June 16, 1908 - Cubs Lose, Umpires Stupid

Cubs Lose to the Phillies 2-1, Umpires Blamed

Man oh man, what a day that wishes instant replay had been invented!

In what had to have been a wild afternoon at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia, the Cubs dropped a tough one to the Phillies 2-1. OK ... it was actually just outfielder Solly Hofman, since he's the one that dropped an easy fly ball in right center field that allowed both Phillies runs to score in the 4th inning. Now in his defense ... everybody's glove was awful in 1908 and the ball fell right through it like a cannonball ripping through a sheet of paper. And the reality is, Baseball Reference lists Hofman's position at "UT," which totally screams "I suck at defense!"

But seriously ... look at this lousy glove ...

Anyway ... that play in the 4th was downright normal compared to the insanity that took place in the inning before. With one out in the top of the 3rd, pitcher Jack Pfiester hit a single and was followed by the top of the order, future Hall of Fame second baseman Johnny Evers. Evers hit a ground ball to first, Pfiester was forced out at second, but Evers managed to beat out the potential double play.

At the conclusion of the play the umpire (future Hall of Famer Bill Klem) went back to take his position, which at that time was still behind the pitcher's mound. And yes, he was the only umpire. And yes, even my slow pitch softball games have two umpires, so you can imagine how many calls got blown every game. By the way ... Here's ol' Bill ...

So as Klem returns to the mound, Cubs player Orval Overall ... (I swear to God that's his name. I can only imagine he was a total player with the ladies) ... Anyway Overall, according to the Chicago Tribune was "exercising his lame back in the first base coaching box," and while he was there a fan threw back an earlier foul ball (yup ... sorry kiddo ... you had to give 'em back in 1908).

Overall proceeded to roll the ball toward Klem, which Phillies second baseman Otto Knabe thought was the ball in play and it had gotten away from first baseman Kitty Bransfield (Meow!). As Knabe ran toward the ball, Cubbie Johnny Evers also thought it was the ball in play, broke for second, and got tagged out.

And despite the fact that there were now two balls being tossed around on the field, Klem called Evers out, naturally infuriating the entire Cubs bench. Not to mention Johnny Evers, who was so mad at the call, somehow managed to steal the actual ball in play during the commotion and toss it to teammate Ed Reulbach, who wasn't even in the game at the time.

So when Klem went to start the bottom of third ... yep ... no baseball.

This is absolutely one of those days you wish there was video evidence, so you could watch this insanity unfold. Oh ... and the Chicago Tribune says Klem blew multiple calls "probably because he thought the Cubs needed a handicap to keep from breaking up the league."

Anyway ... The Cubs only managed 5 hits and lost the game 2-1. Pfiester the tough luck loser, scattering only three hits the entire game and giving up two unearned runs on the Hofman error. Despite the loss, the Cubs finished the day 30-17, in first place by two and a half games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Game two of the three game series with the Phillies on tap for the next day.

By the way ... I found a picture of Orval Overall and I gotta admit ... he's a pretty good lookin' man. Nice!

#cubs #baseball #1908 #chicagocubs