1960 World Series Game 7
The 1960 World Series Game 7 is considered by many to be the greatest baseball game ever. The overpowering New York Yankees, as led by Mickey Mantle and one of the finest teams in the history of sports, completely dominated the underdog Pittsburgh Pirates throughout the series and yet it was tied 3-3 going into this game 7.
Roberto Clemente, a bad-ball hitter who was phenomenal in the clutch, led the comeback by the Pirates to where the score was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning. Then a fill-in at second base, Bill Mazeroski, did not even know it was his turn to bat as lead-off in that inning. He then hit the only home run that has ever ended a World Series in its final Game 7.[1]
In another strange twist, Yankee catcher Yogi Berra (who sparked many runs for his team earlier in this game) was playing in left field for the unlikely moment of truth.
Mickey Mantle felt this loss was his greatest disappointment of his career. His Yankee team outscored the Pirates by an astounding 55-27 margin in runs, and Mantle's play was spectacular, yet the Pirates won the championship.
The home run ball that end this World Series was immediately obtained by a 14-year-old schoolboy who offered it back to Mazeroski, who then signed it (as did a teammate) and gave it back to the boy. Unfortunately, the ball was lost in high grass and weeds when used in a sandlot game the following spring.[2]
