Al Gionfrizzle

I know, I know, another Brooklyn Dodgers' post? Well, screw you. I'm feeling a little nostalgic for the borough on the whole, as I write from ever sunny Davis, Cailfornia.

On this day in 1947 Al Gionfriddo made one of the most famous catches in World Series history, robbing Joe DiMaggio of a game-tying three-run home run in game six at Yankee Stadium.

The Bums had come back from a 5-4 deficit and taken the lead 8-5 going into the bottom of the sixth, at which point, Gionfriddo, a light-hitting utility outfielder, was inserted into left field as a defensive replacement. With two on and two out, the Yankee Clipper came to the plate to face Dodgers' reliever Joe Hatton. DiMaggio ripped Hatton's first pitch deep into left. Dodger radio announcer Red Barber said, "back, back, BACK..." and Giofriddo leaped and stabbed the ball with a miraculous one-handed catch, a ball that surely would have cleared the low metal left-field gate. In maybe the only show of emotion in his entire career on the baseball field, Dimaggio kicked the dirt as he reached second base.

The Bums held on to win 8-6, but lost game seven and the second of six World Series they would lose to the Bombers before moving to L.A.

As for Gionfrizzle, the 1947 World Series was his last hurrah. He would never play another game, one of those minor players remembered forever in baseball lore for one moment of greatness. Francisco Cabrera anyone?