Biggest errors in each World Series appearance

NY Mets Biggest World Series Errors: Timo Perez runs himself into an out

So far we have covered literal errors and a managerial decision that still haunts the franchise. In the 2000 World Series, it was someone’s feet that did the work.

Game 1 between the Mets and New York Yankees was a tight one. In the top of the sixth, Timo Perez led off with a single in the 0-0 tie. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte managed to retire Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza before Todd Zeile stepped to the plate hoping for a different result.

By inches, Zeile missed a home run into left field. Perez, who violated the first rule we learn in baseball as kids—run on anything with two outs and run hard—got on his horse and tried to go from first to home on the near home run.

This was the year 2000. Everything for the last few seasons seemed to go the Yankees’ way. This particular play would have the same result.

Left fielder David Justice got the ball to shortstop Derek Jeter who then threw home to gun down Perez in his attempt to break the tie. It was a momentum killer for the Mets. The very next inning, Justice broke the scoring open with a two-run double.

Although this was only Game 1, the Mets never seemed to recover. They lost this one 4-3 in extras and only managed a single win in the best of five.