The World Series was a controversial initiative in 1903, resisted and resented by some National League personalities as an unwarranted recognition of the three-year-old American League. Indeed, fabled New York Giants manager John McGraw nearly nipped it in the bud a year later by refusing to play the AL champion Boston team. Relenting in 1905, he went on to lead his club in nine Fall Classics, and the event ran uninterrupted until a 1994 players strike. Resuming after a one-year hiatus, it continues to add thrilling moments to the annals. Here are some nominations:
The Pitchers Reign
1905: Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants pitches a third consecutive shutout in a Series in which all five games are shutouts.
1918: Boston Red Sox lefthander Babe Ruth runs his streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 29. The streak had begun with the last 13 innings of a complete game against Brooklyn in 1916.
The Ruthian Era
1920: Bill Wambsganss of the Cleveland Indians makes an unassisted triple play against Brooklyn.
1924: 400-game winner Walter Johnson gets his first World Series chance after 18 years, loses both his starts, but pitches three innings of scoreless relief to win the final game.
1929: The Philadelphia Athletics trail the Chicago Cubs, 8-0, in the seventh inning but rally for 10 runs in the bottom half to win, 10-8.
1932: Babe Ruth points toward the pitcher or center field after two strikes, then drives the ball over the center field wall for a then record 15th Series home run that enters legend as the "called shot."
1934: Brothers Dizzy and Paul Dean win two games each to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Detroit Tigers.
TV Multiplies the Viewers
1947: Yankee pitcher Floyd (Bill) Bevens loses a no-hitter (and the game) with two outs in the ninth inning on a two-run double.
1954: Willie Mays of the Giants catches a drive by Vic Wertz of the Indians going away more than 450 feet from home plate and throws in to hold runners at their bases.
1956: The Yankees' Don Larsen pitches a perfect game to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 2-0.
1960: Bill Mazeroski homers in the ninth inning of the seventh game to give a Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates in which they were outscored 55-27 by the Yankees.
1975: Carlton Fisk, Red Sox catcher, homers in the 12th inning to win Game 6 and tie the Series with the favored Cincinnati Reds.
1977: Reggie Jackson, Yankee outfielder, sets a new Series record with his fifth home run, his third in the final game.
1986: Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner lets a routine ground ball get through his legs, allowing the New York Mets to score the winning run in the tenth inning of Game 6 and tie the Series. The Mets go on to win the seventh game.
1988: Injured Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson hits a ninth inning pinch hit come-from-behind two run homer off future Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley to win Game 1. The underdog Dodgers go on to win in five games.
1993: Joe Carter hits a three run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to overcome a 6-5 Philadelphia Phillies lead and give the Series to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Twenty-first century highlights have included the first Red Sox World Series win since 1918 in 2004 and the first White Sox world championship since 1917 the very next year, but these were achieved over several games, not in one thrilling moment. It remains for the Cubs to provide inestimable joy for their fans with their first since 1908.
References: Baseball Almanac
Baseball Reference
The Baseball Page
