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 9/28/1914: Tip Tops Ed Lafitte Turns Back First Place ChiFeds

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

ChiFeds lead Tip Tops; 3-1

I - CHI 4; BTT 1

II - CHI 7; BTT 6

III - CHI 5; BTT 3

IV - BTT 9; CHI 5

Chicago ChiFeds

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

Brooklyn staves off par with their first victory of the series against first place Chicago.

• BOXSCORE: Monday, September 28, 1914 - BR

Leading 8-1 through six, starter Ed Lafitte withstands the ChiFeds four run outburst in the eighth to gain his 15 victory of the season with a 2.70 ERA.  He allows five earned runs on eight hits and six walks with eight strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Making only his fourth start behind the plate catcher Art Watson hits his first home run of the season off Chicago starter Claude Hendrix who is denied his 29th victory of the season.  A former 24-game winner for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 25-year old Hendrix' record remains at 28-10 with a 1.73 ERA.  Center fielder Al Shaw goes 3 for 5 with a double and two runs batted in.  Al Halt goes 2 for 4 with a triple and run batted in.  And Claude Cooper, Solly Hofman, and Tex Wisterzil, also drive in one run apiece.

The Brooklyn Tip Tops improve to 72-70 but remain a distant 8.5 games back of Chicago with twelve games left in the Federal League inaugural season.  Meanwhile the ChiFeds hold a precarious 1.5 game lead over the Indianapolis Hoosiers.

OTD 9/7/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Climb Back Into Federal League Pennant Race

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Brooklyn leads series 5-0

I - BTT 7; PIT 6

II - BTT 7; PIT 1

III - BTT 3; PIT 2*

IV - BTT 4; PIT 3

V - BTT 12; PIT 11

* 10 innings

GAME SIX

Pittsburgh Rebels

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tips

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

Don't look now but with 32 games left in the season the Brooklyn Tip Tops are right back in the Federal League pennant race and gaining steam.  Monday's double-header sweep of the Pittsburgh Rebels results in Brooklyn's fourth and fifth straight win.  Since slamming the breaks on their nine game losing streak they've gone 10-3 to bypass both Buffalo and Baltimore in the standings.  The Tip Tops close Monday's action 3.5 games back of Joe Tinker's ChiFeds, and 4.5 back of the first place Indianapolis Hoosiers.

• GAME ONE BOXSCORE: Monday, September 7, 1914 - BR

Pittsburgh opens the scoring in the first, but the Tip Tops promptly tie in the second and take a 2-1 lead in the fourth.  However the Rebels answer with a run in the sixth, then pull ahead 3-2 in the top of the seventh.  The Washington Park crowd is delighted when their Tip Tops score twice in the bottom half of the frame for a 4-3 lead and game one victory.  Steve Evans is 2 for 4 with a double and connects off Rebels starter Cy Barger on his 11th home run of the season.  Solly Hofman is 2 for 2 and connects on his fourth home run of the season.  Al Shaw and Grover Land each drive in a run apiece.  Making his 13th appearance but only his third start, Bill Chappelle limits the Rebels to three runs on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts through nine innings pitched for first victory of the season.

• GAME TWO BOXSCORE: Monday, September 7, 1914 - BR

Mordecai Brown's first start as a member of the Tip Tips goes terribly.  He allows five runs, four earned, on five hits and a walk in just 1.1 innings pitched.  Rudy Sommers goes on to yield another six runs, four earned, on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts over the next six-plus innings in relief of Brown.  Brooklyn treats Pittsburgh starter Mysterious Walker no differently, roughing him up for seven runs, six earned, on 13 hits and one walk through 6.2 innings pitched.  Pittsburgh knocks Sommers out of the box and takes an 11-7 lead with two more runs in the top of the eighth; Jim Bluejacket closes out the frame in relief of Sommers.  Brooklyn then mounts a five run assault against relievers George LeClair and Howie Camnitz, however, only two runs are earned.  Manager Bradley hands off to Happy Finneran who throws a scoreless ninth for the Tip Tops, as Brooklyn walks off with a 12-11 comeback victory and a sweep of Monday's double-header at Washington Park.  Bluejacket is credited with the win.  Tex Wisterzil leads the charge going 3 for 5 with a triple and four runs batted in.  Steve Evans lifts his season average to .361 after going 3 for 5 with a triple, three runs scored, and three runs batted in.  Solly Hofman is 3 for 5 with a double, three runs scored, and three runs batted in.  Claude Cooper is 2 for 4 with a triple and a run batted in.

Brooklyn improves to 64-58 for the season.  They'll attempt the series sweep Tuesday afternoon.

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 9/4/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Open Home Stand With 9th Inning Thriller Over Pittsburgh Rebels

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Tip Tops lead Rebels 1-0

I - BTT 7; PITT 6

Pittsburgh Rebels

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

Back home in Brooklyn, the Tip Tops overcome a six run deficit against the Pittsburgh Rebels with single runs in the sixth and eighth innings, followed by a game ending five run flurry in the ninth for a thrilling series opening 7-6 victory Friday afternoon at Washington Park.

• BOXSCORE: Friday, September 4, 1914 - BR  

The Rebels score early and often against Brooklyn starter Happy Finneran, roughing him up for five earned runs on five hits and a walk in just 1.2 innings pitched.  Pittsburgh right fielder Jimmie Savage and center fielder Rebel Oakes each stroke home runs accounting for five runs.  Pittsburgh starter Howie Camnitz helps his own cause with a hit and a run scored in three times at the plate.  But the game begins changing when Jim Bluejacket enters the fray in relief of Finneran allowing just one run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts through 5.1 solid innings of work.  Manager Bradley then hands off to Rudy Sommers in the eighth whom obliges with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball with no walks and a strikeout in what would be his fourth victory of the season.  The Tip Tops are beneficiaries of three unearned runs on three errors.  Otherwise first baseman Steve Evans is 3 for 5 with two doubles, a home run, and two runs batted in.  While Claude Cooper, Al Shaw, and Solly Hofman, all drive in one run apiece.  Brooklyn inflicts all their damage against Howie Camnitz who allows seven runs, five earned, on nine hits and four walks with two strikeouts while pitching into the ninth.

Brooklyn's victory (60-58) coupled with the Indianapolis Hoosiers extra-inning loss to the Chi-Feds at Weegham Park draws the Tip Tops back to within seven games of first place.

Commemorative Plaque Now!

OTD 9/2/1914: Sun Sets on Bad Day for Tip Tops at Buffalo

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Brooklyn @ Buffalo Tied 1-1-1

I - BTT 4; BUF 1

II - BUF 3; BTT 1

III - BUF 5; BTT 5*

BROOKLYN TIP TOPS ACQUIRE MORDECAI BROWN

• Nine Seasons w/ Chicago Cubs (1904-1912).
• 188-86 record with 1.80 ERA.
• Six-time 20-game winner.
• 1906: 1.04 ERA leads National League.
• 1909: 27 victories, 32 complete games leads National League.
• October 1912 released by Cubs.
• December 1913 jumps from Cincinnati Reds to Federal League (St. Louis Terriers).
• Mordecai Brown - BR

Rain forces a postponement of Tuesday's game necessitating Wednesday's double-header.  Buffalo outlasts Brooklyn in the opener.  Game two is suspended in the 12th inning with the game tied at five.

GAME ONE

• BOXSCORE: Wednesday, September 2, 1914 - BR

Making his eighth career start Jim Bluejacket is opposed by Buffalo's Earl Moore.  The Buf-Feds score single runs in the first, second, and third innings.  Brooklyn manages an unearned run in the seventh but little else.  Moore yields one unearned run on four scattered hits and seven walks with four strikeouts through nine innings for his ninth victory of the season.  Jim Bluejacket pitches well enough, allowing three earned runs on six hits and no walks with one strikeout through six innings for the hard luck loss.  First baseman Steve Evans is 2 for 2 with two walks and accounts for half of Brooklyn's hits.  The former St. Louis Cardinal lifts his average back up to a .353 mark.  Right fielder Claude Cooper drives in his 20th run of the season but the Tip Tops leave ten runners on base. Buffalo shortstop Baldy Louden is 2 for 3 with a walk, stolen base, and a home run.

GAME TWO

• BOXSCORE: Wednesday, September 2, 1914 - BR

Wednesday's second game is a back and forth affair until sunlight calls it a day.  Buffalo jumps out to an early 3-0 lead until Brooklyn finally posts a run in the fifth.  The Buf-Feds tack on another run in the sixth.  But the Tip Tops storm back with four runs in the eighth for a 5-4 lead.  However their lead is short lived.  Buffalo rallies for a run in the home ninth sending the game into extra-innings.  After three scoreless frames, the game is called after nearly two and one-half hours of late afternoon play.  Ed Lafitte makes the start and is opposed by Buf-Fed Al Schultz.  Lafitte yields three earned runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts through four innings.  Bill Chappelle allows an unearned run through three innings pitched in relief of Lafitte.  The great Mordecai Brown, recently acquired from the St. Louis Terriers, makes his first appearance as a member of the Brooklyn Tip Tops.  He surrenders just one earned run on three hits and no walks with six strikeouts through five innings pitched in relief of Chappelle.  In 26 appearances with St. Louis, the 37-year old posted a nifty 12-6 record and 3.29 ERA with 81 strikeouts through 175 innings pitched.  Manager Bill Bradley, making his sixth game appearance of the season, helps the team cause with a pinch hit and run batted in.  Otherwise the Tip Tops get runs batted in from Solly Hofman, Grover Land, Jim Delehanty, and Tex Wisterzil.  Buffalo starting pitcher Al Schultz likewise helps his own cause going 2 for 2 at the plate with two runs batted in.

First place Indianapolis defeat the ChiFeds at Weegham Park and now lead Chicago by two games.  Fourth place Brooklyn (58-57) now falls 7.5 games back of the Hoosiers with 39 games left to play.

No rest for the weary.  There's another scheduled twin bill to be played on Thursday before the Tip Tops return home to Brooklyn.

OTD 8/27/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Win Second Straight Over Buffalo

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

Brooklyn leads series 2-0

I - BTT 6; BUF 2

II - BTT 7; BUF 5

Buffalo Buf-Feds

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

It's good to be home.  Just ask manager Bradley.  The Tip Tops win their second straight over the Buffalo Buf-Feds, and climb a game back over the .500 mark.

• BOXSCORE: Thursday, August 27, 1914 - BR

Brooklyn holds a 7-3 lead through seven but need to stave off a late Buf-Fed rally.  Brooklyn starter Jim Bluejacket earns his third career victory allowing five runs (four earned) on eleven hits and two walks with one strikeout through nine innings full.  Al Shaw goes 3 for 3 with a walk, double, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.  First baseman Steve Evans lifts his average to .353 with two hits and a run batted in.  Claude Cooper picks up where he leaves off with a triple, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.  Buffalo first baseman and former New York Yankee Hal Chase goes 2 for 4 with a double, and two runs batted in.  The Federal League leading Indianapolis Hoosiers were idle, and so the 56-55 Top Tops gain one-half game in the standings.  They remain in fourth place, eight games back of first.

Commemorative Plaque Now!

OTD 8/26/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Defeat Buffalo in Return to Washington Park

From the desk of: THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

HOME SWEET HOME

Buffalo Buf-Feds

vs.

Brooklyn Tip Tops

FROM

WASHINGTON PARK

BROOKLYN

Brooklyn has much work to do if they are to rectify the considerable damage they caused themselves during their recent and potentially ruinous 4-14-1 road swing through the Midwest.  Wednesday afternoon's series opening win over Buffalo is only one small step in the right direction, but a first step nonetheless.  Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in twenty days the Tip Tops prevail by a 6-2 final score over the Buf-Feds at Washington Park.  The victory snaps their nine game skid and gets them back to .500 (55-55) with 45 games left in the regular season.

• BOXSCORE: Wednesday, August 26, 1914 - BR

After trading runs in the first, Brooklyn starter Happy Finneran limits Buffalo to just one more run (none earned) on six total hits and two walks with five strikeouts through nine full.  Meanwhile the Tip Tops generate five more runs against Buf-Fed starter Al Schultz and reliever Fred Anderson en route to a 6-2 triumph.  Right fielder Claude Cooper goes 1 for 4 with a home run.  Grover Land and George Anderson each drive in a run.  Third baseman Tex Wisterzil is 1 for 2 with a triple and two runs scored.  Finneran also helps his own cause going 1 for 3 with a run batted in.  Happy notches his tenth victory of the season against seven losses with a 2.38 ERA.

Despite the victory Brooklyn does not gain ground on either first place Indianapolis or second place Chicago and thus remain mired in fifth place, 8.5 games back of the league leading Hoosiers.  After posting a stellar 21-8 record in July, the Tip Tops have slumped to 8-15 to date through August.  However, if nothing else Bradley's Boys are resilient.  This is the same team that on June 27 were in sixth place, eight games below .500 and 9.5 games back of first place.  By August 6 they had climbed all the way to within 1.5 games of first place.

And then they headed west ...

Commemorative Plaque Now!

OTD 8/24/1914: Brooklyn Tip Tops Head Home After Ruinous Road Trip

From the desk of:  THE BROOKLYN BAKERS NINE

THE ROAD TO RUIN

Midwest Trip: 4-14-1

Losing Streak Hits Nine

The Dog Days of Summer Continue Chewing Away Hungrily at the Brooklyn Tip Tops Season.

Back on Thursday, Aug. 6, manager Bill Bradley is feeling mighty fine.  The Tip Tops close out a 9-6 home stand with a sweep of the Packers.  They rise a season high nine games above .500 and a mere 1.5 games out of first place.

Then it's time to hit the road.  On Saturday, Aug. 8, the confident Tip Tops open a four city swing with a closely contested 2-1 loss against the first place Chi-Feds at Chicago.  In this greatly anticipated showdown Brooklyn loses four of five and leave town 3.5 games out of first.  Then it's off to St. Louis where they split four games with the Terriers.  After which the Tip Tops drop three of four (one tie) to the Packers at Kansas City.  Manager Bradley's road to ruin ends mercilessly at Indianapolis where the Hoosiers win both games of Monday's twin bill, thus completing a five game sweep of the Tip Tops.  Brooklyn conjures just four wins the entire trip.  Their season altering losing streak now stands at nine.  Worse, the Tip Tops fall a game below .500, and 8.5 games out of first.

Sitting beside himself left to ponder a potential pennant now seemingly out of reach, manager Bradley and his beaten and battered Tip Tops embark on the long quiet ride home.  Through the remaining weeks of the season, Sunday's (game one) loss is perhaps the one Brooklyn players and fans alike will most dwell over.  It's the game that drops the Tip Tops to .500 for the first time since establishing themselves as legitimate contenders with a July 11 double-header victory over the Pittsburgh Rebels.

• BOXSCORE: Monday, August 24, 1914 - BR

The Hoosiers open the scoring with a run in the first and a pair in the second.  Brooklyn rallies back with three runs in the fourth.  After trading runs in the sixth, the teams remain deadlocked through the ninth and into extra innings they go.  The Tip Tops finally breakthrough with two runs in the top of the 13th inning.  However Indianapolis answers right back in the bottom half of the frame with three runs for the victory.  Brooklyn starter Dan Marion yields seven runs on eleven hits through twelve innings, but only three Indianapolis runs are earned as the Tip Tops commit five errors.  Hoosiers starter George Kaiserling goes the distance, allowing six runs, four earned, on 13 hits and three walks with four strikeouts.  He improves to 13-4 with a  3.26 ERA.  Brooklyn third baseman Tex Wisterzil is 2 for 6 with three runs batted in.  Right fielder Claude Cooper is 2 for 6 with a triple and run scored.  Second baseman Solly Hofman goes 2 for 6 with a double and two runs scored.

Brooklyn's game two loss is the game that actually sinks the Tip Tops below .500, but unofficially goes down as a mere afterthought.