Keith Olberman on Fred Merkle's boner, 105 years later

[atx840]

Sean, this is your moment

[CMIZ5290]

Merkle's boner doesn't compare to Lonnie Smith's in the 1991 World Series (Braves vs. Twins)

[Zach Wheat]

You can also listen to Fred Snodgrass' account of the incident in the audiobook "The Glory of Their Times". Snodgrass sticks up for Merkle, stating that in those days, the umps opened the gates so spectators could get on the field immediately after the game. He states this was the reason Merkle ran to the dugout after McCormick crossed the plate.

Listening to the ball players relate stories in the 1st person, brings the accounts to another level. You really get a feel for what a joker Chief Myers was, how Hans ("Little Hans") Lobert was taken under the wing by Honus Wagner or how Rube Marquard hitched rides on rail road cars rode for 3 days for a shot at playing pro ball. One of my favorite stories was of Victory Faust and how he became the team mascot.

This is the only book I where I prefer the audio version over the printed version. You can hear the enthusiasm they had for early baseball.


Z Wheat

[sycks22]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Merkle's boner doesn't compare to Lonnie Smith's in the 1991 World Series (Braves vs. Twins)

Knoby saved the series for us

[Big Ben]

That was a great segment by Keith last night. My first T206 card was this Fred Merkle that I purchased at an antique shop years ago for $2. I had no idea who Merkle was at that time, but that purchase led me to do some research where I found the story about the "Merkle Boner". I wish that I had run across more T206's back then. I am also posting a T205 Evers with hopes that this Cubs fan can reverse the curse. (somehow)

[xcgrammer]

I am actually going to the Cubs game tomorrow with my Dad. We will probably go to Merkle's Bar which is a bar and grill in Wrigleyville. Great burgers on game day... 6 bucks comes with fries and the fries are awesome!!!

[conor912]

of course Keith would have the actual ball.....

[t206blogcom]

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Merkle's boner doesn't compare to Lonnie Smith's in the 1991 World Series (Braves vs. Twins)

Kevin, refresh my memory please. I watched the series, but don't remember that particular play. I could just look it up, but I'd rather hear it from a fan's perspective.

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

You can also listen to Fred Snodgrass' account of the incident in the audiobook "The Glory of Their Times". Snodgrass sticks up for Merkle, stating that in those days, the umps opened the gates so spectators could get on the field immediately after the game. He states this was the reason Merkle ran to the dugout after McCormick crossed the plate.

Listening to the ball players relate stories in the 1st person, brings the accounts to another level. You really get a feel for what a joker Chief Myers was, how Hans ("Little Hans") Lobert was taken under the wing by Honus Wagner or how Rube Marquard hitched rides on rail road cars rode for 3 days for a shot at playing pro ball. One of my favorite stories was of Victory Faust and how he became the team mascot.

This is the only book I where I prefer the audio version over the printed version. You can hear the enthusiasm they had for early baseball.


Z Wheat

Keith touched on the fans rushing the field back then. I think Merkle got a bad rap. If I were a 19 year old kid in the Majors, and I knew thousands of rowdy fans were going to be running my direction, I'd get the hell out of there, too. It was the league's fault for allowing the fans to rush the field, not Fred's.

I'll have to check out that audio book. Good suggestion!

Originally Posted by GoldenAge50s

Just wanted to add my raw Merkle Port into the mix. Didn't see the show.

Beautiful card, Fred. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Sean

Chris, I'm in San Diego. I'll post them tomorrow.
I saw the show. I loved it, even though Keith is wrong. Hank O'Day made the correct call. - Full disclosure: I'm a Cubs fan.
And their 105 years of bad baseball is not due to karma or curses, or anything but bad management. Okay, that Bartman thing could be curse-related.

By the way, how cool is it that Keith has the ball used to force out Merkle?

Sean, the call was right, absolutely. But like I said, I can't blame Merkle for getting the heck out of there.

We all need to go knocking on Mr. Olberman's front door. Maybe if we bad mouth ESPN enough, he'll let us in to see his collection.

Originally Posted by auggiedoggy

Oh, so now we're comparing boners?

How about this Jose Conseco assisted home run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLs0pjWnzTY

Not an historic, game-changing boner but certainly one of the funniest.

Rob, I was watching that game when it happened. I was down in Houston at the time, watching it on the tube in my hotel room. I couldn't believe what I saw. I still can't.

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I thought it was interesting how Evers never would have gotten that call from the ump if the identical situation hadn't occurred earlier in the season setting the stage for the call to be made by Hank O'Day. Good excuse to show off the Evers I just picked up.

That's a gorgeous card, and a perfect example of how a technical grade can be very misleading. There really should be a way of taking eye appeal into consideration when grading, but I suppose that's completely subjective.

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

"Keith Olberman on Fred Merkle's boner"

That is so wrong...As was this card:



And yes, as my wife frequently observes, I do have the emotional maturity of a 12 year old.

It is wrong, Adam, lol. But I must admit, it is better than some of the alternatives I considered:

"Olberman revisits Merkle's boner 105 years later."
"Olberman waxes enthusiastically about Merkle's boner."

There's just no title I could come up with that wouldn't elicit a guffaw of some sort. As for the maturity level comment, I'm right there with you.

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

There is an interesting write up of the incident in the great book "The Celebrant."

I'll seek that out, too, Peter. Thank you for the suggestion.

My reading list is becoming longer.

Originally Posted by Runscott

That reminds me of my first visit to a nude beach, but Merkle's was more embarrassing...probably.

I guess it depends on your perspective, Scott. Were you a viewer, or a participant?

Originally Posted by andy

T206 Evers portrait from a Cubs fan.

Great card, Andy.

Originally Posted by CardTarget

This just happened in the minors in July:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fr8mjRo544

Wow, somebody on the other team was very quick thinking.

Originally Posted by Big Ben

That was a great segment by Keith last night. My first T206 card was this Fred Merkle that I purchased at an antique shop years ago for $2. I had no idea who Merkle was at that time, but that purchase led me to do some research where I found the story about the "Merkle Boner". I wish that I had run across more T206's back then. I am also posting a T205 Evers with hopes that this Cubs fan can reverse the curse. (somehow)

If you happen to have any old Milwaukee Brewer T206s, please post them as well. We're only at 43 years without a World Series title, but I'm getting up there in years, and I'd like to see the beer flow in Milwaukee before I croak.

Originally Posted by xcgrammer

I am actually going to the Cubs game tomorrow with my Dad. We will probably go to Merkle's Bar which is a bar and grill in Wrigleyville. Great burgers on game day... 6 bucks comes with fries and the fries are awesome!!!

Jason, having never been to Wrigley unfortunately (hard to believe as I grew up in Milwaukee, and spent a lot of time in Chicago growing up), is the bar within the confines of the ball park, or just outside of it? Again, I could look it up, but it's always more fun to learn from somebody who has been there, and enjoys it. I hope you took some pictures.

Originally Posted by conor912

of course Keith would have the actual ball.....

As I said earlier in my post, Conor, I would kill to see his collection.

[xcgrammer]

Bill, it is actually just south of Wrigley about two blocks on Clark St. The logo is I believe from one of Merkle's card portraits, and they have several t206 cards framed on the wall and one larger one that is a blown up copy. I will see if I can get some pictures tomorrow and post them in this thread. Bill you really, really, should make it there to Wrigley, if you are a Brewers fan I bet you have been to old Comiskey from the Brew Crew's AL days, which I missed out on and kick myself over to this day although it was really out of my control since it was torn down when I was 10 years old. Two true cathedrals of baseball. Also the courthouse in my hometown Kankakee IL was designed by the architect who designed Wrigley and Comiskey, Zachary Taylor Davis who is known as the "Frank Lloyd Wright of Baseball."

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Merkle's boner doesn't compare to Lonnie Smith's in the 1991 World Series (Braves vs. Twins)

Oh, so now we're comparing boners?

How about this Jose Conseco assisted home run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLs0pjWnzTY

Not an historic, game-changing boner but certainly one of the funniest.

[T206Collector]

I'd love a signed T206 of Fred Merkle. Gosh, who wouldn't?!

But until one is found, I will have to settle for my signed T206 of Al Bridwell, who later said he wished he never got that hit because it ruined poor Fred Merkle's life....

[GasHouseGang]

I thought it was interesting how Evers never would have gotten that call from the ump if the identical situation hadn't occurred earlier in the season setting the stage for the call to be made by Hank O'Day. Good excuse to show off the Evers I just picked up.

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I thought it was interesting how Evers never would have gotten that call from the ump if the identical situation hadn't occurred earlier in the season setting the stage for the call to be made by Hank O'Day. Good excuse to show off the Evers I just picked up.

How did that E98 Evers get a 1.5..? Beautiful front for sure!

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by Edwolf1963

How did that E98 Evers get a 1.5..? Beautiful front for sure!

You're right Ed, it's a beauty. Unfortunately just a bit of paper loss on the back makes the technical grade correct. Here's the back.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I thought it was interesting how Evers never would have gotten that call from the ump if the identical situation hadn't occurred earlier in the season setting the stage for the call to be made by Hank O'Day. Good excuse to show off the Evers I just picked up.

And after Evers, who was a player/manager for the Cubs by that time, was shipped off to Boston guess who Chicago hired to be their new manager?

Hank O'Day

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Merkle's boner doesn't compare to Lonnie Smith's in the 1991 World Series (Braves vs. Twins)

That reminds me of my first visit to a nude beach, but Merkle's was more embarrassing...probably.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

I saw that last night too...cool story. I hadn't heard that story before.

I don't have any Merkle's, but here's my Evers Helmar Stamp to get things started:

Very cool Evers, Derek. Now I need/want to learn about Helmar stamps. According to Jefferson Burdick, these are T332s.

I'd heard the Merkle story before, but I had not heard the part about the fan writing into the Chicago Tribune. Holy cow, either Olberman has some full time researchers chained up in his basement, or he's got a photographic memory.

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

On any other forum, a thread titled "Fred Merkle's boner 105 years later" might necessitate an immediate edit by a mod.

Nice white border example. That's one of the T206s I need to add early on in my quest.

Originally Posted by mattsey9

Great account. I love his new show.

Christy Mathewson wrote about the incident in detail in his book, Pitching in a Pinch. I got a Kindle copy free from Amazon and I'm sure it's still available there.

Hi Mike. I, too, love his show. I've set my DVR to record all his new shows going forward. I just hope Keith can behave. I don't want him getting kicked off the "mother ship" again. It's really the only thing on ESPN I look forward to. He talks about topics you won't find on any other sports talk show, and his semi-sardonic wit and love of the game makes for really interesting television.

I'll see if I can get that Matty book. If it's available in print, I'll buy it.

By the way, I just saw that Merkle was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, not far from where I grew up (Waukesha).

/wave good morning, Chris.

[GoldenAge50s]

Just wanted to add my raw Merkle Port into the mix. Didn't see the show.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by atx840

Sean, this is your moment

Chris, I'm in San Diego. I'll post them tomorrow.
I saw the show. I loved it, even though Keith is wrong. Hank O'Day made the correct call. - Full disclosure: I'm a Cubs fan.
And their 105 years of bad baseball is not due to karma or curses, or anything but bad management. Okay, that Bartman thing could be curse-related.

By the way, how cool is it that Keith has the ball used to force out Merkle?

[ZenPop]

Originally Posted by Sean

Chris, I'm in San Diego. I'll post them tomorrow.
I saw the show. I loved it, even though Keith is wrong. Hank O'Day made the correct call. - Full disclosure: I'm a Cubs fan.
And their 105 years of bad baseball is not due to karma or curses, or anything but bad management. Okay, that Bartman thing could be curse-related.

By the way, how cool is it that Keith has the ball used to force out Merkle?

LOVE Keith's show and that clip was AWESOME! THANK YOU for posting, Bill!

Sean has generously provided me with an awesome book called "The Unforgettable Season" about that year and I'm just starting it now... (CHEERS, SEAN!!!)

Even though I'll probably disagree with Sean's O'Day call, I'm going to love this book! ...but remember... NO SPOILERS!!!

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by ZenPop

LOVE Keith's show and that clip was AWESOME! THANK YOU for posting, Bill!

Sean has generously provided me with an awesome book called "The Unforgettable Season" about that year and I'm just starting it now... (CHEERS, SEAN!!!)

Even though I'll probably disagree with Sean's O'Day call, I'm going to love this book! ...but remember... NO SPOILERS!!!

What struck me about the Giants outrage is that making the claim is something McGraw would have done in a heartbeat if the roles were reversed. He was an old Baltimore Oriole, and those guys used every trick in the book to win a game.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

What struck me about the Giants outrage is that making the claim is something McGraw would have done in a heartbeat if the roles were reversed. He was an old Baltimore Oriole, and those guys used every trick in the book to win a game.

It's true, McGraw is considered a great manager because he looked for, and in some cases created, any possible advantage for his team. But the one time the tables are turned the Giants never stopped complaining. Some like KO are still doing it to this day.

[slipk1068]

Originally Posted by Sean

It's true, McGraw is considered a great manager because he looked for, and in some cases created, any possible advantage for his team. But the one time the tables are turned the Giants never stopped complaining. Some like KO are still doing it to this day.

Well lets be fair. Nobody touched 2nd base in those days when the game was over, and I mean NOBODY. Merkle suffered because the fans pour onto the field after every the game to exit the park in center field. Game was over, and it is VERY LIKELY the ball Evers touched 2nd base with wasn't the same ball.

Should have been a memo sent to every team beginning in 1909 that this rule will be enforced.

[Sean]

It is certainly fair that Merkle not be blamed for doing something that was common practice at the time.
My objection is toward the Giants and their fans who can't accept that they lost because Johhny Evers found a way within the rules to get an advantage on them. Evers was the first to think of this technicality, but that doesn't make it a new rule or even a new interpretation. The rule had never been enforce in a manner inconsistant with this result. No one had noticed that a run could be prevented in this manner prior to Evers figuring this out.
Evers simply came up with an idea within the rules. There is always someone who comes up with an idea for the first time. As an example, consider the double-switch. Someone was the first to use it. That doesn't make it unfair. That just makes this unknown (at least by me) manager very clever.I salute him the same way I salute Evers. They found a way to gain an advantage within the rules. Good for them.