Play at the Plate Part 10: Special World Series Edition

The Date: October 25, 1987

The Place: The Metrodome

The Showdown: Game 7 of the World Series, Steve Lake, Cardinals catcher, versus the Twins Don Baylor

Don Baylor comes to the plate in the bottom of the second inning with the Cardinals leading 2-0. Joe Magrane is on the hill for St. Louis. He promptly hits Don Baylor with the pitch, which is no great shock considering Don Baylor is the all-time A.L. leader in the hit by pitch category (267). Tom Brunansky follows Baylor and singles to left. With Baylor at second and Brunansky at first, Kent Hrbek struck out and Tim Laudner stepped to the plate. Laudner singled to left and Baylor headed for home. Vince Coleman came up firing and this is what happened next:

Don Baylor is OUT! The Coleman to Lake combo preserved the two run lead for the Cardinals. At least momentarily.

In the fifth inning there was another play at the plate. With the score tied 2-2, Coleman again made the throw home. Gary Gaetti steamrolled Lake, but Lake held on for the out. The Twins would end up on top, winning the World Series with a 4-2 win in game #7.