Does anyone remember…. (pitchers, ball, pitcher, athletics)

[Just One of the Guys]

During the 1974 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland A’s. I was a kid at the time and it was game two, the only game the Dodgers won that series. Sal Bando was at 3rd base. I forgot who the batter was, but whoever it was, he hit a towering fly ball to centerfield. Jimmy Wynn was playing centerfield for the Dodgers and had a bad throwing elbow which was going to require offseason surgery. Joe Ferguson who was playing right field came over from right field, caught the ball in front of Jimmy Wynn and threw it to Steve Yeager who tagged out Sal Bando who was tagging up for a double play!! I thought it was pretty dramatic play at the time. But I have not ever heard or seen that play again.

[Grandstander]

Sunday, October 13, 1974 at Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Oakland Athletics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 0
Los Angeles Dodgers 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 x 3 6 1

PITCHERS: OAK - Blue, Odom (8)
LAD - Sutton, Marshall (9)

WP - Don Sutton
LP - Vida Blue
SAVE - Mike Marshall

HOME RUNS: OAK - none
LAD - Ferguson


You must be misremembering portions of the game. In Game Two of the '74 WS, Sal Bando popped out in the first, popped out in the 4th, lined out in the sixth, and was hit by a pitch in the ninth, advanced to third on Jackson's double, and scored along with Reggie on Rudi's single. Rudi was pinch run for by Finley speed specialist Herb Washington...who promptly got picked off first for the second out of the inning. At no point in the game was Bando thrown out at any base or at the plate.

No Oakland baserunners were thrown out at the plate in that game. LA turned one double play, and that was on an infield grounder. Joe Ferguson was indeed a hero of that 3-2 win, contributing a two run homerun and a stolen base, but those were not the heroics you are recalling.

This will provide you with a complete accounting of that game:
October 13, 1974 World Series Game 2, Athletics at Dodgers - Baseball-Reference.com

[Grandstander]

I found the play that you are referencing. Your details are correct, Ferguson threw out Bando at the plate as he tried to score after the catch. It took place in the top of the 8th inning of Game One of the Series, which was won by Oakland 3-2.

It wasn't a good day on the basepaths for Bando, earlier he had been caught stealing.

[Just One of the Guys]

I was only a child when it happened, but I never heard anything of that play again. I was beginning to wonder if it actually happened or was it in my head. Thanks!

I do remember Steve Yeager on his knees holding the ball up at the plate on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I always assumed it was from that play.

[Grandstander]

Bill Buckner, Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers - 10.21.74 - SI Vault


I found the Sports Illustrated cover picture which you referenced.

[Just One of the Guys]

Cool, now if you could provide me with footage of the actual throw by Joe Ferguson to Yeager that would be even better!!! just kidding!! :-)