Corcoran: Most bizarre game-ending plays in World Series history
From Cliff Corcoran at SI’s The Strike Zone on October 28, 2013:
Games 4 and 5 of this year’s World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals were the first ones ever in the Fall Classic to end on an obstruction call (Game 3) and a pick-off (Game 4). You can’t get any more rare than “first ever,” but in the entire 629-game history of the World Series (not counting ties), just 13 other games ended on a play that wasn’t a conventional out, ground-ball double play or a hit. What’s more, none of them came in the same World Series, never mind in consecutive games. Here they are, in chronological order.
1909 Game 6: Strike-’em-out/throw-’em-out double play
The Pirates had a 3-games-to-2 lead on the Tigers entering Game 6 of the 1909 World Series but trailed 5-3 in the top of the ninth at Bennett Park when they began to rally. A pair of singles to start the inning were followed by an error by Detroit first baseman Tom Jones on a bunt attempt, allowing the lead runner to score and putting the tying run on third base and the winning run on first with no outs. Jones made amends by getting an out at home on George Gibson’s subsequent grounder.
That left the tying and winning runs on first and second with one out for pinch-hitter Ed Abbaticchio, but Pittsburgh’s hope of winning the Series then and there evaporated when Abbaticchio struck out with the runners going and Chief Wilson was thrown out at third by Tigers’ catcher Boss Schmidt for the final out of the game. It remains the only time a World Series came to an end on a strikeout/caught stealing double play. Undeterred, Pittsburgh crushed Detroit 8-0 in Game 7 to win the title.
Read the full article here: http://mlb.si.com/2013/10/28/world-series-crazy-finishes-obstruction-pick-off-red-sox-cardinals/
Originally published: October 28, 2013. Last Updated: October 28, 2013.