In both the 1957 and 1969 World Series, a HBP was decided upon when the umpire was given the evidence: Shoe polish on the baseball! It wasn't something out of an Indiana Jones flick, but rather a player named Jones that was involved in each.
In 1957, the New York Yankees carried a 5-4 lead into the bottom of he 10th inning in game four vs. the Milwaukee Braves. Three more outs, and New York is up three games to one. The home town team seemed like a beaten bunch as New York had scored three times in the top of the ninth to tie it, and another tally in the top of the next frame to take the lead.
But the Yankees only got one out. Nippy Jones was sent up by the Braves to pinch hit for Warren Spahn. Jones took a pitch inside. Ball. But when Jones showed the umpire the evidence in the form of shoe polish on the ball. It was like ball four. Jones on first.
Red Schoendienst hit a sac bunt. Runner one second and one out. Johnny Logan hit a double down the left-field line to tie it. Eddie Mathews dramatic home run won it. This helped the Braves. Instead of being down 3-1, it was 2-2. And by winning two of the next three games, the Braves entered a Brave New World!
So, twelve years later, and it was the New York Mets at home in game five. They were actually already up 3-1, and looking to put the Baltimore Orioles away. There was good reason to. They were the home team and if they didn't get it done here, games six and seven were in Baltimore. The Orioles had beaten the Mets handily in game one there, 4-1. The Mets managed to win game two, but barely, 2-1. They needed this one.
But the O's weren't going to give them it. In the top of the third, pitcher Dave McNally hit a two-run home run for Baltimore to break the scoreless deadlock. Two outs later, and before New York could recover, it became 3-0 when Frank Robinson hit a home run of his own. The Orioles had been shutout in game three, held to just a run in game four, but now were coming together in game five.
But a bit of a miracle saved the Mets. Leading off the bottom of the sixth, was Cleon Jones. McNally had been doing it all at this point. It was still 3-0, and Dave had a three-hitter going. Jones took one inside that sent him down. Believe me, McNally was not trying to start any trouble. Earlier, Frank Robinson had held up the game a bit by heading to the trainers room. The Orioles were a great team, and not the kind to show you up. They didn't want to give the Mets any life.
But, your not going to believe what happened when Jones went down. On the first pitch, by the way. Obviously, it was a ball. But Jones started towards first. The umpire didn't think so. Gil Hodges, the ex-Dodger and now the Met manager, came out to have a look-see at the ball. AH! Shoe polish! See ump? Shoe polish on the ball? The shoe fits the batter, and the polish is from the shoe? To first went Jones, after all. Right all along!
So, that brought Earl Weaver, the Orioles manager out of the dugout. He wanted to see the evidence for himself. Normally Earl would get really steamed at situations like this. But while he argued a bit, he seemed content. I guess the Orioles had been caught red-handed. But this was black shoe polish, not red.
So when Don Clendenon followed with a two-run home run, the Mets were back in this thing. Al Weiss tied it with a solo shot the next inning. And I mean tied it. In runs, and home runs. 3-3, and 2-2 on the long ball count.
The Mets scored twice more in the bottom of the eighth to win the game 5-3, and the 1969 World Series 4-1.
I'll bet both Nippy Jones in Cleon Jones might have felt sore from both pitches, but do you think they were mad that their shoes had lost some colour? Well, if it led to the big prize, who cares about losses?
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 27 August 2015.
ClassicMLB11. "1969 World Series, Game 5 Baltimore Orioles at New York Mets." YouTube, 31 July 2013. Web. 27 August 201. Classic MLB. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24d88f6TFjI>
In 1957, the New York Yankees carried a 5-4 lead into the bottom of he 10th inning in game four vs. the Milwaukee Braves. Three more outs, and New York is up three games to one. The home town team seemed like a beaten bunch as New York had scored three times in the top of the ninth to tie it, and another tally in the top of the next frame to take the lead.
But the Yankees only got one out. Nippy Jones was sent up by the Braves to pinch hit for Warren Spahn. Jones took a pitch inside. Ball. But when Jones showed the umpire the evidence in the form of shoe polish on the ball. It was like ball four. Jones on first.
Red Schoendienst hit a sac bunt. Runner one second and one out. Johnny Logan hit a double down the left-field line to tie it. Eddie Mathews dramatic home run won it. This helped the Braves. Instead of being down 3-1, it was 2-2. And by winning two of the next three games, the Braves entered a Brave New World!
So, twelve years later, and it was the New York Mets at home in game five. They were actually already up 3-1, and looking to put the Baltimore Orioles away. There was good reason to. They were the home team and if they didn't get it done here, games six and seven were in Baltimore. The Orioles had beaten the Mets handily in game one there, 4-1. The Mets managed to win game two, but barely, 2-1. They needed this one.
But the O's weren't going to give them it. In the top of the third, pitcher Dave McNally hit a two-run home run for Baltimore to break the scoreless deadlock. Two outs later, and before New York could recover, it became 3-0 when Frank Robinson hit a home run of his own. The Orioles had been shutout in game three, held to just a run in game four, but now were coming together in game five.
But a bit of a miracle saved the Mets. Leading off the bottom of the sixth, was Cleon Jones. McNally had been doing it all at this point. It was still 3-0, and Dave had a three-hitter going. Jones took one inside that sent him down. Believe me, McNally was not trying to start any trouble. Earlier, Frank Robinson had held up the game a bit by heading to the trainers room. The Orioles were a great team, and not the kind to show you up. They didn't want to give the Mets any life.
But, your not going to believe what happened when Jones went down. On the first pitch, by the way. Obviously, it was a ball. But Jones started towards first. The umpire didn't think so. Gil Hodges, the ex-Dodger and now the Met manager, came out to have a look-see at the ball. AH! Shoe polish! See ump? Shoe polish on the ball? The shoe fits the batter, and the polish is from the shoe? To first went Jones, after all. Right all along!
So, that brought Earl Weaver, the Orioles manager out of the dugout. He wanted to see the evidence for himself. Normally Earl would get really steamed at situations like this. But while he argued a bit, he seemed content. I guess the Orioles had been caught red-handed. But this was black shoe polish, not red.
So when Don Clendenon followed with a two-run home run, the Mets were back in this thing. Al Weiss tied it with a solo shot the next inning. And I mean tied it. In runs, and home runs. 3-3, and 2-2 on the long ball count.
The Mets scored twice more in the bottom of the eighth to win the game 5-3, and the 1969 World Series 4-1.
I'll bet both Nippy Jones in Cleon Jones might have felt sore from both pitches, but do you think they were mad that their shoes had lost some colour? Well, if it led to the big prize, who cares about losses?
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 27 August 2015.
ClassicMLB11. "1969 World Series, Game 5 Baltimore Orioles at New York Mets." YouTube, 31 July 2013. Web. 27 August 201. Classic MLB. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24d88f6TFjI>
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