The Chicago Daily News noted the day Charles Webb Murphy gave up on the idea of his Chicago Cubs winning the 1913 National League pennant.
The local papers had counted the Cubs out for weeks; Murphy hung on until they were mathematically eliminated on September 19:
“Murphy today drew down the advertisement he has been running in the local papers: ‘The Cubs may yet cop the pennant.’”
One of Murphy’s ads
The paper pointed out that they could finish no better than second, but said to do so, “the Cubs will need the services of an earthquake.”
Webb didn’t get his earthquake and quickly found himself at the center of a major scandal just outside the West Side Grounds as the Cubs limped to a third place finish.
The Cubs’ neighbor, Cook County Hospital became the subject of a large-scale corruption investigation that hit the papers just as Webb’s ads were disappearing.
West Side Grounds, Cook County Hospital is visible beyond the grandstand
An investigation ordered by Cook County Board President Alexander Agnew McCormick had revealed that the hospital’s warden, Henry L. Bailey had, according to The Chicago Inter Ocean, allowed politically connected county residents who could afford medical services to receive treatment for free—he was also accused, but cleared, of pocketing the profits derived from selling corpses for medical research.
On September 22, The Chicago Tribune reported a new charge:
“The investigation will also be directed into the alleged exchange of season tickets to the National League baseball games for free medical attention and medicine for indisposed ballplayers. Investigators have brought in evidence that indicating to them that the million dollar baseball club of Charles Webb Murphy received the same solicitous care as did those undeserving ones who entered the free wards on the personal cards of politicians.”
The Tribune said “a number” of passes “found their way” into the hands of hospital administrators.
Murphy immediately denied that any of his players received free treatment.
Charles Webb Murphy
Within a day, The Chicago Evening Post said otherwise:
“The hospital authorities admitted treating members of the Cubs’ team without charge. President Murphy said no ballplayer of his team had ever been treated free at the hospital.
“The records of the hospital show among the charity patients a man named John Evers, American, baseball player, treated for two weeks and discharged from the hospital much improved.
“Another man named Henry Zimmerman, American, baseball player, was entered as a charity patient in the institution several times.
“Another page in the record bore the name of James Sheckard who was treated gratis for a broken finger.”
Johnny Evers
Additionally, The Tribune alleged that “a number of ballplayers had photographs taken of their injuries at no cost.” The paper said x-rays usually cost between $10 and $25, and said it was difficult to say exactly how many players received free x-rays because many names and patient records were falsified, but quoted one record which included a payment waiver and said:
“For Mr. Murphy, by personal order of Henry L. Bailey.”
Murphy dug his heels in and told the papers none of his players received free hospital care.
From New York, Frank Chance took the opportunity to contradict the denials of the owner who he had spent most of 1912 feuding with before being dismissed and sent to the Yankees , telling The Daily News:
“Whenever a Cub player was injured it was customary to go over to the County Hospital and be cared for. I couldn’t attempt to say how many x-ray examinations have been made of the players there. Murphy was always friendly to the officials at the institutions.”
Webb became an early example of waiting out the news cycle,
He never backed down. Never admitted that his players had received free services and the story disappeared later in the fall of 1913. Forgotten forever by the time Murphy sold his interest in the Cubs to to Charles Phelps Taft before the 1914 season.
Baseball History Daily 
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