Despite all the enormous success enjoyed by the New York Giants during the managerial reign of John McGraw, the team equally experienced a lot of frustrating "close calls", finishing second in the National League race 11 times and coming in second in the World Series on 6 occasions. The agony of defeat was never more evident than during the 1908 season.

All season long, the Giants were locked in a heated 3-team battle with the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League lead. McGraw, attempting to establish his club as the dominate team in the NL, had won the pennant in 1904 and 1905 and were world champions the latter year with a series triumph over Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. The last two years, though, New York had finished more than 20 games behind the league leaders.

If there was a dynasty in baseball at that time, it was the Chicago Cubs. First known as the White Stockings, Chicago won the first National League pennant in 1876 with a 52-14 record. The Cubs are the oldest major league team still in existence, 129 years all in the same location. The club won six pennants in the 1800s and were the reigning NL champions (1906 and 1907), also the defending World Series champions with a 4-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers in 1907.

The Cubs were famous for one of the greatest double play combinations in history: shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers, and first baseman and manager Frank Chance (Tinker to Evers to Chance). Chicago's best pitcher was Mordecai (Three-Finger) Brown. The Giants countered with their ace, Christy Mathewson, who won 37 games in 1908.

On Wednesday, September 23, the Giants and Cubs were still in a virtual tie for the lead, separated by only percentage points as the two clubs met in a big showdown matchup at the Polo Grounds. McGraw's New York club had experienced numerous injuries and, with first baseman Fred Tenney one of the walking wounded, McGraw penciled in the name of rookie Freddie Merkle in the starting lineup. Mathewson battled Cub lefthander Jack Pfiester to a 1-1 tie for 8 innings. Pfiester was known as "Jack the Giant Killer" for his reputation of beating the New Yorkers with unerring regularity.

In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Arthur Devlin singled to center, but Harry McCormick hit into a force play at second. That brought the rookie, Merkle to the plate with a chance to be a hero -- and he came through with another single, sending McCormick to third. Shortstop Al Bridwell stepped to the plate with two out and the winning run only 90 ft. away at third base. Bridwell smashed a hot liner past Evers at second and into center field. The Giants won as McCormick crossed the plate -- or did they? It was then confusion reigned as the crowd mobbed the field and all the players made a mad dash for the clubhouse to avoid being trampled -- that is except for Cub second baseman Johnny Evers and umpire Hank O'Day.

In those days it was not unusual, especially for a game of this magnitude, once the stands were filled, fans were allowed to stand behind a roped-off area behind the left and right field foul lines. Caught up in the exuberance of the moment, it was also typical those fans would swarm the field immediately after the game in celebration and to pound the backs, shake the hands, or ride on their shoulders their heroes. It was also an accepted practice the players would make a quick exit with their safety in mind before the onrushing throng. Once the winning run scored and Bridwell made sure he touched first base, the game was considered over. Merkle, in time-honored fashion, swerved off the basepath to join his teammates in their exodus.

Suddenly, everyone was aware Evers was on the second base bag, jumping up and down and frantically calling for the ball. When it was finally retrieved from the mob scene going on all around him, Evers stepped on second and O'Day raised his right arm, signalling "out". Most of the fans left the park that day not even aware of what had happened. Even the players didn't find out until later that, since the runner on first, Merkle, never completed his run to second, he had been called out on a force play. It was the third out, the run was nullified, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

By the time order had been restored, it was too late to go back out on the field and "finish" the game. Over the next week, McGraw and the Giants appealed the decision, stating that Merkle had only done what every other player already did in similar circumstances, but the appeals were denied. The umpire's decision stood. Two weeks later, the two teams crossed the finish line in a dead-heat tie for first place. A playoff game would be necessary to decide the pennant.

McGraw gave the ball to Mathewson again and the Cubs countered with "Three-Finger" Brown. This time, Chicago raked the Giants' 37-game winner for four runs in the third inning and held on to win, 4-2. Merkle was not in the lineup for New York. Chicago had its' third straight flag and again triumphed in the World Series, over Detroit, 4 games to 1.

Did O'Day make the right call? Technically, yes, even though it was a call that generally was ignored. It had always been "understood" the game was over and the play would stand. But what did it do to Merkle? To the Cubs? To the Giants?

The Giants lost a pennant McGraw desperately wanted to win. It would be three more years before they would again climb the pinnacle. Merkle was to forever wear the goat's horns and his name became synonymous with "bone-head" or "boner". To his credit, even though he was usually tough on his players in demanding excellence, McGraw never blamed Merkle for losing the pennant. By the time the Giants did win again, 3 straight pennants 1911-13, Merkle was McGraw's regular first baseman and he played a solid game in the field, kept his batting average near the .300 mark, and ironically became one of the best baserunners on the team.

Why is it, no matter how good a player may be, if he makes one mistake that costs his team the championship, he is forever remembered for only that one play? What is the first thing we think of when someone mentions the name Bill Buckner? What about Ralph Branca? Mickey Owen?

While we're at it, let's not forget the Cubs. The 1908 world championship was the last they were to ever enjoy. At 96 years, it is the longest stretch any major league team has ever gone without a title. They haven't even won a National League pennant since 1945.

In 1984, Jim Frey's Cubs won the Eastern Division and won two blowout victories at Wrigley Field in the playoffs. They carried a 2-0 lead and only needed one more victory in the 3-out-of-5 playoffs as they headed to San Diego. The Padres, led by Steve Garvey, came back with 3 straight close wins to take the flag.

Just last year, manager Dusty Baker's Cubs had the Florida Marlins on the ropes, ready to deliver the knockout punch, but a fan interfered with a catchable foul ball, taking a putout away from left fielder Moises Alou. Given another chance, the Marlins stormed back to take the series and even upset the mighty Yankees in the World Series.

This year began with high hopes for the Cubs to finally take it all. They have been beset by injuries to key players all year -- Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, and Sammy Sosa. At this writing, they have fallen far behind the rampaging St. Louis Cardinals. Another disappointment.

Talk about the Red Sox and "The Curse of the Babe" ... The Cubs have fallen victim to "The Merkle Curse". The baseball powers that be will never forgive them for ruining the career of the Giants' first baseman back in 1908.