Chicago Cubs – The Bartman Incident
The Curse of the Billy Goat was about to end. The Chicago Cubs head a 3-0 with five outs to go in Game Six of the 2003 NLCS when Luis Castillo hit a lazy fly ball foul down the left field line. Left fielder Moises Alou and nearby fans all reached for the ball, with the ball hitting Steve Bartman’s hands before falling harmlessly. Bouyed by that newfound life, the Marlins scored eight runs, destroyed the still shell shocked Cubs in Game Seven, and went on to win their second World Series. Bartman, meanwhile, became vilified although he was not the only person reaching for the ball. He was finally forgiven after the 2016 World Series, with the Cubs even giving him his own World Series ring.
Cincinnati Reds – Johnny Vander Meer fires consecutive no-hitters
Johnny Vander Meer was making just his 30th career start when he fired a no-hitter on June 11. The infamously wild youngster had his command that day, walking just three batters while striking out four in his gem. That was not the case in his next start on June 15, as he fought his command virtually all game. However, he also had not given up a hit, heading out to the mound for the ninth with a chance at history. Vander Meer walked the first three batters he faced, but after a mound visit from manager Bill McKechnie, he was able to find his command once more to retire the final three batters and become the only MLB pitcher to fire consecutive no-hitters.
Milwaukee Brewers – Cecil Cooper makes amends
The 1982 ALCS had not gone well for Cecil Cooper, especially in Game Five. He had been 2-19 during the season, and his mental error, when he tagged Bobby Grich with an empty glove while holding the ball in his other hand, gave the Angels a 3-1 lead. Then, with the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, Cooper came to bat with the Brewers trailing 3-2. He lined a 1-1 pitch to left, scoring two runs to give the Brewers the lead and send them to their first, and only World Series appearance. Sometimes, the baseball gods even things out.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Bill Mazeroski has his Hall of Fame moment
The Pittsburgh Pirates were outclassed in the 1960 World Series. Although the series was tied at three games apiece, the Yankees were a powerhouse and had outscored the Pirates 46-17. Game seven was expected to be a formality. Instead, it was a slugfest, with the Yankees and Pirates trading blows over the final two innings. Tied at nine heading into the bottom of the ninth, Bill Mazeroski belted Ralph Terry’s 1-0 offering to left for the first walk-off homer in a Game Seven in World Series history. While he was a solid defensive second baseman and a ten time All Star, he will be forever remembered for that moment.
St. Louis Cardinals – Enos Slaughter and his Mad Dash
Enos Slaughter had a solid career, eventually ending up in the MLB Hall of Fame. However, his greatest moment came in the 1946 World Series. He was on first with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the score tied 3-3, when he took off for second. Harry Walker lined a base hit into left center, with Leon Culberson throwing the ball to cut off man Johnny Pesky, who expected Slaughter to stop at third. Instead, he blew through the stop sign, sliding in safe with the winning run as Pesky had a moment of hesitation due to the surprise of Slaughter’s dash. That would be the winning run, sending the Cardinals to sixth World Series title and third of the decade.