New-York tribune., 1908-09-24
GIANTS WIN BUT
CUBS PROTEST
WILD SCENE At END OF
STIRRING BATTLE.
Dispute Arises Ouer Winning Run
Matty Pitches Brilliant Game
for Nesc York.

score of 70 l. holding first place and increasing
their lead the comfortable margin as major
league leads 80 nowadays. OF I5 points. But the
game stands Giant victory subject to the uro-
test made ny Chicago the scoring OF the winning
run In a word, the game was won BIZ the Giants
in the ninth inning. when. with she score tie Two
men out Mccormick on third base Merkle on first
and BTidWel at the bat. the latter singled cleanly
70 centre field. The hit won the game and the
crowd swarrned on the field. but Chance the Chi
osgo leader, alleged that Merkie had not run to
second base but cut for the clubhouse
The ball was felded 70 second base where Nc
Cinnity. who had been coaching off third base for
the Giants tried to catch It and became involved
II free fight with half dozen Chicago PLAYERS
who had started. like Merkle for the clubhouse
bur returned when they saw chance 10 save the
game by fight
u moment the scene became one Of the widest
Confusion a dozen fights started. and players and
fans swa-rned around Ernslie and ODay the UNI
rires. who seemed incapable Of making a decision.
The Giants had cleanly and clearly on their
merits that neither umpire seemed TO dare make
decision against them. and O'Dav. when asked
what the result was said that Eu1slie had appar
emily failed TO see Merke. assuming that the game
had been Won by BridwelIs hit Merkle asserted
later that he touched the base, but the Chicago
players and some Of those in the crowd dernurred.
Finally the impression got around that O'Day
had declared the game 4 tie and. protest. had
been sustained by President Pulian1. This was not
50 but the insuriated crowd made for the umpire,
away Tickers all over the city announced that
President Pullisn had declared the game tie and
ordered il be replayed tomorrow, and the presi-
dent e the league had TO issue an official state
rent denying that he had made any decision which
ran as follows:
= made no decision in the matter al all. and
will not do SO until the matter is presented 10
ne in proper form The statement on the ticker
that had decided the game tie is entirely unau-
rhorized."
N-a,-.- v-as victory r.ore cleanlv won The
Giants and the Cubs gave one of the most brilliant
exhibitions Of baseball in the history Of the game
and al the way the Giants had just that shade OF
superiority that wins games and pennants. First
Of ali the credit must go 10 Mathewson who out
pitched Pfeister the southpaV-, who has bothered
the Giants ali season, but there brilliant work
all around and McGraw's fully justified the
confidence Of the crovd-ffteen thousand strong
that went Up 10 the Polo Grounds sure that New
York vas TO hold the lead 50 splendidly earned
No natter what the ultimate decision 70 the
game may be. and that decision may well de-
ternine the ownership Of the pennant yesterdays s
was a glorious victory
II New York holds the garne-and it seems prob
able that that will be the decision-Chcago can
not leave toE-n in the lead by winning TO-
DAYS game II the Cubs win to-day they will have
z percentage Of SIS. while the standing Of the
Giants will be sss To hold that lead the Giants
will have to win game for game with the CUBS
who VIII then have eight games left TO play-three
with Brooklyn four with Cincinnati and one with
F4trsburg The Giants will have fifteen games TO
rla- after to-day. seven more than Chicago ana
= The cubs win all eight Of their remaining games
the Giants will have TO win twelve Of the hfteen
p say. the pennant All this is assuming that the
Giants will be allowed 10 hold yesterdays game
ard lose to-day. If they win to-day their task Will
be easier but il will be seen that they still have
more than an even chance Il defeat IS their portion
President Pulliam called upon 10 decide a
similar case in a Pittsburg-Chicago game about
three weeks ago. when Chicago made protest Of
-he same character. He ruled against the Cubs
then The question yesterday seemed TO hinge
on whether or not Merkle touched second base
The Chicago players said he did not: many in the
crowd thought SO too: but MerkIe said that he
did and Emslie. who. umpire on the bases.
Ras in charge. said. according 10 ODay. he had
no1 seen the play ODay said something vague
% the general effect that the could rot count.
but the decision in way TO him, and
as Eusle did not see that Merkle failed 70 touch
the base or him put out there, and had called
Mccormick safe at the plate with the winning
rlIn. II is hard 70 how protest from Chicago
be sustained
The situation was made more complex By the
fight around second base in which McGinnity
was involved. McGinnity raced over when he
heard Chance call TO put MerkIe out at second
base. and got the ball when it was thrown in
Moran. Of Chicago. got into a fight with some
spectators and had TO be rescued by the police,
while hundreds svarned around the fighting
players Some said that Evers finally got the
ball and touched second base. which, if Merkle
really cid not touch the bag. would have made
him force out. But En1slie did not this.
and. n fact. could not well have done so SO the
question IS up TO President Pulliam-
New York was without the services Of Tenney
who has a bad leg. when the game started yes
terdav. and Merkle, who was to acquire notoriety
soon enough. took his place. He played well. but
NatheTson dominated the struggle and pitched
z game that he has never surpassed in his
terfuI career. Nine Cubs fell before him
strikes and he had three of the nine assists that
were made. 10 boot
Chance got 10 Matty for single in the second
inning and the crowd groaned when he reached
second on Steinfeldts sacrifice Trouble was
averted however as Holman lifted a high foul
and Bresnahan made splendid catch. Tinker
shot liner past first base but Merkle threw
himself Il and made beautiful catch less than
six inches from the ground
There fast work in the third inning
BY the Cubs Tinker fumbIed Herzogs hit. and
Doyle's substitute reached first safely. Bresna han
fled out, and, Herzog started to steal. Donlin,
playing the hit and game. popped up 10 Tinker,
whose lightning throw 10 Chance doubled Herzog.
Natty had 20 pitch his best fourth inning.
Evers singled, but Schultz forced him Mstty got
Chance slow grounder. but the flying Schultz
reached third base on the play. 1t was a chance
tor run, but the hard hitting Steinfeldt struck
out
The Giants were robbed OF a run in their half
Of this inning. Seymour drove liner to left
but Schultz made wonderful running catch. Dev-
LIN singled sharply through short field and raced
around TO third when Herzog hit over Evers's
head He doubled up.- however for Evers
made catch that be called nothing less than
phenomenal
with out Tinker hit clear TO the centre field
ropes for home The Giants couldn't tie the
score in their half. but they held the Cubs in the
sixth, or rather Matty, who struck Hayden