100 Years Ago Today: The Merkle Incident

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Posted By: barrysloate

September 23, 1908: The Giants and Cubs are neck and neck for the 1908 pennant. In a crucial game on September 23, the Giants head into the bottom of the 9th tied 1-1. With runners on first and third and two outs, the Giants get a base hit to seemingly win 2-1. 19 year old Fred Merkle, the runner on first, runs two thirds of the way towards second, then seeing the onrush of fans onto the field, shifts direction and makes a beeline for the clubhouse in centerfield.

The game ends a tie, the Giants lose the make up game and subsequently the pennant. And Merkle lives the rest of his life haunted by the incident.

As a kid I always knew about this play as "Merkle's Boner", certainly not the most politically correct reference. I suggest that from this day forward we rename this moment in baseball history "Merkle's Mishap." It has that nice alliterative ring to it.