The Pinch Hitter Who Batted Twice in One At Bat

Harry “Moose” McCormick. Picture credits: Centerfield Maz

There have been more than one million major league baseball games played in the past 150 years. In all those games, there are some things that have never happened.

No batter has ever hit five home runs in a game, though that could change in this homer-happy era. There have never been two unassisted triple plays in a game, or two batters hitting for the cycle.

Some things are truly one-in-a-million events.

Baseball history buffs are familiar with the 26-inning game that ended in a tie, in which both starting pitchers went all the way (see the blog about that game on this site), and the one in which two pitchers matched nine-inning no-hitters before one of them lost in the tenth (the subject of a future blog).

And then there’s the singular event of Friday, April 25, 1913, when New York Giants’ pinch hitter Harry “Moose” McCormick went 1 for 2 in one at bat. That’s our story for today.

Alexander vs Demaree

The Phillies were in New York for a series against John McGraw’s Giants at the Polo Grounds. The teams had played to a tie on Wednesday.

On Friday, before a crowd of 10,000, Grover Alexander and Giants rookie Al Demaree were locked in another tie, this one scoreless after nine innings. 

Demaree issued two walks in the top of the tenth, but nobody scored. In the bottom of the tenth, Phillies manager Red Dooin replaced Killefer as the catcher. Then things happened. Fred Merkle singled.

Buck Herzog singled. Catcher Art Wilson singled. Bases loaded, nobody out.

Bedlam among the Giants’ rooters. McGraw called on Harry “Moose” McCormick, to bat for Demaree. The crowd went wild as the swaggering Moose strode out of the dugout toward home plate like Casey at the Bat.

Even without a name or number on his uniform, they recognized McGraw’s 5-foot-11, 180-pound go-to pinch hitter, who had batted .375 in that role for the 1912 pennant winners.

The Rules

According to the rules in effect at the time, when a team notified the home plate umpire of a pinch hitter, the umpire was required to turn and face the grandstand behind home plate and announce the change to the fans. (He was subject to a $6 fine if he failed to do so.)

Play was suspended until he turned back to home plate and signaled for play to resume. The home plate umpire was respected veteran Bill Klem. 

Klem turned toward the grandstand, but because of the noise of the fans, he paused, waiting for the cheering to subside so he could be heard.

McCormick was standing in the left-hand batters box. Alexander waited on the mound. Dooin remained crouched behind the plate.

The timing of the order of events that followed was not reported, and several versions, some of them fanciful, were reported in New York and Philadelphia papers. Perhaps the most reliable appeared in the Philadelphia Record:

“As is customary, Klem turned to the grandstand, removed his mask, and bawled, ‘McCormick batting for Demaree.’ The last syllable out, he began to put on his mask. Just at this critical moment, Dooin signed to Alexander to pitch, supposing Klem had turned around.”

Alexander threw a pitch. McCormick lined it into left field. Merkle scored. The game was over. 

McCormick raced to first base and kept on going, headed for the clubhouse steps in center field of the U-shaped Polo Grounds.

The cheering fans poured out of the lower grandstand onto the field, mingling with their heroes and joining them as they all walked toward center field, the players to their clubhouses and the fans toward the exit gates between the clubhouse stairways.

Except that the players weren’t going anywhere.

Phillies captain Mickey Doolin and other infielders and players in the dugout had rushed at Klem and their manager, Red Dooin, who had been unable to see it, pointing out that Klem was not in position when the ball was hit. Players from both teams watched the conference.

Klem checked the rule book and agreed: Play should not have been resumed before he was ready. McCormick’s hit did not count. He would have to return and bat again.

John McGraw made no fuss. The Giants would still have the bases loaded with no outs and McCormick up.

By this time the field was full of fans. The police, aided by some players, set about herding them back to their seats.

Meanwhile, Moose McCormick was in the Giants’ clubhouse, already under the shower according to some accounts, wondering why his teammates hadn’t joined him in celebration.

Then he heard the voice of Giants pitcher Christy Mathewson calling him from the bottom of the clubhouse steps. Did the fans want him to appear and take a bow? He opened the door enough for Matty to explain what had happened.

A few minutes later McCormick emerged from the clubhouse back in uniform, tightening his belt. When play resumed with the bases full and no outs, he bounced a grounder to first baseman Fed Luderus, who threw home to force Merkle. Dooin threw to first for a double play.

The mighty McCormick had not struck out; he had hit into a double play. The fans groaned. Snodgrass then grounded out.

Neither team scored in the eleventh; the 0-0 game was called because of darkness.

Though unhappy with the result, the 10,000 fans headed home, unaware that they had witnessed something that nobody else would ever see on a baseball field.

(Thanks to SABR member Ed Morton for his research assistance.)