The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-13
MGRAW TELLS OF HIT
THAT BROKE UP GAME
ANDALMOSTWON77 TITLE
ARTICLE xxxIV.-By JOHN J. M'GRAW
Manager Worlds Champion Giants

In describing the greatest hit | e
what constitutes great hit-its be;
of the wallop. The several correspt
did not give definition of what tn
To me the greatest hit is the most
timely hit. That makes the answer
comparatively easy. The single made
by AL Bridwell in that famous game
with the Cubs in 1908, when Merkle
failed to touch second, stands out in
my memory as the greatest.
Hit Won Championship
That particular line drive won the
pennant of 1908, though we did not
get it. / have never weakened IN
my opinion that the awarding of that
pennant to the Cubs on a technical
ity was just. Bridwell's hit really
won the championship.
Very likely fans of today remembe r
that famous incident clearly. There
were two out at the time and Merkle
was on first with Harry Mccormick,
on third. Bridwell came to bat with
the chance of winning pennant
staring him in the face.
Al was not the least disturbed by
the Importance of the moment. In
fact, Bridwell was one of the gamest
players l ever knew. We all had a
bunch that he was going to nail the
ball and, sure enough he did. 1t was
clean line smack to center.
Mccormick scored from third with
the winning run, and then the trouble
started.
While I am on the subject, even
though l am a little ahead of my
story, this is good place to describe
just what happened that afternoon
that day that still keeps an important
spot in baseball history. Here is ex-
actly what happened.
Merkle Left Base
After Bridwell had hit the ball and
Mccormick had scored. everybody
started running across the field. AL
ways it had been customary to do
this. Merk1e, like all players before
him, simply ran down toward second
Having shown that he could have
reached the bag had he wanted to, he
turned off and ran to the clubhouse
He did not really touch the bag
though most of the players thought
he did, at the time.
In moment there was consterna-
ton. We saw Holman throw the ball
in and make wild motions as ii some
thing was to happen at second base
1t seemed that a similar play had
been made by the Cubs a week or so
before.
The ball went over toward third
Pitcher Kroh, a substitute, ran out
and scrambled to get the ball. Joe
McGinnity, who also had run out,
grappled with Kroh. In the meantime
the crowd was surging and milling
about them and Johnny Evers was
wildly waving his arms at second
tase.
BalI Thrown Into BIeachers
Joe McGinnity finally gothic ball
away from Kroh and threw it into
the left field bieachers. That's why
l always have maintained that nc
play was made at second with the
ball that had been hit
| To get picture of this confusion
you must bear in mind that thous-
ands of fans were running all over
| the diamond. Nobody seemed to know
what happened. Jack Hayden, play
! ing the outfield for the Cubs, had run
| toward the club house, thinking the
/ game over.
/ Finally Johnny Evers got the at
tention of Umpire Emslie. who was
working on the bases that day. Hank
! O'Day was behind the bat.
Emslie walked away from Evers
! shaking his head to indicate that he
! would not allow such play. Ever.
! followed him for short distance ant
then all ran to ODay. who had turnet
away from the plate, walking toward
| the stand, and was taking the extra
| balls out of his blouse.
Nobody ever knew what decision
had been made.
/ The next morning the excitement
still being iStense. several newspa,
per men went down to the old Hotej
Ashland. where the umpires stopped
| in those days. The hotel is not there
| now.
| Game Called Off
One of the reporters asked O'Da,
| to tell exactly what was his decision
| He said the runner-Merkle-wa
out because it was necessary for hin
to touch second to prevent forcei
play.
Blu. that would only leave tn,