The Baseball Chronicle
September 1881
Edition 10.7
Call Of Duty For Greason
Twenty One Inning Complete Game Deserves Praise
When a team is well out of the pennant race and is simply playing out the string, there are usually two types of players. On the one hand a player may take it easy not risking injury and coasting to the end of the season. Then others play with a sense of pride to finish strong and give the fans their money's worth. Then, as we found out, beyond the two types is John Greason, who put on a fused determination for the 35-51 Detroit club.
On August 30th Greason and the Wolverines hosted the Cincinnati Reds. As has been the case most of the season, Greason and the Detroit club blew a three run lead in the ninth inning and the home fans let their club know how they felt. At the moment, Greason heard the fuss by his own spectators and turned to them saying, "I wont leave this park until we show you all and beat these Reds."
True to his word the left hander kept on throwing and throwing even long after his counter starter George Bradley left the game after 11 innings. Detroit manager Jose Kim contemplated taking out his starter but Greason made it known clearly, that he was not going to stop throwing in this one until the final out was called.
"A pitcher must finish what he has started, "said Greason after the game, "that is the pride of the position I am in"
It took almost 6 hours and 21 minutes as well as 268 pitches before it was finally over. In the 21st Bill Lennon singled and King Kelly scored after a bad throw. Player and spectators immediately sought off Greason and carried him on their arms as many said the hurler could barely lift his arm.
It truly is these acts of heroism that make the game as great as it is. Most of the country had their eyes everywhere other then Detroit where a last place club played another game. But what happened here on a human level says alot of the pride these young men take in the game of baseball.
Matthews Scores Another 20
Worcester Legend Now Has 237 Wins
For the 8th time in his career, Worcester starting pitcher Bobby Mathews has won 20 games in a season. He has the most wins of any pitcher in history with 237 and has now thrown over 3500 innings. Mathews has done all this and has not even turned 30 yet.
After talking his manager into getting back into the starting rotation this season, Mathews and his club as a group had a resurgence and even now with a month to play sit in second place just 3 games back. But Mathews has truly refound his form after winning zero games last season and his consistency as a starter in this league likely wont be seen again.