(Editor's note: Back in 1968, Morris resident Ed Spiezio played in his third and final World Series. While playing on World Series teams for the 1964 and 1967 St. Louis Cardinals, Ed had never made an appearance in the Fall Classic. That changed in Game 5 of the World Series in '68 when Spiezio made an appearance as a pinch hitter. Forty-four years ago to the month, people are still talking about it. In remembrance of the event, the MDH is putting together a two-part story on Spiezio and the 1967 Series. The first installment ran last Saturday.)

Ed Spiezio’s one-out single brought two of baseball’s most legendary names onto the field for the Cardinals, Roger Maris and Lou Brock. Granted, Maris was a shadow of the man who belted 61 home runs and toppled The Babe’s home run record in 1961, but Brock was in the prime of his career in 1968 and was standing in the on-deck circle sporting a .550 batting average for the series to that point.

But a comeback simply wasn’t in the cards for the Cards. Maris struck out and Brock grounded out to Lolich, giving the lefty a complete game victory for the Tigers. Three days later the Tigers, would complete their epic comeback with a 4-1 win in Busch Stadium. It was their first World Series title since defeating the Cubs in 1945.