A BASEBALL BAD BEAT AND THE BLOODY SOCK GAME
Milwaukee is currently up 3-0 in the baseball World Series. Game 4 plays tonight, and the Brewers can sweep it and win their first championship. No team has ever come back to win a World Series after falling behind 0-3. This disparity has happened 25 times before, and all 25 leading teams won. In fact, 21 of them won Game 4 and swept. Things don’t look good for Tampa Bay.
However, one team did pull off a baseball miracle. In all the playoff series where one team was behind 0-3 in a best-of-seven series, just ONE came back and won–meaning they swept the final four games straight and won the series 4 games to 3. It was in the American League Championship Series — exactly 22 years ago.
Of course, I was on the losing side of the miracle. That was my biggest baseball bet ever and I sure do remember it. It’s worth telling the story now of what happened:
I rarely watch baseball. But I’ve bet on it most of my life. Back in 2004, I was betting various systems, angles, trends, martingales — you name it. Call it a daily grind, because that’s what it was. I’d run my sports betting bankroll up pretty good, and it was also the middle of football season and was having a good year, so I had plenty of cash.
My best friend Rich Korbin and I hung out together. We bet tons of sports and talked every day. Boston was playing the NY Yankees in the ALCS that year. The Yankees looked unbeatable. They were coming off a World Series appearance the previous season and won 103 games in 2004, ten wins more than the Red Sox, which just seemed lucky to be in the playoffs.
Rich rarely touted me to bet on games. But he absolutely looooooooved the Yankees to win the series and advance, which looked easy. That NYY team was loaded. I forgot the odds, but it wasn’t as bad a lay-price as you’d think. I decided to bet $5,000 on the Yankees, my biggest baseball bet ever.
Imagine our delight when the Yankees breezed through the first three games against the Red Sox. They won 10-7, 3-1, and 19-8 to go up three games to none. The Yanks outscored the Sox 32-16.
Locked money.
Famous last words.
In Game 4, the Yankees were up 4-3 with the Red Sox down to 3 outs. Bottom of the 9th. This was as dire a situation as it gets being behind, down to one final inning, and then stuck in a hole 0-3 in the series. Boston was TOAST.
Hey! Look how easy this is! Free money. Call me the Rainmaker. Where’s my winning sports ticket? Should I go cash it tonight, or wait until tomorrow?
Ooops!
Boston scores a run, forces extra innings, then wins Game 4 in the bottom of the 12th.
No big deal. Still up, 3-1.
In Game 5, Yankees were up 4-2 in the game. Red Sox score 2 runs to tie it. Extra innings again. Then, Boston scored and won in the bottom of the 14th. Ummmph!
Now, it’s Yanks up 3-2 in the series.
This can’t be happening, right?
Okay, it’s time for Game 6. Gee, I guess I better start watching the games.
Back then, there were no online betting services in Nevada. So, unless you bet offshore, that meant physically driving to the sportsbook and making bets with cash through the window. Trust me, there’s a difference in mentality when barking out a bet to a bookie on the phone or clinking “confirm” at an online sports account …… versus ACTUALLY SEEING your cash pushed through the window. For me, I always have a “are you really sure about this?” moment.
I’d decided to hedge my bet. I did a fair amount of hedging back then, especially on wagers of any decent size. I forgot what I was going to hedge specifically–or the amount. But, I intended to put money on Boston, lock up a middle, and essentially enjoy a “can’t lose” betting situation. I walked into the SunCoast and went into the sportsbook. I even got in line. Up on the wall were the TV screens and of course, they’re all tuned to the baseball game. The place was packed.
Fox was doing the broadcast. In the pre-game warmups, they showed the Boston starting pitcher Curt Schilling. His ankle is bleeding! This is before the game started.
Wait.
I’m going to bet on this guy? With my cash? His ankle is a piece of raw red meat. In his previous start, Schilling had been hit by a ball, and it busted open his right tendon. He’s ruptured his flexor tendon, and the doctor quilted in some stitches in a half-assed repair job that must have been seasoned with painkillers. Do you know how difficult it is to throw a fastball in pain, and without the full use of the right ankle?
Again, full top. I’m betting my money on this guy? He can barely walk!
Screw that. Let my NY Yankees series wager ride. I got out of line and headed to the parking garage. Good thing I saw that shot on the TV screen of his ankle! That saved me a few grand! This guy’s gonna’s be gone by the third inning. He’ll be getting out of the shower while the Yankees are pouring champagne over themselves. Besides, they’re back in New York now, and certainly the Bronx bombers will take care of business in front of the home crowd. Man, am I smart — or what?
Well, in what (in)famously became known as the “bloody sock” game, Schilling tossed an absolute masterpiece. A pitching gem. The mighty Yankees were held SCORELESS entering bottom of the 7th. Boston won, and the series was tied.
By the time Game 7 rolled around, I was already so angry I didn’t even think about hedging or driving to the sportsbook. Let it ride. Let fate be fate. If it’s meant to happen, let it happen. Besides, the deciding game is in New York. The Yankee don’t want to disappoint the home fa……oh, fuck it.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Red Sox lead 6-0 in the SECOND INNING. I turned off the TV and just stared at the $5,000 Yankee ticket like it was a positive STD test.
Final score: Boston 10 / NY Yankees 3.
The irony to this story is — in the two biggest upset/comebacks of the decade, I was on the LOSING end of both. The Yankees loss cost me $5K. Then, four years later, I lost $39K on the Patriots in the Super Bowl when their “perfect” season was ruined along with my sports betting bankroll. That remains the biggest bet I’ve ever lost (I hope never to break that record).
Oh, and for the record, I have no action on the Milwaukee-Tampa Bay series.