Perhaps Not So Unusual After All

Most of those who read the last post probably thought the practice of starting pitchers trying to win both ends of a doubleheader went the way of all things a century or more ago.  Even though I should have known better that was pretty much my feeling as well.  While researching the topic, however, I realized that not only had it happened more recently, I actually saw, through the miracle of television, what I believe is the last attempt at this remarkable feat.  It happened on July 19, 1973 and the pitcher was Wilbur Wood of the Chicago White Sox, a noted knuckle ball pitcher of the 1970's.  Wood originally tried to make the major leagues as a more conventional pitcher, but failed on five separate occasions.  Fortunately for him, his career was saved when Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm taught him to throw the knuckle ball.  Wood first enjoyed success as a relief pitcher and then went on try his hand at starting.  Over four seasons beginning in 1971, the left handed knuckle baller averaged 22 wins a season while throwing 1390 innings an average of 348 a season.  Pitching for weak White Sox teams, Wood lost almost as often as he won and in 1973 became the first pitcher since Walter Johnson to win and lose 20 games in the same season.

As early as 1971, Wood claimed he could pitch both games of a doubleheader a feat last accomplished in the American League by Emil Levsen of Cleveland in 1926.  Wood got his chance two years later under unusual circumstances.  Just before the All Star break, Chicago was scheduled to play a twi-night double header at Yankee Stadium.  It was not a good match up for the Yankees who had lost eight straight times to Wood.  According to Richard Dozer of the Chicago Daily Tribune, Wood was to start the first game and then take a flight to Boston to visit his son who was recovering from surgery.  Regardless of how much  Wood had dominated the Yankees in the past, it did him little good this time. He was knocked out of the game in the first inning without recording an out and New York went on to a 12-2 rout.  Supposedly Wood couldn't believe his knuckle ball was that bad and asked to start the second game.  He may have regretted the decision when after he warmed up, there was a 47 minute rain delay.  Wood stuck with it though and didn't allow a hit for the first three innings.  In the fourth, however, poor defense gave the Yankees two runs and Roy White later put the game out of reach with a grand slam home run.  Wood's attempt to repeat history was in Dozer's words nothing short of "a total disaster."

While this relatively recent attempt at two wins in a day was largely dependent on Wood's being knocked out so early in the first game, I was surprised to learn of another modern attempt (modern being defined as my lifetime) which, as in 1916, took place during the heat of a winner take-all pennant race.  Once again the Philadelphia Phillies were part of the story, but this time they were the hunted rather than the hunter.  After the Brooklyn Dodgers lost to the Giants on September 6, 1950 they trailed the "Whiz Kids," by 7 1/2 games, prompting Harold C. Burr of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle to remark that the Dodger slogan was no longer "Wait Till Next Year," but rather "You can't win every year."  The following day, the Dodgers would take on the Phillies in Philadelphia for a twi-night doubleheader and Burr wrote that Brooklyn manager Burt Shotton would pitch Don Newcombe in the first game, but wasn't sure of his second game starter.

Philadelphia Inquirer - September 7, 1950

After Newcombe dispatched the Phils on just three hits in a 2-0 victory in the first game, however, Shotton must have realized the answer was staring him in the face.  According to Burr, between games Newcombe was playing gin rummy on a property trunk in the visiting clubhouse when Shotton supposedly "a little fearful and a little apologetic" came up behind him.  Supposedly Shotton told Newcombe if he pitched the second game, he could have the next day off to go fishing prompting this deathless dialogue:

Newcombe - "That right. Boss?"

Shotton - "Want to take me up?'

Newcombe - "Uh-huh."

At that point the Brooklyn right hander "laconically" picked up his glove and went out to try to do something no National League pitcher had done since Herman Bell for the Cards in 1924  Reportedly the announcement was greeted by a big roar from the almost capacity crowd of over 32,000.

Newcombe didn't disappoint, allowing just two runs before being removed after seven innings for a pinch hitter.  The problem, however, was that his teammates had no success against Curt Simmons who held them to just one hit through eight innings.  With one out in the ninth, however, a walk and a hit put Brooklyn runners on first and second.  At that point, Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer removed Simmons for Jim Konstanty, making his 62nd appearance of the season.  According to Stan Baumgartner of the Philadelphia Inquirer both Brooklyn and Philadelphia fans cheered Simmons "to the echo."  Jackie Robinson then loaded the bases with an infield hit, but Konstanty appeared to be in control after striking out Carl Furillo, leaving the Dodgers down to their final out.  Brooklyn was not done however, Gil Hodges singled, sending home the tying run.  Hodges tried to go to second and when the Phils got him in a run down, Robinson went home.  In his legendary style, Robinson "squirmed back and forth" until a Phillies' error allowed him to score.  Dan Bankhead retired Philadelphia in the bottom of the ninth and just like that the Dodgers were back in the race.  In the end, of course, the Phillies prevailed, but that doesn't take anything away from a herculean effort by Newcombe that is little remembered today.