Baseball History Today: October 13th

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

During last postseason, Raúl Ibañez may not have made history with his performance, but he sure had a memorable one. We re-visited his two homer game the other day. A few days later, his bat would thump once again. His victim this time was the Detroit Tigers, but the outcome was different this time.

Entering the bottom of the 9th inning, the New York Yankees trailed the Tigers 4-0. Detroit put the game into the hands of their closer Jose Valverde. He promptly gave up a single to Russell Martin. Martin took second on defensive indifference. After Valverde struck out Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki came to the plate. On the second pitch, Ichiro lined the pitch just inside of the right field foul pole (or fair pole if you prefer) to get New York on the board.

Valverde would retire Robinson Cano on a whiff, but walked Mark Teixeira in an eight-pitch at-bat. And here comes Raúl. Once again, it was the second pitch that did in Valverde. Ibañez would loft the offering into the New York night and as it sailed about three rows deep into the seats, the game was tied a 4-4.

Unfortunately for the Yankees. this would be the end of their scoring. They did threaten in the 10th off Octavio Dotel, but that was all it was, a threat.

Detroit would score two in the game’s 12th inning. Delmon Young would stroke a double to score Miguel Cabrera. Andy Dirks singled in Don Kelly who was pinch-running for Young. Drew Smyly would retire the Yankees in order in the bottom of the inning to give the visiting Tigers a thrilling 6-4 victory.

2001 – Those Yankees. You might get the impression I’m a Yankees fan, but I swear I’m not. The “flip play”. No more need be said.

No slide into home?

1998 – I’M NOT A YANKEES FAN! SERIOUSLY!

But you cannot overlook that after defeating the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS, they would advance to their 35th World Series.

1971 – The location is Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. In Game 3 of the World Series between the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, history is made when the first night game of a WS is played. Steve Blass pitches a complete game as the Pirates defeat the O’s, 5-1.

1960 – MLB’s most memorable World Series moment.

Final: Pirates 10, Yankees 9.

Notable Birthdays:

Eddie Mathews (1931; d. 2001)
Trevor Hoffman (1967)