Oct 21: Drama at Fenway

OCTOBER 21, 1975 | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – Many regard the game played on this date in 1975 as the best World Series game ever. Certainly game 6 of the ‘75 Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox ranks up there as one of the most exciting. The 12 inning classic is most remembered for Carlton Fisk‘s walk-off home run – more like “wish-off” home run – to force a game seven, but there was much more.

The ball Fisk hit was down the left field line. Fisk had to wish the ball, coax the ball, symbolically push the ball right, otherwise it’s a long strike. The ball stayed right. Game over.

But the opportunity wouldn’t have presented itself to Fisk without teammate Bernie Carbo hitting a pinch hit, 3-run homer with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 6.

Later in 11th, Dwight Evans made a game-saving catch in right of a long drive off the bat of Joe Morgan, then doubled Ken Griffey, Sr. (as in Ken Griffey, Jr.’s Dad) off 1st.

As exciting as that game was, it did not turn out to be a Cinderella story for Boston. Cincinnati won game 7 the next day 4-3.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Game 6 1975 World Series box score & play-by-play
More on 1975 World Series

This baseball history story about Carlton Fisk is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL.

A STORY FROM APRIL 14 IN BASEBALL HISTORY-FISK IMPRESSES NEW FANS

TODAY IN BASEBALL GOES BACK TO APRIL 14, 1981 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Carlton Fisk had little trouble getting acclimated to his new “Sox”. He hit a grand slam home run in the home opener for his new team, the White Sox, after eleven years with the Red Sox. The blast helped the White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-3.

Fisk ended up signing with the White Sox for which he played the next thirteen years – a longer stint than he had in Boston.

Fisk’s move from Boston to Chicago was the result of a strange turn of events. He became a free agent after the 1980 season when the Red Sox failed to mail his contract to him by the deadline.

Fisk ended up signing with the White Sox for which he played the next thirteen years – a longer stint than he had in Boston. And neither Fisk nor his new Chicago fans will soon forget how much he impressed his new fans in that first game wearing a White Sox uniform.

Contributing Sources:
April 14, 1981 box score/play-by-play
Carlton Fisk Stats