Chronicle-Telegraph Cup
Encyclopedia
The Chronicle-Telegraph Cup was the trophy awarded to the winner of a postseason competition in American
professional baseball
in 1900
. The series, played only once, was a precursor to the current World Series
.
The Pittsburgh Pirates
finished in second place, 4.5 games behind the Brooklyn Superbas
in the 1900 National League
(the only Major League in baseball, in America
, at the time). Fans of the Pittsburgh club felt their club was every bit the equal of the Brooklyn nine. While Brooklyn led the league in offense, Pirates rooters claimed their team, which led the NL in strikeouts with the league-best ERA, boasted the pitching to best Brooklyn. A local newspaper, the Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph (merged into the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
in 1960)http://www.post-gazette.com/aboutpg/history.asp, offered to award a silver cup to the winner of a best-of-five series between the two teams.
Despite the series being held in Pittsburgh, the Superbas prevailed, 3–1. The teams were evenly matched in most statistical categories — both totalled 15 runs apiece, batted about .230 and had comparable numbers of extra-base hits (neither team hit any home run
s) and walks. Both teams' ERAs were below 1.30.
However, Pittsburgh committed 14 errors to Brooklyn's 4, letting the Superbas win by comfortable margins. Three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning of Game 2 allowed the Superbas to break a 1–1 tie, and Pirates pitcher Sam Leever's crucial fourth-inning error in Game 4 broke the game open for Brooklyn. A 10–0 blowout behind Deacon Phillippe
's six-hitter in Game 3 gave the Pirates their only win in the series.
Pittsburgh outfielder
Honus Wagner
led his team in batting average
(.400), hit
s (6), double
s (1), RBIs (3) and stolen base
s (2). Brooklyn's Wee Willie Keeler also cranked out 6 hits to lead his club, posting a .353 average. The Superbas' Fielder Jones
had 4 RBIs.
The Pirates would go on to win the next three National League pennants and to play in the inaugural World Series in 1903
. The Brooklyn baseball club would not win another postseason series until 1955
, their first World Series championship
.
Two future Hall of Famers faced off as NL ERA
leader Rube Waddell
of the Pirates threw against Joe McGinnity, who led the league with 28 wins. McGinnity shut out the Pirates for eight innings before two unearned runs in the top of the ninth denied him the shutout. Waddell gave up 13 hits but only five runs, despite four errors by his fielders.
Fielding flubs continued to stymie the Pirates in the second game as they held Brooklyn only one earned run
, but allowed three unearned in the top of the sixth thanks to a series-high six errors in the field. Brooklyn hurler Frank Kitson
held Pittsburgh to four hits.
Pittsburgh avoided the sweep by battering Harry Howell
for 13 hits — all singles — and 10 runs. It was Brooklyn's turn to hurt themselves, as seven of the 10 runs were unearned. Deacon Phillippe
threw a six-hit shutout.
Joe McGinnity was shaky in the final game, allowing nine hits, but the Brooklyn defense returned to form (they had the second-fewest errors in the league) as it allowed only one run to score. McGinnity did not allow an earned run in his two complete game
wins during the series. Three Brooklyn singles coupled with a fielding error by Pittsburgh hurler Sam Leever
in the fourth inning gave the Superbas a comfortable 4–0 cushion which they would not relinquish.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in 1900
1900 in baseball
-Champions:*Chronicle-Telegraph Cup: Brooklyn Superbas defeated Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 games to 1*National League: Brooklyn Superbas-Statistical leaders:-National League final standings:-Events:...
. The series, played only once, was a precursor to the current World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
1900 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Notable transactions :* May 22, 1900: Jack O'Connor was purchased by the Pirates from the St. Louis Cardinals for $2,000.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
finished in second place, 4.5 games behind the Brooklyn Superbas
1900 Brooklyn Superbas season
The 1900 Brooklyn Superbas captured their second consecutive National League championship by four and a half games. The Baltimore Orioles, which had been owned by the same group, folded after the 1899 season when such arrangements were outlawed, and a number of the Orioles' players, including star...
in the 1900 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(the only Major League in baseball, in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, at the time). Fans of the Pittsburgh club felt their club was every bit the equal of the Brooklyn nine. While Brooklyn led the league in offense, Pirates rooters claimed their team, which led the NL in strikeouts with the league-best ERA, boasted the pitching to best Brooklyn. A local newspaper, the Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph (merged into the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
in 1960)http://www.post-gazette.com/aboutpg/history.asp, offered to award a silver cup to the winner of a best-of-five series between the two teams.
Despite the series being held in Pittsburgh, the Superbas prevailed, 3–1. The teams were evenly matched in most statistical categories — both totalled 15 runs apiece, batted about .230 and had comparable numbers of extra-base hits (neither team hit any home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s) and walks. Both teams' ERAs were below 1.30.
However, Pittsburgh committed 14 errors to Brooklyn's 4, letting the Superbas win by comfortable margins. Three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning of Game 2 allowed the Superbas to break a 1–1 tie, and Pirates pitcher Sam Leever's crucial fourth-inning error in Game 4 broke the game open for Brooklyn. A 10–0 blowout behind Deacon Phillippe
Deacon Phillippe
Charles Louis "Deacon" Phillippe was a turn-of-the-century pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates....
's six-hitter in Game 3 gave the Pirates their only win in the series.
Pittsburgh outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
led his team in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.400), hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
s (6), double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s (1), RBIs (3) and stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (2). Brooklyn's Wee Willie Keeler also cranked out 6 hits to lead his club, posting a .353 average. The Superbas' Fielder Jones
Fielder Jones
Fielder Allison Jones was an American center fielder and manager in baseball. Born in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania, his playing career began with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas in 1896. In , he joined the Chicago White Stockings in the new American League, where he would finish his playing career...
had 4 RBIs.
The Pirates would go on to win the next three National League pennants and to play in the inaugural World Series in 1903
1903 in baseball
300px|thumb|1903 [[1903 Boston Americans season|Boston]] vs [[1903 Chicago White Stockings season|Chicago]] at [[Huntington Avenue Grounds]]-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Boston Americans over Pittsburgh Pirates , in the first modern World Series...
. The Brooklyn baseball club would not win another postseason series until 1955
1955 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...
, their first World Series championship
1955 World Series
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn . The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World...
.
Game 1
October 15, 1900Two future Hall of Famers faced off as NL ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
leader Rube Waddell
Rube Waddell
George Edward Waddell was an American southpaw pitcher in Major League Baseball. In his thirteen-year career he played for the Louisville Colonels , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Orphans in the National League, and the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns in the American League...
of the Pirates threw against Joe McGinnity, who led the league with 28 wins. McGinnity shut out the Pirates for eight innings before two unearned runs in the top of the ninth denied him the shutout. Waddell gave up 13 hits but only five runs, despite four errors by his fielders.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| W: Joe McGinnity (1–0) L: Rube Waddell Rube Waddell George Edward Waddell was an American southpaw pitcher in Major League Baseball. In his thirteen-year career he played for the Louisville Colonels , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Orphans in the National League, and the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns in the American League... (0–1) Att.: 4,000 |
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Game 2
October 16, 1900Fielding flubs continued to stymie the Pirates in the second game as they held Brooklyn only one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
, but allowed three unearned in the top of the sixth thanks to a series-high six errors in the field. Brooklyn hurler Frank Kitson
Frank Kitson (baseball player)
Frank R. Kitson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played ten seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, and New York Highlanders....
held Pittsburgh to four hits.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| W: Frank Kitson Frank Kitson (baseball player) Frank R. Kitson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played ten seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, and New York Highlanders.... (1–0) L: Sam Leever Sam Leever Samuel Leever , nicknamed "The Goshen Schoolmaster," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.... (0–1) Att.: 1,800 |
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Game 3
October 17, 1900Pittsburgh avoided the sweep by battering Harry Howell
Harry Howell (baseball player)
Harry Taylor Howell born in New Jersey was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Brooklyn Superbas , Baltimore Orioles , Baltimore Orioles/New York Highlanders and St...
for 13 hits — all singles — and 10 runs. It was Brooklyn's turn to hurt themselves, as seven of the 10 runs were unearned. Deacon Phillippe
Deacon Phillippe
Charles Louis "Deacon" Phillippe was a turn-of-the-century pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates....
threw a six-hit shutout.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Pittsburgh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | x | 10 | 13 | 1 |
| W: Deacon Phillippe Deacon Phillippe Charles Louis "Deacon" Phillippe was a turn-of-the-century pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.... (1–0) L: Harry Howell Harry Howell (baseball player) Harry Taylor Howell born in New Jersey was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Brooklyn Superbas , Baltimore Orioles , Baltimore Orioles/New York Highlanders and St... (0–1) Att.: 2,500 |
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Game 4
October 18, 1900Joe McGinnity was shaky in the final game, allowing nine hits, but the Brooklyn defense returned to form (they had the second-fewest errors in the league) as it allowed only one run to score. McGinnity did not allow an earned run in his two complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
wins during the series. Three Brooklyn singles coupled with a fielding error by Pittsburgh hurler Sam Leever
Sam Leever
Samuel Leever , nicknamed "The Goshen Schoolmaster," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates....
in the fourth inning gave the Superbas a comfortable 4–0 cushion which they would not relinquish.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 |
| W: Joe McGinnity (2–0) L: Sam Leever Sam Leever Samuel Leever , nicknamed "The Goshen Schoolmaster," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.... (0–2) Att.: 2,335 |
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