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I thought I would start a thread on the best MLB games ever, considering how classic Game 6 was.
1. Game 7, 1991 -- Minnesota def. Atlanta in 10-inning pitching thriller. This has everything to do with the continued build-up of this series. Braves and Twins had been clawing it out for six hard-fought games and just when it seemed like there was no way to surpass what had been done in game 6, Jack Morris and John Smoltz gave us the best postseason pitching dual I can ever remember.
2. Game 6, 1991 -- Minnesota def. Atlanta on Kirby Puckett's dramatic walk-off. A tight, tight game that ended with one of the most memorable homers ever. This game was great because the pitching was so good. It would only be outdone by the following game.
3. Game 4, 1993 -- Toronto def. Philadelphia 15-14. Everyone always talks about GM 6 and Carter's walk-off when they remember the 1993 Series, but I actually think this was the best game in that contest. Having been slapped around for much of the first 7 innings, the Blue Jays show the Phillies why they're the defending champions and stun them with a 6-run 8th. I am usually sentimental for the extra-inning walk-off homer like everyone else, but this game was extraordinary when you look at the entirety of it.
4. Game 6, 2011 -- St. Louis twice survives being within a strike of being the MLB runner up, only to stun the Rangers vaunted relief corps not once but twice.
5. Game 6, 1986 -- Mookie Wilson's roller through the legs of Bill Buckner is one of the most memorable moments in baseball history. The only reason it's ranked lower than this year's Game 6 is because the Cardinals were able to stave off certain elimination twice in the same game. Otherwise, I'd probably have it higher.
* I would have mentioned the 2004 ALCS, but the final game itself, as significant as it was in baseball history, was rather anticlimactic. The Sox crushed them. Games 3 and 4 were some of the best played, but the timing was a bit off for it to be on this short list.
Mets scored 3 in 9th to tie, then 1 in 14th, Astros tied it, then 3 in 15th, and Astros scored 2. Orosco gave up a walk and 3 hits, and Kevin Bass struck out with the tying run on second.
Mets scored 3 in 9th to tie, then 1 in 14th, Astros tied it, then 3 in 15th, and Astros scored 2. Orosco gave up a walk and 3 hits, and Kevin Bass struck out with the tying run on second.
I had thought about including the NLCS Game 6 from 1986. I remember that game, too. The real drama in that one was that Mike Scott was set to take the mound the following night. And Scott had absolutely dominated the Mets up to that point. He also had something like 300 strikeouts that season IIRC. So even though it was an elimination game for the Astros, it was almost like an elimination game for the Mets if you take Scott's success and project it into a Game 7.
I guess I felt the others were somehow more magnified, but you could easily make an argument for this one.
The Curse of the Bambino, it seemed, was about to be lifted, especially when Calvin Schiraldi retired the first two Met hitters in the bottom of the 10th. (Red Sox were already celebrating their victory at this point, they even went as far as lighting up the electronic scoreboard congratulating and crowing the Red Sox World Series Champions, lol) But then came three straight singles, and it was 5-4. Sox manager John McNamara summoned Bob Stanley from the bullpen, and Stanley promptly threw a wild pitch that tied the game. Then, on a full count, Mookie Wilson grounded a ball right to first baseman Bill Buckner. And in a scene that will never be forgotten by Fenway faithful, the ball scooted straight through Buckner's legs while Ray Knight scored the winning run.
Demoralized or not, the Red Sox grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second inning of Game 7, thanks to a pair of solo homers from Dwight Evans and Rich Gedman.
The Mets came back and tied the game with three runs in the sixth, and went ahead for good with three more in the seventh off Schiraldi. Mets lefty Jesse Orosco finished off the Sox with two perfect innings of relief, and the Mets were champions.
Great 1986 Mets team, they were not going to be denied after that 6th game victory. This is as good as it gets!
Almost forgot: ALCS Game 6, 1986. Dave Henderson off of Donnie Moore.
Sad footnote to that series is the personal unraveling of Donnie Moore, who only a couple of years later sank into a deep depression and ended up (I believe) killing himself, and shooting his partner, IIRC.
I don't see how one game could be identified as the greatest ever...consider that there are loads of games which none of us saw and were not preserved on film or tape. Didn't see it, doesn't count?
On August 25, 1922, the highest-scoring game in major-league history took place, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 26–23, a total of 49 runs. I'm thinking that the fans who saw that one would want to argue with any of the above nominations.
How about Harvey Haddix in 1959 with his 12 perfect innings?
Game Seven of the 1924 World Series betwen the Giants and Senators went 12 innings...no love for an extra inning game where it is winner takes all?
How about Game Four of the 1929 World Series where the Cubs led the A's 8-0 going into the bottom of the seventh....and the A's scored 10 runs in that inning, winning the game 10-8?
Finally, there are plenty of truly great games played where nothing special was on the line, but the game itself was exciting beyond belief. In terms of games I have attended, nothing tops the May, 1995 Dodgers-Giants clash at Candlestick. It was scoreless through 14 innings. In the top of the 15th, LA pushed across three runs. In the bottom of the inning the first two Giant hitters made outs...and those fans left were streaming toward the exits...when...
a walk...a single....and then Robby Thompson stepped up and hit a three run blast to tie it. This was followed by a Barry Bonds single...and he then scored from first on Matt Williams' double to win it.
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