ABC’s Al Michaels, Reggie Jackson and Tim McCarver cover all things 1985 World Series between the St Louis Cardinals verses the Kansas City Royals….as they interview key Royal’s players including 3B George Brett, P Bret Saberhagen and Mgr Dick Howser, in his last game and last interview before his untimely death from a brain tumor within the following off-season….plus interviews with Cards Mgr Whitey Herzog….regarding all things 1985 World Series…as seen in this video herewith.
Two missed calls affected the outcome of Game 6….when in the 4th inning of the 0–0 game….Royals’ Frank White was called out on an attempted steal of 2nd base….but replays show he had beaten the tag….then the following batter, Pat Sheridan, hit a single to right field….which would have scored White. Then in the bottom of the 9th inning with St. Louis leading 1–0….Royals’ Jorge Orta led off with a ground ball to Cardinal 1B Jack Clark….who flipped the ball to Cardinal pitcher Todd Worrell covering first…..as first base umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe….but television replays showed that Worrell beat him to the base…..when, after Clark and catcher Darrell Porter let a foul pop drop between them….Royals’ Steve Balboni made them pay for their mistake with a single to left moving Orta to 2nd base…..as Jim Sundberg’s attempted sacrifice bunt, instead of moving up the runners, ended up getting Orta thrown out at third. With Hal McRae batting next, Cardinals’ catcher and 1982 World Series MVP Darrell Porter….who had played four seasons with the Royals….allowed a passed ball allowing both Kansas City runners to move up a base….as McRae was then intentionally walked to load the bases…..and that is when Dane Iorg….who had played parts of eight seasons with the Cardinals before being sold to the Royals in the previous season….would then pinch hit for Dan Quisenberry….and his single to right field drove in two runs giving Kansas City a 2–1 win. The only out recorded by the Cardinals in the inning was Orta at 3rd instead of 1st….and years of debate between Cardinals’ and Royals’ fans have followed over what might have happened if Orta had been put out at first instead of third.
The following night during Game 7….with Denkinger behind home plate….the Cardinals suffered an epic meltdown….as ace pitcher John Tudor got off to a terrible start by giving up five earned runs and four walks in only 21⁄3 innings…..plus, ABC television cameras caught St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog screaming and belittling Denkinger from the Cardinals’ dugout throughout the contest…..as Cards P Joaquín Andújar exploded twice over Denkinger’s calls at the plate during the 5th inning….while finally being ejected with Herzog after a heated argument over Denkinger’s strike zone. Kansas City would take the series with an 11–0 shutout. Disgusted by their performances, Tudor punched an electrical fan with his pitching hand….and Andújar vandalized a toilet in Royals Stadium’s clubhouse.
