October 15th, 1905 World Series Game 4: New York Highlanders (2-1) @ Chicago Cubs (1-2)
CHC: Lefty Leifield (0-1; 2.53) v NYY: Jeremy Bonderman (1-0; 1.64)
A rematch for the Game 1 starters here and, while every game now is crucial, this is a must-win for the Cubs one would think.
The visitors come out swinging with singles to leadoff man Glanville – who then swipes second – and O’Connell, and only a sensational throw by left-fielder Gross to nail Glanville at home keeps them from going ahead. But only briefly, as Gross undoes all his good work with a misplayed flyball and the Highlanders do indeed take the lead, 1-0.
The Cubs hit back in the second, as a leadoff single by Tresh and a Skinner double put them both in scoring position with none out. Bonderman then puts himself under more pressure by walking Dunwoody to load ‘em up, and the hosts tie it at 1 on a poor error by New York shortstop Andre Robertson on a DP ball he’d usually turn in his sleep. That’s pressure for you. Unbelievably he does the exact same thing with the next batter and the Cubs go ahead and still have the bases loaded with no outs made. It all falls apart for the visitors, as Bonderman gives up a 2-run double his opposing pitcher and another one as the Cubs finally register an out on an RBI groundout by Johnstone. There’s seemingly no stopping the home side, as Larker makes it 6-1 with a run-scoring single and then New York makes their third error in what will forever be referred to by Highlanders fans as
The Inning, this time with Wilson throwing one over the third-baseman’s head to plate yet another run. A two-out RBI single by Skinner completes the nightmare, much to the joy of the very parochial home crowd, who are understandably enjoying all of this immensely.
That ends Bonderman’s game, one I’m sure will haunt him for a long time, as Matt Barnes is called into action. He gets out of that inning, only to run into trouble of his own in the next, as some waywardness on his part and two more errors turn this game into sheer farce as the Cubs go 11-1 ahead.
Well, that’s three innings done...
Almost as if endeavouring to keep the crowd entertained, the Cubs then make two errors in the top 5th and the Highlanders start heading in the right direction with a pair of runs.
From there the game, as it could only ever really be, is a complete anti-climax. The Highlanders get a run in the 8th as the Cubs commit their fourth error of the afternoon, only for New York to commit their sixth as the Cubs score one to cancel it out. In fact, the only thing of note over those final few innings is an injury to Cubs backstop Joel Skinner, which may have some ramifications over the remainder of this series.
The defensive ineptitude shown in this game was really an embarrassment to baseball, which is a shame - especially on the biggest stage of all. Of the 12 runs Chicago score, 3 are earned; all 4 New York runs are unearned. That’s not a great look.
So let’s turn our thoughts forward and try to forget today ever happened. The series is now tied at 2, with Game 5 back here tomorrow. Momentum is a potent force in these short series, and there’s little doubt that force has shifted heavily back into the Cubs’ favour.
FINAL SCORE: Chicago 12, New York 4
BOX SCORE