Fred Merkle and Steve Bartman. What do these two men have in common? They are both respective "goats" in the world of baseball. Now, "goat" used in this context is not an animal you see on a farm that makes a "bah" sound. "Goat," in this instance, is a word reserved for a player that makes one resoundingly blatant error or mistake that costs his team and fanbase dearly. Or in Steve Bartman's case, you are not a player who makes a catastrophic blunder, but rather a bystander who simply changed the course of history at the expense of a lot of people.
Both of these instances of "goatmanship" are linked to baseball's postseason. Since the Major League Baseball playoffs start on Friday, I thought it was appropriate to look back at these two men whose names have become synonymous with postseason heartbreak and horror.
I'll go in chronological order, all the way back to poor Fred Merkle in 1908, 103 years ago. Merkle, who was 19, was the youngest player in professional baseball at that time. He played for John McGraw's powerhouse New York Giants in the National League and would become known for this one mistake more than anything else. The Giants were playing the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 23 at the Polo Grounds and the score was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. There were two outs. The Giants needed just one run to win the game and had the bases loaded with Merkle on first.
Al Bridwell knocked a line drive into center field which should have scored the game-winning run from third. The jubilant New York crowd rushed onto the field in droves. However, the play was not over. Fred Merkle had stopped running to second base after the runner crossed home plate and started trotting to the clubhouse. There was still a chance for the Cubs to force Merkle out at second and cancel the winning run. Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers chased the ball down in the crowd and tagged second base. An umpire had seen the whole thing unfold and called Merkle out. The game ended in a tie and was replayed later in the season with the Cubs winning. Chicago won the National League pennant by one game over New York. Chicago won the World Series that year, also. They have not won another since.
The baserunning error has since become known as "The Merkle Boner." Now, bear with me, I know that name is funny, but how about some sympathy for Fred Merkle? He gutted it out in the majors for many more years, but was always chided, ridiculed and remembered for that one goof.
Steve Bartman may never be forgiven for his gaffe, if you can even call it that. In 2003, the Cubs were once again in the postseason, this time playing the Florida Marlins for the National League pennant. Game six was played at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning with one out and the Marlins at the plate.
A foul ball was hit down the left field line. Cubs outfielder Moises Alou gave chase as the ball drifted towards the stands. Bartman, along with several people, reached up to try to catch the ball as it was coming down on the railing between the stands and the field. Alou went up to catch the ball at the same time, but Bartman's hand knocked the ball away. Alou, furious at what had just happened, looked up into the stands waving his arms frantically. The play was ruled a foul ball and not fan interference.
That would have been the second out in the inning. Instead, the Marlins rallied for eight runs in the eighth inning and won the game. They went on to win the seventh and deciding game the next night and went on to win the World Series against the New York Yankees.
Bartman is the subject of the latest ESPN "30 for 30" documentary "Catching Hell," which premiered last night. It's amazing what he went through in the aftermath of Game six. He had to be escorted out of the stadium and had police protection around his house in the days afterward. Cubs fans are still reeling from the loss and the team has still not won another World Series. It's just not right to put all the blame on Batman's shoulders. There were several other Cubs fans going after the foul ball; but, as is often the case, he is the one who has been made the scapegoat.
The word "goat" has such a bad connotation when used in this way, especially in Bartman's case. He's an avid Cubs fan and by all accounts would not hurt a fly. I'd cut the man some slack, but then again, I'm not from Chicago. The only thing missing in the aftermath was the angry mob with pitchforks and torches. Chicago PD probably gets a Christmas card from Bartman every year just to say thanks.