Random Game Callback, July 16, 1909

Ed_Summers

"In the longest game of its kind in the history of the American League both then and now, the last place Washington Senators and first Detroit Tigers met at Bennett Park in Detroit and played an 18-inning 0-0 tie halted because of darkness. The two-time defending AL champion Tigers, managed by Hughie Jennings, were a star-filled squad led by Ty Cobb. Ed Summers got the start on the mound for Detroit. Washington, managed by Joe Cantillon, was a terrible squad that had never finished higher than sixth in its history. The only real star on Washington was 21-year old flamethrower Walter Johnson. And he didn't pitch in this game. The starting pitcher was lefty Dolly Gray. Gray was pitching the game of his life, holding the Tigers to just one hit, a leadoff single in the first by leftfielder Matty McIntyre, before leaving the game in the ninth with a strain in his side. (Probably what we would call an oblique strain in this day.) Bob Groom came in to relieve and finished up."
The Griddle

1909 Washington

"July 16, 1909: Bennett Park, Detroit. At 3:30, Oron Edgar 'Kickapoo Ed' Summers took the mound for the Tigers against Washington's rookie hurler Dolly Gray. 18 innings. At 6:45 pm, home plate umpire John Kerin called the game because of darkness, much to the displeasure of both players and spectators. For 3 hours and 15 minutes, neither team crossed the plate in the first 18-inning scoreless game of the 20th century. Summers went the distance, pitching the equivalent of two games. He surrendered only 7 hits with 2 walks (one of which was intentional) and 10 K. Gray pitched 8 innings, yielding only one hit while walking one. He didn't strike out a batter. He was taken out in the ninth when he apparently tore a muscle in his side while pitching to the leadoff batter. Dolly's replacement, Bob Groom, gave up 5 hits, walked 6, and struck out 8 in 10 innings."
Golden Rankings