“Something had to give” in Game 7….as the Yankees had lost back-to-back World Series only once in their history to the New York Giants in 1921–22….and were in danger of doing so again….after having lost to the Dodgers in 1963….and the Cardinals had never lost a World Series Game 7.
Bob Gibson pitched his third start in this Series on two days rest….as he was tired but deliberately worked fast to hide his fatigue from the Yankees….when in the bottom of the fourth the Cardinals scored three times….as again the Yankees botched a double play when Linz’s throw to first went wide….and Bill White scored….then Tim McCarver scored from third on a double steal. Al Downing came in for the fifth after Stottlemyre developed shoulder stiffness….and Lou Brock hit his first pitch for a home run….and two more runs made it 6–0.
Mantle cut the gap in half with a three-run homer in the sixth….while adding to his own record for total home runs in the World Series. Ken Boyer responded with a home run in the seventh that pushed the lead to 7–3….when Bobby Richardson broke a World Series hit record in the seventh with his 13th hit….which later tied by Brock in 1968 and Marty Barrett in 1986. Gibson continued to tire, but manager Keane left him in….that’s when Ken Boyer’s brother Clete hit a home run for New York with one out in the ninth….making the score 7–4….then pinch-hitter Johnny Blanchard struck out….and Linz hit another home run….and pulling the Yanks to within two, 7–5….but the next batter, Richardson, popped up to second baseman Dal Maxvill and the Cardinals won the Series.
The 1964 Cardinals were the only team between 1962 and 1972 to win the World Series when owning home-field advantage.
