A popular radio commercial on Cardinals broadcasts proclaims, “Six is a serious number.”
Quite serious, it turns out, for manager Tony La Russa and the Cardinals in the 2011 World Series.
La Russa is managing in his sixth World Series but this is the first time he will experience a Game 6.
As manager of the Athletics in three World Series (1988, 1989 and 1990) and as manager of the Cardinals in two World Series (2004 and 2006), La Russa and his teams never went beyond a Game 5.
The Athletics won in four games in 1989 and the Cardinals won in five games in 2006. The 1990 Athletics and the 2004 Cardinals were swept in four. The 1988 Athletics lost in five.
The 2011 World Series between the Cardinals and Rangers extends to a Game 6 in St. Louis Oct. 26, with the Cardinals needing a win to avoid elimination.
In 17 previous World Series appearances, only twice have the Cardinals had a Series end with Game 6. Those occurred in 1930 and 1944.
GAME 6, 1930
On a Wednesday afternoon at Philadelphia, the Athletics clinched the championship with a 7-1 victory over the Cardinals.
The Athletics grabbed control early with RBI-doubles in the first by catcher Mickey Cochrane and right fielder Bing Miller off Bill Hallahan. In the third, center fielder Al Simmons hit a solo homer off reliever Syl Johnson for a 3-0 Athletics lead and the route was on.
“This was the easiest game of the Series,” Athletics manager Connie Mack said to the Associated Press.
George Earnshaw pitched a five-hitter for Philadelphia in a game that took just 1:46. Boxscore
“I have seen some pretty good hurling in my day,” Cardinals second baseman Frankie Frisch told the Pittsburgh Press. “…But this Earnshaw is the greatest I ever faced. Fast. And what a curve.
“The critics say that we weren’t hitting in this Series. True enough. But I’d like to see some of them jump into monkey suits, go to that plate and try to watch that stuff of Earnshaw’s shoot and snake-wiggle and then buzz right past you. He is matchless.”
GAME 6, 1944
Max Lanier and rookie Ted Wilks combined to limit the Browns to three hits and the Cardinals made a three-run fourth inning hold up for a 3-1 championship-clinching victory on a Monday afternoon in St. Louis.
Lanier pitched 5.1 innings and drove in the Cardinals’ third run with a single. Wilks relieved and pitched 3.2 hitless innings. Boxscore
Explaining why he lifted Lanier for Wilks, manager Billy Southworth told the Associated Press, “I felt Lanier was forcing himself and possibly weakening after only three days’ rest. I told him, ‘We are winning this game for us, not for any one individual.’ “
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