Today in 1913 - The Brews Even the Series

The Brewers had an off day on October 15th, but that isn't too suggest that they were idle. There were preparations to be made; outfielder John Beall, who had previously played for Denver, made it known to his teammates that he was engaged. Beall planned to marry one Miss Jane Edgett, originally of New York but now residing in the Mile High city, before the game on October 16th. Coming on the heels of the marriage of Agnes Havenor to new Brewer president Al Timme, it must have seemed as though Cupid was a baseball fan.

With the newly-married Beall in left field, the Brewers faced the Grizzlies in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series. Cy Slapnicka took the mound for Milwaukee, while Denver sent in Rufus Gilbert, who had pitched Game 1. Gilbert wanted to make up for what he saw as a lackluster showing on his part in that first game, and thought he could pitch the Grizzlies to a commanding lead.

The Brewers let in a run early on a rare error from player/manager Harry "Pep" Clark at third base. They would come back to tie it at one apiece in the top of the fifth inning, and never relinquished the lead. The result was a 5-3 Brewer victory, and a tied series.

The Denver News had high praise for the Brewers' skipper:

Harry Clark, the mananger and captain of the Brewers, handles his team along the lines followed by Connie Mack of the world's champions, the Athletics of Philadelphia. Every man on the team is his personal friend and he depends upon their justness to make them conform to natural baseball rules. Clark has every player taking a personal interest in the way the team is conducted, and listens patiently to every suggestion, generally following the side which wins out in a practical argument. In this way every player takes a general interest in the team and the harmony is so noticeable that the argument in favor of Clark's method of running a ball team has a splendid exponent in the success of the Brewers last season. Clark's method has obviated the appearance of any grouch, and players who have been noted for their sulky dispositions take everything with good nature under Clark. It certainly is a great boost for Milwaukee's general manager, and well deserved.

It was an echo of the kudos given Clark around the baseball world when the Brewers clinched the pennant.

The Brewers' performance in Game 4 stirred some optimism in the Milwaukee Journal's columnist "Brownie", who proclaimed that "it looks as if (the Brewers) are going to pull it off in the same manner in which they won the American association flag."

Only time would tell. Friday, October 17th was another off day, then games were scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. If Brownie's prediction was to come true, it could happen as soon as then.