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Old 10-19-2004, 01:46 PM
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Default Greatest Playoff Game Ever?

Posted By: PASJD

How about Alexander vs. Lazzeri. Game 7, Cards clinging to a one run (I think) lead in the seventh, bases loaded, two outs. Hornsby (player-manager) decides he's seen enough of whoever is pitching and calls for Alexander. Alexander, now around 40 and way past his prime, has a hangover from drinking too much the night before after winning game 6. He won game 2 as well. He walks in very slowly from the bullpen with the crowd so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No need to announce him -- everyone knows who he is. Hornsby meets him at the mound. Alexander explains how he plans to set up Lazzeri by pitching him inside. Hornsby starts to say wait you can't do that, he's a dead pull hitter, then realizes who he is talking to -- a man who has won 370 games in the major leagues -- and thinks the better of it. Lazzeri takes a curve over the plate for strike one. The second pitch is a fastball, just enough inside so Lazzeri can't get all of it, he crushes it but barely foul. Now, with Lazzeri set up, Alexander throws another curve just off the outside corner and Lazzeri takes a mighty swing but misses for strike three. Deflated, the Yanks do nothing against Alexander in the 8th or 9th and the Cards win. The game ends with Ruth thrown out trying to steal second. What I wouldn't have given to see that one (and the 1951 Dodger Giants game).

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