After getting an RBI in his second plate appearance in the 1962 Fall Classic, The Say Hey Kid did not get another in the remaining six games.
Willie Mays, playing in his first World Series since the San Francisco Giants were in New York back in '54, got off to a hot start '62. He just didn't seem to be able to keep it up. A fine play by Roger Maris stopped him from tying game seven with an RBI.
The New York Yankees, starting things on the road, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in game 2 behind a double by Maris in the top of the first. Mays started the bottom of the second for the Giants by singling and later scoring to cut it to 2-1.
In the next inning it was Chuck Hiller with a double and Mays driving him in with a single to tie things. That, however, was the last run the Giants would score. Mays added a single later, but it didn't do much.
The Giants lost that game 6-2, but won game two, 2-0. Mays, however, had no luck in this one. No RBIs or hits, for that matter!
The Series shifted to New York for game three, and New York took a 3-0 lead into the top of the ninth. It looked like Bill Stafford was going to get a shutout. But Willie ripped a double to left. Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda were retired, leaving behind only Ed Bailey, the catcher. Stafford was one out away from a shutout.
But Bailey surprised everyone by smacking a home run to right that just made it over Maris' head. That cut the score to 3-2. But Stafford got Jim Davenport to fly out to Tom Tresh in left to end the game. Mays had sure made things close, though!
Game four was close for a while, but San Francisco needed this one. A grand slam by Chuck Hiller broke open a close game and helped the Giants win 7-3. Mays followed Hiller's slam by making the last out of the inning. Earlier, he had singled and then been erased on a double play.
More was needed from Willie and his teammates in game five, as New York took a three to two series lead with a 5-3 win. Mays hit the ball well in the top of the first, as he lined out to Tresh. But Ralph Terry fanned him in the top of the fourth. His pal, Mickey Mantle caught Mays' drive to deep centre in the top of the sixth. Willie then grounded out to Clete Boyer at third in the top of the eighth.
Mays, however helped out in game six. In all went down in the bottom of the fourth. The Giants were back home and needed a win to starve off elimination! With a run already in and Willie on third after drawing a walk, it was time for Orlando Cepeda to smack a double. The hit scored Mays, and put San Francisco up, 2-0. A Jim Davenport single made it 3-0. The Giants had what they needed for a win (Final score, 5-2). Willie added a single and a steal of second in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Giants stranded him.
Against Ralph Terry again for game seven at home, the Giants seemed overmatched. New York, however, could score but one run. And it came on a double play. But the one run was destined to hold.
Mays really got a hold of one in the bottom of the seventh. He sent one to left that Tom Tresh made a great catch on. It was crucial, as the other Willie, McCovey, hit a booming triple next. That catch had saved a run and kept New York up 1-0.
In the bottom of the ninth, New York still led, 1-0. Matty Alou, pinch hitting, singled for just the third hit off the ballgame by San Francisco. Terry Felipe Alou and Chuck Hiller on strikeouts. He was one out away from a shutout. Willie Mays was the batter. Doing an amazing job of hitting, he sent one to right that seemed destined for the corner and a tie ball game. Roger Maris, however, got to it quickly and fired a great throw to Bobby Richardson, who was way out in the outfield to take the throw. Richardson's throw home was also on the money as both runners ended up on second and third only. When McCovey sent a sizzler to Richardson on Terry's second pitch, and Bobby caught that, New York was on top of the world in 1962.
It happens. Willie Mays, was one, if not the, best players of his generation. And here he was without an RBI in the last six games of this very exciting World Series. You have Fall Classics where that guy you should count on just doesn't seem to come through, while that guy who had no right to be a hero suddenly does. That's baseball for you at October's Showdown!
Willie Mays, playing in his first World Series since the San Francisco Giants were in New York back in '54, got off to a hot start '62. He just didn't seem to be able to keep it up. A fine play by Roger Maris stopped him from tying game seven with an RBI.
The New York Yankees, starting things on the road, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in game 2 behind a double by Maris in the top of the first. Mays started the bottom of the second for the Giants by singling and later scoring to cut it to 2-1.
In the next inning it was Chuck Hiller with a double and Mays driving him in with a single to tie things. That, however, was the last run the Giants would score. Mays added a single later, but it didn't do much.
The Giants lost that game 6-2, but won game two, 2-0. Mays, however, had no luck in this one. No RBIs or hits, for that matter!
The Series shifted to New York for game three, and New York took a 3-0 lead into the top of the ninth. It looked like Bill Stafford was going to get a shutout. But Willie ripped a double to left. Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda were retired, leaving behind only Ed Bailey, the catcher. Stafford was one out away from a shutout.
But Bailey surprised everyone by smacking a home run to right that just made it over Maris' head. That cut the score to 3-2. But Stafford got Jim Davenport to fly out to Tom Tresh in left to end the game. Mays had sure made things close, though!
Game four was close for a while, but San Francisco needed this one. A grand slam by Chuck Hiller broke open a close game and helped the Giants win 7-3. Mays followed Hiller's slam by making the last out of the inning. Earlier, he had singled and then been erased on a double play.
More was needed from Willie and his teammates in game five, as New York took a three to two series lead with a 5-3 win. Mays hit the ball well in the top of the first, as he lined out to Tresh. But Ralph Terry fanned him in the top of the fourth. His pal, Mickey Mantle caught Mays' drive to deep centre in the top of the sixth. Willie then grounded out to Clete Boyer at third in the top of the eighth.
Mays, however helped out in game six. In all went down in the bottom of the fourth. The Giants were back home and needed a win to starve off elimination! With a run already in and Willie on third after drawing a walk, it was time for Orlando Cepeda to smack a double. The hit scored Mays, and put San Francisco up, 2-0. A Jim Davenport single made it 3-0. The Giants had what they needed for a win (Final score, 5-2). Willie added a single and a steal of second in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Giants stranded him.
Against Ralph Terry again for game seven at home, the Giants seemed overmatched. New York, however, could score but one run. And it came on a double play. But the one run was destined to hold.
Mays really got a hold of one in the bottom of the seventh. He sent one to left that Tom Tresh made a great catch on. It was crucial, as the other Willie, McCovey, hit a booming triple next. That catch had saved a run and kept New York up 1-0.
In the bottom of the ninth, New York still led, 1-0. Matty Alou, pinch hitting, singled for just the third hit off the ballgame by San Francisco. Terry Felipe Alou and Chuck Hiller on strikeouts. He was one out away from a shutout. Willie Mays was the batter. Doing an amazing job of hitting, he sent one to right that seemed destined for the corner and a tie ball game. Roger Maris, however, got to it quickly and fired a great throw to Bobby Richardson, who was way out in the outfield to take the throw. Richardson's throw home was also on the money as both runners ended up on second and third only. When McCovey sent a sizzler to Richardson on Terry's second pitch, and Bobby caught that, New York was on top of the world in 1962.
It happens. Willie Mays, was one, if not the, best players of his generation. And here he was without an RBI in the last six games of this very exciting World Series. You have Fall Classics where that guy you should count on just doesn't seem to come through, while that guy who had no right to be a hero suddenly does. That's baseball for you at October's Showdown!
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