Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 60

against Dave Koslo attempting to break through the 1-1 tie. For Bauer, it was the perfect opportunity to shake off his World Series despair. In thirty-eight previous at bats in the Fall Classic, Bauer had collected only five hits, all singles, a .132 Series batting average, and only one RBI in postseason play. This time the former United States Marine came through with "flying colors" with a bases clearing triple. Yankees relief pitcher Bob Kuzava put the lid on a Giants comeback after entering the ninth with the bases loaded and no one out, retiring the final three batters, the second of those being Thomson, whose bid for a second “shot heard round the world” died in Yankee Stadium’s voluminous left field nicknamed Death Valley. After the Giants closed within one and had the potential tying run in scoring position, a racing Bauer came up big and

made a sensational 4-3 game-winning catch on a hit by pinch hitter Sal Yvars.

The Damn Yankees had ended the Giants "Cinderella" season and although the Series was nothing compared to the National League playoff in terms of memorable moments, it was a sweet ending for some and a new beginning for others. Game 6 marked the final Major League game for the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, who was headed for retirement at age thirty-six. Mantle would appear in