Returning to the Scene of the Crime

It's been nearly 48 years, but if you're a Yankees fan over the age of 55 it's probably still clear as day (it made our then 9-yr old brother cry). Yogi Berra running back to the left field wall in Forbes Field and then looking up helplessly as Bill Mazeroski's ball cleared the brick for a World Series clinching walk off home run (just think how you felt on Luis Gonzalez's bloop in 2001).

The Yankees return to Pittsburgh for the first time since that World Series when they begin a 3-game series tonight. Forbes Field is long gone, as is Three Rivers Stadium (we went to a game there in 1993 and boy that place was ugly), and has been replaced by a state of the art facility, PNC Park. But the memories linger. We weren't even born when that World Series was played, but we've seen the replay a million times.

All Pirates victories were close, while the Yankees kept winning in blow outs. Mazeroski also homered in game 1, which the home team Pirates captured 6-4. Casey Stengel yanked Yankees starter Art Ditmar after just one-third of an inning.

The Yankees came back with a vengeance in game 2, blasting the Pirates 16-3. Mickey Mantle homered twice and drove in 5 runs, and the Yankees banged out 19 hits. Starter Bob Turley came within one out of a complete game. Under the old MLB saves rule, Bobby Shantz earned a save for getting the final out with a 13 run lead.

Game 3 back in New York was another blow out as Whitey Ford began his approach to Babe Ruth's World Series scoreless streak. The Yankees won 10-0 behind a grand slam and 6 RBI from Bobby Richardson and 4 hits and another home run from Mantle. Ford allowed just 4 hits in tossing the complete game shutout.

Vance Law, who won game 1, came through again in game 4, out dueling Ralph Terry as the Pirates evened the series with a 3-2 win. Law helped his own cause with an RBI double and future Pirates and Yankees manager Bill Virdon singled in 2 runs that proved to be the difference.

Harvey Haddix out pitched Art Ditmar in game 5 as the Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the series. Elroy Face threw 2.2 scoreless innings for the second straight game to pick up the save in the 5-2 win. Ditmar improved on his 1st game performance, this time he lasted 1.1 innings. Mazeroski and Don Hoak drove in 2 runs each.

With their ace on the hill again, the Yankees blew out the Pirates in game 6, 12-0. Richardson drove in 3 runs, and Mantle, Berra, and Ford drove in 2 each. Ford allowed 7 hits this time as he finished off another complete game shutout.

The deciding game was on October 13, a Thursday not a Friday. The Yankees sent Bob Turley, who had pitched so well in winning game 2, to the mound while the Pirates countered with Law, winner of games 1 and 4. Neither would be around at the finish. In fact Turley lasted just 3 batters into the 2nd inning when he was pulled. Law allowed 3 runs over 5 innings.

The Pirates lead 4-0, but the Yankees scored a run on Moose Skowron's home run in the 5th and came up with 4 more in the 6th to take a 5-4 lead. Yogi Berra had the big blow in the inning with a 3-run home run. The Yankees tacked on 2 more in the 8th for what, at the time, probably seemed to be an insurmountable 7-4 lead. But the Pirates rocked the Yankees world in their half of the 8th inning.

After a Gino Cimoli single, the series would all turn on what seemed liked a harmless ground ball by Bill Virdon. The tailor made double play ball hit a pebble, took a bad hop, and struck shortstop Tony Kubek right in the throat. Kubek had to be helped off the field and the Pirates had an unlikely rally going. Bob Skinner sacrificed the runners over and Dick Groat singled to cut the lead to 7-5. But the Yankees looked like they might still escape without further trouble when Jim Coates retired Rocky Nelson on a fly out to Roger Maris in shallow right field. Two on, two out and future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente at the plate. Clemente singled home Cimoli to cut the lead to 7-6, with Virdon stopping at 3rd base.

While Mazeroski's home run will long be remembered, it never would have happened without Hal Smith. The Pirates catcher connected on a Coates pitch and hit it out for a 3-run HR and an 9-7 Pirates lead. But everyone in the stands and watching at home knew this series wasn't over yet. Not with the vaunted Yankees lineup.

With Bob Friend on the mound, Bobby Richardson lead off the 9th with a single. Pinch-hitter Dale Long followed suit, singling to right. Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh sent for Harvey Haddix, who retired Roger Maris on a foul out. But Mickey Mantle singled to cut the lead in half and his base running helped the Yankees tie the game. Yogi Berra grounded to the 1st baseman Nelson, who stopped on the 1st base bag, thereby removing the force. Mantle made it safely back to first, allowing pinch-runner Gil McDougald to score the tying run.

One of the most exciting World Series would come down to a single pitch. Ralph Terry, who had gotten the final batter in the 8th, faced Mazeroski to start the 9th and the rest, depending on who you root for is either history or misery.

For those of you who are Pirates fans, enjoy. Yankees fan, turn your heads and look away.