Oct 23, 2008 3:54 pm US/Eastern
The CW Philly To Air Game 6 Of 1980 World Series
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Die-hard baseball fans will have the opportunity to relive what the 65,838 fans who jammed into Veterans Stadium on October 21, 1980 experienced this Saturday, October 25th at 3 p.m. when The CW Philly 57 airs a special rebroadcast of the classic Game 6 of the 1980 World Series Philadelphia Phillies vs. Kansas City Royals which gave the Phillies their first, and so far, only World Series Championship ever with the 4-1 win.
This CW Philly version of an on-air pep rally will be followed by a special edition of Eyewitness News on both stations at 7 p.m., then by the Toyota Phillies Phever special hosted by CBS 3 Sports Director Beasley Reece airing on both Channel 3 and The CW Philly 57 at 7:30 p.m.
This rebroadcast of Game 6 will treat viewers to some of the most nerve-wracking, intense and memorable moments of the 1980 World Series which occurred in the last two innings of this game. Phillies' ace, Steve Carlton began the game in dominating fashion, holding the Royals scoreless through 7 innings. But after allowing the first two batters to reach base in the top of the eighth inning, Philadelphia manager Dallas Green inserted veteran closer Tug McGraw to finish the job. McGraw got out of the eighth inning only allowing one of Carlton's base runners to score on a sacrifice fly.
But McGraw struggled in the top of the ninth, giving up a walk and two singles. The Royals had the bases loaded with only one out. The atmosphere was tense. Frank White was the next batter and McGraw got him to pop up a foul ball on the first base side. Catcher Bob Boone chased it down and it appeared that he would make a routine catch. But as he was catching it, the ball popped out of his glove. An alert Pete Rose, also converging on the ball from first base, snatched the ball before it hit the ground to record the second out of the inning. That play remains one of the most-talked about foul pop-outs in baseball history. Knowing he only needed one more out, McGraw was invigorated and went after Willie Wilson 1-2 early in the count. The next pitch was a fastball that struck Wilson out swinging at 11:29 p.m. as McGraw leaped into the air and the crowd erupted into wild pandemonium as the Phillies captured the only World Series title in franchise history to date.
The 1980 World Series had many exciting moments, but Game 6 was arguably the most pivotal and memorable game of the series. And every Phillies fan most likely remembers where they were when "that pitch" took place.
The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) is part of the CBS Stations Group.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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