New York – It’s about two hours before Thursday night’s Game 7. Hardcore Mets fans are already milling inside Shea Stadium, trying to shake off their pre-game nerves by watching batting practice or taunting Cardinals players.
On the way to the game, on the Q48 bus through Queens, a woman who sells hot dogs and pretzels at Shea can hardly contain herself.
“I thought I was going to die last night,” she says, speaking about the Mets’ 4-2 victory over the Cardinals in Game 6. “What am I going to do tonight? Tell you what, nobody better ask me for a hot dog in the ninth inning.”
She wasn’t kidding.
Game 7 is serious, memorable stuff. Even after losing Wednesday night, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who certainly doesn’t come across as a romantic, waxed poetic about Game 7s to his crestfallen Cardinals.
“One of the things I said right there, real quickly, is that Game 7 starts right now,” he said moments after Game 6. “They are getting ready to have the experience of a lifetime. It’s an experience you’ll never forget. … I’d prefer our club to not go through it obviously, but it’s magical. So I’m sure we’ll be ready.”
The NFL might have the Super Bowl, but Major League Baseball (along with the NBA and NHL) has Game 7. Who knows how this one will finish up. A masterpiece from Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan? A tour de force from Jose Reyes, the Mets’ electric young shortstop? A game-winning homer from St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols or from Mets rising star Carlos Beltran?
Perhaps an unknown hero will emerge. Perhaps the Mets and Cardinals will match one of these classic Game 7s:
At Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field in the 1960 World Series, the Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski hit a Series-winning, walkoff homer against the mighty Yankees. It remains the only Game 7 Series-ending homer in major league history.
In the 2004 ALCS at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox beat the hated Yankees 10-3, becoming the first team in history to win a seven-game series after being down three games to none. Boston hero Johnny Damon hit a grand slam in the second and a two-run homer in the fourth. The Red Sox went on to sweep the Cardinals in the World Series, officially reversing the Curse of the Bambino.
In the 11th inning of the 1997 World Series in Florida, the Marlins’ Edgar Renteria drove in Craig Counsell with game-winning RBI to beat the Indians 3-2. As Bob Costas said that night: “It’s Game 7, extra innings. Enough said.”
In the 1991 World Series at the Minneapolis Metrodome, the Twins’ Jack Morris pitched 10 innings of shutout ball as the Twins beat the Braves 1-0. Gene Larkin drove in Dan Gladden with the winning run.
In the eighth inning of the 1946 World Series at St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park, Cardinals Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter raced from first to home on a hit by Harry Walker as Red Sox second baseman Johnny Pesky held the ball an instant too long. That allowed Slaughter to slide home with the winning run. Slaughter’s Mad Dash won the game 4-3.
Looking ahead
Here’s what La Russa and Mets manager Willie Randolph had to say about the American League champion Tigers, who host Game 1 of the World Series Saturday at Comerica Park.
“It’s just a great story, and it’s great to see that place packed again,” La Russa said. “The story of the Tigers this year is a great story, and it’s just great to see them in contention.”
Randolph said the Tigers feed off manager Jim Leyland.
“Jimmy dictates; they play with the fire and passion that Jimmy brings to the table,” Randolph said.
