September 6, 1908: Cubs split doubleheader with the Pirates. Also, back to school.

Let's play Four!

Something tells me even the great Ernie Banks would not be a fan of that. The 1908 Cubs had no choice though, playing a doubleheader today against the Pirates, followed by another doubleheader tomorrow against Cincinnati.

Nothing like a relaxing Labor Day Weekend where you get to spend 10 hours on a train and then play 36 innings of baseball in two days!

The Cubs came out flat in the first game and got rolled 3-0. Then, they almost collapsed in the second game, losing an 8-0 lead and barely holding on for an 8-7 victory. Game one was owned by Pirates pitcher Nick Maddox, who fired a four hitter while walking only one.

I'm new to this smiling thing

Orval Overall was the tough luck loser for the Cubs. Orvie had 10 strikeouts through the first six innings, but then a Maddox double, two errors, and a wild pitch gave the Pirates their 3-0 lead that eventually ended up as the final score.

Things got a lot more interesting in game two ... The Cubs came out strong in the bottom of the first. Solly Hofman led off with a hit by pitch, Jimmy Slagle doubled, and then Frank Chance walked to load the bases. Harry Steinfeldt then stepped to the plate and launched a double to left center to score the first two runs, but before the play had even ended, catcher Ed Phelps tried to catch Frank Chance napping on third base, threw the ball away, and two more runs were in.

The Cubs then extended their lead to 8-0 with four more runs in the 5th, and it looked like an easy victory for Cubs pitcher Jack Pfiester. However, the Pirates led off the 7th inning with "five dinky singles" that led to three runs, closing the gap to 8-3.

Then in the 9th, Pfiester gave up three more hits and a walk to make the score 8-5 with two runners on and nobody out. Time to call for the ace! Stud pitcher Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown was summoned from the bullpen to try to hang on to the dwindling Cubs lead. Brown gave up a single that led to two more runs, but was then able to shut the door and the Cubs escaped with an 8-7 victory.

I'm carrying this team!

The Giants were idle today, so the Cubs didn't gain or lose any ground with the split, and both teams play doubleheaders tomorrow. The Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds, while the Giants are in Philadelphia to face the Phillies.

And since it is Labor Day in 1908, you know what that means ... end of summer!

The Tribune ran this on their front page for the poor kiddies that have to return to school in a couple days after a summer time of fun and frolicking ...

I guess the moral of the story is "Don't run around barefoot so much in the summer or your feet will be jacked up come fall?"

Or maybe "Buy shoes that fit" is better?

I dunno ... all I know is that I'm thrilled in 2016 that my kids are back in school and I can stop paying their summer babysitter. More money for Daddy!