Phil Linz got the first hit off Bob Gibson in the 1964 World Series. He also got the last.
It was the Yankees and Cardinals in a classic seven game showdown in '64. Linz was only there at shortstop due to an injury to Tony Kubek. Not that he would have liked to be there. Gibson started the second game on fire! St. Louis was at home and Gibson looked right at home on the mound! Even against the big, bad Bronx Bombers.
Linz walked to open the game. But Gibson fanned Bobby Richardson, who could make only a half swing. Roger Maris flailed away helplessly on the third strike, as did Mickey Mantle. Inning over. But, not New York's woes. To start the second, Bob Gibson fanned Elston Howard for good measure!
Linz got the first hit off Bob in the top of the 3rd. But there were two outs. Then Richardson followed with a double to put both men in scoring position. Gibson got Maris to ground out and end that. Curt Flood grounded out in the bottom of the frame, scoring Mike Shannon with the game's first run.
The Yankees tied the game in the top of the fourth. But Linz could only groundout in the top of the fifth as the mighty Yanks went 1-2-3 in that inning. The score remained in a 1-1 deadlock!
The Yankees got a run in the top of the sixth to go ahead. Mickey Mantle started things with a walk. Howard was out on a liner. Joe Pepitone got him with a pitch. The St. Louis Cardinals didn't think so and put up quite a heated argument. But to no avail. Tom Tresh's singled scored the Mick and New York was ahead, 2-1.
Phil Linz singled to open the seventh. When Gibson threw a wild pitch, Phil moved to second. Bobby Richardson's broken bat single scored him. A nice two-run cushion. Maris followed with a single, Mantle grounded out. Richardson scored. It was now 4-1, New York. The Yankees had all the runs they would need. But Phil Linz added a home run off Barney Schultz in the 9th for some insurance. The final score would be 8-3, New York. Bob Gibson would take the loss.
Gibby was better in game five. With the Series now in the Big Apple and tied at two wins each, he put on quite a show. He fanned Linz to start the game. Before the day was over, Bob would get twelve more strikeouts. Mel Stottlemyre, would beat Gibson in game two, stayed right there with him here, though.
In the bottom of the third, Phil Linz grounded out as Gibson had a 1-2-3 inning. In the top of the 5th, Hoot got the ball rolling on a two-run uprising.
With one out, Bob sent a short fly that dropped in there in front of Linz, who was making a dash for the outfield. Leftfielder Tom Tresh tried a diving catch, but came up short. Curt Flood sent a roller that Bobby Richardson bobbled. Lou Brock singled for the game's first run. But then Bill White sent a roller that was fielded better by Richardson, who tossed to Linz at second for the forceout of Brock. Linz threw the ball into the dirt at first but Joe Pepitone dug it out for what looked like the inning-ending double play. But Al Smith, the first base umpire, called White safe, and the Cardinals had a valuable second run.
In the bottom of the inning, Bob Gibson got Tresh on a flyball to Mike Shannon in right. Clete Boyer went down on strikes, but Stottlemyre, doing it all, singled. Linz then fanned to end that. It was still 2-0, St. Louis.
Linz went down on a grounder in the bottom of the 8th inning. Richardson could only pop out, and Maris also grounded out. Bob Gibson was just three outs away from his first World Series win, and first shutout, too!
But Mickey Mantle reached on an error in the bottom of the 9th. Elston Howard fanned. Joe Pepitone hit a ball that hit off Gibson and bounded towards Ken Boyer at third. A great play by Hoot got Pepitone at first. At least, that's what Smith said. The play looked too close to call, and the Yankees thought otherwise. But the call stood. Tom Tresh blasted a two-run home run to tie it. If not for the play by Gibson, or the call at first, New York would have walked off the field as winners.
It was all short-lived relief by New York. A walk, a single and a three-run home run by Tim McCarver in the top of the 10th off reliever Pepe Mikkelsen made it 5-2, St. Louis.
Bob Gibson got pinch-hitter Mike Hegan out on his thirteenth K of the afternoon. Linz popped to Boyer. Richardson, who had New York's first hit of the game of Gibson, got one here to keep the Yankees alive. But when Roger Maris popped out to Tim McCarver in foul territory, the Cards had this one, 5-2.
Bob Gibson was back for game seven. Again, obviously, the series was tied and this was a winner-take-all affair.
Phil Linz grounded out to Ken Boyer at third to start the game. But in the top of the third, he singled to lead things off. However, the red-hot Bobby Richardson hit into a double-play and Roger Maris grounded out to Boyer at third.
Boyer's single in the bottom of the fourth got the Cardinals rolling. The game was scoreless, but not for long. Dick Groat walked. Tim McCarver hit a grounded to first. Pepitone made a fine play to trap it and fire to Linz at second for the force. But when Linz fired wide of first, it was trouble. Boyer headed towards home. Mel Stottlemyre had covered first, but the ball was no where near him. Richardson had to back up the play. Richardson's throw was too late and St. Louis had drawn first blood. Mike Shannon hit a single. The Cardinals scored again on a delayed-double steal. Elston Howard's throw to second was off the mark, as was Richardson's peg back to the plate. Dal Maxvill singled to right and Shannon beat Mantle's throw home, which was also off the mark. The Yankees were having their hands full with St. Louis' baserunning here! The Cardinals were up, 3-0.
In the top of the fifth, it was Tresh that got a walk. Clete Boyer was out on a fly ball. Mike Hegan pinch-hit again, but this time drew a walk. Phil Linz sent a ball that was dropping in for a hit until Mike Shannon made a great catch in right. Shannon fired to second to double off Tresh.
In the bottom of the frame, the Cardinals scored three more. Lou Brock went yard against reliever Al Downing on his first pitch. Bill White followed with a single and Boyer hit a double that Mantle could not track down. A ground out and a sac fly made it 6-0, St. Louis. Linz in his mates were looking at the end.
But in the top of the sixth, Richardson sent a slow roller to third that he beat out. Roger Maris singled. When The Mick hit a three-run home run to left, the lead was cut in half, 6-3.
Hector Lopez pinch hit in the top of the seventh and fanned. Linz flied to Shannon again in right, but Bobby Richardson singled. It was his thirteen hit of the 1964 Fall Classic. Maris blasted one, but it was at Shannon in right.
Ken Boyer got St. Louis some more breathing room in the bottom of the frame. His solo home run off Steve Hamilton made it 7-3, Cards.
Gibson got Mantle on a hard hit ball to Brock in left to start the top of the 8th. When Elston Howard struck out and Joe Pepitone could only pop up, it looked like Gibby had regained his form. The Cardinals tried to give him some more runs to work with in the bottom of the eighth as they got runners to second and third with just one out. But Pete Mikkelsen got the Bronx Bombers out of that. Bob Gibson, however, was three outs away from bringing it all home for St. Louis in 1964. And Bob had a nice four-run lead!
Tom Tresh went down on strikes to start things off. But then Clete Boyer got a hold of one and sent it into the left-field bleachers, adding his name to his older brothers name in the home run count of the game. 7-4. Johnny Blanchard, a great pinch-hitter for New York, became the second out in the ninth. Again, via the K, Gibby favourite tool! But Phil Linz then smashed a Gibson pitch to left for a home run of his own to make it 7-5, Cards. Gibby was tiring. The Yankees were coming alive. But Gibby got it together and retired Bobby Richardson to end it. St. Louis was a happy town!
Players like Phil Linz are not supposed to be a challenge for pitchers like Bob Gibson. The Gibson's of postseason history thrive against everyone, not matter how good they are. But in the Fall Classic, it never ceases to amaze me how the guys you've never heard of can give the toughest competitors all sorts of fits. That's one of the many things makes the World Series the continuing, enduring spectacle that draws us all to it!
Enders, Eric. "The Expansion Era." 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print. pp. 160-163.
Golenbock, Peter. "1964." Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print. pp. 529-539.
Halberstam, David. October 1964. New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Major League Baseball. World Series Of 1964. Major League Baseball Productions, 1964. DVD.
Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. "Yogi And The Last Hurrah." All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print. pp. 183-192
It was the Yankees and Cardinals in a classic seven game showdown in '64. Linz was only there at shortstop due to an injury to Tony Kubek. Not that he would have liked to be there. Gibson started the second game on fire! St. Louis was at home and Gibson looked right at home on the mound! Even against the big, bad Bronx Bombers.
Linz walked to open the game. But Gibson fanned Bobby Richardson, who could make only a half swing. Roger Maris flailed away helplessly on the third strike, as did Mickey Mantle. Inning over. But, not New York's woes. To start the second, Bob Gibson fanned Elston Howard for good measure!
Linz got the first hit off Bob in the top of the 3rd. But there were two outs. Then Richardson followed with a double to put both men in scoring position. Gibson got Maris to ground out and end that. Curt Flood grounded out in the bottom of the frame, scoring Mike Shannon with the game's first run.
The Yankees tied the game in the top of the fourth. But Linz could only groundout in the top of the fifth as the mighty Yanks went 1-2-3 in that inning. The score remained in a 1-1 deadlock!
The Yankees got a run in the top of the sixth to go ahead. Mickey Mantle started things with a walk. Howard was out on a liner. Joe Pepitone got him with a pitch. The St. Louis Cardinals didn't think so and put up quite a heated argument. But to no avail. Tom Tresh's singled scored the Mick and New York was ahead, 2-1.
Phil Linz singled to open the seventh. When Gibson threw a wild pitch, Phil moved to second. Bobby Richardson's broken bat single scored him. A nice two-run cushion. Maris followed with a single, Mantle grounded out. Richardson scored. It was now 4-1, New York. The Yankees had all the runs they would need. But Phil Linz added a home run off Barney Schultz in the 9th for some insurance. The final score would be 8-3, New York. Bob Gibson would take the loss.
Gibby was better in game five. With the Series now in the Big Apple and tied at two wins each, he put on quite a show. He fanned Linz to start the game. Before the day was over, Bob would get twelve more strikeouts. Mel Stottlemyre, would beat Gibson in game two, stayed right there with him here, though.
In the bottom of the third, Phil Linz grounded out as Gibson had a 1-2-3 inning. In the top of the 5th, Hoot got the ball rolling on a two-run uprising.
With one out, Bob sent a short fly that dropped in there in front of Linz, who was making a dash for the outfield. Leftfielder Tom Tresh tried a diving catch, but came up short. Curt Flood sent a roller that Bobby Richardson bobbled. Lou Brock singled for the game's first run. But then Bill White sent a roller that was fielded better by Richardson, who tossed to Linz at second for the forceout of Brock. Linz threw the ball into the dirt at first but Joe Pepitone dug it out for what looked like the inning-ending double play. But Al Smith, the first base umpire, called White safe, and the Cardinals had a valuable second run.
In the bottom of the inning, Bob Gibson got Tresh on a flyball to Mike Shannon in right. Clete Boyer went down on strikes, but Stottlemyre, doing it all, singled. Linz then fanned to end that. It was still 2-0, St. Louis.
Linz went down on a grounder in the bottom of the 8th inning. Richardson could only pop out, and Maris also grounded out. Bob Gibson was just three outs away from his first World Series win, and first shutout, too!
But Mickey Mantle reached on an error in the bottom of the 9th. Elston Howard fanned. Joe Pepitone hit a ball that hit off Gibson and bounded towards Ken Boyer at third. A great play by Hoot got Pepitone at first. At least, that's what Smith said. The play looked too close to call, and the Yankees thought otherwise. But the call stood. Tom Tresh blasted a two-run home run to tie it. If not for the play by Gibson, or the call at first, New York would have walked off the field as winners.
It was all short-lived relief by New York. A walk, a single and a three-run home run by Tim McCarver in the top of the 10th off reliever Pepe Mikkelsen made it 5-2, St. Louis.
Bob Gibson got pinch-hitter Mike Hegan out on his thirteenth K of the afternoon. Linz popped to Boyer. Richardson, who had New York's first hit of the game of Gibson, got one here to keep the Yankees alive. But when Roger Maris popped out to Tim McCarver in foul territory, the Cards had this one, 5-2.
Bob Gibson was back for game seven. Again, obviously, the series was tied and this was a winner-take-all affair.
Phil Linz grounded out to Ken Boyer at third to start the game. But in the top of the third, he singled to lead things off. However, the red-hot Bobby Richardson hit into a double-play and Roger Maris grounded out to Boyer at third.
Boyer's single in the bottom of the fourth got the Cardinals rolling. The game was scoreless, but not for long. Dick Groat walked. Tim McCarver hit a grounded to first. Pepitone made a fine play to trap it and fire to Linz at second for the force. But when Linz fired wide of first, it was trouble. Boyer headed towards home. Mel Stottlemyre had covered first, but the ball was no where near him. Richardson had to back up the play. Richardson's throw was too late and St. Louis had drawn first blood. Mike Shannon hit a single. The Cardinals scored again on a delayed-double steal. Elston Howard's throw to second was off the mark, as was Richardson's peg back to the plate. Dal Maxvill singled to right and Shannon beat Mantle's throw home, which was also off the mark. The Yankees were having their hands full with St. Louis' baserunning here! The Cardinals were up, 3-0.
In the top of the fifth, it was Tresh that got a walk. Clete Boyer was out on a fly ball. Mike Hegan pinch-hit again, but this time drew a walk. Phil Linz sent a ball that was dropping in for a hit until Mike Shannon made a great catch in right. Shannon fired to second to double off Tresh.
In the bottom of the frame, the Cardinals scored three more. Lou Brock went yard against reliever Al Downing on his first pitch. Bill White followed with a single and Boyer hit a double that Mantle could not track down. A ground out and a sac fly made it 6-0, St. Louis. Linz in his mates were looking at the end.
But in the top of the sixth, Richardson sent a slow roller to third that he beat out. Roger Maris singled. When The Mick hit a three-run home run to left, the lead was cut in half, 6-3.
Hector Lopez pinch hit in the top of the seventh and fanned. Linz flied to Shannon again in right, but Bobby Richardson singled. It was his thirteen hit of the 1964 Fall Classic. Maris blasted one, but it was at Shannon in right.
Ken Boyer got St. Louis some more breathing room in the bottom of the frame. His solo home run off Steve Hamilton made it 7-3, Cards.
Gibson got Mantle on a hard hit ball to Brock in left to start the top of the 8th. When Elston Howard struck out and Joe Pepitone could only pop up, it looked like Gibby had regained his form. The Cardinals tried to give him some more runs to work with in the bottom of the eighth as they got runners to second and third with just one out. But Pete Mikkelsen got the Bronx Bombers out of that. Bob Gibson, however, was three outs away from bringing it all home for St. Louis in 1964. And Bob had a nice four-run lead!
Tom Tresh went down on strikes to start things off. But then Clete Boyer got a hold of one and sent it into the left-field bleachers, adding his name to his older brothers name in the home run count of the game. 7-4. Johnny Blanchard, a great pinch-hitter for New York, became the second out in the ninth. Again, via the K, Gibby favourite tool! But Phil Linz then smashed a Gibson pitch to left for a home run of his own to make it 7-5, Cards. Gibby was tiring. The Yankees were coming alive. But Gibby got it together and retired Bobby Richardson to end it. St. Louis was a happy town!
Players like Phil Linz are not supposed to be a challenge for pitchers like Bob Gibson. The Gibson's of postseason history thrive against everyone, not matter how good they are. But in the Fall Classic, it never ceases to amaze me how the guys you've never heard of can give the toughest competitors all sorts of fits. That's one of the many things makes the World Series the continuing, enduring spectacle that draws us all to it!
References
Enders, Eric. "The Expansion Era." 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print. pp. 160-163.
Golenbock, Peter. "1964." Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print. pp. 529-539.
Halberstam, David. October 1964. New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Major League Baseball. World Series Of 1964. Major League Baseball Productions, 1964. DVD.
Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. "Yogi And The Last Hurrah." All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print. pp. 183-192
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.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 04 Jun. 2014.
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