Great World Series of the 60s

Five 4-3 World Series

Mazeroski’s World Series homerun

1960 World Series 

New York  Yankees (AL) Pittsburgh  Pirates (NL) 3 games                           

Arguably the most exciting walk-off home run finish since Bobby Thompson’s 1951 “Shot Heard Around the World”. After six mostly lopsided games, the Series went to the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding seventh game at Forbes Field deadlocked at nine runs apiece. Relief pitcher Ralph Terry, who had put out an eighth-inning Pirate’s rally, faced defensive whiz second baseman Bill Mazeroski. On the first pitch, Mazeroski ended the gruesome slugfest 10-9 and brought home a World Championship Trophy to the much-deserving Pirate fans. Yankee 2B  Bobby Richardson batted .391 and was the only player from a losing team to be named a World Series MVP.

 1962 World Series

New York Yankees (AL) 4 Games   San Francisco Giants (NL) 3 Games

A very tightly contested World Series with solid pitching from both clubs. The Yanks had to come back from a 3 game to 1  deficit. It went down to the ninth inning of game seven. With two outs and two on and the Yankees clinging to a 1-0 lead,  Ralph Terry faced Giants slugger Willie McCovey. McCovey laced a hard line drive that was miraculously grabbed by second baseman Bobby Richardson for the final out to end the series. Terry also won Game 2, shutting out the Giants and Jack Sanford, 2-0. Rookie OF  Tom Tresh and 3B Clete Boyer had the hot bats for the Yanks. Jack Sanford and Billy Pierce both pitched well for the Giants but Mays, McCovey, and Cepeda were quiet.

 1964 World Series

St Louis Cardinals (NL) 4 New York Yankees (AL) 3

Having split the first 6 games, Cardinals manager Johnny Keane turned to Bob Gibson for game 7. Although not at his best, Gibson held on to an early lead to win game seven, 7-5. Catcher Tim McCarver batted an incredible .470 for the Cards while 2B Bobby Richardson topped .400 for the Yanks. Pitcher Jim Bouton made a name for himself winning 2 of the Yank’s 3 games with a 1.56 ERA.  Gibson won 2 games and struck out 31 batters in 27 innings. The Cardinal victory led to George Steinbrenner’s decision to hire Johnny Keane and fire Yogi Berra. A decision much regretted as the following year was the start of the Yankee demise of the sixties that eventually led to a last place finish in 1968. Steinbrenner fired Keane 20 games into that 1968 season following a 4 -16 start.

1965 World Series

LA Dodgers (NL) 4 Games Minnesota Twins (AL) 3 Games

The baseball world was shocked when the Twins conquered Koufax and Drysdale to take a 2-0 game lead. However, the often-overlooked Claude Osteen came to the rescue shutting out the Twins in Game 3. Drysdale and Koufax came back to take games 4 and 5. Mudcat Grant kept the Twins alive in winning game 6. Dodger manager Walter Alston deliberated whom to start before deciding on Koufax, although he would be starting after only a 2 day’s rest. But this was the Great Sandy Koufax and he threw a three-hit shutout to give the LA fans their second championship in three years

1968 World Series

Detroit Tigers (AL)  4 Games     St Louis Cardinals (NL)  3 Games

An exciting seven-game World Series helped to make up for dull pennant races. Bob Gibson shutdown 31 game winner Denny McLain twice, 4-0 in the opening game and 10-1 in Game 4. but the Tigers countered with Mickey Lolich winning games 2 and 5. Game 7 was a scoreless pitcher’s duel between Lolich and Gibson until the Tigers scored 3 runs off Gibson in the 7^th and held on to win 4-1.  Al Kaline led their offense hitting .379 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs. Lou Brock was terrific for the Redbirds, batting .484 with 2 HRs.