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Pirates Pound Phillies as Bottomley Buries Giants Again — Pittsburgh Post Baseball Coverage from May 1926

Ghosts Of The Diamond May 12, 2026

Pirates Rout Mitchell and Score Impressive Win Over Phils, 11 to 1
Reds Add Veteran Southpaw Art Nehf
Grove Fans Eleven as Macks Register Eighth Straight
Reuther Routed
Bottomley’s Homer Helps Rhem; Grimes Regains Form
The Post Keeps Posted
Champtown Chatter

Pirates Rout Mitchell and Score Impressive Win Over Phils, 11 to 1

Cuyler and M’Innis Leaders in Assault on Jinx Southpaw

Waner and Barnhart Only Hitless Champs in Recovery of Batting Form; Kremer Goes Distance in Great Shape; Fletcher Uses 17 Players to Offset Second Inning Lead.

Ki Cleans Sacks With Triple; Rookie Hurler Looks Good

By Edward F. Balinger.

All the Pirates had to do yesterday in order to break a deadlock which existed between them and their Philadelphia opponents was to take a few pokes at the pellet, lean back and idle along to an 11-1 victory. While they ended this tie for fifth place, they likewise moved forward sufficiently to gain an even footing with the Giants, who were defeated in St. Louis. The McGrawmen now are at a standstill for fourth position with the Pittsburghers.

Ray Kremer had nothing whatever to fret about, for his associates stepped out and found seven runs in the second inning, which served as a stimulant and likewise a hint for him to take matters easy and enjoy himself.

The champs got him another marker in the third and one more in the fifth and it wasn’t necessary for anybody to blink an eye when the visitors bunched a pair of two-baggers in the sixth and thereby sidestepped the whitewash dauber.

Arthur Fletcher selected Clarence Mitchell for slab duty, chiefly because the big left-hander on many previous occasions has been able to scatter poison in the pathway of the Pie-carons. Clarence has no use for the restful pouch. Instead of cherishing a desire to make his twirling fingers sticky, he prefers to touch them occasionally with the tip of his tongue to make them slippery. Thus the ball oozes toward the plate and has a tendency to elude anything that resembles a swat-stick.

Got Rid of Old Foe.

Mitchell, however, is taking a late start. Cool weather has held him back. To date he has failed to survive longer than an inning or two, but when the sun came out yesterday and cast its warming glances upon the Oakland ball yard, the southpaw felt confident he could master sufficient spitting terror to put the world’s champions to sleep. But Bill McKechnie’s boys landed upon those moistened tosses with the same avidity with which a trap-drummer plays on the numerous jazz-making devices needed to keep a jazz band in perfectly jazzy condition.

The loudest explosion was touched off around No. 2 and the call for help was given quite early in the proceedings. Frank Ulrich, who throws with his right flipper, was ordered to the rescue, but before the inning was completed, the Pirate batting array had reached its starting point and two of the nine locals got their second trip to the plate. In fact Pie Traynor produced two blows in the same chapter.

Fletcher still felt that he might be able to check the advances of the right-handed batters matched with some of his southpaw talent and accordingly he hustled Raymond Pearce into the bullpen. By the time the home half of the third frame was reached, Pearce had warmed up his port whip and he went upon the hill. The Corsairs had about as many rallies as they could use, but they proceeded to boost their averages at the expense of this athlete from Arizona.

Consequently it was decided to make another change from Edward Holley, 18-year-old kid from Western Illinois, was trotted out to the slaughter. This big youth was more effective than any of his predecessors, but the Buccos simply refused to be stopped and by the time they had reeled off their eighth tally they had given a total of 15 safeties. Six being made off Mitchell, one off Ulrich, three off Pearce and five off Baecht, who occupied the center of the arena for five sessions, the last of the ninth having been dispensed with.

Right-Handed Attack.

The only extra player introduced by McKechnie was Paul Waner, who replaced Clyde Barnhart after the entry of Baecht, who is right-handed. This provided two port-side swingers, the other being Captain Max Carey who was back in his customary place in the midfield. At the beginning of the game, however, with Scoops wielding a cudgel in orthodox style and Roy Spencer behind the bat, Mitchell was forced to face a solid front of right-handed maulers. Barnhart and Waner, each of whom appeared at the stick in two instances, were all the Buccos who were unusual in assuming anything into safe regions.

Hazen Cuyler and Stuffy McInnis rang up three smashes apiece. One of Kiki’s was a triple and two of Stuffy’s were doubles.

The Phils used up 17 of their members in the game and among them they succeeded in touching Kremer for nine licks, but they might have found less opportunity to sock the sphere, had not Ray been accorded such encouraging support at all stages. The only opposing batsman to accumulate three blows off the big Californian was Fred Leach, who produced two doubles and a single. Jack Bentley, who confined his fielding activities to first base, was responsible for a couple of safeties one of them being for two bases and it was this wallop that knocked the tally which averted the goose egg.

When the substitutes began making their appearance in the Philadelphia lineup, two of the relief hurlers took their positions near the top of Mitchell. Ulrich went to first place off Mitchell at the bottom, but after Cy Williams had batted for the former, he was kept in the game and sent to right field. Jack Knight also was sent to hit for Albert Nixon in the same frame and when Pearce went upon the mound in the last of the third, he became second on the list, being assigned to the position vacated by both Nixon and Knight. Ulrich likewise batted in that order when he followed Pearce into the box.

Wins His Own Game.

Before the fracas was finished, Walter Kimmich, ex-Pirate and now with Pittsburgh, had replaced Heinie Sand at short. Clarence Jonnard, another former Corsair had relieved Walter Henline back of the bat and Wayland Dean, pitcher, had batted for Barney Friberg and ended the contest by striking out.

Ray Kremer in addition to pitching with great effectiveness, had the distinction of delivering the hit which settled his own argument. Traynor opened the second round with a clean single to right and a passed ball placed him on the keystone hassock. Barnhart then reached the paths on Friberg’s fumble and Traynor moved to third. Friberg in drawing back to make a throw after finally getting his fingers on the pill, used so much haste that it slipped out of his hand and rolled in the grass. This second foible by the same athlete enabled Pie to romp home, but Barnhart was compelled to remain on the initial cushion.

McInnis reached a double into left, but Barnhart was stopped at third and then Spencer grounded out to Bentley who prevented any advance on the part of the two runners. Kremer, however, planted a base hit into left and Barnhart tallied. This set the Corsairs their second point and the enemy never reached that number. Rhys’ walk and Carey’s infield single filled the bases and all three Pirates were driven home when Cuyler cracked a triple over right. Ulrich relieved Mitchell and fanned Wright for the second out, but before the inning was ended, Traynor had brought Kiki in with a two-sacker.

McInnis doubled in the third off Pearce and scored on Spencer’s single. Baecht went upon the firing line in the fourth and momentarily checked the assault, but in the fifth, singles by McInnis and Spencer, Kremer’s sacrifice and Rhys’ out, let in one more point and in the ninth, Rhys drew a pass, took second as Carey grounded out, reached third on an infield hit by Cuyler and finished the trip as Wright cracked a base hit into center.

AI Enhanced for clarityDoing things just like a championship team should to a tail-ender, many things happened yesterday at Forbes Field. The above pictures show some of them. In No. 1 is Clarence Mitchell, jinx southpaw, who hunted the shooters under a rain of base hits in the second. No. 2 shows Traynor scoring the big inning as Friberg kicked Barnhart’s roller around. McInnis is shown in No. 3 coming over when Carey beat out an infield rap to Huber. Bentley on third and Henline at first in the second inning is shown in No. 4, in one of their early threats. Remy Kremer, showing the benefit of a visit to the bonesetter, who worked the whole game for the Pirates is shown in No. 5. The most refreshing factor in the work of the Phils, Eddie Baecht, rookie hurler, is shown in No. 6.

Reds Add Veteran Southpaw Art Nehf

CINCINNATI, O., May 11. —The Reds will have an addition to its pitching staff tomorrow in the person of the veteran southpaw, Art Nehf, who was purchased today from the New York club. He will arrive here this morning to join the Reds. When waivers were asked on Nehf several days ago, every club in the league claimed him, showing that he is still highly thought of by the league managers, in spite of his length of service. The New York club then withdrew waivers, but entered into negotiations for his purchase by the Reds and the deal was consummated.

Nehf lives in Terre Haute and will be 34 years of age in July. This is his fifteenth year in professional ball and his twelfth in the National League. He played with Stout City, Kansas City and Terre Haute before going to Boston in 1915. He remained with the Braves for four years and was sold to the Giants in August, 1919, for the reported price of $55,000. Ever since then he has been one of the mainstays of the New York club, and he is today considered one of the smartest and most capable southpaws in the business.

He has never had less than a .500 pitching average since entry into the big leagues and nearly always has far surpassed that figure. He is also a pretty good hitter.

With Nehf the Reds now have eight pitchers, all experienced men, and Manager Hendricks believes that this is enough to carry the team along successfully, at least for the present.

Grove Fans Eleven as Macks Register Eighth Straight

Galloway’s Triple With Bases Filled Routs Faber; Fourth Victory For Former Oriole Southpaw; Browns Rally in Ninth, Chasing Reuther, But Remain in Cellar.

PHILADELPHIA, May 11.—(A. P.) —The Athletics ran their winning streak to eight games today, taking the first in their series with Chicago by a score of 6-2.

Lefty Grove hung up his fourth triumph of the season and fanned 11 of the White Sox. Triples by Al Simmons and Joe Galloway, the latter’s with the bases full in the fourth, accounted for the five runs that drove Red Faber from the box.

Reuther Routed

WASHINGTON, May 11.—(A. P.) —The lowly St. Louis Browns got a firmer hold today on the cellar position in the American League standings by dropping the first game of the series with Washington, 6 to 5. The visitors scored all their runs in the ninth, their rally sending Dutch Reuther to the showers, but falling one short of tying the count.

Bottomley’s Homer Helps Rhem; Grimes Regains Form

McQuillan Routed In Second; Grimm Hits Homer.

Luque Holds Braves Safe

ST. LOUIS, May 11. —Winning a ball game seems to be out of the question so far as the Giants are concerned, for the McGraw clan dropped another game here today to the Cards, 6-3.

The Giants tried hard to win, John McGraw shifting Bill Terry to the outfield in a desperate move to bolster up the team and put the brakes on the losing streak, but despite the shift the Giants could not get started.

Both teams scored in the first inning, the chief difference being that the Cardinals scored two rounds and the Giants only one, and a minor difference being the way in which the runs were scored. Lindstrom got on base through an error by Thevenow, Frankie Frisch lobbed one over Rogers Hornsby’s head, putting Lindy on third, where he scored while Thevenow was making a double play out of Southworth’s grounder.

With two out in the Cardinals’ half Hornsby earned a single off Lindstrom’s glove and Jim Bottomley knocked the ball over the right field stands.

They moved Hugh McQuillan in the second inning after O’Farrell and Thevenow had singled and each advanced a base on a wild pitch and Rhem had scored them both with a hit to right field. Fitzsimmons appeared in McQuillan’s place and retired the side without further scoring.

With the score 4-3 in favor of the Cards, Hornsby and his crew opened up an attack in seventh frame, which more than put the game on ice. Blades got two bases on a fly that the wind swept out of Terry’s grasp and was safe at third when Jackson took Douthit’s grounder and tried to head him off. Fitz walked Hornsby. Bottomley scored Blades with a sacrifice fly. Then Fitz made a wild pitch and Douthit scampered to third. Mueller scored him with a single to center.

The Post Keeps Posted

The bad hop, rotten umpiring and cold weather have long been the alibi of tottering ball clubs. This year, particularly, the cry has gone up among the clubs which should go out in front that the weather has been against them and that all they needed was the warm sunshine to round them into championship form. Then, just as many reach the point of taking this as the best excuse of the lot, the Pirates, supposed to have been retarded by the brisk breezes of the east after basking in the balmy zephyrs of the west, step out and shoot the alibi all to pieces. Yesterday the champions did everything right; they hit when it was needed, fielded like demons, ran bases with their heads up and even got better pitching than has been their lot. And all the while the fellow game enough to wear a straw hat, kept his top coat around his chin and stamped his feet on the concrete to keep warm. Which goes to show that alibis may be overworked and ruined when a team gets desperate enough to go out and win without looking at the thermometer. The near-sighted umpire and the bad hop are still to be figured on, but it seems as though the Pirates have ruined one of their pet excuses for being a second division team a month after the season opened.

Spencer Gets Real Chance.

Some ballplayers are born lucky, others must achieve fame. Such seems to cover Roy Spencer, rugged, willing backstop of the Pirates. With two catchers of greater league experience it was figured that the best place for Spencer to learn was on the bench where many things not appearing in the boxscore take place. Spencer has been shoved in many games in various capacities, but yesterday with the looming jinx of Clarence Mitchell, it was deemed a good spot to start Spencer to present a solid right-hand hitting array against the Quaker. Because it happened to be Mitchell was the only good reason for Spencer catching in the first inning. The young fellow who has nerve, judgment, a wicked wallop and a burning desire to make good as a major leaguer, then luckily got his chance. Not only did Roy handle himself well, but got two solid swipes and drew a walk and handled Kremer in a way which was above reproach. A little more of Spencer behind the bat, regardless of who is pitching, might put a little pep in the rest of the Pirate catching staff.

Baecht Another Youthful Example.

From amongst the motley crew of alleged ballplayers Fletcher is paying train fare for and showing the inside of good hotels was one who stood out in the big parade of yesterday. Scraped from the sandlots of Grafton, Ill., to make fodder for leading hitters in the majors, was Eddie Baecht. Just as raw as Jack Keefe of funny page fame, but with the idea that all Grafton was hanging on the wire listening to the report of his doings, Baecht pitched his head off and spiked the avalanche of hits which shelled better pitchers than he may ever be off the mound. Then, to add lustre to the story which likely is still being told in Grafton about the boy pitching against the world champions, Baecht got hold of a hit in the seventh, via of a semi-pro swing, and continued to show his innocent crudeness by as wild a dash around the bases as Forbes Field has ever seen. He didn’t know which way to go when Leach doubled, but finally started to third where he was thrown out after a slide which would have done Buster Keaton credit. He was playing to win, regardless of the score, and Fletcher could do no worse than giving him plenty of work which his iron constitution would likely welcome. But he might also be coaxed into a barbershop and get the latest mode shingle.

Pitching Staff Rounding Out.

From what Kremer showed yesterday after a jaunt to the bonesetter, it might be well to have a Sunday excursion to Youngstown while the club is at home and have all the boys meet the famous Mr. Reese. Remy worked easily and well and never was in danger, the big second inning giving him plenty of confidence. It might not have been a bad idea to rest him up after getting a big lead, but he probably needed all the work he could get under actual firing line conditions. McKechnie made another good move when Yde started off in the bullpen at the same time Kremer started on the mound and then in the eighth, after the Phils hit a few threatening long ones, Aldridge was rushed down to get ready if the occasion required. Work hurts few pitchers and one warming up in the bullpen not only make the one on the mound keep his head up, but has one ready if the one in the box weakens.

Nothing to wait for when a pitcher is weakening, is what likely was in Kiki Cuyler’s mind when he came up in the second with the bases loaded. He got hold of the first one and four Pirates scampered around the bases, three of them scoring at that time. Ki may lead the club in strikeouts but that blow was a triple in any ballpark.

Walter Kimmich, who once lived in Turtle Creek and did a lot of playing around here didn’t look so good. He went to short in the fourth taking Heinie Sand’s place and was not there long until he fumbled Wright’s skider off the bat handling and then made a bad throw to complete the play.

Just to prove that not in hitting and speed alone is he great, but can catch an occasional day, Cuyler went as far as the law allowed in the first inning and took Huber’s drive on the dead run. This, too, helped give Kremer confidence.

Old Cy Williams fooled the Pirates who switched their lineup almost out the right field side of the park when he came to bat in the third. There were plenty of alleys but Cy looped a short single over second base and then laughed on his way to first.

Barnhart once more showed that a terrific slump is choking him off. With basehits flying around in the second inning, the best the “Wooden Shoes” could do was strike out.

Baecht should get a medal for bravery for the way he got in front of Carey’s liner in the eighth and deflected it to Huber for an out at first.

Traynor was all over home in the second, coming to the bat for the second time against a new pitcher. Pie got his second hit, a double, off Ulrich, who was in there for a while.

Few expected the sacrifice to enter into such a contest but Kremer did it twice, the first time in the third and again in the fifth, the play completely upsetting the Phils.

Stuffy McInnis should have four hits and would have had not Cy Williams made a nice catch of his drive deep in right in the seventh.

Waner was a shining mark for the Phils. They had him tongue tied, bow-legged and weary in the sixth as Harper and Bentley doubled past him. But he managed to grab hold of Leach’s foul.

Paul’s baserunning was a close second to Baecht’s as he coast had tripped rounding first and then turned a complete somersault in the seventh.

Max Carey’s one hand catch of Cy Williams’ drive in the fifth showed that even though his hitting and baserunning is off the old boy still knows how to play them.

Wright made a lovely play in the third when he went back of second to scoop up Harper’s grounder and throw him out.

Rhyne missed a chance to be in the starring end of a triple play in the third when he grabbed Knight’s liner. Williams was doubled at second but Sand hustled back to first in time to beat the throw.

Nixon grabbed one with a handle on it in the second when he misjudged the mad flight of Traynor’s liner looking triple and held it to a single.

Now that everything is going good, the hitters hitting, the pitcher pitching and the fielders fielding, something should be done about that spot in the standings.

So long as the Giants are being bumped around there seems to be little cause for worry. But maybe the Giants won’t be the contenders—then what?

Champtown Chatter

By Edward F. Balinger

Much Obliged.

If they always had such easy picking Our Pirates would soon get their stride, They’d give every foe a sound licking, And be glad for the old buggy ride.

Such games as that played yesterday at Forbes Field, generally are looked upon by the fans as monotonous affairs, but the loyal home rooter always feels grateful for a victory, regardless of the circumstances under which it was accomplished. The Phils simply had an off day—in fact they have had numerous off days this spring. Their poor showing can be partly blamed upon the weather, for in the east the teams have encountered a great many cold days and few of the players have attained their normal condition. These matters will adjust themselves when the temperature becomes more seasonal and then the outfits will start showing their real class.

Last Monday’s postponement will be played off as part of a double-header on Thursday, August 19, when the Phillies land in Pittsburgh for their farewell series of the season at Forbes Field. They will wind up that engagement on the following Saturday, which means that the two teams must play four games in three afternoons. By that time both rival managers cherish the hope that their players will be going at their real gait and can put up a genuine battle.

Lee Meadows may be sent upon the hill today to tackle his former mates from the City of Brotherly Love and centennials. Claude Willoughby may be his opponent.

The Phillies have a novelty this year in the form of a vocal and string quartet, which has been in demand among the broadcasting stations. Johnny Mokan, former Pirate, who is quite a musician, sings first tenor and plays a banjo—in fact the little outfielder is handy with almost any musical instrument. He was trombonist in a band for several years. Barney Friberg is second tenor and also strums on the banjo. The other two members of the quartet are pitchers, Wayland Dean and Jack Bentley both being ukulele experts. Dean tunes his uke in high tenor and his voice is baritone, while Bentley sings basso profondo.

With the air considerably warmer yesterday, yet not quite mild enough to be comfortable, the attendance at Forbes Field was limited to about 4,000. The Phils will be here today and tomorrow. Friday is an open date on their schedule and they have decided to book no exhibition game, but go direct from Pittsburgh to Chicago and rest up for their four engagements with the Cubs, which are to begin on Saturday.

James C. Isaminger, veteran sport scribe and column humorist with the “Philadelphia Inquirer,” and Harry Roberts of the “Bulletin,” are the war correspondents traveling with the Phils and no doubt it was with heavy hearts that they wired the harrowing details of what happened at the Oakland yard yesterday to their newspapers, but they haven’t abandoned hope that Art Fletcher will soon get his machinery working more smoothly. The Pirates would offer no objection, however, if the brace would be postponed for a couple of days.

Coach Benny Myers was on the job yesterday with his powerful voice, but the Philadelphia loud speaker did not succeed in ruffling the feathers of the world’s champs. Incidentally, it was Benjamin who discovered Pitcher Eddie Baecht, who worked the last five innings of the game and who is pronounced very promising.

1926 newspaper advertisement for Chancellor Cigars, promoting the brand as the world’s largest-selling 10-cent cigar and emphasizing its “50 years” of quality. Distributed By L. Goldsmit Brothers & Co, 932-934 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh PA,