[Nick Soulis]

Series #248



SIEBERN, CAUSEY FUEL KC’S GAME 7 UPSET



SERIES #248, GAME 1
Venue: Sportsman’s Park (St. Louis)
Final Score: 1961 Kansas City A’s 7
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 1
Winning Pitcher: Jim Archer (1–0)
Losing Pitcher: Bob Gibson (0–1)
Save: None
Home Runs: KC — Dick Howser (1), STL — Curt Flood (1)
Player of the Game: Jim Archer — 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 4 K
Series: Kansas City leads 1–0

The opener of Series #248 tilted sharply toward the underdog, as the 1961 Kansas City Athletics walked into Sportsman’s Park and delivered a composed, opportunistic 7–1 victory behind the masterful left arm of Jim Archer. St. Louis, usually the team that dictates pace and pressure, found themselves reacting all afternoon as Archer scattered seven hits across eight innings, never allowing the Cardinals to string together momentum.
Kansas City struck early when Dick Howser ambushed Bob Gibson with a leadoff home run in the first, setting a tone of fearlessness that carried through the game. Gibson battled deep into the ninth, but the A’s continually found key swings at pivotal moments. Jerry Lumpe’s RBI triple and Leo Posada’s follow-up single in the sixth expanded the lead, while St. Louis’ lone spark came from Curt Flood’s solo homer — a brief flash in an otherwise muted Cardinal offense.
The turning point arrived in the ninth, when Wayne Causey stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. His ringing double to center cleared the bases and effectively sealed the game, pushing Kansas City’s advantage to 7–1 and quieting a once-hopeful crowd.
For the Cardinals, Gibson pitched with characteristic grit, but defensive miscues and a lack of timely hitting left him without support. Archer’s precision, poise, and total command defined the afternoon and earned him Player of the Game honors.

SERIES #248, GAME 2
Venue: Sportsman’s Park (St. Louis)
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 3,
1961 Kansas City Athletics 2
Winning Pitcher: Don Dennis (1–0)
Losing Pitcher: Dave Wickersham (0–1)
Save: None
Home Runs: None
Player of the Game: Ray Washburn — 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Series: Tied 1–1

Game 2 at Sportsman’s Park carried a sharper edge than the opener, and the 1965 Cardinals met it with the kind of resilience their era was built on. After Kansas City jumped ahead quickly—two first-inning runs sparked by a Pignatano triple into the right-center gap—St. Louis steadied themselves behind the calm work of Ray Washburn, who delivered six innings of poised, walk-free pitching to keep the game within reach.
The Cardinals chipped away methodically. Curt Flood doubled home a run in the first, Bill White added another clutch RBI in the third, and from there the game settled into a taut duel between Washburn and KC’s soft-tossing lefty Bud Daley, who mixed speeds masterfully across 124 pitches. Both teams squandered small openings, both tightened defensively, and tension accumulated with every scoreless inning.
Everything broke in the bottom of the ninth. A walk, a single, and disciplined at-bats loaded the bases for Ken Boyer, the Cardinals’ captain, who lifted a deep sacrifice fly to left. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough — Julián Javier tagged, raced home, and scored without a throw, sealing a 3–2 walk-off victory and restoring balance to the series.
Washburn earned Player of the Game honors for his control and resolve, while relievers Steve Carlton and Don Dennis delivered perfect frames to secure the opportunity for the late win.

SERIES #248, GAME 3
Venue: KC Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 5,
1961 Kansas City Athletics 2
Winning Pitcher: Curt Simmons (1–0)
Losing Pitcher: Ed Rakow (0–1)
Save: Don Dennis (1)
Home Runs: Bob Tuttle (1)
1965 St. Louis leads Series 2–1

The opening game in Kansas City carried the cadence of a turning point, and the 1965 Cardinals seized it with mature, methodical baseball, defeating the 1961 Athletics 5–2 to take a 2–1 series lead. From the first pitch, this felt like a contest shaped not by chaos or surprise, but by execution — the kind of game the Cardinals have built their identity upon. Kansas City struck quickly, using Jerry Lumpe’s triple and Bob Tuttle’s solo home run to build early energy. But left-hander Curt Simmons endured the turbulence, adjusted his tempo, and settled into a rhythm that slowly smothered the A’s offense. Over seven workmanlike innings, Simmons allowed traffic but no breakthrough, repeatedly forcing Kansas City into harmless contact and stranded runners.
St. Louis responded with quiet fury. Dick Groat, steady as an old compass needle, delivered a pair of RBI singles that tied the game and steadied the dugout. In the third inning, the Cardinals delivered the decisive blow: Bill White’s two-run single, a clean, authoritative swing into right-center that gave St. Louis a 4–2 lead it would not relinquish.
From there, the Cardinals’ formula clicked into place. Simmons controlled the middle innings, the defense turned two crisp double plays, and Don Dennis closed the final two frames without a hint of panic, earning the save. Kansas City fought but never ignited. Their nine hits scattered like loose notes, lacking the rhythm or signature moment that defined their Game 1 victory. With the win, the Cardinals regain command of the series, shifting momentum into their corner as the clubs prepare for a pivotal Game 4 at Municipal Stadium — the kind of game that can either build a bridge to dominance or open the door to chaos once more.

SERIES #248, GAME 4
KC Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)
1961 Kansas City Athletics 6
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 2
Winning Pitcher: Joe Nuxhall (1–0)
Losing Pitcher: Ray Sadecki (0–1)
Save: None
Home Runs: KC — Norm Siebern (2), Wayne Causey (1)
Player of the Game: Norm Siebern — 2-for-2, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Series: Tied 2–2

Game 4 at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium belonged to the home crowd from the moment the Athletics found their rhythm. With the series tied 2–2 by night’s end, the 1961 Athletics earned a decisive 6–2 victory powered by timely power, veteran pitching, and the authoritative bat of Norm Siebern, whose performance re-centered the entire matchup.
Kansas City struck first in the second and never relinquished that momentum. Joe Nuxhall set the tone with a double into the gap, helping spark a two-run inning that gave the home side confidence. In the third, Siebern seized the game’s emotional thread — first with a towering solo home run to right, then with another blast in the fifth, each swing more emphatic than the last. His bat became the defining force of the evening, both in tone and result. For St. Louis, Ray Sadecki never settled. Kansas City hitters found barrels early, and the left-hander was chased after five innings with three home runs against him. The Cardinals’ offense, usually measured and disciplined, couldn’t solve Nuxhall’s mix of off-speed rhythm and strike-zone precision. Their best chance came in the seventh when they loaded the bases with two out, but Bill White grounded out on a slider — a moment that felt like the final hinge of the night.
Kansas City added insurance in the seventh with Wayne Causey’s ringing double, while Nuxhall, Larsen, and Wickersham combined to hold St. Louis to just four hits. The Athletics played clean, crisp baseball: no errors, sharp infield work, and a lineup that struck with clarity.
With the win, Kansas City knots the series at 2–2, shifting momentum back into their dugout and ensuring the series will return to St. Louis. Game 4 wasn’t just a victory — it was a recalibration of the matchup, a reminder that the Athletics have the power and presence to challenge the Cardinals punch-for-punch.

SERIES #248, GAME 5
KC Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 3,
1961 Kansas City Athletics 1
Winning Pitcher: Bob Gibson (1–1)
Losing Pitcher: Jim Archer (1–1)
Save: Steve Carlton (1)
Home Runs: STL — Phil Gagliano (1 )KC — Jesse Pignatano (1)
Player of the Game: Bob Gibson — 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 4 K
Series: St. Louis leads 3–2

Game 5 in Kansas City unfolded like a test of nerve, and the 1965 Cardinals passed it with the resolve of a club that understands how thin the margins become in October. Behind a commanding performance from Bob Gibson, St. Louis earned a 3–1 victory at Municipal Stadium, seizing a 3–2 lead in the best-of-seven and positioning themselves one win from advancing.True to his reputation, Gibson set the tone with presence alone. Even when Kansas City put runners aboard, he never bent. The lone blemish came on Jesse Pignatano’s solo home run in the fourth, a moment that briefly energized the home crowd but did nothing to shake the right-hander’s composure. Gibson bore down, worked corners, mixed velocity, and held Kansas City scoreless for the remainder of his eight innings. St. Louis’ breakthrough came in the sixth. After laboring through quiet offensive stretches, the Cardinals finally opened a crack in Jim Archer’s armor. Phil Gagliano, hitless on the night and waiting for a pitch he could handle, unloaded on a fastball and drilled a two-run homer into the left-field seats. In a game defined by pitching tension, it was the one swing with the weight to tilt the night.
From there, Gibson tightened his grip. He attacked hitters with heightened intensity, scattering Kansas City’s seven hits and stranding runners at critical junctures. When he handed the ball to Steve Carlton in the ninth, the Cardinals’ bullpen finished the job with a calm, efficient frame.
Kansas City fought, but opportunities slipped through their fingers — ten runners left on base, a handful of missed chances that lingered long after the final out. Archer pitched bravely, but the lack of run support kept the pressure unbalanced all evening. With the win, St. Louis heads home to Sportsman’s Park carrying both momentum and the upper hand. Kansas City’s margin for error has evaporated; they must win Game 6 on the road to keep the series alive.

SERIES #248, GAME 6
Sportsman’s Park (St. Louis)
1961 Kansas City Athletics 5
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 4 (15 Innings)
Winning Pitcher: Lew Krausse (1–0)
Losing Pitcher: Ron Taylor (0–1)
Save: None
Home Runs: KC — Wayne Causey (2), Jesse Pignatano (2)
Player of the Game: Bud Daley — 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 K (kept KC alive)
Series: Tied 3–3

Game 6 at Sportsman’s Park unfolded like a saga carved out of the game’s deepest traditions — a night where neither team would yield, where momentum shattered and reformed a dozen times, and where exhaustion became as much a character as the players themselves. After 15 excruciating innings, the 1961 Kansas City Athletics clawed out a 5–4 victory, forcing this unforgettable series to a winner-take-all Game 7.
The marathon began in fragments. Kansas City struck early with Wayne Causey’s second-inning home run, followed later by Jesse Pignatano’s blast in the fifth, each swing shaping a fragile edge. St. Louis responded in flickers — Lou Brock’s RBI single, Bill White’s sacrifice fly, and late pressure that always seemed moments away from breaking open. But every surge met a Kansas City answer.
The heartbeat of the Athletics’ survival was Bud Daley, who pitched with poise and precision through seven innings of heavy traffic. He absorbed leadoff hits, dodged misplays behind him, and forced the Cardinals to beat him with perfect swings — swings they never found. His resilience became the platform for everything that came later.
As innings stretched past nine, then twelve, then fourteen, the dugouts tightened. Managers turned to reserves, pinch-hitters burned through the bench, infielders wore the dirt like armor. Kansas City’s bullpen — Wickersham, Larsen, Johnson, Bass, and finally Lew Krausse — combined for eight innings of improbable, uneven, yet effective survival. Meanwhile, the Cardinals' relievers matched them nearly pitch for pitch, until strain began to show.
The turning point arrived in the 15th inning. A leadoff double by Dick Howser jolted the stadium. A walk and a groundout brought Wayne Causey back to the plate — already the author of a home run earlier in the game. He didn’t chase. He didn’t press. He found a fastball he could command and ripped a double into right-center, bringing home the run that Kansas City had been clawing toward for nearly two hours.
In the bottom half, Krausse held firm, sealing one of the longest, most grueling contests in Field of Dreams history.
For St. Louis, the loss stings not simply because of the score, but because of the chances left behind — 14 runners stranded, potential go-ahead runs in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and thirteenth, all left wanting. They played valiantly, but they never landed the decisive swing.
For Kansas City, the win is not just survival — it is a reclamation of belief. Against Gibson in Game 5, they wilted. Tonight, they endured. And now, they have earned what both teams have fought six games to reach.

SERIES #248, GAME 7
Sportsman’s Park (St. Louis)
1961 Kansas City Athletics 3,
1965 St. Louis Cardinals 1
Winning Pitcher: Ed Rakow (1–1)
Losing Pitcher: Curt Simmons (1–1)
Save: Don Larsen (1)
Home Runs: None
Player of the Game: Ed Rakow — 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 75 strikes in 109 pitches

Game 7 at Sportsman’s Park unfolded with a tension that seemed to press down on every pitch, every swing, every breath. For six innings, both teams played inside a vise — no big innings, no breakthrough, only mounting pressure and shrinking margins. And then, slowly, the 1961 Kansas City Athletics began to carve out the kind of game that upsets are made of, ultimately defeating the 1965 Cardinals 3–1 to complete a stunning series victory.
Kansas City struck immediately, plating a first-inning run when Dick Howser worked his way on and raced around to score, setting the tone for a team playing with freedom and clarity. St. Louis tried to settle behind Curt Simmons, who fought through bouts of traffic with his usual calm, but Kansas City’s lineup refused to be contained. They didn’t overwhelm him — they simply wore him down.
The defining moment arrived in the seventh. With two men aboard and the crowd holding its breath, Wayne Causey, the emotional center of the Athletics’ comeback in this series, lined a sharp single into left. Both runners broke clean, both scored, and suddenly the Cardinals, who had held Kansas City quiet for five straight innings, found themselves trailing 3–0 in a game where every run felt like a mountain.
From that point forward, everything tilted toward the visitors. Kansas City’s defense — shaky at times earlier in the series — turned clean, confident plays behind Ed Rakow, who delivered the performance of his life. Across eight innings, Rakow mixed location, changing speeds and attacking the strike zone with fearless consistency. He scattered two hits through seven innings and never let the Cardinals string together the kind of inning that could ignite their offense.
St. Louis finally broke through in the ninth, when Tim McCarver doubled home a run, giving the home crowd a flicker of hope. But Don Larsen shut the door without hesitation, finishing off the final three outs and sealing Kansas City’s triumph.
For the Cardinals, this loss felt like walking into a wall of inevitability. They stranded runners, misfired on their few opportunities, and never found the swing that could shift the night’s energy. Their pitching kept them within reach, but their bats never awakened.
For Kansas City, it was a victory built on resilience, clarity, and belief — a team that refused to accept elimination in Game 6, then carried that same fearless energy straight through the final nine innings of Game 7. Norm Siebern became a steadying force, Howser a catalyst, Causey a star in the biggest moments, and Rakow the pitcher who made it all possible.
The Athletics advance, while the Cardinals — valiant and disciplined — see their journey end one game short.

1961 Kansas City Athletics Win Series 4 Games To 3

Series MVP:

(.464, 2 HR, 5 R, 2 2B, .531 OBP, 1.281 OPS)
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GRANTLAND RICE — CLOSING COMMENTARY ON SERIES #248

“When the Last Light Fell on Sportsman’s Park”

In the cool October hush of St. Louis, where the shadows of Sportsman’s Park stretch long and solemn across the green, another tale has been stitched into the old game’s eternal tapestry. Here, in this clash between the seasoned Cardinals of 1965 and the unheralded Athletics of 1961, baseball once more revealed its oldest truth: that destiny cares little for favorites, reputations, or the safe predictions men make under warm summer skies. It listens only to courage.

Across seven games, the Cardinals struck first with the proud stride of a team certain of its strength. They played with the crisp precision of veterans who believed their path lay straight and unbroken toward victory. Yet the Athletics, quiet as dusk settling over a grain field, lingered at their heels — never departing, never bending. At times they stumbled, their gloves betraying them, their bats silent. But inside that modest Kansas City dugout lived a spirit that would not bow.

And so came the turning of the tide. Norm Siebern, that tall first baseman with the calm eyes, rose again and again when the moment sought a hero. Wayne Causey, almost monastic in his focus, struck blows that echoed like hammer strokes upon the anvil of fate — the home run in the early games, the 15th-inning double of Game Six, the seventh-inning dagger of Game Seven. Through them ran the thread of Kansas City’s defiance.

But the heart of this upset beat upon the mound, where uncertain men became steadfast. Bud Daley, with his soft-tossing sorcery, subdued St. Louis in the marathon of Game Six, pitching not merely with his arm but with the stubborn will of a man who refuses to yield. And then there came Ed Rakow, a pitcher of no grand legend, who in the crucible of Game Seven found a measure of greatness he may never touch again but will forever own. For eight innings he carved the strike zone with the chisel of a master, and the proud Cardinals — Brock fleet as the river wind, Flood elegant as a stag across the glen — could find no passage through him.

The Cardinals fought, as noble adversaries must. They rallied late, stirring their faithful with one last heartbeat, yet the hour had passed them by. Kansas City, once dismissed as a footnote from a forgotten chapter, stood firm beneath the rising roar, and the final out fell into their hands like a crown no one believed they could wear.

And as the Athletics poured from their dugout into the cool Missouri air, one could almost hear the heavens murmur — for baseball delights in reminding us that the seed of triumph may lie hidden in the humblest soil. A team underestimated, outmuscled on paper, swept aside in the minds of the experts, now walks onward in this great tournament of memory.

So ends Series #248: not with the march of the expected, but with the quiet uprising of the overlooked. And in that, it joins the long procession of contests where courage outran prophecy, where spirit outweighed pedigree, and where the game — ancient, capricious, magnificent — revealed once more its divine design.

For Kansas City, the road continues.
For St. Louis, the lights dim, but not the honor.
And for baseball, the story grows richer still.