Fred Merkle
by Will
Was in Chicago with some UCBT folk for a theater conference. I did something so dumb that I weirdly proud of it. We were walking around the IO Theater (for our first of two nights seeing shows there, which was very cool) and ran across a bar called “Merkle’s” that had a picture of old timey baseball player that I recognized as Fred Merkle. Surprised at seeing such an obscure baseball reference I starting ranting in an impassioned tone “Fred Merkle? Why would anyone have a bar devoted to Fred Merkle? I know that he was famous for not touching second base in the 1908 World Series, which made the umps call the game invalid, which let the Chicago Cubs win the series, but why would someone make a bar about that? That’s stupid!” I said this with Wrigley Field, the home field of the Chicago Cubs, plainly visible two blocks to the north. “Hey, I think 1908 was the last time the Chicago Cubs WON the world series, actually. Anyway, back to this bar — is it some baseball trivia nut?”
So that was dumb.
Comments
Sounds like you were acting like a real Merkle.
I think you can play it off as the comedic device known as the “slow burn”
Sounds like you pulled a real boner, Will.
Still wonder why people hate New Yorkers? ;)
So, did you figure it out or not? I’m dying to know why, mostly because my own entry into the tavern business, “Snuffy Snodgrass’s Bar And Grille” hasn’t taken off like I’d hoped.
Old timey baseball references!
Don’t be such a rube.
Rube Marquand, that is! (Slaps knee.)
From the website: “Merkle’s was created so that every bonehead has a chance to get to second base.”