Tuesday, March 20, 2007 |
Today's Birthdays
Steve Blateric CAL b. 1944, played 1975
Will Brunson LAN b. 1970, played 1998
Johnny Butler BRO b. 1893, played 1926-1927, d. 1967-04-29
Jim Golden LAN b. 1936, played 1960-1961
Mike Griffin BRO b. 1865, played 1891-1898, d. 1908-04-10
Terry McDermott LAN b. 1951, played 1972
Joe McGinnity BRO b. 1871, played 1900, Hall of Fame: 1946 (BBWAA), d. 1929-11-14. Born McGinty (he changed his name as an adult), he was one of a number of Baltimore (National League) Orioles translated to Brooklyn during the syndication wave that caught up the NL during the decade the league was the only game in town. He got a late start, coming up to the majors as a 28-year-old who learned a devastating changeup mixed with an underhand delivery that made him incredibly effective and durable; he routinely pitched both halves of doubleheaders, twice pitching more than 400 innings in a single season, and several times lead the league in relief wins as well. His extreme toughness, combined with his offseason job in a foundry, earned him the nickname "Iron Man". After 1899, he jumped to the first AL Baltimore Orioles team, which lasted just one year, after which he moved to the Giants. He led the league in complete games twice, and was scoreless in both his World Series appearances. He played for years in the minors after his retirement from the majors, throwing in a spitball.
As a Giant, he was involved in the Merkle bonehead play:
With the score tied in the bottom of the 9th inning, with two outs, and Moose McCormick on first base, Merkle singled, advancing McCormick to third base. The next batter, Al Bridwell, also hit an apparent single, which would allow McCormick to score and end the game as a victory for the Giants. The fans in attendance subsequently stormed the field--in celebration, but also because the exit was located at the center field wall.The game was replayed, and during the rematch, McGinnity picked a fight with Frank Chance, hoping to get the Cubs' star player kicked out of the game, but Chance was too smart to fall for it. The Cubs won the game, and ultimately, the World Series — their most recent such victory.
However, Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers noticed that Merkle, thinking the game was over, walked to the Giants' clubhouse without touching second base. Accounts vary as to whether Evers then retrieved the actual game ball or a different ball. Some versions of the story have him running to the outfield to retrieve the correct ball. Other versions of the story have it that he shouted for the ball which was relayed to him from the Cubs' dugout. And still other versions have it that Giants player Joe McGinnity saw what was transpiring and threw the actual game ball into the stands; thus the ball that was picked up by or relayed to Evers was a different ball entirely. In any event, Evers went to second base with a ball in his possession, touched the base and appealed to umpire Hank O'Day to call Merkle out. By the strict letter of baseball rules, Merkle's not touching second meant that when Evers touched the base while holding what was assumed to be the game ball, Merkle was out on a force play, and that McCormick's run did not count.
He later ran a saloon, and coached for the Dodgers and Cubs.
Rick Parker LAN b. 1963, played 1995-1996
: 3/21/2007 12:09:00 PM
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