March 18 (1928)

The Ben Millers dominate the first half but give up two goals in the second and lose 2-0 to the Chicago Bricklayers in the Western final of the National Challenge Cup (today’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup). A paid crowd of 9,087 at Sportsman’s Park sees the Millers, the 1920 Cup winners and 1926 runners-up, take over the game after the first 10 minutes. Fans call for a penalty kick after a cross from Tal Mulroy hits the hand of Chicago’s Tom Scott in the penalty area. Scott’s hand is “extended straight down beside his leg,” according to Dent McSkimming in the next day’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and referee Edward Donaghy refuses to call a foul. A shot from the Millers hits the goalpost two minutes later, and another early in the second half also rebounds off the post. The Bricklayers strike twice in the 71st and 74th minutes on goals by Willie McLean and Pete Phillips. The victory advances the Bricklayers to the National Challenge Cup finals, where they will lose to the New York Nationals. McLean, who helped beat the Millers in the 1928 Western final, will migrate to St. Louis for the 1931-32 season to join Stix, Baer and Fuller. He will play on four consecutive National Challenge Cup finalists in St. Louis, including three that win the Cup.