Thursday, October 13, 2005

The 1st World Series walk-off home run...

Bobby Thomson's 'Shot Heard Round The World' is the most famous of all walk-off home runs but did you know that there have only been 2 game ending home runs in World Series history ?

The first walk-off home run in World Series history was authored by Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates on this date, October 13 in 1960. The home run by 'Maz' gave his 'Buckos' a Game 7 win and world series championship with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the 9th inning of a game played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Who can ever forget leftfielder Yogi Berra (yes he was playing leftfield) waiting, hoping and praying that somehow, some way, the ball wouldn't go over the wall and he could play the carom back to the infield. A dejected Berra walked slowly off the field when it didn't. Bill Mazeroski would become a Pittsburgh hero forever and the section of the leftfield wall where the ball went over the wall has been preserved after Forbes Field was demolished...

In all, there are a total of 13 walk-off home runs in World Series History but only 2 have won the fall classic. Mazeroski's was the first on this date in 1960. The second walk-off World Series home run was hit by Joe Carter in 1993 when the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Phillies...

More October 13 Memories...

1843) The B'nai B'rith was founded in New York City...

1960) Richard M. Nixon and JFK hold their 3rd televised presidential debate with Nixon in Hollywood and Kennedy in New York...

1960) Bill Mazeroski hits the first walk-off home run in World Series history (feature story)...

1960) The Drifters top the charts with "Save The Last Dance For Me"...

1963) The term 'Beatlemania' is coined when a Beatle appearance on the BBC's "Sunday Night at the Palladium" almost turns into a riot...

1967) The first game of the new American Basketball Association is played...

1970) Janis Joplin's ashes are scattered off the coast of California...

1974) Ed Sullivan dies at 73...

1974) Billy Preston is #1 with "Nothing From Nothing"...

1985) Cardinal rookie Vince Coleman is injured prior to the NLCS when he's caught in Busch Stadium's automated tarpaulin...

1996) Jet kicker Nick Lowrey breaks Jan Stenerud's NFL field goal record with his 374 field goal...

1998) The NBA cancels the first 2 weeks of the season because of a lockout of players...

1999) The JonBenet Ramsey grand jury is dismissed after 13 months when there's not enough evidence found to charge anyone in the 6-year old's strangulation death...

Happy Birthday To...

1925) Margaret Thatcher...

1941) Paul Simon...

1944) Chicago's Robert Lamm...

1946) Demond Wilson of 'Sanford and Son'...

1959) Marie Osmond...

1969) Nancy Kerrigan...

Commentary...

Whether you observe or not, today is Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and intense introspection. It is the holiest day of the year for Jews and culminates at the end of Rosh Hashanah. As you remember the loved ones who have passed and make amends in your intonement, here is a wish for a good year ahead with peace and love in your life...