Even the Braves

[petrel]

Stars Lose Home Opener of National League Championship Series 3-2
Osteen Holds Stars to Five Hits Over Eight Innings

LOS ANGELES -- In a spectacular night of play in the City of (Stars), the upstart Los Angeles Stars might have gotten the better of the defending World Champions, but pitching proved decisive as the visiting New York Giants won Game 1 of the National League Championship Series 3-2.

Indeed, Stars pitcher Jim Bunning got off to a shaky start in his first ever playoff appearance -- he has 175 wins to his credit -- when he gave up a controversial two-run home run to Bob Johnson in the top of the first with two out to put the Giants up 2-0 in the early going The long, fly ball to right field was called as a home run by the umpires and it brought out a quick visit to the mound by Stars manager Birdie Tebbets -- but Tebbets was not persuasive enough to get the call changed. "It looked foul to me," was all that Tebbets would say after the game.

It was almost all the Giants needed. However, Dal Maxvill scored from second on a single by Eric Morrisson to close the game to 2-1 after one inning. Furthermore, with runners on first and third and no one out, Maxvill would bring the crowd to its feet when he hit a sharp ground ball to Donn Clendenon at first. Clendenon was able to turn a double play involving Bob Johnson and Giants pitcher Claude Osteen, but Jim Bunning would cross the plate to tie up the game 2-2.

Clendenon would make up for not making the forceout with a double in the top of the fourth inning. Lee Thomas, playing for Frank Robinson (who tragically died during the season), hit a single to center that brought Clendenon home for what would be the game's final run.

All in all, pitcher Claude Osteen would hold off the Stars for most ot the game. In the bottom of the eighth, Osteen gave up a couple of singles but prevented any of the Stars from scoring. Claude Raymond would face the final three Stars batters and get the final three outs, 1-2-3, for the save and the Game 1 victory.

New York Giants at Los Angeles Stars
October 12, 1966

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
        Giants (NYG) 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0    3  7  0
         Stars (LAS) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0    2  5  1

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. O'Brien (2B)       4  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .283
K. Boyer (3B)         4  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .278
C. Yastrzemski (LF)   3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .314
B. Johnson (SS)       4  1  0  1  1  2  1  0    .351
D. Clendenon (1B)     3  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .279
 D. Phillips (P)      1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .297
F. Thomas (CF)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .284
L. Thomas (RF)        3  2  0  0  0  1  0  0    .258
 C. Mauro (P)         1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .261
B. Heath (C)          4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .250
C. Osteen (P)         3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .143
 C. Raymond (P)       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               34  7  1  3  1  3  4  0

   2B:  D. Clendenon
   HR:  B. Johnson
   CS:  J. O'Brien

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
       C. Osteen  8.0  5  2  0  2  2  2 104   1.84
      C. Raymond  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  11   1.41
          TOTALS  9.0  5  2  0  2  2  3 115

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
D. Clemens (RF)       4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .289
D. Maxvill (SS)       3  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .300
 J. Oldham (P)        1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .325
 C. Veal (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
L. Brock (LF)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .354
E. Morrisson (2B)     4  1  0  0  0  1  1  0    .236
D. Kravitz (C)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .299
D. Jones (1B)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .295
C. Hickman (CF)       3  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .182
E. Kasko (3B)         2  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .306
J. Bunning (P)        0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0    .078
 P. Regan (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .333
 J. Easton (P)        1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .303
 B. Heffner (P)       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               30  5  2  2  0  1  3  0

   GIDP:  D. Maxvill

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      J. Bunning  6.0  6  1  1  3  3  2 114   3.17
        P. Regan  2.0  1  0  0  0  0  0  27   3.27
      B. Heffner  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  2  15   2.38
          TOTALS  9.0  7  1  1  3  3  4 156

     WP: C. Osteen
     LP: J. Bunning
     SV: C. Raymond

     Temperature: 64F
     Wind: 4 MPH (in from left)
     Attendance: 43,500
     Time: 2:59

[petrel]

Yankees Shut Out Angels in Game 1 of American League Championship Series
Collapse of Angels Pitching Leads to 8-0 Yankees Romp

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Angels have experience in the playoffs with the New York Yankees -- they've won the only post-season game against a New York team since the playoff format began in 1965. Yet their hard-earned knowledge wasn't enough to hold off the Yankees, who won Game 1 8-0.

Jim Proctor and Eddie Rakow would combine to hold the home team to just four hits for a Yankees shutout. However, starter Tom Hughes also did an admirable job. For the first seven innings, the game was scoreless -- it looked as if the game might go into extra innings, or be relegated to the category of "pitchers duel".

However, Hughes gave up a solo home run in the 7th to Stuart Petty of the Yankees to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Going into the top of the 8th, Jay Ward would reach second base on a fielding error by left fielder Billy Williams. The next batter, Jose Pagan, homered to left center for two RBIs and Angels manager Merritt May called Hal Woodeschick from the bullpen to stop the bleeding.

The Angels turned a double play in the 8th, relieving some of the pressure off Woodeschick, but Bob Skinner would score from 3rd to make the score 4-0 Yankees. After that, Woodeschick walked three straight batters before getting Jim Proctor to ground out and end the top of the 8th.

As for the Angels, they put men on first and second in the bottom of the 8th -- but couldn't score. The top of the 9th saw Timmy Willet come in to pitch for the angels and give up three consecutive walks with just one out. Jose Pagan would score on a sacrifice fly to second by Jose Pagan, and Don Buford would clear the rest of the runners with a home run to right center to give the Yankees an 8-0 lead. Ed Rakow of the Yankees would give up a walk and a single to Hank Aaron in the bottom of the ninth, but the Angels failed to score, securing the Yankees' shutout.

(* * *)

New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels
October 12, 1966

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Yankees (NYY) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 4    8 10  0
        Angels (LAA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  4  1

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. Ward (2B)          5  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .298
H. Killebrew (1B)     2  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .283
 J. Pagan (P)         1  1  1  2  1  2  0  0    .308
B. Skinner (LF)       3  1  2  2  0  0  0  0    .373
R. Clemente (RF)      4  1  1  1  0  0  0  0    .318
G. Oliver (C)         4  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .259
R. DeJesus (SS)       2  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .289
 D. Buford (P)        2  1  1  1  1  3  0  0    .335
S. Petty (CF)         4  2  1  1  1  1  2  0    .191
K. Jackson (3B)       3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .219
J. Proctor (P)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .056
 E. Rakow (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               34 10  8  8  3  7  3  0

   HR:  D. Buford, S. Petty, J. Pagan
   GIDP:  G. Oliver, K. Jackson
   CS:  J. Ward

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      J. Proctor  8.0  3  1  0  0  0  3  75   1.39
        E. Rakow  1.0  1  1  0  0  0  1  22   2.64
          TOTALS  9.0  4  2  0  0  0  4  97

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
L. Aparicio (SS)      3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .298
 M. Throneberry (P)   1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .429
 B. Malkmus (P)       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .200
G. Stephens (RF)      3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .312
C. Bradley (1B)       4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .312
J. Kindall (2B)       4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .300
H. Aaron (CF)         4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .286
B. Williams (LF)      4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .267
C. Lau (C)            3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .282
A. Carey (3B)         3  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .193
T. Hughes (P)         2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .136
 H. Woodeshick (P)    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 J. Tompsett (P)      0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .285
 T. Willett (P)       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .500
TOTALS               31  4  2  0  0  0  4  0

   3B:  L. Aparicio

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
       T. Hughes  7.0  7  2  2  3  2  2 107   1.71
   H. Woodeshick  1.0  2  3  0  1  1  0  30   5.87
      T. Willett  1.0  1  3  1  4  4  1  38   2.55
          TOTALS  9.0 10  8  3  8  7  3 175

     WP: J. Proctor
     LP: T. Hughes

     Temperature: 60F
     Wind: 3 MPH (out to left)
     Attendance: 56,000
     Time: 2:42

[petrel]

Angels Threaten In Game 2 But Lose In Extra Innings
Relievers Fail Again to Yanks; Robertson Gives Up Three Runs in Top of 12th

LOS ANGELES: If there's anything that the 1966 Championship Series playoffs have proven -- aside from the dominance of New York baseball -- is that to make it to the World Series your relievers have to be...relieving. The home Angels kept it close, but fell to the Yankees 8-5 in 12 innings.

Angels fans had high hopes when Hank Aaron hit a 3-RBI home run in the bottom of the first off Kelly Osborne of the New York Yankees to put the home club up 3-0 after one inning. The Angels would keep their lead for two innings, when Pat Jarvis would give up a walk and two singles to start the third inning and allow Roberto Clemente to double with no one out to pull up the Yankees 3-2.

They were the only runs Jarvis gave up through five innings, when Angels manager Merritt May inexplicably put Travis Williamson on the mound, who gave up a single to lead the 6th and then gave up a home run to Don Buford, pinch-hitting for Kevin Jackson, to put the Yankees up 4-3. The Angels occasionally put runners on second, but could not score.

In the top of the 9th, Hal Woodeschick, the "goat" of Game 1, gave up a single to pinch-hitting Preston Ward, allowing Harmon Killebrew to double and put the Yankees up 5-3 going into the bottom of the 9th.

However, the Yankees would have relief problems of their own. With out out in the bottom of the 9th, Andy Carey would walk and take second on defensive indifference. Angels manager May had Jim Tompsett pinch hit for Woodeschick, who would double Carey across the plate to close the gap to one run, 5-4.

McMahon would uncork a wild pitch sending Tompsett to third, and Marv Throneberry, pinch-hitting for Luis Aparicio, hit a sacrifice fly that allowed the Angels to score and tie the game 5-5.

Dennis Aust of the Angels pitched the 10th and 11th, giving up two walks in the 11th and allowing a runner to reach third with two out, but he struck out Clemente to end the Yankees at-bat. With Ed Rakow on the mound for the Yankees, Andy Carey got the only Angels hit, but was caught stealing second to end the 11th.

But it was the 12th that spelled doom for the Angels. With Humberto Robinson on the mound, Robinson gave up a double, a walk, a wild pitch, a grounder that scored a run, and another double to pinch-hitter Jim Campbell. Only Johnny Temple lining out to Bobby Malkmus at short who then doubled Campbell off second saved the Angels from falling further behind.

Bob Priddy of the Yankees, however, had no trouble with the Angels in the bottom of the 12th, striking out Gene Stephens to win Game 2 and send the series back to New York with the Yankees up two games to none.

New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels
October 13, 1966

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Yankees (NYY) 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 3  8 14  0
        Angels (LAA) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  5 10  0

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. Temple (2B)        4  0  2  1  0  0  1  0    .313
H. Killebrew (1B)     4  2  2  1  0  1  2  0    .283
B. Skinner (LF)       5  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .373
R. Clemente (RF)      6  1  0  0  0  2  1  0    .318
G. Oliver (C)         6  3  0  1  0  0  1  1    .259
S. Petty (CF)         5  0  1  1  0  0  4  0    .191
J. Pagan (SS)         6  1  0  1  0  1  1  0    .308
K. Jackson (3B)       2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .219
 D. Buford (P)        1  1  0  1  1  2  0  0    .335
 R. DeJesus (P)       3  1  0  1  0  1  0  0    .289
K. Osborne (P)        3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .151
 J. Brady (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   1.000
 P. Ward (P)          1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .250
 D. McMahon (P)       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 E. Bauta (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 L. Maye (P)          1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .267
 E. Rakow (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 J. Campbell (P)      1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .150
 B. Priddy (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               48 14  6  8  1  8 10  1

   2B:  G. Oliver, H. Killebrew, R. Clemente, J. Campbell, R. DeJesus, K. Osborne
   HR:  D. Buford

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      K. Osborne  6.0  5  2  1  3  3  6  98   2.19
        J. Brady  2.0  2  0  0  0  0  1  28   1.91
      D. McMahon  1.0  1  1  0  2  2  0  30   1.99
        E. Bauta  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  1  14   3.29
        E. Rakow  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  1  14   2.64
       B. Priddy  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  11   0.71
          TOTALS 12.0 10  3  1  5  5 10 195

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
L. Aparicio (SS)      4  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .298
 M. Throneberry (P)   0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0    .429
 B. Malkmus (P)       1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .200
G. Stephens (RF)      6  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .312
C. Bradley (1B)       5  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .312
J. Kindall (2B)       4  0  1  0  0  0  3  0    .300
H. Aaron (CF)         5  1  0  1  1  3  1  0    .286
B. Williams (LF)      4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .267
C. Lau (C)            5  2  0  0  0  0  1  0    .282
A. Carey (3B)         4  1  1  1  0  0  1  0    .193
P. Jarvis (P)         1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .074
 J. Shepard (P)       1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .313
 T. Williamson (P)    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 B. Hoad (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 L. Nelson (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .222
 H. Woodeshick (P)    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 J. Tompsett (P)      1  1  0  1  0  1  0  0    .285
 D. Aust (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 D. Tettelbach (P)    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .255
 H. Robinson (P)      1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               43 10  3  5  1  5 10  0

   2B:  C. Lau, L. Aparicio, J. Tompsett
   HR:  H. Aaron
   GIDP:  H. Aaron
   CS:  A. Carey

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
       P. Jarvis  5.0  5  4  0  2  2  4  92   4.48
   T. Williamson  1.2  2  0  1  2  2  1  27   0.00
         B. Hoad  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  0   4   2.96
   H. Woodeshick  2.0  2  0  0  1  1  1  37   5.87
         D. Aust  2.0  2  1  0  0  0  4  38   0.89
     H. Robinson  1.0  3  1  0  3  3  0  22   2.97
          TOTALS 12.0 14  6  1  8  8 10 220

     WP: E. Rakow
     LP: H. Robinson
     SV: B. Priddy

     Temperature: 61F
     Wind: 7 MPH (right to left)
     Attendance: 56,000
     Time: 4:33

[petrel]

Stars Fall Two Games Behind Giants Despite Raucous Crowd
No Match For Giants Despite Friendly Venue; Lose 6-2

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Stars, a second-year expansion club and the surprise winners of the National League West title, faced the possibility of playing their last game in 1966 at the brand new Anaheim Stadium. Despite a loud and highly enthusiastic crowd, the Stars lost 6-2 and the Giants lead the National League Championship Series by two games to none.

Hector Maestri of the Stars, playing in his first playoff game in his first year in Los Angeles from Kansas City, found himself behind 3-0 when he gave up three hits and a walk, including a double to the Giants Bob Johnson. The Giants added to their lead when Maestri gave up a single to Bill Heath and a walk to Johnny O'Brien with one out in the second, setting up a bases-clearing home run by Carl Yastrzemski to put the Giants up 6-0 after only nine outs had been played.

The Stars, however, attempted a slight comeback in the second when Deacon Jones homered off Gaylord Perry of the Giants to narrow the Giants lead to 6-2.

Herb Score of the Stars would come in and clean up the hash of things. Bob Johnson got another double in the top of the fourth to put runners on second and third for the Giants, but Score would strike out Donn Clendon to the roars of the loud Stars crowd.

"I don't think I was ever booed that badly in a World Series game," said Clendenon, referring to the extraordinary loud Stars supporters, who brought noisemakers, kazoos, and everything they could think of to rattle the Giants.

"They cheered every out the Giants made and everything good that we did on the field," said Stars manager Birdie Tebbets. "But we let them down, not for a lack of trying."

However, the Stars continued to get out of tight jams. Without one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 5th, Johnny O'Brien hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the threat of more Giants runs.

The Stars, however, could not ignite. They had a runner on third in the bottom of the sixth, but gave up two outs and ended the inning. Backup right fielder Lee Thomas of the Giants made an error that let Eddie Kasko reach first in the bottom of the 7th, but Kasko would remain right there as the inning ended. In the 8th, with one out and runners at first and second, Danny Kravitz would hit into a 1-6-3 double play to make it tougher on the home team.

Perry lasted into the 9th inning for the Giants. He gave up a double to Deacon Jones to begin the inning, but Jones would fail to advance as the rest of the batters went down 1-2-3.

The Giants can clinch their sixth straight National League pennant with a Game 3 win in New York.

New York Giants at Los Angeles Stars
October 13, 1966

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
        Giants (NYG) 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    6 10  1
         Stars (LAS) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    2  6  0

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. O'Brien (2B)       4  0  1  1  0  0  1  0    .283
K. Boyer (3B)         5  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .278
C. Yastrzemski (LF)   3  1  2  2  1  3  1  0    .314
B. Johnson (SS)       4  2  1  1  0  1  0  0    .351
D. Clendenon (1B)     4  0  1  0  0  1  2  0    .279
F. Thomas (CF)        5  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .284
L. Thomas (RF)        4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .258
B. Heath (C)          4  4  0  1  0  0  0  0    .250
G. Perry (P)          3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .068
TOTALS               36 10  6  6  1  6  6  0

   2B:  B. Johnson 2
   HR:  C. Yastrzemski
   GIDP:  J. O'Brien

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        G. Perry  9.0  6  4  1  2  2  2 129   3.72
          TOTALS  9.0  6  4  1  2  2  2 129

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
D. Clemens (RF)       3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .289
D. Maxvill (SS)       2  1  2  0  0  0  0  0    .300
L. Brock (LF)         4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .354
E. Morrisson (2B)     3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .236
D. Kravitz (C)        4  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .299
D. Jones (1B)         4  3  0  1  1  2  0  0    .295
C. Hickman (CF)       4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .182
E. Kasko (3B)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
H. Maestri (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .138
 H. Score (P)         1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .128
 J. Easton (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .303
 P. Regan (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .333
 J. Oldham (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .325
 B. Heffner (P)       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 B. Espy (P)          1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .253
TOTALS               32  6  4  2  1  2  2  0

   2B:  D. Jones
   HR:  D. Jones
   GIDP:  D. Kravitz, D. Jones

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      H. Maestri  1.2  5  2  1  6  6  0  41   4.21
        H. Score  3.1  4  3  0  0  0  3  87   4.49
        P. Regan  2.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  21   3.27
      B. Heffner  2.0  1  1  0  0  0  2  32   2.38
          TOTALS  9.0 10  6  1  6  6  6 181

     WP: G. Perry
     LP: H. Maestri

     Temperature: 54F
     Wind: 4 MPH (right to left)
     Attendance: 43,500
     Time: 3:26

[petrel]

Angels Shut Out Again, Lose Pennant
Angels Held to Only Three Hits and a Double in New York

BRONX -- Game 3 ended for the American League West champion Los Angeles Angels the same way that Game 1 ended -- with the New York Yankees holding them scoreless and clinching the American League pennant on their home ground.

Bob Hendley and Jim Brady of the Yankees held the Los Angeles Angels to just four hits and two walks over nine-innings of play as the Yankees won 4-0 in New York. It was a tough day for the Angels batters, as in only three innings were they able to put a runner on second base, and none of the Angels batters even reached third. The only Angels player to get a extra-base hit is Hank Aaron, who hit a double in the top of the 7th with one out, but was left stranded.

All in all, the Yankees outscored the Angels 20-5 during the three game series and shut them out twice, securing their 142nd win of the season and their record eighth straight American League Pennant, a record for most consecutive pennants won by a major league team.

The Yankees will have home field advantage throughout the World Series, starting Game 1 on October 23rd.

(* * *)

Los Angeles Angels at New York Yankees
October 15, 1966

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
        Angels (LAA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  4  1
       Yankees (NYY) 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 x    4 10  0

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
L. Aparicio (SS)      4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .298
G. Stephens (RF)      3  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .312
C. Bradley (1B)       4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .312
J. Kindall (2B)       4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .300
H. Aaron (CF)         4  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .286
B. Williams (LF)      4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .267
C. Lau (C)            2  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .282
A. Carey (3B)         3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .193
B. Hartman (P)        2  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .059
 B. Hoad (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 J. Shepard (P)       1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .313
 H. Woodeshick (P)    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               31  4  2  0  0  0  7  0

   2B:  H. Aaron

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      B. Hartman  4.1  7  2  0  4  4  3  87   1.87
         B. Hoad  2.2  2  1  0  0  0  4  49   2.96
   H. Woodeshick  1.0  1  1  0  0  0  0  21   5.87
          TOTALS  8.0 10  4  0  4  4  7 157

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. Temple (2B)        5  3  0  2  0  0  0  0    .313
H. Killebrew (1B)     3  1  1  1  0  0  0  0    .283
D. Buford (LF)        3  2  1  1  0  0  0  0    .335
R. Clemente (RF)      4  1  0  0  0  1  1  0    .318
G. Oliver (C)         3  0  1  0  0  0  3  0    .259
S. Petty (CF)         4  1  0  0  0  2  1  0    .191
J. Pagan (SS)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .308
K. Jackson (3B)       4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .219
B. Hendley (P)        3  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .181
 B. Skinner (P)       0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .373
 J. Brady (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   1.000
TOTALS               33 10  4  4  0  3  7  0

   GIDP:  J. Pagan
   CS:  J. Temple

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      B. Hendley  8.0  4  2  0  0  0  6 109   1.97
        J. Brady  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1   8   1.91
          TOTALS  9.0  4  2  0  0  0  7 117

     WP: B. Hendley
     LP: B. Hartman

     Temperature: 52F
     Wind: Calm
     Attendance: 67,000
     Time: 2:53

[petrel]

Giants Sweep Stars, Win Game 3 in Shutout
Giants Meet Yankees in Series for Sixth Straight Championship Match

QUEENS -- For those who wondered if the death of Frank Robinson would hurt the New York Giants going into the postseason, it certainly seems not to have effected their baseball form.

Bill Kirk of the Giants held the Stars to three hits and no walks in a 7-0 shutout at Giants Stadium to clinch their sixth consecutive National League Pennant. Donn Clendenon hit a home run in the bottom of the first off Stars starter Carl Duser on the way to a four-run first inning and the Giants never looked back.

The closest the Stars came to scoring was in the top of the sixth, when pinch-hitter John Easton and Doug Clemens hit back to back singles, putting Stars runners on first and third with out out. John Oldham was called to pinch-hit for Dal Maxvill to provide offense, but Oldham hit into a 6-4-3 to end the Stars part of the 6th.

Phil Regan of the Stars gave up three singles and three walks in the bottom of the 7th, adding three more runs to the Giants tally and making it a 7-0 Giants lead. The game ended on Lou Brock's groundout to Bob Johnson at short and the Giants were National League champions once again.

Lou Brock of the Stars, who led the National League in batting average with .354 and in steals with 51 went 1-for-12 during the National League Championship Series. Wheras Bill Heath, the third-string backup catcher for the Giants, went 6-for-12 with two runs during the three-game matchup.

Los Angeles Stars at New York Giants
October 15, 1966

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
         Stars (LAS) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  3  1
        Giants (NYG) 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 x    7 11  1

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
D. Clemens (RF)       4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .289
D. Maxvill (SS)       2  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .300
 J. Oldham (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .325
 C. Veal (P)          1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
L. Brock (LF)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .354
E. Morrisson (2B)     3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .236
D. Kravitz (C)        3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .299
D. Jones (1B)         2  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .295
C. Hickman (CF)       3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .182
E. Kasko (3B)         3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
C. Duser (P)          1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .105
 J. Easton (P)        1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .303
 P. Regan (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .333
 C. Rubinstein (P)    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 B. Espy (P)          1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .253
 T. Hahn (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               29  3  0  0  0  0  3  0

   HBP:  D. Jones
   GIDP:  J. Oldham
   CS:  E. Kasko

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        C. Duser  5.0  6  0  1  4  3  2  68   3.39
        P. Regan  1.2  4  3  0  3  3  1  55   3.27
   C. Rubinstein  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  0   4   2.71
         T. Hahn  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  1  13   0.00
          TOTALS  8.0 11  3  1  7  6  4 140

NEW YORK             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. O'Brien (2B)       5  1  0  2  0  1  0  0    .283
K. Boyer (3B)         4  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .278
C. Yastrzemski (LF)   3  1  1  1  0  0  0  0    .314
B. Johnson (SS)       2  2  2  1  0  2  0  0    .351
D. Clendenon (1B)     4  2  0  1  1  4  0  0    .279
F. Thomas (CF)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .284
L. Thomas (RF)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .258
B. Heath (C)          4  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .250
B. Kirk (P)           3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .094
TOTALS               33 11  3  7  1  7  4  0

   HR:  D. Clendenon
   GIDP:  F. Thomas

        NEW YORK   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
         B. Kirk  9.0  3  0  0  0  0  3  86   3.18
          TOTALS  9.0  3  0  0  0  0  3  86

     WP: B. Kirk
     LP: C. Duser

     Temperature: 39F
     Wind: 3 MPH (in from center)
     Attendance: 55,000
     Time: 2:16

[petrel]

1966 World Series
Game 1
October 23, 1966
Part I

The New York Giants and New York Yankees were prepared to play each other for the sixth consecutive year for baseball supremacy. One factor missing with this matchup was any air of wistful expectation, either from the fans, the sportswriters, or the players themselves. All groups interested in baseball had been resigned to another Giants/Yankees series. Some hoped they could escape another one, but the quick dismissal of the Angels and Stars in the postseason proved those hopes to be wishful at best.

The big debate among sportswriters was whether or not two powerhouse teams was ruining the sport...or whether it was helping the sport. After six years, baseball writers in New York had started to play devil's advocate, and argue for further New York/New York series.

The first argument was that with two superteams, you really knew who the greatest players in baseball were -- in this case, it was whomever the superteams could buy. "Could anyone really argue that Yaz or Frank Robinson weren't the greatest players of all time? After all, if they weren't, then wouldn't they be on another team? Could anyone argue that The Mick has lost a step or two over the years? If he were all that his defenders claimed he was, wouldn't he be playing on a New York team?"

As a GM, I was hearing this more and more often in negotiations. "Player X wants to play on a New York team." In short, a team with an infinitely deep pocketbook that could pay him whatever he wanted. The phrase had replaced Mickey Mantle money in the vernacular, since The Mick only got about $6 million to play for the Braves this year.

"A rising tide lifts all boats" was the name of the other argument. The argument was that having the Super Duper Yankees actually helped every team in the American League, in that people would want to see such a team and the turnstiles would turn. "The Philadelphia Athletics have been the definition of hopeless. Even though they only drew 819,000, they've increased 30,000 in attendance. Why? Nine games a year against the Yankees, guaranteed."

Unfortunately, it just leads to what I've heard of at Connie Mack during those games -- more Yankee hats in the stand than Athletics hats. More Yankees hats and Giants hats everywhere. Thankfully, this hasn't hit the Braves yet, nor have the Angels had to suffer from New York-clad interlopers. There's something fundamentally wrong with people coming to cheer the visiting team. (I won't even mention the creepy "bandwagon" aspects.)

The third argument was that it represented what people wanted anyway. "The Yankees and Giants are the best organizations in the world. Why shouldn't they win? People want them to win! There are three teams in the New York area, and New York is the most populated area, and historically has had the best baseball. Do you really want to watch a Brewers/Blues World Series?"

I would like to ask what Dodgers fans thought about the Yankees and Giants being so great. As for the greatness of the Yankees, give them six last place finishes and they won't be so quick to talk. Whereas, if the Brewers finished first six straight years, they'd be annointed the Kings of Baseball. That title only belongs to the most Johnny-come-lately contender; it has no historical legitimacy. Else, the Cubs and Braves would be the kings of baseball -- we're the oldest teams, you know.


The Yankees prepare for the 1966 World Series

The two major stories had already been decided on before the Series started. For the writers, it was an easy life. They already knew the players after covering them for six straight years. It was just write a variation on a theme, send it in by wire and spend the rest of the day drinking.

The Giants had draped themselves in the cloak of the late Frank Robinson. "We have to win this one for Frank", said Earl Battey. It was the consensus of the Giants team that this was the true must-win series. Not only would winning the Series be a final tribute to Robinson and what he meant to the team, but beating the Yankees -- who had finished with the best record of any team in baseball history -- would confirm the Giants supremacy in New York.

The other story was whether or not the Giants could overcome the effects of not just the loss of Robinson, but of injuries to Earl Battey and Johnny Romano, leaving the Giants third-string catcher Bill Heath to bear the weight. Heath had done a wonderful job in the post-season against the Stars, but could the 27-year old rooke rise to the challenge?

Lee Thomas was the other factor, the man who had replaced Frank Robinson in right field. Thirty years old, Thomas had had a so-so season with the 1965 Cubs, where he only hit .230 with a .290 OBP -- however, against the Giants in the National League Championship Series, he went 4 for 10 against the Giants. "We knew he could play a part on this team," said Manager Sam Mele, "and Lee's done the job. If he can do it for four games out of seven, it will have been time and money well spent."

As for the Yankees, the big story was Johnny Keane, or as Dick Young of the New York Daily News called him, "the stranger in the clubhouse". With the record for most regular season victories set, many at CBS -- which was, in effect, the Yankees organization -- felt that it was time that Keane finally brought home a pennant. Despite a record that would have made John McGraw and Connie Mack green with envy in their heyday, the newspapers claimed that Keane, believe it or not, was at the verge of losing his job. The Yankee brass didn't like him, the Yankee players didn't like him, and no one liked him. They believed that GM Hank Bauer was the key to victory, and hoped that he would take over the managing reigns again.

(* * *)

For Game 1, Mele called upon the Giants Claude Osteen (25-7, 1.84 ERA). It was Osteen's third straight 20 win season and his second straight with an ERA of under 2.00. He had won 175 games, and was only 26 years old!

How could that be? He had been a first round draft pick in 1958 -- the #2 pick overall -- and the White Sox, 54-100 the year before, threw Osteen right into the starting rotation. He had been taught to pitch sink-or-swim, and had had 20 win seasons for each of his three teams, the White Sox, the Seals, and the Giants.

The New York press had given Osteen a nickname: "The White Rat". The name had come from the Braves Jim Bouton, who shouted it in New York while heckling Osteen. The New York press, looking for an angle on a story as Osteen wasn't very exciting material, stuck with it. Now, the Giants had fans wearing rat buttons and the "Mighty Mice" would sit near the dugout to cheer Osteen on. Osteen had missed the 1965 World Series with an injury that kept him from winning 30 games in 1965, and looked forward to his chance to pitch.

Manager Johnny Keane of the Yankees had the 30-year old Jim Proctor (30-2, 1.39 ERA) on the mound. Proctor was considered virtually unbeatable, and had a 77.7 lifetime winning percentage, winning 143 and losing only 41. It was hoped by fans wearing the Yankees logo that Proctor would be the first step in the return to the world championship.

[petrel]

1966 World Series
Game 1
October 23, 1966
Part II

The game would promise a lot of excitement -- both teams would score 11 hits in the first game and there would be exciting running and fielding plays. In the first, Johnny O'Brien led off with a single and tried to stretch it into two bases, but was thrown out at second by Gene Oliver. As for the Yankees, they managed to get a man on third after a Giants double play, but a simple infield groundout by Roberto Clemente would kill the inning.

In the second, more bad baserunning would hurt the Giants. After Donn Clendenon singled, Frank Thomas followed up with a single through the middle and tried to stretch the run from first to third, but Yankees centerfielder Andy Carey would throw out Clendenon at third. However, Lee Thomas and Bill Heath both hit singles, and this time, Lee Thomas managed to run home from second, beating Don Buford's throw from left field. Giants 1, Yankees 0. The Yankees managed a single and a double with two out in the bottom of the second, but left their runners stranded.

However, they'd have better luck in the third. With out one and Don Buford at first and Harmon Killebrew at second, Claude Osteen of the Giants threw a wild pitch that moved the Yankees to second and third, setting up a Roberto Clemente double to left that scored the first two Yankees runs and gave the home team the lead. Yankees 2, Giants 1.

During the 4th and the 5th, the only hit the Giants would get was a double by Lee Thomas. It was time for the Yankees to shine. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Claude Osteen found himself in trouble again. He walked both Harmon Killebrew and Don Buford, and Roberto Clemente hit another double which would score one more run for the Yankees in a tight game. Yankees 3, Giants 1.

Each team exchanged singles in the 6th inning. The Giants, however, had not stopped playing creatively against the Yankees. Lee Thomas led off the seventh inning with a double, and one out later, Charlie O'Rourke would pinch-hit for Claude Osteen. Claude Osteen would ground out to short, but instead of Yankees shortstop Jose Pagan making the throw to first, Pagan instead threw to Keith Jackson at third, who chased Thomas along the basepaths and tagged him out in the rundown.

Bob Locker (15-5, 3.60 ERA, 4 saves) would make his first appearance for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh. Harmon Killebrew earned a walk, but Locker got the next two Yankees batters out. However, with Killebrew now on second, Oliver singled to center field, making it a contest between 36-year old ex-Yankee centerfielder Frank Thomas and abnormally slow Harmon Killebrew running to home on the single. Somehow, Killebrew beat the throw and the Yankees had earned yet another run. Yankees 4, Giants 1.

Proctor remained on the mound for the Yankees in the top of the eighth -- but wasn't as fortunate as he had been earlier. One out into the inning, he gave up a triple to the Giants Carl Yastrzemski. Bob Johnson then hit into the left field corner, and as the Yankees raced to recover the ball, Yaz had crossed home plate and Johnson was standing on second. Yankees 4, Giants 2.

Donn Clendenon then grounded to Proctor, who made the play at first for the second out -- but Johnson was now on third base and the tying run was at the plate. Proctor then walked Frank Thomas, putting men on first and third for the Giants with Lee Thomas at the plate during a clutch moment. Thomas, however, grounded to short, and the Yankees kept their two-run lead.

The Yankees threatened to blow it open in the bottom of the 8th. With two out, Bob Skinner was called to pinch-hit for Jim Proctor. He doubled to left, and Locker managed to walk both Johnny Temple and Harmon Killebrew, loading the bases. Manager Sam Mele took the safe route and walked out to the mound to relieve Locker, replacing him with Joe Hoerner (1-1, 3.46 ERA), who got Don Buford to pop up to first to end the eighth inning.

Don McMahon (6-0, 1.99 ERA, 33 saves) was called to earn a save for the Yankees at the top of the ninth. With out out in the top of the 9th, Dick Phillips was called to pinch-hit for Joe Hoerner, and Phillips doubled into the left field gap, putting a run on second and the tying run at the plate.

Sam Mele sent Carmen Mauro to pinch-hit for Johnny O'Brien to move Phillips -- but Mauro struck out swinging, to the cheers of the home crowd. Ken Boyer would then pop up foul to third, where defensive replacement Rafael DeJesus would snag the ball in foul territory to secure a Game 1 victory for the Yankees.

FINAL SCORE: Yankees 4, Giants 2

(* * *)

Everyone knew that against a team like the Giants, a Game 1 victory didn't matter much -- this was the kind of team that could reel off four straight wins without blinking. However, New York beat reporters reported that Johnny Keane "...had as big as a grin on his face as you had ever seen -- if only for a few seconds. Then, he retreated to the surety of silence and hope."

As for the Giants, Manager Sam Mele stepped up to take the blame for the Game 1 loss. "There were a lot of baserunning calls that just didn't go our way. Maybe I shouldn't have made those calls; they seemed like good ideas at the time. This just shows you how tough the Yankees are. People think our world championships are easy ones, that we're just too good. But the Yankees are too good, too, and they show us that tonight. I hope tomorrow night we can show them differently."

[CatKnight]

I would really be expecting fans to be feeling apathy at this point, Pet. I'm feeling it now....and it has absolutely nothing to do with your fantastic writing, but even before the Stars and Angels were wiped out I figured they couldn't win - and now I have trouble caring who wins - much less who is on their teams.

Again, please don't take this as a hit at your writing or the dynasty in general. It's what I argued at the beginning of my "Blitzing" run: I think when leagues are caught in a rut like this, the entire sport loses.

[petrel]

1966 World Series
Game 2
October 24, 1966

Unlike past World Series, there was no sense of urgency from any side. Each side suspected that the series would last a mininum of five games, and each side expected it to last six or seven. That was whether the betting money had gone, a seven-game series, probably to be decided in the final inning. Thus, no worry from the Yankees, as they suspected they'd be coming back.

Unfortunately, there was no sense of urgency from the fans, either. World Series TV ratings would take a 7 percent dip between Game 1 and Game 2. There was no sense of people needing to cling to their seats for every game and every pitch. "Frankly, it's hard to promote another Giants/Yankees World Series," an executive at CBS told the New York press. "Ratings were good for the playoffs, where there was at least the outside chance either the Yankees or the Giants would lose. When they both swept, people began changing the channel in just about every city but New York! You should have seen the West Coast ratings." He did not speak, but made the whistle of a falling bomb.

Meanwhile, Marvin Miller was taking a very careful look at this Series. Miller had been recently hired to represent the Players Union, but good management had kept the players happy with the equivalent of multi-million dollar salaries for almost 15 years. The players had had nothing to complain about, but the movement of the 1965-66 offseason worried Miller, along with many players and their agents. Big-money players like Carl Yastrzemski and Bob Johnson and Hank Aaron feared that the off-season market would dry up, and they would go unsigned until the season started. The rumblings from the players were ominous, and Miller was starting to listen.

(* * *)

The visiting New York Giants brought in Gaylord Perry (12-15, 3.72 ERA) to start Game 2. Normally, a losing pitcher would not start Game 2, but 12 of Perry's 15 losses came as a Philadelphia Athletic. Perry was a mid-season acquisition from the Athletics, and most baseball fans thought that Perry deserved automatic inclusion into the Hall of Fame for playing ten years as an Athletic, where the complete lack of offense in Philadelphia led to Perry earning a 75-127 record over ten years.

Most baseball historians believed that it was the Athletics that taught Perry how to...cheat. Perry was the unacknowledged master of baseball's illegal pitch, the spitball. In Philadelphia, the spitter was the only way many of the A's abysmal pitchers could get anybody, out, but it was used furtively and shamefully.

Perry, however, took the spitter to an art form. What made Perry's spitter dangerous was that he was a good pitcher without it, so that his spitter was usually the punctuation mark to a well-pitched game. It was the threat that he could throw it that made batters uneasy.

The New York Daily News interviewed Burleigh Grimes, the last person legally allowed to throw the spitball. "****, with all of these All-Star teams," he said, referring to the Giants and the Yankees, "you'd better throw it if you want to stay alive. I've seen more spitters thrown now than I ever did when we were playing."

As for the Yankees, they would counter with Kelly Osborne (19-2, 2.19 ERA). Osbourne was like Perry -- a pitcher who had made it big with another team (the Senators) but was called to New York by the siren of New York money. Osborne was probably "the shyest man I've ever seen play for the Yankees" said Yogi Berra, and Osborne was notorious for dressing without showering after a game, looking at his watch during press interviews, and escaping after the questions like a man running from a house on fire.

He was married, but no one knew about his personal life. The Yankees never met his wife during the entire time he pitched for him -- it was suspected she bought her own tickets. A chain smoker, Osborne was known for only one memorable quote: "on the mound, you have to think like a murderer". The Yankees hoped that he would murder the Giatns and give the Yanks a 2-0 lead.

(* * *)

In the first inning, Perry would have some inital bad luck, as the Giants were slow warming up. Johnny Temple, lead off batter for the Yankees, reached first on a fielding error by Giants third baseman Ken Boyer to start the game. Temple then stole second, beating Bill Heath's throw. After Harmon Killebrew walked, Bob Skinner singled to center and Temple beat Frank Thomas's throw to the plate to give the Yankees their first run. Yankees 1, Giants 0.

Perry, however, warmed up. To finish the second, he struck out both Stuart Perry and Jose Pagan. A frustrated Pagan shouted, "Está lluvioso!" ("It's raining!") when he was caught look at Perry's "hard slider" which crossed the plate for a called strike three.

The third inning was uneventful, but Perry struck out both Johnny Temple and Bob Skinner for his third and fourth "weather-assisted" strikeouts of the game. The Giants didn't have to wait long before they made some weather of their own. With one out in the top of the 4th, and Carl Yastrzesmki on first, Bob Johnson tripled down the first base line, bringing in Yaz from first to score the first Giants run. Giants 1, Yankees 1. The Yankees would bring the infield in, but Donn Clendenon would double into the left field gap and the Giants would take the lead. Giants 2, Yankees 1.

The Yankees tried to catch up in the bottom of the 4th. With a single and a walk and one out, Jose Pagan flew out to center field, and Roberto Clemente tagged up from second to safely reach third base. But Kevin Jackson grounded out, and the Giants maintained their 2-1 lead.

Manager Johnny Keane, fearing the worst regarding Perry's "hard slider", tried to create some offense in unconventional ways in the bottom of the 5th. Kelly Osborne tried to lead off the inning with a bunt, but grounded out to third. Johnny Temple then bunted as well, but only achieved an out. Perry finished the 5th by striking out Harmon Killebrew.

Oddly enough, it was Stuart Petty who would have the best day against Perry. With two out in the bottom of the 6th, and Gene Oliver on first, Petty waited for Perry's first two pitches to go by before Perry threw a hard curve, sans lubricant. Petty clubbed the pitch into the short right field bleachers to regain the lead for the Yankees. Yankees 3, Giants 2. Perry got Jose Pagan to strike out again to end the sixth, but now the Giants were down by a run.

Lee Thomas of the Giants doubled with one out in the 7th for the Giants, but the Giants couldn't move him, and the inning ended with Osborne striking out Perry. Manager Sam Mele made an odd change, substituting Justin Cloutier for catcher Bill Heath. Cloutier, the fourth-string catcher, had only had 3 at-bats in 1966. Even though he didn't have the fielding acumen of Heath, the Giants were still in presumably safe hands.

Osborne started off poorly in the top of the 8th. He walked Johnny O'Brien and Ken Boyer doubled down the right field line to put Giants on second and third. With the Yankees lead threatening to wash away, Johnny Keane walked to the mound and sent Osborne to the showers, to await the press. Jim Brady (11-5, 1.91 ERA, 9 saves) would be called in to keep the Giants from scoring.

Brady had to face Carl Yastrzemski first, and Yaz got the better of him, drawing a base on balls and loading the bases with no one out. The next Giants batter was Bob Johnson, but he struck out swinging. Donn Clendenon would then pop up foul just to the left of Harmon Killebrew, who grabbed the ball in foul territory. And Frank Thomas hit a grounder right to Johnny Temple, who threw it to first to end the top of the 8th for the Giants with no runs scored!

[petrel]

1966 World Series
October 24, 1966
Game 2
Part II

In the bottom of the 8th, with Perry still on the mound, he gave up a single to Roberto Clemente but got the first two outs. The next batter was Stuart Petty, and fearing that Petty might have gotten the best of Perry, Manager Sam Mele of the Giants brought Jack Lamabe (5-4, 2.59 ERA) to get the last out of the eighth inning.

The Yankees were now three outs away from their second straight World Series win. Jim Brady would need just three ninth-inning outs, and the first batter he faced was Ron Hunt, who was pinch-hitting for Lee Thomas. It was the 25-year old Hunt's first post-season appearance, and he walked to put the tying run on base.

Next up was Justin Cloutier, he of the three at-bats and no major league hits. Cloutier, however, got his first major league hit off Brady to put the tying run on second base with no one out.

Pitcher Jack Lamabe came up next, and the Yankees readied themselves for a bunt. Lamabe managed to lay down a bunt along the first base line, and even though he was out at first, he gave the Giants the chance to get the go-ahead run in scoring position with just one out.

The Yankees were not going to wait for another bunt. This time, they brought the infield in as lead off batter Johnny O'Brien came in with the chance to at least tie the game.

O'Brien hit the very first pitch thrown to him right down the left field line. The Yankee fans went dead silent, knowing it was going to be an extra-base hit. O'Brien reached second, both runners scored, and O'Brien showed no signs of stopping. He dived for third base, as Bob Skinner made the throw to Kevin Jackson at third...

...out!! The bases were now clear of runners, but the Yankees had lost the lead! Giants 4, Yankees 3. Ed Bauta (5-5, 3.29 ERA, 8 saves) was called in to get the final Giants out, a strikeout of Ken Boyer.

Lamabe remained on the mound for the Giants in the bottom of the 9th. Dick Phillips came in to play first base and Carmen Mauro came in to play right.

Jose Pagan led the bottom of the 9th with a strikeout -- he would strike out his second time of the night. But Rafael DeJesus doubled to left, and gave the Yankees a chance to tie the game. Preston Ward was called to pinch-hit for Ed Bauta, and Ward singled to left! The go-ahead run was now on first base, and DeJesus was now on third!

The Giants brought the infield in, fearing the worst. But Johnny Temple popped up to Dick Williams in foul territory. Harmon Killebrew had his chance to tie it, but he hit a lazy fly ball to left. Yaz easily caught it, and the Giants had escaped with a win!

FINAL SCORE: Giants 4, Yankees 3

(* * *)

For Gaylord Perry, it was his first post-season win and a nice pitching line. 7 2/3 IP, 4 hits, and 6 strikeouts. "I never imagined I'd have the chance to play in a World Series...and yes, it's as wonderful as I thought it was going to be."

As for manager Johnny Keane, he had to face the critical press again. "The Giants happened to slip out of our fingers. But anyone who has seen this Yankees team play knows we can do some amazing things, too. I wouldn't bury us until we get out of Queens. We might surprise you." And indeed, the Series would shift to Queens in Game 3, as the Giants would become the home team....

[petrel]

1966 World Series
Game 3
October 26, 1966

The series shifted from Yankee Stadium to Giants Stadium in Queens. As the series was now tied 1-1, Giants ownership knew that all three home games would be played. Whether they would be Giants victories was a matter of speculation.


The home of champions, although a little dumpy looking.

Generally, there were a couple of shifts in the atmosphere of the series. The first one was the lack of celebrity star power. At Yankee Stadium (the Yankees were owned by CBS), it was a veritable cavalcade of stars that could be seen in the stands. The cameras would often pan to someone well known in baseball, television, or the movies. However, Queens was considered declasse. All of the stars that formerly attended Giants games now went to Yankee Stadium to be seen for the Fall Classic, now that the Giants had moved out of Manhattan.

Oh, there were definitely still stars who were baseball fans who would follow the Giants anywhere. But there was no one who had the drawing power of a Frank Sinatra, or Jackie Gleason, each of whom were seen at Yankee Stadium during Games 1 and 2.

The second shift was to an almost...funereal atmosphere. The outfield walls were bedecked with black and orange colored flowers, wreaths spelling out "WE REMEMBER FRANK" or "#20 FOREVER". Occasionally, loose flowers would fall off the wall and onto the field, to be trod underfoot as the outfielders made their appointed rounds. One reporter wisecracked that, "the fans love Frank Robinson more dead than they did when he was alive."

(* * *)

With Gaylord Perry's fine performance in Game 2, the New York press speculated that the Yankees might not have it in them. Only one of their starters -- Proctor -- had won more than 20 games, whereas the Giants had two throwers in their three-man rotation.

The Yankees would start Bob Hendley (19-2, 1.97 ERA). Hendley was like Kelly Osborne, a free agent acquisition who sought the bright lights and deep pocketbooks of teams that began with "New York". He had spent the previous five years as a Baltimore Oriole, going 27-23. On paper, Hendley didn't look all that impressive. He was an all-around athlete, but suffered an injury in 1960 while in the minors which reduced his fastball from overwhelming to just very good. Some said if he hadn't been hurt, he might have been the fastest pitcher in the majors. Instead, he was ignored by baseball, and even with the Yankees, the consensus was that "any starting pitcher could win 19 games with that offense."

As for the Giants, they brought a mainstay to the mound in the form of Bill Kirk. (24-6, 3.18 ERA) It was Kirk's fourth World Series, and he already had two World Series rings to show for it, winning twenty games in each of the past three years. On the 15th against the Stars, 2/3rds of his pitches crossed the plate for strikes. He hoped for similar good fortune tonight.

(* * *)

In the first two innings of the game, there was the occasional spark, but no flame. Ken Boyer would double for the Giants in the bottom of the first, and Clemente would double for the Yankees in the top of the second to lead off -- but the rest of the Yanks would go down 1-2-3 and the second inning would end scoreless for both teams.

The third inning was completely uneventful, with no player from either team reaching base. Fans began to wonder if they'd see a pitchers' duel, but the fourth inning put an end to the speculation.

Bill Kirk found himself in early trouble in the fourth inning. Harmon Killebrew and Don Buford each walked, and Roberto Clemente singled up the middle to present Kirk with a bases-loaded situation with no one out.

Gene Oliver of the Yankees then singled to center field. That brought in a run for the Yankees. Yankees 1, Giants 0. Stuart Petty, who had hit a home run the night before, singled over the head of Donn Clendenon of first for two more Yankees runs, and the Yankees still hadn't earned an out. Yankees 3, Giants 0. Kirk would be helped by Jose Pagan grounding into a 4-6-3 double play -- but Gene Oliver crossed the plate during the double play to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead. Yankees 4, Giants 0.

The Giants could only get a single from Carl Yastrzesmki in the bottom of the fourth. Jack Lamabe (5-4, 2.59 ERA) would take over pitching for the Giants in the top of the fifth, but he'd run into trouble as well. With two out and only Harmon Killebrew on base, Lamabe walked Gene Oliver. Stuart Petty then added a double to his earlier single and drove in a huffing and puffing Killebrew from second to put the home crowd in a five run deficit. Yankees 5, Giants 0.

The home stadium and the "ghost of Frank" had not provided the Giants any defense against the Yankee offense. The Giants didn't get a hit at all in the fifth, and got a pair of singles in the sixth but failed to move any runners.

Woodie Fryman (4-2, 3.44 ERA, 9 saves) would take over pitching in the top of the 7th for the Giants, and have the same luck as his predecessors. With one out, Fryman would walk Roberto Clemente and Gene Oliver would then homer into the left field seats for two RBIs as the noise at Giants Stadium dropped to a trickle as Oliver circled the bases. Yankees 7, Giants 0.

Hendley stayone on the mound all the way throught the ninth inning. After striking out Yaz to lead the bottom of the 9th, he had his first run of bad luck. He gave up a solo home run to Bob Johnson, which ended his chances of a complete game shutout of the defending world champions. Yankees 7, Giants 1.

After Donn Clendenon fouled out, Frank Thomas would single and Lee Thomas would walk, putting Giants on first and second with just one out left for the Giants. With no further point in keeping Hendley on the mound, manager Johnny Keane of the Yankees walked out to relieve Hendley, replacing him with Ed Rakow (6-3, 2.64 ERA), who got Justin Cloutier of the Giants to fly out to Stuart Petty in center and put the Yankees back in the lead in the seven-game matchup.

FINAL SCORE: Yankees 7, Giants 1.

(* * *)

Giants fans, who had feasted on a 73-9 home field record during the regular season and National League Championship Series, feasted on bitter ashes in Game 3. Playing in Giants Stadium was not enough to ensure a victory -- your offense had to show up, and the Giants offense had gone absent.

Manager Johnny Keane gave Hendley all the credit for the win. Before the ninth inning, he had only given up five hits to the Yankees and held them scoreless. "This was the best day of my pitching career," said Hendley after the game, and no one could doubt him. But the Yankees were not complacent. "If we win two more games," said Johnny Keane, "then we'll rest on our laurels. Not till then."

[petrel]

1966 World Series
October 27, 1966
Game 4

The New York Giants felt they needed to prove that they could beat the Yankees again. Not that they Giants hadn't beaten the Yankees before -- the Giants had won the past two World Series.

Rather, this was, as the Giants fans put it "a battle for the heart and soul of New York". The Yankees had been the premiere team in New York for decades, but the Giants had ambitions to be the greatest of all. Brooklyn, after their successes in 1958 and 1959, seemed to be running in third place, the way they had in the old days. However, Giants tickets sales marginally rose, and Yankees ticket sales marginally fell. Not enough to count, of course, but in New York, this tea reading meant something.

The Giants had won six World Championships, which tied them with the Cardinals. A seventh championship would make them the winningest team in the National League. Granted, they'd still be 13 championships behind the Yankees -- but, as one New York Giants executive put it, "I can see us on top for the next twenty years. There's plenty of time to catch up."

(* * *)

The visiting Yankees returned to Jim Proctor (30-2, 1.39 ERA, 116 K), their Game 1 winner. It had been a long time since Proctor had lost a game of any kind, and on a good day, 70 percent of his pitches would be called for strikes. Frankly, the Yankees had come to expect that with Jim Proctor on the mound, and with the help of a Yankees offense, wins were almost guaranteed.

The home town Giants gave Claude Osteen (25-7, 1.84 ERA, 128 K). Game 1 had been an ugly and unfamiliar experience for Osteen, who gave up 3 earned runs in 6 IP. He had been the World Series MVP in the wonderful year of 1964, and he was hoping that if he didn't get an MVP this time, he could at least help the Giants win their third straight World Championship.

But the Giants would also get some better news. Johnny Temple, the Yankees second baseman, would be out for three days at least with an elbow inflammation. Jay Ward would take Temple's place. Temple was 38 years old. Lots of type was wasted on Lou Gehrig/Wally Pipp comparisons in the New York papers.

(* * *)

In the first inning, the Giants fans got a chuckle from Harmon Killebrew in the first inning. Killebrew hit a single with one out and went for second, where Bill Heath threw Killebrew about "about eight or ten steps short of second", as a New York Post writer put it. No one dared laugh too loudly -- this was "Killer" Killebrew, after all -- but reporters blamed Killebrew for the mistake rather than manager Johnny Keane. "Even if they gave him the signal, he should never have run, if there was any doubt", was the consensus in the press box.

It would be an uneventful first two innings for Giants fans. A double-play by the Yankees would end the inning for the Giants in the bottom of the 1st and Lee Thomas would double to right but no other Giant would hit the ball out of the infield in the second. Both pitchers looked very cool, and very confident.

Perhaps it was that confidence by Osteen that led Kevin Jackson to try the same stunt that Killebrew tried in the first. Jackson wasn't as slow as Killebrew, but he was a slower than average runner. In the top of the 3rd, he tried to stretch a single into a double; and once again, Bill Heath cut down the runnner at second for a Giants out, which was the decisive out of the inning. Claude Osteen would single in the bottom of the third for the Giants, but Johnny O'Brien would ground into a double play and the third inning would end scoreless for both teams.

It was the same way in the fourth. Killebrew singled for the Yanks, but Don Buford hit into a double play. None of the Giants could get on base in the fourth inning. The Yankees only had three hits; the Giants only had two.

Osteen didn't even look tired. He struck out both Roberto Clemente and Gene Oliver in his half of the inning, and Stuart Petty would ground to third. In the bottom of the 5th, Frank Thomas would lead off with a walk -- the first pass that Jim Proctor had given up all game.

Lee Thomas immediately followed with a double to center. Bill Heath came up to bat, and Heath, who had gone hitless during the World Series up to this point, got his first big hit -- a single to right field, scoring the first run of the game for the Giants. Giants 1, Yankees 0.

Claude Osteen grounded to third, but there were runners now on second and third for the Giants with only one out. Johnny O'Brien, the lead off batter for the Giants, was the next batter, and his very first hit was a sharp grounder to Jay Ward, the Yankees substitute second baseman. Rather than make the play at first, Ward fired the ball to Gene Oliver at the plate -- Lee Thomas tried to slide under the tag, but he was a few inches short, and Ward had proved his worth with a big defensive play! Ken Boyer would ground to short to end the fifth, and the Giants would have to be satisfied with a one-run lead.

The sixth inning proved to be an uneventful inning, with only a Donn Clendenon single shaking the tedium. Sensing that the game might hinge on the lone Giants run, manager Sam Mele of the Giants brought in Dick Phillips to play first and Carmen Mauro to play in right field, making his defensive replacements early. The Yankees, luckily, couldn't get on base in the seventh. In the bottom half of the inning, Bill Heath singled wiht one out, bringing Claude Osteen back to the plate to face Jim Proctor. Osteen grounded to Proctor, who made the play at second to put Heath out and with Johnny O'Brien grounding out, seven innings were over.

The top of the eighth would be a suspenseful time for the Giants fans. Roberto Clemente would lead off with a single to left, and Gene Oliver would ground to Donn Clendeon, who tried to turn a 3-6-3 double play, but Oliver was a few inches ahead of Johnson's throw from second.

Jose Pagan, who had found Giants pitching tough to handle, singled to left-center, and Oliver raced to third base. Oliver slid into the bag but the Giants did not make the play, fearing an overthrow. Wiht two out, the Yankees Bob Skinner came in to pinch-hit for Kevin Jackson. Skinner was the Yankees best hitter, but was being platooned with Don Buford in a move that had Yankees fans puzzled and New York writers livid. Skinner made contact with the ball, but he grounded to Johnny O'Brien at second for the forceout to end the top of the eighth.

(* * *)

The Giants knew they needed some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Proctor looked very fresh going into the inning. Rafael DeJesus came in to play third for the Yankees.

Ken Boyer singled to start the inning, bringing up Carl Yastrzemski. Yaz hit the ball right to Jose Pagan, who threw to Ward toto try to make the double play, but Yaz beat Ward's throw to first base by inches.

Next up was shortstop Bob Johnson. On Proctor's very first pitch, Johnson hit the ball to Jay Ward, who threw to Pagan for the first out, and then threw to Killebrew at first! Double play! Not only was it the third Yankees double play of the night, but it was the second double play with Bob Johnson wearing goat horns.

Claude Osteen remained on the mound for the Giants in the top of the ninth. It was his game, win or lose. Preston Ward pinch-hit for Jim Proctor, but Ward grounded to short for the first out. Jay Ward, however, drew a ball four for Osteen's very first walk of the game. Manager Sam Mele stood up and looked rather uneasy.

The next batter was Harmon Killebrew, who flew out to Frank Thomas in center for the second out. The chance for the Yankees to win would rest in the hands of Don Buford. Buford took the first three pitches as balls -- but then Osteen managed to get two strikes past Buford for the full count.

With the next pitch, Buford hit the ball to center field. It was a routine play, as Frank Thomas was right under the ball, waiting. The game was over, and the Giants had won an amazing duel.

FINAL SCORE: Giants 1, Yankees 0.

(* * *)

It was now a best of three series. Osteen's pitching line: 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K...and no earned runs. Osteen had redeemed himself after his Game 1 performance.

However, Proctor had put in a championship effort: he only three 86 pitches the entire night, and only gave up one earned run. "Sometimes, it's not your night," he said. "Thank God we haven't had too many nights like that. We've had a few bumps in the road this year...I guess that was one of them. Boy, Osteen looked good out there, didn't he?"

[petrel]

1966 World Series
October 28, 1966
Game 5
Part I

With the series tied 2-2, every game had become even more important, and Game 5 very much so. The loser of Game 5 would have to win two straight games against one of the best teams in Major League Baseball History (both the Yankees and Giants of 1966 qualified). One reporter called Game 5 "the door" -- "either you opened the door with a win, or you'd find it closed and be forced to pound it open."

The New York Giants were not interested in pounding the door open. To ensure good luck, the Giants held a ritual...of sorts. With Frank Robinson's wife and children in attendance, a special ceremony was held at the beginning of Game 5 to honor the late Frank Robinson. Joan Whitney Payson announced that no member of the Giants would ever wear number 20 again -- that number would be permanently retired in honor of the late player. Certainly, if the ghost of Frank Robinson watched over the Giants, the Giants were calling on him with all of their might in their final game this year at Giants Stadium.

The Yankees had no need of such rituals. This was their eighth straight visit to the World Series. However, the Giants were getting all of the favorable press, and the Yankees found it a bit disturbing. "If there is anything good about the Giants/Yankees domination of baseball," wrote one reporter, "is that the vaunted Yankees now have an opponent who can match them hit by hit and pitch by pitch. The air of invincibility is now replaced with the faint scent of desperation. The Yankees do not wear desperation well. Yankee pinstripes repel flop sweat. To see a Yankees/Giants match in doubt is the world turned upside down."

(* * *)

Kelly Osborne (19-2, 2.19 ERA, 131 K) would get the Game 5 start. As usual, he did not talk to the press and avoided reporters, saving what few terse comments he had only for after the game. The Giants press ate it up, pouring on the derision: "Clearly, with all the accolades and attention given Osborne, why does he think baseball is better served by his avoidance of the press? If he avoids the press now, why should he expect their attention later?" Gene Oliver would say, years later, "I never had any problem with Kelly Osborne. He didn't waste time. He'd throw any pitch you'd ask him to. He'd work harder than anyone out there. But talking was something he didn't like to do. He would have rather pitched twenty innings than said twenty words."

For the home Giants, Gaylord Perry (12-15, 3.78 ERA, 148 K) would get what he expected to be his last start in the Series. As the fans were watching Robinson's number being retired, Perry said to Justin Cloutier, "What a bunch of ********. You'd think Frank was still playing. He's six feet under, and he's not going to help us win now. This is nuts. Don't get me wrong, I liked Frank hitting those homers but he ain't out there now. It's just us."

(* * *)

It was almost "deja vu all over again" as Yogi Berra might have said. With one out in the top of the first, Gaylord Perry walked Harmon Killebrew -- the problem with the spitter was that it sometimes could get out of control and Killebrew simply waited out Perry's wild pitches.

The next batter was Bob Skinner, who had been put back in the lineup by manager Johnny Keane, who was still smarting over the criticism he received from platooning Skinner with Don Buford. Skinner hit a hard ball to right field that everyone expected to be a base hit, but Lee Thomas scooped it up for an amazing play! Killebrew, on his way to second, was warned by the Giants to turn around and head to first -- he did -- but Thomas's throw to first beat Killebrew's hotfooting-it back by a good foot. Killebrew was out, doubled off first. It seemed to the world that Killebrew was either a singles hitter or a home run hitter -- anything else in between was a disaster.

Perry remained wild going into the second, and after four batters, Perry had given up a pair of singles to load the bases with one out. However, the Giants were backing him up and Perry helped out himself. When Kevin Jackson grounded to second, Perry ran to first to cover the bag and got credit for a 4-6-1 double play that ended the top of the second.

However, by the third inning, Perry had recovered. Osborne was quietly, patiently keeping the Giants off the basepaths, and after three innings, the game was a scoreless tie. Fans of both teams hoped the game would not end like the 1-0 Game 4, and that a winner would show itself early and that the fans could run to relaxation or resignation as needed.

The Giants threatened in the bottom of the fourth, when Carl Yastrzemski singled to lead off, and Bob Johnson followed with another single. The Giants now had two men, and no one out. Osborne did not lose his composure, striking out Donn Clendenon and getting outs from the next two Giants batters to maintain the 0-0 tie.

The Giants, however, were not perfect. Jose Pagan would reach first when Bob Johnson of the Giants lost his grip on the ball. It would be a clear E6. Kevin Jackson then walked, and the Yankees were in scoring position. However, the Yankees weren't so perfect either. Kelly Osborne hit a fly ball to center, and Pagan was given the call -- go for third! Pagan bolted to third, but Frank Thomas threw to Ken Boyer at third and got Pagan for the second out.

With two out, the Yankees called for Kevi Jackson to steal second. Once again, it was hard luck for the Yankees as Bill Heath threw Jackson out coming into second. The Yankees had had zero luck running the bases, but the Giants had provided no offense as the fifth inning ended.

[petrel]

1966 World Series
October 28, 1966
Game 5
Part II

As luck -- bad luck - would have it, a bad light would shine down upon Harmon Killebrew. With one out in the top of the 6th, Killebrew singled to center, and the Yankees waved him on. Apparently, the Yankees were willing to take the chance that the 36-year old Frank Thomas was bound to falter. But he didn't, snuffing out Killebrew at second for Killebrew's third baserunning blunder of the game. This blunder would really hurt the Yankees as with two out, Bob Skinner would triple into the right field gap. If Killebrew had not left first, the Yankees might have had the lead. Instead, Roberto Clemente flew out to center field to end the Yankees half of the frame. But Osborne would keep the Giants well in hand, and the sixth inning ended with the score still tied at 0-0.

In the seventh, manager Johnny Keane decided to try a couple of pinch-hitters against Perry. Don Buford would pinch-hit for Stuart Pettty, but make the second out of the top of the 7th. Jose Pagan would finally make contact with a double, and Keane would call in defensive replacement Rafael DeJesus to pinch-hit for Kevin Jackson. DeJesus, however, would ground out, and the Yankees would have to hope that Osborne stayed strong.

Osborne, however, would try to sneak a fastball past Donn Clendenon with his first pitch of the 7th inning. Clendenon would not be fooled, and the Giants first basemen hit the ball just to the right of the foul pole in right for the very first run of the game. Giants 1, Yankees 0. Bill Heath would add a single, but manager Sam Mele of the Giants would leave Gaylord Perry, and Perry would strike out to end the seventh.

The Yankees needed offense. They did not want the game to end 1-0 like Game 4. Even though Osborne had only given up one earned run, Preston Ward was called in as a pinch-hitter to lead off the 8th while Dick Phillips and Carmen Mauro came in as defensive replacements for the Giants. Ward, however, would line out to right to start the 8th and Jay Ward beat out an infield single which rolled too slowly to Donn Clendenon. But Harmon Killebrew would wear goat horns a fourth time by hitting into a double play to end the top of the 8th! "Old Killer ain't having too good a night tonight," said Red Barber, broadcasting for the Yankees, in what was an act of simple understatement that conveyed the full meaning to Yankee fans.

Jim Brady (11-5, 1.91 ERA, 9 saves) came to the mound in the bottom of the 8th to hold the Giants back. Johnny O'Brien led off with a single, but Ken Boyer flew out to center for the first out. Yaz, however, took one swing-and-a-miss before hitting the next Jim Brady pitch far back into the left-field bleachers, "enough to hit the peanut man" as one reporter would put it. Giants 3, Yankees 0.

The next batter was Bob Johnson. Johnson took one pitch -- a ball -- from Brady before he hit a shot into the left field bleachers...it wasn't as deep a shot as Yaz hit, but it was far enough for the Yankees. Giants 4, Yankees 0. "Looks like Jim Brady isn't having a good night, either," mused Red Barber. The hitting spree might have continued if the next batter, Dick Phillips, had not been thrown out trying to strech a double into a triple. Frank Thomas would ground to third, and the inning was over.

The Giants kept Gaylord Perry on the mound to try for the shutout. Bob Skinner would lead off the inning with a single to left. Roberto Clemente, however, hit a frozen rope to Thomas at center, and Skinner quickly returned to first. However, Gene Oliver would finish the Yankees off, hitting a 5-4-3 to end an amazing Giants win.

FINAL SCORE: Giants 4, Yankees 0.

(* * *)

Perry had given up eight hits and three walks -- but had also struck out four batters and pitched a complete game. The fact that three Yankees had hit into double plays had not hurt the Giants. "Whatever we did out there," said Earl Battey, after the game, "there was no way we could lose. Because I know Frank was there, and he was watching us."

As for Harmon Killebrew of the Yankees, the New York Daily News would draw him with goat horns in a cartoon in the sports section. There was nothing good to say about the three games at Giants Stadium, where the Yankees won the first decisively but were shut out twice in a row to follow. The next two games would be at Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees would indeed need to "kick the door down" to win the World Series in 1966.