Section A · Page 8
Friday, October 20, 2000
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Subway Series hearkens history
World Series
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The last time there was a Subway Series, tokens cost 15 cents instead of $1.50, and the underground ride between ballparks took a little longer than it will startling Saturday.
Ebbets Field in Brooklyn is gone, and so are the Dodgers. But 44 years ago, they played one last memorable Subway Series against the New York Yankees — punctuated by a perfect game, the only no-hitter in World Series history.
That series ended one of the most memorable eras in baseball history.
Seven times in 10 years from 1947 to 1956, the World Series was played entirely in New York, the Yankees against either the Giants or Dodgers. The city was wired for those confrontations but not nearly as hyper as it seems for the one coming up between the Yankees and Mets.
"When I was a kid, it was always a New York World Series, mainly the Dodgers and the Yankees but, on occasion, the Giants and the
Yankees," said Yankee manager Joe Torre, who grew up in Brooklyn and got 1956 World Series tickets from his brother, Frank, then playing for the Milwaukee Braves.
"I was at the last World Series
I was at the la that the Dodgers and Yankees played here in 1956, and it was crazy, but it's much more crazy now," Torre said. "This
is much different than it was 40 years ago because the media is so much greater and the game has taken on a much larger meaning.
"But I have a feeling this city is not going to be the same for the next 10 days and maybe for some time after that."
Don Zimmer, now Torre's bench coach, was a member of those Dodger teams.
"I felt when we teed it up in spring training, we'd win the National League and they'd win the American League and we'd get at it in the World Series," he said.
"It worked out so much that when I got here in '96 I was not aware of the fact that the Yankees had not won a World Series in 18 years. They were in it every year."
That was how Torre remembered it, too.
"The Yankees won every year," the manager said, "and everyone was trying to knock them off their pedestal."
The Dodgers finally succeeded in 1955, winning the seventh game on a 2-0 shutout by Johnny Podres. A year later, they were back for another shot. Zimmer was an observer, on the Dodgers bench recovering from a beaning. Brooklyn got permission from the commissioner's office to allow him to be in uniform.
"I called myself a professional cheerleader, like I am today," he said. "It was a tremendous time. It was something very special."
In Game 4, the Yankees used home runs by Mickey Mantle and Hank Bauer to beat Carl Erskine 6-2. Now the Series was tied, and the stage was set for one of the most memorable games in baseball history.
Stengel chose to start Larsen, the gangly right-hander the Yankees called "Gooney Bird." in the fifth game against first-game winner Sal Magle. "I hope I don't screw it up like Game 2.' I went out and warmed up, wondering 'Why me?" Larsen remembered thinking.
Larsen sailed through the Dodgers' lineup, 27 batters up, 27 batters down. Pinch hitter Dale Mitchell was the last batter.
"My legs were shaking." Larsen said. "I thought, 'Just get me through one more.' To get that close and mess it up, they'd run me out of the ballpark."
The Game 7 victory. by the Yankees was a masterpiece overshadowed by Larsen's perfect game.
After his 97th pitch, Berra bounced out from behind the plate and leaped into his arms to celebrate perfection.
Mets' pitcher gets nod for series opener
"Nobody had ever done that before," said Yankees pitcher Johnny Kucks. "That was the No. 1 item in that World Series."
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Al Leiter took his Game 1 starting assignment for the Subway Series in stride, and that was as big a reason as any that the New York Mets tapped him for the duty.
"Maybe I'm missing something," Leiter said yesterday. "It's certainly an honor to pitch Game 1. But my belief is that if you pitch any of the first three games, you're scheduled to get two starts. It's nice to pitch the opener, but I don't put much credence in it."
The fact that Leiter isn't overwhelmed by the assignment, as well as his obvious talent, contributed to the Mets' decision.
"He's been there," pitching coach Dave Wallace said. "He has the experience. He knows what it's about, and he's relishing the opportunity."
Saturday's opener.
Mike Hampton, who started the opener in the first two postseason series, will pitch Game 2. Rick Reed and Bobby J. Jones will once again be scheduled to start Games 3 and 4.
Hampton went 2-10 in 16 scoreless innings to win the National League Championship Series MVP against St. Louis. He threw 120 pitches in Monday night's clincher and would be on regular rest for
"My dream was always to pitch in the World Series, not pitch Game 1 of the World Series," Hampton said.
Leiter hasn't pitched since Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Oct.12, giving him eight days between starts. That factored into manager Bobby
"Al has followed Mike all year and Mike pitched the last game, so it is Al's turn to pitch." Valentine said. "Dave thought one more day would be a long time for AI."
tored into manager Bob Valentine's decision.
Leiter's big-game experience also factored into the decision. He pitched in the 1993 World Series with Toronto and in 1997 with Florida, when he started Game 7.
His postseason numbers aren't overwhelming — 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA — and his only victory came in relief. But his teams have won six of his nine starts and blown leads by the bullpen have cost him a couple of victories.
Leiter has also won in front of sellout crowds at Yankee Stadium the past two seasons and has a 2.99 career ERA against the Yankees.
"Obviously, AI has been in this position before and not been overwhelmed by the crowd, the pressure or the situation," said reliever Dennis Cook, a teammate of Leiter's in Florida. "Actually, I think he thrives on it and feeds off it."
Leiter will tap into that experience when he takes the field Saturday night against the team with which he made his major league debut in 1987.
"There are a lot of extraneous distractions with all the passion and the fans and the media," said Leiter, who has been inundated with ticket requests. "But you have to tune all that out and focus on how do I get (Chuck) Knoblauch out, how do I pitch to (Derek) Jeter, what do I throw (Paul) O'Neill on 3-2. Your whole mindset has to be on the game plan."
This Series has a deeper impact on Leiter, who grew up in Toms River, N.J., cheering for the Mets. He was drafted by the Yankees in 184 and played parts of three seasons for the team.
He came back to New York before the 1988 season, when the Marlins traded him to the Mets in part of their post-World Series salary purge.
"It'll be even more special because I started my career there and got traded here," Leiter said. "My career has come full circle. It's exciting. I understand the emotion of the fans and how they feel."
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ENGLISH ALTERNATIVE THEATRE
Presents a New Play
about Race Relations
Whiteout
by Alan Newton
Directed by Piet R. Knetsch
8 PM Oct. 19-21 & 2:30 PM Oct. 22
Lawrence Community Theatre
(15th & New Hampshire)
Reservations 785-864-3642 • $5
"As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow—
First—Chill—then Stupor—then the letting go—"
—Family Dickinson
841-PLAY
1029 Massachusetts
Participating Entry in the Kennedy Center /American College Theatre Festival