Thursday, December 25, 2014

World Series: Did You Know?

Roger Maris went yard in his first plate appearance in the Fall Classic.

Not quite a fan-favourite during his time in New York, Maris nonetheless made an imediate impact there, long before his 61st home run in 1961. There was the matter of Roger Maris in 1960, you know. And it before the World Series, too!

Coming to the Yankees in a one-sided deal with Kansas, Roger hit 39, home runs and 112 RBIs. He had missed three games in April, and then fifteen more in August in a play at second base. At the time of his August injury, Roger had 35 home runs, 95 RBIs and a .291 batting average in only 108 games.

So Roger hit only four more home runs to close out the '60 campaign. But the Yankees, who still had Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, caught fire in September. Those three, had much to do with it.

So in game one of the 1960 Fall Classic, it was the Pittsburgh Pirates that opposed the New York Yankees. The Series would open in Pittsburgh, where it was played at Forbes Field. The ballpark itself was a pitcher's favourite. But Roger proved otherwise in game one.

Vernon Law started for Pittsburgh. And what a season he had for the Pirates: 20-9 with 18 complete games and a fine 3.08 ERA! Enough to bring home the Cy Young Award.

Tony Kubek greeted him with a single to start things off in the top of the first for New York. So Hector Lopz stepped in. Roger Maris was now in the on-deck circle. All Hector really had to do was get Kubek to second. Roger had to figure, "They'll pitch to me!" Why? Because some chaps named Mantle and Berra were hitting behind him.

Hector, though, did the wrong thing in this situation. He tried to bunt and failed to get the bat on the ball. Then, Hector hit a grounder towards second, which the Pirates quickly did a twin-killing on. Maris went from a potential RBI situation to a bases-empty, two-out situation. Some situations in baseball dry up faster than rain on a humid day.

Roger, though, was undaunted. He smacked a pitch from Law out of the park in right for quite a home run. It was, of course, a solo shot. Mantle flied out to centre, so that was all the mighty Bronx Bombers got.

Pittsburgh did not waste time either, however. They scored three runs themselves in the bottom of the frame to erase that lead. And they didn't relinquish it, either. They went on to win the game, 6-4.



Maris had two more hits for good measure. It was not enough. Vernon Law, who gave up ten hits in only seven innings, ended up with the win. That was his 21st triumph if you include the postseason.

New York Yankee fans have 21 questions on this Fall Classic. Namely, how did they lose it? Their offence was amazing and they seemed to have the pitching, too! The Pirates, were a little better in the timing department, however.

The Yankees had brought Maris over from Kansas when their franchise was on the downward spiral. Or at least, that's what it seemed in 1959 when they finished third. Lost in Maris' impact, and in this disappointing Fall Classic, was Roger's sense of good timing in his first plate appearance!

No comments:

Post a Comment