No. 1966.10.06 · Expansion Era
Three Errors in One Inning
In the fifth inning of World Series Game 2, Willie Davis lost two fly balls in the sun and threw one away. Three errors, three unearned runs, and Jim Palmer's shutout.
October 6, 1966, Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, attendance 55,947. Sandy Koufax started for Los Angeles. Jim Palmer, twenty years old, started for Baltimore. In the top of the fifth Davis lost two flies in the sun and threw a ball past third. Three errors in one inning, a World Series record, and three unearned runs.
The Orioles added more later, including a run in the sixth off Koufax. Los Angeles made six errors in the game. Palmer finished a four-hit shutout. Koufax worked six innings, allowed one earned run, and took the loss. The final was 6–0.
The series is remembered for Baltimore's pitching. This inning is the other half of that memory: a center fielder losing the ball in the sun, twice, in the same inning he also threw one away. The runs were unearned. The shutout still counted.
Related entries
No. 1929.10.12
1929
Hack Wilson Loses the Ball in the Sun
The Cubs led Game 4 of the 1929 World Series by eight runs. In the seventh, Hack Wilson lost a fly ball in the sun, and the Athletics scored ten.
Chicago Cubs · Philadelphia Athletics
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. 1946.10.15
1946
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.
St. Louis Cardinals · Boston Red Sox