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Today in History: Willie Mays makes iconic “The Catch” for Giants

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

On September 29, 1954, New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays turned a routine fly into baseball’s iconic “The Catch”—an over-the-shoulder grab in the eighth inning of World Series Game 1 at the Polo Grounds, followed by a precise throw that stopped a runner, preserving a 2-2 tie and sparking a 5-2, extra-inning victory.

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Story summary

On September 29, 1954, New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays turned a routine fly into baseball’s iconic “The Catch”—an over-the-shoulder grab in the eighth inning of World Series Game 1 at the Polo Grounds, followed by a precise throw that stopped a runner, preserving a 2-2 tie and sparking a 5-2, extra-inning victory.