Blast From the Past: The Highest Leverage At Bat In Baseball History

In 1962, the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees played one of the tightest, most competitive World Series in baseball history.  The 1962 Series ended appropriately, but sadly for the Giants, with The Highest Leverage At Bat In Baseball History!  The Giants reached the World Series for the first time since moving to San Francisco by beating the Dodgers in a 3 game playoff.  The Yankees were playing in their umpteenth consecutive World Series and playing for their 20'th WS win.

Game 1 was in San Francisco with Billy O'Dell facing the legendary Whitey Ford.  Ford's WS consecutive scoreless innings streak ended at 33.2 IP in the second inning when Willie Mays scored.  The game was tied 2-2 after 6, but the Yankees pulled away at the end for a 6-2 win with Ford getting the W.  Yankees up 1 game to 0.

The Giants came back to win Game 2 behind their ace, Jack Sanford facing Ralph Terry.  The Giants scored a run in the bottom of the first and Willie McCovey hit a HR for an insurance run in the 7'th inning.  Sanford pitched a CG, 3-hit shutout for the 2-0 win.  Series tied 1 game each.

The Series moved to New York for the next 3 games.  A 3 run rally by the Yankees in the 7'th inning of Game 3 broke a scoreless pitching duel between Bill Stafford of the Yankees and the Giants Billy Pierce.  Ed Bailey's 2 run HR in the 9'th inning was too little, too late.  Yankees up 2 games to 1.

A young Juan Marichal started Game 4 for the Giants and took a 2-0 lead into the 6'th on a 2-run HR by catcher Tom Haller.  The Yankees fought back to tie it in the 6'th, but Chuck Hiller hit a grand slam HR in the 7'th, the first GS by a National League player in WS history, and the Giants won the game 7-4 with Don Larsen, yes THAT Don Larsen, getting the W in relief.  Series Tied 2-2.

Game 5 was delayed for a day by rain with Jack Sanford and Ralph Terry facing off again.  Tom Tresh hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 8'th and the Yankees won this one 5-3.  Yankees up 3 games to 2.

The Series headed back to San Francisco, but was delayed for 4 days by a torrential rainstorm in Northern California.  When it resumed, Billy Pierce got the start against Whitey Ford and pitched a CG 3 hitter with the Giants winning 5-2.  Roger Maris homered in the game.  Series tied 3 games apiece!

Game 7 came down to Sanford vs Terry for the 3'rd time in the series, although neither pitcher was on short rest due to the rain delay.  The Yankees scratched out a run in the 5'th inning on a DP groundout by Tony Kubek.  The score remained 1-0 going to the bottom of the 9'th inning and the home team Giants batting.  Matty Alou, pinch-hitting for reliever Billy O'Dell, reached first base on a bunt single.  Terry struck out Felipe Alou and Chuck Hiller.  Willie Mays then went opposite field for a double down in the RF corner.  Maris played the ball perfectly and got the ball quickly to Bobby Richardson, the relay man.  Matty Alou held at 3B.  That brought Willie McCovey to the plate with 2 outs, runners at 2'nd and 3'rd and the Yankees clinging to a 1-0 lead.  It's been called the single highest leverage At Bat in the history of baseball!  With Mays on 2B and the runners going on contact, any hit would likely score 2 runs for a Giants win, while an out would end the game in the Yankees favor.  McCovey had tripled of the CF fence in his previous AB but was stranded at 3B.

Willie hit a long foul down the RF line on the first pitch.  Terry jammed Willie Mac with the second pitch, but Willie pulled his arms in and hit a line drive that appeared to be going over the head and just to the left of second baseman, Bobby Richardson.  Willie Mac has said it was the hardest he ever hit a ball, but that is questionable.  What is not questionable is that the ball had enough topspin on it that it sank in the air and all Richardson had to do was take a step and glove the ball.

Game over.  Yankees win 1-0 and take the 1962 World Series 4 games to 3.

The Highest Leverage At Bat In Baseball History!