Let's play three

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - The first tripleheader in major league baseball history was played on this date in 1890. Yes, you read it right - TRIPLEHEADER, with a "T". You have to practically be a senior citizen to recall regularly scheduled doubleheaders, but on this date in 1890 the Brooklyn Bridegrooms played the Pittsburgh Alleghenys three games and won all three - 10-9, 3-2 and 8-4. (More on the team names later)

It's a wonder the players had anything left for two more games after the frenzied finish to game one. Here's what happened; Brooklyn had little trouble with Pittsburgh for the first nine innings. The Bridegrooms were up 10-0 with only three outs to go. Finally, Pittsburgh came alive. They scored 6 quick runs in the top of the ninth. Brooklyn remained in the control with a 10-6 lead and two outs, but Pittsburgh loaded the bases. Third baseman Doggie Miller blasted one to deep left field clearing the bases, making it 10-9. As Brooklyn left fielder Darby O'Brien chased the ball down Miller kept running. O'Brien hit the relay man, shortstop Germany Smith, as Miller rounded third. Smith fired a strike to the catcher. Miller was tagged out inches before he would have tied the game. Brooklyn squeaked by. One game down, two to go.

As for the names, The Brooklyn Bridegrooms eventually became the Brooklyn Dodgers, who later moved to Los Angeles, but the franchise went through several other nicknames early on, including the Robins and Superbas. The Alleghenys are the current Pittsburgh Pirates.

Contributing Sources:
The New York Times, September 2, 1890
Baseball team names
September 1, 1890

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Happy Birthday, Pam