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The Smaller Moments (https://www.facebook.com/baseballhistoryshorts/)

Baseball History Shorts
1.52K subscribers
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14K views 11 years ago
Bill Mazeroski's dramatic 9th inning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series is a rival for the most famous moment in baseball history. But like in any close baseball game, a number of smaller moments were just as crucial in the outcome of the game and the series. Two plays in particular probably cost the Yankees the game in the 8th inning. The first gives us a chance to discuss one of this website's favorite subjects --- the tremendous difference in the quality of infield surfaces in Major League Baseball in earlier generations. It is hard to underestimate just how much worse grounds-keeping techniques were in those days. The bad hops perhaps shed some light on why artificial turf was so easily embraced in the 1970s. Here we see a routine double play bounce erratically off the Forbes Field infield dirt, striking Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek in the throat. Had the ball bounced true, Kubek likely would have turned the twin killing, leaving t …...more
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The Smaller Moments (https://www.facebook.com/baseballhistoryshorts/)
46Likes
14,031Views
2014Feb 16
Bill Mazeroski's dramatic 9th inning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series is a rival for the most famous moment in baseball history. But like in any close baseball game, a number of smaller moments were just as crucial in the outcome of the game and the series. Two plays in particular probably cost the Yankees the game in the 8th inning. The first gives us a chance to discuss one of this website's favorite subjects --- the tremendous difference in the quality of infield surfaces in Major League Baseball in earlier generations. It is hard to underestimate just how much worse grounds-keeping techniques were in those days. The bad hops perhaps shed some light on why artificial turf was so easily embraced in the 1970s. Here we see a routine double play bounce erratically off the Forbes Field infield dirt, striking Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek in the throat. Had the ball bounced true, Kubek likely would have turned the twin killing, leaving the Pirates down 7-4 with just four outs to go and no one on base. As it happened, the Pirates had two men on and no outs as "all hands were safe," as Mel Allen puts it. Check out the infield dirt as the camera pans to first base just before the pitch. A lesser known play occurred a few batters later with two strikes and two outs on Hal Smith. Still down a run, the Pirates slugger takes a wild swing in which he clearly goes around. Strangely, there is no appeal and the Yankees do not seem particularly bothered by the swing, which at least by modern standards, seems to be a clear out. On the next pitch, Smith drilled the ball over the left-center field fence. A Yankee comeback eventually set the scene for Mazeroski who made some better-known history. For more Baseball History Shorts go to   / baseballhistoryshorts   Video copyright Major League Baseball

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Baseball History Shorts

1.52K subscribers