Looking for That October Magic

Who can claim hero's status in the 1981 World Series?

One of the enduring charms of baseball--and baseball's charms have had to endure a lot lately--is that practically every October, virtually without exception, one player is singled out for a mystical moment. He may be quite a remarkable player, like Reggie Jackson, or quite an unremarkable one, like Gene Tenace. For Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente, 1971 was a long overdue moment in the sun. For fellow Pirate Willie Stargell, 1979 was a well-deserved moment in the twilight of a magnificent career.

In every case, something beyond physical skills seems to have been involved. Not even Jackson could swing at the first deliveries by three different pitchers and knock all three balls out of the park, as he did against Los Angeles in the game that clinched the 1977 World Series for the New York Yankees, without suspecting that his own ability had been fortified with some special momentary magic. And what about those catches that Baltimore's Brooks Robinson made at third base against Cincinnati in 1970?

Yankee Third Baseman Graig Nettles started out making them in this Series, and that is largely how New York jumped off with two quick wins. Jackson, "Mr. October," dropped out of the starting lineup when he went lame early in the playoff sweep against Oakland, and Nettles came on with both bat and glove. Then he too was sidelined. October stars were falling like leaves. When the Series opened, it looked as if the man with the magic might be Bob Watson, 35, a fine but little-heralded player with losing teams for many years. Watson hit a three-run homer in his first Series at-bat and later added a single in a 5-3 Yankee victory; next day, he had two hits and knocked in another run in a 3-0 triumph. Or was the man with the magic Yankee Relief Pitcher Goose Gossage? The Goose saved both of the Yankee wins in New York. That gave him six saves and no earned runs in the post-season--not very far from magic.

When the teams moved from The Bronx to Chavez Ravine, Watson homered in the second inning of game three off the Dodgers' rookie, Fernando Valenzuela, 20, and subsequently doubled.

But Fernando hung on for a gritty 5-4 victory, and Los Angeles Manager Tommy Lasorda exclaimed: "This is the year of Fernando!" The Mexican ace was wild, and the pressure of pitching with too little rest between playoff emergencies finally seemed to show.

But so did something else. Second Baseman Davey Lopes defined it: "Character." It may be that Dodger Third Baseman Ron Cey too has been touched with a bit of this magic. He hit a three-run homer and made a diving catch of a double-play bunt.

Watson, Valenzuela, Nettles, Cey, Gossage. Any others?

"I'll make my contribution," swore Yankee Slugger Dave Winfield, who went hitless through four games. The hobbled Jackson came back from the bench to get two singles and a homer in the fourth game, but that was not enough to prevent the Dodgers from winning 8-7 and tying the Series at two games apiece. "Not many days left in October," brooded Reggie. -

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.