By Jeff
Zaginailoff
Friday, October 24th, 2003
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Four of this year's six playoff series (and both LCS) have gone to an ultimate
game, so it's been a terrific postseason for baseball. For the first
time ever, both League Championship Series went the full seven games. The
last time that both LCS went the limit was 30 years ago (1973 and 1972, when
the LCS was a best-of-five).
And now for the Fall Classic. Will it be a classic? It will be tough to top
the last two. They were both so good, that people with short memories were
proclaiming them to be the best-ever.
When one makes reference to "ever," however, he by definition includes all
that came before, not just the most recent.
Any World Series that goes seven games should be exciting, and probably makes
for a better series than a sweep, a fiver, and most six-game series. Ending
with an exciting game is key, too. I go by the number of exciting games,
and some measures for that are number of one-run games, number of extra-inning
games, and number of games decided in final at-bat. Other things can be
significant, but it is the quality of the games (preferably seven of them)
that makes for a great series.
I will list (what I consider to be) the best and more noteworthy World Series
played since I have been following baseball (1967). The top dogs are still
1975 and 1991.
2002 - Angels 4, Giants 3
4 one-run games, 0 extra inning games, 3 last at-bat wins
This one had a nice seesaw effect: the Giants led, the Angels led, the Giants
led, the Angels won.
The pivotal sixth-game featured a memorable comeback, and there was a wild
11-10 game, as well.
2001 - Diamondbacks 4, Yankees 3
4 one-run games, 2 extra inning games, 3 last at-bat wins
Well, the three games in NY were all exciting, as was Game 7. Game 3 (2-1
Yanks) was decided in the seventh-inning. Game 2 was quite a grinder (1-1)
until Matt Williams blew it open. The big story was the back-to-back miracles
the Yankees pulled off in Games 4 and 5. But there were also games of 9-1
and 15-2. Overall, the best World Series in 10 years.
1997 - Marlins 4, Indians 3
2 one-run games, 1 extra inning game, 2 last at-bat wins
One of the settled-in-last-at-bat games was a wacky 14-11 game in which the
two teams combined to score 11 runs in the ninth-inning. It had been 7-7
after eight. Florida scored seven times in the ninth, and made it 14-7. The
Indians answered with four, but that's not really what we have in mind for
a "LAB" game (compare vs. 2001, Games 4 and 5).
1995 - Braves 4, Indians 2
5 one-run games, 1 extra inning game, 2 last at-bat wins
The most politically-incorrect series since the same two teams squared off
in 1948. Atlanta had leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before closing it out in six, so
there was neither the big pressure build-up, nor a great comeback. The finale
was a classic, a 1-0 Braves win, as Tom Glavine (8 IP) and Mark Wohlers combined
to hold an awesome Indians lineup to a single hit.
1991 - Twins 4, Braves 3
5 one-run games, 2 extra inning games, 5 last at-bat wins
There was a 14-5 win by the Braves, and the Twins won the first game 5-2,
but the rest were gut-wrenching, especially Game 6 (Kirby Puckett), and Game
7 (1-0 in 10 innings). Arguably, the best ever.
1986 - Mets 4, Red Sox 3
2 one-run games, 1 extra inning game, 1 last at-bat win
The less said, the better.
1985 - Royals 4, Cardinals 3
The Interstate 70 series, (all-Missouri). The only one-run games and last
at-bat win was game six (Don Denkinger).
1982 - Cardinals 4, Brewers 3
1 one-run game, 0 extra inning games, 0 last at-bat wins
1979 - Pirates 4, Orioles 3
2 one-run games, 0 extra inning games, 1 last at-bat win
Pirates come back from 3-1 deficit, while featuring ugliest uniforms in WS
history, and annoying disco music.
1975 - Reds 4 Red Sox 3
5 one-run games, 2 extra inning games, 4 last at-bat wins
You know the story. If you don't, you should. Arguably best-ever.
1973 - A's 4, Mets 3
2 one-run games, 2 extra inning games, 2 last at-bat wins
The '73 Mets are worst team ever to reach WS (82-79). But it was a good series.
1972 - A's 4, Reds 3
6 (!) one-run games, 0 extra inning games, 2 last at-bat wins
The best unremembered WS, and the first of three-consecutive championships
for Oakland. Backup catcher Gene Tenace drove in nine of Oakland's 16 runs,
and hit 4 of their 5 HR. Other heroes: Joe Rudi, Ken Holtzman, Rollie Fingers,
Catfish Hunter, Tony Perez, Jack Billingham, Jason Grimsley.
1971 - Pirates 4, Orioles 3
3 one-run games, 1 extra inning game, 1 last at-bat win
Home team wins all seven, as in 1987, 1991, and 2001. Steve Blass wins two
games, including a four-hit CG in Game 7 (2-1), but two years later develops
an inexplicable permanent chronic wildness, now known as "Steve Blass Disease."
(Mark Wohlers had a mild case. Rick Ankiel has a serious case.)
1969 - Mets 4, Orioles 1
2 one-run games, 1 extra inning game, 3 last at-bat wins
After six last-place finishes, and a ninth (next-to-last), Mets win 100 games
to catch Cubs, and beat Orioles (109 wins) in five.
1968 - Tigers 4, Cardinals 3
0 one-run games, 0 extra inning games, 0 last at-bat wins
Tigers come back from 3-1 to win (only third time in history at the time).
Mickey Lolich wins three games (2,5,7), including five-hit, one-run CG on
two days' rest in Game 7. Bob Gibson strikes out 17 in Game 1. Lou Brock:
.464, 7 SB.
1967 - Cardinals 4, Red Sox 3
1 one-run game, 0 extra inning games, 0 last at-bat wins
Bob Gibson wins Games 1, 4, and 7. Jim Lonborg throws one-hitter, and
three-hitter. Lou Brock: .414, 7 SB.
So there you have just some of the facts, and only for the last 35+
years. They've been playing this thing since 1903, and some say the Red Sox'
4-3-1 win over the NY Giants in 1912 is the best-ever. There certainly are
other candidates. Maybe I'll write about them. But to read that column, you'll
have to ... wait 'til next year.
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