Baseball, Apple Pie and Coffee

Past informs present as the Yankees' World Series hopes fade away.

“This Grover Cleveland fellow was pitching like a 2-year-old phenom. They say he’s around 40, old and bewhiskered, and all that. After which I’ll say, I’m glad we didn’t have to face him when he was younger.”

—Yankee Bob Meusel on Pete Alexander, 1926

Here’s what we do when a baseball game doesn’t thrill us: We look back. On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff—starring Walker Buehler, with “Love Boat” guest appearances from Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson, Anthony Banda, Ryan Brasier and Michael Kopech—held the New York Yankees to two runs (scored late, fairly meaningless) while striking out 11. The Dodgers won the game 4-2, they have won all three World Series games so far, and this Series pretty much feels over.

So let’s focus on those two simple stats: Two runs. Double-digit strikeouts.

Over the last century, there have been 110 World Series games played in the various cathedrals that have been called Yankee Stadium. In six of those games, teams have held the Yankees to two runs or fewer while striking out 10 Yankees or more. The five that happened before Monday night are each famous.

The first time it happened was