The Yankees and Cardinals had two Hall of Famers apiece in the 1964 World Series. A pitcher, and a positioned hitter.
St. Louis started the year with only one, Bob Gibson. The pitcher was a few years away from cementing his place in Cooperstown. Lou Brock was not acquired until the season was about half way old.
New York had two men who were already in, no matter what would happen the rest of their careers. Mickey Mantle, who owned almost every World Series record you could shake a stick at. That is, as a batter. Whitey Ford, the Yankee hurler, owns many Fall Classic records himself.
But Ford, who started the first game, was not on his game. His arm had been injured late in the season and he was pitching with his heart and little else. The Cardinals scored the first run of the 1964 Fall Classic off him. Game one was at home and St. Louis got the crowd into it early. After Mantle and New York were retired in the top of the first, Brock scored the game's first run on a sac fly to Mantle in right. The Yankees came right back with three runs of their own in the top of the second, with Ford himself driving in the third.
Whitey Ford took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but his arm began to fail him. With one out, Mike Shannon belted a towering two-run home run to left to tie the game. When Tim McCarver followed with a double between Mantle and Roger Maris, Whitey was gone from the mound forever in the Fall Classic. St. Louis went on to win the game, 9-5. Mantle did get two hits in a losing efforts, but Brock matched him with two hits himself. Plus, he got two RBIs.
In game two, Bob Gibson took the hill for the first time in his career. He started out fast, but St. Louis' offence seemed to stall as Brock went 0-4. Gibson seemed to have Mantle's number, as he held him to without a hit. Mickey, however, opened the top of the sixth with a walk. Gibby, having fanned him twice, hit Joe Pepitone with one out. Tom Tresh hit a bouncer that made into left to Brock, and New York was ahead 2-1 at this point. The Yankees smothered Gibson the next inning, scoring twice more. Mantle got an RBI on an infield out. He got another on a sharp double in the top of the ninth off Barney Schultz. New York had this game, going away, 8-3. The Mick sure silenced the St. Louis fans with two runs and two RBIs.
And in game three in New York, Mantle hit a dramatic game-winning, walk-off home run. Lou Brock was again held to no hits. The game was tied at one going into the bottom of the ninth. But Mantle hit Schultz's first pitch to deep right for a home run that won the game.
In game four, Mantle drove in Bobby Richardson with a single to right off Ray Sadecki to make it 2-0, New York. Maris, on first, made it to third and Mantle tried for second. This, all because of right fielder Mike Shannon bobbling the ball. Mickey was out at second. Maris trotted home with New York's third run on a single by Howard. Mickey made another mistake as he was picked off second base in the bottom of the third. He walked again in the bottom of the eighth. St. Louis won the game on a grand slam by Ken Boyer in the top of the sixth innig, the only runs the Cards would score as it erased a 3-0 deficit. And with the 4-3, the 1964 Fall Classic was tied. Brock was again held scoreless.
Bob Gibson returned to the hill in game five, with the Series' lead on the line. He was awesome. Gibby fanned thirteen Yankees, gave up just six hits, and only two walks. Mantle was one of them. Lou Brock came through with a single to score Bob Gibson with the first run of the game in the top of the fifth. He finished the game with two hits. Mantle had none, but reached on an error and scored a run in the bottom of the ninth. The Yankees, down two runs, tied the game. But Tim McCarver untied with a three-run home run in the top of the tenth, and Gibson had his first World Series win.
In game six in St. Louis, it was Lou Brock with three hits. But he somehow failed to drive in a run, or even score one. Mantle, meanwhile, came to the dish in the top of the sixth. His pal, Roger Maris, had just gone yard to put New York up 2-1. On cue, The Mick went yard, too. In the top of the eighth, Mantle scored one of the five Yankee runs after walking intentionally. New York won 8-3 to send it to the limit.
Bob Gibson was back for game seven. He was trying to put New York away for good. The Cardinals did all they could top help him. They scored three times in the bottom of the fourth, and then Lou Brock belted Al Downing's first offering to right-centre for a solo home run the next frame, starting another three-run uprising. With a 6-0 lead, Gibby seemed to have this one. But Mantle hit a three-run home run to cut the lead in half. Brock did nothing else the rest of the game and neither did Mantle, but all St. Louis could get after that was one run. Meanwhile, Gibby was nailed for a home run by Clete Boyer on a 3-2 pitch in the top of the ninth, just two outs away from victory. Then, only one out away from it all, Phil Linz hit a solo blast of his own to left, which Brock tried his best to catch! It was only 7-5, now! Gibson got it together and retired Bobby Richardson (who had eight hits off him this Fall Classic) on a pop-up to end it.
For Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, the 1964 World Series was a last hurrah. They never returned to the Fall Classic. They left behind plenty of records. Mickey has the most home runs in a World Series career with 18. Ford has the record for most wins, lifetime, with 10.
For Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, it was just the beginning of their World Series exploits. Gibson set several pitching records of his own, including the most strikeouts in one game. Brock is tied for most World Series hits in one Series with 13, and in also tied for most career stolen bases with 14. He also twice stole seven bases in one World Series, which is also a record.
References
Anderson, Dave. Pennant Races: Baseball At Its Best. New York: Doubleday, 1994. Print.
Gallagher, Mark. Explosion!: Mickey Mantle's Legendary Home Runs. New York: Arbor House, 1987. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.
St. Louis started the year with only one, Bob Gibson. The pitcher was a few years away from cementing his place in Cooperstown. Lou Brock was not acquired until the season was about half way old.
New York had two men who were already in, no matter what would happen the rest of their careers. Mickey Mantle, who owned almost every World Series record you could shake a stick at. That is, as a batter. Whitey Ford, the Yankee hurler, owns many Fall Classic records himself.
But Ford, who started the first game, was not on his game. His arm had been injured late in the season and he was pitching with his heart and little else. The Cardinals scored the first run of the 1964 Fall Classic off him. Game one was at home and St. Louis got the crowd into it early. After Mantle and New York were retired in the top of the first, Brock scored the game's first run on a sac fly to Mantle in right. The Yankees came right back with three runs of their own in the top of the second, with Ford himself driving in the third.
Whitey Ford took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but his arm began to fail him. With one out, Mike Shannon belted a towering two-run home run to left to tie the game. When Tim McCarver followed with a double between Mantle and Roger Maris, Whitey was gone from the mound forever in the Fall Classic. St. Louis went on to win the game, 9-5. Mantle did get two hits in a losing efforts, but Brock matched him with two hits himself. Plus, he got two RBIs.
In game two, Bob Gibson took the hill for the first time in his career. He started out fast, but St. Louis' offence seemed to stall as Brock went 0-4. Gibson seemed to have Mantle's number, as he held him to without a hit. Mickey, however, opened the top of the sixth with a walk. Gibby, having fanned him twice, hit Joe Pepitone with one out. Tom Tresh hit a bouncer that made into left to Brock, and New York was ahead 2-1 at this point. The Yankees smothered Gibson the next inning, scoring twice more. Mantle got an RBI on an infield out. He got another on a sharp double in the top of the ninth off Barney Schultz. New York had this game, going away, 8-3. The Mick sure silenced the St. Louis fans with two runs and two RBIs.
And in game three in New York, Mantle hit a dramatic game-winning, walk-off home run. Lou Brock was again held to no hits. The game was tied at one going into the bottom of the ninth. But Mantle hit Schultz's first pitch to deep right for a home run that won the game.
In game four, Mantle drove in Bobby Richardson with a single to right off Ray Sadecki to make it 2-0, New York. Maris, on first, made it to third and Mantle tried for second. This, all because of right fielder Mike Shannon bobbling the ball. Mickey was out at second. Maris trotted home with New York's third run on a single by Howard. Mickey made another mistake as he was picked off second base in the bottom of the third. He walked again in the bottom of the eighth. St. Louis won the game on a grand slam by Ken Boyer in the top of the sixth innig, the only runs the Cards would score as it erased a 3-0 deficit. And with the 4-3, the 1964 Fall Classic was tied. Brock was again held scoreless.
Bob Gibson returned to the hill in game five, with the Series' lead on the line. He was awesome. Gibby fanned thirteen Yankees, gave up just six hits, and only two walks. Mantle was one of them. Lou Brock came through with a single to score Bob Gibson with the first run of the game in the top of the fifth. He finished the game with two hits. Mantle had none, but reached on an error and scored a run in the bottom of the ninth. The Yankees, down two runs, tied the game. But Tim McCarver untied with a three-run home run in the top of the tenth, and Gibson had his first World Series win.
In game six in St. Louis, it was Lou Brock with three hits. But he somehow failed to drive in a run, or even score one. Mantle, meanwhile, came to the dish in the top of the sixth. His pal, Roger Maris, had just gone yard to put New York up 2-1. On cue, The Mick went yard, too. In the top of the eighth, Mantle scored one of the five Yankee runs after walking intentionally. New York won 8-3 to send it to the limit.
Bob Gibson was back for game seven. He was trying to put New York away for good. The Cardinals did all they could top help him. They scored three times in the bottom of the fourth, and then Lou Brock belted Al Downing's first offering to right-centre for a solo home run the next frame, starting another three-run uprising. With a 6-0 lead, Gibby seemed to have this one. But Mantle hit a three-run home run to cut the lead in half. Brock did nothing else the rest of the game and neither did Mantle, but all St. Louis could get after that was one run. Meanwhile, Gibby was nailed for a home run by Clete Boyer on a 3-2 pitch in the top of the ninth, just two outs away from victory. Then, only one out away from it all, Phil Linz hit a solo blast of his own to left, which Brock tried his best to catch! It was only 7-5, now! Gibson got it together and retired Bobby Richardson (who had eight hits off him this Fall Classic) on a pop-up to end it.
For Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, the 1964 World Series was a last hurrah. They never returned to the Fall Classic. They left behind plenty of records. Mickey has the most home runs in a World Series career with 18. Ford has the record for most wins, lifetime, with 10.
For Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, it was just the beginning of their World Series exploits. Gibson set several pitching records of his own, including the most strikeouts in one game. Brock is tied for most World Series hits in one Series with 13, and in also tied for most career stolen bases with 14. He also twice stole seven bases in one World Series, which is also a record.
References
Anderson, Dave. Pennant Races: Baseball At Its Best. New York: Doubleday, 1994. Print.
Ford,
Whitey, and Phil Pepe. Slick. New York: W. Morrow, 1987. Print.
Gallagher, Mark. Explosion!: Mickey Mantle's Legendary Home Runs. New York: Arbor House, 1987. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.
Halberstam,
David. October 1964. New York:
Villard, 1994. Print.
Retrosheet. Web. 9 Sept. 2014. <www.retrosheet.org>.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major
League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/.
Web. 9 Sept. 2014.
St. Louis Cardinals / New York Yankees. Game 7, 1964 World Series., Busch Stadium, Missouri, 15 Oct. 1964. MLB.Com 2002, audio recording.
St. Louis Cardinals / New York Yankees. Game 7, 1964 World Series., Busch Stadium, Missouri, 15 Oct. 1964. MLB.Com 2002, audio recording.
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