1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Northsiders win a big one

by Scott Fennessy

7/14/1905
New York, NY

The Cubs face the Giants in the series finale today. This has been all Giants so far. Carl Lundgren is subbing for the injured Ed Reulbach and faces lefty George “Snake” Wiltse of the Giants.

Wiltse gets a perfect first and things start off poorly for the struggling Cubs in the bottom of the first. Light hitting Art Devlin, who despite barely hitting over.200 has 4 of his 6 extra base hits, including his only homer of the year against the Cubs hits a one hopper that Johnny Evers can’t come up with. He then steals second. This is his 36th of the season, so you can see why manager John McGraw keeps him at the top of the order despite the low average. One out later Mike Donlin hits a shot up the middle and it looks like yet another hit for Donlin when out of nowhere Joe Tinker makes a lunging grab, followed by a jumping throw to first and Frank Chance makes the grab for the out. Great work Joe! Devlin moves to third. Dan McGann hits a single to center and it looks like they will try for the run at home, but Evers cuts the throw from Billy Maloney and throws to Tinker at second and McGann is gunned down with ease, but the lead run scores before the inning ends, so the G-men have a one run lead.

Things turn around quickly for the bruins however as Chance strokes a solid single between Sammy Strang and McGann to lead things off. Moving to second on a grounder and holding there on Johnny Kling’s infield single. Joe Tinker hits a grounder that advances both to scoring position and Jim Casey who is having a great turnaround after a tough early season scoring both runners. Wiltse gets Lundgren to finish the inning, but not before the Cubs claim a 2-1 edge.

The Giants looked to get right back on top as George Browne rips his 10th double of the year to lead off the inning, and moves to third with just one out when Strang hits a rocket towards third, Casey makes a dive and makes a great snare on the hard one hopper, fires over to Chance at first and he is OUT. Great D again!!. Bill Dahlen flies to Jimmy Sheckard in left to end the threat, still 2-1 Cubs.

Wiltse appears to be back in control and gets 3 quick outs to end the third. The Giants however have visions of getting another rally and it materializes with one out. Devlin gets an infield hit after Evers can’t get to his slow roller quickly enough and he eats the ball. Sam Mertes moves him to second and Mike Donlin does it again. A roper over Casey’s head and Devlin scores easily. McGann grounds to Tinker and the inning ends with the score tied at 2.

This time the Cubs have an answer though as Chance draws a walk to open the inning. The dreaded leadoff walk comes back to haunt Wiltse as Jimmy Slagle places a beautiful hit and run single through the vacated hole and runners are on the corners with nobody out. Kling pops out and the runners have to hold. Tinker then draws a walk and the sacks are filled with runners. Casey hits one deep to the right of Dahlen at short. He makes a great play to stop the ball and flips to Strang for the force at second but Casey beats the relay throw and the Cubs regain the lead 3-2 which is how the inning ends after Lundgren gets a perfect inning for the first time today.

Wiltse is struggling as the game continues and he appears to be tired from all the extra tosses today as Evers draws a one out walk. He then steals second and is still there with two out and sees that Wiltse is not watching him so he is off for third. Mike Bowerman’s throw is high and sails into left, and Evers scores to make the score 4-2 Cubs, which is how the inning ended. Once again the Giants show the heart that has them comfortably on top of the standings when Dahlen gets a bloop single to start the inning. Wiltse will stay in the game and moves him to second. Devlin then hits one over Maloney’s head in center. Billy had been playing the weak hitter shallow and gets burned. Dahlen will score all the way from first and Devlin has a double. Lundgren gets a bit wild and walks two batters before getting out of the inning with the Cubs now clinging to a 4-3 lead.

McGraw finally pays for keeping in a tiring Wiltse. Kling gets his second hit of the day and the hit and run is on when Casey gets a solid single and runners are on the corners. Lundgren, who has not batted much this year, but does have a couple of hits gets a single that scores Kling and runners are on the corners again. Maloney gets another single that scores Casey and this ends Wiltse’s day as Claude Elliott gets a rare relief appearance. Unfortunately the Cubs have finally found their stride as Evers rips a single that nearly gets past Mertes in the outfield and both runners score. Frank Schulte then puts one down the first base line and he will roar around the bases before sliding into third with a triple that scores Evers. Chance then gets a belt high fastball and hits a solid liner right at the Devlin at third who steps on the bag for the unassisted inning ending double play to finally end the inning. The Cubs now lead 9-3. Lundgren struggles, but gets through the inning with no scoring.

The Cubs remember the Giants history of scoring in bunches and continue to pad the lead as Slagle gets hit in the ribs with a pitch and moves to first. For Jimmy he appears to be willing to do anything to get on as he has now been hit 5 times in just 87 plate appearances this year. Two out later Casey hits it hard to right and this one one hops the wall as Slagle scores and Casey pulls into second with a double and his 4th RBI of the day. The inning ends with the Cubs now leading 10-3. Lundgren gets just his second 1-2-3 inning and it was just what the doctor ordered.

Elliott still appears to be throwing BP as Maloney hits one into right center and this splits the gap and rolls to the wall. The speedy center fielder pulls into third with a stand up triple. Evers then take the first pitch from Elliott and it’s deep to left. Donlin is there and the throw is cut off as the Cubs score again and the lead is now 11-3. Schulte gets his second hit of the day and is still on first with two out when Chance sends the runner with the pitch. Kling, who seems to have found his touch with the bat again gets a single and runners are on the corners again. Kling then tries to steal second hoping that the Giants would not expect this with the big lead, but Bowerman’s throw is in plenty of time as the inning ends with the Cubs now on top 13-3. The Giants finally break through again as the now tiring Lundgren gives up a one out single to Browne and McGraw knows he needs to make the most of this possibly last chance. Browne’s off with the pitch, but this one sails on Lundgren a bit and hits Bowerman in the forearm. Mike’s not hurt, but he just spent a month on the DL after being hit in the hand in April and there are plenty of words between him and Lundgren. Chance comes over and this is starting to look like a fight may start. Thankfully the umpires break things up, but as Bowerman walks over to first McGraw has started chirping from the dugout. Strang hits one to right and the speedy Browne scores from second and runners are on first and third and the pitcher’s spot up. McGraw scours his bench, and still unhappy with Lundgren decides to send himself to the plate. The fiery McGraw gets plenty of wood on this and Schulte makes the catch, but Bowerman scores as the throw is cut by Chance. Chance is close enough to first where he can check with Lundgren to see if he has enough to finish the game and he says “yes”. He does walk Devlin, but Mertes hits a solid shot at Tinker and it looks at first like he may not make the play but he does and the inning ends 13-5 Cubs leading.

While the game itself is pretty much over, the war is still on, and after Tinker gets a leadoff single in the 9th the hot hitting Casey comes to the plate. Luther Taylor, who had come in to finish the game gets the signal and promptly drills Jim in the small of the back. While he claims innocence, it was clearly payback for Bowerman’s earlier beaning. Chance heads over to check on his third baseman, and given the status of his bench is relieved to see nothing is wrong. That and another opportunity to shoot some venom McGraw’s way could not be resisted. Taylor gets the next three hitters with ease and the inning is over. McGann draws a one out walk in the 9th, his second of the day. The hit and run is on, but Browne hits a line drive right at Chance who steps on the bag for the game ending double play.

While the Cubs get a much needed morale boost with a big win, the Giants easily handed them their collective butts, and won 3 of 4 in the series. The Cubs are now off to the other side of town to face the lowly Dodgers and hope to get back in this race. The Giants continue their homestand and have another big series with the rapidly closing Pirates.

Giants 51 15 .773
Cubs 45 22 .672
Pirates 39 27 .591

[photo credit]