1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Dodgers stun Brown’s attempt at history in extra inning loss

by Scott Fennessy

9/26/1905
Chicago, IL

The Cubs face the Dodgers in game 3 of this series, and unlike the first two games the Dodgers send their best pitcher Elmer Stricklett to the bump. Elmer is 14-20 with an era in the low 3’s for a team that is playing sub .300 ball, and has played well against Chicago this year. The Cubs send Mordecai Brown to the mound.

Pitching was as expected and the Cubs blew a couple of opportunities in the first and fifth innings, and the game was actually scoreless when I went to set up for the 10th inning I suddenly realized Brown actually had a no hitter!. Unfortunately, the Cubs had not done much better with 5 hits themselves, but Stricklett was a bit wild walking 3, and the Dodgers committed an error in the 7th that also should have produced a run.

So of course Jimmy Sheckard drills a single on the first pitch of the 10th and steals second. Harry Lumley, who has almost carried this team on his back for the last two weeks singles him home and steals second himself. With one out Charlie Malay, who is just now starting to play decent gets an insurance run home with a single to right. Malay is wiped out in an inning ending double play, but the no hitter is done and I am not a happy person right now. I can only imagine how the players would have felt if this was real.

The Cubs make one last stand in the 10th inning when Frank Schulte, one of the hotter Cub hitters of late gets a two out single and steals second to bring Frank Chance at the plate with a chance to keep the game alive, but Stricklett strikes him out. (Ironic as he has more walks than strikeouts this year). The game is over as the Cubs lose 2-0. In addition to Brown’s heroic effort, Jim Casey ripped a double in the first and of course was stranded there. For a player with only an 0-2 0-1 card he now has 22 doubles, 10 triples and 2 homers, and despite the horrible April and May is nearing .250 for the year, and has been a big part of the last three weeks offense. The Cubs get the Dodgers only other good pitcher in the finale tomorrow.