One of the most memorable and hotly debated plays in Cardinals history always will be the two-run triple by Detroit’s Jim Northrup on a drive that sailed over the head of center fielder Curt Flood in Game 7 of the 1968 World Series.
The contentious question remains: Would Flood have caught the ball if he hadn’t stumbled?
In the top of the seventh inning of the scoreless Game 7 on Oct. 10, 1968, at Busch Stadium, Northrup, a left-handed batter, faced Bob Gibson with Norm Cash on second base, Willie Horton on first and two outs. Northrup lined Gibson’s first offering to center field.
Flood initially broke in for the catch. Realizing his mistake, Flood tried to move back and to his right. As he did, his spikes appeared to catch in the turf. (Some say he slipped on a slick spot in the grass.) He briefly stumbled but didn’t fall. Though he recovered quickly, it was too late to catch the ball, which fell behind him, several yards in front of the warning track.
Both runners scored and Northrup raced to third base. The next batter, Bill Freehan, drove in Northrup with a double, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Detroit went on to a 4-1 victory, winning its first World Series title in 23 years and stunning the defending champion Cardinals, who had taken a 3-games-to-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Boxscore
Flood, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, was labeled the goat because many thought he would have caught Northrup’s liner if not for the slip. Others, though, have said Northrup’s shot was so well-struck it would have eluded Flood regardless of his stumble.
A film clip of the play on YouTube shows Northrup hit the ball hard, but it landed in a spot where a center fielder (especially one of Flood’s skill) likely would be able to race back and make a catch.
Because a strong case can be made for either side, the argument likely will endure for as long as baseball has fans.
In his report for the Oct. 29, 1968, edition of The Sporting News, Dick Kaegel described this exchange between reporters and Flood, who sat on the edge of a table and sipped from a bottle of champagne that was intended for a Cardinals celebration:
Did you lose the ball in the crowd?
Yes.
Was the ground still soggy out there?
Yes.
Could you have caught the ball if you hadn’t slipped?
I think so. Yes. Look, I don’t want to make alibis. I should have made the play but I didn’t, and that’s all there is to it.
In the visiting team locker room, Northrup was asked whether Flood should have caught the ball.
“The guys on the bench all said he wouldn’t have caught it even if he hadn’t stumbled,” Northrup said in The Sporting News report. “I couldn’t really say myself.”
In the Associated Press accounts of the game, Flood said, “I couldn’t see it against the shirts (in the crowd). The reason I started in, I just didn’t know where the ball was. A ball hit right at me gives me trouble in day games. If I hadn’t slipped, I might have got it.”
Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst told the Associated Press, “I’m sure he could have caught it if he hadn’t charged in on it.”
In a tribute to Northrup after his passing, longtime Detroit sports columnist Jerry Green of FOXSportsDetroit.com reported Northrup had told him, “Flood never could have caught the ball.”
Denny McLain, ace of the 1968 Tigers staff, said in a June 8, 2011, interview with Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press, “I never once bought the argument that (Flood) misplayed the ball like everyone says. There was no way he was catching that.”
Yet, in his autobiography “Nobody’s Perfect,” McLain said, “Curt Flood simply blew it. Now, here’s a super outfielder, but he just couldn’t find the ball.”
In his autobiography “The Way It Is,” Flood barely mentions the play. “I attracted unfavorable attention by missing a catch that might have been easy for me if I had not been completely bushed,” Flood said.
Author Stuart L. Weiss, in his book “The Curt Flood Story” asked, “Why he was ‘bushed’ he did not say … That could have affected him after he started running back and to his right for the ball, but it could not have accounted for his initial misjudgment.”
It had rained in St. Louis the day before Game 7. Flood’s teammates have indicated Flood slipped on a spot still wet from the rain.
“As soon as the ball left the bat, I was confident Flood would track it down, as he had done on so many similar occasions over the years,” Bob Gibson said in his autobiography “Stranger to the Game.” “This time, though, Curt’s first step was toward the infield, and when he realized he had underestimated the hit, he turned sharply, and for a split second lost his footing on the wet grass.”
Cardinals catcher Tim McCarver told journalist William Mead, “The playing conditions that day were very bad in the outfield. Curt broke initially to his right and one or two steps in, and then he got stuck in the mud. When he got stuck, his quickness wasn’t there, and Northrup’s ball, which was well-hit, got past him.”
In comments to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the game, Northrup supported that version. He played center field for the Tigers in Game 7, so he knew about the conditions.
“It was muddy out there,” Northrup said. “Most of the field was dry, but it was muddy in center field because of yesterday’s rain. The sun never hit center field. The grass and dirt didn’t get a chance to dry out.”
Often overshadowed is the fact Northrup had a terrific World Series overall. He hit a grand slam off Larry Jaster in Game 6. In the seven games, Northrup had eight RBI, seven hits, two home runs and four runs scored.
I sure would like to know where Dick Kaegle is now. I met him in 1966 at the Am Legion World Series in my hometown Orangeburg SC and thought he was a terrific fellow and went on as I recall to head The Sporting News.
I attended the Detroit part of the ’68 Series but had to watch the last game on TV, just getting back from Det in time.
Tom:
Thanks for your comment and for reading my blog. It’s pretty cool that you got to attend the 1968 World Series.
Dick Kaegel is covering the Kansas City Royals for MLB.com. Here is a link to a story about him and how he had a liver transplant:
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111123&content_id=26032706&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc
Mark
Flood stepped forward as any fielder would to gain momentum to backtrack. He may or may not have caught the ball, but the fact remains….he didn’t. Northrup knocked the “crap” out of it as he stated himself. I blame Brock’s foolish lead off first for hurting the Cards in that series despite his otherwise outstanding performance. When the dust settled, the Tigers proved themselves the better team.
Brock getting thrown out at home in game 5 at Detroit with St Louis on the verge of finishing off the series was a huge play, and a controversial one as well. Still can’t tell on replays now whether his foot caught the corner of home before Freehan tagged him. But he should have slid. Willie Horton made the throw of his life, got a perfect bounce on the hit and his momentum was just right getting to the ball. Nine times out of 10 Brock was safe without a perfect throw.
But when I watched the replay of game 7 on ESPN Classic a few years ago, Brock was safe when Lolich picked him off. He just kept running and was in there at second Didn’t even tag him. But back then since he was picked off the umpires called him out. Too bad no replay then.
I was very fortunate to have been to the 6th and 7th game in St.Louis in the 68 world series and had a great seat right behind home plate looking straight out to center field and can tell you that my feeling is that Flood misjudged the fly ball hit right at him, which anyone knows who played the outfield, especially center field, when it is on a line right at the center fielder it can be hard to judge and that is exactly what happened to Curt Flood that day. And I might add THANKS TO “Ducky” Schofield for the tickets for those to games!!! Ducky was the father of Dick who played some in that 7th game.
Thank you for sharing your insights into the Curt Flood play. It’s valuable to hear from someone who was there and had such a great view of the play.
It’s hard to imagine what would have happened had Flood caught the ball.
Gibson & Lolich probably would have both kept pitching for who knows how long.
Thanks for your comment, John.
I think Shannon’s homer in the 9th would have been a historic walk off 7th game winner in that case :)
Looking at the clip, it seems pretty clear Flood would have caught it had he not broken in or slipped. I think it is likely he lost the ball initially in the white shirted crowd in a day game.
One thing that has gone unsaid, everywhere I have read about this game, is the Horton single. While it was hit fairly hard, I can’t help but wonder if a really good third baseman would have made that play. The ball was well-placed between the SS and 3B, but a Boyer or someone like that could well have made the play to end the inning.
It also seems like Gibson lost his concentration or got tired after shutting them out for 6 2/3. Four straight hits – with 2 outs no less – probably only happened a handful of times in his career.
On paper, the Cardinals were better. The Tigers had tremendous pitching but their offense was really weak for a pennant winner. Yes it was a historically bad year for offense, but they still were not very good on offense. Moving Mickey Stanley to SS for the Series was a key move, and it also got Northrup in the lineup all the time.
Good points. Curt Flood misplay gets the attention, but several other factors added up to contribute to that defeat.
Shannon was a good athlete by all accounts – Dan Devine said he was a Heisman candidate as a running QB had he stayed at Missouri – but I don’t think he was a real good third baseman, from what little I have seen and read. Certainly no Ken Boyer, who should be in the Hall of Fame. He was better than Ron Santo. But he didn’t get the sympathy vote for his unfortunate amputation and playing for the Cubs. Boyer was a little better fielder, better hitter, and faster.
I am always amazed that guys like Boyer get forgotten. Dale Murphy is another guy who should be in the Hall. Two-time MVP, Gold Glove CFer, good speed, yet Jim Rice and Andre Dawson recently got in and he isn’t? And Murphy was never even close to getting in. Ridiculous.
Rice’s numbers were hugely inflated by playing at Fenway, something like 50 points higher at home. Dawson was a contemporary who was not better than Murph and only won an MVP after putting up the huge numbers in 87 at Wrigley when the Cubs finished last. Ozzie should have been the MVP in 1987. Plus by all accounts Murphy was great in the clubhouse and a genuinely good guy. Rice wasn’t. Dawson was often surly as well.
I guess Murphy hasn’t kept himself in the public eye with self-promotion, bad behavior or as a coach or announcer, and has been forgotten. Plus, the massive numbers of the juiced era right after he retired made his numbers (398 homers?) look lesser. But he was a great player who waked a lot and had little protection in the lineup around him. He was my favorite non-Cardinal player.
One of my favorite stories is that when Mike Shannon was a quarterback at Christian Brothers Prep his star halfback was Dick Musial, Stan’s son.
Another thing I have noticed in seeing the replay of that 7th game is that Brock was safe stealing 2nd in the 6th inning. Lolich picked him off, but Lou kept running and beat the tag pretty clearly imo. Then Flood singled, which probably would have put St Louis up 1-0 and changed the whole complexion of the game. Instead, FLood then got picked off too which killed any momentum.
Twenty years later, Tommy Herr was also wrongly called out on a pickoff at first base in game 7 at Minnesota. Not only was Herr clearly safe getting back, but Kent Hrbek also clearly interfered with Herr.
Too bad there was no video replay in 1967 or ’87…the Cardinals might well have 2 more titles. Despite the injuries to Clark and Pendleton and the unearned “dome field advantage” Minnesota enjoyed, St. Louis was clearly better than the Twins when at full strength.
It would be fascinating to have the chance to ask Bob Gibson whether he would pitch any differently, or whether the batters react any differently, to pitching with a 1-0 lead in Game 7 rather than a scoreless tie in the seventh.
Yes it certainly would have been a different game. It is almost like the Northrup hit shell-shocked the Cards, Gibson and everyone. He had been so automatic in winning 7 straight World Series games that people expected Gibson to be perfect. Plus he had been breezing through that game until two out in the 7th.
In a way, you could argue that loss set up the next 12-13 years of frustration for the Cardinals. A few years later it seems the tempestuous Mr. Busch just didn’t care about winning and was trying to save money with some ridiculous deals. They got rid of Cepeda, then later made some real mind-bogglingly bad trades (Carlton, Reuss, Flood, Reggie Smith to LA, McBride to the Phillies, etc) that cut the heart out of the team and cost the Cards multiple NL East titles in the 1970s.
Had they just kept Carlton and Reuss, there is no telling how many banners St. Louis might have added in the 1970s and even 80s. The Cards didn’t have a good lefty starter again until Tudor in 1985.
I think Mozeliak, the Miller trade aside, has done an outstanding job as GM.
I still feel the same as I earlier posted. Being a Tiger fan (14 at the time) I can
honestly say I still have no idea If Flood would have caught it had he not mis judged it and slipped. He was a golden glover. I do think the ball was hit a lot harder than Flood thought. Given that it was a line drive, I’m thinking it would have still gotten over his head. We’ll never know, will we?
You’re right. It’s one of the great baseball debates. Everything gets magnified in a Game 7.
Looking at the clip, the ball did not land very far behind Flood even after his misplay. Certainly the ball was crushed, but I think he catches it if he doesn’t break in and slip as well.
You know, in the 2006 World Series, a Tiger LFer slipped and misplayed a fly ball (Monroe or Thames?) late in the World Series in St. Louis to help the Cardinals win it all. Karma? I don’t know, St. Louis was likely going to win it anyway in 06, but quite an INCREDIBLE coincidence, don’t you think?
Wonderfully rich World Series history between Cardinals and Tigers from 1934 to 1968 to 2006.
Brock getting thrown out at home in game 5 may have given Detroit a lift to stage their historic comeback. Had he been safe may have put game out of reach. I always thought Brock was very arrogant in not sliding. Cards felt they were far superior to Tigers (or any AL team at the time). Lolich was the difference by far. Probably my second favorite WS with 75 my favorite.
Thanks, John. I got to interview Lou Brock once, about 20 years ago, and he still was adamant then that he was safe and that his best option was to go in standing. I do agree that the play seemed to turn the momentum of the World Series in favor of the Tigers.
Great story. I do remember Lou being very adamant on being safe on that play.
Replay not so conclusive. I’m still not clear on why he felt his best option was going in standing up when a hard slide would have secured the run.
Horton made a terrific throw which I don’t think Brock anticipated and Freehan
was a Michigan Football player! Love the site.
Horton was not known as a particularly good outfielder or thrower. But if you watch that replay, the single was very hard hit, he fielded a perfect one hop bounce right in stride, and made the throw of his life. Because of the limited camera angles then, you can’t tell if Brock got his foot in there on the corner of the plate or not.
If that single had been hit a little less hard, or taken a less perfect hop, Brock is safe for sure. Just a lot of things had to go right for Detroit on that play to throw out the game’s fastest base runner. That certainly changed the momentum of the Series. I think St. Louis has a very good chance to win game 5 and wrap it up then and there if Brock is safe and a potential big inning continues.
I was looking up the game 5 play by play from the baseball-reference.com site from the 1968 World Series. Interestingly, Mickey Lolich started the winning 3-run rally for Detroit in the bottom of the 7th with a 1 out single. And he was just a career .110 hitter (hit .114 in 1968) with no home runs. Had Briles retired the light-hitting Lolich for out two, they probably get out of the inning unscathed, and maybe go on to win it all. Amazing how such a bad hitter got a huge hit. Have to wonder if Briles lost his concentration on Lolich.
Southpaw Joe Hoerner came on in relief of Nellie Briles and gave up three hits and a walk without retiring a batter. His stats for 1968 were excellent, but he had a rough game 5. That turned the series around as well.
One can probably question lifting Briles in the 7th with a 3-2 lead and one on, 8 outs from winning it all – and especially one can question keeping Hoerner in after not getting lefty-hitting McAuliffe out with RH hitters Stanley and Kaline coming up.
He walked Stanley to bring up Kaline, their best hitter by far, with the bases loaded. And he hit a 2-run single to put Detroit ahead for good, 4-3. St. Louis never led again in the series. Amazingly, they lost the last 2 at home as well.
I have heard a lot of talk about how the Tiger team galvanized the city after all the riots in Detroit that summer. Like the Boston Marathon bombing 45 years later, the Cardinals ran into a WS opponent with extra motivation. Of course, in 2013 St. Louis had several key injuries that cost them too.
Excellent insights. Thank you. The notion that Mickey Lolich hurt the Cardinals with a key hit, as well as with his superb pitching, offers a fresh detail. Good point, too, on Joe Hoerner being kept in too long. In retrospect, he shouldn’t have faced Al Kaline.
There should have never even been a game 7. The Cardinals lost the series by blowing game 5.
In Game 5, needing a win to clinch, Cardinals scored 3 in the first and were shut out the rest of the game. Lou Brock was thrown out at the plate in the fifth.
One thing is sure about the home plate incident, If Lou Brock had slid we wouldn’t be having this discussion, safe or out. At the point of Northup’s hit, Gibson had given up one run in 24 and 2/3 innings. Pretty Remarkable.
Thanks for commenting. In his book “Stranger to the Game,” Bob Gibson said of Lou Brock’s Game 5 decision to try to score standing rather than sliding, “I’m still reluctant to second-guess the greatest baserunner in Cardinals history on an instinct play such as that one, but in my heart I wish Lou had slid.”
[…] years, folks debated whether Flood should have caught Northrup’s drive. The consensus is that he should have, and […]
[…] years, folks debated whether Flood should have caught Northrup’s drive. The consensus is that he should have, and […]
[…] years, folks debated whether Flood should have caught Northrup’s drive. The consensus is that he should have, and […]
I used to work at the old stadium. MI & TRUMBELL… CF was DEEP: was 440 in center field. I’ve seen Jim shoot line drives over there. One of the great hitters in Detroit tiger history. Well, at least, my history.
I call em Mr. GranSlam and he? YOU look fast on Mr. Northrup. He had a swing that, for a few years, sensed similar to a favorite of mine ZTW,
Thank you for the insights.
Brock and Flood made a slew of mistakes in Games 5 and 7, both of which were very winnable. Not sure which was worse — Brock not sliding into the plate or Flood breaking the wrong way then taking a bad angle to the ball. If either makes the correct play, the outcome is almost certainly different. Bottom line: Brock thrived on speed and instincts and paid little attention to fundamentals. And Flood was overrated at the plate (low OBP and SB totals) and in the field (below-average arm).
Thank you for your insights.
The seventh game of the ’68 World Series is most amazing for what didn’t happen.
I’m a bit too young to remember it in real time, but definitely remember arguing with my one year junior brother, over who was the “best in baseball”: Bob Gibson! Denny McClain! BOB GIBSON! DENNY McCLAIN! We argued every week, and for June and July of 1968 I was the winner. Five straight shutouts. Gibby literally “broke baseball.”
And the man was such a class act. To this day, 50+ years later, my role model of how to be a man is Bob Gibson. I’ll likely never meet him, and apparently this kind of praise is really hard for him to accept, but as a young, left handed, white, upper middle class intellectual, Bob Gibson was my idol. It makes little sense, yet he taught me, at a young age, that if you are going to do something do it well.
Mickey Lolich was unhittable for a year or two. Who knows what would have happened if Flood hadn’t broken in on the ball — I don’t pretend to be a baller, but have played center and the line shot right at you is the hardest play in the world, it’s why people like Roberto and Griffey would break left or right, just to get perspective. Gibson is probably the first person to tell you he shouldn’t have allowed the singles to the batters ahead of Northrup, but it happened. Had Flood caught the fly ball, had Gibson and Lolich locked zeroes into extra innings, we’d be talking about it to this day.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful memories and insights.
I’m a big Tigers fan. I was in the 4th grade when the 68 WS was played. In looking at the Northrup triple in game 7, it looks to me like Flood would have had a very good chance at getting to the ball despite what other Tigers fans might say. The Tigers were fortunate to win three in row (Two in St Louis). But that’s how they did it in 1968, they were at their best when their backs were against the wall.
Thanks for reading and for commenting, Jay. I have much respect for that 1968 Tigers team. You might consider checking back to this blog on April 23 when I will post a story on Al Kaline and his role in the 1968 World Series.
The better team won the ’68 World Series. The Cardinals offense was barely average — fourth in runs scored, sixth in OPS, eighth in home runs in a 10-team league. The longer the series progressed, the more this became apparent.
Good points Paul. In those final 3 games the Tigers outscored the Cardinals 22-5. 17 of those runs were in St Louis
Flood would have made it look easy, but he didn’t
There is an old saying in sports that works 95% of the time. No matter what you do you will lose 1/3 of the time & no matter what you do you will win 1/3 of lose time. It is the last 33% that separates the winners from the losers. ……championships…….the Cardinals were in that last 33%:for the 68 WS
Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan should each be in the Hall of Fame.
Thanks for commenting. Perhaps they will be considered by a Hall of Fame committee.