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JOE CONNOLLY |
THE 1914 "MIRACLE" BRAVES
Two HRs by Connolly but the Braves lose twice
June 26, 1914 ... Both
games of the doubleheader played today with the New York Giants at
the South End Grounds were lost by the Braves. The first was by a
score of 8 to 4 and the second by a score of 10 to 4. Penalties
imposed by the umpire early in the opening game, so weakened the
Braves, that they were in no condition to make any sort of flight and
therefore fell easy victims to McGraw's team.
The Braves had trouble with umpire Cy Rigler. The instance came in the fifth
inning of the first game, with Christy Mathewson at second base and Bob Bescher
at first, with one out. George Burns was at bat and the count was three and two.
Lefty Tyler threw a good pitch that looked like a perfect strike and easy chance
to get Mathewson at third base who was stealing. Both Tyler and his catcher,
Bert Whaling, were dumbfounded when the umpire called the pitch a ball to load
the bases. Rigler listened to the protest and when the game resumed, Art
Fletcher knocked out a three bagger that settled the game.
While Tyler was his bat in the Braves half of the
fifth, and with the count one and one, Rigler threw him out of the game. While
Dick Rudolph completed the turn at bat and Larry Gilbert waiting on deck, Rigler
suddenly turned around and threw Gilbert out of the game. Larry apparently had
not uttered a word, and looked behind him to see who the umpire was pointing at.
He turned back around and remained waiting in the on deck circle. Rigler shouted
at him and pointed at him and told him to get out of the game. Gilbert seemed to
be in a daze and finally walked up to the umpire and told him that he had not
said anything. But Rigler again ordered him off the field. Then Johnny Evers
rushed over to protest. Claiming that Gilbert and not opened his mouth. At that
point, Evers was told to leave. The Braves were not much good for the rest of
that game nor the next one.
The feature of the doubleheader was the wonderful
outfield play of the Giants' Bob Bescher in both games, and his batting in the
opening game. Batting right-handed against Tyler, he laced out two singles and a
double in three times up. He made several brilliant catches and covered more
ground than any outfielder who has played here in recent memory.
Joe Connolly did some great hitting himself for
Boston, getting a home run in each of the games as well as knocking out some
other hits. Christy Mathewson was hit easily, but did not extend himself after
the Giants got the big lead. Tyler was hit hard and Dick Crutcher had to come in
and finish the game for the Braves.
Bill James started the second game and was very
wild. He also spoiled a splendid chance to get the Braves in the game with poor
baserunning. Art Fromme, the Giants pitcher in the second game, was not going
any too good himself. The Giants lead of three runs was in danger of being wiped
out in the fifth inning, when, with the bases full, he forced in a run by
walking Jim Murray.
It looked as if he was going to force in another
when he passed Oscar Dugey. The count was three and one, when James who was on
second base, got into a conversation with art Fletcher. He was 10 feet off the
bat with his back turned to the plate and Fletcher held his attention while
Eddie Grant snuck over and took a throw from the pitcher to catch James. That
mistake shook him up and Jean Cocreham to come in and pitch in the next inning.
He was also hit hard and was also relieved by Dick Crutcher for the second time
in the afternoon. All together, it was just a bad day for the Braves. |
