Little Decisions ~ Big Results

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      For three days the victor of the 1908 National League Pennant was unknown. New York’s Bennett Park, the home of the Giants and the location of the 7th game of the series, was empty, the last fan had gone home, and the headlines had run the news that the New York Giants were the Champions. But behind the scenes, involving a Commissioner, team owners, coaches, players, and lawyers (a volatile mix), the 1908 National League Pennant race continued.
      The 7th game of the 1908 pennant race began with the Cubs and the Giants tied with three wins each. The teams had fought to a 1 to 1 tie after eight-and-one-half innings. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants began to come to life, as they were able to place runners on base. Finally, with two outs, the Giants had Moose McCormick on third base as the possible winning run, and Fred Merkle was on first base after hitting a single to right field.
      The hometown Giant fans were up and rowdy with anticipation of a National League Pennant for their team. This was particularly exciting since the Cubs had won the pennant race against the Giants in 1907, and the Cubs had gone on to win the World Series outright. The roar of the fans was more than heard as the very ground trembled with the excitement of the closing moments of the game. Fights were already breaking out in the stands, and some intoxicated fans began to throw trash onto the field.
      Al Bridwell was at bat for the Giants. The entire season came down to the next series of few pitches. Some who were there said the fans standing around the outfield were already beginning, in anticipation, to collapse in on the field. Bridwell came through with a single up the middle to center field. McCormick trotted home, Merkle ran in leaps, and with his arms flailing, toward second base. Bridwell joyfully loped to first, and the fans burst onto the field in a riotous celebration. With no crowd control and the player exit from the field being in center field, it was a mad dash for both the Cubbies and the Giants, racing against the flow of the Giant outfield doggery. Most made it safely to the clubhouse believing that the game was over.
      But one attentive Chicago Cub, Johnny Evers, the second baseman, noticed that in an attempt to put safety before the game at hand, Fred Merkle had never touched second base and had actually, for safety’s sake, run like the wind from first base toward the center field exit. Evers recovered what was supposed to be the game ball, even though there was no proof that it was the actual ball, and tagged second base, ending the inning, nullifying the run supposedly scored by McCormick and leaving the game alive at the top of the 10, tied at one to one.
      Evers and the Cubs Manager, Frank Chance, found an umpire, and Merkle was called “out”. But since the field was full of Giant Fans and there was a need for good judgment and much talk between various officials, three days passed before it was finally ruled that the Giants and the Cubs had ended the National League season in a “tie”. The playoff game was played, the Cubs won the 1908 National League Pennant, and the Giants lost due to the errant fear of one player who chose safety over frugality.
      What if Joshua had marched around Jericho for six days and, since his feet were tired, slept in on the seventh? What if Moses had said, “I have a headache. It ‘ain’t’ so bad here. Let’s just stay in Egypt!” What if Peter had responded to the call to be a disciple by saying, “Naw, I think I will just keep on fishin’.”
      It has been said, and I think it is true, that the course of history is governed by the small sacrificial decisions we make in hard times more than the large, easy decisions we make in good times. It is the overcoming of our fears, our shortsightedness and our weaknesses that will ultimately govern how faithfully we can serve as disciples and witnesses.
      We cannot forget that there was a garden outside Jerusalem where our “Lord,” in a dark, fearful night, chose to be our “Savior”. Such a decision has changed, and still changes, individuals and the world.

The 1908 World Series is notable in several areas. The Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers in 5 games for the second time in as many years. Ty Cobb had a great showing for the Tigers but his teammates let him down. This was the first Series where 4 umpires were used and featured the lowest attendance (just over 6,000 for the 5th game) of any Series game before or since. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was a brand new song. To the present day, this was also the last time the have Cubs won the World Series.

Rev. Dan Martin is pastor of First UMC, Hendersonville. He can be reached at moose1953@hotmail.com