Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 13, 1960 – With the World Series between the Yankees and Pirates knotted at 3 games apiece, Game 7 at Pittsburgh’s cavernous Forbes Field would provide one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history. In the top of the 9th, with a 9-7 lead the Pirates sent eighteen game winner Bob Friend to the mound but the Yankees would manage to tie things up. The Yankees would send Ralph Terry to the mound in the bottom of the 9th to face Pirate 2nd baseman Bill Mazeroski and with a 1-0 count Mel Allen’s call of the game tells the rest:

“There's a drive into deep left field, look out now… that ball is going, going gone! And the World Series is over! Mazeroski… hits it over the left field fence, and the Pirates win it 10-9 and win the World Series!”

As the Pirates erupted, the Yankees stood across the field in stunned disbelief. The improbable champions were outscored, outhit, and outplayed, but had managed to pull out a victory anyhow. Years later, Mickey Mantle was quoted as saying that losing the 1960 series was the biggest disappointment of his career. The only loss, amateur or professional, he cried actual tears over. For Bill Mazeroski, it was the highlight.

Bing Crosby, part owner of the Pirates, was too superstitious to watch the series live. Crosby hired a company to record the game and would only watch it a day later if the Pirates won.  His tape of game 7 is the only recording of the 1960 series known to survive as television stations routinely taped over televised sporting events. The tape sat untouched for 49 years when it was found in Crosby’s wine cellar in December of 2009. On November 13, 2010, for the 50th anniversary of the series winning home run, a gala emceed  by Bob Costas was hosted in downtown Pittsburgh. The MLB Network would air the game and gala on December 15, 2010.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Oct. 12, 1972 -- In game 5 of the American League Championship Series the A’s, win 2-1 over the Detroit Tigers. The deciding run comes in the second inning with Mickey Lolich on the mound,  Mike Epstein on first, and Reggie Jackson on third when A’s Manager Dick Williams flashes the sign for a double steal. Reggie bounded down the third base line on the delayed steal as Tiger’s shortstop Dick McAuliffe  cut off the throw to second and fired it back to A’s Catcher Bill Freehan. Reggie and Freehan collided and Jackson was called safe at the plate. Sal Bando, A’s Captain, recalled that “Reggie had an unusual way of sliding. He would jump up, then leave his feet."

Whether it was the slide or the collision, this time it would result in a torn left hamstring that would force Reggie to leave the game and keep him from appearing in the ’72 World Series. Jackson is the only player to ever steal home in league championship play. After the chaos of that hard fought series Dick Williams was quoted as saying that he slept like a baby. That is, he “woke up every two hours crying”.

October 12, 1980 - The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Houston Astros, 8 - 7, to capture the NLCS in 6 games. In the 10th inning, Garry Maddox drives in Del Unser to end a dramatic playoff series that featured four extra-inning games.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 11, 1999 -- With the American League divisional Series between Boston and Cleveland tied at two games apiece, the Red Sox send Bret Saberhagen out to face Charles Nagy. In an eruption of runs, both starters find themselves out of the game by the third inning and the game tied at 8. With the season on the line, Sox manager Jimy Williams summons his ace, Pedro Martinez from the bullpen. The electrifying move sent shockwaves through Jacob’s field since Martinez was removed from Game 1 after 4 innings due to a strained back, and all expected they had seen the last of Pedro’s incredible 1999 season. Martinez was masterful, striking out eight and walking three despite having neither his fastball nor changeup at his disposal. Throwing hiscurveball almost exclusively, Martinez and the Red Sox won the rubber match of the ALDS 12-8 in what is cited as one of Martinez’s greatest appearances. Also memorable in this game was the Indians strategy to intentionally walk shortstop Nomar Garciapara to face outfielder Troy O’Leary. Twice they walked Nomar and twice O’Leary returned the favor with a homerun driving in 7 runs for the day.

October 11, 1985, George Brett steals the show in Game 3 of the 1985 American League Championship Series. Down 2-0 to Toronto in the series, Brett drove in or scored every Kansas City run, going 4 for 4 with a single, a double, and two home runs. When Brett wasn’t busy torturing Toronto pitcher Doyle Alexander at the plate, he was mystifying in the field making a back-handed stop at third base to throw out a runner at home, and recording the final out to give the Royals a much-needed 6–5 win; their first in a series that they would win in seven games

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 10, 2004 The Boston Globe reports growing concern for Curt Shillings ailing right ankle. With two days to go before game one of the American league Championship series against the Yankees in the Bronx, Schilling was downplaying the injury and all but guaranteed he would make every scheduled start the rest of the way. Concerns would grow more serious with each passing game leading up to the famous “Bloody Sock” of Game 6.

October 10, 1956 - Pitcher Johnny Kucks sets down the Brooklyn Dodgers, 9 - 0, as the New York Yankees win the World Series in seven games. Yogi Berra hits a pair of two-run home runs and Bill Skowron hits a grand slam. It's the seventh and final time Brooklyn and the Yankees meet in the Series. In the future, it will take a jet, not a subway, to get these two teams together, as the Dodgers will move to Los Angeles in 1958.

October 10, 1973 - Tom Seaver hurls the Mets into the World Series for the second time in four years with a 7 - 2 victory over Cincinnati in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. Tug McGraw would be brought in for relief and the two would combine for a 7 hit performance before a crowd of 50,323 at Shea Stadium.

October 10, 1999 - The Boston Red Sox set an all-time postseason record by scoring 23 runs in defeating the Cleveland Indians, 23 - 7. The win ties their American League Division Series at two games apiece. Boston gets 24 hits in the contest, including five by Mike Stanley and four each by John Valentin and Jason Varitek. Valentin hits a pair of home runs with seven RBI, while Jose Offerman and Trot Nixon have two RBI each.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 9, 1996 - Bernie Williams hit a home run in the 11th inning to give the New York Yankees a 5 - 4 victory over Baltimore in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees were also aided by an assist from a young fan, which proved to be a game changer. The O’s held a 4-3 lead when Derek Jeter hit a ball to deep right field. Right fielder Tony Tarasco positioned himself to make the play when 12 year old Jeffrey Maier reached out and deflected the ball into the stands and Umpire Rich Garcia called the hit a home run.  Garcia later admitted that there was spectator interference, though he maintained the ball was not catchable despite overwhelming visual evidence to the contrary.

October 9, 1910 - Nap Lajoie, in a batting race with Ty Cobb, collected eight hits for Cleveland in a season-ending doubleheader with the St. Louis Browns. The hits were somewhat tainted; however, as St. Louis third baseman Red Corriden played back as Lajoie bunted safely six times. Regardless, Cobb was awarded the batting title by a fraction of a point.

October 9, 1920 - Several hours before the start of Game 4 of the World Series, Brooklyn's Rube Marquard, a Cleveland native, is arrested when he tries to sell a ticket to an undercover cop for $350. He will be found guilty and fined one dollar and court costs ($3.80). For their first World Series game on the lakefront, 25,734 Indians fans watch their home team win the game 5 - 1.

October 9, 2005 - The Houston Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves 7 - 6 in a record setting NLDS Game 4 in extra innings. The game set several records, including longest post season game ever at 18 innings, longest post season game by time (5 hours, 50 minutes), and first post season game with two grand slams.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 8, 1956 - Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only perfect game in World Series history for a 2 - 0 triumph over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sal Maglie, the opposing pitcher, gave up five hits. This would be the only post season no hitter until Roy Halladay’s gem for the Phillies against Cincinnati on October 6th 2010.

October 8, 1973 - Rusty Staub's two home runs powered the New York Mets to a 9 - 2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and a 2-1 lead in the NLCS. Pete Rose of the Reds and Bud Harrelson of the Mets scuffled at second base in the fifth inning after Rose slid hard into the base. The benches cleared and when the dust settled, the 140 pound Harrelson ended up on losing end of both conflicts.

October 8, 1989 - The Oakland Athletics beat Toronto 4 - 3 in Game Five of their AL division series to advance to the World Series for the second straight year. Rickey Henderson, who hit .400 with eight stolen bases, was named Series MVP.

October 8, 2009 - The Los Angeles Angels open their fourth Division Series in recent years against the Boston Red Sox in an unusual manner - with a win. John Lackey pitches 7 1/3 scoreless innings and Torii Hunter hits a three-run homer off Jon Lester in the 5th to drive the 5 - 0 win.

October 8, 1919 - Ed Cicotte pitched Game Seven of the World Series and the Chicago White Sox played like they meant it. Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch drove in two runs each for a 4- 1 win to cut the Cincinnati Reds lead of four games to three in the best-of-nine Series.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 7, 2001 San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds extends his major league record for home runs in season to 73 as he drives a 3-2 first inning knuckleball off Dodgers pitcher Dennis Springer over the right field fence. The blast also secures two more major league records for Bonds; as he surpassed Babe Ruth’s .847 slugging percentage in 1920 with a .863 season slugging percentage and crushed Mark McGwire’s 1998 mark of one HR every 7.27 at bats by homering in every 6.52 at-bats.

October 7, 1936 - The Brooklyn Dodgers fire future Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel. Thirteen years later, Stengel will be hired by the New York Yankees and will lead the team to five straight World Championships. Stengel will eventually conclude his Hall of Fame career with the cross-town New York Mets.

October 7, 1969 - The St. Louis Cardinals trade outfielder Curt Flood to the Philadelphia Phillies in a blockbuster deal involving slugging first baseman Dick Allen. Flood will refuse to report to the Phillies and will take baseball to court over the reserve clause that binds a player perpetually to one team.

October 7, 2001 -  On the last day of the season, Rickey Henderson of the San Diego Padres bloops a double down the right field line off Colorado Rockies' pitcher John Thomson to become the 25th major leaguer to collect 3,000 career base hits.

October 7, 1950 - At Yankee Stadium, rookie pitcher Whitey Ford gets the win against Bob Miller and the Philadelphia Phillies 5 - 2 as the Yankees complete the World Series sweep of the "Whiz Kids." The sweep of the Phillies gives the Yankees their 13th World Championship, all coming since the acquisition of “The Babe”.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 6, 1926 - Babe Ruth hits three home runs to lead the Yankees to a 10 - 5 victory over St. Louis in Game Four of the World Series. Ruth's final bomb of the day carried deep into the never-before reached centerfield bleachers, far beyond the 430-foot mark. Estimated at 530 feet, it is the longest home run in World Series history. If all this weren't enough, this also is the game during which the Babe makes good on his alleged pre-game promise to hit a home run for the bedridden young Johnny Sylvester.

October 6, 1945 – William Sianis, a Chicago bar owner and his goat attend Game Four of the World Series at Wrigley. Cubs owner, P.K. Wrigley ordered that the pair leave because the goat stunk. As they were being escorted from the park Sianis was heard saying "The Cubs ain't gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.", The Chicago Cubs lose to Detroit 4 – 1, and Detroit would go on to win the World Series prompting Sianis to send a telegram to Wrigley that said "Who Stinks Now?”

October 6, 2003- The Boston Red Sox complete a three-game playoff comeback, beating the Oakland Athletics 4 - 3 in Game 5 of their American League Division Series.

October 6, 1985 - New York Yankees pitcher Phil Niekro becomes the 18th 300-game winner as he blanks the Toronto Blue Jays, 8 - 0, on the last day of the season. At the age of 46, Niekro also becomes the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout in major league history; he will eventually be passed by Jamie Moyer on May 7, 2010.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 5, 2007 The Cleveland Indians can thank a bug infestation at Jacobs Field for helping them defeat the New York Yankees, 2 - 1 in 11 innings, and take a 2-0 lead in the ALDS. The bugs are at their worst in the eighth inning, when a flustered Joba Chamberlain gives up the tying run on a wild pitch. The bugs descended upon Jacobs Field in the eighth inning of Game Two like a Biblical plague come to destroy the New York postseason. Indian Pitcher Fausto Carmona pitched through the swarm unaffected  for the win.

October 5, 1921 - New York is host to the first one-city World Series since 1906 and the Polo Grounds is the site for all nine games. Carl Mays of the Yankees needs 86 pitches to set the Giants down on five hits, four of them by Frankie Frisch, as Babe Ruth drives in the first run of the Series in the opening inning of the 3 - 0 Yankees win.

October 5, 1929 - New York Giants Mel Ott and Chuck Klein of the Philadelphia Phillies go into a head-to-head doubleheader tied at 42 home runs apiece. In the opener, Klein homers for the Phillies off Carl Hubbell in his first at-bat to take the home run lead. In the nightcap, Phillies pitchers intentionally walk Ott five times rather than give him a chance to tie Klein. The last walk comes with the bases loaded. Lefty O'Doul of the Phillies has six hits on the day for a National League season-record of 254 hits.

October 5, 1953 - The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game Six of the World Series. Billy Martin collects his 12th Series hit, a single to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning, that gives the Yankees their fifth World Championship in a row.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 4, 1955 - The Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series with MVP Johnny Podres beating the New York Yankees, 2 - 0 in Game Seven. This would be the fifth time the two teams met in the series over a nine year period and the first World Series televised in color. In 1957, the Dodgers would relocate to Los Angeles making this the Brooklyn team’s only World Series victory.

October 4, 1922 - For the first time, the entire World Series will be broadcast over the radio. Writer Grantland Rice does the announcing of the New York Giants-New York Yankees Series for station WJZ in Newark, NJ, whose signal is relayed to WGY in Schenectady, NY.

October 4, 1961 - Whitey Ford tosses his third straight World Series shutout. Home runs by Elston Howard and Bill Skowron, give the Yankees a 2 - 0 win in Game One of the 1961 World Series against Cincinnati at Yankee Stadium.

October 4, 1967 - At Fenway Park, St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Lou Brock collects four hits, two stolen bases, and two runs as St. Louis defeats the “Impossible Dream” Boston Red Sox, 2 - 1, in Game One of the World Series. Bob Gibson has 10 strikeouts and outduels Jose Santiago, whose home run is Boston's only score.

October 4, 1906 - The Chicago Cubs win their 116th game of 152 played for a .763 winning percentage that has not since been matched.

 Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts