FOURTY YEARS AGO, RECORD CAN ONLY BE EQUALED

By on October 25, 2013

Knowles, a supporter of the Dunedin Children’s Christmas Fund, smiles at Dunedin Country Club on Saturday November 10, 2012. Knowles played in the Children’s Fund golf tournament held every year in Dunedin. (Eddie Michel photo)

This past Monday October 21st it was the 40th anniversary of the setting of one of the two World Series pitching records that can never be broken only equaled.

    The first of course is Don Larson’s perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, this second one happened during game seven of the 1973 World Series.

    That day 40-years ago saw a left handed reliever for the Oakland A’s Darold Knowles come running out of the bullpen for the seventh time with two down in the top of the ninth.

    You see fans Knowles had already appeared in the first six games of the series against the New York Mets and now he was called on again to twirl his relief magic.

    “I was in the bullpen and the fans were going wild, they had already taken my hat when I went to warm up,” said Knowles when this writer interviewed him at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater for the AP’s 25th Anniversary story.   “When I went into the game I grabbed Catfish Hunters hat, Knowles continued, “Of course that hat was gone during the celebration.”

    Knowles came into relieve future Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers who had gone 3 1/3 innings in relief during the seventh game.

    The lefty Knowles got the final out of the 5-2 A’s win to clinch the seven game series for the A’s and the second of three consecutive World Series Championship Banners was flying in Oakland.

    As to some interesting facts about Knowles and the series Knowles was the only player to appear in all seven games and not get a hit, he never came to the plate.

    Second his series record was 0-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA allowing four hits while walking five and striking out five.  Then last but not least Knowles never appeared in the 1972 or 1974 series.

    Some say records are made to be broken but Larson and Knowles records can only be equaled.

    So until then…

Categories: Baseball, Featured, Other Side of Sports (Too), Sports
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