth Straight

Chicago right-hander Speed Martin poses a riddle to the Giants. Johnny Rawlings leads off with a hit in the third inning, and Earl Smith draws a walk. Next up, Art Nehf hits into an inning-ending triple play. Speed Martin faces a minimum of 18 batters through the sixth inning and retires 19 of 22 batters through seven. Chicago's Charlie Deal delivers home an unearned run in the first, Charlie Hollocher homers off Art Nehf leading off the third, and Charlie Deal drives home his second run in the fifth for a 3-0 Cub lead. The score remains unchanged through the seventh. That is until the Giants finally solve Charlie Deal with five runs in the eighth highlighted by Casey Stengel's run batted in and a pair of two-run homers off the bats of hot-hitting Earl Smith and Dave Bancroft for a 5-2 lead and the final margin of victory. Art Nehf perseveres for the win, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts for his 17th victory against eight losses with a 3.65 ERA. The Giants complete the sweep of the Cubs and, more importantly, win their eighth consecutive game to recover from a previously subpar month to finish August with an 18-13 record. However, the Pirates defeated the Robins at Ebbets Field, so the Giants at least maintain their standing.

FINAL: CHI 3; NYG 5
RECORD: 78-50 (.609); second place, 1.5 GB of Pittsburgh

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GAME #120

BOXSCORE: Tuesday, August 30, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ WASHINGTON SENATORS

Griffith Stadium

Carl Mays Makes Easy Work of the Senators

The Yankees open their series against the Senators with five runs in the first and essentially never look back. Carl Mays takes care of the rest. He yields two runs in the bottom half of the first but does not yield another until the Senators generate one last run in the ninth. Otherwise, only two of three runs allowed are earned, on eight hits and three walks en route to his 21st victory this season. Support was plentiful as the Yankees post a pair of runs in the second and fourth innings and one last run in the fifth. Bob Meusel and Aaron Ward each wield a pair of hits; Meusel drives home three runs, and Ward plates two. Bob Meusel now has 103 runs batted in this season, and with a double, Babe Ruth drives in his 135th of the season. Mike McNally and Roger Peckinpaugh, with four hits, also drive home a run each. The Cleveland Indians were idle and so the Yanks gain one half-game in the standings.

FINAL: NYY 10; WAS 3
RECORD: 74-46 (.617); second place, 1.0 GB of Cleveland

Friday, August 27, 2021

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 8/27/1921: Giants Complete Sweep of First-Place Pirates; Yankees Take Second Straight at Navin Field

From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD

100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:

New York Giants & New York Yankees

1921 Season Revisited

Sharing a ballpark is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the 1921 season to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...

Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE

Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!

GAME #125

BOXSCORE: Saturday, August 27, 1921 - BR

Pittsburgh Pirates @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Art Nehf Hurls Giants Fifth Consecutive Pitching Gem; Giants Complete Sweep of First-Place Bucs

Interest was waning; attendance figures said so. As such, the Giants limped into this series against Pittsburgh, sporting a subpar 10-13 record in August. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers were riding a wave of 16 victories in 22 games over the same span. Nearly counted out of the pennant race, it can safely be said the Giants over these last four games have regained Gotham's attention. The turnstiles tell no lies. Before a capacity crowd of 36,000 fans at the Polo Grounds, the Giants, who stood 7.5 games out of first place just five days ago, today completed a remarkable five-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, closing the gap between competitors to a mere 2.5 games with 29 left to play. Art Nehf, who held the Pirates to a pair of runs in game one, this time limits the Bucs to just one run on a mere four hits and no walks for his 16th victory this season. After allowing a two-out single in the second, Art Nehf retires the next ten batters in a row. Then after allowing a leadoff single in the sixth, Nehf again sets down the next twelve batters consecutively. Pittsburgh scores their lone run in the first inning, meaning Art Nehf finishes the game with eight shutout innings. In a hard-luck loss, Pittsburgh's gamely veteran Hal Carlson surrenders only two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks over seven innings. The Giants score late. Irish Meusel plates the game's decisive runs in the seventh, and in the eighth Frankie Frisch on a sacrifice fly drives home pinch-runner, Casey Stengel.

FINAL: PITT 1; NYG 3
RECORD: 75-50 (.600); second place, 2.5 GB of Pittsburgh

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GAME #118

BOXSCORE: Saturday, August 27, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ DETROIT TIGERS

Navin Field

Yanks Keep Pressure on Cleveland With Second Straight Victory At Detroit

Facing Detroit's Red Oldham, Elmer Miller leads off the game with a home run, and with two outs, Bob Meusel follows with another. Yankee starter Rip Collings keeps the Tigers scoreless until Bobby Veach doubles home two runs in the sixth, tying the game at two. But that changes in the seventh with Bob Meusel's second home run of the game. Not yet done, Bob Meusel drives home the opening run in a four-run ninth inning; Wallp Pipp drives home two, and Mike McNally plates Pipp for a 7-2 lead. Rip Collins appears to tire in the home ninth, yielding three runs on three hits but holds on for the victory. Despite the victory and a two-game series edge over Detroit, the Yankees still fail to gain ground on Cleveland who again defeated the Senators at Dunn Field.

FINAL: NYY 7; DET 5
RECORD: 73-45 (.619); seond place, 0.5 GB of Cleveland

Monday, July 19, 2021

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 7/19/1921: Giants Lose Ground To Pirates; Yanks Extend Win Streak To Eight

From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD

100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:

New York Giants & New York Yankees

1921 Seasons Revisited

In their last season at Hilltop Park, the now formerly known New York Highlanders lost 102 games. Rebranded as the Yankees, in 1913, they moved just a few blocks away into the Polo Grounds as tenants of the Senior Circuit's New York Giants. To the chagrin of Giants manager John McGraw, the Americans proceeded to lose another 94 games.

Known to hold a grudge, McGraw still harbored much animosity two full decades later, not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees. As they were founded at the expense of his rendered defunct Baltimore Orioles.

For as long as the Yankees paid their rent, the tenant/landlord relationship with the Giants remained amicably strained. Mainly because the middling Americans, except for one season in 1916, never elevated themselves above the ranks of Junior Circuit also-rans. But that changed in 1919 when they briefly vied for the pennant but tuckered out down the stretch to finish third. A franchise record of 619,164 fans showed up to root for the American League contenders. However, the Yankees' burgeoning success was not yet a pressing issue, per se, for the Giants, who were coming off a second-place finish and their best season in a decade at the turnstile.

Then, in 1920, baseball's tectonic plates along the New York/New England fault shift. The Yankees' purchase of George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox sends seismic waves reverberating throughout the baseball world but none more intense than in Washington Heights.

Gotham's citizenry never before descended from Coogan's Bluff in such quantity and spectacle as in 1920 as the Giants would set a franchise record with 929,609 reported attendance. However, the New York Nationals faced an economic dilemma of Ruthian proportions. McGraw's disdain for his tenants was heightened more so when the Yankees outdrew the host Giants in their own home for the first time in each franchise's history. Headlined by Babe Ruth, the Yankees seized the city's attention, evidenced by an all-time major league record of 1,289,422 in attendance.

In 1921, over two million fans would again pack the Polo Grounds. Babe Ruth would continue accomplishing the unimaginable, and if that wasn't surreal enough, he proceeds to top it. All the while, with each passing day, John McGraw grows more incensed. Lest we forget, New York City is still Little Napoleon's empire.

Sharing a ballpark for both teams is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the start of 1921 to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...

Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE

Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!

GAME #83

BOXSCORE: Tuesday, July 19, 1921 - BR

Pittsburgh Pirates @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Pittsburgh Departs New York With Series Split And Three Game Circuit Lead

Pittsburgh answers back for yesterday's shellacking by inflicting one of their own. Having salvaged a four-game split, the Pirates set sail for Boston's Back Bay, leaving the Giants one game further from first place than when they first arrived at the Polo Grounds on Saturday. But the competition was fierce. In this series, the victor scored in double-digits three times, while game two went into extra innings. On Tuesday, Pittsburgh opens right away with three runs on three hits and a walk in the first. The Pirates then erupt for seven runs in the seventh, kicked off by first baseman Charlie Grimm's two-run home run, knocking starter Rosy Ryan from the box. Facing Slim Salle, the Bucs post five more runs highlighted by Max Carey's two-run home run. Johnny Rawlings triples leading off the fifth and scores on pinch-hitter Casey Stengel's ground ball to second to ruin the shutout. Otherwise, long-time Pirate veteran Babe Adams limits the Giants to a run on eight hits and no walks with six strikeouts for the win.

FINAL: PIT 10; NYG 1
RECORD: 52-31 (.627); second place, 3.0 GB of Pittsburgh

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GAME #85

BOXSCORE: Tuesday, July 19, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ DETROIT TIGERS

Navin Field

Tigers Throw One Away; Yankees Extend Win Streak To Eight

New York completes a sweep of the Tigers and ties their season-high eight-game consecutive win streak. Waite Hoyt is good enough, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts for his eleventh win against seven losses and a 3.77 ERA. Down 5-0 after three, Detroit rallies for two runs in the fourth and three runs in the sixth to knot the game at five. The decisive run crosses the plate in the top half of the sixth; Babe Ruth doubles to center field with one out. Tiger backstop Eddie Ainsmith attempting to pick off Ruth throws errantly down to second, allowing him to score. Wally Schang goes 2 for 4 with a double and a run batted in. With the victory, the Yankees pull within one game of the first-place Indians. Onward to Cleveland.

FINAL: NYY 6; DET 5
RECORD: 54-31 (.635): second place, 1.0 GB of Cleveland

Thursday, July 08, 2021

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 7/8/1921: Art Nehf Out-Duels Grover Cleveland Alexander; Yankees Humbled In Chicago Opener

From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD

100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:

New York Giants & New York Yankees

1921 Seasons Revisited

Gotham's citizenry never before descended from Coogan's Bluff in such quantity and spectacle as in 1920 as the Giants would set a franchise record with 929,609 reported attendance. However, the New York Nationals faced an economic dilemma of Ruthian proportions. McGraw's disdain for his tenants was heightened more so when the Yankees outdrew the host Giants in their own home for the first time in each franchise's history. Headlined by Babe Ruth, the Yankees seized the city's attention, evidenced by an all-time major league record of 1,289,422 in attendance.

Sharing a ballpark for both teams is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the start of 1921 to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...

Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE

Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!

⚾

GAME #73

BOXSCORE: Friday, July 8, 1921 - BR

Chicago Cubs @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Art Nehf Outduels Grover Cleveland Alexander For Series Opening Victory Over Cubs

In what is undoubtedly the most tightly contested match this season, a rather small gathering in hot and humid conditions witness Art Nehf and The Great Alexander brilliantly negotiate eight scoreless frames during Friday's series opener at the Polo Grounds. Old Pete, Grover Cleveland Alexander, allows the Giants no runs on six hits and one walk, and Art Nehf limits the Cubs to just two hits and no walks. Then, into the ninth, they go. After striking out Pete Alexander leading off the top half of the frame, right fielder Max Flack connects for just the third Chicago hit against Nehf. With one out in the home half of the ninth, Frankie Frisch draws a base on balls, and Ross Youngs singles back through the middle, putting runners on the corners. Alexander then issues pinch hitter Casey Stengel an intentional walk loading the bases. Into the box steps Curt Walker and laces a grounder to second baseman John Kelleher, whose misplay permits Frankie Frisch to score from third with the game-winning run. Frisch and catcher Earl Smith lead the Giants with two hits apiece. Recent acquisition Johnny Rawlings continues making Mister McGraw look smart with another hit in three trips to the plate. All told, the soon-to-be 28-year old Art Nehf faces three batters over the minimum, yielding just three hits and no walks with three strikeouts and flawless fielding behind him. He improves his record to 10-4 with a descending 4.19 ERA.

FINAL: CHI 0; NYG 1
RECORD: 45-28 (.616); second place, 4.5 GB of Pittsburgh

Meanwhile, after the game, catcher Earl Smith challenges a New York City police detective to a fight, who gladly accepts ...

The Evening Kansan-Republican (Newton, Kansas),

Saturday, July 9, 1921

GAME #75

BOXSCORE: Friday, July 8, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Comiskey Park

Yankees Subdued By Dickey Kerr In Series Opener at Comiskey Park

The Highlander's road trip does not begin well. With Jupiter Pluvius postponing a key American League contest at Dunn Field, the visiting New York Yankees bow to the White Sox at Comiskey Park and thus fail to gain ground on the idle Cleveland Indians. Home Run Baker drives home the game's opening run in the first. Afterwhich last year's 21-game winner Dickey Kerr shuts out New York over the final eight innings of play, allowing ten total hits and two walks for his ninth victory. Kerr also helps his own cause at the plate with a hit and run batted in. Starter Bob Shawkey falls to 6-5 after yielding his standard four runs on nine hits and two walks. Babe Ruth lifts his average to .382 with two hits in three at-bats and steals his ninth base this season.

FINAL: NYY 1; CHI 4
RECORD: 46-29 (.613); second place, 2.0 GB of Cleveland

Saturday, July 03, 2021

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 7/3/1921: Giants Sweep Twin Bill From Braves; John McGraw's New Acquisitions Pay Early Dividends

From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD

100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:

New York Giants & New York Yankees

1921 Seasons Revisited

Gotham's citizenry never before descended from Coogan's Bluff in such quantity and spectacle as in 1920 as the Giants would set a franchise record with 929,609 reported attendance. However, the New York Nationals faced an economic dilemma of Ruthian proportions. McGraw's disdain for his tenants was heightened more so when the Yankees outdrew the host Giants in their own home for the first time in each franchise's history. Headlined by Babe Ruth, the Yankees seized the city's attention, evidenced by an all-time major league record of 1,289,422 in attendance.

Sharing a ballpark for both teams is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the start of 1921 to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...

Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE

Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!

GAME #67

BOXSCORE: Sunday, July 3, 1921 - BR

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

John McGraw's New Acquisitions Shine In Giants Win

After three straight days of being idle at Boston, a change of site was in order, and today finally, the Giants hosted the Braves at the Polo Grounds. On the one hand, Boston starter Hugh McQuillan can only scratch his head and ponder the what-if. He allows two unearned runs on just six hits and no walks with two strikeouts in a losing effort. Hod Ford triples, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead in the second. Errors by shortstop Walter Barbare in the third and Billy Southworth in the seventh lead to the tying and decisive runs. On the other hand, John McGraw walks away from game one's victory with a sense of vindication, having recently traded Goldie Rapp to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for infielder Johnny Rawlings and outfielder Casey Stengel. It is speedy Johnny Rawlings who crosses the plate in the third and singles in the seventh, scoring Casey Stengel with help from a misplay in right. Art Nehf allows one run on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts for his ninth victory this season.

FINAL: PHI 1; NYG 2

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GAME #68

BOXSCORE: SUNDAY, JULY 3, 1921 - BR

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Make-Up: June 30, 1921

George Burns and Dave Bancroft Take Jesse Barnes Off The Hook; Giants Sweep Twin Bill

The Giants scored early, often, and late en route to a commanding 10-5 victory and sweep of Sunday's twin bill. In the first, Ross Youngs drives home Frankie Frisch, and George Burns follows with a triple in the second, scoring two. Left fielder Walton Cruise homers off Giants starter Jesse Barnes in the fourth, making it a 3-1 game. Boston then jumps ahead in the sixth with four runs on five hits highlighted by Hod Ford's home run giving the Braves a 5-3 lead. Curt Walker singles home Johnny Rawlings, and Dave Bancroft drives home two runs giving the Giants a 6-5 lead. Not yet done, the Giants post four more runs in the seventh; Curt Walker plates one, George Burns drives home two, and Dave Bancroft triples, scoring Burns for the Giants' final margin of victory. All told, Burns leads the Giants with four runs batted in, and Bancroft drives home three. Jesse Barnes allows five earned runs on ten hits and four walks through six innings pitched. Rube Benton and Slim Salle join for three scoreless innings in relief of Barnes.

FINAL: BOS 5; NYG 10
RECORD: 42-26 (.618); second place, 4.5 GB of Pittsburgh

New York Tribune

NEXT GAME:

Monday, July 4, 1921, *doubleheader

Philadelphia Athletics @ NEW YORK YANKEES

POLO GROUNDS

It was not lost upon John McGraw that on Saturday the Yankees drew 36,000 fans to the Polo Grounds for their twin bill against the Red Sox, nor the fact that it is Babe Ruth they come to see in greater numbers rather than, say, Frankie Frisch, Dave Bancroft, or High Pockets Kelly. For Sunday's doubleheader against the Braves, albeit relocated from Boston due to weather conditions, the Giants drew 28,000 fans. Lest we forget, that on a Wednesday, April 13, the Yankees drew 37,000 fans to the Polo Grounds for their Opening Day contest against the A's. Whereas the Giants, on Thursday, April 21, drew just 25,000 fans for their Opening Day contest against the Phillies.

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While it seems Miller Huggins is everlong chapped with Babe Ruth, the Yankees manager himself is coming under scrutiny. Why the Yankees trail the Indians by two games is not in question. Why the Yankees are not leading the circuit by two games is. After Carl Mays and Waite Hoyt, pitching has become somewhat problematic for the Highlanders. Scuttlebutt says Miller Huggins is exacerbating the situation. Over the last ten games, not once has the Hugman utilized any pitcher out of the bullpen, including losses.

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With 30 home runs this season, Babe Ruth is just five away from tying Roger Connor's all-time mark of 138 home runs amassed over 18 seasons. Babe Ruth this year turned 26-years old and has led all of baseball in home runs in each of his last three seasons. Most noted for his years playing with the Troy Trojans and New York Giants - also not lost on John McGraw - Roger Connor hit his last home run during the 1897 season while with the St. Louis Browns. Earlier this season, Babe Ruth shattered Gavvy Cravath's 20th-century mark of 119 career home runs. Six times as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Cravath led the National League in home runs, and three times led all of baseball. After leading the senior circuit again in 1919, Cactus Cravath, in 1920, hit the final home run of his career.