1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Tinker’s 4-hit day helps Weimer

by Scott Fennessy

Brooklyn NY, 7/18/1905

The Cubs face the Dodgers in the final game of this series. Jake Weimer makes his first start since his return from the DL and is facing John McIntire of the Dodgers. The tornado has been one of the best in baseball this year and facing one of only 3 C starters in the league this is a great foe to come back against. Frank Chance held him back a day just for this matchup and to return him to his number 2 spot in the rotation. McIntire has been downright awful, but since the rest of the staff after him are all D’s they really don’t have better options.

McIntire gets a perfect first and Weimer takes the mound. Leadoff hitter Harry Gessler guesses first pitch fastball, and that’s exactly what he gets, and smokes one to deep center field, Billy Maloney is going back, back, and at the base of the wall pulls this one in. That sets the tone for the day as Jimmy Sheckard, easily the Dodgers best hitter then hits one hard just over Chance’s reach at first, and this one rolls all the way to the right field corner. Frank Schulte corrals it and fires into Joe Tinker but there is no relay as Sheckard is in standing with his 4th triple of the season. Harry Lumley then takes Jake’s third pitch of the at bat and drills it to very deep left center and Jimmy Slagle calls Maloney off on this and makes the catch, but Sheckard scores to give the Dodgers the first run of the day. Lou Ritter then takes the first pitch of his at bat and drills this deep over Maloney’s head in center and the “old dog” is in with a stand up double. This has Chance very concerned as Ritter was only hitting .139 coming into this and that was just his 10th extra base hit of the season. The umpire chases the players away from the hill and Weimer is into the windup again. Emil Batch, another struggling hitter hits another rope over Tinkers head and this rolls to the wall in right center. Schulte gets this and fires a good throw to Tinker at second, but this is not in time and Batch has an RBI double. Bob Hall is one of the worst hitters on the team then hits a slow roller just out of Weimer’s reach, and this gets through to center and Hall has an RBI single. Weimer finally gets Tom Owens to ground one to Johnny Evers at short and the inning ends with the lowly Dodgers leading 3-0.

Neither team scores in the second as Weimer looks much better. The Cubs reward him in the third with a big inning. Joe Tinker who has been moved to the 8 hole due to his recent struggles comes through with a single to start the inning. Chance takes advantage of Weimer’s good hitting skills and sends the runner. Ritter’s throw is high and Tinker gets a steal. Weimer then hits a floater into center and Tinker scores the first run of the day for the Cubs, but this inning is just getting started. Maloney draws a walk and runners are on first and second with nobody out. Evers is given the signal to sacrifice, and he tries, but bunts the third try foul and is called out on strikes. Chance is not happy, and tries again with Schulte. This one more than makes up for Evers sorry try as it rolls down the line at third and Batch can only eat this one and the bases are loaded with nobody out. The Dodgers get their bullpen going as Chance is drilled in the shoulder with a curveball that gets away from McIntire. One of the more painful ways to get the job done, but an RBI is an RBI says the Cubs skipper. Slagle then hits one to Lewis at short, the toss to Owens at second, and Schulte is out, but the take out slide is effective as the throw to Gessler does not have enough on it and Slagle beats the throw and the inning continues as another run scores. Jim Casey who is really clicking now hits one to left and another run scores and the rout is now on. Johnny Kling who had been struggling also has moved down and Casey proves Chance was right. Kling then gets a good pitch to hit and he makes solid contact. This one is over Lumley’s head and this one hops the wall and two more score as the Cubs are really pouring it on. Former Cub Mal Eason is on to finally try to end the inning, but he is greeted by Tinker gets his second single of the inning and Kling scores the 7th run of the inning. Weimer finally strikes out and the carnage is over.

The Dodgers try to get right back in this one in the bottom of the inning as Sheckard hits a drive over Slagle’s head in left and gets a double to start the inning. Lumley who has been coming back strong since moving to the 3 spot gets another double and the Dodgers get their 4th run of the day. Weimer struggles through the inning, but that was the end of the scoring. Cubs still lead 7-4.
The Cubs continue their hitting ways as Maloney leads off the 4th with a single. Eason has struggled this year so the Cubs set their sights on scoring big again. One out later and Maloney on second Schulte hits a soft single and scores Maloney. Chance pops up to Gessler and Slagle gets an RBI single to increase the lead to 9-4. Casey flies out to right and the inning is over. Weimer gets a scoreless inning and looks slightly better in the process.

The Cubs threaten but do not score in the 5th, but the Dodgers break through again in the fifth. Gessler draws the dreaded leadoff walk, and the Dodgers and the super star Sheckard come through on the hit and run and now runners on the corners with nobody out. Lumley hits a scorching grounder that Evers starts the ever famous “Evers to Tinker to Chance” double plays. Gessler scores, but with a 5 run lead the Cubs can afford the tradeoff. Ritter flies out to end the inning and the Cubs lead 9-5.

Not much else happened through the 8th when Fred Mitchell comes in for Eason. Weimer draws a leadoff walk and moves to second on Maloney’s groundout. Evers gets an RBI single and Mitchell finally settles down and the inning ends with the Cubs now leading 10-5. Another scoreless inning for Weimer, who is starting to look better and gets a great play from Chance at first to close the inning.
The Cubs decide to keep hitting as they get a one out hit by Casey who takes second as Lumley’s throw misses the cut off man. Kling then gets his second hit of the day and Casey scores. Tinker finishes his great day with a booming triple into right field. This was his 4th hit of the day and this was a big boost as he was in danger of being benched. Mitchell gets out of the inning without further damage. Weimer still having a bit of a battle walks Batch and then Owens hits into another Cub 6-4-3 DP and the game is over. The Cubs get a big morale boost with their 12-5 win. The Cubs get a mixed blessing as the Pirates beat the Giants in New York, so while they gain on the G-Men the Buccos stay close to the Cubs.

The Cubs now move to Boston and face the weak hitting Braves in a twin bill to open the set. Speaking of the Braves. Fred Tenney hit a sacrifice bunt in the 6th inning of yesterday’s game. Before you go “big deal” here is the situation. Down by 1 in the 6th and the number 3 hitter Delahanty due up manager Pat Moran wanted to give him a good RBI situation. Tenney then rolls a 66-0. Not good, but at least runners move over. He then rolls a 22-4. OH NO. a home run down the drain. This is more than just bad luck on the dice, this is downright cruel. The 22-4 is Tenney’s ONLY home run opportunity, and how many times is he going to get this situation?

Giants 52 16 .765
Cubs 47 23 .671
Pirates 41 28 .594

[photo credit]