PDA

View Full Version : Merkle's Boner



Perianne
09-28-2016, 12:41 AM
With about five games left in the baseball season, the Cubs have the best record (101 wins). They haven't won a World Series since 1908 and haven't even been in a World Series since 1945. Is this the Cubs' year?

This is an amusing story about how the Cubs got to their last winning World Series.

Merkle's Boner


On September 23, 1908, the Cubs and New York Giants were involved in a tight pennant race. The two clubs were tied in the bottom of the ninth inning at the Polo Grounds, and N.Y. had runners on first and third and two outs when Al Bridwell singled, scoring Moose McCormick from third with the Giants' apparent winning run, but the runner on first base, rookie Fred Merkle, left the field without touching second base. As fans swarmed the field, Cub infielder Johnny Evers retrieved the ball and touched second. Since there were two outs, a forceout was called at second base, ending the inning and the game. Because of the tie the Giants and Cubs ended up tied for first place. The Giants lost the ensuing one-game playoff and the Cubs went on to the World Series.

Had Merkle simply tagged second base, the Giants would have been in the World Series instead of the Cubs. The Cubs wound up winning that World Series, their last.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Cubs
also...
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Merkle_Bonehead_Play