ON THIS DATE (June 21, 1916) ...
George "Rube" Foster broke into a select set, no-hitting the New York
Yankees 2 to 0 and pitching the first no-hitter ever tossed at Fenway
Park.
While Foster had a heap of stuff, an airtight defense was of
inestimable value to him in attaining the honor that is the ambition
of every pitcher. Foster blazed through nine innings with all the
confidence in the world. Not one of the Yankees saw first base until
the sixth when, after one was out, Les Nunamaker walked. In the
seventh Foster passed Hugh High and in the eighth Lee Magee, but in
the base-hit line there was absolutely nothing doing. It was not
until the game was about two-thirds over that all the fans realized
that Rube was holding the Yankees hitless, and after this interest
increased. There were cheers every inning as he walked in, but there
were moments when the fans sat silent, fearing that some Manhattan
slugger would puncture Foster’s hopes.
There were other heroes in the affair besides Rube.
Duffy Lewis drove in both tallies made by the Red Sox, and there was
some sweet hitting by Harry Hooper and Hal Janvrin. The Sox banged
out eight hits and but for sensational work by Lee Magee, Hugh High
and Gil Gilhooley, Yankee starter, Bob Shawkey, would have been in a
lot of trouble.
Foster was pitching for a no-hit game and the men behind him worked hard. Walker, Hooper and Scott made some great catches, Scotty rushing out near the foul line in left in the fifth to get a rap from Pipp, and Hobby made two pretty plays at the
initial station. Foster himself was conspicuous in the fielding line. He went over near the third base line in the fifth and got a whack from Baker and shot the ball high to first, Hobby making a one-hand catch. The second last put-out of the game was a play worth seeing.
Gil Gilhooley
slammed the pill down the first base line, Hobby stopping it way behind first and Foster taking the ball for the put out while he was galloping to first.
