Aug. 19, 1964 - Chicago’s onrushing White Sox capitalized on a New York Yankee error for two unearned runs tonight, humbled the defending American League champions, 4-2, for the third straight time, and moved to within a half game of the league lead.
The White Sox used an old Yankee formula in the key victory — they made the opposition beat themselves.
The key play came in the Chicago seventh. With runners on first and second and the scored tied 2-2, J.C. Martin sacrificed down the third base line. Yankee starter and loser Jim Bouton’s throw to third for the force play was late, but pinch runner Mike Hershberger overslid the bag.
Yankee third baseman Clete Boyer (pictured) tagged the runner — then dropped the ball, and the bases were loaded.
“I never had control of the ball,” said Boyer. “I just had it in the tip of the web. When I tagged him, it jarred out.”
Bouton walked in the lead run, and a sacrifice fly drove in another.
The White Sox first two runs also crossed on errors — two on one play by Bouton — in the third. One crossed when he missed the base while covering first and the other when he threw the ball down in disgust at the call.
“I was enraged,” Bouton said afterward. I don’t know what I did. I lost my head, I guess.”
“We have no right letting them be that close,” Bouton continued. “We have no business being that close that an umpire’s decision can do this to us. We should have won it, 6-0. It’s like you’re running in mud, you can’t get your feet out, and snakes are chasing you.
“Every guy is trying to save the club. Everybody is trying to hit the home run, make the big play, steal the base that wins the game, pitch the shutout. I should have done it.”
Regarding the missed base, umpire Lou Dimuro said: “He leaped right over the base.”
“No, I hit the bag with the back of my heel. I ticked it — I could feel it. I should have stepped on the middle of the base. Those are the best four umpires in the game. He thought I missed it.”
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