Cooperstown clutch: Hall of Famers’ walk-offs have powered championship runs

Eddie Mathews, the 25-year-old with six seasons and 222 home runs under his belt, was having a forgettable World Series debut in 1957. He had drawn five walks through three games but never came around to score and didn’t tally a hit. Game 3, a 12-3 defeat at the hands of the Yankees, left Mathews’ Braves trailing the series 2-1.

Prospects were brighter for Game 4, however, considering Warren Spahn was pitching for Milwaukee. Spahn, who would win the 1957 National League Cy Young Award, took the mound on Oct. 6 and held New York to one run through eight frames. The Braves led 4-1 thanks to fourth-inning blasts by Hank Aaron and Frank Torre.

But things unraveled in the ninth inning with Spahn one out from an imperative, complete game victory. Yogi Berra and Gil McDougald singled before Elston Howard tied it with a home run, stunning the future Hall of Fame left-hander and Braves fans.

“Gloom in waves settled over the crowd of 45,804 in Milwaukee County Stadium,” wrote the Wisconsin State Journal. “It grew heavier, if that were possible, in the top of the 10th when New York went ahead, 5-4, on a single by Tony Kubek and a triple by Hank Bauer.”

But Milwaukee’s Johnny Logan responded with an RBI double. Mathews, who had broken his slump and scored after a fourth-inning double, then smacked a walk-off home run over the right-field fence.

Reliever Bob Grim, baseball’s regular season saves leader, was on his way to New York’s dugout before Mathews’ blast even landed.

The World Series was tied at a game apiece. Back home at Riverfront Stadium on Oct. 14, 1975, Cincinnati built a lead with homers by Johnny Bench, Dave Concepción and César Gerónimo. Joe Morgan added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.

Gary Nolan, the Reds’ regular season innings leader, exited after four innings with a stiff neck. Boston battled back, tagging each of the four relievers who followed with an earned run.

Dwight Evans’ game-tying, two-run bomb in the ninth sent Game 3 to extras, where controversy ensued after Gerónimo’s leadoff single. Ed Armbrister bounced a bunt in front of the plate and, exiting the right-handed batter’s box, crossed paths with the catcher, Fisk.

While attempting to dodge Armbrister, Fisk fired the ball into center field to put runners on second and third. He and his Boston teammates were adamant it was interference, but no call was made. An intentional walk of Pete Rose loaded the bases with one out for Morgan.

Like Mathews, Morgan was an accomplished hitter who hadn’t yet played his best in October: Entering the 1975 World Series, the second baseman had hit .176 in 20 career postseason games. With Boston’s outfielders playing shallow to defend against a sacrifice fly, Morgan swatted one over center fielder Fred Lynn’s head to walk it off.

“That evens the series 1-1-1,” an irate Red Sox player said in the clubhouse postgame. “One for us, one for the Reds and one for the umpires.”

No matter, the Big Red Machine had seized a 2-games-to-1 lead in a series they would eventually win in seven. Morgan would strike again in Game 7 with a ninth-inning go-ahead single, capturing the first of two titles for those dominant 1970s Reds.

On Jan. 28, 2003, Iván Rodríguez, having collected 10 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Glove Awards and an American League MVP Award before turning 30, joined the Marlins on a one-year, $10 million deal. Pudge enjoyed a typically productive, albeit award-free season with the Fish, hitting .297 with 16 home runs, 36 doubles and 85 RBI. Rodríguez had reached the postseason three times in the 1990s but never advanced, with his Rangers going 1-9 in ALDS play versus the Yankees.

The Marlins split the NLDS’ first two games with the 100-win Giants and returned to Pro Player Stadium for a thrilling Game 3 on Oct. 3. Rodríguez, batting third for Florida, homered in the first for a 2-0 lead.

San Francisco didn’t get to Marlins starter Mark Redman until the sixth, when a two-run rally tied the game. And in the top of the 11th, an unearned run gave the Giants a 3-2 advantage.