A pair of highlighted entries again today. Both are similar. First the 1908 entry:
Giants P Christy Mathewson and Cubs P Three Finger Brown battle in the most controversial game ever played. The score is 1-1, with two outs in the last of the 9th. The Giants' Harry McCormick is on 3B, and Fred Merkle (19, and making his first start of the year, is subbing for the sore-legged veteran Fred Tenney), on 1B. Al Bridwell singles, scoring McCormick. Halfway to 2B, Merkle turns and heads for the clubhouse in CF. Johnny Evers secures a ball (Joe McGinnity swears he picked up the ball that was in play and threw it into the stands) and touches 2B as the crowd overruns the field. Umpire Hank O'Day at 1B claims he didn't see the play, but that evening he rules the run does not count, and the game ended with a tie score. (Years later, in an interview, Merkle will describe it this way: "When Bridwell shot that long single, I started across the grass for the clubhouse. Matty was near me. When Evers began shouting for the ball, he noticed something was wrong. Matty caught me by the arm and told me to wait a minute. He walked over toward 2B, and Matty spoke to [Bob] Emslie. ‘How about this, Bob, is there any trouble with the score of the play?' ‘It's all right,' said Emslie. ‘You've got the game. I don't see anything wrong with the play.' Matty then took me by the arm and we walked to the clubhouse confident that we had won the game.")The Giants didn't win the game. The Cubs and Giants ended the regular season tied and the Cubs won the pennant with a 4-2 victory in a one game playoff on October 8, 1908. Everyone should remember that the Cubs went on to win the World Series that year. Merkle, who was born in Watertown, WI, played for sixteen seasons in the majors. He played for the Giants, Brooklyn, the Cubs, and the Yankees. He hit .273 in his career and appeared in five World Series. However, he would always be remembered for that one play.
Now the 1998 entry:
Sosa breaks an 0–for–21 slump, hitting his 64th and 65th home runs as the Cubs build a 7–0 lead over the Brewers. Milwaukee fights back, however, and scores three in the last of the 9th when Chicago OF Brant Brown drops a routine fly ball with the bases loaded and two out in the 9th to allow three Brewers to score. Rod Beck is on the mound when the Merkle–like error occurs (Fred Merkle's boner occurred exactly 90 years ago). Milwaukee wins, 8–7, and the Cubs remain tied for the wild card spot with the Mets, who lose to Montreal, 3–0. With his eight total bases, Sammy has now topped the 400 mark.
This one really stands out. I had just started with the Gamblers and was moving into my new apartment listening to Bob Uecker's call of the game on the car radio. I couldn't believe the play when I heard it, but as usual Uke nailed it.
Then, I flipped over to the Cubs announcers. Ron Santo was on suicide watch and Pat Hughes was trying to console Santo. Then, I heard the game-ending play from the Cub perspective. Let's just say that I can never hear the words, "Oh, no!" and not think of this play.
I can't find the Cub audio of this play. It was a brief look around the web. If I have time later, I'll post a link. But, there is a lot to do before the Badgers take on Michigan.
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