";s:4:"text";s:8156:" Another era. "TK screwed up by taking me out," Morris says. Smoltz came running down those four flights of stairs, back to the dugout. He was ahead 2-1 in Game 4 when manager Tom Kelly pinch-hit for him after six innings. Clear it out and send it to Vegas. Didn't he know? "We're going to do it this way. "Go home and get your bankbook. He was 22 years old when he made his firstmajor league start. He then froze, staring into left centerfield. He was a coach with the Cardinals and the Tigers during the 1950's. You got something to say to me? It was a heartwarming story, unless you knew that Morris's marriage was falling apart and that he would live alone that year, his two sons living with their mother. Jimy Williams, the third base coach, never gave Smith any direction, never moved in the coaching box. Larkin said nothing. I had the utmost respect for him as a competitor. The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. David Justice was up next. Bream topped the ball to first baseman Kent Hrbek, who fired a strike to Harper to force Smith at home. ", Anderson laughs when he tells the story. The pitching coach grabbed Kelly by the arm and said, "TK, he said he's fine.". "I feel like an outcast," Smith says. He lowers his head, gathers himself and continues, "... that is worth more than any trophy or ring. "I never had as much will to win a game as I did on that day," says Morris. The Braves asked him last year to attend one of their promotions at Turner Field in which former team members sign autographs for fans. Contents[show] Background It featured the New York Yankees in their sixth Series appearance in eight years. When Jack first earned big money in the game, in 1983, he asked his father, "How would you like to retire?" *Career statistics prior to the beginning of the 2003 Main Event. ", Up in the clubhouse Smoltz yelled at the television--and at Smith--"Go! Total joy. This man was quality, the best pitcher I ever had in 26 years.". Larkin hit the first pitch over the leftfielder's head, and Gladden danced home with the game's only run. •
I had this calm come over me knowing that I had mentally prepared for this game my whole life.". ", Steinbrenner replied, "I swear on my mother's grave nobody's telling me what to do. Kelly paused, then said, "Oh, hell. Ron Gant, the number three hitter, failed for the third time that night with two runners on, grounding meekly to first base. ", "I think [Kelly] wanted me to look him in the eye and say, 'I'mnot going nowhere. COLOR PHOTO: STEVE WEWERKA PRICKLY CACTUS Morris says today's players lack the desire he had. "Don't worry, Dad," he said. It was a horrible thought at a horrible time. Gagne circled into the outfield to take Gladden's throw as Williams finally threw his left hand up and pointed at third base with his right hand, the signal for Smith to stop there. He took off from second on Hrbek's soft liner to second baseman Mark Lemke and was doubled off. Morris missed with his first pitch to Terry Pendleton, and the bullpen phone vibrated. ", "Boys, I know that guy," Anderson said. Smith is retired, raising a family in an Atlanta suburb. Each paid $10,000 to enter what was the largest poker tournament ever played in a brick and mortar casino at the time. ", Morris, head bowed, replied, "All right.". Smoltz stopped laughing. He was a guy who didn't like to lose. I wish everybody could experience what I experienced that day. "I expected them to care like I care," he says, "and they didn't.". I will lead you. In that game Smoltz, then 24, matched Morris zero for zero, clutch pitch for clutch pitch. Anger was a beast inside him, and baseball provoked the beast in 1986. He had already logged 273 innings. He hid nothing. COLOR PHOTO: HEINZ KLUETMEIER THE 0-ZONE Morris and Smoltz matched zeroes for seven shutout innings, but only Morris was still pitching by the 10th. The tension was excruciating. He's a closer. The tension was too much for Dona. Series winners (or leaders for in-progress series) are in Bold and listed first.. World Series - Modern era from 1903 to present (also played as exhibitions from 1884 to 1890) ALCS - American League Championship Series (first played in 1969) NLCS - National League Championship Series (first played in 1969) ALDS - American League Division Series (played in 1981 and after 1994) It made no sense. '", "It was the most impressive pitching performance I've everwitnessed, and I saw Wood's 20-strikeout game. "I was in trouble many times," says Morris, "but didn't realizeit because I never had a negative thought. Smoltz's grandfather worked at Tiger Stadium for more than 30 years, first on the grounds crew and then as an attendant in the pressroom. Braves manager Bobby Cox walked to the mound to remove a disgusted Smoltz. Arvid eased up after that. Harper saw himself throwing the baseball into rightfield, the winning runs scampering home. He saw Anderson leave the dugout for the mound, his second visit of the inning, which required Morris's removal once Anderson had crossed the third base line. "Somebody who actually comes to the park with anger to beat you. Kristanna Sommer Loken was born in Ghent, New York, to Rande (Porath) and Merlin "Chris" Loken. ", "He was the last of a breed," Anderson says. "But I don't have more respect for anybody. "Without question," MacPhail says, "it is the most impressive pitching performance I have ever witnessed, and, remember, I watched Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game.". SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. "We're going to win the World Series. He exercised his option for free agency and signed with Toronto, becoming baseball's highest-paid pitcher. The next Jack Morris, Smoltz, isn't even a starting pitcher anymore. Go!".
"In no way was I faked out by Knoblauch." That final World Series game was his third start in eight days. This is my game.'". I'm going to throw the most innings on this team, have the best ERA and win the most games. There's the run that's going to win it.". Tell me between innings on the bench. You're just the kind of guy I need.