The Cubs' Fred Merkle Curse

Will this be the Cubs year? The Red Sox had the third longest World Championship drought which they ended in 2004. The White Sox had the second longest World Championship drought which they ended in 2005. The Cubs have a World Championship drought which is longer than that of either the Red Sox or the White Sox. Their last World Championship was in 1908.

One Hundred and Sixteen Wins With a 154 Game Schedule

The Cubs were a formidable team. They won their first pennant in 1906, setting a record for the most regular season wins with 116 and the highest winning percentage in a season of .763. The 1906 Cubs met the “hitless wonder” White Sox and lost a six game World Series.

The Real Reason the Cubs Haven't Won?

In 1907, the Cubs won 107 games on the way to their first World Championship. After the first game ended in a 3-3 tie due to darkness, the Cubs defeated the Tigers in four straight games. In 1908, the Cubs won their third consecutive pennant and again beat the Tigers in the World Series, four games to one, but the Cubs needed a big break to get to the 1908 World Series, which might be the real reason that the Cubs have not won the World Series in 100 years.

Merkle Never Touched Second Base

The Giants, Pirates and Cubs were involved in a tight pennant race in 1908. On September 23, the Cubs and Giants were tied in the bottom of the ninth inning in a crucial game at the Polo Grounds. The Giants had runners of first and third and two outs when Al Bridwell hit a single to center field, scoring Moose McCormick from third with the Giants’ apparent winning run, but as was the custom, the runner on first base, Fred Merkle, went half way to second and then turned around to go to the clubhouse after McCormick touched home plate.

Joe McGinnity Fired the Ball Into the Stands

Fans ran onto the field in a wild celebration, but Cubs’ second base man Johnny Evers had seen that Merkle never had touched second. Evers called for the ball from center fielder Solly Hofman, who fired an errant throw to Evers. Giants’ coach Joe McGinnity grabbed the ball and hurled it into the stands as Cubs players implored Merkle to return to second base.

Hank O'Day's Call Changed Baseball History

Meanwhile, Evers picked up a different ball, called over the umpires, and implored any one of them to call Merkle out. Hank O’Day did just that. With fans on the field and the Giants celebrating in their clubhouse, O’Day declared the game a tie to be replayed at the end of the season. On October 5, the National League’s Board of Directors upheld O’Day’s call. The Cubs and Giants ended the season tied, necessitating replaying the September 23 game on October 8. The Cubs won and went on to win their last World Championship.

Merkle Was Villified in the Press

The newspapers vilified Merkle for his “bonehead” play. His reputation as a player and his life were forever unjustly changed. He was unmercifully blamed for an action which was not a mistake. Merkle simply did what others did in similar situations. One month earlier, Pirates rookie Doc Gill did the same thing as Merkle in a game against the Cubs. The Cubs questioned Gill’s not touching second base, but umpire Hank O’Day refused to do take any actions, claiming he had not seen it. However, the Cubs had planted the seed in O’Day’s mind. In the Pirates game, the winning run counted and the Pirates won the game, but O’Day would rule differently when the Cubs played the Giants.

Potential Never Achieved

Baseball writers labeled Merkle’s failing to touch second base a bonehead play, which became known and is still referred to as “Merkle’s Boner." Harry C. Pulliam was the National League President who ruled that the Giants’ run didn’t count, necessitating the makeup game that the Cubs won. Merkle remained bitter the rest of his life. He had a decent career, batting .273 over a sixteen seasons, but he never reached his potential. One play that was not a mistake unjustly besmirched a young ball player who was starting a promising career.

Keith Olbermann's Campaign

Recently, Merkle’s youngest daughter told writer and television journalist Keith Olbermann an anecdote that gives great insight into Merkle's torment.In the 1930’s, Merkle and his family were at their church where a visiting minister was presiding. At the start of the service, the minister said, “I want to begin,” he chuckled from the pulpit, “by admitting to you an ugly secret. I am from Toledo, Ohio; birthplace of the infamous Fred 'Bonehead' Merkle.“ Fred Merkle silently stood up and led his family out the door.

The Cubs Have Been Paying Ever Since

The Cubs won the 1908 World Series, clearly outplaying the Tigers, but the Cubs didn’t deserve to GET to the World Series. The Giants won the September 23 game and finished one game ahead of the Cubs but that was not what happened. When Cubs’ second base man Johnny Evers touched second base and umpire Hank O’Day called Merkle out, they forever changed baseball history and ruined a young man’s life. The Cubs have been paying for it ever since.

References:

Fred Merkle

Retrosheet

Fred Merkle at Baseball-Almanac

Keith Olbermann and Fred Merkle

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