On October 27, 1991, before more than 55,000 fans in the Metrodome and another 50-plus million enthralled by their televisions, Jack Morris accomplished the unprecedented: an extra-inning shutout in a winner-take-all World Series game. As difficult as it would have been to predict such an exceptional and striking showcase, it’s […]
Of all the postseason home runs that have punctured a tense October (or November) air, 232 of them have resounded within a winner-take-all scenario. Across those singular swings and flights during the tension of a win-or-go-home affair, only two have ever occurred as late as the eighth inning and stunningly […]
The start of the 2024 postseason got rolling on the same day October did, when eight clubs began marking their routes toward the very same dream destination. After just a few days had passed, four had woken up to a dim reality – end of the road – while four […]
In the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1953 World Series, Brooklyn – facing elimination – was down two runs to the Yankees, only three outs away from seeing their season reach a dead end. Gil Hodges flew out, but then Duke Snider drew a walk to bring Carl […]
The bases are filled, a batter steps to the plate and settles in to await the delivery. The ball hurtles toward the plate, the batter swings, and soon after, the bases are empty and the space around the plate is filled with four teammates. A grand slam – it’s one […]
Quick (and be honest with your response): who hit the most World Series home runs as a first baseman? Riffle through the mental rolodex …. of course, Lou Gehrig. This bit of trivia is probably unsurprising, as Gehrig – who ended up with 10 four-baggers – famously walloped NL […]
The very last games of a season being played to determine a champ, a series of games played within a tight window on the calendar. By its very formula, the World Series is an alchemist of drama, a stoker of tension and breathlessness. Sometimes, though, it really transmutes the ingredients […]
Down by a run, down to their three final outs, the Dodgers start to rally back and conclude the surge with a swing that makes World Series history. Before the momentous swing, an intentional walk hits pause in the tension while also ratcheting the tightness. And then the history-making swing […]
If the 2010 postseason wasn’t quite a pitching version of “anything you can do, I can do better,” that’s mainly because Roy Halladay set the bar too high to begin things. In Game 1 of the Phillies’ NLDS tussle with the Reds, the right-hander was nearly perfect, allowing just one […]