Today, I want to tell you about my favorite Fall Classics in baseball history!! My only rule is this: no World Series will be in this list that happened in the last ten years. So, let's get it started with Number Five.
Number Five: The 1954 World Series
Matchup: Giants vs. Indians
Winner (how many games): Giants (4)
Why? This World Series is by far the most lopsided in history. You would've expected the Tribe with 111 wins to crush the 97-win Giants, right? Wrong. With the help of "The Catch" by Willie Mays to save two runs and preserve a Game One victory, the Giants pitchers held Larry Doby and the Cleveland offense to nine runs, while the Indians pitchers surrendered 21 runs to the Giants. In other words, the Giants pulled off arguably the greatest upset in World Series history.
Number Four: The 1986 World Series
Matchup: Mets vs. Red Sox
Winner (how many games): Mets (7)
Why? Thank you 1986 Mets for keeping the Curse of the Bambino alive! In other words, the Mets and their astounding pitching (and a little anti-Buckner Babe Ruth luck) dominated the Sox in one of the most exciting Fall Classics ever. The Mets may have gotten lucky in Game Six thanks to Mookie Wilson, but they played hard throughout the Series, which earned them their second World Championship.
Number Three: The 1945 World Series
Matchup: Cubs vs. Tigers
Winner (how many games): Tigers (7)
Why? In a Series with what seemed like no pitching whatsoever, Hank Greenberg, one of my favorite players of all-time, played like he was 20 years old. He was 34 and had just came back from military service! Anyway, the Tigers lineup exploded with 32 runs, while the Cubs got 29. It was a very exciting Series because of how many runs were scored in each game. Also, I'm happy that the Tigers won that Series, because it was one of the last shining moments that Hank Greenberg had in his career.
Number Two: The 1979 World Series
Matchup: Pirates vs. Orioles
Winner (how many games): Pirates (7)
Why? With the help of should-have-been Manager of the Year and the NL MVP, Willie Stargell, the "We Are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates upset the Baltimore O's in the first Pirates Fall Classic win since the passing of Roberto Clemente. Even when the underdog Pirates were down 3-1 entering Game Five, they were optimistic. The Stargell-led Pirates copied the Steel Curtain in the NFL by winning a sports championship for Pittsburgh. Want to know why the Buccos won? Simple: They were family.
NUMBER ONE: The 1993 World Series
Matchup: Phillies vs. Blue Jays
Winner (how many games): Blue Jays (6)
Why? When a World Series ends with a walk-off homer, then the series in going to be remembered forever. Considering that the first time a Fall Classic ended like this was against the Yanks (stupid Bill Mazeroski - which of course means that Series cannot make my list), then the 1993 Series is the greatest ever. But, there has to be more, right? Yes; the walk-off homer just starts the reasoning. The Blue Jays had won the '92 WS and were expected to crush the Phils. It wasn't exactly the outcome that was expected, but the Series was great. Three things were magical:
1) My favorite AL player of all-time, Paul Molitor, won WS MVP.
2) Game Five was a contest won by the Blue Jays, 15-14, the most runs by two teams combined in a World Series game.
3) "Touch 'em all, Joe! You'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" In other words, Joe Carter hit a three-run shot off Mitch Williams to win the series.
Also, despite these heroics from the Toronto lineup, Jack Morris got his third straight ring! Are you hearing this, BBWAA? In a nutshell, it was great for manager Cito Gaston and the rest of Toronto, but it really stunk for Wild Thing and the Phillies.
Well, there you have it, my five favorite World Series in MLB history. Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks for reading Baseball with Matt where I'm giving you "all the buzz on what wuzz." (Shout-out to Andy Abrams (the 2nd time for him) for coming up with my new sign-off catch phrase.)
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