It would be very easy for me to focus on the negative events that happened at the Ballpark in Arlinton this weekend. Right now I'm still a little shell-shocked that the Rangers were 5 outs away from the ALCS and they choked away game 3.
Needless to say, this scene from Game 4 on Sunday was not my best baseball memory. As a matter of fact, I'm hoping to be able to say mine was the moment the Rangers beat the Rays to head to the ALCS. So I'll hold off on answering the question until then, but you don't have to wait.
What is your best baseball memory? Was it something you saw in person? Maybe a playoff moment you watched on TV. Perhaps it wasn't even a particular game, but something else.
Speak up. Inquiring minds want to know.
Johan Santana's 2nd to last start in 2008. It was my final trip to Shea Stadium. I had gotten a free ticket that afternoon because somebody couldn't use it, so I hurried out to Shea after work.
ReplyDeleteI got there in time to see Santana pitch 8 masterful innings against the Chicago Cubs, and somehow Jerry Manuel was able to mix & match relievers to close out the game. On the way back home, everybody on the train was getting updates on the Brewers' game from the people that had smartphones to get the score. Everybody knows how things turned out that September, but that night it really felt like the Mets were going to go back to the playoffs and make up for the 2007 collapse.
My favorite moment would have to be Game 5 of the 84 World Series. I listened to most of the game on the radio (lived on a dairy farm and was milking cows during the game). Listened to Gibby race home on a sac fly to the second baseman and both of his homers. That was a great game.
ReplyDeleteA close second would be Frank Tanana's gem to close out the 87 season. I was stationed in Fort Knox at the time and was able to watch on TV. I did not realize until later that Herndon's homer was the only fly ball allowed by Key the whole game.
Final out of the 2008 ALCS,the moment the Rays arrived.
ReplyDelete97 World Series, aka Renteria's walk off hit part 1.
ReplyDeleteBeing at games three and four of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium. Iwas in line behind Donald Trump to get in for game three, which took 45 minutes to get through the massive security. Watching the President throw out the first pitch, the emotional impact of a city recovering was palpable. Coming back the next night to see Jeter become "Mr.November" was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI was only about 1 1/2, but the Tigers winning the '84 World Series. I still watch tapes of the games sometimes, and I think my favorite moment was Game 5 when Gibson (who'd already homered), faced Gossage. Sparky could be seen signaling to Gibby to swing away, yelling "He don't wanna walk you!" which was true after the conference on the mound. As he did in '88, Gibson displayed his flair for the dramatic and bashed a second HR.
ReplyDeleteRipken's 2131st game is a close second, followed by the Diamondbacks beating the Yanks in the 2001 Series, I think.
1986 game six NLCS Mets vs Red Sox. I was at a friends house with a bunch of rabid Mets fans and one lone Red Sox fan. He ran out so fast when Buckner booted that ball, we could see smoke from his shoes.
ReplyDeleteWhen Sid slid.
ReplyDeleteThe final pitch of game 7 of the 1982 World Series. Bruce Sutter strikes out Gorman Thomas and Darrell Porter rushes to the mound and jumps into Sutter's arms. I know the same thing happens every year, but this was the first time I saw my Cardinals in the WS and this image of Sutter holding up Porter who was hugging him was plastered all over every St Louis media outlet. As a young teenager, it was like I was in a dream world. Even today, my Sutter jersey card is one of my prize possessions because of this moment.
ReplyDeleteWow Paul, great story. I was at the last game at Shea, but I think my favorite memory was October 5th, 2006 Game 2 of the NLDS at Shea. My friend and I went and we were just both in awe of being at a playoff game. For some reason we just never thought we'd be able to afford tickets, but we won the chance to buy them straight from the Mets (as opposed to scalpers). We were so happy to be there AND got to see them win!
ReplyDeleteMine would be the first time I got to see my favorite player George Brett play. We had tried two or three times to see him in KC but each time the game was rained out and called while we were at the park so it took a trip to Oakland on a family vacation before I got the chance. We got upper deck front row seats right in front of 1st base and I loved every second of it! The Royals won by 7 of 8 runs that nite and Brett had two doubles and a single. I have a picture of him and McGuire standing together on 1st base. That was actually the only time I got to see George play live and in person.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many....but I would have to say Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS. I bought 2 tickets and took my dad. The electricity in the air was Awesome! Watching my dad (who was 79 at the time) yelling to get Grilli out of the game to waving the rally towel in the bottom of the ninth and getting to jump up and down & celebrate with him after Magglio hit the homerun. That my friend...is something to remember.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was around nine years old, I went to a card show to get Travis Fryman's autograph, who was the shizzle at the time. But I had a basketball game in a half hour and the line was miles long. My dad told someone about the game and they let us move to the front. Travis was super nice, signed a few cards, and wished me luck in my game. I know I'm a total jerk for cutting, but it was a nice memory.
ReplyDeleteHolding my 4 month old son watching the Sox win the World Series in 04.
ReplyDeleteI've only been to one Major League game, and that was in St. Louis. My family and I went to see a Cardinals vs. Braves game in 2005, I think it was. John Smoltz was on the mound for the Braves, and Albert Pujols hit a homer off of him in, I think, the first inning. I haven't forgotten that yet, even though we were in the nose-bleed section.
ReplyDeletemy best one was the very first time i went to see a game, nothing like your first time. it wasn't so much an exciting game, but its the fact that i got to go into the ball park to see some major league baseball was awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be going to Cal Ripken's second-to-last game. The buzz about the stadium was just incredible. It was just luck that we got to go to the game, because they were makeup games resulting from postponement from the 9/11 attacks. What looked to be a regular september game turned out to be his second-to-last game.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment that I witnessed in person would have to be Clay Buchholz's no-hitter. That was amazing and it was even better because I was there with my best friend who I only get to see once or twice a year.
ReplyDeleteAll-time that I've witnessed on TV would be tough. I have a hard time even picking my favorite moment from the 2004 Red Sox World Series. The Steal and comeback against the Yankees were amazing, but you can't overlook that final out of the World Series that ended the drought.
The first of the championships last decade, the Patriots upset of the Rams was huge because I didn't think there was any chance of it happening. My best friend and I were on the phone with each other in disbelief that it was really happening.
Then there was banner 17 from the Celtics. I was just getting into sports when the C's won #16, but this one was special because it was great to see lifelong Celtic Paul Pierce be reward for sticking with the team even when they were terrible. It was also fun seeing new favorite Glen Davis come up big in the playoffs and look like he was having a blast through everything. The fact that the championship parade went right by my work was just icing on the cake.
So not a real answer, but it's too tough to decide.
My best baseball memory was my very first game, just being in the ball park watching a major league baseball game was awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe contest is closed. Feel free to still leave an answer to the question.
ReplyDelete