Write down the name Darold Knowles. I knowles he has a Fall Classic record that will be almost impossible to beat. Unless a World Series game ends in a tie again, and is washed out, replayed, Knowles has his name in there for good. He pitched in all seven games of the 1973 World Series. And quite effective, too! Not a run allowed!
Knowles' Oakland Athletics were up against the upstart New York Mets. But New York wasn't about to fold the hand easily. The pushed 'em all the way to the edge of the cliff. That's why Knowles was needed so much. This Fall Classic was just that, a classic!
Somehow, I don't think Oakland deserved to win game one. It was in New York, and Oakland managed just four hits. Yet, they led 2-1 going into the top of the ninth. Yet, with one out, and the A's just two outs away from victory, Rollie Fingers walked pinch hitter Ron Hodges. In came Knowles, out came fingers. Knowles retires the next two batters for the save, and Oakland draws first blood in the '73 Fall Classic. Easy, right?
In game two, Knowles didn't exactly pitch well. He came into the game in the top of the sixth with the score 4-3, New York. But the Mets were looking poised for more. They had the bases loaded and there was only one out. Knowles was in there to get Oakland out of it. Instead, he threw poorly to home on a comebacker, and two runs scored. Now it was 6-3. Knowles got out of that, but allowed a single and a walk the next inning before finally getting the third out. Oakland did come back to knot things, but alas, it was New York, 10-7 in twelve innings.
So, it was on to the Big Apple for game three. Knowles was much better, and so was Oakland. It was the A's with an extra-inning win of their own, to go up two games to one. And, Knowles allowed just a walk in the bottom of the seventh to keep it, 2-1, New York. Oakland tied it in the top of the eighth and Knowles had a 1-2-3 bottom of the frame before departing. He'd done the job!
The Mets won game four to square things. It was 3-1, Mets before Darold made it in. Knowles came into pitch with two one and no one out in the bottom of the fourth. He fanned the first batter he faced, then came undone as Wayne Garrett took one for the team to reach first and load 'em up. An error followed. That was one run. A single by Rusty Staub scored two more. 6-1, New York. The game was essentially over, and Billy Conigliaro pinch hit for him in the top of the fifth. The scored remained the same the rest of the game. It was all even.
The Mets won game five for good measure. But Knowles didn't do much. He faced only two batters, Bud Harrelson and pitcher Jerry Koosman. Harrelson managed to walk and Koosman K'd. But with the win, New York was one win away from their second World Series triumph in four years!
It didn't happen. Know why?
Knowles came in to try and protect a 3-1 lead at home. It was the top of the eighth and the Mets were not about to quit. One on, one out. Two singles off Knowles scored a run before Staub fanned against Knowles. Rollie Fingers came in to get the third out, then mopped up New York 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to preserve a 3-2 win.
Game seven, winner-take-all!
Oakland won it, but not before the Mets made some noise in the top of the ninth. It was 5-1, Oakland, and just three outs to go! Around an out came a walk and a single put two on, but Rollie Fingers got Bud Harrelson to ground out. Both runners advanced, however now New York was down to their last out. Ed Kranepool reached on an error on what should have been the final out. Not only did a run score but the tying run was at the dish. Knowles was needed again. Wayne Garret was back at the dish. When Darold got him to pop out to shortstop Bert Campaneris, the Athletics were the World Series champions of 1973.
Knowles had made much of that possible for Oakland. While he failed to strand some of the inherited runners, he'd pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Darold had saved two games and fanned five batters.
The 1973 Fall Classic was an exciting edge-of-your-seat affair. You wouldn't bet the farm on who was going to win, as there were many twists in turns. But one thing about all seven games? Darold Knowles had pitched in 'em all!
Knowles' Oakland Athletics were up against the upstart New York Mets. But New York wasn't about to fold the hand easily. The pushed 'em all the way to the edge of the cliff. That's why Knowles was needed so much. This Fall Classic was just that, a classic!
Somehow, I don't think Oakland deserved to win game one. It was in New York, and Oakland managed just four hits. Yet, they led 2-1 going into the top of the ninth. Yet, with one out, and the A's just two outs away from victory, Rollie Fingers walked pinch hitter Ron Hodges. In came Knowles, out came fingers. Knowles retires the next two batters for the save, and Oakland draws first blood in the '73 Fall Classic. Easy, right?
In game two, Knowles didn't exactly pitch well. He came into the game in the top of the sixth with the score 4-3, New York. But the Mets were looking poised for more. They had the bases loaded and there was only one out. Knowles was in there to get Oakland out of it. Instead, he threw poorly to home on a comebacker, and two runs scored. Now it was 6-3. Knowles got out of that, but allowed a single and a walk the next inning before finally getting the third out. Oakland did come back to knot things, but alas, it was New York, 10-7 in twelve innings.
So, it was on to the Big Apple for game three. Knowles was much better, and so was Oakland. It was the A's with an extra-inning win of their own, to go up two games to one. And, Knowles allowed just a walk in the bottom of the seventh to keep it, 2-1, New York. Oakland tied it in the top of the eighth and Knowles had a 1-2-3 bottom of the frame before departing. He'd done the job!
The Mets won game four to square things. It was 3-1, Mets before Darold made it in. Knowles came into pitch with two one and no one out in the bottom of the fourth. He fanned the first batter he faced, then came undone as Wayne Garrett took one for the team to reach first and load 'em up. An error followed. That was one run. A single by Rusty Staub scored two more. 6-1, New York. The game was essentially over, and Billy Conigliaro pinch hit for him in the top of the fifth. The scored remained the same the rest of the game. It was all even.
The Mets won game five for good measure. But Knowles didn't do much. He faced only two batters, Bud Harrelson and pitcher Jerry Koosman. Harrelson managed to walk and Koosman K'd. But with the win, New York was one win away from their second World Series triumph in four years!
It didn't happen. Know why?
Knowles came in to try and protect a 3-1 lead at home. It was the top of the eighth and the Mets were not about to quit. One on, one out. Two singles off Knowles scored a run before Staub fanned against Knowles. Rollie Fingers came in to get the third out, then mopped up New York 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to preserve a 3-2 win.
Game seven, winner-take-all!
Oakland won it, but not before the Mets made some noise in the top of the ninth. It was 5-1, Oakland, and just three outs to go! Around an out came a walk and a single put two on, but Rollie Fingers got Bud Harrelson to ground out. Both runners advanced, however now New York was down to their last out. Ed Kranepool reached on an error on what should have been the final out. Not only did a run score but the tying run was at the dish. Knowles was needed again. Wayne Garret was back at the dish. When Darold got him to pop out to shortstop Bert Campaneris, the Athletics were the World Series champions of 1973.
Knowles had made much of that possible for Oakland. While he failed to strand some of the inherited runners, he'd pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Darold had saved two games and fanned five batters.
The 1973 Fall Classic was an exciting edge-of-your-seat affair. You wouldn't bet the farm on who was going to win, as there were many twists in turns. But one thing about all seven games? Darold Knowles had pitched in 'em all!
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