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TORONTO — Baseball is the best, and we will be treated to the maximum amount of it in this World Series with the Dodgers forcing a Game 7 on Saturday night.

It looked like the series might end in walk-off fashion for the Blue Jays before Kiké Hernández started the first game-ending 7-4 double play in postseason history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, clinching the Dodgers†3-1 win Friday night at Rogers Centre.

Now, here we are, with the whole season coming down to one game. Hereâ€s a look at seven stats and facts to set the scene for Game 7.

• With an 18-inning Game 3, there has already been a lot of baseball played in this Series, and now itâ€s going seven games. There have been 124 innings pitched in this World Series, and there will be at least 17 more. Thatâ€s 141 innings pitched, which will surpass 1924 (133 2/3) for the most in a seven-game World Series. The only other Fall Classics with at least that many innings pitched were 1912 (147 2/3), 1919 (143), 1921 (141) and 1903 (141), all of which had eight games, either because of ties that led to an added game or a best-of-nine format.

• Speaking of innings, Will Smith has caught each one for the Dodgers. He enters Game 7 with 62 innings behind the plate in this Series. Barring something unforeseen, he will end up with at least 70 innings caught. That would pass Muddy Ruel in 1924 (67 innings) for the most in a seven-game World Series, per Elias. The only player in World Series history to catch at least 70 innings, as of now, was Lou Criger (71) in eight games in 1903, the first Fall Classic.

• Max Scherzer will be on the mound in a familiar spot. He started the last World Series Game 7, in 2019 for the Nationals against the Astros. Scherzer will be the fourth pitcher to start multiple winner-take-all World Series games, joining Bob Gibson (three), Lew Burdette and Don Larsen. It will be the ninth winner-take-all game he pitches in overall, breaking a tie with Aroldis Chapman for the most in postseason history. And at 41 years and 97 days, Scherzer will be the oldest pitcher to start a winner-take-all World Series game.

• The Dodgers made it official on Saturday: Shohei Ohtani will start Game 7. He hasnâ€t won the 2025 National League Most Valuable Player Award yet, but it seems very likely that he will. Just four players have started World Series Game 7 on the mound in a year in which they won MVP, per Elias. They are 1968 Gibson, 1956 Don Newcombe, 1945 Hal Newhouser and 1934 Dizzy Dean.

• With the Dodgers forcing a Game 7, we now have seven series that have gone the full distance this postseason. Thatâ€s two more than in any other single postseason. And yes, there are more series these days, but seven has been possible since 1995 and in ‘81.

• The Blue Jays have played one full-length series already in the American League Championship Series, and they now find themselves in a second Game 7. They will be the sixth team to play two Game 7s in a single postseason, something that has been possible since the LCS became best-of-seven in 1985. They will join the 2017 Astros, 1991 Braves, 1987 Cardinals, 1986 Red Sox and 1985 Royals. Of the previous five, only the Astros and Royals won both to win the World Series.

• Game 6 was Dave Roberts†116th postseason game as manager, fourth most all time. It was his 68th win, breaking a tie with Bobby Cox for third most, behind only Joe Torre (84) and Tony La Russa (71). So it should come as no surprise that he has been in winner-take-all games at the helm before. This will be his ninth as manager, tying A.J. Hinch (5-4 record) for second most, per Elias. Only Dusty Baker managed more winner-take-all games, with 10 (2-8). Roberts is 6-2 in those games, tied with Bruce Bochy (6-0) for the most winner-take-all managerial wins.

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Before Yamamoto in the NLCS, there hadnâ€t been a complete game in the postseason since Justin Verlander threw one in the 2017 ALCS. Now, there have been two in less than two weeks.

Hereâ€s a look at eight stats and facts from a spectacular night.

• Yamamoto became the first pitcher with complete games in consecutive outings in a postseason since Curt Schilling had three straight in 2001. Theyâ€re the only individuals to do this since the start of the 1993 postseason.

• Itâ€s the eighth such streak by a Dodgers pitcher and first since Orel Hershiser threw three consecutive complete games in the 1988 postseason. Sandy Koufax threw consecutive complete games in both the 1965 and â€63 World Series. Before that, it was Sal Maglie (1956), Johnny Podres (1955), Whit Wyatt (1941) and Sherry Smith (1920).

• Yamamoto finished the game on a roll, retiring his final 20 batters. Heâ€s the fourth pitcher to retire the last 20 or more batters of a postseason game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He joined Don Larsen, with all 27 in his 1956 World Series Game 5 perfect game, Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1926 World Series Game 2 (21) and Dutch Leonard in 1915 World Series Game 3 (20).

• Those 20 batters are also the most consecutive retired by a Dodgers pitcher at any point in a postseason game, per Elias. The record had been 19, by Carl Erskine in 1952 World Series Game 5.

• Both of Yamamotoâ€s complete games have come on the road. Heâ€s the third pitcher in the last 95 years to throw consecutive complete games in a single postseason with both as a visitor, joining Scott McGregor (1979) and Hal Newhouser (1945).

• These have been the first two complete games of Yamamotoâ€s MLB career. He is the second pitcher to throw his first two career MLB complete games (regular season or postseason) in the postseason, per Elias. He joined Josh Beckett, who threw his first two in NLCS Game 5 and World Series Game 6 in 2003.

• While these were the first complete games for Yamamoto in MLB, he had 16 complete games over his seven years in Japan, including two in the postseason.

• This was the first complete game in the World Series since Johnny Cueto threw one in Game 2 in 2015. Yamamoto is the first pitcher with multiple complete games in a postseason since Madison Bumgarner in 2014.

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Grace Wood & Adam LaverYorkshire

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Dickie Bird’s funeral cortege passes the umpire’s statue in Barnsley

Cricketing stars from Yorkshire and beyond were among the mourners who gathered to say farewell to legendary umpire Dickie Bird at his funeral earlier.

The Barnsley-born son of a miner was 92 when he died “peacefully at home” on 22 September, according to Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The service at St Mary’s Church in Barnsley was attended by former England cricketers Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan and was followed by a private family-only cremation and a wake at the town hall.

Well-wishers gathered at the statue of Bird on Church Lane where the funeral procession paused for a moment of reflection.

Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Dickie Bird died on 22 September aged 92

The invited guests also included Yorkshire chair Colin Graves and former director of cricket Martyn Moxon, the sports commentator John Helm and the ex-sports minister Richard Caborn.

Sir Geoffrey and Graves both gave eulogies and a poem by local poet Ian McMillan was read out.

Sir Geoffrey made sure the colourful character of his friend of almost 70 years shined through.

“I first met Dickie Bird when I was 15, at the time I was playing cricket for Hemsworth Grammar School,” Sir Geoffrey said to a packed church.

“He called me Gerald for years.”

He added: “Surprisingly with all the nerves he had as a batsman, he became a great umpire because he could channel all that nervous energy into good decisions.

“Dickie was refreshingly different. Eccentric but fair. It would be hard to find anyone who didn’t like him.”

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Sir Geoffery Boycott paid tribute to his old friend Dickie Bird

Bird officiated in 66 Tests and 76 one-day internationals, including three World Cup finals, between 1973 and 1996.

He began as a player, batting for Yorkshire and Leicestershire before an injury cut short his career in 1964.

Bird was awarded an MBE in 1986, an OBE in 2012 and the Freedom of Barnsley in 2000.

In 2009 he was immortalised by a statue in Barnsley that depicted him raising his index finger to indicate a batsman was out.

At Yorkshire’s home ground, Headingley, he paid for a balcony outside the dressing room for the players to sit and watch the game. Both the balcony and a clock at the ground bear his name.

Reuters

Dickie Bird retired as an umpire at the age of 65 after a career spanning 30 years

Former England and Yorkshire cricketer Ryan Sidebottom said Bird was so committed to Yorkshire cricket that he would be on the pitch even for county matches he wasn’t umpiring.

He said: “He’d be out looking at the wicket and wandering around. But it looked like he’d just come in from a night out, like an 1980s John Travolta, because he had the full suit on with a large collar and tie and really fancy suits and flared trousers.

“We used to see him regularly with different suits, some naughty suits, some proper naughty suits.”

Bowler Sidebottom retired in 2017, after taking more than 1,000 career wickets, and he said Bird “absolutely loved” the sport.

“Great bloke and a lovely man who would do anything for Yorkshire cricket. He just loved Yorkshire, he was so passionate about the game and Yorkshire in general,” he said.

And it was love for Yorkshire, and its people, that chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club Colin Graves remembered at his funeral.

“He had a reputation for not being the first at the bar, but he was a very generous man indeed,” he said, adding that almost 1,000 children had been recipients of grants from him.

Among the junior cricketers to have received financial awards from Dickie was Harry Brook – now an England international.

Paul Barker/PA Wire

Dickie Bird was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Leeds in 1997

Speaking to the BBC when he turned 90 two years ago, Bird said his secret to a long life had been his love of sport and exercise.

“I run, I go out down to the local football ground here in the local park and I lap around the ground. I feel that’s done me good.

“I’d like people, elderly people, if they could to just try and do a few exercises, move your arms, run on the spot, it occupies the brain.

“I’ll keep my exercises up as long as I can.”

As a young man, he played for Barnsley Cricket Club alongside Boycott and the journalist and broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson.

Dickie Bird shares secret to healthy life at 90

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The Rock is used to constant success across his various ventures, but every now and then the successful wrestler-turned-actor has a disappointing outing. There’s now even more concern after updated numbers on Rock’s latest mainstream project were released.

The Final Boss is still dealing with bad press following the theatrical release of The Smashing Machine last month. The future WWE Hall of Famer drew his worst-ever box office opening last weekend for the biographical sports drama based on the life and career of MMA pioneer Mark Kerry, based off a popular 2002 documentary of the same name that Rock was a big fan of.

Rock starred as Kerr, and served as Executive Producer with Seven Bucks. Rock and Kerry himself have been promoting the movie together. The Smashing Machine received a 15-minute standing ovation at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, and has drawn mostly-positive reviews from critics and regular viewers, despite the box office flop. The R-rated film currently has a 71% rating among critics on RottenTomatoes, and a 76% rating general viewers. These numbers are down from last week’s 72% and 77% ratings.

The Rock reportedly received $4 million for the leading role in The Smashing Machine. The movie filmed from May-August 2024, and required Rock to undergo a significant physical transformation. He recently issued a wholesome statement following the brutal opening weekend.

Week Two Box Office Update On The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson drew just $6 million from 3,345 movie theaters in its opening weekend last month. Projections going into opening weekend were at $8 million to $15 million, meaning the movie stood to lose tens of millions of dollars as $50 million was spent to produce the film, and that does not include several millions in marketing.

The Rock’s movie on UFC Hall of Famer Mark Kerr ranked #3 for its opening weekend, behind Taylor Swift’s “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” at #1 with $33 million in domestic sales, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s “One Battle After Another” with another $10.3 million from 3,634 theaters, down 53% from its debut weekend, bringing the two-week total to $41 million in North America.

The Smashing Machine just had its second weekend in theaters, and came in at a disappointing 8th place, according to Variety. The 70% decline represents just $1.7 million from 3,321 theaters, bringing the two-week total to $10.1 million. The movie is shaping up to be a major financial loss for the A24 entertainment company.

Disney’s “Tron: Ares” sci-fi sequel also flopped in its opening weekend, drawing a low $33.5 million from 4,000 theaters in North America. The film cost $180 million to produce, not including several million in marketing costs. The PG-13 film was projected to draw $45 to $50 million domestically. Channing Tatum’s “Roofman” took the second spit this weekend, drawing a disappointing $8 million via 3,340 theaters on opening weekend.

The Rock isn’t the only A-Lister struggling at the box office as new movies from Jennifer Lopez and others are also hurting. Variety noted that films are having a hard time packing theaters, and with no major blockbuster to help boost grosses in October, overall domestic movie theater ticket sales are up only 4% from the same period in 2024.

Kurt Angle has a strong history with The Rock and Mark Kerr. The WWE Hall of Famer took to X last week to praise both men amid backlash over the film.

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Amid rumors about a potential split, Jazwares has provided an official statement regarding its action figure partnership with AEW.

Rumors spread over the last few days after a Reddit insider posted that Jazwares will no longer have the AEW action figure license. Whether those rumors will ultimately prove true in the longterm remains to be seen, but Jazwares has confirmed that it will still be making new AEW products into next year.

Jazwares Chief Brand Officer Jeremy Padawer provided the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast with a statement that Matt Cardona read in a video on Tuesday.

“I think it’s fair to say you’ve talked to me and from everything you understand and I’ve said, we are making AEW product in 2026,” the statement said.

The AEW-Jazwares relationship began in 2020 as the promotion entered the action figure market for the first time. The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast did not have any information on whether the two sides will remain partners past 2026.

“Something’s up, though,” Brian Myers said. “We definitely need more answers.”

“Usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? But time will tell,” Cardona added. “We do know, as far as we know, 2026 will have new AEW/Ring of Honor Jazwares product, which is a good sign.”

Jazwares — which was acquired by financial conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway in 2022 — is best known for making Squishmallows stuffed animals.

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An image of Bird remaining in the middle, sitting on the covers and surrounded by spectators, not only foreshadowed some of the events that would follow, but also his closeness to the cricketing public who appreciated his good-humoured nature.

In 1988, with England taking on West Indies at Headingley, Bird had to deal with play being halted by water oozing from under the outfield. With the Yorkshire crowd keen to make their frustration known, Bird left the field, telling them: “I can’t help it if there’s a burst pipe. There’s water coming up. It’s not my fault, that.”

Again it was West Indies as England’s opponents, this time in 1995, when Bird led the players from the field at Old Trafford because bright sunlight was reflecting into the middle and causing a distraction. “There’s something shining inside your box,” Bird shouted towards the posh seats as he once more took the ire of the crowd.

The chaotic moments took nothing away from the respect Bird commanded as an official. If anything, they helped to grow his reputation. He was chosen to stand in the first three World Cup finals, all held at Lord’s, in 1975, 1979 and 1983. The 1975 final, won by Clive Lloyd’s West Indians, provided one of Bird’s most famous stories.

When fans invaded the pitch after the Windies defeated Australia by 17 runs, Bird’s famous white hat – specially made by a firm in Luton – was taken from his head.

“I was on a London bus some years after,” Bird told the Test Match Special podcast in June of this year.

“I don’t know what I was doing on a London bus, but I saw a bus conductor with a white cap that looked like one of mine.

“I said ‘Excuse me, man, where did you get that white cap?’. He said ‘Haven’t you heard of Mr Dickie Bird, I pinched it off his head in the 1975 World Cup final!’.”

Beloved by players, even those frustrated by his reluctance to give lbw decisions, Bird was also the subject of countless pranks.

Once, when Bird was standing, former England batter Allan Lamb came to the middle. Perhaps with some artistic licence, Bird claimed that Lamb had forgotten to leave his mobile phone in the dressing room, and persuaded the umpire to look after it for him. This was in the days when mobile phones were not particularly small and not easily ignored.

In an oft-repeated story, Bird said he was at square leg when the phone rang. He answered and a familiar voice boomed down the line.

“This is Ian Botham in the dressing room. Tell that fella Lamb to play some shots or get out.”

When Bird ended his career as an international umpire in 1996, his 66 Tests was then a world record. He was given a guard of honour by the players of England and India as he stepped on to the Lord’s outfield for his final Test.

With tears in his eyes, famous not-outer Bird proceeded to give a marginal lbw against England captain Michael Atherton in the first over of the match.

Even in retirement, Bird’s celebrity status remained undiminished. He released bestselling books and became a fixture on the speaking circuit.

After being awarded an MBE in 1986, he was given an OBE in 2012. In an interview with the Telegraph in 2023, Bird revealed he met Queen Elizabeth II on 29 occasions, saying that the two wrote to each other frequently.

Always worried about being late, Bird was once invited to a 1pm lunch at Buckingham Palace and arrived at the gates at 8.45am.

Bird was immortalised by a statue in Barnsley in 2009, albeit the statue had to be lifted above ground level four years later because his raised umpiring finger would regularly be adorned with rude objects.

Bird never married, instead saying he was married to cricket. “The one thing I’ve missed is not having a family,” he said. “I think I’d have made a good father. But I’ve seen so many divorces in cricket, and I’m the kind of chap, it would have killed me if I’d had a broken marriage. That’s why I never married.”

He remained a constant presence at Headingley, where he paid for a balcony outside the dressing room for the players to sit and watch the game. Both the balcony and a clock at the ground bear his name.

Those tangible memories will endure as part of the legacy of one of British sport’s great characters. Dickie Bird remains one of the most famous cricketing figures the UK has ever produced without ever making a run for England.

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Best Bowling Figures By Indian Bowler: India are the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup, with…

Sports Mole challenges you to name the leading Test run scorers in history, with 15 players having gone past 10,000 runs.

Steven Smith became the 15th member of the 10,000-run club earlier this week during Australia‘s Test match with Sri Lanka.

The 35-year-old has already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest Test players of all time with 41 half-centuries and 35 tons during his illustrious career.

On this occasion, Smith recorded a knock of 141 from 251 balls to help put his nation in control in the first Test match in Galle.

In doing so, Smith strengthened his position of fourth in the all-time Australian listings, still having some way to go to break into the top three.

With the ongoing series in Sri Lanka featuring just two matches, and with Australia not back in action in the five-day format until June, Smith faces a wait before making any further progress up the standings.

Nevertheless, still playing at an average of 56.33, the argument remains that Smith could eventually end his career as the best Test player of all time.

Here, Sports Mole challenges you to name all of the other players to accumulate more than 10,000 runs in the history of Test cricket.

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