Maddox's Wild Dash Lifts Phillies

Garry Maddox scampered home on a swinging third strike that got away from Yankees' catcher Johnny Blanchard to give the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies a 3-2 win and a 1-0 lead in their World Series against the 1961 New York Yankees.

Maddox had led off the bottom of the tenth with a walk and was sacrificed to second on a textbook bunt by Bob Boone. Then Maddox swiped third, but Yankees reliever Al Downing struck out Manny Trillo to bring up the pitcher's spot in the order. The Phillies countered by pinch-hitting for closer Tug McGraw with Keith Moreland. Moreland fought to a full count but was fooled by an offspeed pitch that skipped in the dirt in front of Blanchard. The ball caromed off Blanchard to his right rolling to the backstop. Maddox scored easily as Blanchard's throw was far too late to cut down Moreland.

Not only was Maddox's baserunning key to the Phillies victory, but the 8 time Gold Glove winner showcased his cannon arm and also flexed his muscles in the fifth inning. Pirates' legend Ralph Kiner uttered one of the more well-known quotes in baseball with regards to Maddox's defense saying, "Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Garry Maddox." Bill Conlin, a columnist of the Philadelphia Daily News, had dubbed Maddox as the "Secretary of Defense" in 1976 out of respect for his ball-hawking ability. In fact, Garry actually is a veteran as he served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.

Phillies' starter Dick Ruthven had been cruising along facing the minimum in four innings of no-hit baseball. He had struck out 4 batters and allowed a walk on only 49 pitches. In the fifth, Yankees' right fielder Roger Maris coaxed a second free pass from Ruthven. Johnny Blanchard became his fifth strikeout victim chasing a fastball up and in, but Yogi Berra finally broke through with New York's first hit as he grounded a single up the middle. Maris aggressively rounded second, and despite being held up by his third base coach, he blew through the stop sign and chugged on for third. Maddox charged the ball and fired a seed to Mike Schmidt to cut down Maris at third (video below). Bill Skowron would punch out on a curveball down and away to end the inning.  Maddox struck again with two out in the home half, taking Yankee starter Whitey Ford over the wall in right-center to open the scoring.

Before Maddox's homer, Ford had also been turning in a masterful effort. He plunked Phillies leadoff hitter Pete Rose in the first but allowed just one single in 4.2 innings. Ford had also retired 9 Phillies in a row before the Maddox's blast.

New York replied quickly in the sixth as Ford helped himself singling to right. Bobby Richardson then doubled to center to put runners on second and third. Tony Kubek slashed an RBI single to tie the game 1-1, and Ruthven faced his toughest test with Mickey Mantle to follow. Philadelphia turned their second double play of the game at this critical time to escape danger. 

Schmidt slaps the tag on Maris

The see-saw scoring continued in the seventh as Larry Bowa took a ball off the backside from Ford, and it would prove costly. Bowa worked his way around to third on a wild pitch and a fly ball, and he scored on a Bake McBride double.

Ruthven would not come out for the seventh giving way to Sparky Lyle, and it looked as though the one-run lead would stand up. Lyle struck out Berra and Skowron and allowed only one single in 2 innings. Tug McGraw came on for the ninth and even though he didn't give up a hit, a defensive meltdown by second baseman Manny Trillo forced bonus baseball. Trillo booted a grounder by Tony Kubek, and he moved to second on a ground out. Roger Maris sent another grounder Trillo's way, but his throw sailed high and into the dugout allowing Kubek to score.

The Yankee bullpen really deserved a better fate with Hal Reniff, Luis Arroyo, and Al Downing combining to strike out five Phillies while allowing one single. They did walk two batters, and the last walk to Maddox was the difference-maker in Game 1.