1912 – In a change of outfielders, the Boston Braves send Mike Donlin to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Vin Campbell. After one season with Pittsburgh, Donlin will be waived to the Phillies but will refuse to report and elect to retire.
Cy Young wins his 511th and final career game when he blanks the Pirates at Forbes Field, 1-0. The 35-101 Rustlers have won only three contests in 22 attempts against Pittsburgh this season, with two of the victories coming on shutouts thrown by the 44 year-old veteran right-hander, who was obtained by Boston on waivers from Cleveland in late July.
At Forbes Field, Rube Marquard, with relief from Christy Mathewson, beats the Pirates, 6 – 2. Before the game the Giants’ mascot, Victory Faust, strikes out Honus Wagner on three pitches, to the delight of the 20,000 fans.
Pittsburgh, playing without Honus Wagner, is no match for Christy Mathewson, as the Giants win, 6 – 2. Tommy Leach makes three errors behind Howie Camnitz. The Giants announce that for the first 11 playing days at the new Polo Grounds, the average attendance was 23,864.
At Brooklyn, Honus Wagner suffers a serious ankle injury rounding first in the 1st inning. He will miss 13 games, play one at first base, then miss another 12. With Wagner out, the Pirates will lose eight of 13 and drop out of the race.
At Pittsburgh, Owen Wilson legs out three triples against Brooklyn.
1911 – The Philadelphia Phillies move back into first place as Pete Alexander tops the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 – 1.
After two years on the vaudeville circuit with his wife Mabel Hite, and occasional sojourns to jail for drunkenness and assault, Turkey Mike Donlin is reinstated by the National Commission as he rejoins the Giants. Donlin doesn’t play today, but Pirates pitchers have the Giants hitting the ball on the ground all day. The Pirates have 55 total chances on a record 28 assists and 27 putouts, but seven errors help the Giants to a 9 – 4 win. Meanwhile, John McGraw’s willingness to put up with Donlin ceases after 12 games, and the .333 lifetime hitter is traded to the last-place Boston Rustlers.
Art Fromme allow just one hit – a double by Honus Wagner in the 2nd inning – in pitching the Cincinnati Reds to a 1 – 0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1910 – Christy Mathewson stops the Bucs on five hits, as the Giants top Pittsburgh, 3 – 1, to move a half-game behind the 2nd-place Pirates. Lefty Leifield takes the loss.
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