1958 World Series: Catcher Elston Howard's Outfield Defense Turned Series Around

Elston Howard, an excellent defensive catcher who could also play the outfield and first base, was the New York Yankees starting outfielder in the fifth game of the 1958 World Series.

Elston Howard became a Yankee in 1955. Since the Yankees had Yogi Berra as their catcher, Howard appeared in only nine games behind the plate. He played in 75 games as an outfielder

The Milwaukee Braves had beaten the Yankees in the 1957 World Series. The teams repeated as pennant winners in 1958, with the Yankees thirsting to avenge the previous year's defeat as they had done in 1956 after Brooklyn beat them in 1955.

It looked bleak after the Braves won the first two games in Milwaukee, but in the third game, which was played at Yankee Stadium, Don Larsen shut out the Braves. Hank Bauer, the ex-marine, hit two home runs as the Yankees won, 4-0.

The next day, Warren Spahn shut out the Yankees to give the Braves a commanding three games to one lead. Only the 1925 Pirates had ever come back from a three games to one deficit to win the World Series.

Monday, was a clear, crisp New York autumn day. Bob Turley, whom the Braves had belted around in the second game, faced former Yankee Lew Burdette, who had beaten the Yankees three times in the 1957 World Series, the last two games by shut outs.

In the third inning, Gil McDougald hit a high Burdette pitch 301 feet down the left field line.. The ball struck the foul pole and the Yankees had the lead.

With Turley and the Yankees clinging to the one run lead in the top of the sixth inning, Braves fleet-footed center fielder Billy Bruton led off with a single through the left side of the infield.

Red Schoendienst followed with a looping fly ball to short left field. This was it. Schoendienst's fly ball was the turning point of the 1958 World Series.

The ball was falling rapidly into short left field, out of the reach of shortstop Tony Kubek and seemingly beyond the grasp of left fielder Elston Howard.

Getting up from behind the plate, Yogi Berra muttered to himself, "Uh-uh, here we go again."

But Elston Howard turned things around. Howard had to move far and fast to get to the ball. He never doubted that he would make the catch.

"I thought I had it all the way. I got a good jump on the ball, which Schoendienst rapped with the end of his bat. It was on a hit and run and I move with contact. I dived when I had to and I scraped my stomach, knees, everything, but I didn't mind. Then I looked up and saw the runner and said to myself, 'he belongs to me.' He did, after my throw in for the double play."

Braves' manager Fred Haney: "That was it, I thought. If he hadn't caught the ball and then doubled Aaron (sic) at first base it might have been different."

Yankees' center fielder Mickey Mantle: "That was the turning point. It was the greatest catch I've ever seen. Why, I never dreamed Ellie had half a chance to get that ball Red Schoendienst hit."

Yankees' right fielder Hank Bauer: "Howard turned in the key play. He woke us up, brought us to life. Turley pitched great and Gil hit and both were great, but I don't know what would have happened if Ellie hadn't done what he did for us."

Howard was playing left field because regular left fielder Norm Siebern had set up all three of the Braves' runs the day before when he lost two fly balls in the sun.

Elston Howard was one of the best defensive catchers of all time yet he made his most important, greatest defensive play as a left fielder.

References:

Effrat, Louis. "Turley Supplies Pitching, McDougald Power, Howard Protection for Yanks; Outfielder Wins Praise of Mates; Howard's Diving Catch for Yanks in Sixth is Rated Game's Turning Point." New York Times. 7 October 1958, p. 44.

McGowen, Roscoe. "Braves Frolic in Clubhouse After Loss But Haney and Burdette Are Gloomy." New York Times. 7 October 1958, p. 45.