On October 22, 1972, Pete Rose launched Rollie Fingers' pitch to left-field, hoping that it would be enough to bring his beloved Cincinnati Reds their first World Series title since 1940. Instead, Joe Rudi picked it off, giving the A's a hard fought 3-2 win in Game 7 over the vaunted Big Red Machine and Oakland its first world championship in any sport.
It was the start of a dynasty for the A's. Over the next three years, they dominated the sport, winning two more titles to secure one of sport's most elusive honors: a three-pete. Of course, none of that would have been possible if Sal Bando hadn't driven in Allan Lewis in the sixth and Joe Rudie hadn't picked off the game's greatest hitter just short of the left-center field wall at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.
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