Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 1999 by Dave Kindred

10

THE MAD DASH

October 15, 1946

The Cardinals' Enos Slaughter scores from first base on an eighth-inning drive to left-center field to beat the Red Sox in Game 7 of the World Series.

DID YOU KNOW ...

... That Enos Slaughter's mad dash from first base to the plate in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series was helped along when Red Sox center fielder Leon Culberson momentarily bobbled Harry Walker's eighth-inning smash--and that Culberson had just entered the game in place of the injured Dom DiMaggio? And that the Cardinals' Slaughter had gotten his inspiration for his sprint around the bases from a play in Game 1 in which, much to his displeasure, he was held at third base after a bad relay throw?

11

THE LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE

July 4, 1939

Terminally ill, "The Iron Horse" delivers baseball's Gettysburg Address on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium.

DID YOU KNOW ...

... That the day Lou Gehrig took himself out of the Yankees' lineup after playing in 2,130 consecutive games, his replacement at first base, Babe Dahlgren, homered and doubled and the Yankees defeated the Tigers, 22-2, in Detroit? A little more than two months later, on July 4, 1939, Gehrig gave his "luckiest man" speech at Yankee Stadium.

12

REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE!

October 18, 1977

It's as easy as 1-2-3 for the Yankees' Reggie Jackson, who hits three home runs against the Dodgers in decisive Game 6 of the World Series.

13

McCOVEY LINES OUT

October 16, 1962

The Yankees win the World Series when second baseman Bobby Richardson snags Willie McCovey's two-on, two-out screamer in the ninth inning of Game 7.

14

OVER THE GREEN MONSTER

October 2, 1978

The Yankees' Bucky Dent crushes Red Sox Nation with a three-run home run in a one-game playoff to decide the A.L. East rifle.

15

THE SUMMER OF '61

October 1, 1961

Babe Ruth's single-season home run record, set in 1927, falls when Roger Maris hits his 61st off the Red Sox's Tracy Stallard on the last day of the season.

16

CARTER'S SWING BEATS THE WILD THING

October 23, 1993

Joe Carter's three-run homer in the ninth off Phillies closer Mitch Williams wins Game 6 and the World Series for the Blue Jays.

17

THE NEW IRON MAN

September 6, 1995

The Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. plays in his 2,131st consecutive game--vs, the Angels-to break Lou Gehrig's iron-man record.

DID YOU KNOW ... That Cal Ripken Jr.'s "victory lap" during his record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game was not his idea? Orioles teammate Rafael Palmeiro suggested that Ripken acknowledge the Baltimore crowd in that manner during the September 6,1995 game, and he and Bobby Bonilla proceeded to push Ripken onto the field for the emotional jaunt around Camden Yards.

18

THE BOYS OF SUMMER

October 4, 1955

The Dodgers' Sandy Amoros robs Yogi Berra of an extra-base hit with a running catch down the leftfield line, thwarting a Yankees rally in Game 7 of the World Series.

19

HADDIX'S PERFECT LOSS

May 26, 1959

The Pirates' Harvey Haddix pitches 12 innings of perfect ball, only to lose, 1-0, on a 13th-inning hit by the Braves' Joe Adcock.

20

THE NEW HITS KING