New-York tribune., 1908-10-07
DISPUTED GAME A TIE
MUST BE PLAYED OFF.
Directors Sustain PuIliam and Order
Giants to Meet Cubs.

tory of the National League of Baseball Clubs a
postseason game for the settlement of the cham
pionship is announced for Thursday of this week
the tangIe that arose over the last series in New
York between the New York and the Chicago CLUBS
having brought decision to-day from the National
League directors sustaining President Pullam
decision that the game Is tie. and ordering 1t
played off in New York Thursday.
For nearly two days and a large part OF one
night the three directors eligible to sit in the case
listened to eviderfee and considered the question
in its various phases, President Murphy of Chicago
and President Dreyfus of Pittsburg not being ell
gibe. They finally announced their decision TINS
afternoon. Chairman Ebbets, of Brooklyn. made
a little speech before asking August Hermann, OF
Cincinnati, to read the text of the decision, and
called attention to the Importance of the case ana
the that had been taken to give proper con-
sderation to all Interested
Two protests were up for decision on appeals from
the ruling of President Pulliam New York ap-
pealed from the decision sustaining the ruling OF
the umpires that the game played on September
% a tie, and Chicago appealed from the decl-
sion that it was not entitled 10 a forfeited game
score under the league constitution In both cases
President Pulliam sustained
AS to the first case, the decision says:
In our judgment, this case is the most important
one that has @ t ever 3fen for its audca
tion. We have given the entire mater & the most @
careful thought and consideration. We have eN-
anined all of the testimony submitted in evidence
very carefully and have listened attenuvely to
rivng rt at our conciusons we are guided entirely
by the law and the rules as they exist and the evil
by anything else. The case. no doubt is fully un-
derstood by every person who has taken an IN
terest in it.
After detailing the play the directors, speaking
of Merkles failure to run to second base. say:
THE game should have been won for the New
York club had it not been for the reckless, careless
inexcusable blunder of of it's players-Merke'' -
The rule covering the play is quoted, and the
decision continues
While it may not have been complied with in
many other games while other clubs may not
have taken advantage of its provisions in the
Drive the Chicago club OF the right do if it
SO desired, notwithstanding that 1t might be
a@i as 9d5 tspg of winning or
Emslie was officiating umpire back of the
pitcher, ODay back Of the catcher Emsie stated
he did not see the play and then went tt to his s e2
the play. OiDay answered in the affirmative,
and then Emslie asked him whether Merkle had
F%a no e sfe eca4e e o2 ThicR under the
rule quoted above he not only had right TO do
We therefore find that the ruling as made by
the umpires was in accordance with the playing
rules and in conformity with what happened on
the field at the time. To set aside an umpire s
the persons in attendance at any game would, in
mind. be establishing bad and DANGEROUS
precedent and that the baseball public would
condemn in a very short time. In this case, how
ever there IS not a single line or words of testi-
Inony offered by the New York club that could
by inference be construed TO mean that
ing the affidavit Of the player himself which.
however, was not made until after Mr.. Pulliam
we can, therefore. come to no other conclusion
than that the New York club lost well earned
victory as the result Of a stupid play Of one Of
It's members. We sustain the president IN up
to this game.
The directors state that they do not think any
consideration should have been given to the pro-
test OF the Chicago club The decision continues:
The evidence shows that on the night Of the
game in question the Chicago club fIed claim
This claim tied the hands of the president and
prevented the playing OF Of the tie game on the
the day following the game in question the New
quired Of him whether 1t would be required TO
play off the tie game, and was Informed by him
an award of the game against the New York club
under these conditions would be absurd We there
Gf9 ePf4ce to the appeal ed by W the Chicago Cub
In reviewing this entire matter We realize the
have in determining as to what club Is to be de-
elared the winner OF me TN IN me oS H5
York club can be deprived of its right 10 play
off the tie game in question especially in view
of the fact that the game was not played OFT by
and finding is that it cannot be deprived Of it's
rights under the circumstance ...,,o.o. o,,,..
that the game was not played or on account % to OF
the estopPal Of the Chicago t G9b ca Under He HE con s
dence, we repeat, also indicates in our Judgment;
this game on the only available day possible, had
it not been informed by Mr., PTlliam that it would
Pulliams part cannot be criticised by any one. be-
cause his hands were tied by the attitude OF the
We therefore hold that the New York club
should in all justice and fairness, under these
conditions be given opportunity TO play on
the game in question. For that reason we order
that the game be played off on the Polo Grounds
on Thursday, October 8, soon thereafter as
the weather conditions will permit. and both CUPS
ara directed to govern themselves accordingly. We
also REQUIRE that the rules governing the WORLDS
series in so far they apply to the playing field
shall govern in this contest.