Sept. 29, 1964 - The greatest collapse in the history of baseball.
This is the only way to describe the amazing slide of the Philadelphia Phillies. Only a week ago, the Phils were riding high, leading the National League by 6½ games.
Today, following their eighth straight loss, a 5-1 defeat last night by the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phils were in third place. They were perilously close to elimination in the most incredible finish of any National League pennant race.
The Cardinals, all but counted out last week, find themselves just one game behind the league-leading Cincinnati Reds, who only a few days ago would have been content to finish second.
The crazy-quilt pennant race has the principals so confused they simply have given up trying to figure it out.
Cardinal manager Johnny Keane (pictured) threw up his hands when asked last night what his team’s victory over the floundering Phillies meant to the Cards.
“I’ve given up trying to figure it out,” he said resignedly. “This thing is so tight, I just don’t dare give an opinion, let alone make a prediction. Who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow?
“All I know is, we’ve got to keep winning. We can’t afford to lose another game. We have five left to play, two with Philadelphia and three with New York. If we lose one, we’re in trouble. If we lose two, we’re out of it.”
The Phillies have reached the point of almost no return. Two down in the loss column with only four games left to play — two in Cincinnati following two more in St. Louis. They must win all to stand a chance.
On paper, the Cards figure to face the softest opposition of the three contenders, closing the season with three games against the last-place Mets.
“I don’t look at it that way,” said Keane. “At this stage of the race, you mustn’t take any club lightly. If anything, you have to get yourself up more for a second division club. They take great delight in knocking off the front guy.”
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