Today in 1908 - Cubs tie. Now get out there and kiss your sister! Also, some guy beats up a ghost.

Travel schedule forces the game to be called at a 2-2 tie in the 12th inning. In other news, some guy beats up a ghost.

In one of the weirder results you'll ever see, the Cubs tied the Doves today 2-2 when the game was called in the 12th inning. And why was the game called, you ask?

Rain? Nope.

Darkness? Nope.

The choo choo train? Yup!

This was the last game of the home stand and the Cubs had to catch a train at 4:45, and both teams agreed that the game would be called at that exact time, no matter what the score. Thus, we get a very unfulfilling tie.

Here's the amazing part ... the game started a half hour earlier than normal at 3pm (why they didn't start even earlier is beyond me). So that means the Cubs and Doves played twelve innings in only an hour and forty-five minutes! I'm pretty sure there have been a couple annoying Red Sox-Yankees games in recent years where a single INNING has taken that long, let alone twelve of them.

Part of that speed was, quite simply, because the players knew they had a train to catch and were in full on hustle mode. Both pitchers, Orval Overall for the Cubs and Patsy Flaherty for the Doves, were essentially throwing each pitch the second the got the ball back from the catcher. Also, players were sprinting in and out of the field, and the Tribune reports that batters "swung at most any old thing." They played the first eight innings in one hour!

Before I go any further, I gotta point out that the Boston Doves have some of the most wonderfully adorable names on their team. Today's pitcher was named Patsy Flaherty, sharing a first name with my lovely mother-in-law (truth). Then you have yesterday's pitcher Vive Lindaman, an outfielder named Ginger Beaumont, and my personal favorite ... catcher Peaches Graham.

Aww ... Peaches!

And for good measure, they also had a Cecil, a Herbie, and an Irv. I love this team ... they are FABULOUS! I can only imagine the fantastic pieces of flair they could wear if they were playing today ...

We're the Doves!

Back to the game ... the Cubs almost pulled this one out in regulation. They had the bases loaded with two outs in the 9th and pitcher Orval Overall crushed a ball that looked to be a certain game winner, only to have left fielder Johnny Bates masterfully yank the ball into his glove as it sailed over his head. (Editor's note: See what I did there? If you did, then I thoroughly apologize for that. I'm forever 13 years old on the inside. Please forgive me!)

The Doves and Cubs each scored a run in the 11th, the clock struck 4:45, and umpire Bill Klem called the game. So that's it. Tie. No resolution to this game now, or any time down the road. Lame!

Meanwhile in other news of the day, a guy beat up a ghost, and then found out that the "ghost" in question was actually his future father-in-law.

Here's what happened ...

It appears that John Shelmerdine was a very protective Dad. Hey I get it ... I have a seven year-old daughter and I'm already dreading the dating years that will be here way faster than I can even fathom. Well, Papa John (there I go again, writing horrible things) didn't care for his daughter's fiancee Allan Malcolm.

So he hatched up a terrible plan ... I'll disguise myself as a ghost and scare this guy away. He'll be so spooked, he'll never talk to my daughter again!

Yeah ... well ... It didn't quite work out that way.

The Dad wrapped himself in a sheet and jumped out of the bushes early one morning as Young Allan left his house for work and yelled "Beware!" in his best scary voice. Unfortunately for Dear Old Dad, Young Allan's instinct was not to run, but instead beat the crap out of the guy hiding under the sheet, causing Dad to have to beg him to stop.

Dad later tried to press charges for the assault, but the judge tossed it out, pointing out that he's the one that started it anyway. He then added insult to injury by telling him "you ought to be proud to have such a husky prospective son-in-law."

Oh man ... that wedding reception is going to be LOADS of fun, eh??

I hate you so hard!!!

In summary ... The Cubs tie leaves them at 48-35 on the year. As best I can tell it doesn't count for anything in the overall standings at all, almost like it never happened. Oh well!

Pittsburgh won their game, so the Cubs now trail by three as they sit in third place. Tomorrow is a travel day as they head to Brooklyn for the start of a brutal 18 game road trip. No return home until August 15th!

#cubs #cubstie #ghosts