1969 Major League Baseball World Series

Ron Swoboda, New York Mets, "The Catch"

Game 4 of the 1969 World Series between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, was played at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York, on October 15, 1969.
Mets right fielder Ron Swoboda arguable made one of the greatest catches in World Series history when he executed a diving catch of a low sinking line drive hit by the Orioles perennial gold glove third baseman, and All Star, Brooks Robinson.

It was the top of the ninth inning with Mets ace Tom Seaver and the highly underdog New Yorkers clinging on to a narrow 1-0 lead when Swododa stepped into the baseball history books. With one out and Oriole runners on 1st and third, Brooks Robinson hit a low sinking liner to Swoboda who had been playing straight away. As the ball was heading for the right center gap Swoboda dove and made a spectacular catch probably saving the game for the Mets. Frank Robinson scampered home after the catch to tie the score at 1-1.

The game went into the 10th inning with Orioles Manager Earl Weaver electing to go with right handed relief specialist Dick Hall to start the inning. Hall finished the 1969 regular season with a sparkling 1.92 E.R.A. The first batter he faced was Mets catcher Jerry Grote who promptly doubled to left field to lead off the Mets 10th.

Mets Manager Gil Hodges decided to pull Grote, the potential winning run, for a much faster runner and brought in the speedy outfielder Rod Gaspar to run for him. Hall then intentionally walked Mets infielder Al Weis to put Mets runners on first and second to set up a potential double play.

Tom Seaver was the next scheduled Mets hitter and Hodges pulled him for a pinch hitter, and brought in their back up catcher, the left handed hitting J.C. Martin to bat for Seaver. Weaver then decided to bring in another one of his ace relievers, the left handed Pete Richert to face Martin. Martin then placed a bunt down the first base line forcing pitcher Richert to field it. Richert wheeled to 1st base for what seemed like an easy out, but instead his throw hit Martin in the wrist and bounced down the first base line into right field which allowed Gaspar to easy cross home plate with the Mets winning run, as they scored a 2-1 victory in ten innings putting the Mets into a commanding 3 games to 1 advantage in the World Series.

Weaver and the Orioles immediately protested claiming that Martin had run inside of the 1st base line before he was hit by Richert's throw, but their argument went to no avail as the umpiring crew saw the play differently ruling in favor of the Mets that there was no interference by J.C. Martin on the play. Martin’s walk-off bunt was only the second one in postseason MLB history, the first one occurring in the 1914 World Series between the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ron Swoboda Autographed 8 x 10 color photograph. The photo depicts Swoboda scrambling to his feet after the catch in order to throw the ball into the Mets infield to prevent further advancement by the Oriole base runner. The picture has been beautifully signed in blue sharpie pen with a large and bold signature, "Ron Swoboda, "THE CATCH," '69 W.S. Champs. Choice condition and ready to frame and hang in your favorite room. I obtained this in person and it has been part of my Len Rosa personal collection.

Trivia: The attendance at Shea Stadium for Game #4 of the 1969 World Series was 57,367.