Edward Achorn

(A daily diary of the greatest season a major-league pitcher ever had.)

BOSTON — The betting runs 2-to-1 against Providence, as the gamblers figure Old Hoss Radbourn will be too weak to pitch again, and the newspapers announce that Eddie Conley will start today’s crucial contest between the pennant contending Providence Grays and Boston Beaneaters.

One man who has bet a whopping $6,000 on Providence approaches the bench and begs Charlie to start the game instead, Grays shortstop Arthur Irwin recalls.

“Sure,” Radbourn responds. “I’m all right … I’ll pitch for you.”

He informs Bancroft that he will start rather than Conley, “as he believes he can hold out against any and all League teams with the superb field support he is receiving,” the Providence Evening Telegram reports.

Hoss strides to the box for his third game in four days, facing a slightly more rested Charlie Buffinton before a crowd of 4,754.

For six innings, the game is scoreless, both pitchers superb. Then Boston’s luck cracks, as Providence scores four runs on scratch hits and errors. Though Buffinton surrenders three fewer hits than Radbourn’s seven, Hoss holds on to win, 4-0.

He has now pitched 29 innings in the series without allowing an earned run. And the Grays hold a four-game lead in the standings over the Beaneaters.

“There is a tradition among the oldest inhabitants that Boston once had a baseball team that could win a game,” the Boston Post observes with sour sarcasm.

RADBOURN’S RECORD: 32-9

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