Off we go.....
Game 1 began at a fever pitch in St. Louis as fans threw oranges and apples during a pregame showing of the movie Fever Pitch. This unfortunate-ness carried over into the start of the game as Ole Triple Digits punched out 9 consecutive Cardinals to start the game. In the Top of the 5th the Yanks plated 2 on a single by George Davis. Bob Gibson would manage the only hit, a two bagger that dropped in between Bonds and Dimaggio and the Yankees would take Game 1 on a complete game one hitter by Brown, 2-0. Fever Pitch has not been shown again, anywhere to this day.
Game 2 saw the Cardinals even up the series when GM Darko tried to slip a cricket bat into the rack for Bonds to use. Unknowingly, he brought the flat lumber up to plate and hit a long foul ball that arose the suspicion of the sold out crowd. After he singled, Torre immediately signaled to check the bat and when it was found to be illegal, Bonds was called out and was seen in a heated argument with manager Bobby Cox in the dugout. Later in a postgame interview, Cox would declare he knew nothing of the bat swap but also admitted to being "somewhat soused". The Cardinals would go on to tie the series via a 5-3 win.
The Yankees first ATD World Series home game in 5 years was a maddening scene. Lots of things happening everywhere. Things everywhere. Blyleven and his buddy Uncle Charlie came to the park on official business, plus his curveball was really working well, as the Yankees hammered out 10 hits and 6 runs off Cardinals starter Dizzy Dean who opined "Welp, it is what it is". What it was, was a convincing Yankees win to put them 2 away from a title by the count of 6-1.
In Game 4, Felix Hernandez continued to lose his way in his first postseason as he was lit up to the tune of 12 runs on 9 hits including a grand slam from Hornsby. Red Ruffing was masterful again as he dominated a huge Yankees lineup scattering 4 hits and allowing 1 earned. After the game, Hornsby expressed his feelings of playing in an environment where he can watch his own swing. "It's something. It really is. The moving pictures with my swing. Skip showed me the Brooks Baseball and it help me learn up on that Felix fella." Whatever the case, the series was tied headed back to St. Louis.
Game 5 pitted the consensus postseason MVP in Mordecai Brown back against Bob Gibson. This time Gibson rose to the challenge and the game was knotted at 2 a piece heading to the 7th. Bobby Grich led off with a double and after a Brown sacrifice, Joltin' Joe hit a shallow fly ball to CF. Duke Snider camped under it but the throw got away from King Kelly and the Yankees would take a thrilling 5th game by a score of 3-2, forcing a do or die Game 6 for the Cardinals.
Game 6 in the Bronx saw an outbreak of gout ravage the Cardinals locker room. First it was Rube Waddell's foot, next it spread to Al "Bucketfoot" Simmons (true to his name), later to super utility man John McGraw. Though doctors flown in from as far away as Boston claimed gout had zero contagious properties, there it was, another epidemic sweeping the Cardinals locker room in the biggest game of the year, much like the previous season. With over 50% of the team suffering through intense gout pain, the deciding game was a walk in the park for the Yankees, literally as Rube Waddell could not plant his foot and walked 6 men in a row, a World Series record (I assume). The Yankee fans began early celebration in the 6th inning holding up signs that read "Don't Doubt the Gout" and "Our Feet Feel Fine (How Are Yours?)". When the smoke cleared the Yankees had won 21-3 and celebrated their first ATD championship in their history.
Congrats Darko. Another Cardinals team ravaged by disease.
Thanks again to everyone for all their participation this year. Great show. See ya next January.
