This day in baseball history — after the deluge

On Monday, October 15, 1962, the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants resumed the World Series after four days off. The two teams had last played on Wednesday, October 10. Since then, there had been a travel day and then three consecutive rain-outs in San Francisco. You can get an idea of the magnitude of the storms that caused the postponements, and catch a glimpse of “Candlestick Pond,” in the video at the end of this post.

The hiatus provided both teams the opportunity to re-set their pitching rotation. The Giants opted for Billy Pierce, the Game 3 starter who probably would have started Game 6 even without the postponements. The Yankees turned to Whitey Ford, who had started Games 1 and 4, and would have been held until Game 7 had the Series proceded as scheduled. Pierce would be working on seven days of rest; Ford on six.

With the Yankees up 3 games to 2, the Giants needed a win to remain alive. In the fourth inning, they scored all the runs they eventually would need to obtain it.

With one out, Felipe Alou singled and Willie Mays followed with a walk. Ford, he of the great pick-off move to first base, tried to pick Alou off of second. His wild throw enabled Alou to score and Mays to race to third. A Cepeda double drove home Mays, and a Davenport single plated Cepeda. Ford escaped further damage, but the Giants were up 3-0.

In the top of the fifth, a Maris home run, his first of the Series, cut the deficit to 3-1. However, the Giants scored twice in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Kuenn, Hiller, Alou, and Cepeda did the deed. Cepeda had been hitless going into Game 6 (but hadn’t played in two of the earlier games). His RBIs in the fourth and fifth innings were the first of the Series for the man who had driven in 114 runs during the regular season and 142 the year before.

After that, it was smooth sailing for Pierce. He allowed no more hits until the eighth, when Clete Boyer doubled. Tony Kubek drove Boyer home with a two out single, but that was it. The final score was Giants 5, Yankees 2.

Pierce pitched a complete game and allowed only three hits. The Series was level at three games apiece. Weather permitting, it would be decided the following day.

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