The 1968 World Series: Mayo Smith's Shortstop Gamble
When Oyler, always a light hitter, famously went "0 for August," Smith made one of the boldest and most talked-about managerial moves in baseball history, moving outfielder Mickey Stanley to the shortstop position for the last 9 games of the regular season and for all 7 games of the 1968 World Series. Oyler's batting average had dropped to an abysmal .135, and Smith had four quality outfielders in Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, Al Kaline, and Mickey Stanley. Stanley had not played the shortstop position before the 1968 season, but was a talented athlete with a good glove. Though Stanley made 2 errors in the 1968 World Series, neither error led to a run being scored.
Oyler did not have an official at bat in the 1968 World Series, but he did appear in all four Detroit victories as a defensive replacement and had a sacrifice bunt.
In its "The End of the Century" series, ESPN rated Mayo Smith's decision to move Stanley to shortstop for the 1968 World Series as one of the 10 greatest coaching decisions of the century. (The decision to move Babe Ruth from pitcher to the outfield ranks 3 notches higher.)
Stanley returned to play 59 games at shortstop the next year, while Oyler was allowed to be drafted by the expansion Seattle Pilots.
Read more about this topic: Ray Oyler
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