THIS DATE IN BASEBALL

Sept. 23

1908 – In a crucial game with the Chicago Cubs, Fred Merkle of the New York Giants failed to touch second base as the apparent winning run crossed home plate. This resulted in a great dispute and the game was eventually declared a tie and played over on Oct. 8 when the Cubs and Giants ended the season in a tie.

1939 – Brooklyn's Cookie Lavagetto went 6-for-6 to lead the Dodgers' 27-hit attack in a 22-4 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies. Lovagetto had four singles, a double and a triple and scored four runs. He was the only Dodger without an RBI. Dixie Walker, Gene Moore and Johnny Hudson each drive in three runs.

1952 – The Brooklyn Dodgers clinched the NL title, the first time since 1948 that the pennant wasn't decided in the season's final game.

1957 – Hank Aaron's 11th-inning homer gave the Milwaukee Braves a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and the NL pennant. It was the first time since 1950 that a New York team hadn't finished first.

1979 – Lou Brock stole base No. 938, breaking Billy Hamilton's record, as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Mets 7-4 in 10 innings.

1983 – Steve Carlton of Philadelphia recorded his 300th career victory with a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.