THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL November 4: Luiz Gonzalez’s 9th-inning bloop beats Yankees in 2001 World Series Game 7

Luis Gonzalez accomplished the near-impossible on this day in béisbol, November 4, 2001 when the Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder hit a game-winning bloop in the bottom of the 9th off Mariano Rivera to steal World Series Game 7 from the Yankees.

Rivera was protecting a one-run lead when the usually unflappable closer gave up two runs, one of them due to his own costly throwing error. With two men on and the game now tied, Gonzalez blooped a single over a drawn-in infield to wrap up one of the most thrilling World Series in MLB history.

The loss deprived the Yankees, winners of four of the past six World Series, from a fourth consecutive championship.

Also on this day: Rivera was named Comeback Player of the Year in 2013, a year after he missed almost all of 2012 when he tore a ligament in his knee while shagging batting practice flies. At age 43, the greatest closer in history ended his Hall of Fame career with a stellar 2013 season reminiscent of his prime — 43 saves and a 2.11 ERA.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina wins his ninth — and last — Gold Glove in 2018. The defensive wizard’s award total is the third-most in history, trailing only Hall of Fame backstops Johnny Bench (10) and Ivan Rodriguez’s 13.

In 1987, catcher Benito Santiago was named NL Rookie of the Year after hitting .300 with 18 homers and 79 RBI. He concluded the season with a rookie record 34-game hitting streak, the longest ever by a catcher.

Mrquizzical at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball.com illustration