Harry Pulliam

Who was Harry Pulliam?

Harry Clay Pulliam was an American baseball executive who served as the sixth President of the National League, from 1903 until his death, in the period in which the NL and the fledgling American League settled their hostilities and formed a National Agreement which led to the creation of the World Series. He was born in Scottsville, Kentucky. Baseball was halted in both the American and National Leagues for the first time in baseball history on the day he was buried. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia. A special baseball card was created in his honor and distributed at the World Series. He was the first person honored by baseball with all players wearing arm bands for 30 days.

His most controversial decision came late in the 1908 season, following a game between the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs in which Giants first baseman Fred Merkle, standing on first base, saw his team score a run to win the game and became so excited that he failed to step on second base, thus nullifying the run and leaving the game tied. The excited spectators ran onto the field in joy, thinking the Giants had won. Home plate umpire Hank O'Day deemed it impossible to restore order on the field to resume the game, and ruled that the run did not count. Due to darkness, the game was declared a tie. His decision was submitted to the league president, Pulliam, who agreed with the umpire. The game was later replayed, with the Cubs winning to capture the pennant. They went on to win the World Series that year, and Merkle has been blamed for the loss ever since.