Biggest errors in each World Series appearance

Loose lips may sink ships but it’s big errors in the World Series that can ruin your championship parade plans. In all five trips to the World Series the New York Mets have made, there has been at least one major error that either helped them win it all or swung the momentum the other way.

From on the field with the glove to the manager’s office before the game, these are the biggest errors that either hurt or helped the Mets in the World Series.

NY Mets Biggest World Series Errors: J.C. Martin’s bunt in 1969

Up 2 games to 1 in the series against the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles back in 1969, the Mets needed all of the help they could get to defy the odds and win it all. This meant lucky bounces, big breaks, and the occasional big error.

In the bottom of the tenth in Game 4, lady luck was on their side. Tom Seaver had just wrapped up tossing 10 innings of one-run ball. In the bottom of the tenth, Jerry Grote led off with a double. Al Weis then drew an intentional walk which put two on with nobody out for a pinch-hitter to step up to the plate and end the 1-1 tie.

Seaver was the man due up at the plate. Despite a successful career hitting, Gil Hodges pulled him from the game for the light-hitting J.C. Martin. Seaver could have very well stayed at the plate to do what Martin’s job was: sacrifice the runners with a bunt. However, with Seaver likely done for the day anyway, we can’t question this managerial decision.

Nor can we question it because of the way it worked out. Pete Richert had just entered the game to pitch for Baltimore. As fresh as his pitching arm may have been, the same cannot be said about his throwing shoulder.

Martin laid down a perfect bunt which Richert fielded. His throw to first base was wild, ricocheted loose, and allowed pinch runner Rod Gaspar to score from second base.

The Mets won, took a 3-1 series lead, and set themselves up for the final nail in the Baltimore coffin the next time the two teams would face each other.