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.

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

he Palace of the Fans

Joe McGinnity stops the Reds, 5 – 1 after being nearly traded to them sarlier in the day.

ByBaseball

1908 – At the Palace of the Fans, veteran Joe McGinnity, in relief of Red Ames who walks the first two batters, stops the Reds, 5 – 1, beating Bob Ewing. Earlier in the day, the Reds turned down John McGraw’s offer for McGinnity.

Pittsburgh regains first place as Nick Maddox (15-5) beats Brooklyn, 2 – 1 for his 8th win in a row. Maddox drives in both runs as well. Maddox, who won his last five games of 1907, has now won 20 games in 30 appearances, the quickest twenty-game winner ever (This mark will be tied by Russ Ford, in 1910, Boo Ferriss in 1945, and Cal Eldred in 1993).

ByBaseball

Pittsburgh regains first place as Nick Maddox (15-5) beats Brooklyn, 2 – 1 for his 8th win in a row. Maddox drives in both runs as well. Maddox, who won his last five games of 1907, has now won 20 games in 30 appearances, the quickest twenty-game winner ever (This mark will be tied by Russ Ford, in 1910, Boo Ferriss in 1945, and Cal Eldred in 1993).

After more than a dozen attempts, Senator backstop Gabby Street catches a baseball dropped by journalist Preston Gibson from atop of the 555-foot Washington Monument. Scientists estimate the ball traveled with a force of between 200-to-300 pounds.

ByBaseball

After more than a dozen attempts, Senator backstop Gabby Street catches a baseball dropped by journalist Preston Gibson from atop of the 555-foot Washington Monument. Scientists estimate the ball traveled with a force of between 200-to-300 pounds.

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.

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

In a rain-shortened game, Christy Mathewson defeats the Cards, 3 – 0

In a rain-shortened game, Christy Mathewson defeats the Cards, 3 – 0

ByBaseball

1908 – In a rain-shortened game, Christy Mathewson throws his mitt on the field and defeats the Cards, 3 – 0, in six innings, with Harry Sallee taking the loss. With the Giants at bat in the 5th, John McGraw signals Cy Seymour to steal home – even though Cards C Bill Ludwig has the ball. Shad Barry, the next batter, then strikes out on three pitches, as the Giants race to beat the downpour.

1908 – The Cardinals deal a blow to the Giants’ pennant hopes by defeating them twice in St. Louis. With Christy Mathewson refusing to pitch on Sundays, Red Ames and Joe McGinnity take the losses.

ByBaseball

1908 – The Cardinals deal a blow to the Giants’ pennant hopes by defeating them twice in St. Louis. With Christy Mathewson refusing to pitch on Sundays, Red Ames and Joe McGinnity take the losses.

1908 – The Nationals’ Walter Johnson hurls a 1 – 0 victory over the White Sox, allowing just two hits, the first a 9th-inning single by Sox P Doc White.

1908 – The Nationals’ Walter Johnson hurls a 1 – 0 victory over the White Sox, allowing just two hits, the first a 9th-inning single by Sox P Doc White.

ByBaseball

1908 – The Nationals’ Walter Johnson hurls a 1 – 0 victory over the White Sox, allowing just two hits, the first a 9th-inning single by Sox P Doc White.