Baseball Toaster: The Griddle : 100 years later, he still hasn't touched second

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100 years later, he still hasn't touched second

2008-09-23 10:33

by Bob Timmermann

Oh Fred Merkle.

I feel for you.

Comments

2008-09-23 10:42:29

1. fanerman

Thanks for the link. Great read.

2008-09-23 10:48:09

2. Jon Weisman

Did MLB have Merkle in mind when they scheduled the Cubs at New York tonight?

2008-09-23 10:57:25

3. Humma Kavula

Is this still the rule? I was under the impression that runs are not counted only if the third out is a force play at first base.

I could be very, very wrong.

But am I, or do I have it right? If I do have it right, when were the rules technically changed to match common practice?

2008-09-23 11:00:29

4. bhsportsguy

I remember reading about that play in the first baseball history book I ever owned. And then in Ritter's "Glory of Their Times," a wonderful collection of interviews of baseball played in that era.

2008-09-23 11:01:04

5. bhsportsguy

3 No, you can get a force out at any base.

2008-09-23 11:02:17

6. Humma Kavula

5 Of course, that makes sense now that I think about it for a second.

2008-09-23 11:18:43

7. bhsportsguy

ESPN also has a story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3604289

2008-09-23 11:40:24

8. Bob Timmermann

2
I think you are giving the schedule makers a lot of credit.

After all, the Yankees got to close out their stadium with a game against the Orioles.

And the Mets finish up with the Marlins.

2008-09-23 11:44:09

9. Jon Weisman

8 - I have a follow-up.

Will tonight's game commemmorate the Merkle game in any way?

2008-09-23 11:44:22

10. fracule

I think originally that play was called the 'Merkle Boner', funny how there's no mention of that in the article.

2008-09-23 11:48:59

11. Jon Weisman

Olbermann posts:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/09/23/merkle/index.html

2008-09-23 11:56:21

12. fracule

I wonder if Alex Gonzalez has ever realized the amount of hatred that Bartmann took away from him.

2008-09-23 11:57:18

13. Bob Timmermann

In the 9th inning, the Mets will send in Argenis Reyes to pinch run for Carlos Delgado (despite the winning run being on third, Delgado will have twisted an ankle).

Carlos Beltran will lash what looks to be a game-winning single to center off of Bobby Howry. The crowd spills on to the field as they think that not only have the Mets won, but Aaron Heilman got the win to boot!

Reyes heads to the safety of the dugout. Meanwhile, Ronny Cedeno screams at Jim Edmonds to throw him the ball. Cedeno steps on second and second base umpire Jerry Layne calls Reyes out.

But wait, the band is out on the field ...

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