Adam Duvall's grand slam in game five of 2021 was unique. It was the first by a player in the first inning since 1960. Unlike Bobby Richardson's 61 years earlier, the big blow did not hold up.
Duvall's Atlanta Braves were looking to close it out at home against Houston. They'd won games three and four at Truist Park and were looking for the knockout blow in the fifth contest.
The game got off on the right foot for the home team. The home of the Braves, would appear to be the land of the free ride to the World Championship. In the top of the first, Atlanta starter Tucker Davidson needed just fifteen pitches to get the side in order in the top of the first. The Braves then grabbed some very big lumber when they hit for the first time.
It all got started when Jorge Soler stepped in as the very first batter Astros' starter Framber Valdez faced. He singled. Freddie Freeman flied out. Ozzie Albies forced Soler at second. So Valdez appeared to have things under control. However, Austin Riley singled to keep the inning alive. Eddie Rosario walked to load them up. Adam Duvall hit Valdez's very first pitch to right for a home run. The grand slammer put the home team up by four.
Now, Houston could have been demoralized. But, the team had won the World Series in 2017, and nearly in 2019. So they were no stranger to the World Series, especially on odd-numbered years. They got two runs back in the second, and another two in the third. The effects of the grand slam had worn off quickly. The 4-4 tie was broken when Atlanta hit in their half of the third, however. Freddie Freeman hit a four-bagger of his own. There were two problems with it, from the Braves' point of view. First of all, no one was on base, so it was only 5-4. Secondly, that proved to be the last time Atlanta touched home in the contest.
MartÃn Maldonado's bases-loaded walk tied the game in the top of the fifth. And the Astros grabbed their first lead when Marwin Gonzalez stroked a clutch, pinch hit, two-run single. The Houston bullpen picked up the slack from there, and Atlanta managed just four hits in the last six and two-thirds innings of the ballgame.
Maldonado (Not related to outfielder Candy from the 1980s and 90s) added a run-scoring single in the seventh, and it was 8-5. Houston was working 9-5 in the ballgame when Carlos Correa knocked in still another run in the top of the eighth. The Astros had clearly used the Duvall grand slam as a wake-up call.
Houston went on to win the game, 9-5, but it was there last gasp. Max Fried, Tyler Matzek, and Will Smith combined on a 7-0 shutout in game six, which was at Minute Maid Park.
Still, for the Astros, it was their third World Series appearance in the last five years (They won in 2017, and came within a game of winning two seasons later). The team continued on getting to the summit, and eventually won again in 2022 (After winning 106 regular seasons contests), overcoming the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. And the experience of the '21 Fall Classic was big for reliever Phil Maton, who'd struggled throughout the regular season. Phil came back in 2022, dropping his earned run average nearly 1.00. Through fifteen appearances in 2023, Maton's ERA is 1.00.
Getting back to the grand slam in the first inning, the previous player to do that was Bobby Richardson, way back in 1960. Bobby smoked a Clem Labine offering in the bottom of the first in a game in which his New York Yankees were playing at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. New York went on to win the game three encounter, 10-0. Richardson's six runs driven in that afternoon are a still-standing single-game World Series record.
References
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 12 May, 2023.
2021 World Series. Fox Broadcasting Company, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 12 May, 2023.
"Little Mo," lost just two out of her fifty-four matches in Grand Slams! Unreal! Makes it all the more sad that Maureen Connolly's career was cut short before the age of twenty.
She first appeared at a Grand Slam in the US Championships in Forest Hills in 1949. She'd won the junior singles, but could only reach the second round of the women's amateur edition. The next year, same result at Forest Hills.
But then things changed.
In 1952, she was still a teenager. But Little Mo was seeded fourth. She overcame Doris Hart, the number one seed, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals. The finals pitted Connolly against the second seed, Shirley Fry. Fry had quite a 1951 season, as she also had appeared in the finals of the French and Wimbledon.
Fry gave the young kid all she could handle. Fry was having quite a run at the US Amateur and no upstart was going to have it easy. Shirley had overcome two tough challenges herself in the quarterfinals and semifinals. She'd beaten a pair of English players in three tough sets. First was Kay Tuckley, 9-7, 3-6, 6-2. Then, in the semis, Jean Walker-Smith (The top seeded foreign player), 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.
So when the kid won the first set with relative ease, 6-3, Fry was in that position again: If she was going to win, she'd need three sets to do it!
And Fry did come back. Shirley thrashed Maureen 6-1 in the second stanza to level this. How would the kid respond? Unbelievably, Connolly was undaunted. She took the third set, 6-4, and at the age of sixteen, Maureen Connolly was the US Amateur Champion in 1951. Until another 16-year old, Tracy Austin in 1979, won the Open Championship, Maureen was the youngest ever winner.
Connolly was no flash-in-the-pan. The next year she won the first of three straight Wimbledon's. Maureen also was successful in her defence of the US title. She beat Doris Hart (A two-time winner) in straight sets in the finals.
1953 was her "Grand" year. Maureen won the Australian Amateur over American Julia Sampson. Then poor Doris Hart had to endure three straight Grand Slam finals losses to the kid. Doris' 6-2, 6-4 loss at the US Amateur that year gave the 18-year-old all four major singles titles that year.
And 1954 just seemed to be better: Rolland-Garros was won in straight sets in the finals, and so was Wimbledon over Louis Brough! What could stop the 19-year-old from a fourth-straight US title?
Sadly, Maureen Connolly was in a horseback accident just two weeks later. The accident, which damaged her right fibula, put an abrupt end to her career before her twentieth birthday (Which was September 17th). A year later, she was married and soon became a tennis coach. And like Herb Score, the baseball pitcher whose career was cut short around that time, Maureen turned to tennis broadcasting.
In the mid-1960s Connolly developed cancer. Courageously, she fought it for three years. But on June 21st, 1969 (Just one day before Wimbledon) she passed away. Little Mo was just 34.
Overall, Connolly left quite a legacy. Not only did she win nine Grand Slams, but Maureen posted an amazing W-L record of 52-2 (A .963 W%). In addition to that, Connolly won the 1953 Australian Amateur doubles title with Julia Sampson (This was the only time she ever played in the event). This was her one and only trip to the tournament. She also won the 1954 French Amateur with Nell Hall Hopman. Hopman was at the time the wife of Harry Hopman, the great Australian coach. One of his star pupils was Lew Hoad. Connolly's one and only mixed doubles Grand Slam was with him at Rolland-Garros in '54.
Hard to call it at this point, but it's time for yours truly to go out on a limb.
Nadal, if he can return to full health, will win his 11th French Open. Can Rafa regain the #1 ranking? I'd say it's 50-50 whether or not he does.
Cilic will win his first Wimbledon. I know it's really hard to tell with him, but Marian has reached the finals of two of the last three grand slams. His time will come.
I expect either Thiem or Zverev to reach their first grand slam finals this year. Don't be surprised though, if they come out second best. You don't always win all the grand slam finals you reach. Just ask Andy Murray.
Speaking of which, Murray I just have the feeling will make a strong comeback. I think he and Djokovic will return to the top ten in rankings. And though a grand slam will probably elude both of them this year, don't discount 'em.
As for Roger Federer, is this the year his age finally catches up with him? So far, no. Can he sustain this remarkable longevity? I gotta think it should catch up a little to him. But Roger always seems to have that other aspect of his game that compensates for any decline his game might show. I just never thought he'd last this long. I'm not sure he can keep this up, though. An ageless wonder, for sure. How long can he hold that #1 ranking? Federer has many-a-point to defend for the remainder of the year. Not sure what Roger's plans are for the French Open.
Juan Martin del Potro has a title and a finals appearance this year, so far. Like Cilic, he really didn't do much in 2017 until half-way (or more) through the year. So essentially, he needs to just show up and win a match (or two) to bolster his ranking points.
"Semifinals of the Australian Open. Finals at Wimbledon. Next year, quarterfinals Down Under. Canadian"
That would be Eugenie Bouchard in 2014-15 and Milos Raonic in 2016-17. The two Canadians have really made believers out of Canadian tennis fans. Someday, Canada might get a singles grand slam under their belt. But maybe, "Not so fast," alas.
Bouchard, took the women's tour by storm in 2014. Well, at least until after Wimbledon. Storming past all opposition in the first five rounds Down Under, she beat a formiable top 10 player, Ana Ivanovic in the quarters and then finally lost to Na Li in the semifinals. Not a bad start to the season.
She didn't exactly take the pedal of the metal from there. For a while.
Some early round exits followed, but by May, she had her very first WTA title, in Nurnberg, beating Karolina Pliskova in the finals in three sets. And she had another grand slam semifinals up her sleeve!
May ended with Bouchard into the second week at the French Open. And she gave Maria Sharapova all she could handle in the semifinals, the Russian prevailing 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Two grand slams played in 2014, and two semis! Could it get any better?
It did at Wimbledon.
Racing through her first six matches, Genie found herself, at 22, one match away from a grand slam title. Carling Bassett had reached the semifinals way back in 1984 at the US Open, but Canada finally had their first singles grand slam finalist! Alas, Bouchard was simply ushered out of the finals in swift and efficient manner by Petra Kvitova, who lost just three games. All of them, in the first set.
It seemed that here is where the wheels came of the chariot for Bouchard, however. She came back to here home, Canada, and lost in the first round in Montreal. Same in Cincinnati. She lost in the second round at New Haven. How about the year's final grand slam?
It was better than a round or two. In fact, Bouchard managed to win three matches. But instead of getting to her fourth quarterfinals (And maybe, fourth semifinals) of the year, she was simply dismissed by Ekaterina Makarova. It was straight sets again, but closer: 7-6, 6-2.
A finals appearance in Wuhan followed, and Bouchard was back on track. But only temporary. She won only one more match. Simona Halep, Ana Ivanovic, and Serena Williams just thrashed her at the WTA finals in Singapore. It wasn't pretty: 6-2, 6-3, followed by 6-1, 6-3 (Ivanovic got some revenge for the Australian Open with that straight-setter!) and 6-1, 6-1.
Oh, well. The year was over. 2015 started out pretty good for Eugenie. She only did one match worse in the Australian Open, making it 4 out of 5 quarterfinals reached at the slams. Maria Sharapova opposed her again in her fifth match there, and again Bouchard put enough enough resistance to take the second set before dropping the third.
But what has happened since to Bouchard? Struggles have followed. There's been injuries, including quite a bizarre one you've all probably heard about at the US Open. Her results really slipped at the grand slams and all over the place in 2015. 2016 was not better as her results were actually worse at the Grand Slams.
Eugenie started 2017 off on the right foot. In 2016, she'd reached the finals at Hobart. While she lost her first event this year at Brisbane (First round), Bouchard made her move at Sydney. She won three matches before eventually falling to Johanna Konta of Great Britain in the semifinals. Down Under for the year's first Grand Slam, she won two more matches before Coco Vanderwegh 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. However, Bouchard wasn't the story of Canadian tennis anymore at this point. No, someone was making some serious waves on the men's side.
Milos Raonic had fallen to Roger Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon semifinals. But when the two met at an event just before the first grand slam tow years later, the Canadian came out on top! At the 2016 Australian Open, he had Andy Murray where he wanted him: 2-1 up in sets! The Scottsman rallied from there, alas. And they'd meet again under dramatic circumstances later that year.
You see, Raonic beat that guy, Federer in the semifinals in five sets at Wimbledon, three years after falling to him. Murray awaited him in the finals. It wasn't too bad, although straight sets. The last two, went to tiebreakers that Andy managed to pull off! Murray continued his strong play that year, especially against Raonic, sadly. He beat him two more times: In Cincinnati and the Year-End Championship. But this time, Milos pushed Andy in the best-of-three match, narrowly losing a third-set tiebreaker.
So as 2017 dawned, things were looking up for not only the new #1 player in the world, Murray, but also the Canadian, Raonic. He was now ranked third in the world.
But as Brisbane, he lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round after beating Rafael Nadal in the second. The Spaniard was looking at a rematch at the Australian Open. This time, it was Nadal the winner of the quarterfinal encounter. And in straight sets. Nadal went all the way to the finals, losing to his great rival, Roger Federer. Both Federer and Nadal seemed to have regained their old form.
So can Bouchard get into contention in 2017? Can Raonic win a slam this year (Preferably Wimbledon, I would think!) and get the #1 ranking? Time, will provide an answer for both.
Infosys, FedEx, Peugeot, and LeSports. "Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis | ATP World Tour | Tennis." ATP World Tour. Emirates. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://www.atpworldtour.com/>
SAP, Dubai Duty Free, IQYI, and USANA. "WTA." WTA Tennis. Women's Tennis Association, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://www.wtatennis.com/>
Novak Djokovic holds the men's record for most consecutive semifinals reached at the French Open in the open era. I would have thought Borg or Nadal. Federer came close. So despite only having one title at Roland Garros (So far!), it's another record for the Superb Serb. He just keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny!
Djokovic first had a chance to make it to the semifinals in Paris back in 2006, a year before his big breakthrough. Denying him the chance was Rafael Nadal. They'd see a lot more of each other in the coming years there. But for 2006 (And until 2015), the result was the same every time Djokovic met Nadal in the French. A loss. In this one, Djokovic failed to get a set and defaulted after losing the first two sets 6-4, 6-4. Still, he showed a lot of promise.
But Nadal was King. He'd won in 2005. He'd win it all the next year. And the next. And again in 2008. His semifinal victim in 2007 and the following year was Djokovic. He had his number on clay. At that point, at least.
In 2009, Nadal surprisingly lose to Robin Soderling in the fourth round. Djokovic didn't even make it to the last sixteen, losing to Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets in the third round. It was Roger Federer who finally broke through. Fed had himself lost to the Spainard in the semis of 2005, and then three straight finals. Nadal returned to win it all in 2010. But then Novak began to look like a future French champion.
Djokovic had beaten Nadal in Madrid and Rome in 2011, and had an amazing winning streak of 43 matches. But it was Federer that ended it, depriving the world of the first Novak-Rafa French Final. Rafa beat Roger in the finals in four sets. That gave him seven French Opens, one more than Bjorn Borg. He'd come back in 2012 to set the record straight over who was the best player on clay. Djokovic beat Federer in the semifinals this time around, but couldn't do the same to the Spainard in the finale. Nadal then won an excellent semifinals against Djokovic in 2013, and made it nine French Opens win a four-set win over the Serbian in 2014.
Going for a sixth consecutive French Open in 2015 seemed possible for Nadal. At least, it was until he ran into Djokovic in the quarters. It was Novak who ran Rafael into the ground in straight sets. This was a landmark victory in more ways than one. Djokovic had now beaten Nadal in every single grand slam. But his bid for his first French Open was dashed by a player from Switzerland in the finals. No, not Federer. Rather, Stan Wawrinka. Hitting a vast array of amazing backhands, it was Stan winning his first French Open and second Grand Slam.
Stan looked forward, no doubt, to another finals date with Novak this year. Sadly, Nadal and Federer weren't around by the time the semifinals got underway. Having looked strong in his first three matches, Nadal was forced to default his fourth round match, never even making it on the court. Federer himself didn't come to Paris, battling his own injury woes. So it was guaranteed the second straight year of no Nadal or Federer in the finals of the year's second grand slam. That did feel odd.
Wawrinka, meanwhile, sailed into the semifinals, only to face a man making his third straight Final Four appearance. That would be Andy Murray, the Scot. The Scot had gone five sets his first two matches, but that got the old motor going. From there, he won two straight matches in straight sets. Then he won three straight sets from Richard Gasquet, the hometown hero, after losing the first one. He then disposed of the defending champion in four sets, as well.
Djokovic had a different path. He lost just one set his first five matches, looking like a man destined to win his first French. Could Novak keep it up? Young Dominic Thiem was next. The Austrian was into his first semifinals of any grand slam. All of 22 years old. Alas, he wasn't going to play The Spoiler role here. Down he went in three sets.
In the final, it was Murray taking the first set from Djokovic, 6-3. But then, the inevitable set in. Murray won one game in the second set. Two in the third. Djokovic mounted a commanding lead of 5-2 in the fourth, before a mild setback occurred. This is a tough slam to win, you see!
Djokovic served for the match. But he won only one point on his serve. Murray ripped a passing shot for a break of his own. The Scottsman was scampering and dancing all over the court now, and seemingly had an answer for all the Serbian arsenal. A hold at 30 closed this fourth stanza to 5-4. Djokovic now needed to hold, or this thing was really going to get interesting.
Djokovic didn't want to let this opportunity slip away. Going five was too risky. Quickly, he build a 40-15 lead. Two championship points...Which Murray then promptly erased. The Stubborn Scot was just not going away quietly.
A swinging volley at deuce gave Djokovic a third match point. A long rally ensued. But it was Murray that put it into the net, giving Djokovic the win, and his first French Open.
The win was more than just his first title in Paris. Djokovic had his 12th Grand Slam, one more than Bjorn Borg. He'd also won his 65th ATP singles title. That not only put him one better than the Swede, it also topped Pete Sampras. Pete won 14 Grand Slams, but never the French (Or even reached a final). Novak could tie him (And Nadal, also with 14 majors) this year. Finally, it was Novak's fourth Big Four Title in 12 months. He'd joined a pretty select few with that. By capturing Wimbledon and the US Open in 2015 (He'd also won the Australian Open that year before the French) and following it up with another Australian Open (Djokovic's sixth, tying him with the great Roy Emerson, who coincidentally also has 12th slams.) and a French this year, Novak had become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four in a row. It should be noted that Laver got his in one calendar year, however. Of course, Djokovic fans can always say that when Laver played, three of the four slams were on grass (The French, the obvious exception). Novak is thus the first male to win four Grand Slammers in a row on four different surfaces.
Novak, however, seems primed for at least one more major this year. He surely wants to break out of a tie with Emerson for fourth place on the all-time Grand Slams won list. Next on his radar is Sampras and Nadal. What will passing them due for his legacy? To be honest with you, for me, he's already passed both. He's currently ahead in the head-to-head vs. Nadal, and the titles won count is pretty even. As for Sampras, lacking the French Open alone is a major void in his claim as the best ever. And did he ever have to face a prime Nadal or Federer?
Speaking of Federer, that's where it gets interesting. Federer currently sits at 17 majors. He's been hurt this year, so that will most likely be his final tally. Nothing to be ashamed of, of course. He's also reached an amazing 27 Grand Slam finals and 39 semifinals. Djokovic upended him in that 39th appearance Down Under earlier this year.
So, what does Djokovic need to become the Greatest Ever? Well, if he keeps his focus, I can see him getting another French Open, although a possible barrier will be brought up, shortly. But should Novak win it all again in Paris, he'll join Laver again. Laver was the last man to win all the majors at least twice.
(Although, again, there's something that should be noted. Well, two. Laver won all four in 1962, but as an amateur. When he turned pro for the 1963 year, Rod was barred from playing the majors until 1968, and even there, he skipped the Australian. After winning all four again as a pro in '69, he never again played in the French Open, and only ventured back to his homeland of Australia one more time, in 1971. In all, he only entered eight more Grand Slams after his completion of the Grand Slam at the US Open in '69)
Novak, assuming he stays healthy, will have at least two more full year and the remainder of this one to add to his collection. His winning another French will probably make most experts place him ahead of Sampras, and probably Borg. How about Laver and Federer? Those could be tough. Each of their legacies in sort of written in stone. Obviously, he'll need at least 18 Grand Slams to pass Federer (He has the head-to-head in his favour with The Swiss Maestro, too!) and attain a greater adulation. Laver's time is sort of hard to judge prior to 1968. That could be one for the never-ending debates.
Is there anyone who can stop this? Well Andy Murray could. He's back working with Ivan Lendl (Who's own legacy is missing just one Grand Slam piece, Wimbledon), who coached Murray to wins over Djokovic at the US Open finals of 2012 and Wimbledon the next year. Murray and Djokovic seemed poised for two more meetings on the final stage at the Grand Slams (And maybe even the Rio Olympics!) and Andy would like nothing more than to stop Novak from completing the calendar slam (Keeping Laver's place among the all-time greats secure). Murray himself, coincidentally, has reached the semifinals (Or better) of the French Open the last three years. His play on clay has improved in 2015 and 2016. His loss to Djokovic in the semifinals in Paris in 2015 was his only loss on clay. This year, he went 1-1 vs. Rafael Nadal on clay and 1-2 vs. Novak Djokovic on the red stuff. He even won in Rome over Djokovic in the finals for his biggest clay court title to date. Could a rematch be in order in 2017? I wouldn't bet against it. For good measure, can the Scottsman continue to reach the semis or better in Paris and add to his own legend? Time will tell.
Thus was the score for the fiery three time champion in the US Open semifinals of 1982. John had won this even, his event, the last two years. Beating Bjorn Borg back-to-back made John feel good. But losing to Ivan Lendl so soon afters? Must of left a bad taste in his mouth. He'd beaten Ivan in four sets two years earlier. However, it wasn't like this was the first defeat that the American had suffered in a Grand Slam at the hands of the Czech. Indeed, a quick check of the record books shows that McEnroe had lost in the 1981 French Open quarterfinals in straight sets.
But the 1982 loss was painful. It was again straight sets, but McEnroe had to endure it in front of his fans. But, of course, this is McEnroe we are talking about! Are there any theatrics from him we've never seen before? Or up to this point?
I remember John giving the camera a nudge late in his career, circa 1991 or 1992. But in this match with Ivan a decade earlier, John saved a match point with the easy volley in the tiebreaker, tying the score 6-6 (The same score in the games' column). However...Well...Watch what happens!
That little mental lapse proved costly.
Things To Watch For
Johnny Mac had been a little ruffled earlier. See @ 7:44. And he was playing slow, which was probably to his advantage.
But from the shot of his father @ 11:11, watch!
As you can see starting @ 11:16, he's not happy! Something has to be done!
Granted, I thought McEnroe was right in the sense that the cameraman shouldn't have been so close to either player (In this case, Lendl). However, McEnroe lost all his momentum there, and the next two points. And the match!
McEnroe needed a net cord, not a camera cord in this contest!
References
Feinstein,
John. Hard Courts. New York: Villard, 1991. Print.
Collins,
Bud. The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia
and Record Book. Washington, D.C.: New Chapter, 2010. Print.
Haylett,
John, and Richard Evans. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Tennis.
New York: Exeter, 1989. Print.
Callery,
Sean. The Pictorial History of Tennis. New York: Gallery, 1990.
Print.
Lonnie Smith's grand slam in game five of the 1992 Fall Classic was the first by a player on the Senior Circtu since Ken Boyer's in 1964? Yep, the National League was a little behind the ball in the four-baggers for four runs! Each of them seemed to be needed. The World Series usually makes heroes out of these kinds of home run hitters!
Boyer hit his in game four. The New York Yankees were up two games two on over the St. Louis Cardinals. Boyer, whose brother Clete was on the Yankees, was looking at his 'mates and probably feeling a little glum. Ken had Phil Linz trapped in a rundown but failing to nail him in the first, Boyer and his mates soon were behind 3-0.
It stayed that way until the top of the sixth. Car Warwick pinch hit for pitcher Roger Craig. He singled off Al Downing, who was pitching well. Curt Flood singled Warwick to second. But then things seemed to fizzle for St. Louis. Lou Brock was out on a fly ball and then Dick Groat hit a grounder to Bobby Richardson. Bobby had trouble getting the ball out of his glove and threw wide to shortstop Linz covering the bag. So the inning was not over, the bases were loaded and Boyer was up. Ken, 1-13 so far in the Fall Classic, hit a 1-0 changeup from Downing to deep left. It was just fair, and St. Louis had a 4-3 lead. They held on to win the game.
In Lonnie Smith's case, he was stuck in a slump of his own and so was his team. It seemed worse. He wasn't getting his bat on the ball and Atlanta wasn't getting runners home. Smith was a bit of a veteran in the Fall Classic. The 1992 World Series had seen him up his career total of games played to 31 by showing up in game five.
But he hadn't played in game one. Jack Morris pitched for Toronto and was his usual, tough postseason pitcher. He ended up losing 3-1, but fanned 7 batters in only six innings. This guy was tough. So was the rest of the Jays' staff. Smith had just one RBI going into game five. But a player of his experience is going to get a big hit at some point, right?
Morris was struggling early in game five, but so was his mound adversary. The pressure, however, was on the Atlanta Braves. They were behind three games to one and this game was at the SkyDome (Now, The Rogers' Centre).
Morris was nicked for a run in the top of the first. But Smith could only fly out to end it. Toronto came right back at Atlanta in the bottom of the second after Morris got 'em 1-2-3 in the top of the frame. Pat Borders doubled home John Olerud.
Both Morris and Smoltz had an easy third. Dave Justice, though, hit a home run to put Atlanta back on top in the top of the fourth. Smith followed with a fly to right. Morris got out of there with no further damage. His mates tied it again in the bottom of the frame. Smoltz used up 25 pitches to get out of there. By comparison, Morris had used only 11 in the top of the inning. Smoltz needed a rest. Smith gave it to him!
Morris started out the top of the fifth by fanning Damon Berryhill on seven pitches. It was his fifth K of the game. When Mark Lemke then grounded out on the first pitch, it looked like an easy 1-2-3 inning for Morris.
But Otis Nixon singled and stole second. When Deion Sanders singled to centre, it was 3-2, Atlanta. Then, Terry Pendleton doubled to right. A fan touched the ball and Sanders had to go back to second. The Jays decided to walk Dave Justice intentionally. Well, they found a way to keep the ball in the park, right? Not this inning, as it turned out!
Lonnie Smith walked up to the dish. So, a pair of flyballs to right, so far. But he was about to hit a fly to right, just like Dave Justice had the previous inning. And like Dave's blast, there was no catching it!
Lonnie fouled off the first pitch, then took a ball. Another foul and he was one strike away from going down. But he persevered and fouled off two more Morris offerings. Then, Jack made a big mistake. He threw Smith a fastball that was on the outside edge of the plate. That's not a problem. But it was high, at the waist level. That's a problem. Smith swung and sent it to right. It ended up in the Braves bullpen! It was 7-2, Atlanta.
Smoltz was done after six, but Atlanta went on to win the game. Smith was out of his slump, and up to five RBIs in four games. How's that?
Ken Boyer, after his slam, had five RBIs in four games as well. Both Boyer and Smith were veterans at their moment of glory. Smith was 36 and Boyer was 33. It's experienced players like these that can give your team the lift they need when struggling. Or needing a boost. And if four runs on one swing doesn't help the cause a lot, what does?
References
Gamester, George, and Gerald Hall. On Top Of The World: The Toronto Star’s Tribute To The ‘92 Blue Jays. Doubleday Canada, 1992. Print.
Halberstam, David. October 1964.
New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 26 Dec. 2014.
...But not quite so grand on the hill. You do get a little back on what you dish out, right?
So pitcher Madison Bumgarner slammed his second grand slam on the season, becoming the first pitcher since Tony Cloninger to do that. Cloninger has Madison beaten on that one, however. His came a lot quicker!
Taking the hill for the Atlanta Braves on July 3, 1966, Tony was just a game over .500 (8-7). But his hitting on this day was outstanding! Basically, he did enough to earn his ninth win on the season. Who would have thought his hitting was miles ahead of his pitching on this day? Not that his pitching was that bad!
The San Francisco Giants found out that there was more to Cloninger than his bat. Joe Gibbon started the game for the Giants, but it was apparent from the get-go that the Braves were a little too strong.
Gibbon managed to get two outs with just one man on in the top of the first. The second out was that of the great home run hitter Hank Aaron, who hit into a force play at second. So Gibby had nothing to worry about as far as the long ball went, right? Wrong. Rico Carty then singled. Joe Torre followed that with a three-run home run, which put Atlanta ahead to stay.
Gibbon, shaken, gave up two more singles before departing. Both of these runners would also score via the home run. But it would come from an unlikely source. Bob Briddy walked the next batter and it was bases loaded. There were two outs and Tony Cloninger, the pitcher, was the next hitter.
And Tony surprised everyone by hitting a grand slam. That made the the score 7-0 for the Braves. Felipe Alou, who started the inning with an out, ended it by being retired again. But Atlanta didn't need anything more from him. They would sure get more, though.
Carty blasted a home run in the top of the second, as the game was hopelessly lost by the Giants, now. But Atlanta kept coming at them at full speed!
In the top of the fourth, with another run in, it was Ray Sadecki who was now on the hill for the Giants. The former Cardinal, who started games one and four of the 1964 World Series, soon loaded the bases. Cloninger to the dish again. Cloninger out of the park again! 13-0, Atlanta! No mercy!
San Fran actually managed to score a run in the bottom of the frame. In the top of the fifth inning, a guy you'd expect to go deep, did just that for Atlanta. Funny, at this point, Tony Cloninger had more two more home runs in this game by himself, then Hank Aaron and Willie Mays did! And they were both grand slams! What was going on?
Aaron brought back some semblance of order by hitting a home run to make it a 14-1 Atlanta lead. But neither Cloninger nor Atlanta was done in the scoring department. San Francisco also had some long ball magic up their sleeve!
In the bottom of the frame, up stepped the shaken Sadecki, who must have felt worse then he did in game four of the 1964 World Series. There, he got just one batter out and gave up four hits and three runs. His team managed to come back and win that game, but there would be no comeback here.
In any event though, he smacked a home run of his own in the bottom of the fifth. The trouble was, it was leading off the inning, so it was a solo job. 14-2. One run back. But guess who knocked in the Braves' fifteenth run of the game?
Cloninger came up in the top of the eighth inning with shortstop Woody Woodward on second. Believe me, San Francisco wasn't knocking on wood. Cloninger was back up to the dish. So scared was Sadecki that he threw a wild pitch. Cloninger, with one out, singled Woody home to make it 15-2. That's nine RBIs on the day for Cloninger! Oh, and two grand slams, don't forget!
But Tom Haller went yard for the Giants in the bottom of the frame. However, once again it was leading off the inning, so only one run scored. Cloninger had now allowed two home runs and hit two grand slams himself!
Atlanta scored twice more off Ray Sadecki in the top of the ninth to make it a 17-3 final. Cloninger never got back to the plate. Not that he needed to! He ended the day 3-5. But Tony sure had helped his own cause, right?
Two grand slams and nine RBIs by a pitcher in the same game. 48 years later, what Madison did might end up being the closest we ever get to seeing it again!
References
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print. pp. 369.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print. pp/
Pitching for San Francisco in the 1962, Don Larsen was the winning pitcher in game four. There are several ironies. For one, it was October 8th, exactly six years after he threw the only perfect game (let alone a no-hitter) in World Series history. Two, it was against the very same team that he was on in '56, the Yankees. It was even in Yankee Stadium, the site of his 27 straight outs!
There were some of his old teammates to worry about in this game. Mickey Mantle, fresh off his MVP year. The Mick had amazingly also been MVP in 1956 (and 1957). Yogi Berra, 38, but still going strong. Elston Howard, one year away from an MVP of his own. Whitey Ford was the starting pitcher, always money in the postseason. There was Bill Skowron, who hit a grand slam in game 7 of the 1956 World Series. Bobby Richardson, who was called up briefly in 1956, was also there. Then there was the second basemen that came close to beating out the Mick for MVP honours in '62. That was Bobby Richardson. Amazingly enough, my father saw New York play a game August 8th, 1956 against the Red Sox. Ralph Terry had made his debut for the Yankees two days earlier. The Yankees would trade him to Kansas before reacquiring him in the 1959 season. Terry did not pitch this game. But still another 1956 Yankee got into this game to pitch later.
Actually, Larsen did not start this game, but a Hall Of Famer did. Juan Marichal took the hill for the Giants. However, it was Bobby Bolin on the hill in the bottom of the 6th inning when he let the Yankees claw back from 2-0 down to tie it. Don Larsen came in. The Yankees used some moneyball from their big guns to score twice. Mantle and Roger Maris walked. With two down, Skowron cashed in Mickey with a single. Maris, with two MVPs of his own, was plated when Clete Boyer singled. Two on, two out, score 2-2!
And the very first batter Donny faced? Why, the very man who caught the last pitch Larsen threw in the perfect game. Larsen finished with a strikeout. But Yogi Berra was actually only pinch-hitting here for Whitey Ford. And this was no perfect game here as Berra walked. Bases loaded and two outs. Score tied. Wow! Wish I could have been there!
Tony Kubek grounded to Orlando Cepeda at first. Cepeda tossed it to Larsen, who covered first for the putout on out number three. And the very next inning, it all came undone for New York.
The Yankees may have failed with the bases loaded and two outs, but the Giants had no intention of losing this game. Tied game here, but down 2-1 in the 1962 Fall Classic. San Fran needed some offence fast. And they got it via a rather unlikely hero.
Jim Coates came in to pitch. He had been strong in 1960 and 1961 for the Yankees, but 1962 was a disappointment. Amazingly enough, he had a two-game trial of his own with the Bronx Bombers in...1956!
Having gone 13-3 in '60 and 11-5 the next year, he looked like one of those very good spot starters / long relievers. But 1962 saw Jim go only 7-6 with a 4.44 ERA. He allowed too many hits: 119 in 117 2/3 innings pitched!
And here he was doing exactly what you should never do. Jim walked the other Jim! Davenport was on to lead it off. After a strikeout of the next batter, Matty Alou stroked a pinch-hit double. Coates was out of there. Marshall Bridges came in and walked Bob Nieman intentionally, loading the bases with only one out. But when the dangerous Harvey Kuenn was retired on a pop fly, the situation was much better. And a little dramatic, perhaps. Bases loaded, two outs, score tied. Here we go again!
The batter was Chuck Hiller. Home runs hit in 1964, 1. Home runs hit lifetime, 20. The amount that The Mick and the batter on-deck (The Say Hey Kid, who just turned 83 the other day!) hit in about half a season. A half season of an off-season!
Yet Chuck slammed it to right and out of the yard. It was suddenly 6-2, San Francisco. Willie Mays was retired, but the game seemed over. Larsen's day was over for sure. Bob Nieman had batted for Ed Bailey, who was the announced pinch hitter for Don Larsen. It had all been brilliant manoeuvring all along, right?
Billy O'Dell got the Yankees in order in the bottom of the 7th. Bridges got two strikeouts and survived a walk to Davenport in the top of the 8th. Maris popped out to the catcher, leading off the bottom of the 8th. Howard and Skowron failed to get the ball out of the infield.
Hiller expanded on his unlikely heroics in the top of the 9th. With two outs and a man on second, he beat out a single to second. Bobby Richardson made a bad throw to first that allowed Alou to score. Mays fanned. But now it was 7-2 for the Giants!
O'Dell got the first two batters out in the last of the 9th, but then New York woke up. Kubek singled. Richardson kept it going by following suit. When Rookie Of The Year Tom Tresh singled, Kubek scored. 7-3. Mickey Mantle could really help by going yard here. But it was not meant to be as he forced Tresh. The Giants had tied the 1962 Fall Classic at two wins apiece with a 7-3 win.
So Larsen got the win in this big game. It turned out to be the last game he ever pitched in the World Series. And Don had faced just two batters. Nonetheless, it was his fourth World Series game he had won, against only two losses. That was much better than his 81-91 lifetime win - loss record. But this had been a game where two unlikely heros had played a part! That's what makes the Fall Classic so magical and enduring. Everyone gets a chance to do something special. Larsen's moment had been six years prior. Hillers' was on this day! But October 8, 1962 went into the record books as a win by Larsen and a slam by Hiller!
References
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series Of 1962. American And National Leagues Of Professional Baseball Club, 1962. DVD.
Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary Books, 2000. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 May. 2014.
Gordon Richardson posted an ERA of 40.50 in the 1964 World Series?
Yes, the ugliest ERA of the '64 Fall Classic belonged to Gordie. The left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals had his hands full against the Yankees. But this came after he had a pretty good regular season. All Richardson did was go 4-2 and post an ERA of 2.30 in 47 innings pitched. Gordon got a crucial save on a win by Curt Simmons on September 30th of that year, as the Cards came back to overtake the Philadelphia Phillies.
St. Louis took the first game, 9-5. But in game two at home, Bob Gibson sort of met his match. He didn't pitch too bad. In 8 innings pitched, he gave up 4 (earned) runs, 8 hits and fanned 9. But Gibson was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th. The Cardinals, trailing 4-1, got one run back.
So it was up to Barney Schultz (who got a save in game one) to try and hold the fort in the top of the 9th. But Phil Linz greeted him with a home run to left to lead things off. It was Phil's third hit of the game. Bobby Richardson lined out, but Roger Maris slapped a single to right. Mickey Mantle was the next hitter.
Gibson had noticed that Mantle had trouble shifting his weight while batting left-handed, but Gordon Richardson was brought in to turn Mantle around to bat from the right side. The strategy backfired, of course.
Mantle lashed a sharp double to left. Maris scored and it was now 6-2, New York. Elston Howard, who had doubled earlier, was walked intentionally. But Joe Pepitone singled to right, Mantle scoring. The Mick sat down next to Ralph Terry and said, "You know my double? I wish it had gone foul. I'd have hit the next one out of here!" Classic Mick!
Richardson's troubles were not over. Tom Tresh flied out to right-center, but that scored Elston Howard with the 8th Yankee run of the afternoon. Pepitone took second on the throw home. Clete Boyer, who had driven in the Yankees' first run of the game, was walked intentionally by Richardson. Finally, Roger Craig came in and struck out pitcher Mel Stottlemyre to end that. New York went on to win this game, 8-3 and tie the 1964 World Series at a win apiece.
St. Louis took 2 of the next 3 games, though. In game 6, the score was tied at 1. Just like in games two and three. But Maris and Mantle went yard back-to-back in the 6th inning. The Yankees were ahead to stay. But there was a lot more on the side where that came from!
Barney Schultz came in the top of the 8th, and the first batter he faced was Phil Linz. Does this sound familiar?
Linz only singled this time. The other Richardson, Bobby, bunted him to second. Tim McCarver made the play unassisted. Roger Maris then grounded out. St. Louis looked safe. But when the batter is Mickey Mantle, things are never safe!
The Mick was walked intentionally, but Elston Howard singled to center. 4-1, Yankees. New York had all the runs they needed.
But Tom Tresh, who had a great series, walked to load the bases. Gordon Richardson came it. Joe Pepitone was the batter. Richardson's first pitch was a tough inside slider, and Pepi popped it up behind home plate. Tim McCarver, whose 10th inning 3-run home run won game 5, raced back and got under it. But Tim dropped it. Given a reprieve, Joe blasted an 0-1 slider over the right-field roof for a grand slam. It was now 8-1 for the Bronx Bombers. Clete Boyer was retired on a fly.
The Cardinals managed to get one run back in the bottom of the 8th. Bob Humphreys had a 1-2-3 9th for St. Louis. Another run in the bottom of the frame made it an 8-3 final for New York, who turned a nice double play off Curt Flood to end it. The Cards ultimatley won game 7 on Bob Gibson's complete game.
Richardson was traded on December 7th of that year (with Johnny Lewis) to the Mets for Elio Chacon (famous 1962 Met) and Tracy Stallard (famous for giving up Roger Maris' 61st home run of 1961). He left baseball after the 1966 season, so he never again got to pitch in the World Series. That 40.50 ERA in the 1964 World Series ended up being his lifetime ERA in the Fall Classic.
References
Burns, Ken,
director. Ken Burns' Baseball.
PBS, 1994. DVD.Ward, Geoffrey C., and Ken Burns.
“A Whole New Ballgame.” Baseball,
season 1, episode 8, PBS, 27 Sept. 1994. Television.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series.New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
2005.Print.
Golenbock,
Peter. "1964." Dynasty: The New York Yankees,
1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print. pp, 533-539.
Stahl, John. “Gordie Richardson.” Gordie Richardson | Society for American Baseball Research, Society For American Baseball Research. <sabr.org/bioproj/person/5dc835f2>.
Major League Baseball. World Series Of 1964.
Major League Baseball Productions, 1964. DVD.
Mantle,
Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. All My
Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball.
New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.
So Roger Craig turned 84 the other day? The guy who twice lost 20 games for the hapless Mets in the early 60s. But this guy could pitch, let me tell you. In 1964, he was on the St. Louis Cardinals. They overcame both the Phillies and Reds to take the pennant. But the New York Yankees would prove to be St. Louis' greatest challenge!
The St. Louis Cardinals trailed 2 games to 1 going into game 4, and then it looked even worse.
Ray Sadecki, who had won the Cardinals' only game, started but the Yankees destroyed him. 4 straight hits and 2 runs and he was out of there. There was only one out and it was only the bottom of the first. Could Roger Craig help?
He came in, and was greeted the hard way as Elston Howard singled home Roger Maris. It was 3-0 Yankees, right off the bat. Craig managed to fan Tommy Tresh for the second out. Joe Pepitone was out on a flyball.
In the second inning, Craig really brought it!
First, he fanned Clete Boyer with a great pitch. Then he fanned his mound adversary, Al Downing (pitching a great game). Finally, he whiffed Phil Linz on a nice one that caught the left edge of the plate.
But things weren't so easy for Roger in the next two innings. This is where he needed to be "money" as we say now in sports.
The Cardinals failed to score in the top of the 3rd despite a walk and a single. Craig made it look easy as he got Bobby Richardson out on a grounder. That was definitely a key person to get out. Leading off, and always dangerous was the Yankees' second basemen. Then he got Maris to hit a comebacker.
And then, Roger Craig lost his control. The strike zone must have shrunk in half.
First, a walk to Mickey Mantle. Then, a walk to Howard. Tresh was the batter, but Craig would not have to worry about him. What he was thinking about was Mantle, who was in a conversation with Dick Groat. Groat, the Cardinals' shortstop, fooled Mantle into taking too big a leadoff by talking about The Mick's walkoff home run in game three. Craig had a great pickoff move to second, unlike most right handed pitchers. The Mick was caught off guard, and the Cards were out of the inning!
But back came some wildness from Craig again in the 5th.
Tresh fanned. But Pepitone walked. That was BB #3 for Roger. Clete Boyer didn't fan this time. He singled to center, but Pepi only made it to second. There was only one out, however. Pepitone, despite his too carefree style of life on and off the field, wasn't going to fall for the same trick as The Mick. Roger was going to have to do this the old fashioned way.
He fanned Downing. Roger then fanned Linz. He was up to 7 K's. The bad part was the 2 hits and 3 walks. But he had still not allowed a run in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Could he keep it up?
In the bottom of the 5th, Bobby Richardson got a hold of one and sent it right to Clete's older brother Ken at third. Maris went the other way on a fly and was retired. Craig humbled Mickey even more by fanning him. Wow! 4 2/3 innings pitched, 0 runs, 2 hits, 8 strikeouts and 3 walks!
But there was one slight problem to all that: It was still 3-0, New York!
Therein lies the problem. Downing had a 1-2-3 1st, a 1-2-3 2nd, a 1-2-3 4th, a 1-2-3 5th. The Cards weren't doing much. Craig himself had managed only a flyball out against Downing in the third. That had been the only inning the Cardinals had managed any baserunners.
Craig was about to be removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the 6th. Carl Warwick, 2-2 in the pinch hitting role, delivered for a 3rd time with a single to left to start the 6th. Curt Flood then singled. Lou Brock was out on a flyball. 2 on and 1 out. Dick Groat then did what you don't do: he hit a bouncing ball to second! A double-play ball!
Richardson, close to the bag at second, stopped it. But for whatever reason, he stumbled in getting it out of his glove. Then, his short toss to Linz at second went wide. Flood dumped Phil for good measure. It should have been the end of the inning. Instead, there was bases loaded and only one out.
Ken Boyer was the next batter. But Downing and the Yankees had handled him so well, it looked like Ken was going to be the goat of the Series. Big reason for the Yankees 2 - 1 lead in the Series? Ken Boyer. Just 1 hit in game 1, none in game 2, none in game 3. None so far in game 4. Downing had already whiffed him twice in the Series, including a K in just 1 2/3 inning of relief in game 1.
Downing missed with a slider. Elston Howard wanted a fastball, Downing's prized pitch, as the next one. It made sense, because the white shirts in the background (The Yankees would removed the black spot in center for the World Series, to make for more fans and difficult eyesight of many a batter!) made it next to impossible for St. Louis to actually see what Al was tossing. The way the game was going, the Cardinals might have to just swing wildly at any fastballs.
But Downing wanted a changeup. Howard decided to give in. But the pitch was at the letters, and it caught too much of the plate. Boyer was way out in front because he'd expected a fastball. Would it hurt?
It had the distance, but it was hooking with all that topspin! It managed to stay fair, but only by about 6 feet. The Cardinals were now up 4-3.
Canadian Ron Taylor took the hill in the bottom of the 6th. And he actually didn't give up a hit in this frame or any other remaining 3 innings. The Yankees managed just one walk off him. St. Louis had won the game, 4-3, which each team getting just 6 hits!
But it was Craig, with the win, whose great performance had turned the tide in the Cardinals favour. Craig did not get to pitch again in this Series. And as it turns out, he never again pitched in the postseason. But still, this performance saved St. Louis from going down 3-1 in the 1964 Fall Classic. The Cardinals went on to win the Series in 7 games. Bob Gibson was the MVP, but Roger Craig swung the pendulum in the St. Louis Cardinals direction!
References
Anderson, Dave. Pennant Races: Baseball At Its Best. New York: Doubleday, 1994. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.
Halberstam, David. October 1964. New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When The Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Major League Baseball. World Series Of 1964. Major League Baseball Productions, 1964. DVD.
