Bernardo ‘Bernie’ Carbo (born August 5, 1947) is a former outfielder and designated hitter in major league baseball….who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1969–1972)…. St. Louis Cardinals (1972–73, 1979–80)….Boston Red Sox (1974–76, 1977–78)….Milwaukee Brewers (1976)….Cleveland Indians (1978) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1980)….as Carbo batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
In Game 6 (October 21), with two outs and two batters on base in the eighth inning, Roger Moret was scheduled to bat. Darrell Johnson told Carbo to get ready. And I said, “Hey, I’m not going to hit….Juan Beníquez grab a bat, you are going to hit because Sparky’s (Mgr Sparky Anderson) going to go to the lefthander, cuz he goes by the book”….Darrell said….“Well go up and stand on the on deck circle. ….and the P A anouncer introduced me….so, I am still thinking Anderson will come out and take Rawly Eastwick out of the game and go with Will McEnaney”…. but the upmire says….“C’mon, you’ve been announced, you are hitting.So, I go into the batter’s box. I ain’t ready to hit…..and next thing I know, strike one, strike two, ball one, ball two….and then he threw me a cut fastball, a little slider and I took it right out of Bench’s glove…as the ball just dribbled out…..and I stepped out and I’m thinking, Aw man, I almost struck out. I was lucky. I hit the next pitch to center field….and as I rounded first base, I saw César Gerónimo going back…and while rounding second, I knew it was gone….and I am yelling to Pete Rose….don’t you wish you were that strong….and Rose yells back to me….Ain’t this fun Bernie?…..this is what the World Series is all about….this is fun.”
Carbo’s pinch three-run home run tied the score 6-all….paving the way for Carlton Fisk‘s game-winning homer in the bottom of the twelfth for a 7-6 Red Sox victory. Carbo’s pinch homer was his second of the Series….thus tying Chuck Essegian’s 16-year-old record for most in a World Series Game 7….which was watched by an estimated 71 million TV viewers.
