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Oct. 11, 1968
October 11, 1968

Cardinals win World Series


The St. Louis Cardinals have won the World Series for the second year in a row. Playing in front of a packed house at Busch Memorial Stadium, the Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers, 1-0. Yesterday’s Game 7 was do-or-die for both teams, as each had won three games in the series. [1]

Neither team managed to score until the ninth inning, when Cardinal third baseman Mike Shannon scored a solo home run. However, a close call came at the bottom of the seventh, when Jim Northrup’s smash to center field was caught by center fielder Curt Flood. [2] Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson is likely to be named World Series MVP again for his stellar performance during the series.

The Cardinals’ victory was celebrated with much fanfare in St. Louis, much like after last year’s victory. Things were not so cheery in Detroit. The Tigers’ defeat was blow to many in the beleaguered city, hoping for some good news after a nuclear disaster and riots struck the city two years ago. Yet, the series succeeded in uniting Detroiters of all races, classes, and religions, in rooting for their home team. [3]

[1] In OTL, the Tigers won four games to three: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_World_Series
[2] In OTL, Flood missed the ball, causing the Tigers to score a double, win the game, and the World Series. Don Wert's single in the ninth was also butterflied away.
[3] YMMV, but the Tigers’ win is credited by some with bringing together a divided city: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Detroit_Tigers_season#1968_World_Series and https://wdet.org/posts/2017/07/28/8...he-1968-world-series-after-the-1967-uprising/

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