1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Giants top Cubs in epic pitcher’s duel to reclaim lead

by Scott Fennessy

Chicago, IL
9/23/1905

Today’s game is a vital game two of a three game set. This is the final series between two teams that have battled all year long and the Cubs victory in game one has them in front by a game. A Cub victory here could be huge, but with Christy Mathewson (making his first post tournament appearance) against Ed Reulbach this A&B vs A&C could be interesting.

Reulbach walks Art Devlin to start the game, and that’s not good as he usually starts the hit and run machine. Art’s off with the first pitch and Sam Mertes hits a rocket towards the right field line, but Frank Chance makes a tremendous diving grap of the liner and easily steps on first to end the rally before it can begin. Mike Donlin flies to Frank Schulte in right and the inning is over. Mathewson makes quick work of the Cubs in the bottom of the inning and we are still scoreless.

In the second inning George Browne draws a one out walk, and that’s just his 15th of the season against 52 strikeouts. But John McGraw can overlook that when he is hitting .312 with 3 homers, 15 triples and 45 stolen bases. Browne is off for second after a bit of cat and mouse with Reulbach and Mike Bowerman hits another bullet right at Johnny Evers, who then fires back to Chance at first for another double play to save the day.

Chance hits a grounder at the normally dependable Dan McGann, but this one handcuffs him and “Husker” is on board and the Cubs try the hit and run themselves after Art Hofman flies out to Mertes in right. Unfortunately defense is the order of the day it seems as Evers hits a liner right at Sammy Strang at second and Chance is out by a mile on the relay throw and the inning is over with neither team scoring yet

As we enter the third Reulbach continues to get help from the defense as Mathewson, who is having as good a year at the plate as he is on the mound (hitting .304 with three homers and 7 steals) hits a one hop smash that forces Chance to yet again make a great diving stop and the throw from his knees to Reulbach who narrowly beats “Big 6” to the bag for out number two. Devlin then grounds out to Joe Tinker and the inning is over. Mathewson gets another 1-2-3 inning and we are still scoreless at the end of three innings.

Reulbach finally gets a perfect inning as he mows down the Giants in the fourth inning, highlighted by a three pitch strikeout on the red hot Donlin, and the Cubs try to get the bats going now. Unfortunately Mathewson is matching him pitch for pitch and the 4th is in the books and scoreless.

For those of you who have read enough of my recaps know that when there is not much going on with the bats I generally skip past them, but the defense has been unbelievable, and when Schulte struck out to end the inning a new personal record was set, as neither team has a hit at this point, and really I am wondering how long this will last.

Reulbach gets another perfect inning and is suddenly on a roll, having retired 11 straight hitters since Browne’s walk in the second. Hofman hits a grounder that Strang boots and the Cubs have what may be a chance to break into the scoring column at last and Chance sends the runner and Evers hits another liner right at Strang who atones for his previous miscue with his second double play turned and just like that the rally and inning are over. Neither team has a hit after 5 innings.

The Giants make their biggest push in the 6th when Bill Dahlen hits a grounder deep in the hole at third and Jim Casey makes a terrific stop and throw from his heels to barely beat the runner. Mathewson then hits a foul ball near the visitor’s dugout and with Chance in pursuit and making the grab just before it can land in the seats for out number two. Reulbach gets a visit from Johnny Kling to try and give his pitcher a chance to compose himself, and Devlin goes down on strikes to keep the no hitter intact. Mathewson looks impressive in the bottom of the inning striking out two of the three batters he faces and neither team has a hit after 6 innings.

Mertes grounds out to start the seventh inning, but the magic finally ends as Mike Donlin slaps a solid single up the middle for the first hit of the day. If you are going to lose your no hitter it is appropriate that the league’s leading hitter, and MVP candidate gets the first one. “Big Ed” toughens up quickly though and Donlin is stranded on first and gets a standing ovation as he heads to the dugout.

Chicago gets a gift from the Giants yet again as Devlin makes a rare throwing error that pulls McGann off the bag allowing Casey to reach safely, but with the hit and run on Schulte hits one that looks headed to left for a single when Dahlen makes a diving stop and throws him out from his knees. Casey becomes the first Cub to reach second all day, but Chance flies out to Browne in center and Mathewson completes the 7th with his no hitter intact, but the game is still scoreless.

Reulbach gets another tough test by the G-men as Strang gets a one out single and steals second easily. Dahlen draws a walk and Mathewson pops up to Tinker in foul territory behind third. Devlin then strikes out to end the inning. The Giants are still scoreless but Reulbach is clearly running out of steam. Fortunately it is late in the game, but Herb Briggs is seen warming up in the bull pen as Mathewson appears to be getting STRONGER as he strikes out the side with ease and we are still scoreless going into the ninth.

Sam Mertes, who has finally begun to hit in the second half, and has killed the Cubs all year starts things big in the 9th as his line drive splits the right center gap and he’s off to the races and in with a stand up triple. This looks bad as Briggs is not ready yet and Reulbach is clearly done. Chance and Kling visit the mound to stall for time, and it looks like they may escape another jam as Donlin fouls out to Kling, but Dan McGann, the silent star on this team deals the killing blow with a line drive single just over Evers head for an RBI single. He then steals second shortly afterwards, and Reulbach is now visibly upset. He channels his anger and strikes out Browne and Bowerman to finish the inning, but the Giants now lead 1-0 and Mathewson comes to the mound in the ninth to try for his second no hitter of the year.

Johnny Kling strikes out to start the inning, and that’s 4 in a row. Reulbach is due up, and Jimmy Slagle, who had been the opening day starter, but after a difficult season lost his job is now called on to pinch hit. Slagle gets a fastball and this is a clean single into right. The hated Giants and their star pitcher are surprised as like Ruelbach did earlier gets a huge ovation from an appreciative crowd. Slagle is off after a couple of pitches and Billy Maloney hits a grounder to first base and for once a double play is avoided, and the tying run is in scoring position. Jim Casey grounds to Dahlen at shortstop, the throw to first and the game is over, 1-0 to the Giants. A truly exciting and memorable game.

This victory technically leaves both teams tied, but the Giants are on top via a .004 percentage point lead. Mathewson finished the day with 7 strikeouts, giving him 214 for the season, and he needs just 5 more to break the single season mark he set in 1901. A truly difficult loss for Reulbach who allows just 4 hits in the loss, all in the final three innings when he clearly was tired. That said, the Cubs were given every opportunity by the Giants, who despite turning two double plays and having the no hitter into the 9th made 3 errors with less than two out.

That is rare for them as they have only committed 109 for the year. Compare that to the league average of 170, and many teams over 200, and the Browns eclipsing the old record of 212 with an astoundingly embarrassing 239 is impressive. The Cubs are at 99, and the 1901 Braves record of 92 in 1901 is safe again.

I am really looking forward to the final scheduled matchup of the year. I would not be surprised to see these two teams need a one game playoff to decide the pennant.

[photo credit]