It had been four straight years of playoff disappointment, but the streak looked like it could extend to half of a decade. For the second consecutive year, Brooklyn and Richmond had battled to a standstill in the Eastern League Cup 2-2. The Western League Champion–a familiar foe from 1901 and 1902–had already been declared with the perpetual Twin City Empire besting the Cleveland team with the best record in the Legacy Baseball League 3-1.
Brooklyn had already pitched Lefty Fain and Cliff Wollett twice in the League Cup and neither was available for the decisive game at the Field of the Whales. The Rifles had parried the Whales attempts to close out the series in Game 4 and carried the momentum into the final game. The Brooklyn locker room was justifiably nervous.
Maybe it was always an obvious choice to Whales’ manager Marques Williams who would take the mound for Brooklyn in Game 5. After all, it had been a long time since 1902, and the number of Whales players that had emerged from the playoff crucible was limited–only the eventual Game 5 battery of catcher Deacon Dunkley and pitcher Chick Benney remained. And so, Williams turned once more to his captain–the man that had twice been named the best pitcher in the Eastern League–to close out the series.
The game began with a cold stare from the mound as the 35 year old hurler watched Rifles shortstop Scud Scranton enter the batters’ box. Benney got the signal from Dunkley, and tried to overpower Scranton with a fastball. Scranton flicked the ball foul as if swatting a fly. Again the signal. Same result. Scranton flashed a cocky smile at the mound–maybe the graying ace had lost what had made him great.
The jawing from the Richmond bench was deafening despite being the visiting team. And, so, the veteran let them know–with some urgency–that such behavior was not going to be tolerated in Brooklyn. Not in 1908.
Benney threw another fastball to Scranton. Or, more accurately, threw another fastball at Scranton. The ball richocheted off of Scranton’s hand, and the star shortstop collapsed to the dirt in pain immediately.
Robley was the first one out of the dugout. “It made sense,” as his teammates would tell it in their renditions later, “he always hated the Whales.” He wasn’t the last, as a sea of maroon poured onto the Field of the Whales, but he was arguably the most effective. He would not take home another Legacy Cup in 1908, but he did leave the playoffs with a trophy–Benney’s top left incisor–and a shiner to call his own.
Pandemonium descended on Brooklyn. The infield was a turbulent sea of navy and maroon. A large portion of the grandstands similarly spilled onto the field.
Rifles’ players would complain for years that Brooklyn law enforcement seemed suspiciously lackadaisical in pulling overly spirited Brooklyn rooters off of them. It took hours to sort out the mess.
Had it not been Game 5, the umpires likely would have called the Game–likely should have called the game. But, when play resumed, standing on the mound for the Whales was Chick. He had a hole in his head and a cocky smile on his face. He was ready to pick up where he left off.
The first pitch to Arvel Payton came in high and tight. “A mistake,” he claimed later, although no one ever really believed him, “after the long delay.” Law enforcement physically prevented Richmond from leaving the dugout this time.
The smile stayed, though. For 9 innings.
Benney struck out 6, walked three, and allowed 2 earned runs. Robley, to his credit went 2 for 3, with an RBI. Brooklyn won 5-4 and handed star starting pitcher Jellybean Jacks his second loss of the League Cup.
Benney was promptly suspended by the Madigan Hall for the Legacy Cup, but Brooklyn still let him lead the victory parade after they bested Twin City 5 games to 1 in the Legacy Cup.