1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Three-Finger Brown wins on a two-hitter

by Scott Fennessy

Brooklyn, NY
7/15/1905

The Cubs continue their stay in New York, moving from NYC to Brooklyn and face the hapless Dodgers in the first game of this series.

Mordecai Brown, the only surviving member of the rotation faces Elmer Stricklett (right) of the Dodgers. Elmer has had a tough go for the bums this year, and this series is just what the doctor ordered as the Cubs have been in a bit of a skid lately, and are hoping for more momentum after crushing the league leading Giants in the final game of a set that the Giants otherwise dominated.

The Cubs who lead the league in first inning runs strike first again. Johnny Evers draws a one out walk, and steals second. Frank Schulte then gets a single to right that scores Evers and the Cubs take the lead. Schulte moves to second as Bob Hall’s throw overshoots secondbaseman Tom Owens. Frank Chance, who is red hot right now and riding a 4 game hit streak strokes another single to center and while Jimmy Sheckard contemplates throwing home, he knows he has no chance to get the speedy Schulte. Chance then steals second as well, but Stricklett gets the last two hitters to finish the inning. Brown meanwhile gets a strong perfect inning and the score is 2-0 Cubs.

Both hurlers settle in nicely, but Brown is clearly having the best day of his season so far as he is perfect through 4 innings. Brown is still throwing with everything he has as Lou Ritter hits a one hopper to Chance at first. He inadvertently plays a game of “hot potato” and Ritter is on first with an error. Chance is not very happy with himself right now. One out later he amends for the error as Ritter is off with the pitch and Hall hits a screaming liner just over the bag at first; Chance makes a leaping dive and catches the ball just before it hits the dirt behind first base. He then steps on first for the unassisted double play to end the game and save the no hitter for now.

For the Dodgers, who are somehow keeping this very close when Evers hits one that shortstop Phil Lewis cannot handle. Evers moves to second on Schulte’s grounder and Evers sees his opening. He gets a great jump, and while Ritter’s throw is a good one he never had a chance. This was a big steal as Chance hits a grounder and he is able to score the insurance run and the Cubs now lead 3-0. Slagle then gets a double, and the soft hitting outfielder is on a bit of a power surge lately having hit 3 in the last 5 games. Kling fans to end the inning though. Brown’s bid for the no hitter is over in just 3 pitches in the 6th as Owens takes a curve ball into center for a single. Lewis moves him over with a sac bunt, and Brown then overpowers Stricklett for just his second strikeout of the day. Harry Gessler then pops up to thridbaseman Jim Casey in foul ground to end the threat. That was the end of the scoring, as Stricklett throws a great game in his own right and Brown allows a leadoff double to Sheckard in the 7th, but neither tea scores the rest of the way and the Cubs get a much needed win and this is over 3-0 Cubs.
Stricklett allows just 3 runs on 7 hits and the normally horrible defense (well on its way for a new league record in errors) allows just one instead of their usual 3-4. Brown was magnificent with a 2 hitter and faced just 29 hitters. Evers now has a 3 game hit streak and stole 3 bases on the day. Chance had two more hits today and is now hitting .326 for the season.

Jake Weimer will be back from the DL tomorrow, but the manager has elected to go with Herb Briggs tomorrow anyway, saving Weimer for the third game and this will allow him to slide back into his customary number to spot. The Cubs fielding one kept them ahead of the Dodgers all day making 3 plays that a lesser fielding team would not have made.

Giants 51 15 .773
Cubs 46 22 .676
Pirates 40 27 .597

[photo credit]