Research is a valuable part of writing.
“Wild Bill” Donovan
Often times I’m asked about the ways I find out about the baseball history stories that appear on this site.
Simply put, I read. It’s amazing what can be found online in just a few clicks.
However, there are times when it becomes difficult to read stories that end in tragedy. I’ve experienced that feeling twice this week as I’ve looked into the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 1908 and the reviewed story of the 1972 National League pennant being decided on a wild pitch.
In both instances, the pitcher on the wrong side of the celebrations suffered a terrible fate.
In 1908, Bill Donovan was on the mound in a losing effort for the Detroit Tigers as he lost to the Cubs 2-0 in the fifth and final contest of the World Series.
A year later, Donovan would become the first player in the baseball history to lose two consecutive decisive games in World Series play as the Tigers fell to the Pittsburgh.
In addition to a pair of stints with the Tigers, Donovan also pitched for the Washington Senators, Brooklyn Superbas and New York Yankees in his career from 1898 to 1918 as he compiled a record of 185-139.
The right-hander pitched for the Tigers from 1903 to 1912 and hurled in three straight Fall Classics from 1907 to 1909 in which he went 1-4 in six appearances.
A native of Massachusetts, he led the National League in victories with a 25-25 mark with Brooklyn in 1901. His best year with the Tigers was in 1907 when he was 25-4.
Donovan would become a manager for the Yankees and later the Philadelphia Phillies. He was managing in the minors with New Haven when he died in 1923.
On Dec. 9, Donovan was on a train headed to Chicago. According to a story Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the wreck occurred in Forsyth, New York. The engineer of the train admitted to being 15 minutes behind schedule. The incident involved a train hitting a car at a crossing that was later slammed into by another train. Donovan was one of nine people killed in the accident.
The Wild Pitch
As a life-long Cincinnati Reds fan one of my favorite moments as a child was watching game five of the NL playoffs in 1972 on Oct. 11.
That contest was a great example of how the Reds would never be out of a game.
As an 8-year old outfielder, I was torn by the result having to watch two of the favorite teams battle.Roberto Clemente was my favorite player, so I really had a soft spot for the Pirates, who had won the World Series in 1971.
The Reds trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth at Riverfront Stadium.
Cincinnati catcher Johnny Bench started the game-winning rally with an opposite field homer to right of Pirates reliever Dave Giusti. Tony Perez and Denis Menke followed with singles.
George Foster would be inserted as a pinch-runner for Perez and second base. After outs by Cesar Geronimo and Darrel Chaney, Foster was standing at third.
Bob Moose was sent to the mound to face pinch-hitter Hal McRae. Moments later Moose bounced a pitch in front of Manny Sanguillen as Foster raced home to set off a wild celebration.
Moose, who had just turned 25-years old two days before his fateful throw, was in his sixth season with the Pirates. In 1972, he was 13-10 with a save in his only relief appearance during the regular season.
Perhaps his best season was in 1969 when he had a 14-3 record, while tossing a no-hitter against the New York Mets on Sept. 20.
By early 1974, Moose was in trouble physically. According to an United Press International story from September of 1975, Moose had part of rib removed to due to a blood clot. At that time, he was finally back with the Pirates as they were headed for the NL East Division crown.
In 1976, Moose was in his 10th season with the Pirates. He would finish with a 3-9 record and appear in 53 games with 10 saves.
That would turn out to be his last year. Just a few weeks after the season ended, Moose died in an auto accident on his way to Bill Mazeroski‘s golf course on his 29th birthday on Oct. 9.