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Are you ready for “the rest of the rest of the story?” George Wiltse did more than just pitch and play the field. He occasionally coached first base, which he was doing on Sept. 23, 1908, against the Chicago Cubs in the Polo Grounds. This was a fierce, down-to-the-wire battle for the National League pennant. It was the bottom of the ninth, two out, with Giant runners at first and third, the game tied. Unfortunately, the runner on first was Fred Merkle. When the batter hit what seemed to be a game-winning single, Fred, later nicknamed “Bonehead,” failed to run to second base. Thinking the Giants won, the fans mobbed the field. The Cubs 2nd baseman, Johnny Evers, called for the ball, tagged 2nd base, and the home plate umpire called Merkle out. The game was declared a tie. If George could have just sent Merkle all the way to second… The Giants were thus forced into a playoff with these same Cubs. The Cubs beat them and went on to win the World Series. BTW, the Cubs wouldn’t win another World Series for 108 years. Hooks’ major league career ended in 1915. He played some minor league ball, then came back to central NY where he coached and managed local amateur teams. In 1957, a new league was formed for 16-18-year-old players. There were eight teams, and it was named the George “Hooks” Wiltse Baseball League. Because of his achievements in professional baseball, his contributions to youth baseball, and his qualities as a sportsman and a gentleman, there was a serious effort to have him inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It did not happen and even the Old-Timers Committee seems to have forgotten him. He was, however, in 1990, inducted into the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. “Hooks” Wiltse died in 1959 and was interred in Section 72, Lot 223 of Oakwood Cemetery. His wife, Della, passed away in 1965 and rests beside him. And that, folks, is the rest of the rest of the story. ... See MoreSee Less

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