Oct 21 2024 3 mins 1
On October 21, 1975, one of the most memorable moments in sports history took place during Game 6 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, with the score tied 6-6, Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk stepped up to the plate facing Reds pitcher Pat Darcy. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Fisk hit a high fly ball down the left-field line. As the ball soared through the air, Fisk began to frantically wave his arms, as if trying to will the ball fair.
The ball hit the foul pole, which meant it was a fair ball and a home run, giving the Red Sox a dramatic 7-6 walk-off victory and forcing a decisive Game 7. Fisk's reaction as he watched the ball and jumped up and down in celebration became an iconic image in sports history, and is often referred to as "the wave."
The moment was captured on camera by NBC's cameraman Lou Gerard, who had been instructed to follow the ball no matter what happened. The image of Fisk waving the ball fair has since become one of the most recognizable and enduring images in baseball history.
Despite the dramatic victory, the Red Sox would go on to lose Game 7 and the series to the Reds. However, the moment of Fisk's home run has lived on as a symbol of the excitement and unpredictability of playoff baseball. It remains one of the greatest moments in the history of the sport, and a testament to the enduring power of a single play to define a game, a series, and even a generation of fans.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, with the score tied 6-6, Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk stepped up to the plate facing Reds pitcher Pat Darcy. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Fisk hit a high fly ball down the left-field line. As the ball soared through the air, Fisk began to frantically wave his arms, as if trying to will the ball fair.
The ball hit the foul pole, which meant it was a fair ball and a home run, giving the Red Sox a dramatic 7-6 walk-off victory and forcing a decisive Game 7. Fisk's reaction as he watched the ball and jumped up and down in celebration became an iconic image in sports history, and is often referred to as "the wave."
The moment was captured on camera by NBC's cameraman Lou Gerard, who had been instructed to follow the ball no matter what happened. The image of Fisk waving the ball fair has since become one of the most recognizable and enduring images in baseball history.
Despite the dramatic victory, the Red Sox would go on to lose Game 7 and the series to the Reds. However, the moment of Fisk's home run has lived on as a symbol of the excitement and unpredictability of playoff baseball. It remains one of the greatest moments in the history of the sport, and a testament to the enduring power of a single play to define a game, a series, and even a generation of fans.
