The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-07
DETROIT COPS THE PENNANT;
 SOX SUFFER A GREAT DEFEAT Fl
NeW York ard Chicago
 Must Play OH Tie Game
National League Directors Uphold President Puiam Decd ing That Disputed Game Was Tie and Decide That the
 Two Teams Must Play Off Game on Thursday Oct. 8

Cincinnati. October 6-For the first time i Baseball Clubs post-season game for the settlement of the championship is an- ] nouneed for Thursday of this week. the l tangle that arose over the last series l in New York between the New York and l Chicago clnbs having brought decision l today from the National league directors ! to that effect. For nearly two days and l a large part of one night the directors lis i tened to evidence and considered the mat l ter in it's various phases. and finally an- i nouneed their decision late this afternoon. i Chairman Ebbetts made little speech be- l fore aas5ing August Hermann to read l the text of the decision, calling attention 1 to the importance of the case and the care l that had been taken to give proper consid- ] eraton to all interested.
 Two protests were up for decision. on appeals from the ruling of President Pul- liam.
 New York appealed from the decision sustaining the ruling of the umpires that a game played September 23 was tie and l ihe second was an appeal by Chicago l from the decision that they were not en- titled 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:
 Most Important Case.
 Tn our judgment this case is the most important one that has ever been pre- scented to the board of directors of the National league for it's adjudication. We have given the entire matter the most careful thought and consideration. We have examined all of the testimony sub mitted in evidence very carefully. and have listened attentively to the arguments advanced by both parties. In arriving at our conclusion we are guided entirely by the law and the rules as they exist, and the evidence as it is submitted, and can not 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, says;
 The game should have won by the New York club had 1t not been for the reckless, careless. inexcusable blunder of one of it's pla yers-Merk1e.
 Rule Is Quoted
 The rule covering the play is quoted and the decision continues:
 While it may not have been com piled with in many other games while other clubs may not have taken ad- vantage of its provisions in the past under similar conditions, yet 1t does not deprive the Chicago club of the right to do so if they so desired, not withstanding that 1t might be termed as taking advantage of whining or tying a game upon a technicality.
 'Merkle sh ould have had only one thing on his mind, viz: to reach second base in safety, by a hit, error, or in any other way. The evidence clearly shows the following: 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 the direction of the club house without having reached second base. Enslie was officiating as umpire back of the pitcher: O'Day back of the catch CT. When the hit was made Emslie fell 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 ball was fielded in by