On September 19, the Yankees were in Detroit
playing the first place Tigers in the third game of a three game series.
The Tigers had won the first two games which clinched first place in the
American League for them.
Denny McLain was the starting pitcher for the
Tigers and he entered the game with an astounding 30-5 record. In the
top of the eighth inning, McLain had a commanding 6-1 lead over the Yankees
on his way to his 31st victory. With one out in the inning, Mickey
Mantle stepped up to the plate while the crowd of 9,063 gave him a standing
ovation. The crowd knew that Mantle would probably retire after the
season so it was most likely his last at bat in Tiger Stadium. What
followed next was something unprecedented in major league baseball history.
McLain called Tiger catcher, Jim Price,
halfway to the mound and told him to tell Mickey that he wasn't going to
"work" on him. He added that Mickey had always been his hero and since
this would be his last at bat, he wanted to see if Mickey could "hit one".
Price returned to the plate and conveyed the message to Mickey. Not
sure he could believe Price, Mickey took the first pitch, right down the
middle of the plate, for a strike. Price assured Mickey that the same
pitch was coming again. Mickey fouled the next pitch off for strike
two.
McLain shrugged his shoulders in puzzlement
and asked Mickey where he wanted the next pitch. Mickey pointed to
knee high. McLain delivered the next pitch exactly where Mickey
requested it and Mickey parked it into the upper deck in right field.
As he rounded the bases, Denny tipped his hat to Mickey. The fans gave
Mickey another standing ovation and all of the players in the Tigers dugout
also stood up and applauded The Mick!
