In Philadelphia, Grover Alexander shuts out the Boston Rustlers, 5 – 0. Phillies catcher/manager Red Dooin suffers a broken leg in a collision at home. Dooin will play in only 74 games this season. The speedy catcher had broken his knee the year before.
In an Iowa State League game at Waterloo, Herbert Whitney, catcher for the Burlington Pathfinders, is beaned by a pitch from Fred Evans and his skull is fractured. He becomes the first professional baseball player to die as a result of being hit by a pitch. The beaning occurred two days ago in an Iowa State League contest against the Waterloo Microbes.
Before the start of the Giants-Pirates showdown, Giants catcher Frank Bowerman starts a fight with Pirates player-manager Fred Clarke in the Giants office. While the cause of the brawl is unclear, Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss reports it to the National League offices and Bowerman is fined $100. Clarke gets no fine, but does take home a black eye. Christy Mathewson then pitches his 5th victory over Pittsburgh, defeating them, 8 – 2, and beating Sam Leever. Sam Mertes, who will lead the National League in doubles and RBIs, doubles home three runs in the 5th.
Veteran SS George Davis, 1900-1901 Giants manager who played for the White Stockings in 1902 and was awarded to them as part of the peace treaty, gets the approval of National League president Harry Pulliam to play for the Giants. After Davis plays in four games, including today, for the Giants, Chicago’s owner Charles Comiskey gets an injunction preventing Davis from playing. On July 20th the NL directors vote that Davis cannot play for any team except the White Stockings. Davis sits out the rest of the season but will rejoin Chicago in 1904 and finish a 20-year career with them in 1909.
At Brooklyn, the Pirates lose, 16 – 3. Tom Daly has five hits including four long hits for Brooklyn – 3 doubles and a triple. He adds a stolen base, one of seven in the game. In September he’ll have another five-hit game.
Boston arrives in Philadelphia for an expected game against the A’s, unaware that the schedule had been changed and they are supposed to be in Baltimore. The Orioles squad and 4500 fans wait for an hour and a half in 90-degree heat for Boston to arrive. The American League umpire assigned to the game shows up in Philly as well.
1880 – Abner Dalrymple, George Gore and Larry Corcoran, all normally left-handed batters, cross over and bat right-handed against southpaw Lee Richmond and get one hit each as Chicago beats Worcester, 4 – 0.
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