Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians at the Polo Grounds in New York City . . . In the eighth inning, score tied 2–2, Cleveland Indians batter Vic Wertz smashed a deep fly ball to center field, two runners on base who were itching to race for home, because no one could catch that ball, even the Say Hey Kid. But, apparently, God was a baseball fan, still is, but then, on that day in 1954, Willie Mays was his favorite. . .
And he did, catch it, that is. As remarkable, knowing there were runners on base tagging up to race for home, he whirled around and, falling to the ground, he threw a strike to the infield holding the runners to second and third base, runners who simply could not believe what had just happened. Watching “the catch” today, after 65 years as a baseball fan, I still have not witnessed a catch and throw that equals it. Amen.