"Pitched against Mickey Mantle in the 1962 World Series, gave up his 500th home run in 1967!"
It's Miller Time!
No, not that one.
Stu Miller was on the 1962 San Francisco Giants. They won the pennant that year, then faced off against the New York Yankees in a classic 7 game World Series. The Yankees narrowly won it, 1-0 in the seventh contest.
Miller pitched in game one, relieving Don Larsen in the top of the ninth. New York had Tom Tresh on first, and were about to face a new battery, as a double switch occurred.
Stu was hitting in Ed Bailey's spot in the lineup. Since Bailey was a catcher, someone had to fill in for that spot. John Orsino did that. Whatever Orsino called, it was right, as Mantle fanned. But Tresh stole second, and Roger Maris walked. A single by Elston Howard scored the Yankees 6th and final run of the afternoon. New York won, 6-2.
So down two games to one going into game four, the Giants needed a win on the road. They got a big win, 7-3. So game five was the final one at Yankee Stadium. Miller got into this one, but the Giants lost 5-3.
Tresh had just smacked a 3-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th. That turned a 2-2 game into a 5-2 Yankee lead! Miller in, heart of the order up. All Miller did was retire Mantle, walk Maris, and then get Howard. End of the frame.
The Giants got a run back in the top of the ninth, and even had the tying run at the dish. It would have been Stu Miller, but there's no way the pitcher is batting for himself in this situation. Ed Bailey batted for him, and ended the game with a liner to Maris in right.
The Giants beat Whitey Ford in game 6, then merely surrendered 1-0 in game 7, with the series-winning run at second.
Stu had another crack at Mantle in 1967.
It was May the 14th at Yankee Stadium, and Mantle had a certain milestone in his vision. Miller came in to pitch the bottom of the 6th. He was now on the Baltimore Orioles and they trailed by a run. Mantle had ended the bottom of the 5th with a pop to 1st.
So in the 6th, Miller faced the batters after Mantle. Howard was retired on a fly. Tresh reached on an error, Steve Whittaker fanned. Then Joe Pepitone, who was on the postseason roster but did not play in the '62 World Series, hit a 2-run home run! Miller got out of there without allowing another run.
But in the 7th, Mantle came up with 2 outs and not a man on. Howard and Tresh were due up next. The count went to 3-2...
Tada!
The Orioles lost the game 6-5, and Stu took the loss. Miller posted an excellent 2.55 ERA that year, but could only go 3-10. Purchased by the Atlanta Braves in 1968, he made only two appearances, and retired. Mantle, ironically, also retired after '68.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).
Retrosheet. www.retrosheet.org. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).
Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).
It's Miller Time!
No, not that one.
Stu Miller was on the 1962 San Francisco Giants. They won the pennant that year, then faced off against the New York Yankees in a classic 7 game World Series. The Yankees narrowly won it, 1-0 in the seventh contest.
Miller pitched in game one, relieving Don Larsen in the top of the ninth. New York had Tom Tresh on first, and were about to face a new battery, as a double switch occurred.
Stu was hitting in Ed Bailey's spot in the lineup. Since Bailey was a catcher, someone had to fill in for that spot. John Orsino did that. Whatever Orsino called, it was right, as Mantle fanned. But Tresh stole second, and Roger Maris walked. A single by Elston Howard scored the Yankees 6th and final run of the afternoon. New York won, 6-2.
So down two games to one going into game four, the Giants needed a win on the road. They got a big win, 7-3. So game five was the final one at Yankee Stadium. Miller got into this one, but the Giants lost 5-3.
Tresh had just smacked a 3-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th. That turned a 2-2 game into a 5-2 Yankee lead! Miller in, heart of the order up. All Miller did was retire Mantle, walk Maris, and then get Howard. End of the frame.
The Giants got a run back in the top of the ninth, and even had the tying run at the dish. It would have been Stu Miller, but there's no way the pitcher is batting for himself in this situation. Ed Bailey batted for him, and ended the game with a liner to Maris in right.
The Giants beat Whitey Ford in game 6, then merely surrendered 1-0 in game 7, with the series-winning run at second.
Stu had another crack at Mantle in 1967.
It was May the 14th at Yankee Stadium, and Mantle had a certain milestone in his vision. Miller came in to pitch the bottom of the 6th. He was now on the Baltimore Orioles and they trailed by a run. Mantle had ended the bottom of the 5th with a pop to 1st.
So in the 6th, Miller faced the batters after Mantle. Howard was retired on a fly. Tresh reached on an error, Steve Whittaker fanned. Then Joe Pepitone, who was on the postseason roster but did not play in the '62 World Series, hit a 2-run home run! Miller got out of there without allowing another run.
But in the 7th, Mantle came up with 2 outs and not a man on. Howard and Tresh were due up next. The count went to 3-2...
Tada!
The Orioles lost the game 6-5, and Stu took the loss. Miller posted an excellent 2.55 ERA that year, but could only go 3-10. Purchased by the Atlanta Braves in 1968, he made only two appearances, and retired. Mantle, ironically, also retired after '68.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).
Retrosheet. www.retrosheet.org. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).
Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).
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