Mordecai Brown by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Mordecai Brown
Page 67
McGraw wouldn’t respond when reporters asked who would pitch, but the common wisdom was that he would choose Christy Mathewson. Matty was a fan favorite, “the greatest one man factor in the success of the Giants this year,” winning 37 games and leading the NL in strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched.
Before the game started, emotions were running high. Chance had an altercation with Giants pitcher Joe McGinnity about how much time the Cubs would get for batting practice. Chance was taking some extra swings, and McGinnity tried to push him aside. The two scuffled; other players had to separate them, and the Giants finally took their turn in the batting cage.
Mathewson did start for the Giants, and he easily retired the Cubs in the first inning, striking out two. But Pfiester had a more difficult time in the bottom of the inning, struggling with his control. He hit Fred Tenney, then walked Buck Herzog.
Roger Bresnahan struck out, but Cubs catcher Johnny Kling; possibly hoping to trap one of the Giants off base, briefly dropped the ball. Even though he was already out, Bresnahan headed for first, then paused; Herzog, who began running to second, also hesitated. Kling quickly threw the ball to Chance, who ran Herzog down and tagged him out, completing the double play.