Ron Swoboda's World Series Catch in Quotes

Game 4 of the 1969 World Series, Mets up two to one in the Series against the Orioles. Top of the 9th inning, the great Tom Seaver on the mound, Mets up 1-0, but the Orioles have runners on the corners with one out. Future Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson is up and he hits a sinking line drive to right field. Appears to be a sure hit, but out of nowhere comes Ron Swoboda to make a sliding grab--one of the greatest catches in World Series history (certainly in Mets history). The Orioles did tie the score on the play, but the Mets ended up winning it in the 10th inning on the J.C. Martin bunt and bad throw by Pete Rickert. Without the catch, the series could have broken bad for the Mets, but instead they win in five and become a story for the baseball ages.

When you hear the game being announced, Curt Gowdy underplays the significance of the catch. He spends much of the play talking about what a savvy player Frank Robinson was in scoring from third base on the sacrifice fly (Yes, Frank Robinson was a very savvy and great player but really any knuckle brain should have scored from third on that play).

Here are some great quotes about the Ron Swoboda Catch:

"Some people had a career, I had a catch."
--Ron Swoboda

"How long have I got left?"
--Ron Swoboda, after being asked for how many years could he talk about 'The Catch'

"I was an average player who made a great play."
--Ron Swoboda