The World Series by Stephanie Peters Read Free Book Online Page B

top, thanks to a record-tying performance by one of the game's best players, Reggie Jackson.
    Jackson had played in two previous World Series, in 1973 and 1974, as a member of the Oakland Athletics (he would have played
     in three, but an injury during the playoffs sidelined him prior to the 1972 championship). In 1973, he was named the Series
     MVP, when his two-run homer in the third inning of the seventh game gave the A's the jump they needed over the New York Mets.
    In 1977, Jackson returned to the Series, this timewearing Yankee pinstripes. Once again, he showed the world what a clutch player he was.
    After five games, the Series score stood at New York 3, Los Angeles 2. The Dodgers led game six, 3–2, going into the bottom
     of the fourth inning. With a runner at first, Jackson came to the plate —and blasted the first pitch thrown for a two-run
     homer. Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, he did the same thing again. And then, incredibly, Jackson homered a
third
time, once again sending the first pitch into the stratosphere. Three consecutive at bats, three first pitches, three home
     runs!
    The only other player to hit three homers in a row in the World Series? Babe Ruth. New York won the game 8–4, and pocketed
     their first championship ring in more than a decade. Jackson pocketed a nickname, “Mr. October,” and a place in the history
     books as the only player ever to hit five home runs in a single Series.

CHAPTER EIGHT
1980s
1988: “Unbelievable!”
    Reggie Jackson's outstanding 1977 World Series performance made him a household name. But sometimes, it's an error that puts
     a player's name on everyone's lips. In 1986, one man's mistake blackened his reputation for years to come.
    According to baseball legend, Babe Ruth had cursed the Boston Red Sox when the team traded him to the Yankees in 1919. That
     curse, the story went, had prevented the Red Sox from winning a World Series ever since. When the Sox earned a trip back to
     the October Classic in 1986, everyone hoped they would put the Curse of the Bambino behind them forever.
    The Sox were facing the New York Mets, whose 108 wins in the regular season made them the obvious favorites. It came as a
     huge surprise to the New York team, therefore, when they dropped the firsttwo games before their hometown fans. They roared back the next two, however, to tie the Series at two games apiece, only
     to see the advantage swing back to the Sox when Boston won game five.
    Game six was played in Shea Stadium before a sellout crowd. After nine innings, the score was tied 3–3. Then, at the top of
     the tenth, leadoff batter Dave Henderson belted a home run to push the Red Sox up by one. Later that inning, slugger Wade
     Boggs lambasted a double and then came home on a single from Marty Barrett.
    With the score 5–3, the Mets came up to bat. When the first two Mets got out, it seemed the Red Sox were about to win their
     first World Series in sixty-eight years.
    But then pitcher Calvin Schiraldi gave up three straight singles. The Mets scored to draw within one. Schiraldi was pulled
     and reliever Bob Stanley took the mound.
    There were two outs, with runners on first and third. Mookie Wilson came up to bat. Stanley worked him to a full count. Then,
     on the seventh pitch, disaster struck.
    The pitch was wild! Kevin Mitchell took off fromthird base and hit the dirt in front of home. Safe! The score was all tied up, and Ray Knight, the winning run, was standing
     on second base.
    Stanley faced Wilson again. Wilson fouled off the next two pitches. Then, on the tenth pitch, Wilson connected.
    It was a grounder right toward first baseman Bill Buckner. Buckner moved in, ready to scoop up the ball for an easy out. But
     somehow, unbelievably, the ball rolled
under
Buckner's glove, through his legs, and into the outfield!
    The error proved costly, both for Boston and Buckner. As Buckner scrambled to retrieve the ball, Knight took off for home.
     Safe! The Mets won