1991 World Series Game 7 - Intro

[tmc1982]

Watching CBS' intro made me realize how awfully difficult it is to take Pat O'Brien seriously anymore after hearing his nasty, drunk-dial rantings.



This was in my estimation, still the greatest World Series ever (at least in my lifetime). I was utterly appalled when ESPN on their "Who's No. 1" show, named the 1986 Series (Mets/Red Sox) to be the best ever, with if I remember correctly, the 2001 Series (D'Backs/Yankees) second. The '91 Series between the Twins and Braves came in fourth (only behind the 1975 Series between the Reds and Red Sox). Here's the full list by the way:
The Best World Series:

1. 1986 - New York Mets, Boston Red Sox
2. 2001 - Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees
3. 1975 - Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox
4. 1991 - Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves
5. 1964 - St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees
6. 1960 - Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees
7. 1955 - Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees
8. 1977 - New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers
9. 1972 - Oakland A's, Cincinnati Reds
10. 1968 - Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals
11. 1979 - Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles
12. 1985 - Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals
13. 1971 - Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles
14. 1956 - New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers
15. 1946 - St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox
16. 1993 - Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies
17. 1947 - New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers
18. 1987 - Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals
19. 2002 - California Angels, San Francisco Giants
20. 1996 - New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves

Second Guesser Nick Acocella ranked the 1924 World Series
(Washington Senators-New York Giants) best with the 1912 Word Series
(New York Giants-Boston Red Sox) second.

Second Guesser Burt Randolph Sugar ranked the 1912 World Series best
with the 1924 Word Series second.

I honestly believe that ESPN was purely showing their prototypical northeastern bias by listing anything involving the Mets or Yankees in the top two. The '91 Series had a lot of moments that immediately standout:
*Two teams that had been in last place the year earlier, wind up making it to the World Series.

*Five of the seven games were decided by the final at-bat (and by one run).

*Three of the games went into extra innings (including Game 7).

*Kent Hrbek (the Twins' first baseman) practically throwing Ron Gant off the base and still getting an out in Game 2.

*Lonnie Smith violently bowling over Brian Harper at home plate in Game 4.

*Also in Game 4, Mark Lemke of the Braves narrowly escaping Brian Harper's tag at home to win the game for Atlanta.

*Kirby Puckett nearly hitting for the cycle (he needed a double) in Game 6, which of course, ended with his epic home run ("And we'll see you tomorrow night!").

*Lonnie Smith's hesitant base running in Game 7 likely costing the Braves a shot at the World Title.

*Jack Morris putting on one of the greatest clutch/big game performances of all time, with his ten inning shutout in Game 7.

[Drillbit Taylor]

I have to disagree. 86, 01 and 75 are better then 91. 91 has sort of fallen on the way side. But the three infront of it has some memorable moments.

[alanguitar1]

I think you can make a very strong case for the 91 series over the other three (and the other three are on dvd while 91 is not). 01's, the yankees (except for 97) had been rammed down our throats and won everything since 96 and it was more of a "here we go again" thing, where the 91 one was a changeover into the 90s after the a's had won the al title the last three years and there had been three 4/5 game series in a row.

the 86 one is quite awesome, but those had blow outs, where the games are fun, but the really contested games are the last couple ones, and since the first four games are won by the visiting team, the crowds don't get into it till game 5, where 91's had the home team always winning, and thus the crowds were always into it, and only had one real blow out, which was a fun one.

And i haven't seen the 75 one except for a couple little clips (like the production where they show the game still before all the stuff started being on the screen), but it's mostly known for the fisk homerun, without the "how they got to there" nor "they lost the next game to lose the series" part in history look-back shows.

And wcw gets special mention for this, having halloween havoc on the same night as this game, lex/ron and the chamber of horrors, or game 7 of the world series?

edit: that's true about pat o'brian, he does the all star game preshows at the same time (preshow for 92, roaming reporter around the park in 93) and you know how he is now, "entertainment reporter host guy" and it's hard to remember when he had sports credibility, as he hosts the 1990 world series tape too.

[Triple Kelly]

Jan 2, 2009 9:09:40 GMT -5 @alanguitar1 said:

I think you can make a very strong case for the 91 series over the other three (and the other three are on dvd while 91 is not). 01's, the yankees (except for 97) had been rammed down our throats and won everything since 96 and it was more of a "here we go again" thing, where the 91 one was a changeover into the 90s after the a's had won the al title the last three years and there had been three 4/5 game series in a row.
the 86 one is quite awesome, but those had blow outs, where the games are fun, but the really contested games are the last couple ones, and since the first four games are won by the visiting team, the crowds don't get into it till game 5, where 91's had the home team always winning, and thus the crowds were always into it, and only had one real blow out, which was a fun one.

And i haven't the 75 one except for a couple little clips (like the production where they show the game still before all the stuff started being on the screen), but it's mostly known for the fisk homerun, without the "how they got to there" nor "they lost the next game to lose the series" part in history look-back shows.

And wcw gets special mention for this, having halloween havoc on the same night as this game, lex/ron and the chamber of horrors, or game 7 of the world series?

The WCW "Phantom" was backstage watching the WS.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

What the heck was so wonderful about 1987?

[Sajoa Moe]

Jan 2, 2009 9:09:40 GMT -5 @alanguitar1 said:

that's true about pat o'brian, he does the all star game preshows at the same time (preshow for 92, roaming reporter around the park in 93) and you know how he is now, "entertainment reporter host guy" and it's hard to remember when he had sports credibility, as he hosts the 1990 world series tape too.

He was also at Denslow Cup IV for the trophy presentation.

[Milkman Norm]

In 1991 you have two worst to first teams playing, the first and only time that has ever happened. You got the performance of Mark Lemke in game 4 for the Braves and Kirby Pucket carring the Twins to a game 7. You have Jack Morris pitchig one of the greatest post season games of all time in game 7. You have all the stuff that has already been mentioned. It's still one of my favorite

[@TenaciousBe]

I know I'm biased because I grew up in Minnesota, so I'll keep my opinion out of which is the best. But that 91 Series will forever be one of my favorite memories.

You forgot in that list, the play where someone on the Braves hit the ball to the outfield, but Gagne and Knoblauch conspired to play it out like they had the ball, effectively stopping the baserunner at second instead of letting him get to third. I think that even cost the Braves a run later on.

[tmc1982]

Jan 2, 2009 19:15:30 GMT -5 @TenaciousBe said:

I know I'm biased because I grew up in Minnesota, so I'll keep my opinion out of which is the best. But that 91 Series will forever be one of my favorite memories.

You forgot in that list, the play where someone on the Braves hit the ball to the outfield, but Gagne and Knoblauch conspired to play it out like they had the ball, effectively stopping the baserunner at second instead of letting him get to third. I think that even cost the Braves a run later on.

I did mention that incident. It was Lonnie Smith in the top of the eighth in Game 7. Terry Pendleton had it a screamer into ceterfield off of Jack Morris. But Smith hesitated, when he saw Gagne and Knoblauch perform a "phantom double play". The inning ended when Morris (with the bases loaded) got Sid Bream to hit into a double play.

[@TenaciousBe]

Ah, right. I wondered if that was the "hesitant" base running you mentioned.

I wonder if there's a DVD of this series out there anywhere. I remember renting a VHS of it back in the day, an hour-long "best of the series" kind of thing.