58 Mets At Athletics, October 14, 1973, Dick Williams World Series Triple

13 November 2023

Album art features the Athletic's Dick Williams in his later years

Three managers have taken three teams to three World Series wins. As Bruce Bochy joins this exclusive club in 2023, let's take a moment to look back at this incredibly rare achievement. Bruce Bochy led the 1998 Padres to the World Series, then winning three World Series for the Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014; and rounding out the triple with the 2023 Rangers.

The first triple manager was Bill McKechnie; winning the World Series in 19225 with the Pirates and 1940 with the Reds. His third appearance, this time on the losing side, was with the 1928 Cardinals.

And now to the final manager, Dick Williams. In his first year as a manager he would take the Red Sox to the 1967 Series; his first victorious campaign would be with the Athletics in 1972 (with a back-to-back victory in 1973); finishing in 1984 with an appearance by the Padres… a Padres team that featured Bruce Bochy who pinch hitted in Game 5.

Let's go back to Williams' 1973 campaign. Having won the World Series in 1972, the Athletics were looking to become only the tenth team in MLB history to achieve a back-to-back. They started out strong, with a 2-1 victory over the Mets to take the lead.

Yet it's Game 2 that's in the history books. It will become, at that point, the longest game in World Series history; the top of the sixth was packed with mental errors, the sun came into play with a decisive blinding appearance that pushed the game to extra innings, and in the post-game discussions the A's owner attempted firing of Mike Andrews was a contributing factor in William's resignation in the off-season.

Join Ralph Kiner and Jim Simpson for this wild ride.

You can find the boxscore here.

This game was played on October 14, 1973