By Leonard Gettelson

    When reference is made to hurlers pitching both games of a doubleheader, the two who come to mind most readily are Joe McGinnity and Ed Reulbach. Iron Man McGinnity achieved this feat five times since 1900, winning three twinbills for the Giants in the one month of August 1903. His other two efforts were for the Orioles in1901 and he split both times.

    Reulbach of the Cubs is remembered, of course, because he was the only hurler to toss shutouts in both his efforts on September 26, 1908. The Dodgers fell 5-0 and 3-0. But how good was his overall performance compared to the 23 others who won both games since 1900; or even the 14 others who pitched two complete games but not winning both, or either? In the two games, Ed gave up a total of 8 hits, 5 walks, and fanned 10. Each of these efforts was bettered individually by other pitchers.

    In fact, another Ed from Chicago, Big Ed Walsh of the White Sox, had a better overall performance in his twin triumph over the Red Sox just three days after the Reulbach victories. In the two games, he gave up only 1 run, 7 hits, 1 walk, and fanned 15, which is the top mark. The one walk was achieved by two other pitchers, including Grover Alexander twice.

    Another great dual performance took place that same week when Ed Summers of the Tigers beat the Athletics 7-2 and 1-0 in 10 innings on Claude Rossman's homer. This was a case of a pitcher getting better as he went along, as Summers gave up only two hits in that extra-inning game, and did not issue a base on balls. He took on the extra duty because of his special ability to beat the A's. He had a string of seven straight wins over the Mackmen.

    Who gave up the fewest hits in a twinbill? Fred Toney, the big righthander of the Reds on July 1, 1917, and Herman Bell, rookie of the Cardinals on July 19, 1924. Toney gave up three hits and one walk in each game. He felt so strong after the first contest that he told his manager he would work the second game as well. His manager was Christy Mathewson, who had never pitched two games himself, but who was grateful for Toney's offer, because the staff was severely depleted at that time. In fact, several days before, Hod Eller had pitched a doubleheader, winning one game.

    Herman Bell was an unknown quantity for the Cardinals in 1924.  He was not used much and was well rested. He did not give up a hit to the Braves until the eighth inning of the first game and went five in the second before he was touched. He gave up a total of six hits and two walks and moved right along. The times were 1:31 and 1:17. Bell won only three games that first season, and two came in this double-header.

    Why do pitchers work both games of a twinbill? There are various reasons. We have already alluded to depleted pitching staffs and a special ability against the opposing club. McGinnity could do it because he had an easy underhand delivery. Ed Walsh was used to working hard under normal conditions. Doc Scanlan of the Dodgers did it more as a stunt on the last day of the 1905 season. George Mullin of the Tigers didn't think about it until he saw that the opposing pitcher in the second game was a green rookie. Mullin thought he would have an easy time of it, but it didn't turn out that way. Outpitched, he was lucky to win 4-3 with a Tiger rally in the ninth.

    Did a pitcher ever work the second game after losing the first?  Several times it has happened. On June 25, 1903, Wiley Piatt of the Braves lost to the Pirates 1-0 in a very well pitched game. In the second game he lost 5-3, and became the only hurler to lose two complete games in a day in this century. On July 21, 1918, the Athletics were short staffed in that World War I season. John Watson, who pitched two doubleheaders for the club that summer, lost the first game to the Indians 3-2 in 11 innings. He still came back and pitched the second, a 5-5 tie called after 8 innings to let the A's catch a train. On August 31 of that year, he was roughed up with 12 hits in losing the first game, but came back to shut out the Red Sox 1-0 on 1 hit in the second game. On August 13, 1921, while with the Braves, he finally won two games. Outside of McGinnity, he was the only hurler to work three doubleheaders in this century.

    Kid Nichols pitched and easily won the first game for the Cardinals on September 11, 1904. He also worked the second game, but was raked for 14 hits. He didn't withdraw, however, because he was also the manager of the Cards and didn't want to waste a new pitcher. And Carl Mays didn't neglect his hitting while pitching a doubleheader win over the Athletics in 19 18. He collected 5 hits in 6 trips.

    All the trivia experts know that in 1926 Emil Levsen of the Indians was the last hurler to pitch two complete game victories. But who was the last one to pitch two complete games? It was Jack Scott of the Phils the next year on June 19, 1927. He won 3-1 and lost 3-0 against the Reds. At 35, he was the oldest of the double duty performers. Several have tried to do it in the last half century, and Don Newcombe of the Dodgers came closest on September 6, 1950. He beat the Phils 2-0 in the first game and was trailing 2-0 in the 7th of the nightcap when he retired. On July 20, 1973 Wilbur Wood started both games against the Yankees, but was knocked out in each game, losing both.

    It really isn't fair to talk about iron man pitchers who pitched two full games in one day without some reference to those who pitched 18 innings or longer in the same game. After all, Joe Oeschger and Leon Cadore nearly pitched the equivalent of three games in one afternoon with their 26-inning 1-1 tie on May 1, 1920. And there were 37 others who worked 18 or more innings in one game since 1900. Just like the twinbill hurlers, almost all of them were of an earlier generation. The last hurler to pitch as many as 18 innings was Vern Law of the Pirates on July 19, 1955, and he failed to get a decision.

    It is interesting to note that some of the same pitchers who pitched doubleheaders also worked in marathon games-Reulbach, Summers, Waddell, and Dixie Davis. Who performed best in the long games? Well, you have to give credit to Oeschger, who gave up 9 hits and 1 run in 26 innings. However, Carl Hubbell pitched 18 shutout innings, giving up only 6 hits and no walks.

    Carried below are first the hurlers who pitched two complete games in one afternoon, and then those who pitched 18 or more innings in one game.

Pitchers Winning Two Complete Games in One Day Since 1900

* 10 Innings
Other Pitchers Hurling Two complete Games in One Day

* 6 innings       + 11 innings    # 8 innings