| 1942 Cardinals (NL Allied Division - 92-70) 1988 Mets (NL Modern Division - 93-69) Game One at New York New York's David Cone has a no-hitter going through five, but the Cards tag him for 3 runs in the sixth to go ahead 3-1. The Mets tie it up in the bottom of the eighth, and then Gumbert walks Keith Hernandez with the bases loaded to give the game away to the Mets. Mets 4, Cardinals 3. Game Two at New York The Mets see a 3-1 lead turn into a 7-3 deficit as the Cards score 6 times in the 7th. Two bases-loaded walks help the Mets cut that to 7-6. The Mets tie it up in the bottom of the ninth with a run-scoring Darryl Strawberry double. Pinchhitter Tim Teufel wins it with a clutch single past third, as the Mets take the first two games of the series. 8-7 Mets. Game Three at St. Louis The Cards throw a lefty at the Mets today, Ernie White, in an effort to take a must-win game. But after leading 3-1, they see the Mets score 8 times in the 4th, capped by Darryl Strawberry's Grand Slam as the Mets go ahead 9-3. The rest is academic, as the Cardinals fail to get out of the first round of the playoffs for the fourth time in four years. Their playoff record, despite four divisional titles in a row: 4-11. The Mets return to the NLCS. Mets win Series 3-0. |
| 1925
Senators (AL Classic Division - 89-73) 1948 Indians (AL Allied Division - 103-59) Game One at Cleveland Eddie Robinson's 3-run shot in the bottom of the second gives Cleveland a 3-2 lead, and Bob Feller makes that 1-run lead stand up through nine. Stan Covaleski tagged with the complete game loss for Washington. 3-2 Indians. Game Two at Cleveland Washington evens things up with a relatively easy 6-3 win. Game Three at Washington The Senators score 4 runs in the second. Keltner's solo shot in the 7th make it 4-1 Washington. And the Indians keep loading the bases in the eighth until they pick up 4 runs to go ahead 5-4. But the Nats come right back with 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 7-5. And Firpo Marberry picks up his second save of the series by keeping the Indians from scoring in the ninth. The Senators are one game away from upsetting the 103-game winners and placing themselves in the ALCS. Game Four at Washington Homers by Keltner and Doby give the Indians a quick 3-0 lead in the first. But by the end of six, it's all tied at 3-3. In the top of the ninth, the Indians rally to go ahead 4-3 but that's all they get because of bad baserunning. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, the Senators get a run and have men on first and second with one out. The game is tied and a single run means the Senators will be in the ALCS. But they cannot get any more and we go to the 10th tied at 4-4. And to the 11th. And the 12th. And the 13th. And the 14th. And the 15th, still tied at 4-4. And into the 16th. And the 17th. With 2 outs, Cleveland loads the bases for Larry Doby. And Doby singles in a run, but Ken Keltner gets thrown out at home. Still, it is 5-4 Indians. Bob Muncrief makes that 17th inning run stand up with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 17th to force a Game Five in Cleveland. Game Five at Cleveland Both teams have tired bullpens after the 17-inning marathon the day before. It's Gene Bearden starting for Cleveland and Walter Johnson for the Senators. And the Indians immediately load the bases in the bottom of the first. Boudreau grounds into a double-play scoring a run, and Cleveland is ahead 1-0. That's all they get. A sac fly in the second gets the Senators a run for a 1-1 game. Doby's solo shot in the 4th make it 2-1 Cleveland. They score twice more in the bottom of the sixth and it is 4-1 Cleveland. The Senators go scoreless in the 7th and 8th. Joe Gordon tacks on an insurance run with a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth. In the ninth, the Senators score a run and get the tieing run to the plate. Bearden leaves the game and Sam Zoldak comes in to pitch to Sam Rice. The Senators are down to their final out. Base hit by Rice! 5-3 Cleveland. But Peckinpaugh flies out to center, and the Cleveland Indians escape the jam and head to the ALCS where they will face the 1953 Yankees. Indians win Series 3-2. |
| 1995
Braves (NL Wild Card - 90-72) 1953 Dodgers (NL Classic - 102-60) Game One at Brooklyn The Dodgers tag Maddux for 4 runs early, but Chipper Jones 2-run shot in the fifth gets the Braves back into the game at 4-3. But Erskine and Labine combine to keep the Braves from scoring again. 4-3 Dodgers. Game Two at Atlanta Snider and Campanella both hit 2-run shots in the third to stake Brooklyn to a 4-0 lead. Atlanta piticher Steve Avery hits a solo shot to give the Braves their first run in the fifth. Ryan Klesko's 3-run shot off Meyer in the 7th ties things up at 4-4. They tag on 2 more in the inning to go up 6-4. Closer Mark Wohlers makes that score stand up as the Braves even the series at a game apiece. Game Three at Brooklyn The Braves score 4 times in the first 4 innings, capped by a Chipper Jones 2-run shot in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, with Atlanta leading 6-3, the Dodgers rally, and tie the game on a pinch-hit three-run triple by Wayne Belardi. The Braves scratch out a run in the top of the 10th to lead 7-6. But the Dodgers rally as Jackie Robinson singles in two runs to win the game 8-7 and take a 2-1 lead in the series. Game Four at Brooklyn Ryan Klesko's 3-run shot in the 8th breaks a 2-2 tie and give the Braves a 5-2 lead. They hold on to win at that score to force a Game Five. Game Five at Brooklyn The Dodgers score three times in the first to take a 3-0 lead. The Braves pick up one in the third and tie it up on a McGriff homer in the fifth. Jackie Robinson takes back the lead with a solo shot in the 7th. 4-3 Dodgers. Reese walks and Triple Crown man Duke Snider hits a 2-run shot for a 6-3 lead. Furillo homers in the 8th - 7-3 Brooklyn. Labine finishes things up on the mound as the Dodgers win the series to return for a rematch with the 1988 Mets in the NLCS. Dodgers win Series 3-2. |
| 1935
Tigers (AL Wild Card - 89-73) 1953 Yankees (AL Modern - 91-71) Game One at New York Two-run shots by Greenberg and Walker give the Tigers a 5-2 lead in third. They tag on 4 more in the fourth, driving out Eddie Lopat. Four Yankee errors and three Tigers hit by pitches don't help matters for the Yanks, as Rowe and the Tigers cruise to a 12-2 victory. Game Two at Detroit Both teams have 12 hits, but the Yankees take advantage of 8 walks issues by Detroit pitching to defeat the Tigers 9-4 to even the series. Game Three at New York Homers by Mantle and Bauer open a 3-2 game up to a 7-2 romp in the fifth. The Tigers eventually pick up 2 runs to make it 7-4 Yanks, but with men on second and third and two out in the ninth, Allie Reynolds strikes out Hank Greenberg to end the game. Yanks lead 2-1 in the series. Game Four at New York Goose Goslin's 2-run shot in the 4th breaks a scoreless tie, putting the Tigers ahead 2-0. Billy Rogell makes it 3-0 with a solo shot the same inning. Detroit's Tommy Bridges doesn't give up a hit until the 4th, and that is a Hank Bauer homer that cuts the lead to 3-1. In the 7th, Bauer has a run-scoring triple, only the second hit Bridges gives up. It's now 3-2 Tigers. But the Tigers touch the Yankee bullpen for 4 runs in the top of the ninth. Bridges give up only a single hit to Mantle in the bottom of the ninth, forcing a fifth game with a 7-2 Detroit win. It will be Schoolboy Rowe and Eddie Lopat. Game Five at New York Mantle's solo shot in the first give the Yankees a quick 1-0 lead. But the Tigers come right back for 4 in the second, 4-1 Detroit. Joe Collins' solo shot in the bottom of the second cuts it to 4-2. They pick up another run in the bottom of the fourth. They pick up 2 in the fifth to go ahead 5-4. But Greenberg homers in the sixth to tie things up and drive out Lopat, who was not effective at all. Joe Collins hits his second homerun of the game to put the Yankees ahead 6-5. But the Tigers load the bases against Tom Gorman and Mickey Cochrane walks to tie the game. A sac fly from Gehringer makes it 7-6 Tigers. The Yanks scratch out a run in the bottom of the 7th to tie things up 7 runs apiece There are now two innings to go in regulation, and one of these teams will be headed for the ALCS at the end of the game. The Tigers go quietly in the 8th and 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, Mantle hits a double off Firpo Marberry. Yogi is intentionally walked. And Hank Bauer singles to drive in Mantle and send the 1953 Yankees to the ALCS with an 8-7 victory. The reign of the 1935 Tigers is officially over. Yankees win Series 3-2 |
| LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS NL: 1988 Mets - 1953 Dodgers AL: 1953 Yankees - 1948 Indians |