Mordecai Brown by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Mordecai Brown
Page 139
The Last Hurrah?
When Mordecai Brown joined the Chicago Federal Whales in 1915, he just about went home again, and got a glimpse of his former glory, when he improved to 17-8 with an ERA of 2.09, third in the league, and his team won the championship. While the Whales were in a dead heat with the St. Louis Terriers in terms of games ahead-behind, they had a better winning percentage, and were credited with the victory.
This is indicative of the Federal League’s management ineptitude. Fans would have flocked to see rejuvenated Mordecai Brown pitch in a one game championship between the Whales and the Terriers.
It was the day the wind shifted at Weeghman Park. It was a gray July afternoon on the North Side, the kind of day when Lake Michigan seemed to breathe cold air straight down the alleys. Mordecai Brown stood on the bullpen mound behind first base, working the stiffness out of his shoulder. At thirty eight, he no longer pretended the old arm woke up quickly. It needed coaxing, persuasion, sometimes outright negotiation.