The stage is set with two teams twenty years apart as the 1954 New York Giants will face the 1974 Oakland Athletics in the Fall Classic. Even though the Giants were obviously still in The Big Apple in '54, they would relocate four years later to California, so this series also smacks of a Bay Bridge Series.
The Giants were world champs in 1954 playing out of the Polo Grounds which was also known as "The Bathtub" due to its unusual short distances down the lines but its cavernous center field (dead center was 483 feet from home plate). The Giants made the most of their home games posting a 53 - 23 record at the Polo Grounds, and this is also where Willie Mays would make "The Catch" off Cleveland's Vic Wertz in Game 1 of the '54 World Series. The Giants won 97 games that year and featured young 23 year old phenom and NL MVP Willie Mays. Mays hit 40 homers that year and drove in 110 while hitting an astounding .345. He also had 13 triples and owned a gaudy .411 OBP. Mays was flanked in right field by one of the finest contact hitters of his era, Don Mueller. Mueller hit .342 that season and was referred to as "Mandrake the Magician" for his ability to slap the ball through vacant holes in the infield. Mueller got his nickname from illusionist and escape artist Leon Mandrake who was a prominent entertainer during the day. In 657 plate appearances, Mueller struck out only 17 times and led the league with 212 hits in 1954. He also hit.389 in the Giants' World Series series sweep of Cleveland. The Giants were also the first Major League team to feature an all Black outfield as this occurred during the 1951 World Series with Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, and Hank Thompson patrolling from left to right. Irvin and Thompson were vital contributors to the '54 Giants, combining for 45 home runs and 150 RBI, but Thompson primarily played third base.
On the mound, the Giants were led by 21 game winner John Antonelli. He also led the league in ERA with a 2.30 clip. New York also had Ruben Gomez and Sal Maglie who combined for 31 wins (17 for Gomez). The bullpen was backed by closer Marv Grissom who notched 10 wins and 19 saves and knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm who registered a 12-4 record with a 2.10 ERA. Both men tossed over 100 innings each out of the pen for the Giants.
Going into this Fall Classic, Mueller has been delivering as expected as he leads the Giants with a .404 batting average with 5 doubles, a homer and 6 RBI. Mays is hitting a respectable .277 and leads the Giants in RBI with 10 in this postseason.Hank Thompson and Monte Irvin are struggling hitting .167 and .149 respectively and you'd have to think these two will have to get things going in order for the Giants to become world champions.However, Irvin does lead the team in homers with 3. Johnny Antonelli has been a workhorse in the playoffs starting 5 games and posting a 2-2 record with a 3.86 ERA. Ruben Gomez leads the team in win with 3 against only one defeat with a 3.46 ERA, and Don Liddle has made 3 starts both quality outings with a sparkling 2.01 ERA. Sal Maglie has yet to start a game as the Giants had been basically going with three starters, but he'll be needed in the World Series. Marv Grissom has earned his keep in the pen registering 4 saves. The Giants bested the '67 Cardinals in seven games in the NLCS after being down 3-1 in games with the Giants and John Antonelli winning Game 7 5-2 over the Cardinals' Dick Hughes . Mueller batted 9 -14 in the three game comeback, and Don Liddle pitched an 8 inning shutout gem in Game 6 allowing only 2 hits in a 1-0 victory.
Oakland has been led by the duo of Sal Bando and Reggie Jackson offensively. Jackson has 4 homers and 11 RBI to lead the team in both categories. Bando has 15 hits, leading the team with a .357 clip, and has scored 8 times. Gene Tenace has also chimed in with 10 RBI and leads the team with 8 free passes. The A's has been running wild on the bases as well with a total of 16 stolen bases. Billy North leads here with 5 thefts. Catfish Hunter has a dazzling 2.14 ERA and is 1-0 in 3 quality starts, Rollie Fingers owns 4 saves and a shiny 1.29 ERA closing things down.For an overview of the '74 Athletics click here http://buzzingthetowersawx.blogspot.ca/2014/05/alcs-preview-04-red-sox-vs-74-athletics.html .
Here are the scheduled starters for the World Series:
Game # 1> New York - Ruben Gomez (3-1) 3.46 @ Oakland - Catfish Hunter (1-0) 2.14
Game # 2 > New York - Don Liddle (1-1) 2.01 @ Oakland - Vida Blue (1-1) 4.58
Game # 3 > Oakland - Ken Holtzman (1-0) 3.27 @ New York - John Antonelli ( 2-2) 3.86
Game # 4 > Oakland - Glenn Abbott (0-0) 7.20 @ New York Sal Maglie (0-0) 0.00
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