Mar. 18, 1963 - Try as they would today, the world champion New York Yankees could not impress their importance on Casey Stengel’s ragtail New York Mets, who managed to lose a record total of 120 games in the National League last year. After nine innings of stirring combat, Casey’s incredible Mets finished on top, 1-0. Roger Craig (left) and Al Jackson combined their pitching talents as they shut out the world champions on five singles. Ironically, it was an error by the usually flawless Yankees that set up the run. In the seventh, the Bombers’ Hal Reniff hit Frank Thomas with a pitch. Tim Harkness forced Thomas at second, but when Jim Hickman followed with a grounder to Tony Kubek, the brilliant Yankees shortstop booted the ball. A moment later, the Mets’ Larry Burright, the infielder the Dodgers had traded away during the winter on the assumption he couldn’t hit his weight, lined a single to center, scoring Harkness. The Yanks’ World Series hero, Ralph Terry, pitched the first six innings for the Bombers and, like Craig, allowed only two hits. But then Ralph was not facing world champions. He was merely bowling over a team most everyone again picks to finish last.
Comments