Molitor’s excellence rewarded with World Series MVP

When Joe Carter connected with a Mitch Williams delivery that resulted in one of the most celebrated home runs in history, Paul Molitor crossed home plate in front of him with the run that meant ultimate victory for the Blue Jays.

But not even Carter’s legendary blast could overshadow Molitor’s outstanding play in the Fall Classic.

Carter’s three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6 on Oct. 23, 1993, gave Toronto its second straight Fall Classic title. The World Series Most Valuable Player Award, however, went to Molitor after the 37-year-old designated hitter batted .500 against the Phillies.

“It’s victory from the hands of defeat,” Molitor told Scripps Howard News Service at the Blue Jays victory parade. “You can’t believe it’s the World Series. Then you realize: ‘This is what I’m here for.’”

Molitor’s path to October heroics began the previous December when he signed a three-year deal with the Blue Jays, leaving the Brewers after 15 seasons in Milwaukee. Molitor then delivered what might have been the best season of his 21-year career, batting .332 with a big league-best 211 hits, 22 homers, 111 RBI, 121 runs scored and 22 steals.

In the ALCS vs. the White Sox – his first postseason appearance since he recorded 11 hits in the 1982 World Series – Molitor batted .391 with five RBI and seven runs scored. Then in the World Series, Molitor had at least one hit in every game, scored 10 runs and recorded eight RBI while walking three times. Of the 11 outs he recorded at the plate – he reached base once on an error – none came via a strikeout.

Overall, Molitor was on base 17 times in six games. And in the three games in Philadelphia, Molitor played in the field as the designated hitter was used only in American League parks at that time. After appearing in just 23 games at first base in 1993 – his only games where he was not a DH – Molitor played at first base in Game 3 and then held down third base in Game 4 and Game 5, handling his duties without being charged with a single error.

In Game 6, Molitor opened the scoring with a first-inning RBI triple that scored Devon White then later scored himself on a sacrifice fly by Carter. After lining out in the third inning, Molitor homered in the fifth to give Toronto a 5-1 lead. But the Phillies scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead, and Molitor lined out to center field to end the bottom of the seventh.

With Philadelphia still leading 6-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, Rickey Henderson drew a walk leading off the inning against Williams. White followed with a fly out but Molitor then singled to center, leaving runners on first and second and Carter at the plate.

Carter’s subsequent home run sent the Blue Jays and their fans into bedlam. But when the celebration was done, it was Molitor who was recognized as the World Series’ top player.

It was a fitting honor for a player who came to Toronto to win a championship.

“I was just about on second base when the ball went out,” Molitor told Scripps Howard News Service. “That was as close as I’ve been to moonwalking.”

Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum