100 Years Ago Today 10/1/1920: Brooklyn Robins and New York Giants Split Twin Bill at Polo Grounds

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

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Game #152: Friday, October 1, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Ernie Krueger Powers Robins Over Giants

There's a palatable chill in the air as Wilbert Robinson and John McGraw face off for the first time since Brooklyn clinched the pennant.  The weather is pretty cold as well.  Making matters worse, depending who you ask, Uncle Robbie sticks it to McGraw again when the Robins score in the ninth en route to a victory in game one.  With Phil Douglas on the mound, the Giants take a 3-0 lead into the eighth.  Brooklyn starter Jeff Pfeffer is knocked out of the box after yielding two runs on seven hits and two walks through five innings.  The Robins erupt for three runs in the top of the eighth on a run batted in from Hi Myers and a two run home run from Ernie Krueger.  With one out in the ninth Jimmy Johnston reaches safely on a come backer which is thrown away by Phil Douglas.  Johnston reaches third then scores the go ahead run on Tommy Griffith's sac-fly to left.  Al Mamaux pitching in relief of Jeff Pfeffer retires the Giants in order for his twelfth win of the season with a 2.70 ERA.


Game #153: Friday, October 1, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Giants Gain Split; Jesse Barnes Wins #20 

Jesse Barnes earns his 20th victory of the season with four innings of no-hit, no run ball in relief of Fred Toney.  This time it's the Giants who come from behind to snatch victory from defeat.  The Robins own a 3-2 lead after six on a run batted in by Ross Youngs and High Pockets Kelly's eleventh home run of the season for the Giants, and a two run inside the park home run from Ed Konetchy and an RBI double from Otto Miller for Brooklyn.  In the seventh George Burns and Frankie Frisch each drive home runs en route to a 4-3 final at the Polo Grounds.

• RECORD: 91-61 (.599)
• 1st Place; 5.0 GA

100 Years Ago Today 9/7/1920: Brooklyn Robins Sweep Twin Bill at Baker Bowl

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #132: Tuesday, September 7, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Baker Bowl

Leon Cadore Whitewashes Phillies

Leon Cadore ends Brooklyn's two game skid rather brilliantly with nine scoreless innings of five-hit ball.  He walks three and fans four while improving his record to 13-12 with an improved 2.47 ERA.  Brooklyn scores two early runs and two late runs en route to a 4-0 whitewashing.  Pinch hitter Bill Lamar, Jimmy Johnston, Ed Konetchy and Ernie Krueger all drive in a run apiece.


Game #133: Tuesday, September 7, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Baker Bowl

Pete Kilduff Leads Hit Parade; Robins Complete Sweep

Brooklyn must work a little harder in game two but find their way towards a 9-5 final for a twin bill sweep at Baker Bowl.  The Robins muster all their scoring off Phillies veteran starter Eppa Rixey who allows nine runs, six earned, on a dozen hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  It marks his twentieth loss of the season against just ten victories.  Al Mamaux and Sherry Smith join forces in limiting the Phillies to five earned runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.  Sherry Smith earns his eighth victory with 4.2 innings in relief of Mamaux.  Pete Kilduff leads the Robins with four runs batted in.  Bernie Neiss is 3 for 5 with a double, three runs scored and two runs batted in.  Hi Myers drives home his team leading 70th run batted in for the season.  Brooklyn gains a full game on the idle Reds while the idle Giants lose ground behind the Robins.

• RECORD: 75-57 (.568)
• 2nd Place; 0.5 GB

100 Years Ago Today 8/14/1920: Brooklyn Robins Defense Falters at Polo Grounds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #111: Saturday, August 14, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grouns

Robins Throw One, Two, and Three Away ...

Rube Marquard and Art Nehf duel through five scoreless innings.  Brooklyn strikes for three runs in the top of the seventh on runs batted in from Ernie Krueger, Ivy Olson and Bernie Neis.  The Giants counter with three in the bottom of the frame.  George Burns draws a leadoff walk, and with one out Vern Spencer reaches safely on Jimmy Johnston's errant throw.  With two outs, High Pockets Kelly deposits a Marquard offering deep into the left field stands.  New York then follows up with three runs in the seventh.  Runs batted in from George Burns, Dave Bancroft and Frankie Frisch knock Rube Marquard out of the box.  Facing Phil Douglas in the Brooklyn ninth, Ed Konetchy deposits another bad pitch into the left field stands; Zach Wheat and Hi Myers score tying the game at six.  With one out in the bottom of the frame, Clarence Mitchell pitching in relief of Marquard yields consecutive singles to Dave Bancroft and Vern Spencer, however another errant throw by Jimmy Johnston puts both runners in scoring position.  Out comes Uncle Robbie and out goes Clarence Mitchell in favor of Al Mamaux.  Brooklyn elects to load the bases walking Frisch.  High Pockets steps in and bounces a tapper in front of the plate.  Ernie Krueger gathers the ball but throws errantly to first allowing Dave Bancroft to score from third.  And the Giants fans say, Take That!

• RECORD: 62-48 (.564)
• First Place; Tied w/Reds

100 Years Ago Today 6/8/1920: Brooklyn Robins Drop Series Opener to Visiting Cardinals

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #43: Tuesday, June 8, 1920 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Robins Come Up Empty Against Cardinals Rookie

All appears well as Brooklyn jumps out to a two run lead in the second.  Ernie Krueger drives in the first run of the game and starter Leon Cadore helps his own cause with a base hit a run batted in.  But the Robins would manage no more against Cardinals rookie starter Jesse Haines.  On the mound Leon Cadore fails to hold the lead, surrendering one run in the third, and two in the fourth.  And that's the way the game ends, in a 3-2 final in favor of St. Louis.  Cadore loses his second in a row and falls to 4-4 on the season with an inflating 1.60 earned run average.  Brooklyn is limited to no earned runs on just six hits by Jesse Haines who wins his fourth.  Getting the start at first base Ray Schmandt in place of Ed Konetchy collects his first two hits of the season.  Cincinnati bows to the Giants at the Polo Grounds, and so the Robins maintain a 1.5 game lead over the second place Reds.

• RECORD: 26-16 (.619)
• 1st place; 1.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 5/9/1920: Brooklyn Robins Turn Back Phillies in Tenth

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #19: Sunday, May 9, 1920 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Packed Crowd at Ebbets Field Cajole Brooklyn Robins to Victory Over Phillies

The sputtering Robins were back at Ebbets Field this afternoon hosting a one game set against the Phillies before heading west for a slate of games in the week ahead at St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh.  Brooklyn enters Sunday's action having won just one game in their last eight attempts.  Yet despite the adverse fortunes in their most recent series at the Polo Grounds, the Brooks are warmly received by a near capacity crowd at their Sullivan Place home.

After three scoreless frames Brooklyn breaks through in the fourth for a trio of runs against Phillies right-hander Lee Meadows.  Base hits from Hi Myers and Ed Konetchy set the table for a Bernie Neis double scoring Myers, and Ernie Krueger's base hit scoring Konetchy.  However Meadows would also help turn the tables when Philadelphia likewise catches up with Brooklyn starter Leon Cadore in the fifth.  Wilbert Robinson watches four runs cross the plate on four hits, a walk, and an error by shortstop Ivy Olson, before summoning Sherry Smith from the bullpen.  Cadore exits on the losing side of a 4-3 game after yielding four runs, three earned, on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts in only 4.1 innings pitched.  But he is quickly taken off the hook when Hi Myers singles leading off the sixth, and comes around to score on a Bernie Neis base hit and error committed by Phillies right fielder Casey Stengel.  The game remains deadlocked through the ninth.  With both starters out of the game into extra innings they go at Ebbets.  But unlike Brooklyn's 26-inning loss against the Braves just six games ago, and unlike their 19-inning loss to the Braves just two days later, and unlike Friday's eleven inning loss at the Polo Grounds, the Robins waste little time achieving a successful end.  With one out in the tenth Brooklyn's self appointed player of the game right fielder Bernie Neis singles to right, promptly steals second, then races home to score the winning run on Ernie Krueger's hit to left.  Mr. Neis is 3 for 4, with a walk, double, a run scored, and two runs batted in.  Catcher Ernie Krueger also enjoys a fine day going 2 for 5 with three runs batted in.  Zack Wheat fails to extend his nine game hit streak.  Although Wheat draws three base on balls, he is held hitless for only the second time this season.  Phillies catcher Mack Wheat, Zack's brother and former Robins team mate, is also held hitless in three at bats.  Brooklyn's Sherry Smith earns the victory with 5.2 scoreless innings in relief of Leon Cadore.  Philadelphia's George Smith takes the loss in relief of starter Lee Meadows.

• RECORD: 10-8 (.555)
• 3rd place; 1.5 GB

100 Years Ago Today 5/1/1920: Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves Play in Record Setting Marathon

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #13: Saturday, May 1, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Braves
Braves Field

Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves Duel 26-Innings With No Conclusion

On this dank Saturday afternoon Brooklyn and Boston set a new major league record for the longest game in baseball history.  For 26-innings and nearly four hours they battle at Braves Field until conditions permit no more play.  Regrettably all their respective efforts go for not as the contest ends in a 1-1 deadlock.  The Robins and Pittsburgh Pirates in 1917 previously set the National League record for longest game with a 22-inning contest.  The former major league record was set in 1906 when the Philadelphia A's and Boston Americans once scrapped for 24-innings.

Society for American Baseball Research: An Extreme Exercise in Futility

Upwards of 4,000 fans in attendance essentially see three games for the price of one.  They watch their home town Braves and visiting Robins battle to an otherwise typical 1-1 affair after six.  Brooklyn opens the scoring in the fifth on Ivy Olson's RBI single scoring Ernie Krueger from second base.  But their lead is short lived.  Boston knots the game on a Walton Cruise triple and Tony Boeckel's two out base hit.  Shortstop Rabbit Maranville then advances Boeckel with a double to center.  But Wally Hood who replaced center fielder Hi Myers as a pinch runner in the fourth throws out Boeckel at home while attempting to score.  In fact neither team would score again.  The Robins take 85 official at-bats with nary an extra base hit.  Only Jimmy Johnston and Zack Wheat register multiple hit games; Johnston is 2 for 10, and Wheat goes 2 for 9 with a walk.  Wheat also has now hit safely in twelve of Brooklyn's first thirteen games.  Meanwhile Boston musters five extra base hits but strand 17 runners on base and hit a mere 1 for 17 with runners in scoring position.  Braves second baseman Charlie Pick owns the distinction of going 0 for 11 with a strikeout.

Mano a mano, each starting pitcher goes the distance.  Boston's journeyman starter Joe Oeschger faces 90 batters, yielding one earned run on nine hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over a full 26 innings pitched.  During one stretch beginning in the eighth Oeschger retires 18 Robins in a row.  Further along he effectively no-hits Brooklyn over his final nine innings pitched.  For Brooklyn making his fourth start of the season and his second against Boston Leon Cadore faces 96 batters, surrendering one earned run on 15 hits and five walks with seven strikeouts likewise over a full 26 innings pitched.  Cadore pitches two separate stretches wherein he retires 15 straight batters followed by another run of 19 straight.  Alas both pitchers for all their galant efforts respectively walk away with a no decision.

• RECORD: 8-4 (.666)
• 2nd place; 1 GB

BRAVES FIELD