No. 1946.10.15 · Postwar Era
Slaughter Scores from First
Enos Slaughter scored from first on Harry Walker's double in Game 7. The relay went through Johnny Pesky, who said he hesitated. Later viewings say the run was coming anyway.
October 15, 1946, Game 7 at Sportsman's Park, attendance 36,143. The score was tied, 3–3, in the eighth after Dom DiMaggio's double. DiMaggio pulled a muscle and was replaced by Leon Culberson. In the bottom of the inning Enos Slaughter singled to open against Bob Klinger. Two outs followed. Slaughter was running on a hit-and-run when Harry Walker doubled to center.
Culberson relayed the ball to Johnny Pesky in short left-center. Third-base coach Mike Gonzalez waved Slaughter home. The Cardinals led, 4–3, and held it. Harry Brecheen was the winning pitcher in relief. Jerry Nason, writing in the Boston Globe, said Pesky froze and pivoted slowly. Pesky said after the game that he had hesitated because he thought Slaughter would hold at third.
The phrase that stuck was that Pesky held the ball. Later film and later accounts, including Joe Posnanski's, describe a brief double-clutch, with Walker already at second by the time Pesky had the ball and Slaughter going to score either way. The hesitation is in Pesky's own account. The several seconds of the legend are not.
Related entries
The Ball Gets Through Buckner
The Red Sox were one out from a title when a ground ball went through Bill Buckner's legs. By then the lead was already gone.
Boston Red Sox · New York Mets
No. 1926.10.10
1926
Ruth Is Out at Second
The 1926 World Series ended with Babe Ruth thrown out at second. He said he was stealing on his own. Other accounts say a hit-and-run was on.
New York Yankees · St. Louis Cardinals
Lonnie Smith Stops at Third
In a scoreless Game 7, Lonnie Smith was on first when Terry Pendleton doubled. A decoy at second base held Smith at third. He never scored.
Atlanta Braves · Minnesota Twins