Friday, January 20, 2017

World Series: Did You Know?

Devon White scored the first run, made the last putout in the field, and at the dish is game six of the 1993 Fall Classic. It was the clinching game. But Devo sort of missed out on being part of three men that helped Toronto win it in dramatic fashion that year. The Jays' 8-6 over the Phillies was keyed by Ricky Henderson, Paul Molitor, and of course Joe Carter in the last of the ninth.

With one out in the bottom of the first, White drew a walk off Philadelphia starter Terry Mulholland. Paul Molitor, who'd have plenty of big hits all game long, drove him home with a triple to right. A sac fly scored Molitor. John Olerud doubled and Roberto Alomar singled. 3-0, Toronto after one.

The Phillies tried to make a game of it, but they went down 1-2-3 in the second, managed just a walk in the third, and finally pried a run loose with two out in the top of the fourth. Dave Stewart was clearly on his game. A sac fly by Ed Sprague restored the three run lead.

Without getting a hit, Philadelphia loaded the bases in the fifth on two errors and a walk. They did not score. Devon White started the bottom of the frame by lining out. Paul Molitor hit a home run to left to make it 5-1 for the home team. Philly went down 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth.

The Phillies though, weren't about to throw in the towel. The scored three times of Stewart the next inning via a walk, single and a Lenny Dykstra (White's counterpart in centre) home run. Danny Cox came in to protect the 5-4 lead. The Phillies scored twice more off him and suddenly had the lead.

The Jays went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning. White fanned against relieve Roger Mason. When he batted again in the bottom of the ninth and his team was still down 6-5, Devo was again retired. But before that, Devon White took Dave Hollins fly in the top of the ninth for the first out. After Duane Ward got Darren Daulton to ground out, Jim Eisenreich sent one White's way, and Philly was gone in order. And that led to the Toronto comeback.

Ricky Henderson got it all going with a four-pitch walk off Mitch Williams. Devon White flew out on a 3-2 pitch. But Paul Molitor not only stayed out of the double play, he singled Ricky Henderson to second. Joe Carter batted next. We all know he played "Hero" next. On a 2-2 pitch, Joe hit a dramatic 3-run home run to win the game and World Series for the Jays.

But you always noticed Devon White. His speed was unreal. He could get to anything in centre. He had a good arm. And for a leadoff hitter, he sure had power: He hit 15 home runs that year and 17 in 1991 and 1992!

White may not have played any part in the very last act of the historic 1993 Toronto Blue Jays season, but he'd come through so much that season (He hit a home run in the clincher of the ALCS, plus one off Curt Schilling in game one of the World Series) and was such a joy to watch. Dashin' Devo helped that Toronto team be truly unforgettable. And for all you stat lovers, here's Devon's Fall Classic stats: 8 runs scored, 1 home run, 7 RBIs, .292 batting average!


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

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