The Curse of Wrigley Field

June 17, 1908 at the Baker Bowl
Cubs 3, Philles 2  (31-17)

Chick Fraser threw a solid game as the Cubs went on to win another series in their road trip.  Fraser gave up just two runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in the contest.

Harry Steinfeld was the hitting star in the win. He doubled twice and scored one of the Cubs’ three runs.

June 16, 1908 at the Baker Bowl
Phillies 2, Cubs 1  (30-17)

After winning three straight and seven of eight, the Cubs latest run ended in a controversial game.  Back in this day, there was only one umpire and in this game, he missed several calls for the simple reason that he couldn’t be everywhere at everytime.  There had been a call to have to umpires at every game but to date, nothing had been done about it.

Jack Pfiester took the loss although he hardly deserved.  He gave up two runs on three hits and five walks with a strikeout.

Solly Hofman singled twice and he scored the lone Cubs run.  On a bad note, it was his error that led to the Phillies game winning run in the fourth inning.

June 11, 1908 at Washington Park
Cubs 2, Superbas 1  (28-16)

The Cubs got right back to winning in an eleven inning pitchers duel with the Superbas.  Carl Lundgren threw all eleven innings and he gave up just a single run on five hits and seven walks with four strikeouts.  Lundgren also helped out his own cause with a pair of singles, including an RBI single in the eleventh that proved to be the game winner. 

Joe Tinker singled, doubled, scored a run and he also bunted what would be the winning run over to second base in the eleventh inning.  Frank Schulte also had a nice game with a single, a double and a walk.

June 10, 1908 at Washington Park
Superbas 2, Cubs 0  (27-16)

The Cubs four game winning streak came to an end in what was an overall poor performance at the plate.  The Cubs matched the Superbas with four hits but they were unable to push a single baserunner across for a score.  Pat Moran led the way with two hits, a single and a double while Jimmy Slagle reached base twice with a single and a walk.

A solid outing by Chick Fraser went to waste.  He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

June 9, 1908 at Washington Park
Cubs 4, Superbas 3  (27-15)

The Cubs blew a three run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning but then rallied to score in the eighth to get the lead back.  Del Hofman led off the eighth with a single and he moved to second on a bunt by Johnny Kling.  Frank Chance popped out but then Harry Steinfeldt came through with an RBI single in what would be the game winner.

Jack Pfiester threw a good enough game and he picked up the win.  He gave up three runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and he also doubled and scored a run.  Jimmy Slagle led the team with three hits, all of which were singles.

June 8, 1908 at the South End Grounds
Cubs 5, Doves 2  (26-15)

The Cubs took the series and made it three straight over the Doves as Three Finger Brown once again held the opposition in check.  He gave up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in the complete game win.

Harry Steinfeldt singled twice and scored a pair in the win.  Pat Moran was the other Cubs with a pair of hits.

June 6, 1908 at the South End Grounds
Cubs 14, Doves 0  (25-15)

The Cubs racked up fourteen runs on nineteen hits as they won in grand fashion over the Doves.  Frank Schulte led the way and he went four for five with a double, a walk and three runs.  Johnny Kling and Del Hofman both went yard while Frank Chance crossed the plate three times.

Lost in all of the offense was a solid start by Chick Fraser.  He gave up four hits and two walks in seven shutout innings.

June 4, 1908 at the South End Grounds
Cubs 1, Doves 1  (23-15)

The Cubs couldn’t snap their three game losing streak but at least they didn’t extend it to four games as they played the Doves to a seventeen inning tie.  Jack Pfiester threw all seventeen innings in what was almost two complete games and he gave up just a single run on nine hits.

Del Howard drove in the lone Cubs run with a solo homer.  Frank Chance was the only Cub with a pair of hits.

June 2, 1908 at West Side Park
Pirates 12, Cubs 6  (23-15)

The Cubs suffered their third straight defeat for the time this season as the Pirates once again racked up the hits on Cubs pitching.  Don Lundgren was hit hard in his start and he yielded seven of the runs on nine hits but Three Finger Brown and Ed Reulbach were also touched up for runs in relief.

Johnny Evers had a big day at the plate in the loss.  He went four for five with a triple and two runs.  Del Howard went two for four with a double and a run.

The Cubs would have a day off then they’d begin a road trip that would last them almost three weeks.  It was too bad they couldn’t leave town on a winning note.

May 31, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 6, Pirates 3  (23-12)

The Cubs returned home to win their third straight game behind some solid pitching by Jack Pfiester.  He gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Harry Steinfeldt continued his hot hitting with three more singles while Del Howard singled, doubled and scored a run.  Solly Hofman pitched in with a double and he scored twice.

May 31, 1908 at West Side Park
Pirates 13, Cubs 3  (23-13)

The Cubs suffered their worst defeat of the season in the fourth game in two days as Chick Fraser and Ed Reulbach were knocked around for a combined thirteen runs.  Even worse, while they gave up sixteen hits, they also dealt out eleven free passes in the contest.

Jimmy Sheckard provided the bulk of the Cubs offense in the loss.  He went two for five with a double and a homerun.

May 30, 1908 at Robison Field
Cubs 10, Cardinals 2  (21-12)

The Cubs scored a season high ten runs in the first game of the doubleheader against the Cardinals and while there were plenty of hitting stars, Frank Schulte was a notch above the rest.  He was a perfect four for four and he drew a walk.  Del Howard tripled and he scored twice. 

Orval Overall picked up the win with 7 2/3 innings of solid pitching.  He gave up two runs on eleven hits in 7 2/3 innings.

May 30, 1908 at Robison Field
Cubs 11, Cardinals 2  (22-12)

The Cubs needed just hours to surpass their best offensive game of the season as the dealt another beating to the Cardinals in the second game of their doubleheader.  This time they scored a season high eleven runs with seven different players having multi-hit games.  Harry Steinfeldt singled twice and doubled in five at bats while Heinie Zimmerman, Johnny Kling and Joe Tinker all scored a pair of runs each.

Carl Lundgren picked up the win with a nice outing.  He gave up two runs on six hits and five walks with one strikeout.

May 29, 1908 at Robison Field
Cardinals 4, Cubs 3  (20-12)

Three Finger Brown suffered his first defeat of the season as he finally gave up a run in the eleventh inning.  It was his sixth inning of relief and he had previously thrown five innings of shutout ball to get to the eleventh.

The Cubs picked up thirteen hits but managed just three runs in the contest.  Johnny Evers singled twice and he scored one of the Cubs runs.

May 26, 1908 at West Side Park
Giants 7, Cubs 4  (19-10)

For the second straight game, Cubs pitching gave up seven runs.  Unfortunately, they only scored four in this one as they lost to the Giants.  Ed Reulbach was touched up for seven runs on twelve hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Joe Tinker had just one hit but it was a homerun for the Cubs.  Frank Chance singled twice and he scored a run.

May 24, 1908 at West Side Park
Giants 6, Cubs 4  (18-9)

Chick Fraser had a tough time on the mound as the Cubs lost for just the second time in seven games.  Fraser gave up six runs on thirteen hits and five walks with six strikeouts.

Frank Schulte was the only Cub with two hits in the game.  Johnny Kling drew two walks and he scored a run.

May 21, 1908 at West Side Park
Doves 11, Cubs 3  (16-8)

Not only did the Cubs three game winning streak come to an end, but the Cubs suffered their most lopsided defeat of the season in an 11-3 blowout loss in front of the home crowd.  It was ironic that this was the game where the Cubs hung up their 1907 pennant only to see three pitchers combine to give up eleven runs on fourteen hits.

Harry Steinfeldt was the hitting star, not that it mattered much.  He went two for four with a double and a run.  Jonny Kling singled twice and he was the only other hitter to pick up a pair of hits.

May 20, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 5, Doves 3  (16-7)

The Cubs won their third straight game and it was Frank Chance who had an exceptional day at the plate in the win.  He finished three for four with a double and he scored three times.  Joe Tinker went two for three and he scored a run.

Chick Fraser picked up the win after he came into the game in the fourth inning to relieve Ed Reulbach.  He gave up one run on three hits and he struck out two.

May 17, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 5, Superbas 0  (15-7)

Three Finger Brown had by far his best pitching performance of the season with a one hit shutout over Brooklyn.  Brown missed a perfect game by just one single, which came in the third inning off of him.  He finished the game with four strikeouts.  Brown also helped out his own cause with a pair of singles.

Joe Tinker was the hitting star in the contest.  He went two for four with a double and he scored three of the Cubs five runs.

May 16, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 4, Superbas 3  (14-7)

The Cubs snapped their three game skid but they needed some ninth inning heroics to do it.  Jimmy Sheckard led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and then Frank Schulte moved him over to third with a double. Frank Chance then drilled a hard line drive right but the ball was misplayed by Patton.  He was able to throw out Sheckard at home after he had turned back to third but there were still runners at second and third with now just one out. 

Harry Steinfeldt then hit a grounder to the shortstop, who tried to get Schulte at home but he Schulte slid under the tag for the tying run.  Solly Hofman then hit a grounder to the exact same spot as Steinfeldt and once again, a play at the plate was late as the Cubs scored the game winner.

Jack Pfiester gave up two of the three runs in five innings of work.  Ed Reulbach gave up the third run in the sixth but his four solid innings of work allowed him to pick up the win after the Cubs ninth inning comeback.

May 12, 1908 at West Side Park
Phillies 6, Cubs 2  (13-6)

Orval Overall suffered his first loss since August of last year as the Phillies knocked him around early and often.  In all, Overall gave up four in three innings before yielding to the pen.  He walked four and gave up three hits in the three frames.

Johnny Evers was the lone Cubs hitter with a pair of hits in the game.  He doubled, singled and scored a run.  Harry Steinfeldt doubled, drew a walk and scored.

May 9, 1908 at Exposition Park
Cubs 1, Pirates 0  (12-4)

The Cubs continued their impressive start the season with a nice win behind a solid pitching performance by Chick Fraser.  Fraser gave up just two hits, a single and a double, and he walked two and struck out three.

The Cubs scored their lone run in the top of the first inning.  Frank Chance drove in Frank Schulte with a double off the left field wall.  Jimmy Sheckard had a nice day at the plate with three singles in four at bats.

April 30, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 3, Cardinals 1  (8-3)

The Cubs picked up just three runs in this one but it was good enough because Chick Fraser held the Cubs NL rival to a mere four hits.  He gave up just the one run and he walked two and struck out two.

Johnny Evers was the hitting star in the win. He went two for three with a sac. bunt and a run.

April 29, 1908 at West Side Park
Pirates 2, Cubs 1  (7-3)

Jack Pfiester gave up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning as what could have been a spectacular start went to waste.  He gave up the two runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts. 

The Cubs managed just four hits in the contest.  Johnny Evers had one of those with a double and he scored the lone Cubs run.

April 24, 1908 at West Side Park
Reds 4, Cubs 2  (7-2)

The Cubs four game losing streak came to an end as the Reds did a number on Carl Lundgren.  The right hander gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks with a strikeout in six innings.

The Cubs were held to a mere four hits in the contest.  Pat Moran had the only extra base hit with a double and he scored one of the two Cubs’ runs.

April 23, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 2, Cardinals 1  (7-1)

The Cubs have a new season long winning streak as the beat the Reds for their fourth straight win.  Overal Overall won his third start of the season with a solid game.  He gave up just one run on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in the complete game.

Harry Steinfeldt doubled and he scored one of the Cubs two runs.  Joe Tinker was the only Cub with a pair of hits.

April 22, 1908 at West Side Park
Cubs 7, Reds 3  (6-1)

The Cubs won their third straight overall, their fourth straight against the Reds and more importantly, they won their first home game as they opened up West Side Park with a win.  Catcher Johnny Kling was one of the hitting stars with a single, a double and a pair of runs.  Harry Steinfeldt tripled and scored a run.

Chick Frasier picked up the win with a decent start.  He gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts.  It was his first start of the season.

April 19, 1908 at Robison Field
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2  (3-1)

Orval Overall got just enough from his hitters as he improved to 2-0 in the Cubs third win of the season.  The big right hander gave up three runs on nine hits and one walks with six strikeouts.

Frank Chance was the hitting star.  He went two for three with a double and a run. 

April 18, 1908 at Robison Field
Cardinals 3, Cubs 2  (3-1)

The Cubs hadn’t lost and the Cardinals hadn’t won but both teams fortunes turned today as the Cardinals scored a run in the ninth to give the Cubs their first loss of the season.  With runners at the corners and one out, Art Fromme hit a scorcher to Johnny Evers, who tagged the runner trying to make it to second base.  Then Evers tried to make the play himself at first base but he lost the foot race and failed to complete the double play.  In the meantime, the runner on third scampered home for the winning run.

Jack Pfeister took the loss after he came in to relief Ed Reulbach after a rough couple of innings.  Pfeister gave up just four singles in the final seven frames but he took the loss when he gave up that game winner in the ninth.

The Cubs were held to just three hits in the contest.  Joe Tinker doubled home both of the Cubs two runs while Jimmy Sheckard reached base three times with two walks and a single.

April 17, 1908 at The Palace of the Fans
Cubs 1, Reds 0  (3-0)

The Cubs finished a three game sweep in their season opening series over the Reds with a dramatic 1-0 win.  Ed Reulbach got into trouble in the first inning and he pitched out of it and from then on, Chick Fraser proceeded to shut down the Reds over the final eight frames.

Frank Chance was the hitting star in the win.  He was not only one of three Cubs to pick up three hits but he also scored the lone run of the game for either side.

April 16, 1908 at the Palace of the Fans
Cubs 7, Reds 4  (2-0)

The Reds scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to put a little bit of a scare into the Cubs but it wasn’t nearly as enough as Chicago started their season 2-0.  Carl Lundgren picked up the win with a complete game.  He gave up four runs on six hits and six walks with three strikeouts in the contest.

Jimmy Sheckard had a nice game at the plate.  He went three for four with three runs.  Frank Schulte singled, doubled and scored a pair of runs.

April 14, 1908 at the Palace of the Fans

Cubs 6, Reds 5  (1-0)

The Cubs kicked off their defense of the world championship with a tight win over the Reds. The Reds jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning but the Cubs slowly chipped away at the lead.  Finally, in the top of the ninth inning, Heinie Zimmerman singled home Johnny Evers for the game winning run.  Evers had an exceptional game with two singles, a double and three runs.

Orval Overall got off to the rough start when he gave up five runs in the first but he recovered to pick up the win.  Three Finger Brown came in to get the Reds out in the ninth and he picked up what would now be a save in the game.