A forced retirement

Five days after the Pittsburgh Pirates stun the Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, the not-so-pleased New York co-owners – Dan Topping and Del Webb – decide 63 years ago today to introduce a mandatory retirement age of 65.

The Yankees’ new policy effectively fires their manager, Casey Stengel, who happens to be 70 years old when he walks out of Forbes Field after Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off homer ends the World Series in the most dramatic fashion.

At the time of his forced retirement, Stengel is finishing his 12th season with the Yankees, a tenure that leads to 10 American League pennants and seven World Series titles.

Stengel responds to the Yankees’ new rule that Topping and Webb cook up by saying, “I’ll never make the mistake of being 70 again.”

Casey Stengel (37) leaving Forbes Field after Game 7 of the 1960 World Series