Sunday, August 2, 2020

MISSING IN ACTION- 1979 WORLD SERIES GAME 2

Today we have the “missing” World Series Game 2 card that Topps decided NOT to include in their 1979 set, and it depicts the commanding Los Angeles Dodger victory over the New York Yankees, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series:



Though Dodger third baseman Ron Cey would seemingly be the hero in this one, hitting a three-run homer and driving in all four runs in the 4-3 win, it would end up being remembered for the battle of young rookie Bob Welch against slugger Reggie Jackson in the ninth inning, with Welch coming out on top, striking out the future Hall of Famer.
With two men on base in the ninth and holding on to the slim one-run lead, Welch was brought in to relieve Terry Forster and got Thurman Munson to fly-out for the second out, bringing Jackson to the plate.
With Postseason heroics Jackson’s specialty, the odds seemed against the young pitcher, even getting to a 3-2 count against one of the greatest Postseason hitters the game has ever seen.
But wouldn’t you know it, while he could have given Jackson first base and concentrated anew against Graig Nettles, Welch attacked Jackson inside and got him to strikeout, giving the Dodgers what seemed to be an insurmountable 2 games to none lead.
Great baseball moment though as a young Yankee fan in Brooklyn at the time, I hated it!