On August 24, 1906, after the fourth inning in game three of the League Cup series against the Brooklyn Whales, Alfred Gilling complained about back problems and didn’t return to the field. Gilling missed the remaining games, and the medical staff worked hard to cure him so he could step on the field again. Four days later, the Brewers had to decide whether to include Gilling in the Legacy Cup roster.
1906 for Gilling
The second baseman had minor issues throughout the season, but nothing stopped him from playing. Unfortunately, it’s the third time his back has caused problems. This time, it will force him to pause, just like in 1903 when he sat out for three weeks.
Like in the previous year, Gilling’s offense left room for improvement. The only reason Troy Bujak kept fielding Gilling was his defense. Together with Lionel Lyon, the right side of the diamond became unpenetrable.
The rules
Teams can submit their rosters to the commissioner until the day before the series begins. For the League Cup series, the commissioner sends out staff who occupy hotel rooms in the city where the first two games occur. The commissioner traditionally sets up an office two days before the Legacy Cup. This year, Mr. Parker and his entourage booked ten rooms in the new Majestic Hotel on North Broad Street.
The night before the Legacy Cup, team officials and owners attend the Commissioner’s Dinner. The Western League representatives rarely attend this formal event due to a lack of formal wear. The general managers or entrusted staff members must deliver the final roster to a league official one hour before the dinner, which began at 8 pm this year.
Should a club deliver the note too late, the manager will have to use the same players as in the League Cup.
The last-minute decision
On the morning of August 28, team trainer Aaron Bender, who has spent every minute with Gilling since his injury, reported to manager Troy Bujak that Gilling would most likely not be able to contribute to the remainder of the postseason.
Bujak’s staff discussed their options around noon. The candidates for Gilling’s vacant spot in the roster were Rusty Hall, Basil Brown, and Jesse Cockerell. In the afternoon, Bujak decided to call up Jesse Cockerell, the fastest among the three.
A fateful journey
At 6 pm, Jimmy D. Little, son of former Brewers first baseman Dan Little and clerk in the Brewers organization, left the front office to walk two miles to the Majestic Hotel with a sealed envelope.
About halfway to the destination, a group of men confronted him.
“First, I wasn’t sure what was happening,” said the 20-year-old. “When they showed me their knives and batons, I knew I’d be in trouble.”
The young man didn’t recognize the dialect. After he handed over his wallet, the men reached for the envelope and kept shouting, “Give it here!”. A sudden blow threw Little to the ground.
Little woke up with men in suits rather than rags leaning over him. By the time he could tell his employers what had happened, it was already too late.
“Rules apply to everyone.”
At the beginning of the series, people questioned why none of the top candidates sat in the dugout.
After the loss in game one, the Brewers GM Martin Pitsch unveiled the story. “Unfortunate events led to a delay of the roster submission. Criminals robbed our courier. As a result, we submitted a new form at the commissioner’s dinner. But, unfortunately, Mr. Parker decided that rules apply to everyone at any time.”
The police reported no arrests to this date. However, Pitsch wasn’t shy of voicing suspicions.
“Qui bono? Other teams get jealous. I’m surprised nobody has set fire to our ballpark yet. But our courier said they babbled in a weird dialect which must be Minnesotian.”