The Cubs won their third straight pennant, barely edging out both the Pirates and the Giants. In the record books, the Cubs have 99 wins, the other two teams 98, just one game back. Not listed is a "tie" game played by the Giants and Cubs; that was the "Merkle Boner" game late in the season that the Giants appeared to win, but instead was ruled a tie. This forced a one-game playoff between the Giants and Cubs, which the Cubs won. The Cubbies then won their second consecutive World Series. It is, of course, the last World Series in franchise history (as of 2002, a drought of over 90 years).

         This is the season. Honus Wagner had one of those years, like Ruth in 1921 and Mantle in 1956 and Bonds in 2001 when he just towered over every other baseball player on the planet. At first glance, it doesn't look that special; a 957 OPS is awfully good but many players have done better. But this was the ultimate Year Of The Pitcher, when run scoring completely bottomed out; many pitchers allowed less than two runs per game. A 957 OPS would look good in 2001; in this season, it was beyond spectacular. Wagner was so much better than any other player in the league, that this season has to rate as one of the most dominant in baseball history.
        This was Cubs' shortstop Joe Tinker's best season at the plate. He is in the Hall Of Fame, alongside Honus Wagner. Obviously there was a big difference between Tinker's best season and Wagner's best season. Tinker was an outstanding defensive player, and was immortalized in a poem along with teammates Johnny Evers and Frank Chance. Tinker was also immortalized for another reason: a game between the Cubs and the Giants, in which the Cubs were saved by their shortstop's quick thinking.
        After taking a year off to work on his acting, "Turkey" Mike Donlin came back and had his last big season. He then disappeared for two years, trying his hand at various theatrical projects, before returning as a bit player in 1911.
        One of Donlin's teammates was first baseman Fred Tenney. Tenney had had a good career, but he was 36, and this was his last good season. During the tight playoff race at the season's end, Tenney was hurt, and the Giants needed a replacement; fortunately, they had a 19-year-old kid named Fred Merkle who was highly touted. In a decisive game between the Giants and Cubs, Merkle was on first in the ninth inning when Al Bridwell knocked a game-winning hit. Merkle made it halfway to second base, then headed for the dugout to avoid the rush of fans onto the field.
        Merkle, of course, was still obligated to touch second base before joining the celebrations. The Cubs' intrepid double-play duo, Tinker and Evers, got hold of the ball, and beat Merkle to the bag . The umpire called Merkle out. After the confusion, both teams claimed victory; finally, the NL President ruled the game a tie, and the Giants lost their decisive win. They would also lose the pennant when the Cubs won a deciding playoff game. In truth, Merkle didn't do anything that most other players in the league would not have done... but the "Merkle Boner" was born, and lives on to this day.