Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-07
PLAY OFF DISPUTED Tie
National League Board UphOlds Um-
pires and President Pulliam.
THURSDAY DATE FOR CONTEST
Board Goes Fully Into Case and Sc
vereIy Censures Player McrkIe
for His Failure to Run
to Second.


to Second.
CINCINNATI, o., oct. 6.-For the first
time in the history of a National league
baseball season a post-season game for
the settlement OF the championship is an
nounced for Thursday Of this week, the
tangle that arose over the last series be-
tween New York and Chicago clubs having
brought a decision today from the national
league directors to that effect. For nearly
two days and a large part of one night the
directors listened to evidence and consid-
cred the matter in its various phases and
finally announced their decision late this
afternoon. Chairman Ebbetts made a lit
tie speech before asking August
to read the text of the decision, calling at
tention to the importance of the case and
the care that had been taken o give proper
consideration to all interested.
Two protests were up for decision, an APP
peal from the rulings of President Pulllam.
New York appealed from the ruling OF the
umpires that a game played September q
was a tie and the second was an appeal by
Chicago from the decision that they are
not entitled to a forfeited game score under
the league constitution. In both cases the
league president was sustained.
AS to the first case the decision says:
In our judgment this case is the most
important one that has ever been presented
to the board of directors of the National
league for its adjudication. We have given
the entire matter the most careful thought
and consideration. We have examined All
and have listened attentively to the argu-
ments advanced by both parties. In ar
tirely by the law and the rules as they
exist and the evidence as 1t is submitted
and canpot be governed by anything else.
The case~no doubt is fully understood by
every person who has taken an interest
in It.
After detailing the play the directors,
speaking Of Player Merkle's failure to run
down to second base. say:
MerkIe is Censured.
The game should have been won for the
New York club had 1t not been for the
reckless, careless, inexcusable blunder OF
one of It's p~layers-Merkle.
The rule covering the play is quoted and
the decision continues:
While it may not have been compiled
with in many other games, while other
clubs may not have taken advantage of
its provisions in the past under similar
conditions, yet Il did not deprive the Chicago
club of the right to do so IL they so de-
sired Notwithstanding that II might be
termed as taking advantage of winning or
losing a game on a technicality.
Merkle should have had only one thing
on his mind, viz: to~reach second base on
safety by a hit or rerror, or in any other
way. The evidence CLEARLY shows the fol-
lowing: After Bridwell hit the ball safely
he ran to and over first base. Mccormick
started for home and crossed the plate;
Merkle started for second and when about
half way TO the base, turned and ran In
having reached second base. Emslie was
officiating as Umpire back of the pitcher;
O'Day gack Of the catcher; when the hit
was made Emslie fl to the ground to
escape being hit by the ball. He got up
and watched the play at first base and
saw that the batter had run out his hit.
In the meantime the bal was fielded by
Holman and eventually fielded to second
base to Evers for a put out on Merkle:
Tinker notified Emslie that Merkie did
not run to- second base. sEmslie stated he
did not see the play, and then went TO his
colleague, O'Day' and asked whether ne
had asfirr,t the PLAY 3 tbpa13y E SnsWereS Asked ied
him whether Merkle had run to second, and
being informed that he had not. Emsile
declared Merkle out, which, under the
rule quoted above. he not only had a right
to do. but was required to do. -.
A similar case to that was remarked at
Pittsburg earlier In the month was mem
toned as explaining O'Day's care in MOTTO
ing the play, and the decision continues;
No Evidence TO Contrary.
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 decision on a JUDGMENT
attendance at any game would, in our MIND,
be establishing a bad and dangerous pre-,
cedent and one the base ball public would
condemn in a very short time. In this case,
however, there. is NOT a single line or word
Of testimony offered by the New York club
that Merkle reached second base at any
time, excepting the affidavit of the player
until Mr.. Pulliam had passed on the case,
We can therefore come to no other conclu-
we'll earned victory as a result of the stupid
play of one OF its members We sustain
the president in UNFOLDING the report OF
the umpires with reference TO this game.
The directors state that they do not think
that any consideration should be given to
the protest of the Chicago CLUB. 1t is stated
that the evidence shows that on the night
Of the game the Chicago club filed a claim
with Mr.. Pulliam for forfeiture OF the
game. This claim on their part tied the
hands Of the president and prevented the
playing off of the tie game on the follow
ing day. The evidence also shows that on
the day following the game in question the
New York club conferred with Mr.. Pulliam
and inquired of him whether they would
be required to play off the, tie game, and
were Informed by him that they would not
be required to do So. To make an award
of the game against New York under these
conditions would be absurd. We sustain
the finding of the president with reference
to the appeal filed by the Chicago club.
In reviewing this entire matter we realize
the great importance that the game In
question may be in determining as to what
club is to be declared the winner OF the
championship in the National league, In
us, whether or not the New York club car
be deprived of their rights to play off the
game in question, especially so, in view
OF the fact that the game was not played
off by reason of aryy action OF that club
Our Judgment and finding is that they can
no the deprived OF their rights under thu
circumstances. AS we have already stated
the evidence shows that the game was no
played off on account of the estoDpel o
the Chicago club under the constitutions
| operation of their first claim. The evl
} dence, we repeat also Indicates, in on
Judgment that the New York club woul'
have played off this game on the onl!
available day possible had they not beei
I, informed by Mr.. Pulllam that they woul