This Day In Baseball History: October 31, 2009

October 31, 2009

                It was on this date in 2009 that instant replay was used for the first time in World Series history, to review a call on the field. It was Game 3 between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens’ Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia.

                The questionable play happened in the top of the fourth inning with the Phillies leading the game 3-0 and New York Yankee third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, at the plate and first baseman, Mark Teixeira at first. Rodriguez hit a fly ball to right field that appeared to bounce off the wall. The umpire ruled the play still alive and the Yankees had runners on second and third.

                The play was reviewed and the instant replay showed that the ball was headed over the wall when it struck a television camera that was slightly in the field of play. It was evident, from the camera angle used, that the ball would have gone over the fence if it had not struck the camera. The play was reversed and A-Rod had a two-run homer and the Phillies’ lead was cut to 3-2.

                The Yankees would eventually win the game by a score of 8-5 to take a two games to one lead in the World Series, a Series they would eventually win in six games.

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The Ten World Series Walk-off Home Runs Since 1975: Part 2

                Welcome to the second part of the ten World Series Walk-off home runs in the last forty years. Today, we look at the homers ranked #5 to #1. Enjoy.

5. October 31, 2001: Arizona at NY Yankees, Game 4: Derek Jeter

                Let’s get right to the dramatic part—the bottom of the ninth. The D-backs held a two games to one lead in the Series and had a 3-1 lead going into the ninth. The city of New York was still in a recovering process from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the fans in Yankee Stadium didn’t seem to have the same fire they had during the previous Series appearances by the Yanks. That was about to change.

                With two out, and Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim on the mound, third baseman Scott Brosius hit an electrifying two-run home run into the left field stands to tie the game at three. Yankee Stadium was bedlam as the fans were going nuts.

                The next inning, Kim was able to get the first two batters out. Next up was Jeter, the Yankee short stop. During his at-bat, the clock struck midnight, marking the first time the World Series had been played in the month of November. On a 3-2 pitch, Jeter hit an opposite field fly ball that cleared the fence in right and gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead and a tie in the series.

                With that swing, Jeter had earned himself the nickname, “Mr. November.”

See Jeter's home run

4. October 15, 1988: Oakland at Los Angeles, Game 1: Kirk Gibson

                During the NLCS, Dodger outfielder Kirk Gibson (a hero for the Detroit Tigers in the 1984 Series) injured both his legs and it looked doubtful if he would make an appearance in the World Series. However, Dodger manager Tommy LaSorda included Gibson on LA’s Series roster.

                The Athletics held a 4-3 lead as the game moved into the bottom of the ninth. The A’s had all-star closer Dennis Eckersley on the mound to close out another Oakland victory. Eck got the first two batters out, but pinch hitter Mike Davis, walked on five pitches.

                This is where the Hollywood ending kicked in. LaSorda sent up Gibson to the plate to pinch hit. Gibson limped all the way from the dugout and didn’t take any practice swings. Gibson worked the count to 3 and 2 as he fouled off one pitch after another to stay alive in the at bat.

                Finally, Gibson swung at an Eckersley slider and lifted a high fly ball deep to right field. It cleared the fence and sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy. Gibson hobbled around the bases, pumping his fist in celebration. The trip around the bases would become an iconic image replayed countless times since, usually during World Series time.

                The Dodgers had taken the first game and would defeat the Athletics in five. Although he wouldn’t play another game in the Series, Gibson had already left his mark.

See Gibson's home run

3. October 21, 1975: Cincinnati at Boston, Game 6: Carlton Fisk

                After the Reds took Game 5 to take a three games to two lead in the Series, three days of rain would delay the sixth game, allowing the Sox to start their ace, Luis Tiant, who had won both of his starts, in Games One and Four.

                Boston scored three runs in the bottom of the first on a three run homer by Sox centre fielder Fred Lynn. But by the time they came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, they had fallen behind the Reds by a score of 6-3. However, Bernie Carbo smashed a game-tying three run shot, just to the left of dead centre field.

                The game remained tied as it moved into the ninth, then the tenth, then the eleventh and finally the twelfth. Leading off the bottom of the inning was Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk. On the second pitch, Fisk hit a long fly ball that started curving towards the foul pole. As he started towards first base, Fisk jumped and waved his arms, trying to will the ball fair.

                It hit the foul pole (fair ball) and the Red Sox had sent the ’75 Series to a seventh game. Much like Gibson’s hobble around the bases, Fisk’s body language as the ball sailed into the Boston night has become and iconic image that is shown frequently when the World Series comes around.

See Fisk's home run

2. October 26, 1991: Atlanta at Minnesota, Game 6: Kirby Puckett

                The Twins trailed the Braves three games to two as the two teams got Game 6 underway in the MetroDome in Minneapolis. The Twins struck quickly for two in the first before the Braves tied it in the fifth on a two-run home run by Terry Pendleton.

                The two teams exchanged runs again and the ninth inning ended with a tie score, 3-3. The tenth proved uneventful and the Braves tried to mount a threat in the top of the eleventh when Sid Bream led off with a single. However, pinch runner Keith Mitchell was thrown out trying to steal and Twins’ pitcher Rick Aguilera retired the next two batters and escaped the inning without incident.

                In the bottom of the inning, Twins’ all-star centre fielder Kirby Puckett came to bat. Puckett, who had made an amazing leaping catch earlier in the game, hit the fourth pitch he saw from Braves’ relief pitcher Charlie Liebrandt over the left-centre field wall and into the seats, giving the Twins a 4-3 win and forcing a seventh game.

                The home run by Puckett will forever be remembered with the words from CBS broadcaster Jack Buck, who exclaimed, “And we’ll see you tomorrow night.”

See Puckett's home run

#1. October 23, 1993: Philadelphia at Toronto, Game 6, Joe Carter

                The Blue Jays were in the World Series for the second consecutive year, having defeated the Atlanta Braves in six games in the 1992 World Series. After splitting the first two games with the Phillies in Toronto’s SkyDome, the Jays took two of three at Veterans Stadium in Philly to bring a three games to two lead back to Toronto.

                The Jays wasted little time in getting their fans fired up. With one out in the bottom of the first, Toronto centre fielder, Devon White, walked. DH Paul Molitor tripled White home and scored himself on a Joe Carter sac fly. A John Olerud double was followed by a Roberto Alomar single and the Blue Jays were up 3-0.

                In the top of the third, the Phillies got on the board when Jim Eisenreich singled in Darren Daulton, but the Jays quickly got that back in the bottom of the inning when Alomar doubled, moved to third on a ground out by short stop Tony Fernandez and scored on Ed Sprague’s sac fly. An inning later, the Jays looked like they would run away with the game when Molitor hit his second home run of the Series, a blast into left field, and Toronto was up 5-1.

                But in the top of the seventh, the Phillies came storming back. Led by a three run home run off the bat of centre fielder Lenny Dykstra, the Phils scored five runs to take a 6-5 lead. After the Jays left the bases loaded in the eighth, Philadelphia was three outs away from sending the Series to a seventh game.

                With Phillies’ closer Mitch Williams on the mound, Toronto’s leadoff hitter, Rickey Henderson, walked on four pitches. White flew out for the first out of the inning. Molitor hit a line drive single to centre field moving Henderson, the tying run, to second base. That brought right fielder and cleanup hitter, Carter to the plate.

                Carter took the first two pitches for balls. Williams battled back and threw two strikes, the fourth pitch of the at bat being a ball out of the strike zone that Carter looked bad on when he swung.

                Carter then took his place in Blue Jays’—and baseball’ history—when he lined the 2-2 pitch down the left field line, over the wall and into Toronto’s bullpen for a three-run, walk-off, World Series-clinching home run. It was the second Series walk-off homer in history (Bill Mazeroski for the Pirates in 1960 being the first.)

                Carter was mobbed by his teammates as he crossed home plate and the Blue Jays celebrated their second consecutive World Series title.

See Carter's home run

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The Ten World Series Walk-off Home Runs Since 1975: Part 1

                It’s World Series time and there’s no better way to start the celebration of the greatest week-long spectacle in sports than looking at the ten walk-off home runs in World Series play in the last 40 years. Today, we will look at the home runs ranked #10 to #6. Enjoy.

10. October 18, 1988: Los Angeles at Oakland, Game 3: Mark McGwire

                The heavily favoured Athletics came into Game 3 having dropped the first two games in LA, not exactly the way things were expected to go. Oakland scored the first run of the game in the third inning on an RBI single by Ron Hassey, but the Dodgers tied it in the fifth when Franklin Stubbs drove in Jeff Hamilton with a double.

                The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Mark McGwire who had hit 32 home runs in the regular season, came to the plate with one out. With Dodger closer Jay Howell on the mound, Big Mac smashed his first career World Series home run into the left field seats to give Oakland a 2-1 victory in Game 3. The A’s were back in the Series.

9. October 22, 2003: NY Yankees at Florida, Game 4: Alex Gonzalez

                The Florida Marlins were in the World Series for the second time in their eleven year history. After taking the first game in Yankee Stadium, the Marlins dropped the next two games by scores of 6-1 in both. In danger of falling behind in the Series three games to one, the Marlins quickly scored three runs in the bottom of the first off of Yankee ace, Roger Clemens. Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer and Derek Lee had an RBI single.

                The Yankees got on the board in the second on a sac fly from ALCS hero Aaron Boone. Due to an incredible pitching performances by Clemens and Florida starter Carl Pavano, neither team scored again over the next six innings.

                In the top of the ninth, Marlin closer Ugueth Urbina couldn’t hold the Yankees at bay and a Ruben Sierra triple scored Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui to tie the game at three.

                In the bottom of the twelfth, Marlin short stop Alex Gonzalez led off the inning. (This was a different Alex Gonzalez from the one that committed the error for the Cubs in the sixth game of the NLCS opening the door to an eight-run Marlin eighth inning.) Gonzalez hit a high fly ball to left field that barely cleared the fence and gave Florida a 4-3 win. The World Series was tied.

8. October 23, 2005: Houston at Chicago White Sox, Game 2: Scott Podsednik

                The White Sox were seeking their first World Series since 1917 and the Astros were in the World Series for the first time in team history. After taking the first game by a score of 5-3, Chicago was looking to take a two games to none lead.

                Trailing 4-2 going to the bottom of the seventh inning, the White Sox erupted for four runs on a grand slam by first baseman Paul Konerko. The 6-4 lead was taken to the ninth, but the Astros struck for two against closer Bobby Jenks and the score was tied at six.

                In the bottom of the ninth, Podsednik, who had not hit any home runs during the regular season, hit a solo shot off Astros’ closer Brad Lidge to give the White Sox a 7-6 win and a two game lead in the Series.

7. October 26, 1999: Atlanta at NY Yankees, Game 3: Chad Curtis

                After taking the first two games in Atlanta, the New Yorkers were starting to think about their second consecutive World Series sweep (they had swept the San Diego Padres in 1998.) But the game didn’t get off to the kind of start the Yanks wanted as a three run third helped put the Braves into a 5-1 lead as the game headed to the bottom of the fifth.

                But solo home runs by Tino Martinez, Chad Curtis and a two-run shot from Chuck Knoblauch had the game tied at five by the end of the eighth.

                When Curtis came to the plate in the bottom of the tenth, he blasted a pitch from Atlanta reliever Mike Remlinger into the bleachers for a walk off homer. The Yankees took the game, 6-5 and had a 3-0 lead in the Series.

               

6. October 27, 2011: Texas at St. Louis, Game 6: David Freese

                This was perhaps one of the most exciting World Series games ever as twice, the Texas Rangers were one strike away from winning the World Series. There was only one inning (the third) in which neither team scored a run.

                The Rangers, who held a three games to lead in the Series, also held a 7-5 lead as the game moved into the bottom of the ninth. With two on and two out, David Freese came to the plate and quickly fell behind in the count with a ball and two strikes. But the Cardinal third baseman slammed a triple off the wall and the game was tied at seven.

                In the top of the tenth, the Rangers took another two-run lead on a two-run home run by Josh Hamilton. In the bottom of the inning, the Cards pushed across one run and again were down to their last strike with Lance Berkman at the plate. Berkman singled to centre on a 2-2 pitch scoring Jon Jay and the game was tied again, this time at nine.

                In the bottom of the eleventh, Freese came up to the plate again, this time leading off, and hit a long home run over the centre field fence, walking off the Rangers and giving the Cardinals a 10-9 win, and forcing a Game 7.

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This Day In Baseball History: October 27, 1995

October 28, 1995

                It was on this date in 1995 that the Atlanta Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians, by a score of 1-0, in Game 6 at Atlanta’s Fulton-County Stadium, to become the first and only franchise in Major League Baseball history to win the World Series in three different cities.

                Originally formed as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871, the team changed its name to the Boston Braves in 1912 so as not to be confused with the American League’s Boston Red Sox. The Braves won the World Series in 1914, the only championship they won while in Boston.

                In 1953, the team moved to Milwaukee and defeated the Yankees in the 1957 World Series. It was the franchise’s only win as the Milwaukee Braves before moving to Atlanta for the 1966 season.

                While the Braves were dominant in the regular season from 1991 to 2005 winning 14 consecutive division titles and five National League pennants, the 1995 victory remains the only World Series triumph while in the city of Atlanta.

                In the Series-clinching game, pitcher Tom Glavine surrendered only one hit over eight innings to pick up the win, while right fielder David Justice hit a solo home run in the six inning for the only run of the game.

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2015 World Series Preview: Mets vs Royals

               The 111^th World Series gets underway tonight in Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium with the American League Champion Royals hosting the NL’s best, the New York Mets. The Royals are returning to the Fall Classic for the second consecutive year, having lost in seven games in 2014 to the San Francisco Giants. The last time the Royals won the World Series was in 1985, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The New York Mets are making their first trip to the Series since 2000 when they lost to the New York Yankees in five. The Mets were last World Champions in 1986 when they defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

                A quick review of the Royals’ season to date begins with a regular season record of 95-67. They won the AL Central easily, struggled in the ALDS against the Houston Astros and had to comeback in Games 4 and 5 but were able to squeak through. Next up were the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS and the Royals managed to send the birds home after six games.

                Despite the talent that the Royals have in the regular line-up and the starting rotation, it is the bullpen that is their strongest asset. KC starters are asked to keep the game close for six innings and if the Royals have the lead going into the seventh, the four-headed monster comes out. Kelvin Herrera usually comes out first and is almost unhittable, throwing pitches regularly over a hundred miles an hour. So far this post season, Herrera has pitched eight and two/thirds innings, has allowed only one run and struck out 16 batters in eight innings.

                At the back end is closer Wade Davis. He’s saved three games in the playoffs, and has not allowed a run in his six and two/thirds innings pitched and he’s struck out ten. Then you have Luke Hochevar who hasn’t been scored on in his five relief appearances. The only question mark is Ryan Madson who has struggled a bit in the post season, allowing four home runs in his six games, including blowing a save in Game 6 against Toronto when he gave up the long ball to Jose Bautista.

                If the Royals are to win the World Series, it will be up to the starters to hold a lead going into the late innings. Once the ball is handed over to the bullpen, Kansas City is looking strong.

                As for the Mets, they finished the regular season as champions of the National League East for the first time since 2006. Their regular season record was 90-72. In the NLDS they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, winning the fifth and deciding game on the road in LA. In the NLCS, they easily swept the Cubs, again winning the series-clinching game on the road in Chicago.

                I point out the fact that they clinched both series on the road, because they will have to win some games in Kansas City to win the World Series. KC has the home field advantage but I don’t think that matters to the Mets.

                If the New Yorkers are to win the Series, they will have to rely on their starting pitching. Matt Harvey will pitch Game 1. In the NLDS against LA, Harvey won his only start, pitching five innings and giving up three runs, two of them earned. He struck out seven batters. In his only start in the NLCS, he pitched seven and two/thirds innings, giving up two runs while striking out nine Cubs while picking up the win.

                Jacob deGrom will be the Game 2 starter for the Mets. In the NLDS, he was 2-0, allowing two runs in thirteen innings while striking out twenty. As for the NLCS, he won his only start, pitching seven innings, striking out seven batters while allowing two runs.

                The third starter will be Noah Snydergaard, who lost his start in the Division Series, but rebounded with a win in his Championship Series start. In his three post-season appearances (two starts), Snydergaard is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in thirteen innings while striking out twenty.

                Steven Matz will be up for Game 4. Matz lost his start against LA and picked up a no-decision against the Cubs. In 9 2/3 innings, he has an ERA of 3.72 and has struck out eight.

                If the Mets are to win the World Series, they will need all four of these pitchers to be on their game and hold the Royals hitters at bay and try not to go into the later innings behind. Otherwise the Mets’ hitters will have a tough time against the KC bullpen.

                All things considered, I am looking forward to a long Series, to be decided in six games. And while I would like to see the Mets win the Championship, I am predicting the Royals to take the crown.

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A Disappointing Ending to a Great Season

               The Toronto Blue Jays were eliminated from the post season this Friday night. I put off writing this post for 48 hours because I didn’t know exactly how I wanted to approach the final Blue Jays’ entry of the season. After consideration, there were several factors I didn’t want to focus on.

                The first being the questionable umpiring. There were several close plays that didn’t go Toronto’s way and the strike zones seemed to be all over the place. However, umpires are human too and the potential for human error is always there and if we watched all six games again, I’m sure we’d find some calls that went against Kansas City, too. So I didn’t want to blame the umps.

                Secondly, I wanted to avoid any anger directed towards Kansas City. It’s very easy to get mad at the team that just eliminated your team, especially when their unprofessional attitude gets under your skin. So I wanted to ignore Yordano Ventura’s cowardly act of mouthing off at Jays’ first base coach, Tim Leiper, when he was pulled from the game, then shouting at the Toronto players from the safety of the Kansas City dugout while hiding behind his teammates.

                And then there was the FOX broadcast team. While I’m a big fan of the play-by-play announcing of Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds is an absolute goof. It was clear from the Texas series that he held a sore spot for the Blue Jays. I’m not sure why that is, but any time a play went against Toronto, he agreed with it. Every time something went well for Toronto, he said they got lucky. How FOX decided to hire this guy as an analyst will puzzle me for a long time.

                And let’s not forget Tom Verducci, who foolishly jumped on the side of the Royals’ players when they suggested the Blue Jays were stealing signs. Verducci managed to say something to effect that the Jays have been known for some time, throughout the league, for stealing signs. Well, Tom, guess what? Yes, the Blue Jays steal signs. And so do all the other 29 teams in baseball. Stealing signs has been a part of baseball since baseball was invented. Heck, even my team did it when I played midget ball when I was sixteen. Get over it. Don’t single out Toronto.

                And the last thing I didn’t want to focus on for my last Jays’ story of the season was the ineptitude of the Toronto hitters to get a hit with men in scoring position. During Game 6, they were 0 for 13 with men on second and/or third including 0 for 3 in the ninth inning. While I applaud the team for the power display they put on during the season, sometimes all it takes is a base hit to get the job done. And while pounding the ball may have worked in the regular season while beating up on teams like the Yankees and Orioles, when you have to face a rotation and bull pen as good as the one the Royals have, you need to get your runs any way you can.

                But the reason I didn’t want to focus on these four items in my final Jays’ post (well, it probably won’t be as I’d like to look ahead to 2016 at some point) is because I didn’t want the season to end on a negative tone, but rather look at all the team accomplished in 2015.

                On July 28, the team was in third place, eight games behind the Yankees. With an eleven game winning streak leading the charge, Toronto was in first place two weeks later and, after dropping back into second for a week, got into first place for good on August 23^rd and finished six games ahead of the second place Yankees, a fourteen game swing.

                They made the playoffs for the first time since 1993, won the AL East for the first time since 1993 and won over 90 games (93) for the first time since 1993. In the ALDS against Texas, they dropped the first two games, but managed to come back and win three straight to advance to the ALCS.

                Despite their shortcomings against Kansas City, the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays took their fans on quite a ride. They made baseball relevant in the city again. And they raised our expectations of what they could accomplish.

                Going forward, provided they keep the team together and improve the bullpen, they could be a force in the American League for a few years to come. As for the Kansas City Royals, I hold no grudges. Congratulations on going to the World Series for the second year in a row.

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This Day In Baseball History: October 25, 1986

October 25, 1986

                This was Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. There’s no way any words that I write could do it justice. Watch the video. Enjoy.

Click here

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This Day In Baseball History: October 24, 1992

October 24, 1992

                It was on this date in 1992 that, for the first time in MLB history, a team based outside of the United States won the World Series, when the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 by a score of 4-3 in eleven innings.

                The Jays led the game 2-1 as play entered the bottom of the ninth. But the Braves centre fielder, Otis Nixon, got a clutch RBI single with two out to tie the game at two. It remained tied until the eleventh when, with two out, DH Dave Winfield doubled down the left field line to score Devon White and Roberto Alomar to give Toronto a 4-2 lead. Atlanta rallied for one in the bottom of the inning but left the tying run on third base.

                Long-time Blue Jay, Jimmy Key, was the winning pitcher in relief, while Mike Timlin picked up the save by retiring the only batter he faced. Ninth inning hero, Nixon, tried for a bunt single to tie the game but Timlin picked up the ball quickly and threw to first baseman, Joe Carter, for the final out.

Yes, that is Dave Stieb to the left of Timlin.

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Even 1.21 Gigawatts Can't Help the Cubs

                This past Wednesday was “Back To The Future: Part II Day.” For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the Trilogy. For those who have, in the second movie of the series, Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled 30 years into the future and arrived on October 21, 2015. It was on this day that Marty discovered that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.

                Many fans of the movies posted on Facebook, had BTTF parties and all the other things that fanatics do. Heck, even Doc and Marty showed up on the Jimmy Kimmel show. Unfortunately, they were too late. The Cubs had lost Game 4 of the NLCS 8-3 and were swept by the New York Mets just minutes earlier.

                But it was inevitable that the prediction made when the movie was made back in 1989 was never going to be able to save the Cubs and their fans from more than a century of misery. The sweep was just the latest in a long list of disappointments associated with the franchise.

                The Cubs played in the World Series for three straight years (1906-08) and won the final two of those series. At the time no one would have ever thought that the Cubs would never win another one. Not only the losing has been heartbreaking, but the way they have lost has tugged at the emotions of Cubs’ fans for 108 years.

                The north siders would lose the World Series in 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935 and 1945. It’s the ’45 Series that the Cubs’ curse, “The Curse of the Billy Goat,” was born. To make a long story short, a saloon owner in Chicago would bring his goat to the games at Wrigley Field. During the World Series against Detroit, he was asked to leave and take his goat with him as the smell was bothering others in attendance. As he was leaving the ballpark, he is quoted as saying, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.”

                Take if for what it’s worth, but to this point, 70 years later, the Cubs have not been back to the World Series. In fact, they didn’t even make the postseason until 1984, which wasn’t even the first of the heartaches for the Chicago fans.

                The first was in 1969, the first year each of the Major Leagues was divided into two divisions. On September 2, the Cubs led the second place New York Mets in the NL East by five games. A week later, a Cubs’ losing streak and a Mets’ winning streak saw the New Yorkers surge into first place. But the slump didn’t end there. By the end of the season, the Cubs would sink to finish eight games back of the Mets, who went on to win the World Series.

                In the 1984 NLCS, the Cubs took the first two games in the best of five series, but lost three straight against the San Diego Padres, the final game on an error on a ground ball to first baseman Leon Durham, that opened the floodgates to a four run seventh inning and a 6-3 San Diego win.

                Next up was the 1989, when the Cubs were only able to win one game in the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants. After that was 1998, the year that Sammy Sosa would challenge Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals for the single-season home run record. Sosa lost that battle, but the Cubs finished tied for the Wild Card. After a thrilling tie-breaker game win against the Giants, the Cubs whimpered out in the NLDS, being swept by the Atlanta Braves in three games.

                Next up was 2003, when the Cubs got the hopes of their fans up high with a win over the Braves in the NLDS in five games and took a three to one series lead in the NLCS against the Florida Marlins. But we know what happened. Three loses in a row, Bartman, a costly error by shortstop Alex Gonzalez, and eight run inning in Game 6 and a lack luster performance in Game 7.

                Two division titles came in back-to-back seasons in 2007 and 2008 and had fans raising their hopes again. The hopes crashed with back-to-back sweeps in the NLDS (at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks in ’07 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in ’08).

                And then there was 2015. They finished with the third best record in baseball, won the wild card game against Pittsburgh and then took out the Cardinals in the NLDS in four games.

Hopes raised again….hopes dashed again. They’re the Cubs after all. It couldn’t have ended any other way.

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Memorable NLCS Non-Walk Off Home Runs

                For our final look at League Championship Series special moments, we will look at the five most memorable NLCS non-walk off home runs. Enjoy.

               

5.   October 12, 2014: San Francisco Giants at St. Louis Cardinals, Game 2: Oscar Tavares

                The Giants had taken the first game in St. Louis by a score of 3-0 and the Cardinals didn’t want to go back to San Francisco down by two games.

                But they trailed by a score of 3-2 as the game moved to the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinals sent up Oscar Tavares to pinch hit and the rookie promptly tied the game with a solo home run. The Cardinals would eventually win the game in the bottom of the ninth to tie the series at one.

                Sadly, it would be the last home run Tavares would hit as exactly two weeks later, he would be killed in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic.

4.   October 11, 1993: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, Game 5: Lenny Dykstra

                The Phillies had split the first four games against the heavily favoured Braves and were looking to take a lead in the series back to Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia for Game 6.

                The fifth game started out promising as the Phils took an early 2-0 lead and stretched that to 3-0 as the game moved to the bottom of the ninth. But Philadelphia closer, Mitch Williams couldn’t hold the lead and the Braves tied the game at three.

                However, in the top of the tenth, Phillies’ centre fielder, Lenny Dykstra, drilled a full-count pitch from Atlanta reliever, Jeff Wohlers, over the fence in straight-away centre field to put the Phils back in the lead. This time, they would hold onto that lead in the bottom of the inning and Philadelphia had a three games to two lead in the series.

                They would win Game 6 to go to the World Series.

3.   October 16, 1985: St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 6: Jack Clark

                After Ozzie Smith’s “Go crazy!” walk-off home run in the fifth game of the series, it was easy to believe that nothing would match the drama. However, Game 6 provided that.

                Trying to avoid elimination, the Dodgers held a 4-1 lead going to the top of the seventh inning. But the Cards scored three runs in the inning and the game was even at four. Then, the Dodgers retook the lead in the eighth on a Mike Marshall wind-aided home run. LA took the lead into the top of the ninth, with Tom Niedenfuer—the LA pitcher who surrended Ozzie’s home run in Game 5—on the mound to try and close out the series-tying victory.

                With one out, Willie McGee singled. Ozzie was walked and one out later, first baseman Jack Clark came to the plate with runners at second and third. Rather than intentionally walk Clark—the Cards’ main slugger—Dodger manager Tommy LaSorda elected to pitch to him. Clark blasted a fastball 450 feet, and into the left field stands for a three-run home run and a 7-5 St. Louis lead.

                The Dodgers’ batters went one-two-three in the bottom of the ninth and the Cardinals were off to the World Series.

2.   October 19, 2006: St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets, Game 7: Yadier Molina

                The 2006 NLCS was a back and forth series. The Mets took the first game, but the Cards responded by winning the next two. The Mets tied the series by winning Game 4. St Louis then took a three games to two lead, but the Mets forced a seventh game by winning Game 6.

                Both teams scored an early run before some brilliant pitching took over. Mets’ starter Oliver Perez and Cards’ hurler Tom Suppan matched zeros as the game moved into the later innings. The Cardinals narrowly missed taking the lead in the sixth when New York left fielder, Endy Chavez, leapt at the wall and made an amazing catch of what looked like a sure home run off the bat of Scott Rolen. The game was still tied.

                In the top of the night, with both starters gone from the game, the Mets’ reliever Aaron Heilman faced Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina with a man on base. Molina deposited Heilman’s pitch over the left field wall for what would eventually be the series-clinching runs.

                Final score: Cardinals-3 Mets-1 and St. Louis was going back to the World Series.

1.   October 19, 1981: Los Angeles Dodgers at Montreal Expos, Game 5: Rick Monday

                I am so sorry, Expos’ fans, but this one had to be included.

                The first two games of the best-of-five NLCS were held in Los Angeles, with the Dodgers taking the first game, 5-1, and the Expos taking Game 2, 3-0. The next three games would be held at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, and the Expos took Game 3, 4-1, then the Dodgers tied the series with a 7-1 victory in the fourth game.

                The fifth game was played on a cold and drizzly Monday afternoon (in 1981, Olympic Stadium didn’t have the “garbage bag” roof that it would have in later years) and the Expos delighted their fans by taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when left fielder Tim Raines doubled and later scored on a double play.

                The Dodgers tied the game in the fifth when Rick Monday scored on a ground out: 1-1. The game would stay this way until the fateful top of the ninth. With two out in the inning, and Montreal’s best pitcher, Steve Rogers, on the mound, Monday came to the plate again and hit a solo home run over the right field fence, breaking the hearts of the Expos and their fans.

                Montreal put the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t get the clutch hit they needed. Los Angeles won the game 2-1, and headed to the World Series.

See Monday's homer here.

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Five Most Memorable NLCS Walk-Off Home Runs

                 Today, we’ll switch to the National League Championship Series and look at the top five most memorable walk-off home runs in NLCS play. And we’ll start with last year. Enjoy.

5.   October 16, 2014: St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants, Game 5: Travis Ishikawa

                The Giants held a three games to one lead heading into Game 5 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, but trailed the Cardinals 3-2 as they came to bat in the bottom of the eighth. But the Giants’ Michael Morse, hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run to tie the game, setting the stage for the bottom of the ninth.

                With two runners on base, Ishikawa smoked a three-run home run over the right field fence for a walk-off series clinching victory, sending the Giants to the World Series for the third time in five years.

4.   October 6, 1984: Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres, Game 4: Steve Garvey

                The Cubs had taken the first two games, at Wrigley Field, in the best of five series. Scores of 13-0 and 4-2 had pushed the Padres to the brink of elimination and the Cubs a game away from going to the World Series. But the momentum started to shift as the two teams moved to Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego.

                The Padres took Game 3 by a score of 7-1 and looked set to tie the series at two games apiece as they headed to the top of the eighth inning with a 5-3 lead. But the Cubs rallied in the inning scoring two runs to tie the game at five.

                In the bottom of the ninth, first baseman Steve Garvey stepped to the plate after centre fielder Tony Gwynn had singled. Garvey launched a two-run walk-off homer to right-centre field. The Padres had won the game 7-5 and took the fifth game as well by a score of 6-3 to complete the comeback and win the series.

See Garvey's home run here.

3.   October 11, 1986: Houston Astros at New York Mets, Game 3: Lenny Dykstra

                With the NLCS tied at one game each, the Mets needed to win Game 3 to avoid having to face Houston ace, Mike Scott, in the fourth game behind in the series. Scott had shut out the Mets in Game 1 and was almost unhittable.

                The Astros scored two in the first and two more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. But the Mets stormed back with a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, high-lighted by a three-run homer by right fielder, Darryl Strawberry. But the Astros took a 5-4 lead on a Mets’ error in the seventh.

                In the bottom of the ninth, with New York still trailing by a run, Mets’ second baseman, Wally Backman, led off the inning with a bunt single. One out later, centre fielder, Lenny Dykstra, smashed a pitch over the right field fence for a 6-5 Mets’ win and a 2-1 lead in the series.

                The Mets would win the series in six games.

2.   October 20, 2004: Houston Astros at St. Louis Cardinals, Game 6: Jim Edmunds

                The Astros led the series three games to two and had an opportunity to advance to the first World Series in team history. Through four innings, the teams combined for seven runs, with the Cards holding a 4-3 lead. Both teams put up zeros for the next four innings and the Cardinals took their lead to the top of the ninth.

                But with two out in the inning, Houston slugger Jeff Bagwell singled in Morgan Ensberg to tie the game, eventually sending it to extras, more specifically the twelfth.

                With a man on base, Edmonds hit a ball over the scoreboard in right field and into the upper deck for a 6-4 St. Louis win and a tied series. The Cardinals would win the seventh game by a score of 5-2.

1.   October 14, 1985: Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals, Game 5: Ozzie Smith

                In the first year the NLCS was a best-of-seven format, the Dodgers took the first two games in LA. With the series moving to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, the Cards battled back to win Games 3 and 4, evening the series. For the Cards, it was a must-win game, not wanting to go back to LA down a game.

                St. Louis scored first, with two in the first, but the Dodgers tied it with two of their own in the fourth. The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth.

                Cardinal short stop Ozzie Smith came to the plate. A switch-hitter, Ozzie had played eight years in the big leagues up to this point and had hit 13 home runs in his career, all from the right side of the plate. With right-handed pitcher, Tom Niedenfuer pitching for LA, Smith was batting from the left side. He golfed a Niedenfuer pitch down the right field line and over the fence for the winning home run.

                This prompted Cardinal broadcaster, Jack Buck, to shout, “Go crazy, folks, go crazy.”

                The Cardinals would win Game 6 in LA by a score of 7-5 to win the series.

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Memorable ALCS Non-Walk Off Home Runs

Today we will continue to look at our memorable moments in the American League Championship Series by focusing on the five most memorable non-walk off home runs. Enjoy.

#5.   October 9, 1996: Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees, Game 1: Derek Jeter

                With the Yankees trailing the Orioles by a score of 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Derek Jeter hit a fly ball deep to left that looked like it was going to be caught by right fielder Tony Tarasco. But a twelve-year old fan stuck his glove out and the ball ricocheted off the glove and into the seats for a home run.

                While the Orioles protested the interference, right field umpire, Rich Garcia, did not see it and called it a home run. None of the other umpires overruled him and the home run call stood. Tie game, 4-4.

                The Yankees would win the game on a Bernie Williams home run in the eleventh.

#4.   October 7, 1989: Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays, Game 4: Jose Canseco

                After scoring two runs in the top of the third, the A’s would watch their lead increase to 3-0 when Jose Canseco hit the first ever fifth-deck home run in the Rogers Centre (then called SkyDome). The crowd was at the same time silenced and mesmerized when the Oakland right fielder launched the ball an estimated 480 feet (it was actually the height of the ball that was breathtaking.)

                The A’s would win the game 6-5 and would clinch the series in five games the following afternoon.

#3.   October 19, 2013: Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox, Game 6: Shane Victorino

                The Red Sox held a three games to two lead in the ALCS, but trailed the game 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Victorino came up with the bases loaded but was struggling in the series, getting only two hits in 23 at bats.

                However, with the count no balls and two strikes, Victorino crushed a curve ball over the Green Monster in left field, giving the Sox a 5-2 lead and sending the Boston fans into a frenzy. The Red Sox would win the game and series advancing to the World Series.

#2.   October 12, 1986: Boston Red Sox at California Angels, Game 5: Dave Henderson

                With the Angels holding a three games to one lead in the best-of-seven ALCS, the Red Sox found themselves trailing by a score of 5-2 going to the top of the ninth. Down to their last outs, the Sox tried to muster a rally to prolong their season. With one out and a man on base, Boston DH Don Baylor hit a two-run homer to make the score 5-4.

                An out later, Sox catcher Rich Gedman was hit by a pitch. The Angels brought in reliever Donnie Moore to pitch to Dave Henderson. The man they called “Hendu” ripped a forkball into the left field stands to give the Red Sox the lead, 6-5. Although the Angels tied the score at six in the bottom of the ninth, Boston pushed across the winning run in the eleventh and won the game, 7-6.

                The Red Sox would take the next two games in Boston to win the series, four games to three.

#1.   October 11, 1992: Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics, Game 4: Roberto Alomar

                Trailing in the series two games to one, the A’s jumped all over Toronto starter Jack Morris in the third inning, scoring five runs. They added another in the sixth and took a 6-1 lead into the eighth inning. The Jays scored three runs in the top of the eighth and had the tying runs on base when Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley struck out Toronto pinch hitter Ed Sprague to end the inning. Eckersley then turned to the Toronto dug out and taunted them with a fist pump.

                Now trailing 6-4 in the top of the ninth, Devon White led off the inning with a triple. That brought up second baseman and future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar, who hit a line drive over the right field fence for a two-run home run to tie the game at six.

                The Jays would score the winning run in the top of the eleventh to win the game 7-6, and would eventually win the ALCS in six games. But the image of Alomar raising his arms to celebrate his game-tying home run would cement his legacy in the Jays’ history.

Click here to see Alomar's homer.

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