The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-04
Citv LeQgue Shouting ExceIlent Mound Work
-THEY PLAYED THE GAME NO. 2e- Brown Lost Half Of Index Finger To Become Matty's Greatest Rival
Twenty sixth of a series By HARRY CRIMSON
 NEA Sports Editor


 In his youth, a cornshredder took away half of the index finger of Mordecai Peter Browns powerful right hand to make him the immor- tai Christy Mathewson's greatest l rival.
 Three-Fingered Brown of the Chicago Cubs of the lyrical Tink- CTS to EVers to Chance days pitched with the stump of the index finger and his second and third fingers and thumb, which en- | abled him to hurl peculiarly.
 Miner Brown, so called because he was raised in an Indiana coal mining town, threw straight overland and his best pitch was one of the. widest curves that ever hoodwinked a batSman. It broke out and down to a right-hand bat ter, in and down to a left-hand hitter. The stub of the index finger permitted Brown to put more spin on the sphere.
 The opposition was everlasting ly pounding the ball into the ground-to Evers, to Tinker, to Chance, not to mention Jimmy SheCkard and Brown himself. Brown was plenty swift enough and had such wide repertoire and fine control that he could come in with the unexpected pitch which was always to the batters weakness, or at least to his weak side, if any.
 Originally third baseman Brown was a fifth infielder.
 Brown, who stood 5 feet II and weighed 18O pounds, was fast on his feet good switch hitter. EACH START A MATCH GAME
 Brown had the heart of Battling Nelson and, because he was such a great competitor, drew the tougher assignments. Nearly every start he made for the Cubs from 1906 through 1911, during which time he won from 20 to 29 engagements, was match game.
 Brown tackled MatheWson 24 times, won on 13 occasions. Nine of Browns victories over Matty and the Giants came consecutive " bCUWCCll OhllC lllN oCUOUCI 0, 1908, the year of Fred Merkle's fa- nous boner and the historic play off in which Miner conquered Big Six.
 It was during this stretch that the Hoosier acquired the enviable reputation as the conqueror of 1 Matty.
 Si Sanborn, old baseball writer, in 1908 called Brown the Royal Rescuer, because of his capacity as a fireman. Frequently he would enter the box without having been in the bullpen.
 Brown also could have been called the Great Eliminator that season, when he handled 108 chances sans a slip in working 27 complete and in IT incomplete games Brown cancelled the Pi- rates chances, Oct. 4.
 Four days later at the Polo Grounds, he did some royal res cuing to ruin the Giants hopes Succeeding Jack Pfeister ip the first inning of the play-of of the Sept. B game, he once more trimmed Matty, AZ. The Cubs outlook for making it three championships in row did not seem bright as they be- gan their final eastern swing. On Sept. 22, the day before Merkle forgot to touch second, Brown was credited with two victories over the men of John McGraW, 4-3, 3-1. He went two and tWo-thirds innings relieving Orval Overall in curtain raiser, travelled route in the night cap.
 BROWN WAS IRON MAN, TOO
 Brown lost to Hooks Wiltse, 5-4, Sept 24, but copped next four. After toiling Oct, g, he was on job again, Oct. 10 and 13 against De- troit in World Series. He was in nine games in 21 days, so, you see was something of an Iron Man.
 Following singles by Charley OLeary and Sam Crawford in fourth game of World Series, Brown outguessed Tyrus Ray mond Cobb when Georgia Peach bunted, forced OLeary at third, headed of rally.
 Brown turned in three World Series shutouts, blanked the White Sox in 1906, the Tigers in '07 and 'O8, bagged two games the latter autumn, won five and lost four in four sets, rounded out by the 10 edition.
 Brown won 186 games for the Cubs from '04 until he moved to Cincinnati in 13. He won 239 and lost 13l in IA years in the majors
 He had five one-hit games in the National league, one in two years spent in the Federal and one in Chicago city series.
 He copped Il straight games in 'O6 had 52 shutouts in National and four in Federal.
 With Mordecai Brown carrying the bulk of the pitching burden, the Cubs not only won four pen nants and two world champion ships in five campaigns, but narrowly missed making it six straight flags.
 Three fingers were enough - and then some.
 NEXT: Slide, Kelly, SLIDE.