There were many reported bizarre and unusual incidents and events in
baseball featuring various baseball characters that seemed to be acting in an
epic saga that combined comedy, mystery, and fantasy. Some of these
incidents may be embellished, or they may not be apocryphal. Some though,
are so unusual and bizarre, that I believe no one could make them up. Some
of the events are well documented and theres no question that they actually
happened.
Flame On:
Chris von der Ahe became the owner of the St. Louis Browns in 1882. He was
said to be the first owner to sell hot dogs at his ballpark. He encouraged his
players to brawl with their opponents for entertainment value, and by dropping
his home game ticket prices to 25 cents, he was able to lead the Majors in
attendance. He claimed to have made back his losses by selling beer.
Von der Ahe erected a large statue of himself at a major park in St. Louis, and
throughout his stint as owner of the Browns, he was embroiled in controversy
and was ridiculed by the media. Legal and business problems plagued him.
At one point he hired Charles Comiskey, who would become legendary in
baseball, to manage his team and play first base. Comiskey turned out to be a
very successful manager, winning the league championship four years in a
row. His fifth year at the helm was less than successful, and von der Ahe fired
Comiskey and managed the club himself.
The Browns owner got himself into financial trouble, and his own bondsman
kidnapped him in an attempt to get him to pay his bills. Von der Ahe also
accidentally burned his own ballpark down by setting out hundreds of candles
on the field and near the dugout in an attempt to get his players to finish a
game at dusk.
Merkle Debacle:
The 1908 season in the National League produced a bizarre finale that has
come to be known as the Merkle Incident. It started in a regular season game
between the Giants and the Cubs at the Polo Grounds-- tie score, two outs,
bottom of the ninth, runners on first and third. Merkle was on first.
A single was hit, the runner scored from third, and thinking that the Giants had
won, Merkle ran to the clubhouse instead of advancing to second base. One of
the Cubs fielders claimed to have retrieved the ball and tagged second base,
which no official saw. There was an official protest by the Cubs, and Merkle
was ruled a force out at second, wiping out the game winning run.
The League ordered that if it were necessary the game would be replayed at
the end of the season. The Cubs and Giants ended the regular season tied for
first place. The Cubs won the replayed game and subsequently, the World
Series. The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since.
Black Sox:
The White Sox of 1919, or as they have become widely known-- the "Black
Sox", conspired (8 of them) to throw the World Series. After the series there
were rumors about the fix, creating a controversy that led to an investigation.
Eddie Cicotte admitted his part in the conspiracy, followed by "Shoeless" Joe
Jackson. Even though they broke no law, all eight involved were suspended
from baseball. The players were eventually acquitted, yet baseball ruled they
were permanently ineligible to play.
Team Work:
Pitcher Buck OBriens record was 20-13 for Boston. He gave up 5 runs in the
first inning of game six of the 1912 World Series subsequently losing the
game. His teammates beat him up after the game. To add insult to injury,
Boston won the World Series and OBrien was traded to the Chicago White
Sox.
The Umpire Strikes Back:
Umpire Tim Hurst had a bad reputation for settling arguments by striking
arguing players on their heads with his mask or his fists. In 1897 an irate fan
threw a beer stein at Hurst. The umpire tossed it back, hit an innocent fan, was
fined and dismissed by the American League.
After a stint of 5 years in the National League as an umpire, Hurst rejoined the
American League. An argument with New York manager Clark Griffith
resulted in Hurst knocking him cold. In 1909, he intentionally spit in the eye of
Athletics second baseman Eddie Collins, which ended an argument but
started a riot. The American League fired Hurst for a second time.
Fact or myth?
Here are some strange and bizarre events that have been reported over the
years.
* Rumor has it Charlie Hough once broke his finger shaking hands with a
friend.
* Some sources say Red Murray and Ray Caldwell were struck by lightning
during a game.
* It is well documented that Ted Williams once picked up a reporter (Hy
Hurwitz) by his necktie, and then cut the tie off with scissors.
* Some sources say Minor league umpires Samuel White and Ora Jennings
were actually killed by fans during a game.
* Babe Herman reportedly once doubled into a double play.
* It has been said that Ed Stewart once swung the bat so hard he knocked
himself out.
* Some sources say Dan Friend once played the outfield in his robe.
* Legend has it Marv Thorneberry once hit a ball that was ruled a triple but he
was called out for not tagging first and second base.
* Jackie Brandt once said his inconsistent defensive play was due to the fact
that when he ran hard, his eyeballs jumped up and down.
* Jim Kern reportedly once came out on the field with his uniform on
backwards and fell backward off the mound, suffering a concussion.
Perhaps the strangest of the bizarre come in the form of quotes from the
inimitable Yogi Berra:
* "I didnt really say everything I said."
* "Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical."
* "Nobody goes there anymore; its too crowded."
* "This is like deja vu all over again."
* "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
* "Its never happened in the World Series competition, and it still hasnt."
* "Nobody can hit and think at the same time." |
