100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 5/8/1921: Yankees Bow to Athletics in Extras; Giants Fall at Ebbets 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 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, two full decades later, still harbored much animosity not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees themselves who 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 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.  Ruth's earth-shattering record of 54 home runs was something never experienced before in the history of baseball but an accomplishment for which John McGraw has little appreciation as one who believes players work too hard and earnestly only 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 than 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 further 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, 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 in 1921 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.  I'll be exercising my creative license whenever and wherever ever possible.  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 #17

BOXSCORE: Sunday, May 8, 1921 - BR

Philadelphia Athletics @ NEW YORK YANKEES

POLO GROUNDS

38,000 Watch With Dismay as Eddie Rommel Pitches Fourteen Inning Victory Over Yankees

Just as they had done yesterday for the Giants, New York City baseball bugs pack the Polo Grounds to capacity for today's American League tilt against the Athletics.  Making his fifth start of the season, Bill Piercy toes the slab for the Yankees and is opposed by Philadelphia right-hander Eddie Rommel.  

With runners on the corners in the fourth, left fielder Tillie Walker's sac-fly and catcher Cy Perkins' base hit through the middle gives the A's a 2-0 lead.  The Yankees pick up an unearned run in the fifth when Fred Hofmann scores on Braggo Roth's ground ball fielder's choice to third.  First baseman Ivy Griffin delivers home Philadelphia's third run in the sixth, but the Athletics' insurance expires in the ninth.  After Bill Piercy retires the A's in order, Bob Meusel reaches safely and advances to second on a costly error by Tillie Walker in left field.  Home Run Baker then singles off Eddie Rommel, scoring Meusel.  Miller Huggins replaces Baker with pinch-runner Chick Fewster, who, to this point, was getting a day off.  Pinch-hitting for Piercy, Chick Hawks taps out catcher to first advancing the runners along.  Eddie Rommel then walks Braggo Roth, but Chick Fewster takes advantage of a lackadaisical battery and steals home behind the play, thus tying the game at three.  

Huggins summons sophomore right-hander Rip Collins from the bullpen.  Mr. Connie Mack leaves Rommel in the game, and the two pitchers duel through four scoreless innings.  With one out and two runners on base in the top of the 14th inning, Cy Perkins triples into the left/center field gap giving the visiting Athletics a 5-3 lead.  Babe Ruth singles leading off the bottom half of the frame, advances to third on Wally Pip's hit, and scores on Bob Meusel's sac-fly to straightaway center.  With the tying run at second base, the capacity crowd is hushed when Rommel retires Wally Schang to end the game.  Rip Collins is tagged with his second loss in as many appearances.

The Yankees open a 17-game road trip on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers.

• FINAL: PHI 5; NYY 4 (14-inn)
• RECORD: 9-8 (.529); fourth place, 4.0 GB of Cleveland

⚾

GAME #19

BOXSCORE: Sunday, May 8, 1921 - BR

New York Giants @ BROOKLYN ROBINS

Ebbets Field

Southpaw Clarence Mitchell Shuts Out Giants at Ebbets Field

In this battle of rivals, the home team is yet to lose.  Today ends no differently.  After bowing in two straight at the Polo Grounds, the Robins return to Brooklyn, where the Giants lost for the fifth time this season at Ebbets Field.  After five scoreless innings, Tommy Griffith homers off Giants starter Jesse Barnes.  Robins starter Clarence Mitchell makes it stand.  Ivy Olson drives home an insurance run in the eighth, but it was not needed.  Mitchell yields ten hits and three walks in an otherwise stellar complete-game shutout effort.  The Robins southpaw improves to 3-0 with a 2.20 ERA.  Jesse Barnes is removed after six innings.  He allows one earned run on just three hits and three walks in a tough-luck loss.  Rosy Ryan allows one run on three hits over two innings in relief of Barnes.  Catcher Frank Snyder is the only Giants batter with multiple hits.  Brooklyn catcher Otto Miller is similarly the lone Robins batter with multiple hits.  Brooklyn reclaims second place from the Giants.  Today's game also marks the first time the New Yorkers have been shut out by the competition this season.

• FINAL: NYG 0; BKN 2
• RECORD: 12-7 (.632); third place; 3.5 GB of Pittsburgh

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 4/26/1921: Miller Huggins Decisions Under Scrutiny Following Loss To Senators; Southpaw Sherry Smith Confounds Giants At Ebbets

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, two full decades later, still harbored much animosity not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees themselves who 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 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.  Ruth's earth-shattering record of 54 home runs was something never experienced before in the history of baseball but an accomplishment for which John McGraw has little appreciation as one who believes players work too hard and earnestly only 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 than 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 further 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 forward, 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.  A solution lies not too far away ...  

In the meantime, 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.  I'll be exercising my creative license whenever and wherever ever possible.  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 #10

BOXSCORE: Tuesday, April 26, 1921 - BR

Washington Senators @ NEW YORK YANKEES

POLO GROUNDS

Washington Senators Win Third Straight at Polo Grounds

All 15,000 sets of eyes were fixed on Miller Huggins over some curious decision-making.  

Babe Ruth's first-inning sacrifice fly to right field scores Chick Fewster, and with two outs in the second, catcher Wally Schang's two-out home run gives starter Jack Quinn and the Yankees a 2-0 lead.  Washington recovers a run in the top of the third inning on first baseman Joe Judge's run-scoring base hit to right field.  But the Yankees respond with haste as Ruth lashes a one-out double to right field, scoring Roger Peckinpaugh, and advances to third on a misplay in the outfield by Clyde Milan.  Wally Pipp promptly follows with a sacrifice flyball to center field, scoring Ruth for a three-run advantage.  

Washington starter Al Schacht is dispatched to the showers after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits over three innings pitched.  

Clyde Milan reaches safely, leading off the fifth when Chick Fewster mishandles his grounder to second.  Jack Quinn then yields a hit by center fielder Sam Rice.  That's when Miller Huggins emerges from the dugout in the retrieval of his starter.  When play resumes, second-year right-hander Rip Collins fields Duffy Lewis's bunt attempt, and the runners successfully advance.  After issuing a base on balls to second baseman Bucky Harris, Collins induces third baseman Howie Shanks into a textbook inning-ending 6-4-3 double-play.  

However, Miller Huggins' maneuverings backfire in the sixth.  Facing Rip Collins with two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, right fielder Clyde Milan - there's that name again - empties the bases with a single to left field cutting Washington's deficit to one.  But manager Miller Huggins stays put, leaving the right-handed Collins in the game to face lefty-swinging Sam Rice.  Known more for his speed on the basepaths than for his power at the plate, Rice delivers the decisive hit with a long home run to right.  Out of the dugout again emerges Huggins, obviously too late, and into the game enters the Brooklynite, Waite Hoyt.

Pitching in relief of Al Schacht, Cuban-born José Acosta throws six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and two walks with a strikeout en route to his first win of the season and only the sixth victory of his brief career.  The second-place Senators have now taken three straight at the Polo Grounds while the Yankees themselves are losers of four in a row.  Moreover, for Miller Huggins, the second-guessing begins.

• FINAL: WAS 5; NYY 4
• RECORD: 5-5 (.500); third place, 3.0 GB of Cleveland

⚾

GAME #10

BOXSCORE: Tuesday, April 26, 1921 - BR

New York Giants @ BROOKLYN ROBINS

Ebbets Field

Costly Error Underscores Giants Second Straight Loss at Ebbets Field

Foiled again!  Misplays in the field continue plaguing the Giants.  This time misfortune strikes in the third.  George Burns' mishandling of Tommy Griffith's fly to left allows shortstop Ivy Olson and third baseman Jimmy Johnston to score all the way from first and second base, respectively, for a 2-0 Robins lead.  Brooklyn starter pitcher Sherry Smith makes it stand.  Making his third start, the veteran southpaw improves to 2-0 upon yielding just one run on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts over nine innings full.  New York loads the bases with one out in the fifth, only to muster a Frankie Frisch comebacker to Smith for a run-scoring fielder's choice.  Otherwise, Sherry finishes strong, retiring nine of his next ten batters and 13 of his final 16 batters faced.  For good measure, Robins right fielder Tommy Griffith homers off Giants starter Fred Toney leading off the eighth, giving Brooklyn a  3-1 final margin of victory and a second straight home win against the rival Manhattanites.  After earning the win for a two-inning relief appearance in the season opener at Philadelphia, the Giants have since lost in each of Fred Toney's first three starting assignments.  Last year's 21-game winner falls to 1-2 with a modestly uncharacteristic 3.00 ERA through 24.0 innings pitched.  Fred was the lone Giants to cross home plate against his counterpart Sherry Smith for what it's worth.  If nothing else, at least ruin the shutout ...

• FINAL: NYG 1; BKN 3
• RECORD: 6-4 (.600); t-third place, 2.0 GB of Pittsburgh

 

100 Years Ago Today 10/9/1920: Brooklyn Robins Drop Game Four at Cleveland

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

WORLD SERIES: Saturday, October 9, 1920 - GAME FOUR

Brooklyn Robins vs. Cleveland Indians

Dunn Field

Stan Coveleski Wins Second Game of Series; Robins and Indians Knotted at Two

The Robins arrive in Cleveland for Game Four, but it seems as if Leon Cadore's best stuff stays packed away in Brooklyn.  Uncle Robbie gives him the hook just two batters in the third.  But the damage is already done.  Cadore faces eight batters while yielding two runs on four hits and a walk.  Making his second start of the series, Stan Coveleski limits the Robins to one run on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts through nine innings complete.  Tommy Griffith drives in Brooklyn's lone run with a double scoring Jimmy Johnston in the fourth.  Johnston accounts for two Brooklyn hits.  First baseman Ed Konetchy is now 0 for 12  through four games.  Al Mamux is charged with two runs on two hits.  Like Cadore, he is removed two batters into the third inning.  Rube Marquard pitches three scoreless innings.  But Jeff Pfeffer yields Cleveland's fourth and final run in the sixth.

100 Years Ago Today 10/6/1920: Brooklyn Robins Knot Series With Cleveland Indians

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

WORLD SERIES: Wednesday, October 6, 1920 - GAME TWO

Cleveland Indians vs. Brooklyn Robins

Ebbets Field

Burleigh Grimes Whitewashes Cleveland; Outperforms Jim Bagby

To the great relief of an entire Borough, the Robins knot the World Series at a game apiece.  Facing baseball's winningest pitcher with 31 victories, Brooklyn opens the scoring with haste against Cleveland right-hander Jim Bagby.  In the first inning Jimmy Johnston reaches on a one out single and scores on Zack Wheat's line drive double to center.  Starter Burleigh Grimes singles leading off the third and comes around to score on a double by Tommy Griffith.  In the fifth, Griffith's base hit delivers home Ivy Olson from second base for a 3-0 Robins lead.  Burleigh Grimes takes care of the rest.  Outperforming Jim Bagby, the spitballer yields seven hits and four walks over nine shutout innings.  Tris Speaker accounts for two of the Indians hits.

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 9/18/1920: Packed Ebbets Field Watches Brooklyn Robins Bow to Reds

 From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #146: Saturday, September 18, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Reds Salvage Series Finale

Brooklyn does well to overcome a five run deficit.  Tommy Griffith's three run home run sparks a five run fifth and gives the Robins new life.  With starter Rube Marquard off the hook, Uncle Robbie decides to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Cincinnati.  Al Mamaux, Sherry Smith, Burleigh Grimes and Clarence Mitchell all pitch in short relief, but to no avail.  The Reds generate six more runs but only two are earned en route to an 11-5 victory.  Hi Myers is 1 for 3 with a double and his 79th run batted in.  Marquard yields five runs on nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts through 5.1 innings.  Sherry Smith is tagged with the loss.  The Giants defeat the Pirates for a third straight game at the Polo Grounds and close within five games of first place.  The Reds are six games out.  Brooklyn has nine games left to play, the Giants have thirteen.

• RECORD: 86-59 (.593)
• 1st place; 5.0 GA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• Still featuring a full compliment of players and Eddie Cicotte on the mound, the beleaguered White Sox roll to a 15-9 victory over the Yankees at Comiskey Park.  Cicotte wins his 19th against ten losses with a 3.44 ERA.  Bob Shawkey on the other hand is denied his 19th victory.  He now stands at 18-12 with a 2.44 ERA.  After winning five straight to gain first place the Yankees have now lost three in a row.  Today they get knocked down to third place, 2.0 games back of the Cleveland Indians.  Chicago is 1.5 games back. 

100 Years Ago Today 9/17/1920: Brooklyn Robins Take Second Straight From Defending Champs

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #145: Friday, September 17, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

The Countdown Begins: Six Game Lead With Ten Games Left to Play

LEON CADORE WINS #15

Leon Cadore once again comes through for Uncle Robbie.  The 28-year old right-hander limits the defending champions to a pair of unearned runs on five hits and five walks with five strikeouts through nine innings.  He improves to 15-13 with a 2.62 ERA.  Trailing 2-1 in the home seventh, Ivy Olson leads off with a double then scores the tying run on Tommy Griffith's base hit to left.  Zack Wheat singles and Hi Myers drives in his 78th run of the season giving the Robins a 3-2 lead and final margin of victory.  That's two straight wins against the Reds and thirteen wins in their last fourteen games.  Brooklyn widens their lead to seven over the now third place Reds.  The New York Giants defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in ten innings at the Polo Grounds.  They take over second place six games behind the Robins.

• RECORD: 86-58 (.597)
• 1st Place; 6.0 GA

EXTRA: BREAKING NEWS
EIGHT WHITE SOX TO BE SUSPENDED

Season long scuttlebutt and wild speculation is coming to a head.  A grand jury is being convened to investigate allegations that numerous White Sox players acted in concert to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in return for monetary compensation from a known gambling syndicate.  Rumors have plagued the White Sox even while the series was in progress and ever since.  It is now being reported Mr. Comiskey will shortly announce the suspension of eight players allegedly implicated in the fix:

• Eddie Cicotte
• George "Buck" Weaver
• Oscar "Happy" Felsch
• Fred McMillan
• "Shoeless" Joe Jackson
• Charles "Swede" Risberg
• Claude "Lefty" Williams
• and Arnold "Chick" Gandil who never reported to the White Sox to begin with, electing instead to play semi-pro ball.  Looking back, Gandil's decision may very well have cost Chicago the pennant.  

That being said, today's unfolding events essentially leave the American League up for grabs between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.

Or does it?

When the White Sox took the field this afternoon at Comiskey Park, all suspected parties were present and in uniform.  Seemingly untroubled by outside disturbance, Eddie Collins and Shoeless Joe slash back to back triples and Happy Felsch drives home Jackson for a prompt 2-0 lead against the visiting New York Yankees.  Swede Risberg triples leading off the second inning and is driven home by Red Faber for a 3-0 lead.  A third inning error by first baseman Shano Collins leads to a pair of unearned runs for the Yankees.  Chicago then scores three runs in the sixth, two are unearned.  After which the Sox withstand two Yankees runs in the ninth for a 6-4 victory.  Chicago closes to within 1.5 games of first place, although their future appears bleak.

100 Years Ago Today 9/16/1920: Brooklyn Robins Extend Lead to Six Over Reds and Giants

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #144: Thursday, September 16, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Dodgers
Ebbets Field

Burleigh Grimes Turns Away Defending Champions; Robins Extend Lead to Six.

With the defending world champions in town Uncle Robbie puts the ball in the hands of his ace, Burleigh Grimes.  He is opposed by sixteen game winner Dutch Ruether.  The confident Reds waste no time taking a 1-0 lead on an Edd Rouch base hit.  Undeterred, Brooklyn counters in the bottom half of the frame with runs driven in by Zack Wheat and Hi Myers and in a flash Reds manager Pat Moran blazes a trail from the dugout towards the pitching mound.  Out goes Dutch Ruether and in comes right-hander Ray Fisher.  Pete Kilduff promptly greets the Reds reliever with a hit up the middle scoring Wheat for a 3-1 Robins lead.  Cincinnati then reminds Robins fans exactly whom they're up against.  With two outs and a runner on first in the fifth, first baseman Jake Daubert hits a Grimes offering deep beyond the reach of left fielder Zack Wheat that goes for an inside the park home run.  However, the Robins quickly break the deadlock on Otto Miller's hit in the sixth and add an insurance run on Tommy Griffith's double in the seventh, both runs coming against Fisher.  Burleigh Grimes retires the Reds in order to close out the ninth.  The spitballer improves to 22-10 with a 2.10 ERA.  Hi Myers is 2 for 4 and drives home his team leading 77th run batted in.  Brooklyn improves to 15-3 in September and now owns a six game lead over the Reds with eleven games left to play.  Cincinnati, however, still has eighteen games on their docket.  But that's because numerous rain postponements this season are coming to bear upon the Reds who must play five double-headers in the final weeks to come.  Meanwhile, the New York Giants split a twin bill with the Phillies which ties them with the Reds for second place.  The Giants have fifteen games left on their schedule, five of which are against Brooklyn.

• RECORD: 85-58 (.594)
• 1st Place; 6.0 GA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• The Chicago White Sox best the Yankees 8-3 at Comiskey Park.  Thus New York falls into a first place tie with the Cleveland Indians.  The Yankees have twelve games on their schedule.  Meanwhile the White Sox close to within 1.5 games of first place, with two more games left in their series against the Yankees and thirteen games left in their regular season. 

100 Years Ago Today 9/5/1920: First Place Brooklyn Robins Fend Off Braves

 From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #129: Sunday, September 5, 1920 - BR
Boston Braves vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field 

Rube Marquard Out-Duels Boston Braves; Robins Win Fourth Straight

Sunday's game further confirms Rube Marquard can still be great when the Robins need him most.  The soon to be 33-year old southpaw yields just one run in the second inning then whitewashes Boston the rest of the way.  Tommy Griffith's sacrifice fly in the first opens the scoring.  Who else but Rabbit Maranville ties the score in the second.  But the Braves would score no more.  Zack Wheat drives home the go ahead run in the fourth and Marquard takes care of the rest.  Jimmy Johnston continues rewarding Uncle Robbie's decision to start him this season at third base with two hits and .292 batting average.  Marquard improves to 9-7 with a 3.16 ERA, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts.  It's Brooklyn's fourth win in a row.  However, the Reds and Giants cede no ground.  Cincinnati is victorious at St. Louis and the New York Giants trounce the Phillies at the Polo Grounds.  

• RECORD: 73-55 (.570)
• 1st Place; 0.5 GA 
  

100 Years Ago Today 9/4/1920: Brooklyn Robins Beat Boston; Reclaim First Place

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #128: Saturday, September 4, 1920 - BR
Boston Braves vs. Brooklyn Robins

Ebbets Field

Leon Cardore Whitewashes Boston; Robins Back in First

Rest indeed does a body good!  Brooklyn romps to a third consecutive victory and reclaims first place.  The Robins score early, often and late en route to a 10-0 whitewashing of the Braves.  Leon Cadore yields twelve hits but no runs and no walks through nine innings full.  He improves to an even 12-12 with a 2.57 ERA.  Rabbit Maranville accounts for three Boston hits.  Hi Myers, arguably in the midst of his best season, leads the charge with a single, double and triple with three runs scored and five runs batted in.  Last year's RBI champ again leads the team with 67 runs batted in.  Jimmy Johnston and Tommy Griffith each slash three hits apiece.  Ed Konetchy and Otto Miller drive in two runs each.  The Reds fall to the Cardinals and into second place, while the Giants edge out the Phillies at the Polo Grounds by a score of one to zero.

• RECORD: 72-55 (.567)
• 1st Place; 0.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 8/15/1920: Brooklyn Robins Alone in First After Victory Over Phillies

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champion

Game #112: Sunday, August 15, 1920 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Brooklyn Dodgers
Ebbets Field

Fireman Burleigh Grimes Saves the Day; Robins Back in Sole Possession of First

It takes longer than anticipated, but the Robins outlast the Phillies at Ebbets Field to regain sole possession of first place.  Facing Jeff Pfeffer, Philadelphia leads 4-2 after five innings.  Pitching for Philadelphia is former Trolley Dodger George Smith.  Pfeffer is knocked out of the game after yielding four earned runs on six hits and a walk through six innings.  In the Brooklyn seventh, Ivy Olson, Jimmy Johnston and Tommy Griffith together generate two runs tying the game at four.  Pitching in relief of Jeff Pfeffer and Leon Cardore in the Philadelphia eighth, Al Mamaux walks two of three batters faced.  That prompts a visit by Uncle Robbie who urgently summons Burleigh Grimes from the bullpen.  The spitballer rewards his manager with a goose egg.  But the game stays knotted through the ninth and tenth and eleventh innings.  Philadelphia breaks the deadlock in the top of the twelfth helped by Ivy Olson's errant throw with the bases loaded.  Grimes regains control of the situation and escapes with only one run scored.  Brooklyn born right-hander Johnny Enzmann enters the game for the Phillies.  Ivy Olson and Jimmy Johnston greet him with consecutive singles, and with one out Zack Wheat is issued an intentional walk.  Manager Gavvy Cravath looks on as Ivy Olson steps in.  Cravath gets his wish, a sure double play ground ball to short is returned home for a force out.  But catcher Mack Wheat throws errantly to first base allowing both brother Zack and Jimmy Johnston to score.  Native Brooklynite and former Robins pitcher Johnny Enzmann suffers his first loss in only his fifth appearance of the season.  Back in 1914 he appears in seven games for his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers.  The spitballer Burleigh Grimes allows no earned runs on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts though 4.2 innings for the win.  He improves to 18-7 with a 2.18 earned run average.  Chicago whitewashes the Reds at Cubs Park, and the Giants split a twin bill with the Braves at the Polo Grounds.

• RECORD: 63-48 (.568)
• First Place; 1.0 GA 

100 Years Ago Today 8/2/1920: Brooklyn Robins No Match for Cardinals Rogers Hornsby

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #101: Monday, August 2, 1920 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Cardinals Bill Doak Delivers Four-Hitter; Rogers Hornsby Takes Care of the Rest

ROBINS 6-10 LAST SIXTEEN GAMES

All anyone could do is sit and watch - Uncle Robbie; Cardinals manager Branch Rickey; players from either dugout; hot dog vendors; especially the 5,000 or so fans in attendance at Ebbets Field - as St. Louis young star second baseman Rogers Hornsby puts on a one man show.  When Tommy Griffith triples off Cardinals starter Bill Doak in the third, scoring Jimmy Johnston, the Brooklyn partisans rise to their feet in roaring appreciation.  But that's when the cheering stops - as Brooklyn manages just two more hits over the remainder of the game - and the exploits of Rogers Hornsby begin.   With two on, and two outs in the St. Louis fifth, Hornsby triples into the left-center gap.  Then with two outs, and a man on second in the seventh, Hornsby lines a double to left scoring Hal Janvrin for a 3-1 Cardinals lead.  In the eighth inning, facing Sherry Smith pitching in relief of Rube Marquard, Rogers Hornsby (.372) singles home the Cardinals fourth and final run of the game.  Hornsby's line reads: 3 for 5, with a double, triple, and four runs batted in.  St. Louis veteran Bill Doak limits the Robins to just one run on four hits and five walks, with two strikeouts, for his twelfth victory of the season.  Making his sixteenth start of the season, Rube Marquard yields three runs on eleven hits and one walk, with three strikeouts, in a seven inning losing effort.  However, Brooklyn retains their 1.5 game lead over the Reds as Cincinnati bows to the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds.  After starting 30-34 over the first three months of the season, the Giants have since posted a 19-10 record to move into third place, just five games back of the Robins.

• RECORD: 57-43 (.570)
• First Place; 1.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/29/1920: Second Place Reds Outlast Brooklyn Robins

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #97: Thursday, July 29, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs, Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Dolf Luque Outlasts Leon Cadore; Brooklyn Wilts in Ninth

Those resilient Reds, leave it up to the defending champs for snatching victory from seemingly certain defeat.  A late inning surge is just enough to get them passed Brooklyn for the second time in three games.  Zack Wheat's first inning triple and run batted in is promptly negated in the second inning by Reds right fielder Greasy Neale's two out base hit and run batted in.  The Robins and Reds once again trade runs, the Robins in the sixth on a Hi Myer's sac-fly scoring Tommy Griffith, and the Reds in the seventh on left fielder Pat Duncan's base hit scoring Jake Daubert.  This game ultimately gains resolution in the ninth.  With starter Leon Cadore still hurling for Brooklyn, Duncan strokes a one out triple, and scores on a Larry Kopf sac-fly to center field.  Reds starter Dolf Luque in the bottom of the ninth retires the Robins in order to close out his seventh victory for the season.  Leon Cadore, making his 19th start of the season, allows three runs, two earned, on eight hits and a walk, with one strikeout.  With the loss he falls to 7-9 with a 2.38 ERA.  The four game series concludes tomorrow.

• RECORD: 55-41 (.572)
• First Place; 1.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/25/1920: Pirates Continue Plaguing Brooklyn Robins

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Game #93: Sunday, July 25, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Brooklyn Robins Return Home to Cheers But Ebbets Field Crowd Exit Beside Themselves

Sleeping in their own beds for the first time in over three weeks proves little relief nor remedy against the insurgent Pirates, whom seize their fourth game in five days from the Robins.  Upwards of 22,000 fans pack Ebbets Field showering their first place Robins with a heroes welcome upon returning from a triumphant 16-7 road trip, including an all important series victory at Cincinnati.  However the Borough's trolley dodging faithful are sent home in a somewhat despondent state after their team blows a 3-2 lead after seven.  After trading runs in the first inning, Brooklyn takes a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth.  But the Pirates close to within a run in the top of the sixth.  Pittsburgh finally squares up starter Clarence Mitchell for three runs in the eighth for a late 5-3 lead.  The Robins score one run in the bottom of the ninth but ultimately fall short.  Clarence Mitchell loses his first game of the season against five victories and a climbing 2.98 earned run average.  He allows all five earned runs on eight hits and two walks through 7.1 innings.  Leon Cadore pitches 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Mitchell.  Pittsburgh third baseman Possum Whitted is 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs batted in.  Notorious thief Max Carey steals his 34th base of the season, while going 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored, and one run batted in.  For Brooklyn Tommy Griffith is 2 for 4 with a run batted in, and Jimmy Johnston drives in his 27th run for the season.  Out in Cincinnati, the New York Giants defeat the Reds and claim victory in that series three games against two.  Meanwhile the Pirates now sit just five games out of first.

• RECORD: 53-39 (.576)
• First Place; 2.0 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/17/1920: Brooklyn Robins Take Advantage of Cincinnati Reds Sloppiness

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #85: Saturday, July 17, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs Cincinnati Reds
Redland Field

Cincinnati Mistakes Prove Costly; Robins Extend Lead to Four Games Over Reds

Brooklyn squeezes out a second straight win against the defending World Champions.  With hits and runs in a state of scarcity the match is left to the respective right arms of Leon Cadore being opposed by Cincinnati's crafty Jimmy Ring.  With two outs, and runners on first and second in the Brooklyn second, Reds second baseman Morrie Rath botches Rowdy Elliot's pop fly in short right field allowing both base runners to score.  Later in the Cincinnati third Morrie Rath leads off with a single, and eventually manages his way to third.  With two outs and left fielder Pat Duncan at the plate, Morrie Rath steals home.  But Reds starter Jimmy Ring compromises his own cause in the Brooklyn sixth.  With two outs and Tommy Griffith standing at third and Pete Kilduff at the plate, Ring ponderously balks Griffith home from third for what would prove to be a crucial insurance run Brooklyn would sorely need.  Cincinnati gains a run back in the bottom of the frame, but can muster no more.  Leon Cadore earns the victory but three cheers for the bullpen.  Cadore yields two earned runs on six hits and two walks through six innings pitched.  He improves to 7-7 with a 2.17 earned run average.  Wilbert Robinson inserts Al Mamaux in relief of Cadore, and does not disappoint throwing three scoreless innings of one hit ball with two strikeouts.  Together Cadore and Mamaux outlast Jimmy Ring who surrenders three runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts in a somewhat confounding loss.  If any one is interested, the Giants are now 10.5 games out of first place.  That is all.

• RECORD: 51-33 (.607)
• First Place; 4.0 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/10/1920: Brooklyn Robins Extend First Place Lead Over Reds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #76: Saturday, July 10, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Sportsman's Park

Jeff Pfeffer Earns Fifth Victory at Sportsman's Park; Robins Take Full Game Lead Over Second Place Reds.

The Robins continue surging upward, establishing an early 3-2 lead which they maintain through the sixth.  After which they bust out in the seventh inning with four more runs off Cardinals starter Marv Goodwin en route to a a 7-2 final at Sportsman's Park.  Brooklyn's table setters atop the lineup Ivy Olson and Jimmy Johnston join together for six hits in ten at-bats with four runs scored.  Hi Myers (.305) is 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.  Tommy Griffith and right field substitution Ray Schmandt also drive in one run apiece.  On the mound Jeff Pfeffer outlasts his opponent allowing two earned runs on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts through nine innings complete.  It's Pfeffer's third straight victory, improving his record now to 6-8 with a 2.72 ERA.  He also helps himself out with a 2 for 3 day the plate with a run scored, and one run batted in.  The Reds split a twin bill with the Braves at Cincinnati.  Therefore the Robins extend their lead over the Reds to one full game.  They are now 12-2 over their last fourteen games.  Brooklyn is also averaging seven runs a game through the first seven games of this road trip, while allowing an average of just under three runs a game.

• RECORD: 43-32
• First Place; 1 GA

100 Years Ago Today 6/30/1920: Brooklyn Robins Sweep Twin Bill at Polo Grounds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #63: Wednesday, June 30, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Zack Wheat Erupts for Home Run, Five Runs Batted In; Robins Snap Six Game Skid

Few things make Uncle Robbie happier in life like defeating the New York Giants.  As we know resentment for his old team runs deep.  Beating his decades old rival at the Polo Grounds merely sweetens the prize.  Thus in game one the Robins snap a season high six game losing streak with a commanding 7-3 margin of victory at Coogan's Bluff.  Clarence Mitchell, making his eighth appearance of the season but only his fourth start, keeps the New Yorkers at bay surrendering three late runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts through a full nine innings pitched.  He improves to 4-0 with a 3.38 earned run average.  Giants starter Jesse Barnes on this day does not live up to his billing yielding six runs on seven hits including a home run through six innings pitched.  The Robins score one last time in the seventh against reliever Jesse Winters.  Left fielder Zack Wheat leads Brooklyn's efforts at the plate going 2 for 4 with a triple, home run, and five runs batted in.  Meanwhile Tommy Griffith continues silencing the naysayers with a 2 for 4 day, a run scored and one run batted in.  Making his much welcome return to the lineup Ivy Olson also triples and drives in a run.


Game #64: Wednesday, June 30, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Burleigh Grimes Towers Over Giants; Robins Complete Wednesday Sweep at Polo Grounds

The Robins finish what they start, taking game two and sweeping Wednesday's twin bill from the Giants.  A match more to Uncle Robbie's liking, it's a low scoring affair featuring dominant pitching and timely hitting.  New York scores once in the ninth inning ruining the shutout, but can do little else to thwart Burleigh Grimes' ninth victory of the season against five losses with a 2.28 ERA.  Outside of the one late run Grimes hurls a gem limiting the Giants to just five hits and one walk through nine innings complete.  After four scoreless innings Otto Miller in the fifth drives in Brooklyn's first run of the game.  Ed Konetchy drives in a run on a sac-fly in the seventh, then plates his second run with another sac-fly in the ninth.  High Pockets Kelly drives in the Giants lone run in the last half of the frame.  With a pair of victories the Robins lift themselves up from fourth place back into second, but only by a mere percentage point above the Cubs and Cardinals.                                         

• RECORD: 33-30
• 2nd place; 3.0 GB

100 Years Ago Today 6/14/1920: Brooklyn Robins Back In First With Victory Over Cincinnati Reds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #49: Monday, June 14, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Zack Wheat Breaks Out of Slump; Robins Snap Four Game Skip

Brooklyn rallies late to take game three of their four match set with Cincinnati.  Facing a 4-6 deficit through the sixth, the Robins score once in the seventh and four times in the eighth en route to a 9-7 come from behind victory at Ebbets.  Zack Wheat breaks out of a 1 for 19 slump with a three run home run in the third.  Ed Konetchy climbs back above .300 going 2 for 4 with a triple and run scored.  Ivy Olson drives in a pair, and Pete Kilduff and Tommy Griffith each drive in a run apiece.  Even Burleigh Grimes pitching in relief of Leon Cadore chips in with a hit and two runs batted in.  Making his eleventh start of the season Cadore allows six runs, only four are earned, on eleven hits and a walk through seven innings pitched, but does not factor in the decision.  Burleigh Grimes improves to 8-3 on the season upon yielding one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts through two innings in relief of Cadore.  A former Robin and favorite of Wilbert Robinson Jake Daubert singles and drives in a run, and Edd Roush goes 3 for 5 with a double and his 27th run batted in of the season.  With the victory Brooklyn regains first place by one half-game over the defending champion Reds.

• RECORD: 28-20 (.583)
• 1st place; 0.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 6/13/1920: Cincinnati Reds Bump Brooklyn Robins Back Into Second Place

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #48: Sunday, June 13, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Brooklyn Drops Second Straight to Defending Champs; Robins Fifth Loss in Last Six Game

Rube Marquard and the Brooklyn Robins end up on the wrong side of an otherwise brilliant pitcher's duel at Ebbets Field.  Very much looking like his old self again, Marquard allows just one earned run on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts through eight innings work.  His only mistake is unleashing a wild pitch in the top of the fifth putting first baseman Jake Daubert into scoring position.  Naturally center fielder Edd Rouch last year's batting champion drives him home with a hit to center.  Cincinnati right-hander Jimmy Ring likewise yields six hits and one walk with three strikeouts but in a victorious nine inning whitewashing of the Robins.  For Edd Roush, his 26th run batted in of the season.  Jake Daubert the former Brooklyn Robin traded to the Reds in exchange for Tommy Griffith is 1 for 4 with the only run scored.  The Robins threaten with one out in the eighth and runners on the corners but Jimmy Johnston grounds into a classic inning ending 6-4-3 double play.  Whereas Robins first baseman Ed Konetchy seems to have gotten off the schneid with two hits in four at-bats, Zack Wheat not so much as he is now a mere 1 for 19 since returning to action.  First place of the National League changes hands again, as Brooklyn slides back into second place one-half game behind the defending champion Cincinnati Reds.  The Robins trail the Reds in the series two games to none, and are now losers of four in a row.

• RECORD: 27-20 (.574)
• 2nd place; 0.5 GB

100 Years Ago Today 6/12/1920: Brooklyn Robins Bow to Defending Champs

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #47: Saturday, June 12, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

First Place Showdown: Cincinnati Rides Pair of Brooklyn Misplays to Opening Game Victory

The much anticipated clash for first place begins with visiting Cincinnati taking Saturday's series opener by a 4-3 final at Ebbets Field.  In the battle of starters the Reds Dolf Luque outlasts Al Mamaux.  Luque yields three earned runs on just six hits and two walks.  He even surrenders a home run to Tommy Griffith in the bottom half of the fifth.  However two errors in the top of the frame by Zack Wheat and Jimmy Johnston proves the Robins undoing.  Al Mamaux allows four runs but only three earned on eight hits and three walks en route to his second loss of the season.  Reds leadoff batter Morrie Rath goes 3 for 4 with a run scored, and left fielder Pat Duncan goes 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.  For the Robins Zack Wheat and Ed Konetchy are held hitless in seven combined at-bats with one walk.  Catcher Otto Miller with a single in the eighth is credited with Brooklyn's only other run batted in.  Second place Cincinnati closes to within one-half game of the first place Robins.

• RECORD: 27-19 (.586)
• 1st place; 0.5 GA