Mordecai Brown by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Mordecai Brown

Page 58

1908 Chicago Cubs Season

The 1908 Chicago Cubs season was not the runaway leads of 1906 and 1907. It went down to the final day in a three way race with the Giants and Pirates. Mordecai Brown did his part winning his highest personal season total of 29 games, second in the league; had a 1.47 ERA, also second in the league; was third in Win-Loss percentage; and was first or second in four other pitching categories including least hits and least walks per nine innings pitched and saves.

This team included four future Hall of Famers; manager-first baseman Frank Chance, second baseman Johnny Evers, shortstop Joe Tinker, and pitcher Mordecai Brown.

The Cubs started the season in Cincinnati. Orval Overall was the Cubs' Opening Day starting pitcher. Overall gave up five hits and committed an error in the first inning as the Reds took a 5– 0 lead. The Cubs tied the game in the sixth and won the game in the ninth. Cubs pinch hitter Heinie Zimmerman drove in Johnny Evers. Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown pitched in the ninth and got a save for the Cubs.

The home opener was on April 22. Owner Charles Murphy had added several new seats to the stadium. Long-time Cub great, Hall of Famer, and former player-manager Cap Anson threw out the first