(from Local Legends I Don Liddle may not be a household name for some local fans, but the

Mt. Carmel native played a large role in a play that shows up year after year on television. And
he was a pretty darn good pitcher in his own right.)

Don Liddle: A Piece of World Series History

The tri-state area has several ties to World Series history, like Pete Fox, a star for Detroit
in the 30s; Gil Hodges, as a player in eight Series and as a manager in 1969; and Edd Roush, the
hero in the notorious Black Sox Series in 1919. But one of the least known tri-state
connections came from our neighbor to the west, Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
Donald Eugene Liddle was taught the fundamentals of baseball by his father, who pitched
every Sunday in a league for the railroadmen of the area. But as Don developed as a left-handed
hurler in the 1970s, little did he know that he would one day play on the sports biggest stage
and be a part of perhaps the most memorable play in World Series history.
Entering the 54 Series, the Giants were heavy underdogs to the powerful Cleveland
Indians. Clevelands best hitters were Bobby Avila (.341), Al Rosen (.300), Al Smith (.281) and
Vic Wertz (.275), and their experienced pitching staff was led by Early Wynn (23-11), Bob
Lemon (23-7), Mike Garcia (19-8), Art Houtteman (15-7) and 35-year-old Bob Feller (13-3).
Very few felt that New York could compete, and Don Liddle admitted late in his life that he and
his teammates felt the same way, saying, We didnt stand a chance against Cleveland. They
had just set a record with 111 victories out of 154 ballgames. And here we eked out 94 or 95.
Most fans felt the Series would end quickly with a 4-0 sweep, and as the 54 Series
played out, thats exactly what happened. But to everyones surprise, it wasnt the mighty
Indians that would dominate; it was the lowly New York Giants that would control the fall
classic from start to finish.
No one could have imagined the outcome, and, looking back, many baseball aficionados
feel that one play in the first game set the tone for the entire series, and Mt. Carmels own Don
Liddle was right in the thick of it.
During the pitch, Willie Mays was playing shallow, but at the crack of the bat, he spun
and sprinted toward the wall in center field. In most parks and against any other team, the shot
would have cleared the bases and Wertz would have ended up on second or third. But on this
day in the Polo Grounds and with the Say Hey Kid in center, the result was a play that fans will
forever remember.