pmeares17
07-31-2001, 01:43 AM
1908: The Merkle game costs the Giants
The New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs finished the regular season with identical 98-55-1 records and needed to play a decisive makeup game to determine the National League championship for 1908 due to a play that has been termed Merkle's Boner.
In a Sept. 23 Cubs-Giants game with runners on first and third and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, New York's Al Bridwell delivered an apparent game-winning hit. When fans stormed the field, Fred Merkle, who was on first, retreated to the dugout and failed to touch second base. The Cubs eventually retrieved the ball and doubled up Merkle at second. Since order could not be restored, the game was declared a 1-1 tie.
The "Merkle Game" was replayed Oct. 8 with Chicago posting a 4-2 victory. The Cubs advanced to the World Series and defeated Detroit to become the first team to ever win consecutive world championships.
The New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs finished the regular season with identical 98-55-1 records and needed to play a decisive makeup game to determine the National League championship for 1908 due to a play that has been termed Merkle's Boner.
In a Sept. 23 Cubs-Giants game with runners on first and third and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, New York's Al Bridwell delivered an apparent game-winning hit. When fans stormed the field, Fred Merkle, who was on first, retreated to the dugout and failed to touch second base. The Cubs eventually retrieved the ball and doubled up Merkle at second. Since order could not be restored, the game was declared a 1-1 tie.
The "Merkle Game" was replayed Oct. 8 with Chicago posting a 4-2 victory. The Cubs advanced to the World Series and defeated Detroit to become the first team to ever win consecutive world championships.