1908 New York Giants season

[1] Future Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson earned the pitching triple crown with 37 wins, 259 strikeouts, and a 1.43 ERA.

That one-game playoff became necessary after Giants rookie Fred Merkle failed to touch second base at the end of a previous contest, costing them a win.

In addition, they were beaten by another rookie, Phillies pitcher Harry Coveleski, three times in five days late in the season.

[3] on August 27, the Giants won 18 of their last 23 (including four in a row versus the Pittsburgh Pirates) to take the lead in the National League for the first time since April.

[4] During the Giants four-game sweep of the Pirates in late August, the electric scoreboard made its debut in New York.

Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers noticed this, and after retrieving a ball and touching second base, he appealed to umpire Hank O'Day to call Merkle out.

However, since Merkle had not touched the base, the umpire called him out on a force play, and McCormick's run did not count.

The Giants and the Cubs would end the season deadlocked atop the standings and would have a rematch at the Polo Grounds, on October 8.