The Greatest World Series Game Ever?

Now that we’ve had a little time to reflect on Saturday night’s classic World Series game, I can now say that the LA Dodgers 5-4 win in 11 innings against the Toronto Blues Jays in game seven of the 2025 World Series was one of the greatest World Series games ever, if not the greatest. But just to be sure I checked in with my good friend Grandpa Gordy who, as you know if you have read my book Grandpa Gordy’s Greatest World Series Games, is an expert on World Series games. This was our conversation.

“Well let me think. It was a pretty darn good game that’s for sure.”

Then I said, “well, it had all the ingredients to be one of the greatest games ever, filled with tremendous drama. “

“Got to agree with that. It was a seventh game. Don’t get any more dramatic than a seventh game.”

And I added, “and it was decided in the final inning.”

“Extra innings to boot. Now as I recall there were some pretty darn good extra inning-seventh games. The one way back in 1924 when the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants was a doozy. And it was in my book.”

“That’s right. I know and so was the 1991 Minnesota Twins’ 1-0 victory over the Braves.”

“Hey and don’t forget when the underrated Florida Marlins beat Cleveland in 1997.”

“That’s right. It went 11 innings.”

“In my book too. And there’s that classic game in 2016 when the Chicago Cubs ended their 108-year draught and finally won a World Series. That was another doozy.”

“I don’t remember that one from your book.”

“You wouldn’t because my book came out in 2002.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be critical”

‘That’s okay. I’m working on my updated version.”

“So, Friday night the Blue Jays were only two outs away from winning the World Series when the Dodgers’ number nine hitter Miguel Rojas blasted a game-tying home run. Pretty dramatic.”

“Well, that’s for sure but in 2001 the Yankees were only two outs away from victory with Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera on the mound when Arizona’s Tony Womack lashed a game-tying double.”

“Who?”

Tony Womack DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/ALLSPORT

“That’s right. You think Miguel Rojas was an unsung hero? Well, how about Tony Womack in the ninth inning of game seven against the Yanks!”

“Well, that’s true. But what about that incredible bottom of the ninth. The Blues Jays had the bases loaded, one out. The winning run ninety feet away and Rojas (again Rojas!) makes a backhanded stab at second base, stumbles, but still fires a laser to nail the Blue Jay runner at home by a millisecond. The Blue Jays literally lost the World Series by a millisecond! And then Andy Pages makes a sensational game-saving, World Series-saving catch in deep left-center field!”

“Yeah, hard to top that!”

“And then in the top of the 11^th Will Smith hits the go-ahead home run.”

“That’s true but I’m sure you heard of that Bill Mazeroski fellow who hit the only walk-off, game-seven home run in World Series history way back in 1960 for the Pirates over the Yankees.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that. But what about Yoshi Yamamoto’s performance, pitching the final two innings in game seven after starting and winning game six.”

“Well, if I’m not mistaken that big ol’ scraggly-haired lefty Randy Johnson did the same thing against the Yanks in game six and game seven of the 2001 World Series.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. But what about the bottom of the 11^th. The Blues Jays had first and third with only one out. The tying run was on third and the winning run on first.”

“Oh yeah. That was pretty incredible, but Kirk hit into a double play ending it.”

“A really nice clutch play but Mookie Betts.”

“No doubt about it. The defense in the entire Series was tremendous. But think about this.” Grandpa Gordy scratched his beard. “What if Kirk hit a gapper and that guy Madison Barger who was on first came flying around third and slid into home with the winning running, beating the throw by a millisecond. And Blue Jays have comeback and are the champs.”

“Oh yeah. That would have been truly sensational!”

“So if that happened there would have been no doubt that this was the greatest World Series game ever.”

“I guess we can agree on that.”

“Yep and that in a little over three months it’s “pitchers and catchers”.

“Agreed!”

References: Grandpa Gordy’s Greatest World Series Games https://amzn.to/2T9lYVT

And The Baseball Almanac

Big Joe, Lenny and the Wild Thing

As we get ready for tonight’s game three of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers it’s a good time to take a trip back down memory lane to the last time the Blue Jays made it to the Series in 1993. In that Series, the Blue Jays against the Philadelphia Phillies, game six was one of the most memorable games in baseball history.

And if you haven’t learned about that game, you probably haven’t read my first book Grandpa Gordy’s Greatest World Series Games. It’s a great book for a baseball fan to read to your child or grandchild or just read it for yourself if you love the game. Chapter 13 entitled Game Six 1993 Big Joe, Lenny and the Wild Thing features that incredible game.

You can pick up the book by clicking on this link. https://amzn.to/2T9lYVT

Here’s a quick summary of that exciting game.

The Blue Jays, who were the defending champions, led the Phillies three games to two and were cruising through game six with a 5-1 lead going into the top of the seventh. It was then that “Little” Lenny Dykstra blasted a three-run home run of Dave Stewart to put the Phillies back in the game. They then pushed across two more runs and went ahead 6-5.

1993: Pitcher Mitch Williams of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during a Phillies game versus the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire)

Toronto failed to score in the seventh and eighth and Philadelphia called on their fire balling closer Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams to pitch the ninth. Williams immediately got into trouble when by walking Ricky Henderson. After recording an out Williams faced the Series’ eventual MVP Paul Molitor who laced his 12^th hit of the Series.

That brought up “Big Joe” Carter Toronto’s leftfielder and best slugger. During the regular season Carter led the Blue Jays with 33 home runs and 121 RBI’s. “Big Joe” got the best of the “Wild Thing” and lashed a line drive over the left field wall for a three-run, game-winning, World Series-winning home run. It was then, and still is, only the second time in World Series history that the Series ended with a walk-off home run. That time occurred in 1960 when Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates homered in the bottom of the ninth in game seven to beat the Yankees.

Let’s see what drama unfolds in the 2025 World Series and if Grandpa Gordy needs to add to his greatest World Series games.

Reference: Grandpa Gordy’s Greatest World Series Games, by Steven A. Falco 2002

Billy Tried it Too

While researching my last post about Jackie Robinson’s iconic steal-of-home in game one of the 1955 World Series I made a remarkable discovery. I was studying the box score of that game reprinted on BaseballAlmanac.com and was dumfounded when I read the following baserunning notes:

SB-Robinson (1, Home off Ford/Berra). CS Martin (2, 2^nd base by Newcombe/Campanella, Home by Bessent/Campanella).

Say what? Billy Martin was caught stealing home in the same game as Jackie Robinson’s iconic steal??

“Tis the truth!” Nobody ever talks about it, but Billy Martin tried to steal home in the same game as Robinson’s famous steal. And two innings earlier.

Billy Martin out stealing home in the sixth inning game one of the 1955 World Series

According to an article in SABR Martin tripled to deep left off Don Newcombe with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Martin had already been caught stealing second earlier in the game. Joe Collins had hit a two-run homer in the inning and the Yankees had a comfortable 6-3 lead, so it was not a bad strategy to try to steal an insurance run with the bottom of the order coming up. Don Bessent had just replaced Newcombe on the mound when Martin took off for home and was tagged out by Dodger catcher Roy Campanella. The fiery pepper-pot Martin took exception to the high tag and took a few steps toward Campanella but decided instead to retreat to the Yankee dugout. He later said that he thought he was tagged in the throat. After the game Campanella spoke to the press. “Tell that little so-and-so that I missed. I tried to put the ball in his mouth.” Undoubtedly Campy knew that Billy had labeled him “spike shy” before the World Series started and so there was some bad blood between them.

It’s also quite possible that Robinson’s steal-of-home was instigated by Martin’s brazen attempt. Martin’s exceptional World Series play* had been a thorn in the Dodgers’ side for years and perhaps Robinson had had enough of Martin and needed to finally show up Bad Billy on the big stage.

Here’s a bit more psychoanalytic baseball. Remember how Yogi Berra reacted to Robinson’s steal. He basically went ballistic. Well in another World Series game one, this time in 1951 against the New York Giants, Monte Irvin, the Giant’s dynamic young outfielder slid safely past Yogi’s tag for a steal-of-home. When Robinson accomplished his feat four years later ol’ Yogi must have been thinking “not again” and went crazy.

Monte Irvin steals home in game one of the 1951 World Series

So how rare is a straight steal-of-home in the World Series? In the 119 World Series going back to 1903 there have been only 13 attempted steals-of-home and only five were successful. The last attempt occurred in 2020 when Manuel Margot of Tampa Bay was nailed in game five against the LA dodgers.

Manuel Margot out stealing home in game five of the 2020 World Series

Lonnie Smith of the Cardinals was out stealing home in game 6 of the 1982 World Series against the Brewers.

In 1955 game one Robinson was safe, and Martin was out.

Monte Irvin was safe in game one 1951.

We then have to go back 30 years for the next attempt and there were two 1921. Bob Meusel stole home for the Yankees in game two (Babe Ruth also stole two bases in that game, but not home). Mike McNally stole home for the Yankees in game one.

There were six attempts in the dead ball era and only Ty Cobb was successful when he stole home in game two of the 1909 World Series. He was out stealing home in 1908. Cobb was credited with a remarkable 32 steals-of-home in his career.

Fred Snodgrass was called out in 1911. Johnny Evers was out twice, 1907 and 1909 and Tommy Leach was nailed twice, in 1903 and 1909.

So back to Yogi’s lament as he commented on Robinson’s steal of home calling it a bad play. He may have been correct in theory. Of the 13 attempted steals-of-home in the World Series only five were successful. A .384 percentage. Good for a batting average not so good for baserunning when you consider the many other ways to score from third base even with two outs—any kind of base hit, a wild pitch, a passed ball, an error, a balk. And only once did the team with the successful steal home go on to win the World Series. That of course was the Dodgers’ by Jackie Robinson which we are still arguing about, but which may never have happened if not for Billy Martin’s brash attempt that nobody remembers.

References: Baseballalmanac.com; SABR; Matt Kelly for MLB

*Check out my Billy Martin post from 2022.

The Steal of the Century

It was 69 years ago today that Jackie Robinson stole home for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees in game one of the 1955 World Series. It is a play that is this talked about and argued about to this day. And it is one of the moments in baseball history that explains Why We Love Baseball as told by Joe Posnanski in his great book of the same name. I’ll set the stage here and then let Posnanski take over with an excerpt from his fabulous book. Most baseball fans are familiar with the accounts of the event but read to the end to see and feel the true poignancy of the moment.

Jackie Robinson was on third base in the eighth inning of game one. There was one out and the Dodgers were down by two runs. The Dodgers had never beaten the Yankees in a World Series having lost 5 previous times. Whitey Ford was on the mound for New York and of course Yogi Berra was behind the plate. Robinson took off for home and as he slid into home Berra applied the tag. Umpire Bill Summers called Robinson safe. Berra did not agree. There is a huge picture of this moment in the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair, New Jersey. According to Posnanski and Yogi’s family whenever Berra passes the photo, no matter what he is talking about, he points to the photo and declares “safe”.

According to Posnanski there are three reasons why people still talk about this play. First, it involved two of the games’ most iconic players, Robinson and Berra. Second, it involved one of baseball’s greatest rivalries, the Dodgers and the Yankees. Third, we still don’t know whether Robinson was safe or out.

I’ll let Posnanski take over from here.

Oh, you might think you know whether Robinson was safe or out. Lots of people think they know. Robinson was on third, a nice-sized lead and he was watching Ford closely. He then took small hops and took off for the plate while Ford was in his windup. Ford’s pitch beat him there, Yogi caught it with his left foot on home plate, he reached down with both his glove and right hand and tried to tag Robinson’s right foot just before it touched home.

Out? Safe? Home plate umpire Bill Summers did not hesitate. He ruled safe. Berra was sure he’d blown the call, so sure that he stood up and tore off his mask and began screaming at Summers like he never had at an umpire and never would again. Summers just kept stretching his arms, again and again, a repeat of his safe call, and then turned his back on Berra.

People have been arguing ever since.

There is one surviving film of the play. The replay shows everything… and nothing at all. It is a Rorschach replay. You will see in it exactly what you want. If you want to see Robinson out, he’s out. If you want to see him safe, he’s safe.

“It was bush stuff,” Berra shouted to reporters after the game. “It was showboat strategy, stealing home when you’re two runs behind like that. It was a bad play.”

Reporters raced over to Robinson for a response.

“The only thing bush about it,” Robinson replied, “was Berra’s tag.

Reporters raced back to Berra for his response to the response.

“He was out,” Berra said. “The call was blown. It was the wrong play, and he was out.”

Back to Robinson.

“Tell him to worry about himself,” Robinson said. “He didn’t tag me until after I crossed.”

Back and forth. The Yankees, as you know, won the game. But the Dodgers ended up winning that World Series—they finally beat the Yankees—and Jackie Robinson’s stolen base became a symbol of that victory.

And here’s the best part of the story. I’ll let Posnanski continue.

Jackie Robinson died in 1972. And for the next 40-plus years, Yogi Berra would often find himself at a banquet or celebration or gathering with Jackie’s widow Rachel Robinson.

They always greeted each other the same way.

“Safe,” Rachel would say.

“Out,” Yogi would say.

And then the two would laugh and hug.

References: Why We Love Baseball A History in 50 Moments by Joe Posnanski

The Baseball Almanac

Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center 8 Yogi Berra Drive Little Falls, NJ

Remembering Willie Mays

Baseball legend Wille Mays died yesterday at the age of 93. After starring in the Negro Leagues Mays went on to have a 23-year Hall-of-Fame career with the Giants finishing up back in New York with the Mets in 1973. Along the way Mays earned two MVP awards, batted over .300 ten times and when he retired, he was second only to Babe Ruth in career home runs with 660. He is now sixth on the all-time home run list. Willie appeared in three World Series, winning for the New York Giants in 1954 against the Cleveland Indians where he made his world-famous catch of Vic Wertz’s 425-foot blast in the first inning of game one. “The Catch” as it has been called ever since propelled his Giants to victory in five games.

But what I remember most about Willie Mays is how he tormented the American League in All Stars games throughout the 1960’s. Being from New Jersey I rarely got to see Mays once the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958. But I did see him in the Nationally televised All Star Games. I was a devoted Yankee fan and thus an American League fan and when the All Star Game rolled around every July I fervently rooted for the American League, which was routinely battered in those days by the National League and especially terrorized by the “Say Hey Kid”. I vividly remember that the 1960 All Star game in my home ballpark Yankee Stadium was ruined by Mays as he hit a third inning home run against my favorite pitcher Whitey Ford. The AL went on to suffer a demoralizing loss 6-0 with my hero Ford taking the loss.

The NL’s battering of the AL continued through the sixties and once again Willie Mays was in the forefront in 1965. That game, in Metropolitan Stadium, featured a National League team which was so good they had Mays leading off! Whether they were showing off or just trying to rub it in, us American League fans knew we were in for a rough day with the game’s best slugger leading off followed by the likes of Hank Aaron, Willie Stargell, Ernie Banks and Pete Rose. And sure enough the “Say Hey Kid” promptly led off the game with a home run against Milt Pappas and my AL was doomed again. Mays of course scored the winning run in the seventh inning of what turned out to be a close 6-5 loss for the AL.

Throughout the sixties the NL won 12 of 15 All Star games with Willie Mays leading the way. Having been tormented by him all those years I eventually came around to appreciate what a remarkable ball player and incredible human being Willie Mays really was. The world has suffered a great loss with the passing of Willie Mays. RIP.

References: baseball-almanac.com

The Heart-Warming Story of Babe Ruth and Little Johnny Sylvester

By guest writer Gary Livacari

(As the dreary days of winter drag on and Opening Day still seems so far away, I have found one antidote for these doldrums is to check out Gary Livacari’s excellent blog Baseball History Comes Alive. While doing so I came upon Gary’s fine retelling of this timeless baseball tale. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.)

“I’ll knock a homer for Wednesday’s game. Babe Ruth” –Inscription on baseball scrawled by Babe Ruth during the 1926 World Series and given to little Johnny Sylvester, recovering from a near-fatal illness.

One of baseball’s most enduring legends occurred during the 1926 World Series. Of course it had to involve none other than the great Bambino himself. We’re all aware the Babe had his share of personal shortcomings (and don’t we all!); but when there was a kid in need, no one was more likely to come through in a big way than the Babe.

The Babe’s Famous Promise

The ball signed by Babe Ruth with his promise to Johnny Sylvester to hit a home run for him.

In 1926, little Yankee fan Johnny Sylvester was just 11 years old, recuperating from a horseback riding accident that resulted in a serious injury. He was hospitalized near his home in Essex Falls, New Jersey. The prognosis wasn’t good. The Yankees got wind of Johnny’s condition, and so during a rain delay in Game Three of the World Series in St. Louis, a few ball players signed a baseball just for Johnny. Babe Ruth inscribed more than just his signature, though. He penned his famous promise:

“I’ll knock a homer for you in Wednesday’s game” Babe Ruth

Babe visits the ailing Johnny Sylvester in the hospital.

Babe visits the ailing Johnny Sylvester in the hospital.

In the classic photo above, we see the Babe and little Johnny together. Johnny still has a bandage on his forehead from his horseback riding injury. Thanks again to Don Stokes for another super colorization which really helps bring the story to life.

The Bambino Delivers…

On Wednesday, October 6, 1926 – Game Four of the series, a 10-5 Yankee victory – the Babe delivered on his promise…and then some! Amazingly, he didn’t hit just one homer, he hit three. On the day after Game Seven, Oct. 11, Ruth personally visited Johnny Sylvester in the hospital in Essex Falls.

…And Johnny Miraculously Recovers!

And sure enough, something miraculous happened: Against all odds, Johnny’s health gradually started to improve. According to Andrew Lilley, Johnny’s great-nephew, the visit from the Babe changed everything:

“Babe Ruth’s home runs and his visit helped Johnny find the will to survive.”

On Dec. 16, 1926, Ruth penned another letter to the boy (shown at right, in Babe’s distinctive, florid handwriting), inquiring about his recovery and inviting him to Yankee Stadium during the 1927 season “to help win another pennant.”

Johnny didn’t just survive…he thrived. He went on to graduate from Yale University in 1937, and later became a successful business owner and much-beloved family man. He even served in the Navy during World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant. All because the Babe saved his life…or so the story goes!

Life Turns Full Circle!

In 1947, Johnny Sylvester visits an ailing Babe Ruth.

Fast forward to 1947. The situation had now completely reversed. Now it was Babe Ruth who was ailing and it was Johnny Sylvester’s turn to repay the man who had come to his bedside when he was gravely ill. As Andrew Lilley described the scene:

“The story had come full circle at this point. Here was the kid all grown up going back to the Babe and showing the same generosity to his hero, just as the Babe showed him all those years ago.”

Reading about this reunion 75 years later, it’s still hard not to shed a tear…

Ruth wasn’t the only sports celebrity to reach out to the ailing boy. “Big Bill” Tilden, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, sent him an autographed tennis racquet. Hall-of-Fame halfback Red Grange sent a letter and an autographed football. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby, in a rare show of compassion, was another famous athlete who sent little Johnny a letter. Of course, none of these other displays of concern did as much for little Johnny’s recovery as the Babe’s fulfilled promise and later visit.

Forty Years Later, Johnny Sylvester Is Found!

Johnny Sylvester at the time of his graduation from Yale in 1939

In 1986 – the 40th Anniversary of the Johnny Sylvester story – the Babe Ruth Museum tried to investigate the story for authenticity. The museum eventually tracked down the real Johnny Sylvester, finding him as a retired banker living in Connecticut. When asked for some proof that these events actually happened, Mr. Sylvester produced the baseball with Babe’s handwriting and signature. The ball said, “I’ll knock a homer for Wednesday’s game. Babe Ruth.” The ball is now on display in the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore along with the other artifacts in “The Little Johnny Sylvester Collection.” It’s been on loan to the Babe Ruth Museum for 36 years.

The Babe Ruth Museum located Johnny Sylvester in 1986.

The Babe Ruth Museum located Johnny Sylvester in 1986.

But Is the Story True?

Is this heartwarming story completely true, or has it been embellished? Was the whole thing a hoax? Maybe we’re falling for a sappy publicity stunt dreamt up by Babe Ruth’s ubiquitous agent and “image-maker,” Christy Walsh. It certainly has that ring to it.

If so, it was highly successful. The publicity was priceless for Babe Ruth’s image. Years later when asked about the incident, Ruth is purported to have blurted out, “Who the hell is Johnny Sylvester?”

True or not, it remains one of the most timeless anecdotes in all of baseball lore and is one of the wonderful stories contributing to the endearing legacy of the great Bambino, Babe Ruth. Sadly, Johnny Sylvester passed away on January 6, 1990 at age 74 while residing in Garden City, New York.

Gary Livacari

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Photo Credits: All from Google search

Featured photo colorized by Don Stokes https://www.facebook.com/Don-Stokes-Old-Time-Baseball-Colorizations-923346241033508

The Long Wait is Over: The Texas Rangers are World Champions

For the first time in their 63-year history the Texas Rangers have won the World Series. Last night the Rangers beat the scrappy Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 to win the 2023 Series four games to one. The Rangers’ fan base suffered through six straight losing seasons prior to this year when their team jumped out to a great start but eventually limped into the post season with a wild card spot. Texas never looked back winning a record 11 road games and forging past the Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles, and the defending champion Houston Astros on their way to the World Series.

The Texas Rangers are a team full of young talented players and some high-priced free agents who all contributed to their historic victory. Corey Seager the star shortstop led the Rangers, earning his second World Series MVP as only the fourth player in MLB history to do so joining Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and Reggie Jackson in this elite group. Even without their best post season performer Adolis Garcia, who was out with an injury, the Rangers prevailed with solid hitting by Marcus Semien, Mitch Garver and Evan Carter. Nathan Eovaldi dominated on the mound holding Arizona in check on his way to his record-tying fifth post-season victory. But it was the acquisition of Bruce Bochy that was the difference maker. Bochy the longtime crafty manager earned his fourth World Series title having accomplished the feat three previous times at the helm of the San Francisco Giants.

It was however a long tortuous road for the Texas Ranger franchise that began as the new Washington Senators in the American League expansion of 1961. The old Senators moved to Minnesota becoming the Twins and having success winning the AL pennant three times and the World Series twice. The new Washington Senators however were so bad that they had to flee town and move to Arlington Texas after the 1971 season where they became the Texas Rangers. Unfortunately, the franchise continued its tradition of futility for 25 more years before finally making it to the post season in 1996. The late 1990’s Rangers were a powerful team led by Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez, but their post seasons were ended each time, 1996, 1998 and 1999 by my mighty New York Yankees who won five out of six American League pennants during this time frame.

The Rangers again re-emerged as a force in the American League under the leadership of manager Ron Washington winning the pennant two years in a row in 2010 and 2011. They lost the World Series without much of a fight to the San Francisco Giants in 2010, four games to one. But it was in the 2011 World Series that Ranger fans suffered their most excruciating experience. Ahead in the series to the St. Louis Cardinals three games to two, the Rangers needed just one more win to secure the championship. And with a 7-5 lead going into the bottom of the ninth they needed only three more outs. Worse yet they still led 7-5 with two outs and two strikes on Cardinal third baseman David Freese with their lights-out closer Neftali Feliz on the mound. But Freese lined a game-tying triple to right field past Ranger outfielder Nelson Cruz who was playing too shallow. The game then entered extra innings. In the top of the tenth a banged-up Josh Hamilton found the determination to hit a go-ahead two-run homer for Texas and once again the Rangers were three outs away from their first championship. But it got even worse. For the second time the Cardinals were down to their last strike before Lance Berkman laced a single to center to once again tie the game. Never in World Series history has a team twice been one out away from victory and failed to seal the deal as the Rangers did in that fateful game six. I remember watching that game on TV in complete disbelief; enjoying the tremendous drama as a baseball fan and being relieved that I was not a Texas Ranger fan knowing the anguish they must have felt. The Rangers’ arch nemesis Freese finished off the debacle with a leadoff walk-off home run in the bottom of the eleventh. Just to add salt to the wounds Freese said afterward he was just trying to walk and when what he thought was ball four was called a strike he reluctantly returned to the batter’s box and promptly hit the next pitch out of the park putting a dagger into the heart of every Rangers fan.

The Rangers went down meekly 6-2 in game seven and the 2011 championship, once in their grasp, slipped away.

So it was that last night was a time for glorious redemption for the Texas Rangers who had struggled for so many years and had been so close and have now finally made it to the top.

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers and all their devoted fans. You have waited a long time and victory is finally yours. Enjoy it.

References: wikipedia.org, and A History of the World Series; The Grandest Stage by Tyler Kepner

The D-Backs are Back

For the first time in twenty-two years the Arizona Diamondbacks are back in the World Series. In 2001 the Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees four games to three and what a doozy of a series it was. Twice is game four and five the Yankees were down to their final out before tying the game with a dramatic home run. And both times the home runs were hit off Arizona’s ace reliever Byung-Hyung Kim. Each game was then won by the Yanks in extra inning.

But it was game seven that was a real masterpiece. It was the only time in World Series history where the trailing team came back to win game seven in their final at bat.

That game is featured in Chapter 15 of my book Grandpa Gordy’s Greatest World Series Games. In the book Grandpa Gordy, a retired sportswriter who covered baseball for years, gives a unique retelling of the dramatic game to his young grandkids Michael and Jessica. Here is an excerpt for my book.

“Okay little ones,” said Grandpa Gordy, “the Yankees as a result of their two, thrilling come-from-behind victories, were now leading in the series three games to two and needed one more victory to win their 27^th World Championship. That would not be easy because lying in wait in Arizona were those two nasty superstar starters Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. After all the tension of the previous two games, game six was a laugher as Randy Johnson glided to a 15-2 victory. That set the stage for game seven, which was one of the most exciting World Series games in history.”

Grandpa Gordy continued. “Once again, we had ourselves a pitching duel. Roger “the Rocket” Clemens was on the hill for the Yanks and Curt Schilling was back, starting his third game for Arizona. Both were on the top of their games. Zona ended a long string of zeroes with a run in the sixth that was matched by the Yankees with a run in the top of the seventh. Then in the top of the eighth one of the heroes of game five, Alphonso Soriano, came to the plate against the mighty Schilling. Soriano swings. There’s a high fly ball, deep to left. It is high! It is far! It is gone!! A home run for Soriano and the Yankees have a 2-1 lead. Six more outs and the New York Yankees can win their 27^th World Championship. And coming in to pitch in the bottom of the eighth was the magnificent Mariano Rivera, who has an incredible record of 23-consecutive post-season saves! Rivera then promptly strikes out the side in the eighth and the Yankee fans only need to count the outs because they know, with Mariano the Magnificent, it is automatic. But wait. The D-Backs are not buying the Mariano mystique. Mark Grace leads off the bottom of the ninth with a base hit. Damon Miller comes up and bunts trying to move the tying run to second. Rivera fields the ball and instead of getting the easy out at first, he fires to second to cut down the lead runner. But oh my! The throw sails wide and the runner is safe! First and second nobody out. Another bunt. This time by pinch-hitter Jay Bell. Rivera once again fields it and once again goes for the difficult force out, but this time he nails the runner at third for the first out. That brings the D-Backs’ scrappy shortstop Tony Womack to the plate. Two more outs are all Mariano the Magnificent needs. But wait. The pitch to Womack is a cutter in on his hands. He swings. He loops the ball down the right field line. Base hit! Cummings, who ran for Miller, is rounding third. He scores! The game is tied! Rivera then pitches too far inside to Craig Counsell and hits him, and the bases are now loaded for Arizona’s best hitter, Luis “Gonzo” Gonzalez.”

“Joe Torre signals for his infielder and outfielders to come in and play shallow. Just moments ago, New York was in the driver’s seat with the lead. Now, with only one out, the play must be at the plate. Unlike the situation in game five when Torre left the infield back with one out and the winning run on third, this time the D-Backs are the home team and if a run scores it’s all over. So, he must play the infield in. “Gonzo” who hit .325 with 57 home runs and 142 RBIs this season steps to the plate. The Magnificent Mariano, looking supremely confident, checks the sign from his catcher. The pitch. Another cutter, Rivera’s best pitch. In on Gonzo’s hands. He swings. He bloops the ball off the handle right toward shortstop. But wait! Where is Derek Jeter the Yankee shortstop? He is playing way in for a play at the plate. He turns to go back. He can’t get it! BASE HIT!!! Bell scores from third! The Diamondbacks win!”

“Wow what a finish,” Michael said as Grandpa Gordy finally sat down. He was completely out of breath.

“Well, I guess that poor Mr. Kim who allowed the Yankees to come back in those other games doesn’t have to feel bad anymore,” Jessica said.

“Well, you’re right little one,” Grandpa Gordy said. “And that was the first ever World Series Championship for the Arizona Diamondbacks as they beat the mighty Yankees 3-2 and won the series four games to three. So that’s all for tonight little ones. Good night and sweet dreams.”

It will be interesting to see if the 2023 World Series can match the excitement of 2001. We will soon see.

Check out more of my book Grandpa Gordy’s Greatest World Series Games at your local bookstore or on Amazon.

Jim Palmer, Baltimore’s Prolific World Series Performer

As Jim Plamer celebrates his 78^th birthday today he, like all his fellow Baltimore Orioles fans, share the disappointment of a super season that ended too quickly. Though the Orioles made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 their failure to reach the World Series, despite having the best record in the American League, is hard to accept. Nonetheless it is a good time to recognize the achievements of their Hall of Fame hurler.

Since moving to Baltimore in 1954 the Orioles have made it to six World Series and have won half of them. Remarkably, Jim Palmer appeared in all six of them and he is the only pitcher in World Series history to record wins in three different decades.

Palmer’s first appearance in the World Series was a stunning success. In 1966, nine days before his 21^st birthday, he faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ stellar southpaw, Sandy Koufax in game two. The upstart Orioles had shocked the defending World Champion Dodgers with a 5-2 victory in the opener when the Robinson boys, Frank and Brooks, hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning against LA ace Don Drysdale. Even more remarkable, the unheralded reliever Moe Drabowsky pitched 6.2 scoreless innings to secure the victory. Surely Koufax would avenge that opening loss in game two. Afterall, Koufax was the premier pitcher in the majors after another fabulous season with 27 wins and a 1.73 ERA. But the young Palmer wasn’t fazed a bit and cruised to a 6-0 shutout aided by an astonishing six LA errors. Ironically Palmer became the youngest pitcher ever to record a shut out in the World Series on the very day of Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax’s last game. Koufax retired at the end of 1966 due to an arthritic left elbow.

Palmer would go on to record World Series victories against the Reds in 1970 and the Pirates in 1971. In the 18^th year of his 19-year career Palmer pitched in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies in game three of the 1983 World Series. He entered the game in the fifth, pitched two shutout innings retiring four fellow future Hall of Famers, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Mike Schmidt, and Steve Carlton and earned the victory. Palmer wound up with a World Series record of 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA. For his career Palmer recorded 268 wins versus 152 losses and a 2.86 ERA. He won the American League Cy Young award three times in 1973, 1975 and 1976.

The Baltimore Orioles World Series appearances:

1966: won in four games against the Los Angeles Dodgers

1969: lost in five games against the New York Mets

1970: won in five games against the Cincinnati Reds

1971: lost in seven games against the Pittsburgh Pirates

1979: lost in seven games against the Pittsburgh Pirates

1983: won in five games against the Philadelphia Phillies

On a personal note: I’ll always remember Palmer for his high leg kick, rising fastball, sweeping curve and the way he dominated my Yankees in the late sixties and throughout the seventies. As an American League fan, I rooted for Palmer and the Orioles in those six World Series and was ecstatic with the way he handled the Dodgers in 1966. The Orioles were big underdogs that year and nobody expected them to matchup against the tremendous LA pitching. But when they did, with a four-game sweep, I was nothing but smiles.

References:

Baseball Almanac

Baseball-Reference.com

A History of the World Series, The Grandest Stage by Tyler Kepner

Simply the Best: The 1998 Yankees

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of what could be regarded as the best baseball team of all time, the 1998 New York Yankees. In his new book The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever The 1998 Yankees author Jack Curry makes a convincing case. If you are a baseball fan and you haven’t read Curry’s book you should. If you are a Yankee fan you must.

As a long time Yankee fan, I didn’t need much convincing, though I had to do some research on the 1961 Yankees, the team I grew up watching, to make sure Curry’s argument held up. And it does. It also holds up against all the other great teams in baseball history. By all means get Curry’s informative and enjoyable book to see his complete argument. For my blog here I will focus in on what I believe are the most important facets support the conclusion that the 1998 New York Yankees are the best team ever.

First, to set some parameters: I am not talking about the best collection of players, nor am I measuring the team over a course of several seasons. I am not talking about a dynasty team (though the 1998 Yankees were part of a dynasty team that won four World Championships and five AL Pennants over the course of 6 years; 1996-2001). I’m talking about a team having the greatest single season ever. And for this I believe there is no doubt.

The two most important categories to consider are wins, of course, and winning the World Series. A lesser category would be winning percentage.

Let’s start with winning percentage as the fairest way to differentiate a really good team from a great team. Afterall, winning percentage accurately accounts for the significance of the different lengths of seasons from baseball’s different eras. Specifically, the change from 154 games to 162 games which occurred in 1961. Using .700 as the dividing line we find nine teams in modern baseball history (since the beginning of the World Series in 1903) that had a regular season winning percentage over .700.

Here is the list:

1906 Chicago Cubs .763 W 116 L 36

1909 Pittsburgh Pirates .724 110-42

1954 Cleveland Indians .721 111-43

2001 Seattle Mariners .716 116-46

1927 NY Yankees .714 110-44

1998 NY Yankees .704 114-48

1931 Philadelphia Athletics .704 107-45

1907 Chicago Cubs .704 107-45

1939 NY Yankees .702 106-45

Of these nine teams four can be eliminated because despite their fantastic regular season they failed to win the World Series. In my book you can’t be considered the best team ever if you couldn’t even win the championship. So, despite having the most regular season wins at 116 both the 1906 Cubs and the 2001 Mariners are both eliminated because they failed to win the World Series. The Cubs lost to their crosstown rivals the White Sox and the Mariners failed to even make it to the World Series, losing in the playoffs to the Yankees. The 1954 Indians and the 1931 Athletics also failed to win the World Series so that leaves us with five teams remaining.

This is a tough call, but I’m going to eliminate the 1909 Honus Wagner led Pittsburgh Pirates because they had a difficult time in the World Series needing seven games to beat Ty Cobb’s Detroit Tigers. The remaining four teams all went undefeated in the World Series although the 1907 Cubs took five games to defeat the Tigers with one game ending in a tie.

To differentiate the four remaining teams, I will use a rough metric from the Baseball Almanac where the teams’ yearly stats are compiled showing the leaders in ten offensive categories such as batting average and runs and eight pitching categories such as ERA and strikeouts. The best team here is the 1927 Yankees who led in 12 categories, the 1939 Yankees 10 categories, the 1998 Yankees eight categories, and the 1907 Cubs only five categories. Using this metric, I will give the 1907 Cubs with the lowest score the boot leaving the three Yankee teams as the finalists. I know, I’m a Yankee fan, but what can I say, the stats don’t lie.

The Baseball Almanac’s metric has however a significant flaw. It can’t account for a major difference between the two eras; before and after the leagues expanded. The 1998 Yankees competed against twice as many teams as the 1927 and 1939 Yankees, thus it was much more difficult to lead in a category. But we can use that metric to compare the 1927 Yanks and the 1939 Yanks, and we can give Babe Ruth’s Yanks the nod over Joe DiMaggio’s lower scoring Yanks, thus eliminating the 1939 Yanks and leaving just the 1998 Yankees and the 1927 Yankees in the competition.

So, comparing two teams from two different eras can be difficult but it also can be fun. I know growing up and watching the 1961 Yankees every day; as the season went on there were discussions as to whether the 1961 Yankees with the M&M Boys, Mantle and Maris, could compare with Ruth and Lou Gehrig and the Murders Row of 1927. At that time the 1927 Yankees were considered the best team of all-time, at least in my neck of the woods and without any advanced metrics. The ’27 Yankees certainly had all the power and glitz with two of the all-time greats in their lineup, Ruth, and Gehrig. The ’98 Yankees didn’t lack in star power with two emerging Hall of Famers, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera on their roster. They also had the AL batting champ Bernie Williams and a solid pitching staff with borderline Hall of Famer David Cone, plus Andy Pettitte and David Wells. As a result, I must contend that it all comes down to wins. The 1998 Yankees, winning 114 regular season games and 11 post season games for a total of 125 wins, had more wins than any other team ever, and 11 more than the 1927 Yankees. Now you could argue that if the 1927 Yankees played 23 more games, they probably could have won at least 12 of them. The problem is, that would be mere speculation and there is no way to know, and we will never know. There is no other way around it, the 1998 New York Yankees, winner of 125 games, are simply the best.

A couple of footnotes.

One reason the 1998 New York Yankees do not get the credit they deserve is that the year 1998 in baseball is primarily remembered for the incredible home run competition between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. As the Yankees dominated the American League with record setting precision, McGwire and Sosa were captivating the entire nation with their quest to break Roger Maris’s single-season home run record. Prior to any suspicions of PED’s they were America’s sports heroes as McGwire blew by Ruth and Maris with 70 home runs and Sosa doing the same with 66.

Curry’s book also mentions a comparison of the greatest teams done by the website FiveThirtyEight using a complex set of metrics. FiveThirtyEight lists the 1939 Yankees as number one, kudos to Joe D, but the ’39 Yanks had the lowest winning percentage of our nine .700 teams, and it somehow rates the 1906 Cubs number two despite losing the World Series. For those reasons I believe their metrics are flawed. They even dropped our 1998 Yankees to fifth, behind the ‘27 Yankees and the ’09 Pirates which I certainly find unjustifiable.

References:

The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever The 1998 Yankees by Jack Curry

Baseball Almanac