Merkle's Bonehead Play: The First Famous Sports American Sports Blunder

Today is the 100th anniversary of "Merkle's Blunder," which allowed the 1908 Cubs to go to the World Series (their last title) and cost the New York Giants the pennant. Late in the season, the Cubs and Giants were tied 1-1 in the 9th inning and the Giants had baserunners on 1st and 3rd base. The batter, Al Bridwell sent a base hit into the outfield and the runner on third came home. However, a young 19 year old ballplayer by the name of Fred Merkle was on first base. When the winning run scored fans stormed the field and Merkle didn't touch second base, which as it turns out was the custom of the day but was illegal under the playbook. Well, Cubs 2nd baseman Johnny Evers got the ball, went to the umpire and stepped on the bag. After deliberation late into the night (the game took place in the era before stadium lights) Merkle was called out and it wa decided that the game wouldn't count. Newspapers blared headlines about "Merkle's Bonehead play." The Cubs and Giants finished the season tied and the game was replayed at the end of the year with the Cubs winning 4-2. Poor Fred Merkle cost his team the championship and would never outlive the moment as folks called him "bonehead" for the rest of his life. There are plenty of other interesting facts about the story that can be found in an excellent New York Times story here and a good ESPN story here. If you are a fan of baseball or just a fan of sports it's worth your time to check it out.