100 Years Ago Today 4/30/1920: Brooklyn Robins Whitewashed at Boston

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #12: Friday, April 30, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Braves
Braves Field

Braves Hurler Hugh McQuillan Whitewashes Visiting Brooklyn; Robins Cede First Place to Idle Cincinnati Reds.

Opening their second road trip of the season Brooklyn's veteran Jeff Pfeffer pitches well, but on this day the younger less experienced Boston Braves hurler Hugh McQuillan is better.  Making his first start this season Boston's 23-year old right-hander limits the Brooks to just four scattered hits and one walk while fanning three through nine scoreless innings pitched for the win.  Zack Wheat, Hi Myers, Ed Konetchy, and McGuillan's counterpart Jeff Pfeffer are the only Robins to hit safely.  Boston inflicts all their damage during a three run fourth.  Robins shortstop Chuck Ward commits two errors in the game one of which leads to an unearned run, while Braves first baseman Walter Holke and third baseman Tony Boeckel each drive in a run apiece.  Despite a representative performance Brooklyn's Jeff Pfeffer (1-2) is tagged with his second defeat of the season.  His line reads two earned runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts through eight innings work.  Alas Jeff receives no run support.  With the loss Brooklyn falls in the standings one-half game behind the now first place Cincinnati Reds.  Zack Wheat has now hit safely in 11 of 12 gamed to begin the season.

• RECORD: 8-4 (.666)
• 2nd place; 0.5 GB

BRAVES FIELD

100 Years Ago Today 4/22/1920: Brooklyn Robins Bow to Phillies in First Contest Away From Home

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #6: Thursday, April 22, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Baker Bowl

Robins Open First Road Trip With Loss Against Phillies at Baker Bowl

Brooklyn's first road trip of the season brings them to the City of Brotherly Love.  They open Thursday afternoon's scoring with haste on third baseman Jimmy Johnston's first inning hit plating lead-off hitter Ivy Olson from second base.  However the Phillies quickly tie things up in the second.  In the fourth Philadelphia scores an unearned run for a 2-1 lead.  The Robins answer right back.  Leading off the third inning first baseman Ed Konetchy doubles, and Chuck Ward follows with a walk.  Rowdy Elliott follows with a bunt fielded by Phillies starter Lee Meadows whom throws errantly allowing both Konetchy and Ward to score.  Unfortunately Brooklyn's 3-2 lead is short lived as Philadelphia tallies two more runs in the eighth en route to a 4-3 victory in the first of three games scheduled at Baker Bowl.  Robins hurler Jeff Pfeffer is tagged with his first defeat after yielding four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk, with one strikeout through eight innings of work.  His counterpart Lee Meadows surrenders just five hits and strikes out eight Robins in a victorious complete game effort.  Philadelphia right fielder Casey Stengel is 2 for 4 with a double and a run batted in.  Zack Wheat extends his season launching hitting streak to six games with a 1 for 3 day at the plate.

• RECORD: 4-2 (.666)
• 2nd place; 1 GB

100 Years Ago Today 4/18/1920: Brooklyn Robins Take Series Opener From Boston Braves

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #3: Sunday, April 18, 1920 - BR
Boston Braves vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Robins Open Series With 9-3 Victory Over Visiting Boston Braves

Boston, who just two days ago expertly whitewashed John McGraw's Giants at the Polo Grounds, today crossed the East River span into Brooklyn where they promptly fall behind 0-4 after just three innings of play at Ebbets Field.  Looking to rebound from Thursday's loss against Philadelphia, the Robins rough-up Braves starter Dick Rudolph for six runs on seven hits and one walk through six.  Three more Robins cross the plate in the eighth as Brooklyn goes on to post a 9-3 victory over the Braves whom commit five fielding errors resulting in four unearned runs.  Getting the start behind the plate Rowdy Elliott is Brooklyn's big man on campus going 3 for 4 with a run scored and four runs batted in, and right fielder Bernie Neis connects on the Robins first home run of the season.  Shortstop Chuck Ward is 2 for 3 with a run scored and one run batted in.  Zack Wheat goes 2 for 4 with two runs scored.  On the bump Brooklyn veteran starter Jeff Pfeffer goes the distance yielding three runs, two earned, on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts for the victory.

• RECORD: 2-1 (.666)
• 3rd place; 1 GB

100 Years Ago Today 4/15/1920: Philadelphia Phillies Hand Brooklyn Robins First Defeat

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #2: Thursday, April, 15, 1920 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Robins Comeback Falls Short; Phillies Gain Opening Day Series Split at Ebbets

Starting for Philadelphia, former New York Giant and Brooklyn utilitarian right-hander George Smith whitewashes the Robins through the first seven innings of Thursday afternoon's contest at Ebbets Field.  Meanwhile the Phillies have their way with 32-year old veteran Rube Marquard, taking a 5-0 lead and knocking him out of the box after five.  Brooklyn's efforts are exacerbated by four fielding errors resulting in four unearned runs for Philadelphia.  Trailing 7-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Robins storm back with six runs to close within one.  However, the Phillies would secure victory in the top of the ninth when center fielder Cy Williams connects for a home run off Brooklyn reliever Johnny Miljus.  Brooklyn plates a run in the bottom of the frame, but nothing more.  Rube Marquard takes the loss allowing five runs, only three earned, on seven hits and no walks, with four strikeouts.  Each of Brooklyn's four infielders are charged with an error.  At the plate first baseman Ed Konetchy is 2 for 5 with a run batted in.  Second baseman and leadoff hitter Ivy Olson goes 4 for 5 with a double and run scored.  Shortstop Chuck Ward is 1 for 3 with a run batted in, and third baseman Jimmy Johnston is 1 for 3 with two runs scored.  Left fielder Zack Wheat goes 1 for 3 with two runs batted in.  Former Brooklyn Robin Casey Stengel is hitless in five trips to the plate.

100 Years Ago Today 4/14/1920: Brooklyn Robins Rout Phillies in Season Opener at Ebbets Field

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th ANNIVERSAY

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

GAME #1: Wednesday, April 14, 1920 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

ROBINS OPEN REGULAR SEASON WITH VICTORY OVER PHILADELPHIA 

The Robins score early and often en route to a commanding 9-2 Opening Day victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Ebbets Field.  First baseman Big Ed Konetchy and left fielder Zack Wheat join together for five runs batted in and starter Leon Cadore takes care of the rest.

Konetchy opens the scoring in the second with a base hit to left scoring center fielder Hi Myers from second base.  With the bases jammed and one out in the fourth Zack Wheat singles home two runs.  Big Ed then singles up the middle plating two more as the Robins build a 5-0 lead.  The Robins add another in the sixth on Hi Myers' leadoff triple and a successful suicide squeeze executed by shortstop Chuck Ward.

Phillies starter Eppa Rixey helps his own cause in the top of the seventh with a run batted in to break up Leon Cadore's shutout bid.  However Cadore answers with a run batted in of his own during a three run eighth for the Robins.  On the mound Leon Cadore yields two earned runs on eight hits and no walks with two strikeouts through nine innings for the victory.

• The Robins opening day lineup averages 30-years of age.  National League veteran Ed Konetchy, 33-years old, enters his second season with the Robins.  Zack Wheat now 32-years old enters his twelfth season with Brooklyn.  After winning the batting title in 1918, last season he fails to keep his average above the .300 mark.  Looking to rebound Wheat opens the 1920 season going 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.  Meanwhile Hi Myers who turns 31-years old later this month is coming off a 1919 regular season in which he leads the senior circuit with 14 triples, 73 runs batted in, a .436 slugging average, and 223 total bases.