Leo: World Series Memories

When David Freese blasted the walk-off homer to force a World Series Game #7 in St. Louis Thursday, it got my jumbled brain thinking about the most memorable games played on the greatest stage in baseball. I immediately think of Game #6 in the ’75 series when Carlton Fisk waved the ball fair at Fenway Park to face a winner-take-all against Sparky Anderson’s “Big Red Machine”. I am too young to remember it, but the good folks at ESPN refuse to let anyone forget (even though Cincinnati won the series).

I thought it over (and did a little research), so here are my picks for the most memorable World Series games:

1960 – Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off blast

Obviously I don’t remember this one, but I’ve heard enough old-timers talk about it to realize it’s importance. It’s the only time a homer ended a World Series in Game #7. It was against the Yankees at legendary Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The ball sailed over the ivy-covered wall in left to give the Pirates the World Championship.

The ones I remember…

1991 – Kirby crushes the Braves

Kirby Puckett smacked a game-winning 11^th inning homer to tie the Twins and Braves at three games apiece. Jack Morris pitched a gem the next night and Minnesota took home the hardware.

1993 – Joe Carter sinks Phillies

Not since the Mazeroski swing had a homer ended a series, but Carter’s Game #6 gopher ball against Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams gave Toronto reason to celebrate. With Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor on base, Carter turned a 6-5 deficit into an 8-6 victory to win the series.

1995 – Tom Glavine outduels the Tribe

It pains me to bring back a memory like this one, but the Indians were on the losing end of Bobby Cox’s only World Series title as Braves skipper. That’s because Glavine pitched one of the most dominating games I can remember (eight innings of one-hit baseball) and Mark Wohlers delivered the ninth inning finishing touches. Atlanta won the series 4-2.

1997 – “Oh no, Jose Mesa”

If the last memory was painful, this one will make us cry. The Tribe turned to their shut-down closer in Game #7, nursing a 2-1 lead. Mesa was 46 of 48 in save opportunities with a lights-out 1.13 ERA. It was a career year that would be derailed in one inning. Moises Alou singled and later scored on a Craig Counsell sacrifice fly to send the game to extras. Edgar Renteria’s game-winning hit off Charlie Nagy ended the game in the 11^th inning, keeping Indians from their first title since 1948.

Other World Series games worth noting:

Kirk Gibson’s one-legged homer (Game #1, 1988)

Reggie Jackson homers three times (Game #6, 1977)

Don Larsen’s Perfect Game (Game #5, 1956)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the most memorable World Series games in history. Send me a note to sleo@clippersbaseball.com

Clippings….

• U.S. Representative Steve Stivers recently stopped by the Clippers office to recognize the organization for another championship.

• The Clippers Cargo Shop is holding a 20% off “Halloween Hat Sale” until November 1^st. Enter the promotional code “SPOOKY” to get the discount.
• MLB Trade Rumors has posted its’ Cleveland Indians Off-Season Outlook.
• The Indians have announced the re-signing of Luke Carlin to a minor league contract and an invitation to major league spring training. The Clippers catcher is responsible for two of the biggest homers in Clippers history, a walk-off in the 2010 playoffs, and a game-tying three run blast in this season’s Triple-A National Championship Game.

That’s all for now. Thanks for checking back!