The Play That Made History

In the last half of the sixth inning of the seventh game, with the Dodgers leading 2-0, McDougald on first and Martin on second, no one out and Berra at bat with a count of one ball and no strikes, Podres threw a low, outside fast ball that Berra popped up high and far down the left-field line. Berra ran for first. McDougald, hoping to score the tying run if the ball fell safely, raced for second. Martin went halfway from second toward third and paused to see if the ball would be caught. First-Base Coach Dickey and Third-Base Coach Crosetti stood erect, watching the ball. Bauer, the next batter, knelt in the on-deck circle near Bat Boy Carrieri. Plate Umpire Honochick stepped to one side to follow flight of ball. First-Base Umpire Dascoli waited several feet past first. Second-Base Umpire Summers turned to watch base. Third-Base Umpire Ballanfant trotted a few steps toward the outfield. Left-Field Umpire Flaherty moved quickly toward the left-field corner. Podres ran off the mound to back up third base. Catcher Campanella stood near home plate. First Baseman Hodges and Second Baseman Gilliam, playing deep for Berra, ran in to cover their bases. Shortstop Reese ran over to the edge of the outfield grass near third to be in position to relay a throw on to third or home. Third Baseman Hoak waited at the base. Left Fielder Amoros, who had been playing well into left-center field (white circle) for left-handed Berra, sprinted almost 150 feet (dotted line) across the outfield grass toward the point where the ball was dropping into the left-field corner. At the last moment he braked himself on the heel of his left foot and stuck out his right, or gloved, hand to catch the ball. This was the first out of the inning. McDougald, by now a step past second, turned hurriedly and fled back toward first, but Reese, waiting for the throw from the outfield, glimpsed him from the corner of his eye. In the outfield Amoros, after catching the ball, spun quickly around toward third and rifled it (solid line) in to Reese. Reese took the throw head high on his glove side and without hesitating wheeled and blazed the ball (solid line) across the infield to Hodges at first base. Hodges caught the perfect throw letter-high on a long stretch just in time to double-up the desperately sliding McDougald for the second out. Bauer then came to bat and grounded to Reese for the third out of the historic inning.