Category: default || By jt3y

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bill Mazeroski’s ninth-inning homer enabled the Pittsburgh Pirates to beat the New York Yankees, 10-9, Thursday and win the World Series. He gives his impression of the game in the following dispatch.

By BILL MAZEROSKI
Special to United Press International

PITTSBURGH (UPI) — A cold chill ran down my back a moment after I hit that ball in the ninth inning.

For a second there, I didn’t know quite what to do. But the message finally got to my legs and I set sail.

I can’t begin to describe how I felt when I saw the ball clear the fence. Time seemed to stand still for a minute. Then I ran.

Nobody told me what to do when I went up to hit in the ninth inning. The score was tied, 9-9, and I knew the only important thing was for me to get on somehow.

I let the first pitch go by. I was waiting for a high, fast ball. The second pitch was a fast ball—much like the one I hit for a homer in the first game—and I knew I got good wood on it.

That was some scene when I came into home plate. It looked like half of Forbes Field was there waiting for me. I didn’t care, though.

The umpire (Bill Jackowski) cleared a path for me. I made doggone sure to touch home plate, though. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.

Getting back to the clubhouse was a real struggle, but I enjoyed every minute of the way. All I could see was a lot of faces in front of me. It reminded me of being downtown on New Year’s Eve.

When I finally was able to get into the clubhouse, I felt like I had gone 15 rounds with Floyd Patterson. I was really pooped.

In all honesty, though, we wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the pitching of Vern Law, Elroy Face and Harvey Haddix. Everyone on the ball club did his share.

I’m glad I was able to contribute a bit, too.

(Mazeroski story from The Daily Courier, Connellsville, Oct. 14, 1960. Top: Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, Pa.; middle, The Valley Independent, Monessen. Sorry, no, I don't have The Daily News!)