Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies to Honor Highest Scoring MLB Game Ever

This season, Major League Baseball will celebrate the 90th birthday of one of the coolest, yet least talked about feats in baseball history — the highest scoring big league game ever.

Played between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, the slugfest on Aug. 25, 1922, at Cubs Field was a spectacle to say the least.

In this slideshow, I will reveal the best and worst performers in the 26-23 Cubs victory on that hot Chicago day.

Phillies Best: Russ Wrightstone (Third Base)

By all accounts, Pennsylvania native Russ Whitestone was a fairly good big league hitter.

During his nine-year career, this utility infielder hit .297 with 60 home runs and 425 RBI. But on this day, Whitestone was Philadelphia’s best performer, as he went 4 for 7 with 4 RBI.

Phillies Best: Bevo LeBourveau (Center Field)

Wow, this name is deep. Funny story on this one.

Bevo LeBourveau (not to be confused with Bell Biv DeVoe) actually replaced Cy Williams in center field after Williams went 0-3 on the day.

Williams was the only player of the regulars on both sides not to register a hit.  But LeBourveau, a California native, ended up going 3-4 on the day with two RBI.

LeBourveau went on to have a relatively unheralded career in the big leagues. But on this day he played like a legend.

Phillies Worst: Jimmy Ring (Pitcher)

This was a day for Jimmy Ring to forget about, and his stats were cringe-worthy. 

Ring gave up 16 runs on 12 hits and five walks in just 3.1 innings of work.

Strangely, Ring’s defense seemed to take the day off at Cubs Field, as only six were earned. Ring bounced back, though, and had a 12-year pitching career with the Reds, Phillies, Giants and Cardinals.

While Ring’s career was by no means extraordinary, he proved a workhorse in the big leagues. In 1923 for example, Ring pitched 304.1 innings.

That may have been the norm in those days, but 300 innings pitched in one season would be unheard of today. The last pitcher to achieve this feat was Steve Carlton in 1980 (304 innings).

Cubs Best: Hack Miller (Left Field)

Already enjoying the best season of his short five-year career, Hack Miller played a near perfect game this day, going 4-of-5 with six RBI.

Miller finished the 1922 season with a .352 average. He also finished third in the National League batting title race behind the great Rogers Hornsby (.401) and his teammate Ray Grimes.

Miller would go on to have a great year in 1923, before declining sharply and finally retiring from the game.

Cubs Best: Cliff Heathcote (Center Field)

This Pennsylvania native did have a perfect day.

As the Cubs' leadoff hitter, Heathcote went 5-for-5 with four RBI.

But a bad day for Heathcote, who didn't even start the season as a Cub. Earlier that year, Heathcote was part of one of the most unusual trades in baseball history. Between games of a doubleheader, Heathcote was traded by the Cardinals to the Cubs.

Heathcote went on to enjoy a 15-year career, playing outfield for the Cardinals, Cubs, Reds and finally the same team he beat up on this day in history.

Cubs Worst: Uel Eubanks (Pitcher)

Talk about a rough outing!

Eubanks' stat line was one to hide. Recording only two outs, this Texas hurler gave up eight runs on just three hits.

But there is more than meets the eye to this nightmare day. Of the eight runs, only four were earned. He walked three. Sadly, this would be the last game Eubanks would pitch in the major leagues.