1960 World Series, or Mazeroski Series, was played between the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates from October 5 to October 13, 1960. The series was played at the Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York. This series featured seven present, future or past league MVPs (Most Valuable Player). Yankees had five: Mickey Mantle (1956, 1957, 1962),Yogi Berra (1951, 1954, 1955), Elston Howard (1963), Bobby Shantz (1952), and Roger Maris (1960, 1961), while the Pirates had two: Roberto Clemente (1966) and Dick Groat (1960).
Previous Series Matches
Game 1 was played at Forbes Field, which the Pirates won 6-4 and took the lead 1-0. However, Yankees strongly came back in the next two games and defeated Pirates 16-3 and 10-0 in the Game 2 and Game 3 respectively. After the Game 3, Yankees took the lead 2-1. Nevertheless, Pirates replied to Yankees with the consecutive wins in the next two games. Pirates defeated Yankees 3-2 and 5-2 in the Game 4 and Game 5 respectively. Now, Pirates took the lead 3-2 and were just one win away from clinching the title. But, Yankees surprised Pirates by defeating them 12-0 in the Game 6 and leveling the series three all.
Game 7
Game 7 was played on Thursday, October 13, 1960, at Forbes Field, the home ballpark of Pittsburgh Pirates. In the first inning, Pirates’ Rocky Nelson and Bob Skinner scored a homer against the Yankees’ pitcher Bob Turley, and gave the Pirates 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Bill Mazeroski and Don Hoak, both scored a single against the Yankees’ pitcher Bill Stafford. However, Virdon’s single to right, scored both Mazeroski and Hoak and extended the Pirates lead to 4-0.
No runs were scored in the third and fourth innings, and the score after the fourth inning was Pirates 4 and Yankees 0.
The game was very much one-sided and the Yankees looked to be outmatched. However, Yankees strongly came back in the fifth and sixth innings. Yankees’ Bill Skowron scored a homer in the fifth inning, and the Yankees got on the scoreboard with a score 1-4. In the sixth inning, Tony Kubek and Bobby Richardson single followed by the Yogi Berra homer gave the Yankees lead in the game, 5-4.
Seventh inning was scoreless. But, in the top of the eight inning, Yankees scored two runs with Clete Boyer doubled to score Bill Skowron whereas Johnny Blanchard singled to score Yogi Berra. In the bottom of the eight inning, Pirates’ Hal Smith 3-run homer followed by the singles from the Gino Cimoli, Dick Groat and Bill Virdon gave Pirates the lead, 9-7.
In the top of the ninth inning, Yankees’ Dale Long and Bobby Richardson scored a single against the Pirates’ pitcher Bob Friend, and Yankees only managed to even the score nine all. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Yankees’ Ralph Terry returned to the mound and the first batter to face him was Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski. Mazeroski smashed a historic homer over the left field fence, which crowned the National League (winners) as champions. Pittsburgh Pirates defeated New York Yankees in the Game 7, 10-9.
The implausible champions were outplayed, out hit, and outscored; despite that they managed to pull out the victory in World Series. Pirates defeated Yankees in the World Series, 4-3. Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski became the first player to score a game winning homer in the Game 7 to win a World Series. Game 7 of this series is also the only game of postseason history with no strikeouts recorded by either side.
Yankees’ Bobby Richardson was honored with the MVP award, the only time that someone from the losing side was awarded with this honor.