The Legend Of "Mick The Quick".

We return to the summer of 1978, the season of perhaps baseball's most amazing pennant chase ever.  As late as July 19 the Boston Red Sox had surged to a 14 game lead over the New York Yankees. All seemed lost in the Bronx but as is well chronicled, Boston's lead went up in smoke.

The collapse included a 4 game blowout-filled sweep at Fenway Park by the Yankees in September that was fittingly dubbed "The Boston Massacre". After the last game of the regular season was played, both teams stood deadlocked at 99 wins. A coin flip in September had decided that a one game playoff would be held at Fenway Park if necessary.

October 2^nd , 1978 would be the day to settle what a season full of games could not. Tension was high, as were expectations and hope for both teams. Even so, incredible dramatics and memories to last a lifetime are impossible to predict. You simply hope to be in the right place at the right time and get to be a witness. That afternoon became such a day. (Fortunately for us today, our technology has provided us with ESPN Classic. If you have never had the opportunity to see this game, I highly suggest you tune in should you happen to catch it being aired.)

The game itself was intense. Ron Guidry, who finished at 25-3 that year (1.74 ERA, 248 Ks), faced off against ex-Yankee Mike Torrez on short rest. He pitched well but did not have his best stuff that day. Torrez himself pitched fabulously for Boston and he took a 2-0 lead into the 7^th inning. The day was very bright and a mid afternoon start made the setting sun treacherous for the outfielders as the game progressed. Yankees right fielder Lou Piniella had an awful time of things and was involved in 2 miraculous plays that should have gone in Boston's favor, but somehow did not. 

 After all was said and done everything else seems secondary because the only thing most remember is the homerun hit by Bucky Dent.

While this was going on, who, but none other than Mickey Rivers, was in the on-deck circle? He had been lending Bucky his bats and noticed that Dent had taken one that he knew had a "crack" in it.  He called over to Dent and said, "Hey Homey. You're using the wrong bat, man. That bat's cracked."  If you ever see the game replayed on television, watch as the Yankees' batboy delivers a new bat to Dent courtesy of the "observant" Mickey Rivers. Notice how Bucky looks the bat over as he sizes it up. Anyone who has played baseball knows of the superstitious significance of swinging a new bat. This single act alone likely changed Dent's entire mindset at the plate.

                                          

Although the game was far from over the Boston faithful immediately fell silent. Both teams staged late rallies, but as we all know the Yankees held on and won by a final score of 5-4. Boston starter Mike Torrez later lamented that he had not asked for warm-up pitches after the unexpected delay.    

Bucky "Bleep-ing" Dent. Yes, the Yankees shortstop hit the homerun that to this day breaks the hearts of Boston fans, but he couldn't have done it without Mickey Rivers. The entire situation and its outcome hinged on his presence and decision-making. To make matters a million times worse, some time after the game Rivers was asked about the bat substitution. He jokingly quipped that he had given the light-hitting Dent a corked bat, the "gamer", but was he joking?  Knowing that the bat would never be found at this point, it's more than possible that this was his way of letting the truth out, further rubbing salt in the wounds of Boston fans.  Even if he was fabricating the occurrence there are still many who swear that he and Dent cheated. I can't say that I blame them. I am quite sure that more than a few who know of this story in New England also refer to him as Mickey "Bleep-ing" Rivers to this day.  

Just think about what transpired. All at once: Bitter rivals, one game playoff, borrowed bats, foul ball off Dent's foot, delay in the action, quick thinking by Rivers, no warm-up tosses, historic homerun by powerless shortstop, and allegations of a corked bat? You just can't make this stuff up.

 Mickey Rivers, AKA  "Mick The Quick".  I'll say he was.