Game 2 of the 1973 World Series between the New York Mets and the Oakland Athletics etched itself into baseball history not just for its outcome, but for its extraordinary duration and bizarre circumstances. Lasting four hours and 13 minutes, it set a new record for the longest game in Series history. The contest, described by Curt Gowdy in the official MLB 1973 Fall Classic highlight film as one of the "longest and weirdest games in World Series history,"
was plagued by blinding sunshine that turned routine fly balls into adventurous plays, particularly for the 42-year-old Willie Mays. This game was a true test of endurance and adaptability for both teams.
Early Struggles and Sun-Drenched Plays
The game began with starting pitchers Vida Blue for the Athletics and Jerry Koosman for the Mets, neither of whom performed particularly well. In the very first inning, the Athletics capitalized on the challenging conditions. With one out, Joe Rudi hit a fly ball to left field that Cleon Jones lost in the sun, allowing it to drop in front of him and Rudi to reach second base. Rudi then scored when Sal Bando hit a ball to right-center that Don Hahn misplayed, letting it bounce to the wall and Bando reach third. After Gene Tenace walked, Bando scored on a Jesús Alou double, giving the A's an early lead. The Athletics extended their lead in the second inning when Bert Campaneris, who had tripled, scored on a single by Joe Rudi. The Mets managed to get on the scoreboard with home runs from Cleon Jones in the second inning and Wayne Garrett in the third, keeping the game close.
A Sixth-Inning Meltdown and Mets' Surge
Going into the sixth inning, the Athletics held a narrow 3–2 lead, but the game was about to take an even stranger turn. With one out and two runners on base, Horacio Piña came in to relieve Vida Blue. Piña's first pitch hit Jerry Grote, loading the bases. Don Hahn then hit an infield single that scored Cleon Jones, tying the game. Bud Harrelson followed with an RBI single, putting the Mets ahead 4–3. The chaos continued when Jim Beauchamp pinch-hit for reliever Harry Parker and hit a comebacker to the mound. Darold Knowles, who had replaced Piña, fielded the ball but lost his balance while rushing a throw home, throwing wildly past catcher Ray Fosse. This error allowed two more Mets runs to score, giving them a 6–3 lead.
Late-Game Drama and Controversial Calls
The Athletics fought back, with Reggie Jackson hitting an RBI double in the seventh to make the score 6–4. In the ninth inning, Deron Johnson, pinch-hitting for Blue Moon Odom, hit a fly ball to center field that Willie Mays again lost in the sun, causing him to fall down while chasing it. Johnson reached second, and Allan Lewis pinch-ran, scoring on a single by Jackson after Sal Bando walked. Gene Tenace then singled in Bando, tying the game at 6–6 and sending it into extra innings. The Mets threatened in the tenth when Harrelson singled and Tug McGraw bunted for a sacrifice. Harrelson ran on the pitch and was safe at second, while McGraw was retired at first. Harrelson advanced to third on a grounder by Garrett, and then attempted to score on a Félix Millán fly to left. Despite replays from NBC's broadcast showing Fosse missed the tag, umpire Augie Donatelli called Harrelson out, leading to a heated argument involving Harrelson, Mays, and manager Yogi Berra.
The Decisive 12th Inning and Andrews' Errors
The game remained tied until the top of the 12th inning. Harrelson led off with a double and advanced to third when McGraw reached first on a bunt that Sal Bando overran. With two outs, Willie Mays delivered a single that drove in Harrelson, giving the Mets a 7–6 lead. This hit marked Mays' final hit and RBI of his illustrious career. After Jones walked to load the bases, John Milner grounded to second baseman Mike Andrews, but the ball went through his legs, allowing McGraw and Mays to score and extend the lead to 9–6. The next batter, Grote, hit another grounder to Andrews, whose throw to first pulled Tenace off the bag, though NBC replays indicated Tenace kept his foot on the bag. Jones scored, making it 10–6. The A's managed one more run in the bottom of the inning when Jackson reached third after Mays lost another fly ball in the sun, and Alou singled him home. However, Andrews' errors proved too costly. Tug McGraw, who pitched six innings in relief, earned the win, and George Stone secured the save, evening the series for the Mets. A's owner Charlie Finley was reportedly furious with Andrews' miscues and forced him to sign a false affidavit claiming injury, sidelining him for the rest of the Series and further straining his relationship with manager Dick Williams.
