Willie Mays The Catch 1954 World Series

Lore & Background

"The Catch" occurred during Game 1 of this series, when Giants center fielder Willie Mays snared a long drive by Vic Wertz near the outfield wall with his back to the infield. Utility player Dusty Rhodes had clutch hits in three of the four games, including a pinch-hit walk-off home run that won Game 1, barely clearing the 258 ft right-field fence at the Polo Grounds. Giants manager Leo Durocher, who had managed teams to three National League championships, won his only World Series title as a manager. The Giants, who moved west to San Francisco in 1958, did not win another World Series until 2010.

Reader's Guide

Game 1: The Giants won 5-2 in 10 innings. Cleveland scored first on a two-run triple by Vic Wertz. The Giants tied it in the third. In the eighth, Mays made his famous catch of Wertz's drive. In the 10th, Dusty Rhodes hit a walk-off home run off Bob Lemon. Game 2: The Giants won 3-1. Al Smith hit a leadoff home run, but Dusty Rhodes delivered a pinch-hit single and a home run. Johnny Antonelli pitched a complete game. Game 3: The Giants won 6-2. Ruben Gomez started and Hoyt Wilhelm earned the save. Dusty Rhodes had a two-run single. Game 4: The Giants won 7-4. Don Liddle started, and Hoyt Wilhelm and Johnny Antonelli relieved. The Giants completed a four-game sweep.

Did You Know?

• This was the first World Series since 1948 to not feature the Yankees and one of only three World Series to not feature them over 18 seasons from 1947 to 1964.
• The Indians had won an AL-record 111 games in the 154-game regular season, a record since broken by the 1998 New York Yankees (114) and the 2001 Seattle Mariners (116).
• Game 2 was the last World Series and playoff game at the Polo Grounds, and Game 4 was the last World Series and postseason game ever played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
• The Giants' 1922 sweep included a controversial tie game; this was the first time the Giants swept an opponent in four games.