ON THIS DATE (June 23, 1917) ...
Ernie Shore took a place in the Hall of Fame a with a
perfect game in the curtain-raiser of the twin bill with Washington at Fenway Park,
beating them with his own perfect game, 4 to 0.
It was the best pitching seen in
this city since 1904 when Cy Young put over a similar feat, the only
difference being that Cy pitched to every batter, while Shore did not get into the
game until after Babe Ruth, who had
walked Ray Morgan, the first batter, had been thrown out after
punching Umpire Brick Owens.
Babe with his temper beyond
control pitched four balls to
Morgan and accused Owens of missing two of them. “Get in there and pitch,” ordered Owens. “Open your eyes and keep them open,” chirped Babe. “Get in and pitch or I will run you out of there,” was the comeback of the arbiter. “You run me out and I will come in and bust
you on the nose,” Ruth threatened. “Get out of here right now,” said Brick.
Then in rushed Ruth and he
punched Owens. Pinch Thomas tried to prevent him from reaching Owens, who had not removed his mask, but Babe started swinging both hands. The left missed the arbiter, but the right struck him behind the left ear. Manager
Jack Barry and several
policemen had to drag Babe off the field.
With a brief warm-up Shore
stepped in and, after Sam Agnew had thrown out Morgan on his
attempted steal of second, Ernie just breezed along calmly and
retired every batter he faced.
Shore was indebted to Everett
Scott and Duffy Lewis for making his record. Shore robbed Jamieson of
a hit in the first when a hard hit ball was deflected by Shore, Scott
being obliged to travel fast. However, he made a one hand pick-up and
tossed out the runner. In the seventh Lewis went back to onto the
cliff for a bang from Morgan and in the final frame came in like
lightning and speared one that Henry had planted in short left.
Shore fanned only two and it did not seem as if he was working hard.
Barry closed the game with a grand play on a swinging bunt by pinch
hitter Menoskey.
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