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SQUIRREL HILL TAKES 1ST WIN IN EPIC AT SUSQUEHANNA
INLAND NEWCOMERS OUTLAST DEFENDING CHAMPIONS IN 45-RUN EXTRAVAGANZA

WILKES-BARRE, PENN. (May 11, 1878) - Over the first three games of the season-opening series between N.B.B.O. newcomers Squirrel Hill and champions Susquehanna there were no surprises. The first three games ended with wins of 9-1, 17-13 (17-6 after B8), & 20-5 by the 2x Tucker-Wheaton Cup champions. With that in mind, cue Game Four:

There were roughly 1,725 in attendance at Review View Field, and the contest they witnessed was simply unbelievable.

It was visiting Squirrel Hill that raced out to an amazing start, scoring no less than NINETEEN times over the first three innings, with the big moment a Grand Slam after two out in T3 by CF Jonathan Mills, to take a seemingly unassailable 19-4 lead. After Squirrel Hill scored run #20 in T4, Susquehanna began their comeback in earnest, scoring twice in the 4th, three times in the 5th, and half a dozen times in both the 6th & 7th. With Squirrel Hill putting up just one further run during that time, the score was now tied 21-21.

Following a scoreless 8th, Squirrel Hill came to bat in the 9th and scored three times after the first out was recorded, with a two-run Single by 1B James Holyfield plating the visitors’ go-ahead runs. All the cup winners could do in B9 was see themselves retired in 1-2-3 order, and Squirrel Hill had earned perhaps the most memorable maiden victory in baseball history.

The victors pulled off a baseball first, for Squirrel Hill had two members of the lineup with seven RBI each:

• SH 1B James Holyfield: 4/7 (2 3B), 3 R, 7 RBI, 90 GMSC
• SH CF Jonathan Mills: 4/7 (2B, HR), 3 R, 7 RBI, 95 GMSC

As a first-year member of the N.B.B.O. Squirrel Hill likely won’t win many games in 1878, so their 24-21 win at the defending cup champions in the fourth game of the season may well stand as the best of their inaugural campaign.