Merkle's Boner

[Wilson A2000]

I am sure this has been discussed before, but Fred Merkle, playing for the Giants in 1908 and for the NL pennant, was on first while another runner was on third. A player hit a ball to right field and the runner on third scored. Merkle never touched second, was later tagged, was called out, and the run never scored even though the runner touched home before Merkle was tagged. The Cubs went on to beat the Giants the next day and win the World Series because it was too dark to finish.

 

My question is this: if the runner scores at home, as long as he reaches home before an out is made at any other base other than first, the runner scores. So if a player hits a double with a runner on third and that runner scores, even though the hitter was trying to stretch his double into a triple, that run scores as long as he touches the base before the runner going to third is tagged out. Was the rule different then?

Edited August 26, 2008 by Wilson A2000

[NCCubFan]

I think the key was that he was forced out at second since he was already on first. I don't think a run counts on a forceout even if the runner touches home before the forceout at second. The situation you describe (a batter trying to stretch a double into a triple) is an entirely different situation since there's no forceout.

[OleMissCub]

Your hypothetical is patently different than the Merkle play because it is leaving out the third player. Your play only has two players: one at third and one at the plate. There is no force play in your hypothetical, and thus no "movement" that must be completed i.e. the baserunner successfully moving up at least one base.

[OleMissCub]

I think the key was that he was forced out at second since he was already on first. I don't think a run counts on a forceout even if the runner touches home before the forceout at second. The situation you describe (a batter trying to stretch a double into a triple) is an entirely different situation since there's no forceout.

 

dangit...you posted that I was typing mine apparently.

[Wilson A2000]

I see. That makes sense.

 

I wonder how many times this situation could happen today. It could have happened during the White Sox win yesterday if the other team was smart.

[NCCubFan]

I think the key was that he was forced out at second since he was already on first. I don't think a run counts on a forceout even if the runner touches home before the forceout at second. The situation you describe (a batter trying to stretch a double into a triple) is an entirely different situation since there's no forceout.

 

dangit...you posted that I was typing mine apparently.

I beat you by a full five minutes. Apparently Carolinians type faster than Mississippians. :P

[jiml60]

I highly recommend the book Crazy '08. The story of the 1908 baseball season, not only the Cubs/Giants but the AL and a few non-baseball happenings in the summer that baseball became America's Game.

[TruffleShuffle]

let's just ask fred hornkohl how it went down.

[OleMissCub]

Good to see that this thread has gotten more responses than the Baseball History Thread has gotten in weeks

 

:-({|= :-({|= :-({|=

[chuckywang]

Since we all know baseball goes in 100 year cycles, who will make a boner this year?

[OleMissCub]

Since we all know baseball goes in 100 year cycles, who will make a boner this year?

 

Jimmy Rollins in an NLCS game

[manbearcub]

Since we all know baseball goes in 100 year cycles, who will make a boner this year?

 

:wave:

[Schwarber Fan]

I've had nightmares about this happening to the Cubs in the playoffs this year.

[Magnetic Curses]

although often referred to as "merkle's boner", the fortunate event is correctly titled "the merkle boner".

[Derwood]

Good to see that this thread has gotten more responses than the Baseball History Thread has gotten in weeks

 

:-({|= :-({|= :-({|=

 

you're pretty much talking to yourself in that one

[MemphisVol]

I highly recommend the book Crazy '08. The story of the 1908 baseball season, not only the Cubs/Giants but the AL and a few non-baseball happenings in the summer that baseball became America's Game.

 

I just bought that book a couple of days ago. I can't wait to read it, but I have to finish What Ever Happened to the Hall of Fame first.

[illiniguy]

I highly recommend the book Crazy '08. The story of the 1908 baseball season, not only the Cubs/Giants but the AL and a few non-baseball happenings in the summer that baseball became America's Game.

Damn good book.

[NewUserName]

I have this vision of the Cubs leading 5-4 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th in game seven of the WS. Kerry Wood than hits Mark Texiera with a 1-2 inside fastball. Vlad than hits a routine warning shot fly to left, Soriano does his hop to catch the ball and drops it, Ball roles away and it takes Edmonds a couple of weeks to get to it. Vlad comes all the way around to score, Angels win, the rally monkey becomes the new goat.

 

And the Ron Santo call becomes standard agony of defeat in all of sportbroadcasting

[The Voice of Reason]

Since we all know baseball goes in 100 year cycles, who will make a boner this year?

 

 

If Marisa Miller throws out the first pitch at Wrigley again, I predict it will be most of the Cubs.

[jersey cubs fan]

Since we all know baseball goes in 100 year cycles, who will make a boner this year?

 

Wood or Harden.

[erik316wttn]

The only Major Leaguer my hometown has ever produced. Hooray?

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm having trouble grasping this gigantic boner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What?

[NCCubFan]

I highly recommend the book Crazy '08. The story of the 1908 baseball season, not only the Cubs/Giants but the AL and a few non-baseball happenings in the summer that baseball became America's Game.

I've read that book and it is a good one. I think it would make a good ESPN mini-series.

[illiniguy]

I highly recommend the book Crazy '08. The story of the 1908 baseball season, not only the Cubs/Giants but the AL and a few non-baseball happenings in the summer that baseball became America's Game.

I've read that book and it is a good one. I think it would make a good ESPN mini-series.

No it wouldn't the Yankees and Sox are not prevelant enough in the book. Nice try though. :lol:

[NCCubFan]

I highly recommend the book Crazy '08. The story of the 1908 baseball season, not only the Cubs/Giants but the AL and a few non-baseball happenings in the summer that baseball became America's Game.

I've read that book and it is a good one. I think it would make a good ESPN mini-series.

No it wouldn't the Yankees and Sox are not prevelant enough in the book. Nice try though. :lol:

The Giants are fairly prominent, though, and they were in New York at the time.