Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-01
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s7Aun
1t Happened in 'O8
A RICH BUT DEMOCRATII

RICH BUT DEMOCRATIC ex-copy boy for The STAR
name Of Bert Sugar is walking the streets of New York
with $500 in his pants pocket as result Of
cess on TV quiz show called Tic Tao Dough- This is
mentioned because he bought himself IS behind
cloud at the Patterson-JackSon hoedown and the
way to his hotel Sugar happened to mention that he'd just
taken four hour written examination order to qualify
for an appearance on the $4,000 Question
"One of the questions" Bert said, dealt with the
1908 National League pennant You invited to
identify the three clubs that down to the wire
practically neck and neck"
"And could you?"
This years race gave me the clue" Sugar confessed
you've got flve teams fighting for the pennant and
only three clubs out Of it. named those three teams
the Cubs, Giants and Prates-and that correct
answer for 1908"
1t was that all right. Not only was the 08 race in
the National League one of the al-tme close finishes
but the American League had three-cub race too and
now 40 later there outside the Ma
tional League fracaS will be Just as thrilling.
THOSE THREE TEAMS-New York, Pittsburgh and
Chicago-came down the stretch closely punched that
it wasn't until october that the Cubs by beating
the Giants in the playof Of bitterly disputed game
That was the of Fred Merkles celebrated boner
at the Polo Grounds on September 81 The Cubs and
Giants were tied at % Jack Phester of Chicago and
Chrtsty MathewSon hooked great pitching duel Then
the Giants rallied in the last of the ninth inning on hits
by Pinch-Hitter Moose Mccormick and Merkle then
ls-year-od substitute first baseman
With two out, Mccormick on third base and Merkle
FIRST shortstop AL Bridwe hit safely to center Nc
Cormick scored with what certainly seemed be the
winning but Merke watching Moose cross the plate
didn't bother to go down to second base Instead Fred
headed for the clubhouse
Johnny Evers, second baseman for the Cubs called
for the ball and Artie Hoffman, the centerhelder threw
II TO the infeld Joe Tinker scrambled for It, but Iron
Man Joe McGnnity Giant pitcher wrested it away and
flung the ball over the bleachers
A CHICAGO PITCHER Floyd Kroh tossed in another
ball and EverS caught and tagged the base Umpire
Hank ODay, whose eyes had been glued to the bag
promptly called Merke thus the score reverted to
20 tie.
An angry crowd milled on the field and prevented
play from continuing League President Harry Puiam
ordered repay on october the day following the close
Of the regular season.
Meanwhile Pittsburgh blew its chances of cinching
the pennant on october against the the Pirates
had won that game last of the season for them Pitts
burgh would have captured the pennant regardless of
later happenings However Mordeca Brown for the
Cubs, to 2.
The Giants still had three games remaining with the
Boston Braves and needed all three tie Cubs These
were captured by John McGraws and so the stage
was set for the payoh occasioned by Merkes rock"
McGraw saved his 37-game winner, Mathewson and
the Cubs countered with Phester who lasted less than
an inning and way to the victorious Mordeca Brown
The great Mathewson, dog tired after hectic year. was
beaten to 2, and so the ended with the Cubs in
front with 643 percentage and the Giants and Pirates
tied for second with $3.50, game behind
NOT THREE TEAMS but four we're involved in most of
the redhot American League scramble OF 8 AS late as
middle September the Tigers, Cleveland Maps Qater
Indians White sox and ST. Louis Browns were running
almost even.
1t was so close that on October 6, Anal day of the
season, Detroit and Chicago for the flag The losing
team destined to finish third
After such a season, however, the final game was a
letdown The Tigers, featuring Ty Cobb Sam Crawford
and other sluggers by to as Bill Donovan pitched
hitter, beating Doc White, Ed Walsh who won 40
games and pitched AGA innings) and Frank Smith
AS matter Of fact even the World Series was anti
cmactic 1t lasted only five games the Cubs repeating
their Series win in o. easily handled the Tigers But the
season had Just about everything else.