The proverbial champagne is on ice. Today's game is televised at noon on Big Ten Network, and our friends in Evanston did us a solid by holding on for a 4-3 victory over Indiana yesterday. Combined with Joe Haase's stellar complete game four-hit shutout and home runs by Kevin Plawecki and Barrett Serrato, the magic number is now down to one. That's one victory (or losses today by Indiana, Michigan State, and Penn State who are all tied for second at 11-8) clinches at least a share of Purdue's first Big Ten title in 103 years. Here what was different the last time Purdue won a Big Ten baseball championship:
- There were only 46 states, as Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Arizona had not been granted statehood yet.
- The Chicago Cubs were the defending World Series champions.
- Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and Nebraska had yet to join the Big Ten, and the University of Chicago was still a member.
- Iowa was in a strange four-year hiatus from the conference that lasted from 1907 to 1911.
- The Panama Canal did not yet exist.
- William Howard Taft was President.
So yeah, it's been awhile. But it can end today. Today's game carries a noon first pitch on Big Ten Network, and I will be on hand to get some video of the game and hopefully the new Alexander Field. Consider this your Open Thread if you're watching from home.