1908 – The Giants gain the National League lead by winning two at Pittsburgh, after first refusing to play a doubleheader. John McGraw protests that only one game was scheduled and he was not given 24 hours notice about the second match. But after polling the players, he relents. Hooks Wiltse then tops Vic Willis, 4 – 1 and Christy Mathewson beats Lefty Leifield, 5 – 1. Willis tires in the 8th, giving up a 2-run triple to Roger Bresnahan, followed by a Mike Donlin homer. In the nitecap, Donlin and Larry Doyle each drive home a pair. The doubleheader is watched in New York on electric diamonds known as “Compton’s Baseball Bulletin” at Madison Square Garden and the Gotham Theatre. Bulletins will display all remaining games.

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1908 – The Giants gain the National League lead by winning two at Pittsburgh, after first refusing to play a doubleheader. John McGraw protests that only one game was scheduled and he was not given 24 hours notice about the second match. But after polling the players, he relents. Hooks Wiltse then tops Vic Willis, 4 – 1 and Christy Mathewson beats Lefty Leifield, 5 – 1. Willis tires in the 8th, giving up a 2-run triple to Roger Bresnahan, followed by a Mike Donlin homer. In the nitecap, Donlin and Larry Doyle each drive home a pair. The doubleheader is watched in New York on electric diamonds known as “Compton’s Baseball Bulletin” at Madison Square Garden and the Gotham Theatre. Bulletins will display all remaining games.

New York tops the Reds, 2 – 0, as Christy Mathewson hurls an eight-hit shutout.

New York tops the Reds, 2 – 0, as Christy Mathewson hurls an eight-hit shutout.

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New York tops the Reds, 2 – 0, as Christy Mathewson hurls an eight-hit shutout. The Reds’ Andy Coakley allows just four Giant safeties in the loss. For Matty, it is his 25th win. The Giants will sweep three games from the Reds, with the only negative being Fred Snodgrass sustaining a broken thumb. The rookie catcher, who played just six games, will return next year to play mostly in the outfield.

Following the Sunday off, Honus Wagner hits doubles in his first two at bats to again lead the Pirates to a 4 – 3 win over New York

Following the Sunday off, Honus Wagner hits doubles in his first two at bats to again lead the Pirates to a 4 – 3 win over New York

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1908 – Following the Sunday off, Honus Wagner hits doubles in his first two at bats to again lead the Pirates to a 4 – 3 win over New York. Nick Maddox, with relief help from Irv Young, is the winner over Doc Crandall. Both Maddox and Young plunk two Giant batters.

Before an overflow crowd of 30,000 in New York, the Pirates’ Lefty Leifield tops the Giants and Christy Mathewson, 7 – 2. The loss drops New York to 3rd place. Two errors by Larry Doyle in the 7th open the gates for five Pirate runs. Pittsburgh is led by Honus Wagner who goes 5 for 5 to take over the batting lead from a hitless Mike Donlin. After each hit, Wagner holds up a finger to show the number of safeties to the RF Donlin.

Before an overflow crowd of 30,000 in New York, the Pirates’ Lefty Leifield tops the Giants and Christy Mathewson, 7 – 2. The loss drops New York to 3rd place. Two errors by Larry Doyle in the 7th open the gates for five Pirate runs. Pittsburgh is led by Honus Wagner who goes 5 for 5 to take over the batting lead from a hitless Mike Donlin. After each hit, Wagner holds up a finger to show the number of safeties to the RF Donlin.

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Before an overflow crowd of 30,000 in New York, the Pirates’ Lefty Leifield tops the Giants and Christy Mathewson, 7 – 2. The loss drops New York to 3rd place. Two errors by Larry Doyle in the 7th open the gates for five Pirate runs. Pittsburgh is led by Honus Wagner who goes 5 for 5 to take over the batting lead from a hitless Mike Donlin. After each hit, Wagner holds up a finger to show the number of safeties to the RF Donlin.

Hal Chase comes in to pitch to Ty Cobb and gets him to fly out

Hal Chase comes in to pitch to Ty Cobb and gets him to fly out

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With the Highlanders leading the Tigers, 3 – 2, in the 8th, Detroit scores two runs on a Ty Cobb triple. With lefty Claude Rossman the next hitter, New York’s new manager Kid Elberfeld moves righty pitcher Jack Chesbro to 1B and replaces him with first baseman Hal Chase. Chase allows a fly ball that scores Cobb, then goes back to 1B and Chesbro resumes his spot on the mound. It is Chase’s only pitching appearance as the Tigers win, 5 – 3.

Three-Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson pair off with Brown winning, 1 – 0

Three-Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson pair off with Brown winning, 1 – 0

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In another classic match-up, Three-Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson pair off with Brown winning, 1 – 0. The Cubs pitcher allows 6 hits, with Matty giving up 7. The only run comes on a 5th-inning inside-the-park home run by Matty’s nemesis, Joe Tinker, who runs through the arms of third base coach Heinie Zimmerman to score. In the 12 match-ups between the two pitchers, Brown has won eight. A tragic occurrence happens during Tinker’s home run dash when a boy, standing on the roof of a nearby building to view the game, falls 50 feet to his death.

At Chicago, manager Frank Chance figures to rattle Giants rookie Otis “Doc” Crandall and elects to bat the Cubs first (this option for the home team will only be stricken from the rules in 1951). But Crandall is a rock and nurses a 4 – 1 lead into the last of the 9th. After one out, Christy Mathewson, warming in the bullpen, decides the game is well in hand and goes into the clubhouse to shower. Crandall promptly walks three straight, wherein John McGraw looks in vain for Matty. The Giants’ ace quickly dries off, throws on a uniform, and puts his street shoes on. By the time he arrives on the mound, reliever Joe McGinnity has walked in a run. Matty gets a ground out, then a strikeout, and the Giants win, 4 – 3. Ed Reulbach takes the loss for Chicago.

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At Chicago, manager Frank Chance figures to rattle Giants rookie Otis “Doc” Crandall and elects to bat the Cubs first (this option for the home team will only be stricken from the rules in 1951). But Crandall is a rock and nurses a 4 – 1 lead into the last of the 9th. After one out, Christy Mathewson, warming in the bullpen, decides the game is well in hand and goes into the clubhouse to shower. Crandall promptly walks three straight, wherein John McGraw looks in vain for Matty. The Giants’ ace quickly dries off, throws on a uniform, and puts his street shoes on. By the time he arrives on the mound, reliever Joe McGinnity has walked in a run. Matty gets a ground out, then a strikeout, and the Giants win, 4 – 3. Ed Reulbach takes the loss for Chicago.

three-hitter by Christy Mathewson

New York sweeps the Pirates, beating Lefty Leifield, 7 – 0, on a three-hitter by Christy Mathewson & Joe McGinnity

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New York sweeps the Pirates, beating Lefty Leifield, 7 – 0, on a three-hitter by Christy Mathewson, then taking the nitecap, 7 – 4. Pittsburgh racks up three homers – by Honus Wagner, Chief Wilson and Alan Storke – but to no avail. Joe McGinnity wins the nitecap with relief help from Hooks Wiltse.