Unocal 76
King Koopa
Providing The Finest Oil
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Post by Unocal 76 on Dec 4, 2015 3:02:19 GMT -5
Since we have a thread on the most unexciting World Series, might as well do the opposite end of the spectrum.
For me, the most exciting and incredible was 1991. I've heard so much about this legendary showdown- Two cellar-dwellers from 1990, going worst-to-first, 4 games won in the final at-bat (and a 5th was decided on an 8th inning HR), games 6 and 7 going extra innings, Jack Morris and John Smoltz throwing zero after zero!
Another interesting one- while I wasn't alive for this one, the 1980 World Series looking back and reading/seeing highlights was really something.
You had two snakebitten franchises in the Royals and Phillies, both losing in the 76-77-78 LCS, led by the greatest 3rd basemen ever (George Brett, Mike Schmidt). Something had to give.
Phillies come back from 4-0 in game 1, down 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th in game 2, KC wins on a 9th inning walk-off, Philly stuns KC in the top of the 9th of game 5, and a dramatic game 6 ending with Pete Rose catching a potential dropped foul up 4 with the bases loaded and tying run at the plate with 1 out, then a strikeout to FINALLY give Philly a title 96 years in the waiting.
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Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Dec 4, 2015 3:19:48 GMT -5
2001, back to back nights of a team coming back from 2 down with 2 outs left in the bottom of the 9th to win the games. And then there was game 7. The stats show the Yankees were dominated, but they fought and clawed and damn near won it all. 3 games in the series had 9th inning comebacks.
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Post by sfvega on Dec 4, 2015 3:53:01 GMT -5
The first one I really remember being exciting was 97 with the Marlin's walk-off game 7. Then 2001 was amazing. And as a Cardinal fan, 2011 was absolute insanity. But the series itself probably wasn't as good as 01. The whole run to the post-season and in it was magical, with the climax being game 6. Game 7 was pretty uneventful, compared to 91, 97, 01.
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Dec 4, 2015 4:30:20 GMT -5
The entire 2011 postseason was amazing, but its World Series was a perfect climax to the season. Not even taking my Cardinal fandom into account, it was some of the best baseball I or any fan was lucky enough to see in their lifetime.
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Post by fuzzywarble, squat cobbler on Dec 4, 2015 11:18:05 GMT -5
All the ones ending in '1'.
1991: Twins-Braves: The first 'exciting' one I saw in real-time (I started watching baseball in 1988). Amazing performances by both teams, but Puckett and Morris were otherworldly.
2001: Yankees-Diamondbacks: Pure excitement through and through. Left me biting my nails in nervousness, as I didn't want another Yankees title. When Gonzalez got that hit and Counsell scored, that was such a charged moment. Absolutely speechless.
2011: Rangers-Cards: Although, being a Rangers fan, this was the most disappointing moment ever for me as a baseball fan, the series itself was unbelievable, and Game 6 might be the most exciting World Series game ever played.
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Post by Ishmeal Loves Kaseyhausen on Dec 4, 2015 18:04:45 GMT -5
2001, though as a Yankee fan, I'm sure my perspective is skewed. I still go back and watch the ends to games 4 and 5 and get chills. This was a series that was great on its own right, made all the more special for what happened in New York just a month and a half before. Again, as a Yankee fan, you still just wanted to give Byung-Hung Kim a hug after what happened.
I'd like to throw out a nomination for 1996 as well. After going down 2-0 at home, the Yankees sweep 3 from Atlanta in Atlanta, and winning in 6.
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Post by Surfer Sandman on Dec 4, 2015 18:45:59 GMT -5
1991, 2004 and 2013 for me. The last two were Red Sox series and 1991 was just plain exciting because Twins-Braves.
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 16,767
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Post by BRV on Dec 4, 2015 20:40:15 GMT -5
I hate the Yankees, and in 2001 I was at that age where sports mattered just a little bit too much, so I REALLY hated the Yankees, but even I can't deny how incredible the 2001 World Series was. Despite blowouts in games 1 and 6, it was one for the ages, with four games decided by one run and three walk-offs, culminating in quite possibly the greatest baseball game ever in game 7.
The 2011 World Series honestly feels overrated a bit because of game 6. Sure, it was an incredible back-and-forth contest, but outside of that game, what about the 2011 Fall Classic do you remember? I just had to look it up on Wikipedia just to double-check that it was the year when Albert Pujols hit three home runs in one game and even that feels slightly less impressive considering Pablo Sandoval did it the following year.
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unc40
Dennis Stamp
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Post by unc40 on Dec 10, 2015 10:34:30 GMT -5
The 1980 World Series was anti-climatic to the 1980 NLCS which had to be the single best playoff series ever played.
The thing I remember most about the 2001 World Series is that one of the Diamondback players was in my Sunday School class when I was a kid.
In my lifetime the 1991 World Series was the greatest World Series. One thing to point out is that Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders did not play in the series which makes me wonder what would have happened in Game 7 if one of them and not Lonnie Smith had been running the bases.
In the history of baseball the 1912 World Series may have been the greatest series ever played. A lot of close games one even ending in a tie and the craziest ending to a deciding game ever. John McGraw's Giants was another team to always be snake bitten in the series. They won in 1905 and then lost 4 World Series, 1911-13 and 1917. They won the series in 1921 and 1922 but lost again in 1923 and in 1924 lost in 7 games thanks to the ball taking a freak bounce over Fred Lindstrom head. They also lost a one game playoff to the Cubs in 1908 and blew a 6.5 game lead in 1914 to the Boston Braves.
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Ben Wyatt
Crow T. Robot
Are You Gonna Go My Way?
I don't get it. At all. It's kind of a small horse, I mean what am I missing? Am I crazy?
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Post by Ben Wyatt on Dec 10, 2015 11:26:54 GMT -5
From an on the field standpoint, The 2001 World Series was as entertaining as you could possibly ask for. Add the backdrop of the 9/11 aftermath and the way the WS seemed to give people something to focus on aside from fear and grief, and you have the hads down answer for most exciting/best World Series ever
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Post by Cyno on Dec 11, 2015 14:40:50 GMT -5
2001 was really exciting, even though my team lost. So many games decided in the 9th inning, and it was a nice thing to focus on especially after what happened a couple of months beforehand. Gave everyone in NYC and us in the metro area an escape and a much-needed diversion.
And on a personal bias note, 1996. It was the first time I got to see my team win it all, especially after being 2 games down and needing to win in Atlanta.
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Post by fuzzywarble, squat cobbler on Dec 11, 2015 18:20:58 GMT -5
The 1980 World Series was anti-climatic to the 1980 NLCS which had to be the single best playoff series ever played. The thing I remember most about the 2001 World Series is that one of the Diamondback players was in my Sunday School class when I was a kid. In my lifetime the 1991 World Series was the greatest World Series. One thing to point out is that Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders did not play in the series which makes me wonder what would have happened in Game 7 if one of them and not Lonnie Smith had been running the bases. In the history of baseball the 1912 World Series may have been the greatest series ever played. A lot of close games one even ending in a tie and the craziest ending to a deciding game ever. John McGraw's Giants was another team to always be snake bitten in the series. They won in 1905 and then lost 4 World Series, 1911-13 and 1917. They won the series in 1921 and 1922 but lost again in 1923 and in 1924 lost in 7 games thanks to the ball taking a freak bounce over Fred Lindstrom head. They also lost a one game playoff to the Cubs in 1908 and blew a 6.5 game lead in 1914 to the Boston Braves. I feel bad for Fred Merkle
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 20:25:38 GMT -5
2001 is the best one of my lifetime so far.
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Post by HMARK Center on Dec 17, 2015 13:01:21 GMT -5
I'm enormously biased and was only 1 1/2 when it happened, but I absolutely love watching my DVD collection of the '86 World Series.
It's more than the games, they just feel like they encapsulate an era, in a way.
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Post by häšhtå.gdālėÿ on Dec 18, 2015 21:05:22 GMT -5
In my 100% completely and totally unbiased opinion... 2010, 2012, & 2014.
2014 Game 7 for best game.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2015 12:18:56 GMT -5
In my lifetime: 1975 (Cincinnati-Boston), 1979 (Pittsburgh-Baltimore), 1985 (Kansas City-St. Louis), 1986 (NY Mets-Boston) 1991 (Minnesota-Atlanta)
I'll also have to toss in some love for 1957, as the Milwaukee Braves beat the NY Yankees in 7. What made this Series interesting is that the fans still cheered for two Yankees who hit home runs against the home team: Hank Bauer (played at Class D Oshkosh in the minors) and Tony Kubek (the first Milwaukee-born "local boy done good"). But, I've seen films of this one. Lew Burdette getting 3 wins, the last 2 shutouts (had a 24-inning scoreless streak by the end).
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