1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

AP
7.Willie Mays' Catch
1954, Game 1



"I had it the whole time," Giants center fielder Willie Mays quipped after making his famous catch of a shot off the bat of Cleveland's Vic Wertz. He probably did. Depending on whom you talk to, Wertz hit the ball between 450 feet and 450 miles in the cavernous Polo Grounds, with runners on first and second in the top of the eighth of a 2-2 game. Mays' improbable over-the-shoulder catch saved two runs, and the Indians now had runners on first and third with one out. New York reliever Don Liddle had been brought in to face Wertz but now was being taken out of the game. "Well," he said to incoming pitcher Marv Grissom, "I got my man." Grissom squeezed out of the jam, and the Giants went on to win the Series.

Your feedback

Willie Mays' career stats
Greatest Moments: The Catch
Stark: 'The Catch' best defensive play ever


Previous Next: Joe Carter's HR


Photo Essay: Memorable Moments
Ten indelible images — at the plate, on the mound
and in the field — from the World Series

Send us your moments



Photo Essay: All-Time Team
An entire squad of Mr. Octobers spanning a century
of clutch World Series performers

Send us your top players

Fall Classic Test
Think you're a World Series afficianado? Try your luck with these 10 tough questions, then challenge your friends to match


Baseball Covers
From Ted Williams to Pete Rose, browse every TIME cover related to America's pastime
Best Winners
MLB's all-time greatest teams

Best Losers
We still can't believe they lost
Q&A: Bill James
The author and numbers-cruncher reflects on Yanks-Sox

Yanks-Sox ALCS Diary
Robert Sullivan endures another Boston heartbreak

Baseball Story Archive

GET TIME MAGAZINE — TRY 4 ISSUES FREE!

Copyright © 2003 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Subscribe | Customer Service | Help | Site Map | Search | Contact Us
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Reprints & Permissions | Press Releases | Media Kit

ADVERTISEMENT