Joe Carter's 1993 World Series home run

Joe Carter's 1993 World Series home run was a baseball play that occurred in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series on October 23, 1993, at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the bottom of the ninth inning Joe Carter hit a one-out, three-run walk-off home run off Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch Williams to give the Toronto Blue Jays its second consecutive championship.

This was only the second time in Major League Baseball history that the World Series ended on a walk-off home run. The first time was in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, when Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit a home run off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry to win that game by a final score of 10–9. Carter's home run in 1993 however, was the only time in Major League Baseball history that a team hit a walk-off home run while trailing in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the World Series.

Radio sportscaster Tom Cheek's call of "Touch 'em all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!"^[1] has gone down as one of the most iconic moments in Toronto sports history.

Background

After the 1992 season, the Blue Jays let World Series hero Dave Winfield and longtime closer Tom Henke go but signed two key free agents: designated hitter Paul Molitor from the Milwaukee Brewers and perennial playoff success Dave Stewart from the Oakland Athletics.

In 1993, the Blue Jays had seven All-Stars: outfielders Devon White and Joe Carter, infielders John Olerud and Roberto Alomar, designated hitter Molitor, plus starting pitcher Pat Hentgen, and closer Duane Ward. In August, the Jays acquired former nemesis Rickey Henderson from the Athletics. In the regular season, three Blue Jays—John Olerud, Paul Molitor and Roberto Alomar—finished 1-2-3 for the AL batting crown. The Blue Jays cruised to a 95–67 record, one less win than 1992 and seven games ahead of the New York Yankees, winning their third straight division title.

The 1993 Phillies were led by stars such as Darren Daulton, John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra, and Curt Schilling. The team was often described as "shaggy", "unkempt", and "dirty." The previous year, noting the presence of the clean-cut Dale Murphy, Kruk himself described the team as "24 morons and one Mormon" (referring to Murphy). Their character endeared them to fans, and attendance reached a record high the following season. As a play on the legendary 1927 New York Yankees' Murderers' Row, the team's dirty, mullet-wearing look was dubbed "Macho Row." To the surprise of many, the Phillies powered their way to a 97–65 record and an East division title, powered by the team's 17–5 record in April. Each game brought a new hero, and the season was filled with odd and extraordinary games. The 1993 Phillies team was also noted for the close bond between the players and coaching staff.

The Phillies' major contributors on offense were OF Lenny Dykstra, 1B John Kruk, SS Kevin Stocker (a rookie who led the team in batting average, hitting .324), and OF Jim Eisenreich, all of whom hit over .300 for the season. Their pitching staff was led by 16-game winners Curt Schilling and Tommy Greene. Each member of the rotation posted at least 10 wins, while the bullpen was led by elder statesman Larry Andersen and closer Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams, who notched 43 saves and a 3.34 ERA.

Postseason

The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves (the two-time defending National League champions) in the 1993 National League Championship Series, four games to two, to earn the fifth pennant in franchise history. Mitch Williams struck out Bill Pecota to end Game 6 by the score of 6–3. Curt Schilling with an 1.69 ERA and 19 strikeouts was named the NLCS MVP. They faced the defending World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series, who beat the Chicago White Sox 4 games to 2 in the American League Championship Series.

Williams earned a save in Game 2 of the series, relieving Terry Mulholland as the Phillies tied the series at a game each. However, Williams suffered the loss in Game 4, the highest-scoring game in World Series history, as the Blue Jays came back from a 14–9 deficit, scoring six times in the eighth inning to earn a 15–14 victory and take a 3–1 series lead. It remains the highest scoring game in World Series history. Afterwards, Williams received death threats from angry Phillies fans for blowing the game.^[2]

After the Phillies won Game 5 in a complete-game shutout by Curt Schilling, the series returned to Toronto for Game 6.

The setup

World Series Game 6

The sixth game in the series was a rematch between Game 2 starters Terry Mulholland and Dave Stewart, who would have similar results. Toronto opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first with a run-scoring Paul Molitor triple, Joe Carter sacrifice fly, and Roberto Alomar RBI single. Molitor added a solo home run in the 5th inning, bringing the score to 5–1 for Toronto.

In the 7th inning, Philadelphia fought back with five runs to take a 6–5 lead. Lenny Dykstra hit a three-run home run (his fourth home run in the World Series), Dave Hollins had an RBI single and Pete Incaviglia hit a sacrifice fly. The inning brought an end to Dave Stewart's night, leaving the game with 6 innings pitched and 4 runs given up.

The play

Philadelphia closer Mitch Williams came on to the pitch the bottom of the 9th with Philadelphia clinging to a 6–5 lead. After beginning the inning by walking Rickey Henderson, Williams tried to counter Henderson's speed by pitching out of a slide-step style of pitching delivery. Prior to Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Williams never used the slide-step delivery in his career. This may have cut back on the velocity of the hard throwing Williams. The walk to Henderson was followed by a Devon White fly out and a single by Paul Molitor. Joe Carter came up next and, on a two strike pitch, he hit an inside pitch just over the left field fence for a three-run walk-off home run, giving the Blue Jays a come-from-behind 8–6 victory, and the World Series crown. Upon hitting the home run, Carter jumped up and down many times, most notably while rounding first base, where his helmet came off.

The calls

CBS Radio, with Vin Scully:^[3]^[4]

Fastball, it's hit to left field, down the line, in the corner, home run! Joe Carter who took the 2 and 0 pitch for a strike right down the middle hits the 2 and 1 (sic) pitch over the left field wall and the Toronto Blue Jays come back with 3 in the bottom of the ninth inning to become the World Champions yet again. The final score: Toronto 8, Philadelphia 6.

CJCL-AM Radio in Toronto by Tom Cheek:^[5]

Joe has had his moments. Trying to lay off that ball, low to the outside part of the plate, he just went after one. Two balls and two strikes on him. Here's a pitch on the way, a swing and a belt! Left field, way back, BLUE JAYS WIN IT! The Blue Jays are World Series champions, as Joe Carter hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning and the Blue Jays have repeated as World Series champions! Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!

WOGL-AM Radio in Philadelphia by Harry Kalas:^[6]

The 2–2 pitch, line drive in deep left, this ball is outta here. Three-run home run, Joe Carter, and the Toronto Blue Jays are the world champions of baseball for the second straight year. A three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth by Joe Carter who's being mobbed at home plate.

CBS Television.^[7] Sean McDonough:

Now the 2-2. Well-hit down the left-field line, way back and GONE!^[8] Joe Carter with a three-run homer! The winners and still world champions, the Toronto Blue Jays!

Aftermath

This was the last major North American professional sports championship won by a Canadian-based team until 2019, when the Toronto Raptors, a team that was formed in 1995, defeated the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors in a six-game NBA Finals.

Williams later placed the blame on himself for what happened in the 1993 World Series, adding that he had put the ordeal behind him:

Everybody saw what happened,. . . . I made a mistake, and he hit the mistake. I let my team down today. I'm not going to go home and commit suicide or anything....They did what they had to do to win this series. And I let us down in big situations. I carry that burden. No excuses. I didn't get the job done.

—Mitch Williams on his feelings about surrendering the home run to Joe Carter.^[9]

Williams also said:

I'm not going to go home and commit suicide. . . . I wish I hadn't thrown it down and in to Carter. I was trying to keep the ball away from him. It was a mistake. . . . It ain't comin' back. . . . I can't replay it and win it. . . . I can't change this one, much as I'd like to, if only because my teammates busted their butts. I let 'em down. . . . But don't expect me to curl up and hide from people because I gave up a home run in the World Series. Life's a bitch. I could be digging ditches. I'm not.

—Mitch Williams on his feelings about surrendering the home run to Joe Carter^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, 17 years after giving up the World Series home run, Williams said he regretted using the slide step when pitching to Carter. In a joint interview with Carter for the MLB Network's 20 Greatest Games series, Williams said he hadn't used the slide step before but was talked into doing so by pitching coach Johnny Podres after allowing a walk to base-stealing legend Rickey Henderson.^[10]

Despite having the highest number of lefty saves in his career with the Phillies (102), the Carter blast was the end of the line for Williams in Philadelphia. The Phillies traded him to the Houston Astros prior to the start of the 1994 season. Williams' post-Phillies career was a comedown from his previous heights. He would register only two wins and six saves in his final three major league seasons, with an ERA of 6.75 or above in all three campaigns. After two months with Houston in 1994, Williams closed out his major league career with equally short stints with the California Angels in 1995 and the Kansas City Royals in 1997.

In popular culture

In the 1999 Canadian hip hop single, "Let's Ride" by Choclair, one of the verses cites Carter's walk-off home run in the 1993 World Series, "It was the 9th inning, with two outs, I hit the home run to left field like Carter did to Philly".^[11] In actuality, there was only one out when Carter hit his home run.
In the 1999 film Big Daddy, a plot twist at the end of the film revealed by Jon Stewart's character, Kevin Gerrity, is that he fathered a child conceived in Toronto as a by-product of celebrating Carter's walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series, and later meeting a woman that same night while inebriated.^[12]
In July 2015, Carter's walk-off home run celebration was used as the track artwork for the song "Back to Back" released by Toronto native Drake.^[13]
At Little Canada, the moment is depicted in the replica of Rogers Centre in the Toronto section.

References

^ Elliott, Bob (5 December 2012). "Late Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek named Ford C. Frick Award winner". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
^ Reaves, Joey (October 24, 1993). "From death threats to disaster for Williams". Chicago Tribune.
^ Yellon, Al (October 21, 2016). "Six Famous Game 6 Postseason Clinchers". Bleed Cubbie Blue.
^ Loung, Steven (September 23, 2016). "Gotta Hear It: Vin Scully calls Joe Carter's 1993 championship HR". Sportsnet.
^ Tom Cheek, 66; Announcer Called Blue Jay Games for 271/2 Seasons Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2005
^ "Harry Kalas calls Joe Carter's 1993 World Series winning home run". SoundCloud. January 3, 2013.
^ Levine, Jesse (March 11, 2018). "THE GREATEST CALLS TOM & JERRY DIDN'T SCRIPT". Canuck Baseball Plus.
^ Curtis, Bryan (September 16, 2016). "The Long, Long, Long Wait of Sean McDonough". The Ringer.
^ "WORLD SERIES; 'Wild Thing' One Time Too Often". October 24, 1993. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
^ Narducci, Marc (February 5, 2011). "Phillies' Mitch Williams recalls fateful pitch". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 21, 2011.
^ Let's Ride, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2019-09-11
^ era, Ian has been writing about the Toronto Blue Jays since 2007 He enjoyed the tail-end of the Roy Halladay; years, vividly remembers the Alex Rodriguez "mine" incident He'll also retell the story of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS to his kids for the next 20 (2010-10-29). "Flashback Friday: A Blue Jays Cameo in Big Daddy". Blue Jay Hunter. Retrieved 2019-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Mike Dyce (29 July 2015). "Drake uses Blue Jays' World Series win over Phillies to troll Meek Mill". Retrieved 30 January 2016.

External links

[Cheek-1] Elliott, Bob (5 December 2012). "Late Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek named Ford C. Frick Award winner". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

[ChicagoTribuner1993-2] Reaves, Joey (October 24, 1993). "From death threats to disaster for Williams". Chicago Tribune.

[3] Yellon, Al (October 21, 2016). "Six Famous Game 6 Postseason Clinchers". Bleed Cubbie Blue.

[4] Loung, Steven (September 23, 2016). "Gotta Hear It: Vin Scully calls Joe Carter's 1993 championship HR". Sportsnet.

[5] Tom Cheek, 66; Announcer Called Blue Jay Games for 271/2 Seasons Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2005

[6] "Harry Kalas calls Joe Carter's 1993 World Series winning home run". SoundCloud. January 3, 2013.

[7] Levine, Jesse (March 11, 2018). "THE GREATEST CALLS TOM & JERRY DIDN'T SCRIPT". Canuck Baseball Plus.

[8] Curtis, Bryan (September 16, 2016). "The Long, Long, Long Wait of Sean McDonough". The Ringer.

[9] "WORLD SERIES; 'Wild Thing' One Time Too Often". October 24, 1993. Retrieved 2017-02-21.

[PhiladelphiaInquirer2011-10] Narducci, Marc (February 5, 2011). "Phillies' Mitch Williams recalls fateful pitch". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 21, 2011.

[11] Let's Ride, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2019-09-11

[12] ra, Ian has been writing about the Toronto Blue Jays since 2007 He enjoyed the tail-end of the Roy Halladay; years, vividly remembers the Alex Rodriguez "mine" incident He'll also retell the story of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS to his kids for the next 20 (2010-10-29). "Flashback Friday: A Blue Jays Cameo in Big Daddy". Blue Jay Hunter. Retrieved 2019-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[13] Mike Dyce (29 July 2015). "Drake uses Blue Jays' World Series win over Phillies to troll Meek Mill". Retrieved 30 January 2016.

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