The Chronicle
October 1873
Edition 3.9
1873 Final Standings
White Error Cost Brooklyn Pennant
Pressure Gets To Eckfords As Elizabeth Takes Flag
The game has been elevated to another level in the past three seasons where winning for some communities means everything. In one moment all of the great stories and hard work can be forgotten if the ultimate goal is lost. The Brooklyn Eckfords had an incredible turnaround story this year and ended the season dead even with the Elizabeth Resolutes forcing a one game playoff at Waverly Fairgrounds in New Jersey in front of 1,998 fans. It was the second season in a row that the game has needed a one game decider like this.
The clubs battled even for 60 games all summer and now battled in this final game for nine innings all even at 2 runs a piece. It was in the top of the 8th that the visiting side had tied the score on a clutch Jack McDonald RBI single. Then in the ninth, with the pressure its highest, the game had its dramatic finish.
A single and a double put runners on second and third with no one out and the pennant only 90 feet away for Elizabeth. Frank Buttery dug in for the visiting side and worked out of the jam getting two short pop ups that were not deep enough to score the winning run. With two outs, up came opposing pitcher George Zettlein who hit .191 all season long. All seemed saved for Brooklyn to survive. A routine ground ball was hit to third baseman Warren White who scooped it up, but instead of going to third base to step on the bag for a force out, he decided to throw the baseball to first. The throw was in the dirt and off its target, and coming home with the winning run was Wes Fisler to end the game.
The miscue was shocking but the home club did not care as they celebrated the win and the Amercian League Pennant. New York and Brooklyn papers were relentless on White for both the bad throw but even more so for the bad decision at the most crucial moment.
Brooklyn Manager Shamar Tate summed up the entire situation in one word, "devastating."
For the Resolutes the flag is there's in a hard fought season and their first in Elizabeth. Now the World Series is set as the Elizabeth club will face the mighty Baltimore Marylands, who had the very best record in baseball and are the outright favorites to win.
Fate however, may have a different conclusion.
