An Atlanta Braves legend is remembered today for a sad reason
A long-ago Atlanta Braves franchise member was immortalized in a poem apt for this day, except that those words are now eclipsed by today’s non-event on what was to be Opening Day.
At the time the ‘saddest of possible words’ were penned, Johnny Evers was a member of the Cubs. Later on, he was a Boston Brave – an ancestor of today’s Atlanta Braves – for parts of four seasons, so we have the right to lay a partial claim to his fame.
This Hall of Famer and former league MVP (with Boston in 1914) had the middle role for a storied set of Cub infielders that a writer for the New York Evening Mail chose to write about in 1910.
Evers occupied the keystone sack position in Chicago from 1902 (full time in 1903) to 1913.
His teammates were Joe Tinker (Cub shortstop from 1902 through 1912) and Frank Chance (catcher starting in 1898, but primary first baseman beginning in 1902 and continuing through 1908… part-time through 1912). Thus this trio was together on the field for most parts of a full decade.
That writer was the acclaimed sportswriter and humor columnist Franklin Pierce Adams, and though he wrote in New York, he was a native of Chicago.
Pierce’s most famous work is entitled ‘Baseball’s Sad Lexicon‘ and begins in this manner:
"These are the saddest of possible words:“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”"
Sad for the opponents, of course, as the Cubs were known for excellent defense, and these infielders were at the heart of it.
Those who research such things have concluded that the ‘Tinker to Evers to Chance’ double play was turned 54 times between 1906 and 1910… this during the heyday of Cubs baseball in their long history. Chicago won 4 pennants and 2 World Series titles in that 5 seasons.
With Boston, Johnny Evers’ MVP crown also came with another World Series win as part of the Miracle Braves of 1914. By 1915, he turned 33 and began fading from the sport… but he’s still remembered.
Today though… 110 years later and with apologies to Mr Pierce… we have a new set of ‘saddest’ words to say: ‘Opening Day: No games today’
The virus is among us and we cannot venture out. We have no joy inside.
It’s Opening Day. There are no games today.
There’s no timetable. There’s no date yet to look forward to. We guess, we wait, we ponder.
It’s Opening Day. There are no games today.
No pop of the glove. No crack of the bat. No smells of hotdogs, popcorn, or peanuts.
No first pitch ceremony, no anthems, no bunting, no roar of the crowd.
It’s Opening Day. There are no games today.
Next. MLB Travel Baseball?. dark
Let’s hold onto hope that Atlanta Braves baseball returns soon. For all of the right reasons.