In the waning days of 1929, the Philadelphia Athletics were set to face the Chicago Cubs in the baseball’s annual World Series. With bigtime pitchers Lefty Grove and George Earnshaw (20-6, 2.81 ERA and 24-8, 3.29 ERA that year, respectively), it seemed as though the Atheltics’ postseason rotation was set.

But when the time came to discuss the attack plan for Game 1, it wasn’t Grove or Earnshaw that was called into the manager’s office. Instead, Legendary skipper Connie Mack met with a little known pitcher named Howard Ehmke, who had not been seen in uniform for more almost a month.

It wasn’t the first time that Ehmke had been called in for a conference. Only a few weeks prior, the aging pitcher had met with Mack behind closed doors, to discuss his potential release from the Philadelphia roster. By way of arguing his case, the righthander respectfully pleaded his case.

“All right, Mr. Mack,” he said. “But I’ve always had the ambition to pitch in a World Series. My arm is not what it once was, but I honestly feel there’s one more good game left in it. I’d like a chance to prove it to you.”

And, thanks to a stroke of unprecedented genius, a chance is exactly what he got. Mack told him to go home, and not report back to the team until the first game of the World Series, and not to tell anyone of their plan. He was, however, to attend a late-season series against the Cubs, taking his place anonymously in the seats, surrounded by the Philly fans. This, claimed his his manager, would allow him to study the Chicago hitters in preparation for his surprise start.

When the day came, Ehmke was ready. On October 7, 1929, the tall righthander took the hill at Wrigley Field, to the surprise of all in attendance. The secret was well kept – the pitcher hadn’t even told his wife.

Mack’s gamble worked. The senior hurler kept the Cubs off the board throw eight innings, aided by a particular atmospheric advantage. What the manager had realized was this – with the sea of white shirts that inhabited the Chicago bleachers, Ehmke’s sidearm throwing style would make hitters miserable. How could they identify the tiny white sphere spinning toward them? It would be white on white.

By the last of the ninth, the A’s were up 3-0. The Cubs managed to score once, and put the tying runs on base. But Ehmke reared back and blew away pinch hitter Chick Tolson for his 13th strikeout. It was a World Series record for K’s, and a win for Philadelphia.

The Cubs would go on to lose the series in five games, thanks to the cunning of Philadelphia’s manager.

- Taylor Maxwell

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Tags | 1929, Baseball, Chick tolson, Connie Mack, Howard Ehmke, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, World series October 7 1929, Wrigley Field Chicago cubs