New York Giants ticket stub issued for Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians in which Willie Mays made his historic over-the-shoulder catch. Graded FR 1 by PSA. The ticket stub (4.25x2.25") displays light creasing throughout which is only noticeable upon close inspection and it displays closer to Excellent in its overall appearance.
This is one of the most significant postwar World Series tickets in the hobby. The holder of this ticket was witness to one of the greatest catches in baseball history and it seems only fitting that it occurred on baseball's biggest stage. The Indians, who won 111 games in 1954, were heavy favorites in the Series as the two clubs met at the Polo Grounds for Game 1 of the Series. With the score tied 2-2 entering the top of the eighth inning, the Indians looked ready to break the game open as Larry Doby led off with a walk and Al Rosen followed with a single to put men at first and second. Slugger Vic Wertz was up next and launched a mammoth drive to deep center field that looked for sure to be a bases-clearing double or triple. Unfortunately for the Indians, the centerfielder that day was Willie Mays. New York fans were used to seeing Mays making remarkable catches, but even the most diehard Giants fans almost fainted in amazement as Mays ran down Wertz's drive by making an incredible over-shoulder-catch and then, in almost a single motion, fired the ball back towards the infield. The catch not only saved two runs, but the game, as the Indians failed to score that inning and the Giants ultimately prevailed in the tenth inning on Dusty Rhodes' three-run walk-off home run.