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

[the 'stache]

Finally, I have a reason to watch ESPN again. Keith Olberman, long known as a passionate collector within our hobby, is back at it on ESPN with his hour-long show (10 PM Eastern on ESPN2). Last night, he led off the show with a look back at the circumstances surrounding the most infamous call in baseball history.

This is a must watch, unless you're a Cubs fan. Then you might want to avoid it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QVcGJwiO54

In honor of Fred Merkle, let's see those Merkle T202, T205, and T206s, etc! And ok, let's see those Johnny Evers cards, too. Maybe we can undo the curse, Cubbie fans!

[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:

[t206blogcom]

[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.

[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.....

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Peter_Spaeth]

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

[andy]

T206 Evers portrait from a Cubs fan.

[MMarvelli]

Hank O'Day 1922 Press Photo (Sun and NY Herald Syndicate)

Press Photo O'Day, Hank LowRes F only.jpg

[CardTarget]

This just happened in the minors in July:

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

[the 'stache]

Thank you very much, Jason. I am about to crash out for the night, but I will enjoy looking those over later when I get up.

Have a good morning, everybody.