Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1916 — MOST REMARKABLE INCIDENT IN BASEBALL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MOST REMARKABLE INCIDENT IN BASEBALL

Fred Merkle sizes up as one of the most remarkable men In baseball. Seven years or so ago he pulls a “boner.” It was a slip of mental cable that would have been excused 99 times out of 100. But that was the hundredth time. Merkle’s misplay cost the New York Giants the championship of the National league and deprived them of a split of the world series gold. And from that day to this he has been the target for sarcasm. For two or three years after that incident his every appearance on the ball field was greeted with hoots. He was jeered at, scoffed at and spoofed wherever he went. He was ridiculed and his name became a synonym for “bonehead.” The treatment accorded Merkle would have broken the spirit of any other man. It would have affected his work to such an extent that not only would he have skidded out of the majors, but would have landed eventually In the baseball scrap heap. It was the sort of treatment that only a man with Iron will—a man filled with the do-or-die spirit—could have submitted to—and lived through. And Merkle Is that man.

Despite Jeers Becomes Btar. For seven years he has remained In the same uniform that he “discredited.” For seven years he has played a brand of baseball that marks him as one of the most valuable cogs in the Giant machine; one of the best first basemen in the land. He has played always to hostile crowds; always before people who were “gunning” for him. He knew that every second he was being watched; that the slightest slip would bring renewed hoots and hisses and jeers. It has been seven years and a bit longer since Merkle pulled his “boner” —and Merkle today is playing a better brand of all-around baseball than he did earlier in his career; playing it in face of open opposition not only abroad but among the home town fans.

“Fred Merkle is the most courageous man that ever donned a baseball uniform,” was the compliment John McGraw paid to him some time ago. “He stands out today as an heroic figure of bravery and gameness in face of terrific obstacles.” How “Boner” Was Pulled.

The Merkle “boner” is fresh in the minds of the fans of eight and ten years ago, but a new generation has arisen since then. For its benefit the story of the “boner” is here retold. ' The.misplay was made on. the Polo grounds, September 23, 1908, in the presence of a 23,000 crowd. When the Giants went to bat in the last half of the ninth the score stood 1 to 1. By the time two men were out McCormick was on third, Merkle on first and Bridwell at the plate. Bridwell shot a single over second base and McCormick raced home with what seemed to be the winning run. But it wasn’t Merkle, instead of running to second base and touching it suffered a mental lapse in his elation over what seemed to be a Giant victory which would have cinched the pennant Merkle never touched second base, but detoured on his way and raced into the clubhouse. Johnny Evers, playing second for the Cubs that day, noticed Merkle’s “boner” #nd knew that if he could get back the ball and touch second base before Merkle he would force out Merkle, making the third out and nulling McCormick’s “winning” run. McGinnlty'e Plan Foiled. » Evers yelled to Hoffman, who grabbed the ball and threw toward second. However, the crowd already had jumped upon the field and the ball, Instead of going direct to Evers, hit one of the spectators and was defieated. By this time Joe McGlnnity, the Giant pitcher, sensed that something was wrong. He rushed onto the crowded — “yr-—.—' . -_-.i1;.-" " V.. • »

diamond and grabbed the ball. Then’ he started racing with It toward the clubhouse in the hope of reaching Merkle and “tipping” him to hurry back to the diamond and touch the second sack. But Frank Chance, the Cub manager, joined in the affair by overtaking McGlnnity, whose progress was impeded by the crowd. Chance jumped upon Joe’s shoulders and threw him to the ground. Other Cub players rushed to Chance’s aid and tried to take the ball from McGinnity’s hand. Joe, seeing that he was ov&rpoweredU»threw the pellet as far as he could into the crowd. Kroh and Howard, two Cub recruits, dove among the feet gs-she spectators and jointly grabbed the ball, which was being kicked around. Howard threw the ball to Tinker, who tossed it to Johnny and the ‘Trojan,” stepping on second base and waving the ball high in the air, called upon the umpires to declare Merkle out. Giants Lose Playoff. In the meantime Chance plowed through the now amazed crowd, grabbed Umpire “Hank” O’Day and demanded that he decide that McCormick’s run did not count, owing to the fact that Merkle had been forced out. O’Day refused to give any decision until he was escorted to the clubhouse by a squad of police. O’Day, immediately upon his arrival there, declared Merkle was forced out and called the game a tie. Harry Pulliam, then president of the National league, sustained Hank’s ruling and ordered the game played over. The day set for the playoff was the last of the season —October 8. It found the Giants and Cubs tied'for first place honors, with 98 games won and 55 lost, giving each a percentage of .640. The Giants lost that battle 4 to 2, and the game gave the pennant to the Chicago Cubs —a gift by Fred Merkle.