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THE SPORTING TIMES — September 22, 1911
By Samuel T. Kingsley
CUBS SHUT OUT AND LOSE SIEVER TO SERIOUS SHOULDER INJURY
Philadelphia Hands Chicago a 6–0 Defeat; Reliever’s Season Ends Abruptly
Chicago, Ill., Sept. 22 — Fortune turned her back on the Chicago Cubs this afternoon as they suffered a dispiriting 6–0 shutout at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies before a restless home crowd. The defeat drops Chicago to a disappointing 63–77 mark for the year, but the greater blow came in the form of an untimely injury to relief pitcher Ed Siever.
Summoned in the sixth inning in hopes of halting Philadelphia’s steady run production, Siever delivered stout work for the beleaguered Cubs. Over two and a third innings, he surrendered but two hits and appeared every bit the steadying hand Chicago required. Yet in the eighth, just as he began to settle into a rhythm, misfortune struck.
As he released a pitch, Siever winced sharply, clutching at his shoulder. The club’s medical men hurried to his side, but it was immediately clear his afternoon was over. He was escorted from the field, his arm hanging stiffly at his side.
Post-game examinations brought grave news: a partially torn labrum, an ailment expected to sideline the veteran left-hander for three months. For a pitcher fighting to retain his foothold in the majors, the timing could not be worse.
Siever, who has logged 17 relief appearances this season with an earned run average of 5.15 and an 0–1 record, spoke in subdued tones following the diagnosis.
“I knew the moment it happened that something wasn’t right,” Siever said. “I’ve been trying to help the club any way I can, and it pains me to let the boys down. All I can do now is rest, heal, and come back ready when my arm allows it.”
Cubs manager Tom Loftus, who has weathered more than a few hardships this season, expressed both disappointment and resolve.
“Ed gave us exactly what we asked of him today,” Loftus stated. “He came in, threw strong, and kept us in fighting distance. To lose him like this is a tough blow for the club and for the man himself. But Siever’s a battler. We’ll support him through the layoff and look forward to having him back when he’s mended.”
For the Cubs, the shutout loss adds another dark mark to an already trying season — but the injury to Siever may linger even longer in the club’s memory.
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