5. 1986: New York Mets 4, Boston Red Sox 3—The historic yet heartbreaking series featured the Boston-versus-New York rivalry with Red Sox fans, still yearning for their long-awaited title, being teased with a monumental collapse in Game 6, one strike from victory.
Aside from Boston’s 1-0 win in Game 1, the series lacked much in-game drama until the final two games. Leading three games to two, Boston scored two runs in the top of tenth inning to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the frame. Red Sox reliever Calvin Schiraldi retired the first two Mets before Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell, and Ray Knight hit consecutive singles to pull within one at 5-4. Bob Stanley then came on in relief of Schiraldi and uncorked a wild pitch that scored Mitchell to tie the game.
Then the play that will live in infamy: Mookie Wilson’s grounder to first went under the legs of first baseman Bill Buckner scoring Ray Knight to win the game. The Mets went on to win Game 7 8-5 to clinch the series.
Why fifth: As exciting and historic as Game 6 was, the rest of the series, though tension-filled, lacked the exciting seesaw battles.
4. 2002: Anaheim Angels 4, San Francisco Giants 3—Barry Bonds’ only appearance on baseball’s biggest stage was a memorable one.
The all-time leader in home runs hit four out and had eight hits in 17 at bats, but was walked 13 times. His Giants actually led the series three games to two and had a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh in Game 6 when it all fell apart for San Fran. World Series MVP Troy Glaus (3 hrs, 8 RBIs, .385 avg) started the rally with a one-out single as part of the three-run inning. Glaus then hit the go-ahead two-run double an inning later to force the Game 7.
In the decisive game, rookie John Lackey went five innings, allowing just one run, followed by the four scoreless innings from the bullpen for a 4-1 win and the Angels’ first title.
Why fourth: Though not as much drama in the Game 6 comeback as the ‘86 series provided, overall the series had four exciting one-run games, 21 home runs, and the emergence of the rally monkey.
3. 2001: Arizona Diamondbacks 4, New York Yankees 3—The Yankees came into the series gunning for their fourth straight title and looked untouchable after downing the 116-win Mariners in just five games and escaping Oakland thanks to Jeter’s momentum-shifting ‘flip’. Arizona though had a 1-2 pitching combo in Schilling-Johson that nobody could match, while it’s lineup was filled with savvy veterans.
The main drama started in Game 4 with the Diamondbacks leading the series 2-1 and the game 3-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim, after striking out the side in the eighth, gave up a two-out two-run home run to Tino Martinez to send the game to extras. One inning later, with Kim still on the mound, Derek Jeter ended it with a solo blast to tie the series. Game 5 saw more of the same. Clinging to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth Kim gave up another game-tying home run—this time to Scott Brosius—to send the game to extras where the Yanks prevailed in 12 on a walkoff single by Alfonso Soriano. Arizona wasn’t done though.
After forcing a Game 7 with their 15-2 win the D'backs finally got revenge. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Gonzalez’s bloop single off the nearly-unhittable Mariano Rivera won the series and ended the Yankees postseason run.
Why third: While easily outdistancing the SF/Anaheim series in terms of excitement the series comes just short of the ‘75 thriller thanks to a pair of blowouts in Games 1 and 6.
2. 1975: Cincinati Reds 4, Boston Red Sox 3...
2. 1975: Cincinati Reds 4, Boston Red Sox 3—The best series of its era featured five one-run games, two extra-inning contests, and the lasting image of Carlton Fisk waving his home run fair to win Game 6.
The matchup featured the ‘Big Red Machine’ in its prime having won its fourth division title in six years—without a World Series title though—against Boston and their title-starved fanbase. Boston won the first contest 6-0 behind Luis Tiant and led 2-1 in the ninth in Game 2 before Cincy rallied for two runs in the top half of the inning to tie the series.
Game 3 saw Boston return the favor, getting two runs in the top of the ninth to tie it, but then Joe Morgan won it for the Reds with his walkoff single in the 10th. After splitting the next two games the Red Sox entered Game 6 with their backs against the wall and were down 6-3 in the eighth before Bernie Carbo hit a pinch-hit three-run home run to tie it. Four innings later Fisk ended the 12-inning contest waving his famous shot fair to force a Game 7.
The decisive game saw Boston take a 3-0 lead into the sixth before the Reds put two on the board there and another in the seventh to tie it. In the top of the ninth Joe Morgan singled home Ken Griffey and the Reds held on for their first of two straight titles.
Why third: Tough call over Arizona/NYY but the drama of Boston winning a title was enough in and of itself. The back-to-back seesaw battles to end the series and three more one run games immortalized it.
1. 1991: Minnesota Twins 4, Atlanta Braves 3—The greatest of them all came from a series whose teams both finished in last place the season before.
The series started innocently enough with a 5-2 Twins victory—courtesy of Jack Morris. Game 2 was deadlocked at two runs apiece until Scott Leius homered off Brave’s starter Tom Glavine in the bottom of the eighth to win it 3-2 as the series shifted back to Atlanta.
Game 3 saw the Braves take a 4-1 lead into the seventh before the Twins rallied for a run there and two the next inning to send the game into extra frames. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 12th, Atlanta’s Mark Lemke singled home Dave Justice to win it. Game 4 saw more of the same. Tied at two heading into the bottom of the ninth Lemke again came up big with a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Jerry Willard to tie the series at two.
After a 14-5 Atlanta blowout the set headed back to Minnesota where Kirby Puckett showed his stuff. The Twins’ outfielder tripled and scored in the first and ended the game in the 11th with a walkoff home run to force a Game 7 pitching duel between veteran Jack Morris and 24-year old John Smoltz.
The pitchers matched zeroes for seven innings before Smoltz was taken out in the eighth. Finally in the tenth, Twins’ pinch-hitter Gene Larkin singled home Dan Gladden for the game-winning run. Morris, who went 10 scoreless for Minnesota, was named MVP.
Why first: Five one-run games, three extra inning affairs and one of the more famous Game 7’s in history give this the very slight edge over ‘75 and ’01.
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