Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-02

played Philadelphia 1t was Mathew
son against Coveleski and the latter
won. to 2. Pittsburg and the Cubs
won their games that day and the
Giants dropped to third.
Chicago and Pittsburg then met in
what was for them the last game of
the season. One was bound to lose and
II the game were played to a tie, there
was a chance that New York would
slip past both and win the champion
ship. Pfttsburg erred at critical mo-
ments during the game and lost to
2 and was eliminated in the champion
ship race. having played their full
quota of games. Chicago held first
place. Pittsburg second and the Giants
third. The Giants, however, had three
games to play with Boston, and by
winning all OF them could tie Chicago.
They won them.
Now turning back the history pages
a few days, to September 23, there oc-'
CURED play which set the baseball
world by its ears In the last inning of
the game between tho Cubs and Giants.
with Mccormick on third and Merkle
on first and two out. Bridwell. tho
New York shortstop. hatted a clean hit
over second base. Mccormick scored
and Bridwell touched first base. Evers,
the Cub second -sacker remained at his
post calling for the ball to be thrown
TO him. Chance. the Cub leader. assert
ed that 1t was thrown, demanded that
Umpire O'Day declare MerkIe out on
the ground that he had not touched
second base and therefore had been
forced out. O'Day left tho field. an
nouncinS that the play was suspend
cd. After tho crowd had left he stated
that the run which supposedly was
made by Mccormick and which would
have thu for Naru Ynrk RI
not scored and that tho contest. there
fore, was tie. | to I. In other words
he had declared Merkle out at second,
Tho National league president. Pull
liam. sustained o'Day In his report and
both teams protested. Chicago
claimed i. should have been awarded
the game under the rule referring to
the number OF games which shall be
played during the season and that
New York should have played Off tho
tie on September ~. Tho Giants pro-
tosted against tho umpire's decision,
claiming it was not In accordance with
the facts.
Pulliam called q meeting Of d.
rectors. They upheld the decision of
tho umpire and the calling Of the game
tie. refused to grant tho Cub claim
on the ground that they had tied the
hands OF tho league president by the
filing of their protest and that the
game therefore could not be played
tho following day. They then ordered
the game to be played Off at tho Polo
grounds on October Z.
30. with tho season ending In Q
tie between tho teams they met on
October in a memorable contest
So great wns the crowd that those
loft outside battered down the fences
and tore away parts OF tho stands in
their frenzy.
Tho Cubs won. Mathewson hurled for
tho Giants and he WAS batted in but
one inning. but enough runs came In
then to give Chicago tho game,
Chance made a bad biundcr to start
the contest by starting Pfiestcr in the
box. The Giants threw away their
chances to win tho game in the first
inning by poor base running. Brown
was sent In to relieve Pficster and he
thereafter held tho Giants safe.
Tho pcnnant races In both leagues
were close In 1916. In tho National,
Brooklyn won. Philadelphia was Sec
ond. Boston third and the Giants
fourth. Philadelphia was beaten by Is
points in tho percentage and New
York. tho In fourth place. was seven
games behind tho leaders. Boston was
nine percentage points behind Phila-
dciphia. Boston won tho American
league fag with only IA percentage
points advantage over the White Sox.
while Detroit was a closo third.
In 1918. the American league race
was close. Boston. Cleveland and
Washington finishing close together
Last years American race was de-
cidcd In the last days with Cleveland,
Chicago and New York punched