The World Series by Stephanie Peters

Author:Stephanie Peters [Peters, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780316094511
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-19T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

1960s

1960: The Pirates Steal the Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees had last met for the World Series in 1927. Then, the Pirates collapsed beneath the might of the Yankees, losing in four straight games. Their defeat had been handed to them in part by a pair of New York sluggers, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Now, thirty-three years later, history seemed about to repeat itself. New York had powered its way to its eleventh American League pennant thanks to its two home-run kings, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Together, Maris and “the Mick” accounted for 79 of the Yankees' 193 home runs in 1960. Going into the Series, New York looked unstoppable — none of the teams they had faced in their last fifteen regular-season games had been able to stop them, anyway.

But the Pirates were no slouches either. Their record of 95–59 was nearly even with New York's 97–57.

Still, most baseball followers didn't think Pittsburgh stood a chance against New York. The Yankees had been world champions eighteen times. The Pirates hadn't even won a pennant in more than three decades.

At first, they seemed correct, for the leadoff batter, Yankee Tony Kubek, knocked out a single. But then Hector Lopez hit into a double play and the threat was defused, at least for the moment.

Then Roger Maris came to the plate. He did just what Yankee fans hoped he would do — he clobbered a home run. Then cleanup hitter Mickey Mantle made the third out.

Art Ditmar was on the mound for New York. He faced six batters and gave up a walk, a double, and three singles, to hand the Pirates three runs and only one out!

Five hits, three runs? Manager Casey Stengel yanked Ditmar before any more damage was done. Ditmar's replacement, Jim Coates, retired the next two batters to end the painful inning.

By the top of the ninth, the Pirates had jumped ahead 6–2. Four runs is a comfortable lead but not insurmountable, especially for a team as powerful as the Yankees. Their first hitter, Gil McDougald, belted out a solid single. A minute later, however, he trotted back to the dugout after being forced out at second. Bobby Richardson was still on first, though. Then Elston Howard blasted a home run! Suddenly, Pittsburgh's four-run lead had narrowed to two — and when Tony Kubek singled, it seemed possible that the Yankees could steal the game from the Pirates.

They didn't. Despite being outhit 13 to 8, Pittsburgh won, 6–4.

The next day, Pirates fans flocked to the stadium, hoping to see their team go up by two. Instead, they watched New York ring the home team's bell to the tune of sixteen runs, two of which were classic Mantle homers. And the third game was even worse —Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford allowed the Pirates only four hits and no runs while New York racked up sixteen hits for ten runs to go ahead in the Series two games to one.

Amazingly, Pittsburgh squeaked out a 3–2 win in game four to tie the Series.

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