It all started in 1857, when a 16-year-old boy named James Creighton, already one of the top cricketers in Brooklyn, formed a baseball club called Young America. Now, nearly three decades later, the man they call "Diamond Jim" has (almost single-handedly) made baseball the National Pastime. And for seemingly the umpteenth time, Creighton and Cleveland Forest City was back in the Centennial Cup Final, and strongly hinting that he would retire if Forest City won. Standing in their way? The three-time defending Cup champion Red Stockings.
The pennant-winning Reds would snatch the opener at the Palace of the Fans in Cincinnati, scoring twice in the opening inning off Ed Morris. Forest City equalized in the fifth, but Cincy went back in front to stay in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single by Jim O'Rourke. Bill Atwater later clubbed a two-run homer and Red Stockings held on to win, 6-2.
Creighton pitched Game 2, and was not-so-sharp (at least by his own standards), allowing three runs and seven innings. This mattered...not at all, as Big Jim had four hits and drove in six -- including a grand slam in the ninth -- to seal a 11-3 victory.
The Cup Final moved to Cleveland for Game 3, and Forest City spotted the Reds a 3-1 lead before equalizing in the sixth on Frank Fennelly's triple. Cleveland settled matters by scoring thrice in the seventh, keyed by Montgomery Scott's 2 RBI single. CFC wins, 6-3, and leads the series, 2-1.
The fourth game was nearly over before it started, as you-know-who stepped into the pitcher's box for Forest City. Creighton allowed just five hits, not allowing a Red Stocking past second base, for a 5-0 win. It was Big Jim's fifth win of the playoffs, his 25th in Cup play, his 40th of 1885 overall, and the 427th victory (in all games) in his 15-year Association career. Would it be his last?
Game 5 almost didn't happen: the contest had to be held up by police for over an hour as an estimated 50,000 people jammed downtown Cleveland, trying to get into Forest City Park and get one last look at Creighton and his ballclub. Cincy scored first, but Cleveland quickly put the game away with four runs in both the third and fifth innings. Come the ninth inning, and CFC starter Joe Blong was cruising along with a 8-2 advantage. But when the Reds put together and uprising, touching the tiring hurler with three runs to make a 8-5 ballgame, there were many in the crowd shouting to "put Jim on the mound!" But Creighton, holding court in left field, stayed put. Two out and two on, with top slugger George Gore coming to bat with a chance to tie the game, and perhaps even send the Cup Final back to Cincinnati!
Gore fouled off a pitch...then another, and another. And another. And another! The tension was unbearable...until Gore swung again...and lifted an easy fly to left field. Creighton didn't even have to move, gloving the ball to clinch Cleveland Forest City's sixth Centennial Cup and ninth championship.
Will this be Jim Creighton's last game...?
