IMO the greatest baseball game of all time given the circumstances (7th game of the World Series is hard to top!) and the incredible last few innings. The heads up baserunning play Mantle made and the three run home by Hal Smith get overlooked - or not even remembered! - by so many fans.
I had just started collecting baseball cards in 1959 as a ten-year-old. I lived in Indianapolis and for reasons I can't explain, I gravitated to the Pirates as my team. I was the only kid in the block that had the Pirates as their favorite team. I was very lucky that I wouldn't have to wait long for a World Series victory. The Pirates put it all together in 1960. Many players had their best season that year including Vern Law. Dick Groat was right up there too. Face, Friend, Clemente...what a team. And they whipped the invincible NY Yankees. I've never been as big a fan of any team as I was a Pirates fan in 1960.
I saw this game live in black and white when I was 7 and at the time I was not aware of the fact that already in the late 1950s some games were in color. At the time I didn't know anyone with color TV. Now, seeing Casey Stengel, Gus Mauch, Joe Christopher, and all the great Pirate players who used to help the Pirates murder the Mets in the early 1960s, watching this game has the feel for me of a Met game from Forbes field during the 1960s. During the early 1960s the Mets lost so many games to the Pirates in ways very similar to how the Pirates won this one.
Its ironic that before the 1960 season the Pirates were seriously considering trading Groat to the Kansas City Athletics for Roger Maris. When the proposed trade fell through, Maris was traded to the Yankees and Groat remained with the Pirates. After the 1960 season Groat was voted the MVP of the National League and Maris was the MVP of the American League.
The best baseball game ever played. I've probably watched it fifty times and am always entertained by it and find something new each time I watch it. I have to disagree with a couple of comments made on the video by Pirate players. I think both Dick Groat and Vern Law said they thought the Yankees were a better team than the Pirates and should have won. I don't know. The Yankees were the best team in an inferior league at the time-and as an American League fan, it pains me to say that. But facts are facts. I think, player-for-player, the Pirates were the equals of the Yankees. Look how weak the Yankees' pitching was, outside of Whitey Ford. The other is Maz on Mantle's play in the 9th inning. First time I saw it I thought it was a brilliant instinctual play. Anything else Mantle would have done, the game would have been over. Most players would have taken off for second base. If Mantle did this, he would have been out, double play and series over and no Maz home run. It happened too quick for him to think about it, he saw that Nelson stepped on first and took the force off at second, so he dived back into first. It was the instinct of a great player, and that's what makes players like Mantle rise above the rest of the crowd. Their instincts are right. Nelson's instinct was to step on first base. He should have thrown to second to maintain the force play on Mantle, and that would have ended the game, but it happened too fast for him to think about it and acting on instinct, his instincts were wrong. The other boner was Murtaugh bringing in Bob Friend in the top of the ninth. Friend was a good pitcher, but the Yankees just had him figured out and he could do nothing with them. Murtaugh, I think, was giving in to sentiment here, wanting to give his veteran pitcher a chance to redeem himself after two bad outings, and it almost cost them the series. But that's what makes this game so great. Even 60 years later there's so much to look at and talk about.
@@64yanks That's what I mean. His wrists broke and his swing went all the way around. The Ump did not catch it or would not call it. Now, a few years later, as you know, baseball officials soon allowed a catcher or pitcher to appeal a questionable 'swing' and would ask the 1st or 3rd base ump his opinion. No doubt about it, Smith struck out.
Pirates with Branch Rickey liked “toolsy” college players who played other sports like Jackie Robinson. Before him were the O’Brien twins, Johnny and Eddie. But they couldn’t turn a double play.
Bob Prince did not dwell on it for very long, but he must have known that Mazeroski hit the game winning homer. He asked him about the location of the pitch he hit.
Bob's wife said he didn't know about it until he got home. He knew they won but didnt know it was a homer. He was down in dressing room. Mel did the second half. It is possible. When Bobby Orr scored the Cup winner, Bobby's dad was in the locker room with Pat Summerall who was working the game. The two just heard the crowd explode when Pat turned to Mr Orr and said "your son just scored." Mr Orr said how do you know it was Bobby. Pat - Crowd does not sound like that for Espo.
By the standards of today, and the last 40 years or so, Hal Smith struck out on a 1-2 count with two outs in the eighth inning. His bat went most of the way around. Instead, as stated by Mel Allen, it was just a checked swing ball. No argument ensued, not even a mild one. If it was called a strike as it would be today, few in Pittsburgh would still remember Hal Smith. Bill Mazeroski would only be remembered as a great defensive second baseman during that era, but not as a hero. Even with his defensive prowess, I don't believe he would have been elected to the Hall of Fame by a veteran's committee without the World Series winning home run.
Also the worst single pitch ever thrown. Terry was a decent pitcher, but that curve ball hung all day long. PS. Hal Smith was out on the "check swing."
Yep. Mazeroski can say what he wants about Pittsburgh’s confidence in beating New York, but Stengel boosted their confidence - by not pitching Whitey Ford in Game 1. Joe Torre did the same thing for Arizona in Game 1 of 2000 when he started Mike Mussina.
@@markgaston4416 the other big error there was Stengel letting Ford pitch a complete game in Game 6 when the game was out of reach by the 5th inning. If he’d taken him out then, he would have been available out of the bullpen in Game 7 and given the state of the rest of the Yankees staff, that could have come in handy. Mantle criticized him for that in his autobiography
Maz was considered the greatest second baseman of his time, possibly the best in baseball history up to that time-defensively. If Ozzie Smith is considered worthy of the HOF because he was the greatest shortstop, why isn't Maz considered worthy as the greatest second baseman? Maz was as good at second base as Ozzie was at SS, and was a better hitter. I saw an interview with Hank Aaron once, before Maz was in the HOF, and they asked him, "What player who isn't in the HOF do you think most deserves to be there?" and, without hesitating, he said, "Bill Mazeroski." That's Hank Aaron, who should know. I don't get the anti-Maz arguments. I saw him through much of the second half of his career and always thought of him as a HOF'er.
@@RRaquello and even if Maz sucked defensively, the dude created the storybook ending for one of the greatest world series of all time, while at the same time winning it for the underdog pirates
IMO the greatest baseball game of all time given the circumstances (7th game of the World Series is hard to top!) and the incredible last few innings. The heads up baserunning play Mantle made and the three run home by Hal Smith get overlooked - or not even remembered! - by so many fans.
This is truly the greatest baseball game of all time, coming from a Cubs fan! Please never take this down, MLB. Don't let this gem get lost again!
This is great. But 2011 game 6 was better
My all time favorite Pirate team. A world series I will never forget.
I had just started collecting baseball cards in 1959 as a ten-year-old. I lived in Indianapolis and for reasons I can't explain, I gravitated to the Pirates as my team. I was the only kid in the block that had the Pirates as their favorite team. I was very lucky that I wouldn't have to wait long for a World Series victory. The Pirates put it all together in 1960. Many players had their best season that year including Vern Law. Dick Groat was right up there too. Face, Friend, Clemente...what a team. And they whipped the invincible NY Yankees. I've never been as big a fan of any team as I was a Pirates fan in 1960.
i know I am kind of randomly asking but do anyone know of a good website to watch newly released series online?
@@torgo2010 The 1960 Pirates turned the tables on the Yankees for sweeping them in the '27 Series.
If you like high scoring games..this is your *all-time*
I saw this game live in black and white when I was 7 and at the time I was not aware of the fact that already in the late 1950s some games were in color. At the time I didn't know anyone with color TV.
Now, seeing Casey Stengel, Gus Mauch, Joe Christopher, and all the great Pirate players who used to help the Pirates murder the Mets in the early 1960s, watching this game has the feel for me of a Met game from Forbes field during the 1960s. During the early 1960s the Mets lost so many games to the Pirates in ways very similar to how the Pirates won this one.
Its ironic that before the 1960 season the Pirates were seriously considering trading Groat to the Kansas City Athletics for Roger Maris. When the proposed trade fell through, Maris was traded to the Yankees and Groat remained with the Pirates. After the 1960 season Groat was voted the MVP of the National League and Maris was the MVP of the American League.
The best baseball game ever played. I've probably watched it fifty times and am always entertained by it and find something new each time I watch it. I have to disagree with a couple of comments made on the video by Pirate players. I think both Dick Groat and Vern Law said they thought the Yankees were a better team than the Pirates and should have won. I don't know. The Yankees were the best team in an inferior league at the time-and as an American League fan, it pains me to say that. But facts are facts. I think, player-for-player, the Pirates were the equals of the Yankees. Look how weak the Yankees' pitching was, outside of Whitey Ford.
The other is Maz on Mantle's play in the 9th inning. First time I saw it I thought it was a brilliant instinctual play. Anything else Mantle would have done, the game would have been over. Most players would have taken off for second base. If Mantle did this, he would have been out, double play and series over and no Maz home run. It happened too quick for him to think about it, he saw that Nelson stepped on first and took the force off at second, so he dived back into first. It was the instinct of a great player, and that's what makes players like Mantle rise above the rest of the crowd. Their instincts are right. Nelson's instinct was to step on first base. He should have thrown to second to maintain the force play on Mantle, and that would have ended the game, but it happened too fast for him to think about it and acting on instinct, his instincts were wrong.
The other boner was Murtaugh bringing in Bob Friend in the top of the ninth. Friend was a good pitcher, but the Yankees just had him figured out and he could do nothing with them. Murtaugh, I think, was giving in to sentiment here, wanting to give his veteran pitcher a chance to redeem himself after two bad outings, and it almost cost them the series. But that's what makes this game so great. Even 60 years later there's so much to look at and talk about.
Nestor Chylak, 1B umpire, did a great job in the 9th. Right on top of the play.
I’m a Yankees fan, but you gotta respect one of the greatest moments in baseball history!
Even being a Yankees fan , I will always admire that Pirates team.... you never give up ,and that’s the best thing about baseball ⚾️
@@64yanks They got a little help from the HP umpire and an infield pebble.
@@karencarter8292 Hal Smith struck out on the pitch before the homer…. He went all the way around!!!!
@@64yanks That's what I mean. His wrists broke and his swing went all the way around. The Ump did not catch it or would not call it. Now, a few years later, as you know, baseball officials soon allowed a catcher or pitcher to appeal a questionable 'swing' and would ask the 1st or 3rd base ump his opinion. No doubt about it, Smith struck out.
We need more awesome baseball moments like this against the Yankees in the World Series.
I love it ! What a great team.
Pirates murdered in their 3 losses, 4 wins were by a run or 2. Some kind of life lesson there.
Dick Groat was the best...clutch hitter and great fielder...total team player...classy man all around.
Beat the damn Yankees two times in Game 7 in a span of five years.
Bob Prince (PBP) 1st half
Mel Allen (PBP) 2nd half
The part of the wall that the ball went over is still standing.
Pirates with Branch Rickey liked “toolsy” college players who played other sports like Jackie Robinson. Before him were the O’Brien twins, Johnny and Eddie. But they couldn’t turn a double play.
Where is this website available that has this game?🙊🙉🙈
Like the in game commentary🙊🙉🙈
3:00:17
Umpires (Game 7)
HP Bill Jackowski (NL)
1B Nestor Chylak (AL)
2B Dusty Boggess (NL) (CC)
3B John Stevens (AL)
LF Stan Landes (NL)
RF Jim Honochick (AL)
Fun fact: Nestor Chylak also umped the infamous “ten cent beer night” game
Bob Prince did not dwell on it for very long, but he must have known that Mazeroski hit the game winning homer. He asked him about the location of the pitch he hit.
Bob's wife said he didn't know about it until he got home. He knew they won but didnt know it was a homer. He was down in dressing room. Mel did the second half.
It is possible. When Bobby Orr scored the Cup winner, Bobby's dad was in the locker room with Pat Summerall who was working the game. The two just heard the crowd explode when Pat turned to Mr Orr and said "your son just scored." Mr Orr said how do you know it was Bobby. Pat - Crowd does not sound like that for Espo.
No one struck out in this game ! Also in game 2 no Pirate batter struck out.
By the standards of today, and the last 40 years or so, Hal Smith struck out on a 1-2 count with two outs in the eighth inning. His bat went most of the way around. Instead, as stated by Mel Allen, it was just a checked swing ball. No argument ensued, not even a mild one. If it was called a strike as it would be today, few in Pittsburgh would still remember Hal Smith. Bill Mazeroski would only be remembered as a great defensive second baseman during that era, but not as a hero. Even with his defensive prowess, I don't believe he would have been elected to the Hall of Fame by a veteran's committee without the World Series winning home run.
Let's Go Bucs!
Also the worst single pitch ever thrown. Terry was a decent pitcher, but that curve ball hung all day long. PS. Hal Smith was out on the "check swing."
Hoak 2nd in MVP voting..1960 ? Stengel mismanaged....biggest play was bad bounce on Kubek.
Yep. Mazeroski can say what he wants about Pittsburgh’s confidence in beating New York, but Stengel boosted their confidence - by not pitching Whitey Ford in Game 1. Joe Torre did the same thing for Arizona in Game 1 of 2000 when he started Mike Mussina.
@@markgaston4416 the other big error there was Stengel letting Ford pitch a complete game in Game 6 when the game was out of reach by the 5th inning. If he’d taken him out then, he would have been available out of the bullpen in Game 7 and given the state of the rest of the Yankees staff, that could have come in handy. Mantle criticized him for that in his autobiography
Groat was HOF player / Maz not
Maz was considered the greatest second baseman of his time, possibly the best in baseball history up to that time-defensively. If Ozzie Smith is considered worthy of the HOF because he was the greatest shortstop, why isn't Maz considered worthy as the greatest second baseman? Maz was as good at second base as Ozzie was at SS, and was a better hitter. I saw an interview with Hank Aaron once, before Maz was in the HOF, and they asked him, "What player who isn't in the HOF do you think most deserves to be there?" and, without hesitating, he said, "Bill Mazeroski." That's Hank Aaron, who should know. I don't get the anti-Maz arguments. I saw him through much of the second half of his career and always thought of him as a HOF'er.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mazeroski
@@RRaquello and even if Maz sucked defensively, the dude created the storybook ending for one of the greatest world series of all time, while at the same time winning it for the underdog pirates
@@RRaquello Ozzie Smith has 13 gold gloves.