#4 The Afternoon of Greatness

It's hard to believe that we’re already down to the top 4 wins in our 25 greatest Oakland A's wins, and this is where the debates really begin. My hope is that all A’s fans reading this series have learned a few new things about A’s history. And what an exciting game we have for Win # 4! Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, Ken Holtzman, and Bert Campaneris are names that have made many appearances on this list, and this should say a lot about how important these players are to the Oakland A’s and their identity. This particular game showed that importance in so many ways.

We now return to October 21, 1973 for game 7 of the 1973 World Series! In sports, there’s nothing bigger than game 7. It’s win or go home, it’s where the moments that everyone remembers are created and live forever, it’s where mortal individuals become legends. And during the 1973 World Series, the Oakland A’s and the New York Mets played each other out to standstill. The big characters on both sides provided tremendous drama to write an entire novel about which added to the stakes of game 7.

It was in game 1 that Bert Campaneris and Ken Holtzman willed the A’s to a huge victory. In game 2, the longest game in World Series history at the time occurred and with the Oakland sun beaming down, every fly ball was an adventure. One of the most controversial plays in World Series history occurred during this game, and Ray Fosse was in the middle of it. If you don’t know about this play, see it HERE. Whether Fosse tagged Harrelson out is still in question, and the question of whether Mets manager, Yogi Berra ever ran faster is also still up for grabs. The play did not mean much in the outcome as the Mets would win that day and even up the series to 1-1 in the process but it still is worth noting.

Some drama occurred after game 2, the usually sure-handed, Mike Andrews made two critical errors late in the game. After the game, A’s owner, Charlie Finley was so furious with Mike Andrews, that he made Andrews sign a false affidavit saying that he was disabled to make him ineligible for the rest of the World Series. A’s manager Dick Williams and many A’s players were enraged at Finley’s low blow and it came to the point where MLB Commissioner at the time, Bowie Kuhn forced Charlie Finley to reinstate him for game 4. When the game turned into a convincing Mets win, Dick Williams gave Mike Andrews an at bat and Mets fans gave him a standing ovation in a way of mocking Charlie Finley who was in attendance.

Game 6 of the series was a pivotal win for the A’s, with the series at 3-2 in favor of the Mets, Catfish Hunter had to provide a victory to save the A’s. And that he did, Catfish only gave up four hits and Reggie Jackson’s two doubles proved to be massive as the A’s got the huge victory over the National League Cy Young Award Winner, Tom Seaver.

For a little bit of interesting trivia, the Mets bullpen ace was the father of a famous country singer. The name should give it away, his name was Tug McGraw and he was the father of Tim McGraw. McGraw played a pivotal part in this series, pitching 13.2 innings out of the bullpen and appearing in 5 games. He would not, however, appear in game 7.

This set up game 7, and unlike today’s World Series game times, this would be an afternoon game on a Sunday! The pitching matchup was the same matchup as the one in games one and four. It would be Ken Holtzman vs. Jon Matlack. Holtzman got the better of Matlack in game 1.  While both pitchers pitched relatively well in that game and Holtzman would end up getting a split decision victory. In game 4, Holtzman got rocked right from the get go and give up 3 runs in a third of an inning before being taken out for Blue Moon Odom. Matlack on the other hand dominated the A’s lineup and went 8 innings strong only giving up 3 hits. 

In game 7, something had to give. Holtzman and Matlack would just about match each other in the first two innings, with Matlack facing one more batter than Holtzman. It wouldn’t be until the bottom of the third when the action in the game really began. After Sal Bando ended the top of the third with a brilliant play to force a double play off a Matlack bunt attempt, the play erased the only Mets offensive spark thus far. Momentum seemed to be on the A’s side even with the 0-0 scoreline, but Ken Holtzman was tired of his teammates doing nothing at the plate so he took matters into his own hands.

Holtzman jumped on a Matlack pitch down the left field line and with his long hair streaming out of his helmet, Holtzman strolled into second for a double. This play would ignite the A’s offense especially with what happened next. On the first pitch, Bert Campaneris wasted no time in blowing the dynamite on Yogi Berra and the Mets. It was an outside pitch from Matlack and Campaneris went with it and it would land right next to the right field staircase prompting a classic, “There She Goes!” from A’s television play-by-play, Monte Moore. As Holtzman rounded third, he gave a huge fist pump in celebration. The crowd went absolutely insane, they knew how big it was, and with the afternoon sun shining, the Coliseum energy that day was in rare form. It was 2-0 A’s, and it must’ve felt like a green and gold freight train to the Mets.

And Jon Matlack would then throw three straight curveballs to Joe Rudi. An odd array from any pitcher, Rudi was unfazed as he ripped a Matlack pitch to left-center that ended up as a long single. And after Sal Bando popped out, up came Reggie Martinez Jackson, some say this moment was the birth of “Mr. October” but nah, this was just Reggie being the best Reggie he could be. On a fat pitch from Matlack, Reggie Jackson smoked that pitch into right-center, and everyone knew by Reggie’s reaction that it was a no-doubter. He finished his swing and instantaneously tossed the bat down to the ground with authority and now, just like that, it was 4-0 A’s. That green and gold freight train had just turned into a tidal wave. Jackson rounded third with a fast trot and when he got to home plate, he slapped hands with the A’s bat boy while at the same time jumping up in the air and stomping on home plate. This is the Reggie Jackson that Yankees fans have no recollection of, this was OUR Reggie Jackson moment.

Yogi Berra was forced to come out of the game to replace Jon Matlack with Harry Parker. Assumedly, Tug McGraw must’ve been burned out and therefore unavailable because McGraw would’ve been the perfect guy to salvage the situation. It just goes to show how much the Mets really were counting on Matlack to come through.

In the next at bat, Gene Tenace walked for the 11th time in the World Series, this would tie Babe Ruth’s World Series record set in 1926. Gene Tenace I’d say is one of the most underrated World Series performers of all time (coupled with his 1972 World Series heroics).

In the top of the fourth, Ken Holtzman had a little bit of trouble with two outs in the inning after giving up a single and a walk but then he’d force John Milner to groundout to end the inning. Harry Parker would then take care of the A’s bottom of the order incredibly easy but the A’s weren’t gonna scratch any skin over that. Meanwhile, the Mets still were trying to figure out Holtzman and that wasn’t gonna happen in the 5th inning.

And in the bottom of the 5th, the A’s made their lead an incredible mountain for the Mets to climb. Bert Campaneris would single and then thanks to an error from the left fielder, Cleon Jones, Campaneris was able to scramble to second easily. Joe Rudi would then single solidly again, and that would make it 5-0 and every A’s fan in the building was grinning at the possibility of yet another World Series title.

In the top of the 6th, the Mets would finally start to figure out Ken Holtzman thanks to back to back doubles from Felix Millan and Rusty Staub that would plate the Mets first run of the game to cut the lead to 5-1 A’s. The brilliance of Dick Williams would surface in this moment, as he’d walk out of the dugout and bring in Rollie Fingers to replace Ken Holtzman, Williams was taking no chances with this move, and sadly, this was the last big move of his managerial career with the A’s (but more on that later).

Fingers would make sure Rusty Staub would get no further than third to stop the small cut caused by the Mets.

And Rollie Fingers would continue his brilliance into the 7th, 8th, and even a little bit into the 9th. This was classic Rollie Fingers, back when closers were much more flexible with their role. And with the way Rollie was throwing, the A’s offense didn’t have to add on and then it was time for the 9th inning.

Rollie would start the 9th facing the 5-6-7 hitters, he wanted to finish it off. He’d walk Milner to leadoff the inning, then he’d get Jerry Grote to fly out for the first out of the inning. Don Hahn would then provide a single that would move the situation to first and second with one out and a 4 run lead. Bud Harrelson would come up next and he’d hit a comebacker to Fingers who ignored the baserunners and flipped the ball to first for the second out of the 9th. One out away. Ed Kranepool would come in to pinch hit for the pitcher’s spot. And Kranepool would hit a ground ball to Gene Tenace at first and he’d boot the ball and as a result it would give the Mets a run to make it 5-2. This would cost Rollie his chance to clinch the title and Dick Williams would come out to bring in his other trusty reliever, Darold Knowles.

Darold Knowles debuted in 1965 with the Baltimore Orioles at the age of 23, he was then traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1966 season and then the very next season he was traded to the Washington Senators who actually kept him around for 4 years where he made an All-Star appearance in 1969. He was then traded to Oakland midway through the season in 1971, and from then on, Dick Williams made him a pivotal part of the A’s bullpen. In 1973, he’d even start a few games, and there was one in particular where he pitched a complete game, shutout against the Red Sox.

It was from these games that Dick Williams knew he could count on him in any situation. He’d use him as a closer, a long reliever, a bullpen ace, a situational, a garbage time reliever it simply didn’t matter he was that cool. In the World Series, Knowles got the save down in game one, in game two he’d provide critical middle relief that would keep the A’s in the game and allow them to take the game into extras. In game three, Knowles would provide two shutout innings of relief for Catfish Hunter to get the A’s to the 9th inning still tied at 2. In game four, he’d have to throw one inning of garbage time just to help save the bullpen some. In game five, Knowles came in as a situational lefty in relief of Vida Blue. In game 6, Knowles combined with Rollie Figners to help Catfish Hunter get out of an 8th inning jam. And in game 7, Knowles came in to close out the game in the 9th and thus becoming the only pitcher to ever appear in all 7 World Series games.

And he only had to face one batter, and that was Wayne Garrett. And Garrett would hit a pop fly to Dick Green to end the game and give the A’s their second straight World Series title.

Darold Knowles, Ray Fosse, and Sal Bando celebrating.

Reggie Jackson would be named MVP, and in a series where he not only pulled his weight with the bat but also provided tremendous plays in Centerfield which wasn’t even his natural position. He was named the MVP of the American League that year and 1973 was the year of Reggie Jackson.

Reggie Jackson celebrating in 1973 A's World Series Parade.

It wasn’t all happy news though, Dick Williams would resign after the game due to the actions of Charlie Finley in the Mike Andrews situation. Williams stuck his neck out for Andrews in the middle of the season and he was disgusted with Finley and he couldn’t take it anymore.

(From Left to Right) Reggie Jackson, Dick Williams, and Catfish Hunter in the clubhouse after winning the 1973 World Series. This would be the last moment these three guys would be together as teammates.

Watch the full game HERE (minus the last three outs).

-- Wes

By Fans, For Fans at www.Section148.com