1965 World Series
Game 1 was a classic match up between the two odds on favorites for Cy Young in each league and it did not disappoint. Gibson and Jenkins battled, the only blemish for either pitcher coming in the top of the fifth inning when Gibson himself would double, and score on a single by Chuck Schilling to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Gibson would hold the one run lead and shutout going into the bottom of the ninth when McCarver and Mota each singled to start the inning. Gibson would then strike out Ed Brinkman & Carroll Hardy. But Gibson could not close the Phils out as Julian Javier hit an infield single to 3rd to score McCarver and tie the game. After walking Carl Yastrzemski, the Orioles called upon reliever Joe Hoerner who promptly gave up a line drive single off the bat of Brooks Robinson to cap the comeback and give the Phillies a 2-1 win the series opener. Boy Howdy@!
The Phillies jumped out in game 2, when in the bottom of the fourth inning, Willie McCovey connected for a 3 run homer off of Orioles starter Camilo Pascual. Behind Mickey Lolich, the Phils would take a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning. After getting the 1st two outs in the inning, Lolich allowed a single to Clete Boyer and was pulled for reliever Pete Mikkelsen who allowed a walk and a run scoring single to make it a 4-3 game. After an intentional walk, Jerry Nyman was called upon and promptly allowed a 2 run single to Jim McManus to give Baltimore a 5-4 lead, putting them on the verge of a comeback win of their own.
But just as he had the day before, Orioles reliever Joe Hoerner would struggle, allowing leadoff singles to McCovey & Aaron before a McCarver RBI groundout would tie the game. After getting Manny Mota to ground out and intentionally walking Ed Brinkman, pinch hitter Felix Mantilla would play hero as he singled in the go ahead run. Julian Javier would follow that with a run scoring single of his own and give the Phils a 7-5 lead that Len Church would preserve in the ninth to give the Phillies a 2-0 advantage.
In desperate need of a win in game 3, the O's turned to Juan Marichal to right the ship, and he brilliantly carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning against Tommy John. But once more the Phillie bats turned heroic, as Brooks Robinsons two run single would tie the game. It would go to extra innings when Carl Yastrzemski would blast a two run homer of Joe Hoerner to put the Phillies up 4-2, a lead that Don Arlich would make hold up, putting the Phillies on the brink of the world title.
The O's would avert the sweep and stay alive in game 4 as Jim Perry would best Ray Culp, tossing a complete game, one run gem as the Orioles won it 3-1 behind Chuck Schillings 3 hits.
Game five was a rematch of the series opener as Jenkins and Gibson took the hill to battle it out once more. An RBI single by McCarver in the 2nd and a home run by Brinkman in the 5th staked Jenkins to a 2-0 lead that he held until allowing a two run homer to Clete Boyer in the sixth. In the seventh, an RBI single by Chuck Schilling put the O's up 3-2, a lead they would hold heading into the ninth. With runners at the corners and 1 out, Manny Mota would lace a game run scoring single to tie the game. After a fielders choice, once again putting runners on the corner, pinch hitter Eddie Haas would come through with a cue shot up the middle to score the go ahead run. Len Church would shut the door in the ninth as the Phillies held on for another come from behind win to clinch the world series.
Yaz hit .333 in the series and Brooks Robinson hit .381 with 5 RBI. Len Church recorded two scoreless saves and Jenkins hurled 16 innings of 2.25 ERA ball.