World Series losses, errors always linger

It’s about an hour before Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan of the Big Red Machine is standing in the broadcast booth with former Baltimore star Ken Singleton. Their memories are as fresh as the morning snow.

Singleton knows he will have to relive Game 7 of the 1979 Series. He was in right field when Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates launched a drive over his head and over the wall. Baltimore lost.

“You never forget,” says Singleton. “I was lucky. I got to win a World Series, but that still doesn’t remove the pain of that home run.”

Morgan nods in agreement. “I know what you mean,” he says.

These two, like so many others fortunate enough to play in the majors, hated to lose.

“You know, when you get to those big games, like a Game 7, a lot of guys don’t especially want to be heroes. They just don’t want to be the ones who make the big mistake,” Singleton said.

Morgan understands by saying, “Thank you.”

Sunday night there were a number of heroes for the Florida Marlins. Edgar Renteria with the game-winning hit. Al Leiter with a good start. Manager Jim Leyland, who never stopped believing in pitcher Livan Hernandez, the MVP as a rookie at age 22.

Then there is a Gold Glove second baseman, Tony Fernandez. Morgan and Singleton will probably relate more to him. A ground ball to his left at second base in the 11th inning goes by him to right field.

“He wanted to get the force at second,” Singleton says. “He tried to do too much, to make the big play.

“Instead the runner goes to third and the Indians lose.”

The nightmare most associated with Bill Buckner of the Boston Red Sox and the 1986 World Series raises its ugly head again. All those camera angles, all those replays, now and forever. No member of the Cleveland Indians will hold Tony Fernandez at fault. It could have been them.

“Funny,” says Singleton, “you spend all those days as a kid wanting to hit that winning home run in Game 7 in the ninth. Then you come to understand it’s not being a hero that matters. You just don’t want to cost your team.”

The contribution is not hurting the team, playing solidly, adding to the whole. It is a lesson learned through the pain of the big mistakes. Made by yourself or another, the pain is understood by those who have played in the big games. Maybe that’s why they’ve played there.