Chicago's Most Wanted™ by Laura L. Enright

Author:Laura L. Enright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
Published: 2005-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

7. MERKLE’S BONER

The Cubs have actually won some pennants and even a few World Series, but one victory that led to a pennant remains controversial. It was September 23, 1908: Cubs vs. New York Giants, bottom of the ninth, game tied 1–1. With men on first and third, and two outs, Giants batter Al Bridwell hit a line drive to the outfield. Figuring that the game was won with the man on third heading home, Giant Fred Merkle, the man on first, confidently headed to the clubhouse as the field filled up with cheering fans who assumed the same thing. According to umpire Bob Emslie, Cub Joe Tinker came forward and told him that Merkle had never run the hit out to second. When the ball was hit, Emslie fell to the ground to avoid being hit by it so he hadn’t seen the play. But fellow ump Hank O’Day seemed to support the story. According to a rule never enforced before, each base runner must proceed to the next base if there is a force. Previously, umpires ignored other base runners when a winning run scored. With Merkle’s status technically an out, the winning run from third didn’t count.

The Cubs had found themselves in similar circumstances at the end of their September 4 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that case, it was Warren Gill breaking for the clubhouse without advancing to second after the winning hit had been struck. Johnny Evers, second baseman for the Cubs, claimed a force out on that play but Hank O’Day, umping that day as well, didn’t buy the force-out story and the score remained 1–0 Pirates. A protest was filed with the league office, and while the Pittsburgh victory was allowed to stand, it was acknowledged that the protest had merit, and the rule was enforced from then on. The September 23 game against New York had a few extra problems. First, it was growing late and growing dark. There was little likelihood that the game could continue even if so ordered. Also, according to Johnny Evers, he called to center fielder Fred Hofman to throw the ball to him, but by that time the crowd was swarming onto the field. In the confusion, the throw went over Evers’s head, hitting shortstop Joe Tinker on the back before being lost in the crowd. Realizing Merkle’s error, New York coach Joe McGinnity ran after the ball in an effort to keep it from the Cubs, and managed to throw it into the crowd around the shortstop position while Tinker was trying to take it away from him. The ball got back to Evers after pitcher Floyd Kroh (who hadn’t participated in the game) knocked the ball away from a spectator. Kroh walked it over to Evers who shouted out to umpire Hank O’Day and lifted the ball above the heads of the crowd to show him he had possession and affirm that he was on the second base bag. It was Merkle’s misfortune

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