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BaseballLibrary.com
Copyright © 2002
by The Idea Logical
Company, Inc.

All rights reserved.

1960: The Last Pure Season
by Kerry Keene

Sports Publishing, Inc, 2000 | Buy the book

« 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8 »

Chapter Sixteen

The teams took a day off and traveled to New York for Game Three on October 8. Just a couple of the noteworthy dignitaries among the 70,000 in Yankee Stadium that Saturday afternoon were former president Herbert Hoover and India's Prime Minister Nehru. Cardinal broadcaster Joe Garagiola would point out to Berra the next day that the popular longtime Yankee had become such a world figure that he drew more applause when announced than Hoover or Nehru. Yogi replied, "Sure, I'm a better hitter."

Part of the Game Three pregame events included Lucy Monroe singing the Star-Spangled Banner accompanied by the 69th Veterans Band, and recently retired Ted Williams throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Elston Howard. Murtaugh, celebrating his 43rd birthday would be sending veteran Vinegar Bend Mizell to the hill to oppose Yanks lefty Whitey Ford, who was setting a series record with his 13th start. In the top of the first, Ford set the Pirates down in order, and the Yankees then picked up where they had left off in Game Two. Mizell was gone after one-third of an inning with one run in and the bases full. Former Brooklyn Dodger Clem Labine came in for Pittsburgh and merely threw gas on the fire. The first batter he faced, catcher Howard, beat out a slow roller up the third-base line to score Mantle. Then 166 lb. Bobby Richardson, who had only one home run in 1960 hit a grand slam just inside the left- field foul pole. One out later, the Pirates brought in their third pitcher of the game, lefty Fred Green, and they would go into the second inning down 6-0.

Pittsburgh didn't reach base until Virdon's double to lead off the fourth, and he was stranded at second as the inning ended. Then in the bottom half of the fourth, New York had another big inning to put the game out of reach. Mantle hit a two-run shot into the left field bullpen, his third homer of the series, and Richardson stroked a two-run single. With only seven RBI after the All-Star break, Richardson, the unlikliest hero, had set a World Series record with six RBI in one game.

Ford was masterful for New York on the mound, scattering only four hits. Aside from the one walk he issued to Gino Cimoli in the seventh, he only went to a count of three balls on two other batters. It would not be a happy birthday for the Bucs skipper, and with the 10-0 drubbing, New York had outscored Pittsburgh 26-3 in the previous two games.

The Pirates were able to come back with their ace Law the next day, Sunday, October 9, as Stengel sent young righty Ralph Terry. Law worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, and the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Yankee first baseman Moose Skowron hit a solo home run into the right field stands. The Bucs came right back in the next inning as Law helped his own cause with an RBI double. Virdon added a single that drove in two as Pittsburgh took a 3-1 lead. Law got into a bit of trouble in the seventh as Richardson's fielder's-choice grounder scored Skowron. With runners on first and second and only one out, Murtaugh summoned Roy Face from the bullpen to preserve the slim 3-2 lead. The first batter he faced, Bob Cerv, hit the ball 400 feet to right center, but a spectacular leaping catch was made by Virdon. Face then got Kubek to bounce back to the mound to end the inning, and the lead remained intact. The little forkballer hurled the final 2 2/3 innings, not allowing the Yankees a hit, and saving the victory for Law. Aside from Face's great relief work, Mantle credited Pirates center fielder Virdon and his stellar defensive play in Games One and Four with keeping Pittsburgh in the series. When reporters went into the Yankee locker room after the game, they found most members of the team watching the New York Giants-Pittsburgh football game.

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From 1960: The Last Pure Season by Kerry Keene.
Copyright © 2000 by Kerry Keene. Reprinted with permission.