Who Needs Offense?
Athletics at Highlanders, April 17, 1908
Sometimes the Ball Wasn’t So Dead
You might be under the mistaken assumption that all 1908 games were devoid of offense.
That’s simply not true. Check out the description of this game in real life:
When you really think about it, it is pretty impressive that the Athletics managed to score 8 runs on only 6 hits.
Fortunately, our game was a little bit closer.
Pitching
The big story early on in this one was Philadelphia starting pitcher Jack Coombs, who managed to strike out 5 in the first 2 innings.
Both the Athletics and Highlanders managed to score in the 2nd inning, and 1-1 tie moved forward.
New York had a marvelous chance to score in the 5th inning. Catcher Red Kleinow led things off with a triple. This was a particularly rare event, as Kleinow had only 2 triples in real life on his way to batting .168 in 279 at-bats.
In my infinite wisdom, I decided to try to bunt Red home. New York starting pitcher Bill Hogg was at the plate, and I thought it was the right call.
I was clearly wrong.
Pushing One Over
New York got another chance in the bottom of the 7th, however.
Hogg came up with one out and walked. It’s never a good sign when you walk the pitcher under any circumstances.
That brought up Charlie Hemphill, who hit a single that sent Hogg to second base.
And now it was time for Wee Willie Keeler with one out and runners on first and second.
What would you do in this situation? The 36-year-old Keeler was past his prime in 1908, and wasn’t the offensive threat he once was. After some careful consideration, I decided to bunt:
The bunt was successful, sure, but the run hadn’t scored yet. Up now was second baseman Harry Niles with runners on 2nd and 3rd, but with 2 out:
And that, my friends, was the dagger. The “36” play result was a passed ball charged to Athletics veteran catcher Ossee Schrecongost. Hogg scored an unearned run, and the Highlanders now led 2-1.
Comeback?
Philadelphia mounted a slight comeback attempt in the top of the 9th inning.
After Hogg struck out the first two men (both pinch hitters, by the way), Topsy Hartsel came up:
That made Hartsel 3 for 5 on the day, with two singles and a double. He seemed to be the only Philadelphia player who could hit at anything close to a consistent level.
I thought that something might be brewing. Up next was Harry Davis, who was a comparatively miserable 0 for 4:
Well, that was the end of that one. The final score in this pitcher’s duel was New York 2, Philadelphia 1. The Highlanders, by the way, are now 4-0.
