August 12, 2010

Two Linescores From 1901

May 23, 1901
Washington - 050 130 202 - 13
Cleveland - 000 040 019 - 14
The Cleveland Blues scored nine runs in the bottom of the ninth after it had two outs and no one on base!

Facing Senators pitcher Casey Patten, Bill Hoffer struck out and Ollie Pickering grounded out. Patten had two strikes on Jack McCarthy -- he was one strike away from a 13-5 win -- but McCarthy singled to right.

Bill Bradley singled. Candy LaChance fell behind 0-2, but he also singled, driving in McCarthy. Bob Wood was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Frank Scheibeck cleared them with a double, making it 13-9.

Frank Genins singled and Scheibeck scored to make it 13-10. The few fans that had remained at League Park through the afternoon rout were getting rather excited at this point and crowding onto the field. Senators captain Bill Everitt demanded the umpires restore some order.

Patten fell behind Truck Eagan 2-1 and was relieved by Watty Lee. Eagan worked the walk. Erve Beck, pinch-hitting for Hoffer, doubled to deep left. The ball glanced off Pop Foster's glove at the wall, and two runs scored. Pickering singled past shortstop Billy Clingman and Beck scored to tie the game at 13-13! The fans now swarmed onto the field, tossing hats, umbrellas, canes and cushions into the air.

When the field was cleared, Pickering took second on a passed ball and when McCarthy's second single of the inning was bobbled by Foster in left, he scored the winning run!

According to historian Joe Dittmar, the entire rally -- even with the various delays -- took only 15 minutes.
Example
The American League was only two days old when the Detroit Tigers played their first ever game:

April 25, 1901
Milwaukee - 025 000 33 0 - 13
Detroit - 000 210 0110 - 14

3 comments:

FenFan said...

Seeing those line scores reinforces my nervousness whenever the Sox pull starters late in games with a "comfortable" lead. Last night was no exception, especially when the Jays got two singles with two outs in the ninth off Richardson. :-S

laura k said...

Seeing those linescores reminds me that, in baseball, the seemingly impossible is always possible! We should never give up because we can always come back!

Michael Holloway said...

Apt post, considering today afternoon game with the Blue Jays.