30 greatest World Series in MLB history
25. New York Mets vs. Oakland A’s, 1973
The 1973 World Series pitted the injury-plagued New York Mets against an Oakland Athletics team that was led by a dominant pitching duo and one of the greatest postseason hitters in MLB history.
For the Mets, it was one final opportunity for the legendary Willie Mays to cap off a brilliant career with a World Series victory. That would be a difficult task, however, as the Athletics were in the middle of their most successful three-year stretch in franchise history.
The teams alternated victories during the first four games of the series, including a pair of extra-inning contests in Games 2 and 3. New York appeared to take control of the series after Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw delivered a three-hit shutout in Game 5, but the Athletics were not done yet.
Catfish Hunter picked up his third win of the series in Game 6, with Rollie Fingers giving up zero earned runs in 4.2 innings of relief during the final two games. The performance was enough to clinch the series for Oakland, as they outscored the Mets 8-3 while facing back-to-back elimination games.
Reggie Jackson was named MVP after recording three runs, six RBI and one home run on .310 hitting. It was the second of three consecutive World Series title that the Athletics would win from 1972 to 1974.
Next: 24. New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants, 1962