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

[ZenPop]

Originally Posted by slipk1068

"The Unforgettable Season" is a book about the 1908 pennant race. It is written 100% from newspaper accounts of the day. Read that book and you will feel like you are living through the 1908 season.

Am I seriously the only person here who has read this book?

Oops, Slip! Only read your post after posting that one! That book has been read by Sean... and is currently being read by yours truly!

[slipk1068]

Originally Posted by ZenPop

Oops, Slip! Only read your post after posting that one! That book has been read by Sean... and is currently being read by yours truly!

Awesome John, you will love it. I found it somewhat tough to get started because of the florid language that was used back then but once I got into it, it was like going back in time.

[Sean]

I want to begin by saying: Mike, that Evers/ Hindu is one heck of a card.

Okay Bill, since you asked us to post Merkles, here they are:

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[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[Sean]

Okay, so for the two or three members who haven't already seen them, I hope you like the set.

And for the rest of you: I'm still missing the T213 Type-3 and the Red Cross, so if anyone wants to sell them at an exhorbitant price, you know where to reach me.

[tbob]

I love KO's new show, watch it every night.
Obviously Keith read Gordon Fleming's and Lawrence Ritter's book The Unforgettable Season which is THE best account of the 1908 season and thoroughly covers the Merkle Boner game through all the newspaper accounts of the day.
Interestingly, Christy Mathewson swore absolutely to anyone who would listen that he saw Merkle touch second base. The Christian Gentleman lied to support his teammate. Merkle never made it even close to the bag. On the flip side, the ball KO has may really be the ball Evers tagged the bag with while holding, but the original batted ball, according to many witnesses, was ultimately recovered by third base coach Joe MicGinnity who threw the ball in to the stands because he knew exactly what Evers was trying to do. The infield and outfield were a madhouse because of the many thousands of fans who poured on the field to celebrate the great win (they thought).
Fred Bridwell later said that he wished he had struck out (he singled in the winning run) and spared Merkle a life of infamy.

[CaramelMan]

no love for the T201?

[tbob]

Fred Merkle, a rookie, only started one game all year, this one. Regular first baseman Fred Tenney had lumbago and did not start this one game. It should be pointed out that Merkle years later ended up being the captain of the Giants and had a decent career. Merkle did nothing that other players didn't do at that time, but he was forever taunted by fans, media and others as "Bonehead" Merkle.
Fred Snodgrass in a Game 7 of the World Series years later, dropped an easy fly ball in the 9th inning against the Red Sox. Snodgrass was an excellent defensive outfielder and later that inning made a tremendous catch of a line over his head but when the Red Sox rallied to win, Snograss was the goat. In his obituary some 70 years later, it said "Fred Snodgrass dies, muffed fly ball in Series."
Both played for John McGraw who also witnessed the famous 9th inning foul pop which Chief Meyers muffed when he thought Matty was going to take it which resulted in Mathewson being denied a 7th Game win and a championship. The Giants were truly cursed....

[xcgrammer]

Bill here you go as promised. Great day today for a game, was an awesome day. Merkle's Bar. One the right side of the bar photos you can see the T cards. Couldn't get close, as they were behind the bar. Looked like two T206 and a T205.

[ZenPop]

Awesome to see those again, Sean... so, so cool!

And, even as a Giants' die-hard, I can see both Sean AND Slip's argument...

I'd never wish what happened to Merkle on anyone, though... Great thread and interesting ideas AND visuals! Cheers! (and I'm loving that book!!!!)