April 1 (1923)

Scullin Steel, defending champions of the National Challenge Cup (today’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup), sees a 2-0 lead evaporate in the last 25 minutes of regulation and settles for a 2-2 tie with the Patterson (N.J.) Silk Sox in the Cup final before an estimated 15,000 fans at Harrison Field in Harrison, N.J. The game pits Scullin’s lineup of St. Louis players against Patterson’s mostly English squad. Nevertheless, Jim “Dike” Brannigan scores in the 38th minute and Allie Schwarz puts Scullin ahead 2-0 in the 57th minute, with both goals assisted by John Rooney. Despite heroic goalkeeping from Harry “Dutch” Oellermann, Patterson battles back. As a friendly overflow crowd fills the bleachers and others stand four deep on the sidelines, Tommy Dugan makes it 2-1 in the 65th minute on an assist from John “Rabbit” Heminsley. Heminsley ties the match in the 84th minute. Scullin holds off Patterson during 30 minutes of overtime. But in a cruel April Fool’s Day joke, the tie will turn out to be a loss for Scullin. The replay is scheduled for April 8 in the East and key Scullin players already are late for spring training with minor league baseball teams. Brannigan, for example, is a third baseman for the Terre Haute (Ind.) Tots in the Class B Three-Eye League. Oellermann is an outfielder with the Hutchinson (Kan.) Wheat Shockers in the Class C Southwestern League. Rooney plays shortstop for the Ottumwa (Iowa) Cardinals in the Class D Mississippi Valley League. Emmett Muvey is an outfielder for the Mobile (Ala.) Bears in the Class A Southern Association. All but Rooney are starters. Patterson doesn’t have a problem with the date for the replay because Patterson fields mostly English players who don’t double as baseball players. Believing they cannot field a competitive team with so many players leaving for baseball camps, Scullin will opt on April 2 to forfeit the replay when soccer administrators turn down Scullin’s request to play the rematch in St. Louis, much closer to Scullin players’ spring baseball camps.