1973 World Series recap

The World Series opened in Oakland, and the A's scored a pair of unearned runs in the third inning off Mets starter Jon Matlack. That was all they'd need, as Ken Holtzman and a pair of relievers limited the Mets to a single run. Game 2 was a crazy affair, as Oakland scored two runs in the ninth to force extra innings, only to lose 10-7 when the Mets scored four times in the top of the 12th.

All four 12th-inning runs were unearned because of a pair of errors by A's second baseman Mike Andrews. Before Game 3, Oakland owner Charley Finley attempted to remove Andrews from the roster, claiming the latter was injured. He wasn't, and Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn ordered Andrews reinstated.

Game 3 in New York resulted in more extra innings, with the A's winning 3-2 in 11 frames on the strength of Bert Campaneris's RBI single. Oakland's bats went quiet in Games 4 and 5, the Mets winning 6-1 and 2-0, with Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw combining for the fifth-game shutout.

Facing elimination in Game 6, the A's came through with a 3-1 victory behind solid pitching from Catfish Hunter and a pair of RBI doubles from Reggie Jackson.

Game 7 was all Oakland, as the A's went up 4-0 in the third when Campaneris and Jackson both blasted two-run homers off Game 4 winner Jon Matlack. They tacked on another in the fifth when Joe Rudi's single drove in Campaneris. The Mets scored a run in the sixth and another in the ninth, but with two runners on base, Darold Knowles retired Wayne Garrett on a pop-up to shortstop to end the game, giving the A's their second straight World Series.

Path to the World Series
ALCS: Oakland over Baltimore (3 games to 2)
NLCS: New York over Cincinnati (3 games to 2)

Managers: Dick Williams, OAK; Yogi Berra, NYM

MVP: Reggie Jackson, OAK: .310, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI