Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 58

adding a run scoring single in the 3-1 victory. However, the biggest play of Game 2 involved a devastating injury that would haunt the New York Yankees for years to come. Willie Mays had led off the top of the fifth with a high shot to right center in what was to be an easy fly out. Centerfielder Joe DiMaggio prepared to make the catch while Mickey Mantle followed from right field in pursuit. Yankees manager Casey Stengel had instructed Mantle earlier to "take everything he could get as Joe D was in the twilight of his career.” The nineteen year old speedster pulled up at the last second as DiMaggio made the play and caught his foot on the wooden cover of a drainage outlet. His knee buckled forcing him out of the Series and instigating the start of several leg problems that would haunt Mantle for the rest of his eighteen season career.

Game 3 remained anyone's for 4.5 innings as the Giants held on

to a slim 1-0 lead. All that would change though as the National League champs would capitalize on a crucial error by their American League rivals. With one out in the fifth, Eddie Starky managed to coax a walk off of Series veteran Vic Raschi. The Yankees, thinking the Giants were about to play a "hit and run", "run and hit" or "straight steal," called for a pitchout and catcher Yogi Berra responded with a perfect throw to shortstop Phil Rizzuto in plenty of time to catch Stanky. However, the