MLB Baseball's Seasons: 1987

[Music] [Applause] welcome to baseball seasons 1987 what a blast [Applause] [Music] mr. Gorbachev here not as smart rate the world is watching and we've got something to show them the 1987 nuclear arms control treaty said no the movement toward peace by the world's superpower and in the world of major league baseball the nets were hoping to become the next superpower they'd won 108 games the year before capping off the season in the most thrilling fashion I thought we were gonna be just as good as the last year but you can win a couple championship two back-to-back or two and three years between the organizations in a dynasty but unlike the seventies which featured numerous repeat champions the eighties had not witnessed one thus far in the decade [Applause] coming off their heartbreaking series defeat the 1987 Red Sox who are in search of redemption the Red Sox had a very difficult offseason could immediate constantly on them might have taken a little wind out of their sails getting through spring training and realizing that the grind in that 1987 season was gonna have to start all over again but the socks look lackluster as they went to Milwaukee to open their season [Applause] with a sweep of the Red Sox the Brewers were off on a surprising and spectacular run all of a sudden we're starting to become the center of the baseball University [Applause] [Music] two days later on Easter Sunday the Brewers were in danger of ending their streak at 11 in a row we were losing going into the ninth inning and we needed that one to try to go 12 a No [Applause] Rob beer hits her dramatic home run to tie the game and then Dale Swain wins the game in the bottom of the ninth you know the confidence that we've had you know we actually feel like when we walk down the field we're not going to lose a bargain with a record time 13 straight wins to open the season the Brewers were the early talk of baseball and so were the home runs flying out of the ballpark there's a lot of talk about the baseball's a lot of conspiracy theories we are we as pitchers were looking at all the baseballs comparing scenes from last year wondering why they were going over the fences at such a high rate by the end of the season major league hitters would set a new high for home runs per game this has been an offensive year in baseball all the way around American League and National League [Music] [Applause] leading the slugfest early on with Cincinnati's young superstar Eric Davis who slammed seven home runs followed by 12 more minutes including three grand slams Davis's Bauer helped push the Reds to the top of the NL West the Cubs were riding high on the bat of their own Slugger Andre Dawson I just got off to a slow start and then on a daily basis something was happening [Applause] I knew it you know I was having the best season in my career following the 86 season Dawson now a prize free agent surprisingly failed to receive a single offer from any major league team after 11 productive seasons with the Expos doesn't want to play on natural grass and offer the cup it's a novel solution Andre Dawson approached the Cubs and said listen here's a blank check what do you think I'm worth and that's what I'm gonna play for and I believe he played for a base salary a $500,000 was a great deal for the Cubs hey guy five hundred thousand when's the National League Most Valuable Player with 49 home runs and 137 RBIs Dawson would have an outstanding season as would former Expos teammate Tim Raines also a man without a team Brock did not resign with Montreal until May I felt that enough to loosen a month of the season not really being Opening Day but it was time for me to get back into the game I was gonna be ready the 1986 NL batting champ would go on to hit 330 and collect a career-high 18 home runs it was truly becoming the year of the offensive Superstars and with power and parity the season was up for grabs six World Series flag over Shea Stadium and not Fenway was a harsh reminder of what the Red Sox could have had we should have won the World Series and we felt like we were ready to go back and repeat and do it again and again we felt that good about our team but just as a Red Sox were commemorating 75 years at Fenway trouble was brewing laces it to left field Jim Wright [Applause] life is hurt it comes so close and we played so well here before finish out of it the next year was disappointed by May 4th the Red Sox had fallen 10 and a half games behind the era continue but the next two found themselves unable to keep the magic going that 87 Mets team was decimated by injuries particularly in their starting rotation and strength training Dwight Gooden ended up in rehab that started the downfall of the Mets in 87 and that was as big as any of them when he lose back goody-goodies actually set the tone for a season that would be filled with frustration the tough year there was no wildcard in 1987 and the st. Louis Cardinals were a great team the Cardinals will build on defense and speed both of which were embodied in shortstop Ozzie Smith at the core the Cardinals running game was left fielder Vince Coleman who was on pace for a third straight season 100-plus steel [Applause] we were what we were we were buckled the hit line drives and hit ground balls and forced the pitchers hand with our speed [Music] their style was well suited to their home ballpark bang in this ballpark home our stadium the toughest ballpark to hit a home run toughest ballpark to score runs after a hundred and eight games in 1987 we were leading all of baseball to think that we bring all mental engine runs for when we played this that's where I am is just amazing of course speed was only part of the Cardinals winning equation you look at a guy like Terry Pendleton he was the king of clutch [Applause] the results of a power of Jack Clark chasing their third minute in six years the cards led by nine games at the all-star break and come back they become their specialty while the Cardinals have been perennial contenders in the 1980s the San Francisco Giants had gone into a downfall but in 1985 a pitching coach turned manager rode into town with anyone Orthodox set of ideas there's no book for Roger he played the game the way he thought and that's how he managed we were not gonna hit a lot of home runs so I kind of managed crazy with reckless abandon and I was run by being a daring guys doing things nobody else for dude [Applause] with injuries bringing the Giants from the star Craig's managerial skills were frequently put to the test hobbled as they were the Giants went into the all-star break three games out in the NL s the all-star game figured to be a crescendo of power we expect a whole lot of offense and it comes down to pitching and defense and that's exactly what happened as playing an afternoon Twilight the big bombers were eclipsed by a great pitcher as the game was scoreless going into the bottom of the night MVP if I hit the ball in the outfield he's gonna score and I'm gonna be the hero here's Reynolds I'm gonna be the MVP [Applause] man I could have been MVP that of their went to Tim ladies who's 13th inning triple gave the national league a two to nothing in a season of resounding offense the all-star game had been up pitching a showcase for 27 years the Berlin Wall had stood as the symbol of the Cold War general secretary Gorbachev if you seek peace if you seek prosperity come here to this gate open this gate tear down no one knew for sure if the Iron Curtain would fall but it looked as if new leadership might reshape Europe new leadership could also be found in the world of baseball as the twins were about to have a change of fortune we had this feeling that good things were going to happen only because we were led by a great manager in town Kelly there's a look at the youngest manager in the major leagues 36 year old Kelly he made all 25 guys not roster feel good about themselves and their roles I think that's why he was as successful as he was being a new manager I was trying to just do a job and not embarrass myself and keep the ship floating in the right direction the twins we're coming off six out of seven losing seasons but in 87 their homegrown nucleus was starting to mature vernadsky perfect guy Eddie and Puckett a lot of big strong dudes played together in the minor leagues played together in the major leagues it looked like they have a chance of a tour together as Major League players on Fan Appreciation Day 1986 I predicted that if the twins keep this nucleus together and we add a couple elements so last time I've ever made a prediction with such a prediction only inspired the twins 34 year old general manager if you went back and looked at 1986 we lost a load of games where we scored like eight or more runs I thought if we addressed the bullpen we could be markedly better enter Jeff Reardon former firemen of the [Applause] roll that he had on the team being the closer was so vital we felt like when he came in the game the game was over and give everybody else you know just a lot of confidence and calm Reardon brought bullpen stability to a team that was ready to bust out middle of the order those four twins would hit more homers than any other court at in baseball lifted the tweens more than the Homer dome dome leaves a lot of memories live special a lot of goofy watch this done to dump the thing that made the Metrodome special we always included the crowd in the stands with us these fans were a true tenth player better and better they started to believe that we had a chance those fellows seem to get better all at once and boy oh boy they played the hell out of the game by late August the twins were playing 700 ball inside the dome falling away the best one winning percentage of the majors while pennant fever was building in Minnesota postseason hopes in Milwaukee were fading after a strong start but there was plenty of drama hitting streak sure we're thing it's an individual thing that's ongoing while a team is trying to win our love was hanging in the pennant race so I was having fun with the street when I got close to the brewer team record you know I felt a little pressure to surpass that get into the 30 it's nice the higher you go naturally but the record is still seem as far away out there [Applause] it doesn't have to be thirty-nine and it was pretty special and hasn't been matched since that time molitor's streak was the longest in the AL since Joe DiMaggio hit in 56 straight in 1941 now another unit was on a spellbinding streak at his own [Music] [Applause] I don't know just don't fire just one of those streaks that you're just rolling [Applause] like I'm on every day now and a lot of times you feel that way but it never happens for you once he got up to seven games well you know what this guy might just do it hey did he get all that I really just trying to hit the ball the other way not necessarily at a home run I just have to hit it good down in Florida Texas the streak ended as Mattingly fell short of breaking the mark but given the frequency with which he was hitting grand slams he was having a record-breaking season after all [Applause] [Music] [Applause] it was a phenomenal season we hit all these homeruns and the Grand Slams we always felt that Mattingly could do almost anything then in the 87 season he became the force of the American League [Applause] [Applause] number 22 Jack Clark actually giant man preferred will the thrill' either way and only his second season this rising star would lead his team with 35 home runs Clark was a different breed he had that hockey atmosphere bottom that we all loved and he could really rise to the occasion that the Giants were rising through the NL West despite a rash of injuries was credit to the constantly rings of manager Roger Craig he's a great manager he knows the game very well knowing that he had the confidence that never had any doubts especially not after the Giants general manager made his July blockbuster deal mr. al roses RG axis he was the one that really got all the pieces a we needed to put the Giants back in the map I made some real good deals that got us going us in a trade with the Padres the Giants acquired pitchers Dave drove a key and Craig Lefferts along with third baseman Kevin Mitchell whose bat backed up [Applause] if I could trade for somebody that might be better and will fit in better that's what I did Mitchell did for the Giants on offense what Lefferts and Rebecca did for their picture when we got to break you up with San Francisco I was very very happy and also leopards who give me the ball you pitch every day for you come longest the Giants face the biggest test of the season the 14 game stretch against their NL West rivals which started out early [Applause] three games up on the San Francisco Giants [Applause] durjaya schloss five of the first six game before coming home to play first place since Annette we lose three or four five in a row and then next day they thought they could still win I knew at that time that it wasn't over and we still have a chance to win last game against America seemed to breathe life into us again the Giants were alive and well and carried their newfound momentum into the next series against the visiting astro [Applause] ball game that time and I'm just going out there trying to be consistent day-in day-out [Applause] I believe they're gonna win it they've got the bit in the teeth and they're just going right at every game the Giants took three out of four from Houston and by September first they held a five and a half game with all the injuries and stuff I never thought we would finish it high despite 122 lineup changes Roger Craig's team had done the improbable they can't wait to come to the ballpark they can smell it they know they can win and just a great attitude on the ball club in an effort to distance the Giants from the Reds and the Astros GE and Al Rosen was added again acquiring right-hander Rick Russell he wants to win he's doing everything that he can to help and I think that definitely has to get the pursue that had pushed the Giants were set they had a savvy veteran in Russell in power galore from Kevin Mitchell Jeffrey winger and center fielder chili Davis [Applause] hard as it was to believe the Giants were heading to their Tigers Blue Jays have played 161 games the Tigers have a one-game lead going into what could be the finality of the regular season for me July the Blue Jays and Tigers were locked in a heated pennant race considering how the Tigers had fared early in the season it was a miracle they were in contention at all at the time we've been throttled pretty good by Baltimore walking New York Boston we had taken the wrong end of the stick for a while Tigers turned away four months earlier the Tigers have been languishing near the bottom of the AL East while Toronto was battling the Yankees for first place the Blue Jays were blessed with the pitching of Dave Steve Jim Clinton and Jimmy key and the power of George Bell every time he hit the ball was hard every time he hit the ball somebody was scorned bill was in the midst of an MVP season that would produce 47 homers and 134 RBIs he was also part of the game's premier Alfio that included Lloyd Moseley and defensive standout Jesse Barfield [Applause] we knew we had a good team pitching staff was strong we had some really good players in the field get hitters and stuff and we knew we had his chance if we could stay healthy we were gonna be there at the end the Tigers meanwhile finally woke up and by the start of the summer they hit their stride [Applause] by mid-august the Tigers were back in form and contending for first place with the Blue Jays and they were a very very dangerous team it starts really with the middle part of their infield Alan Trammell Lou Whitaker you know they were a dynamic duel in the middle part of that infield and they had a good combination of guys that could knock the ball ballpark while the Tigers were blasting their way to a major league leading 225 homers they were getting solid pitching from a staff led by a workhorse Jack Morris when you played against them you hated them you wanted to beat him so bad but then when you played on his team you loved them you went out there and said hey guys were winning this game just when the league thought Detroit's pitching couldn't get any better the Tigers made a late season trade for the Braves Doyle Alexander who had an immediate impact to get Doyle Alexander they had to give up a minor-league pitcher who had been a top trip for them from Detroit his name was John Smoltz still the Tigers had gained a bonafide om for the stretch drive ray as Alexander when nine and O and Detroit stayed neck and neck with the Blue Jays in late September a half game out at first the Tigers went to Toronto for a weekend showdown [Applause] [Music] the Blue Goose took the first three days [Applause] then each winner was more dramatic than the less every game was either one-run game extra inning game every single game when it came down to somebody making a mistake or somebody being a hero [Applause] Gibson's homer and it's 13th inning game-winning single the Tigers left town two and a half games down to the final weekend of the season the Tigers had closed the gap to one game now playing host to the Blue Jays with three games to play it was do or die for both killers but the Blue Jays lost the first two games each by a run and went into the finale one game behind the truth in a battle of left-handers it was Toronto's Jimmy King against Detroit's Frank Tanana the Tigers struck first when Larry Herndon came up in the sec [Applause] furlings Homer was the only run of the game has turned on a pitch that gem and hearth of Westar believe the Tigers were division champs [Applause] I never expected was meant to be were especially winning on the last day [Applause] after capturing the American ladies the Tigers were riding a wave of momentum that many expected would carry them past the twins and into the World Series how can you win this thing I don't know I think that if we play the way we've been playing I think we'll be okay we have home-field advantage we had the fans in Minnesota that was almost the tenth player on the field the Twins had yet to win a World Series now that they were in the postseason their fans were excited and ready to explode [Applause] just the feeling of those two swings everybody just took a breath in we can beat these guys and the fans really got into it after that and you could just feel things you know moving in your direction [Applause] [Applause] the twins had the best home record in baseball during the regular season and took the first two in the Metrodome but when the ALCS shifted to Detroit they knew they'd have to find a way to win on the road having won just 29 games away from home does that gonna be any differently gonna be in Detroit this weekend you'll be the only difference and we gonna go out and play the way we've been playing all this time and that's the give 100% that's all you can do baseball is a game of momentum that false start throwing down the hill in your direction everything seems to work out for you after winning two of three in Detroit the twins went home to Minnesota the unlikeliest the pennant winners when we came back from Detroit we were told to expect the crown degrees because we were going to start the World Series at home and it might be 3000 and they said 6,000 and 8,000 instead the outpouring of affection was beyond anything the twins could have imagined they're in FTC they're like 50,000 people it was like this great big love affair in the Midwest [Music] while love filled the air in Minnesota there was bad blood in the NLCS between the Cardinals and Giants with memories of a bench-clearing brawl from the previous season still fresh in new minds and so ever since that moment have always been a heated rivalry they were a very tough team to compete against them and we we knew that we were in for a battle in that series while the Cardinals and Giants were trading victories in the first four games Jeffrey Renard turned up the heat on that simmering view [Music] [Applause] he was hot and then every time it seemed like he came up and get a homerun and we can just sit down would overboard showcase and he would put the one arm down [Applause] he's a good player I'm particularly like him but he's a good player I like a mealy he'd make a great villain wrestler you have coined a new phrase one flap down something that Cardinal pitchers have really enjoyed whether it's long story do that but right now I have my fat down it means that that just was nothing that kind of like get under your skin for a little bit and Bobby force let him knew Leonard put his arm they couldn't flap that wing anymore both ball clubs want to get through the World Series I mean you're not trying to win a Nobel Peace Prize he got away with down but uh only a lot of live will be somebody better with you [Applause] in Game four Leonard exacta drew venge with his fourth home run in four games to set a single series LCS record with a series tie Leonard's power surge underscored with the Cardinals lack as other Jack Clark sat out with a bad ankle Jack justices sit quietly in the Cardinal dugout and dial little as each inning goes by I'm going to get the Giants without jack we're gonna have to scrap and we're gonna have to do the things darn near perfect the Cardinals lost Game five and went back to st. Louis in need of a two-game sweep despite making do without their biggest back they were certainly the source you gotta win ballgames through pitching and defense [Music] [Applause] sigh three three and they're here they're not in Frisco the Cardinals had stayed in the series with defense and quitting and clutch pitching which set an NL CS record with 22 straight scoreless innings that you respect everybody that you played because you can be beaten on any any given day we surprised the baseball world when 87 by beating the Tigers and then going into the World Series we were gonna play the Cardinals and nobody expected the twins to do anything but again we had home field advantage inside the Metrodome Twins fans hosted the first indoor World Series game with a sight and sound spectacular that none of the senses [Music] dolphin noise was a factor it was very very loud I mean they compared it to a 747 taking off the series was a study in contrasts cardinal speed versus twins power in the bottom of the fourth the twins rallied with three runs then unleash their fear and a st. Louis pitcher [Applause] gladdens Homer was the 13th lamb in World Series history and the first since 1970 and it gave the twins a commanding 707 run ending now in the fourth inning and you know it was basically over at that point the Cardinals had no chance with Frank viola on the mound the man they called sweet music was in perfect harmony with the Metrodome McCloud [Applause] [Music] the key tonight was didn't seem close - this point in time they can squat a hurry that was a busy night game - was nearly a carbon-copy the opener Bert Blyleven dominated the Cardinals early while Minnesota's bats erupted in the fourth what happened a game one game two is that we scored a lot of runs early and really I think settled myself and Frank viola down to where we pitched pretty good ballgame now we knew we had to go to st. Louis and have to face the st. Louis fans and they were just as loud except they were not inside three of the World Series but anytime you can get 50,000 people cheering for you as opposed to against you works in your favor in pitching friendly Busch Stadium left-hander John Tudor followed as one nothing NLCS gem by matching zeros with rookie right-hander less straight there was still no score in the top of the sixth when the twins broke through [Applause] [Music] but now that the Cardinals will on their own turf they had lots of tricks up their sleeve and when Terry Pendleton came up with two on in the seventh it was time for Cardinals baseball [Applause] : promptly stole third and then scored to give the Cardinals of three to one movie and their first victory of the series we knew this was a must game floor so now that now it's in the books we've got to go on and worry about Game four in Game four sweet music hit a sour note in the fourth inning not from the injured dairy Bendel him but from seldom years Tom lawless because I didn't have Pendleton I was playing that time of third-base but he really wasn't known to be an offensive golfer [Applause] I remember Tom flipping the batch that was played like there's a tape major job and I think it hit the back of the house I told him when he comes in as a man you're lucky I bought one out of the park because I had to get him for not running that ball off the Cardinals manufactured three more runs and went on to win seven to two a victory in Game five would give him a 3-2 series lead and true to form the cards played game 5 their way with a scoreless tie in the sixth they produced a Vince Coleman sale and Ozzie Smith made-to-order bunt and a flawless double steal [Applause] st. Louis tacked on another run for a sweep at home and a three games to two lead in this series we had to win three games to really give ourselves a chance because they play so well at Rideau and then we got that part of the compass now we have to win the next two games until we get the job done [Music] the twins were one game away from elimination in the 87 Fall Classic but they were returning home where they enjoy the ultimate home-field advantage we knew at that time we have to go back to the Metrodome we knew that our fans would come out we'd have that 10th player the noise factor as expected the Metrodome was in full throttle but the Cardinals coming off a convincing three-game sweep in st. Louis at all cylinders firing [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Tommy hers blasts only the second homer of the series for st. Louis gave John Tudor an earlier death in the top of the fifth the Cardinals added to their 42 lead the twins may have been on life support but it didn't take long before they came alive and sent a Metrodome into our friends [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we knew that the momentum had swung that the pendulum had swung back on our side you just knew after that homerun we were gonna win with the twins up six to five hometown kid Kent her back into the plate mired in a swoon [Music] [Applause] kerbecs homer he the twins their second Grand Slam of the series and it all but very good cars as the ball is leaving the parts to place they're going absolutely wild I mean I'm really not sure I'm believing what I'm seeing the finally up and say Lewis is coffee came from reliever jet rear [Applause] down to one ballgame at our ballpark we play great baseball here you got to come out ready to play and right from the get-go where else they're gonna take it to us and beat us the 1987 baseball season concludes tonight the seventh game of the World Series under the dome in Minneapolis no world series has ever gone the route with the home team winning every game and certainly the twins hope to accomplish that tonight undaunted by the sound and the fury inside the Metrodome the Cardinals quickly jumped on twin starter Frank viola after the two-run second inning it came to dugout I just looked at the guys that said that's all st. Louis who's gonna get Frankie was the man I mean when he takes the mound you're just pretty much gonna win if you can score him a few runs with the fans all but willing their team to victory the twins chipped away at Cardinal pitching and forged their way back the old-fashioned way [Applause] [Music] true to his word viola stop the cards in their tracks after eight cbourgin is viola want to close it out I was wondering what TK was doing you know because we were going along fine [Applause] you have Omega wood [Applause] and you've got people like Jeff freer and coming in to pitch for you in the ninth and you feel pretty good that you're gonna get the job done as usual TK had his pulse on the team and Reardon got him out one two three just one of the most unbelievable moments to just say we did it we're excited for ourselves but we're most excited I think for the fans and their support on how they really really helped us to get to where we were world champs the twins would reach the Fall Classic again in 1991 when they rode their big bats to another championship [Applause] armed with their lucky charm the twins won all for our home games increasing their petrodollar World Series record to 8 at home fans in st. Louis wouldn't see a championship for nearly two decades 2006 World Series champion the Giants reached the World Series in 1989 but saw their moment of glory upstaged by Mother Nature thanks soon after the earthquake history took place in Germany the fall of the Berlin Wall an event which began with a prophetic challenge in 1987 mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall a power ship was also in the offing in baseball for 1987 and sitting the new era and by the names [Applause] [Music] [Music] you

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Id: 0uk7vGx58AA

Length: 47min 58sec (2878 seconds)

Published: Fri Dec 27 2019