September 30, 1908: Cubs blow a 9th inning lead as the season hangs on by a thread. Also, somebody
A crushing blow today as the Cubs lost a two run lead in the bottom of the 9th to fall to the Reds by a score of 6-5. Speaking of falling, they also fell to third place in the razor thin battle for the National League pennant thanks to wins by both New York and Pittsburgh.
Fortunately they're still only a half game out, but with only five games left in the season, panic was starting to set in. The Tribune said the Cubs playoff chances were "thinner than the ham in the sandwiches at the Philadelphia ball park." Ooooh ... burn on you, Philadelphia! And considering the Phillies don't even have a dog in this fight, I have to think those sandwiches were REALLY thin, as we all know the cardinal rule ... baseball beat writers do NOT take kindly to anybody who skimps on their food!
I'm just here for the buffet table
Entering the 9th inning, Cubs pitcher Orval Overall was on cruise control, scattering six hits and striking out an impressive 12 batters. That all came crumbling down in the 9th inning and with one run already in and the bases loaded, Reds shortstop Hans Lobert stepped to the plate.
Yep, I'm about to ruin your day!
With two out and two strikes on the count, Lobert laced a line drive single over the head of Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker to plate two runs and give the Reds the victory. Now, Hans Lobert had a decent career that spanned 14 major league seasons, but I have to imagine this was one of the career highlights for him. If nothing else, I'm sure he wore his grandkids out by telling the story of his game winning hit over and over and over and over.
And in his defense, I once hit a game tying grand slam in the last inning of a slow pitch softball game, and I still brag about that thing 10 years later. So I get it Hans ... you brag away!
Oh lord ... here comes that baseball story AGAIN!
On other game tidbit ... Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers got plunked in the side of the head with a pitch during his first at bat of the game and was knocked out cold. Now 2016 Johnny Evers would be stuck in concussion protocol for at least a week. But 1908 Johnny Evers? They actually just poured a bucket of ice water on his face and sent him back into the game. Take THAT concussion protocol!
I have a freakin' headache
In other news, thieves stole a man's corn cob! And no, that's not Urban Dictionary code for anything (actually hang on ... let me check ... nope ... it isn't).
Poor Henry Carroll. He had his room at the McCoy Hotel broken into and the thieves made off with the following ...
* A pair of tan Oxford shoes
* A pack of cigarettes
* An alarm clock
* His picture of Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan (!?)
And ... two precious ears of corn. NOOOOOO!!!! Not the corn!!!!!
You laugh, but the corn was thing Henry was most upset about since he planned on using the seeds to plant his corn crops next year. He even made a public plea that the thieves could keep the rest of the stuff, but that he just wanted to have his corn back.
Granted, I also think this dude maybe loved his corn cobs a little TOO much, since he went on to say the crime was "the work of a professional." OK Mr. Corn on the Cobb ... let's tone this one down a notch or two. I know this is 1908 and nobody has an iPhone to steal, but I'm sure most professional thieves were still about corn theft.
(Sadly ... the corn was not returned.)
Daddy, I miss you!
In summary, the Cubs are now 94-55 and a half game back from the lead. Five games remain in their season, with game three of this five game series against the Reds coming tomorrow. Meanwhile the Giants play a doubleheader tomorrow in Philly and the Pirates have an off day.
