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…
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