That would be George Brett, one of the all-time greats in baseball. And the pitcher? Tom Henke, with over 300 saves to his name.
Henke came over to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985. You see, Bill Caudill was there first, in the closer role. He didn't exactly do bad, going 4-6, posting 14 saves and recording an ERA of 2.99. He did, however, blow 5 saves despite allowing just 6.9 hits per 9. Toronto needed something better and Tom Henke, aquired via free agent compensation from Texas, was just the man to do that.
Tom saved 13 out of 15 opportunties, joining Caudill and Jim Acker as Blue Jays' relievers with at least 10 saves that year. But the job was going to be clearly his in the ALCS vs. Kansas.
George Brett's team.
Didn't seem like Henke would be needed as Toronto, playing at home, had game one all the way. They were ahead 6-0 after 8 as Dave Stieb tamed KC. But there was Tom on the hill to start the ninth.
It started to look like a bad move as Willie Wilson greeted him with a single. Brett was next, and he followed suite. Jorge Orta was retired on a pop up to right. But Pat Sheridan grounded out, scoring Wilson from third. Henke bore down and got Frank White to fly out to Lloyd Moseby in centre.
Henke couldn't hold 'em in game 2. Presented with a 4-3 lead as he pitched the top of the 8th, Pat Sheridan got another RBI off him, this time with a home run. The 4-4 tie was broken in the 9th as Henke had back-to-back K's of George Brett and Hal McCrae. Frank White put the visiting team up 5-4 with a single.
The good news was Toronto came back to win it in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the frame. The Royals went home and took a close 6-5 game three. Toronto then trailed 1-0 after 8 innings despite another great start from Dave Stieb. Tom Henke had to hold them in the bottom of the 8th and 9th.
He had a fine 1-2-3 8th as Brett, McCrae and Sheridan went down. Toronto was clutch again in the 9th as the visiting team scored not once, not twice, but three times. Given a 2-run lead, Henke notched his second win in the series despite two walks in the 9th. Toronto now led the series 3-1.
Unfortunately, the Royals rallied. They won the next three games to stop Toronto's World Series bid that year. Brett ended up as the MVP of that American League Championship Series. Amazingly, Kansas rallied from 3-1 down against St. Louis in the Fall Classic for good measure. Bret hit .370 in the World Series, including a 4-5 performance in game seven. So George Brett had his ring. Henke, by the way, didn't appear in the last three games of that ill-fated ALCS.
But Tom pitched a-plenty in the 1989 and 1991 ALCS for Toronto. Trouble is, they came up empty both times against Oakland and then Minnesota. Henke was still there in 1992. George Brett, meanwhile, collected his historic 3,000th hit that season. But it was Tom and Toronto that won the World Series.
They wouldn't have done it without Henke. He saved three games in the ALCS vs. Oakland. The clincher was the Blue Jays 9-2 rout of the Athletics in game six at home. Tom got the last out.
In the World Series, it was Atlanta's turn to see more heroics from Henke. Toronto needed the second contest in Atlanta after losing the opener, 3-1. Toronto bounced back with a 5-4 win in game 2, as Henke got the save. Tom wasn't needed in game 3, as the Blue Jays won it, walk-off style. His setup man, Duane Ward, was getting the wins, just as Tom had in the 1985 American League Championship Series. Ward won games 2 and 3. In game four, another member of the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays appeared.
Jimmy Key had pitched well in the four American League Championship Series that Toronto had appeared. But he'd only made one appearance in 1989, 1991 and 1992. His 1992 appearance consisted of a 3-inning relief stint in game five. But now, in the Fall Classic, he held Atlanta in check through 7 2/3 innings. It was 2-1 for Toronto. Duane Ward and Tom Henke took over from there.
Ward got the last out of the inning as Jeff Blauser grounded to John Olerud at first. Henke then had a 1-2-3 9th to collect his second save. So close, 3-1 Toronto in the World Series. Would they get it done in game 5? No, Atlanta won, 7-2.
Toronto was undaunted. They went to Atlanta and grabbed a 2-1 lead into the last of the ninth. Tom Henke was back on the hill, and looking to match his ALCS series total of saves.
But Jeff Blauser got Atlanta on the comeback trail with a single to start. He was sacrificed to second by Damon Berryhill. Henke then walked Lonnie Smith, putting the winning run aboard. Francisco Cabrera batted for pitcher Mark Wohlers. He lined out to left, with Candy Maldonado making a fine catch. Otis Nixon came through with a clutch single, alas. The game was tied.
Henke got Terry Pendleton out on a grounder to start the last of the tenth. The game was still tied. Jimmy Key relieved Tom and got the next two batters out. The Blue Jays tallied twice to the Braves' one in the 11th inning. Toronto had it's World Series ring.
Henke would not be back for 1993. Duane Ward took over for him, earning an American League-leading 45 saves. Tom didn't fare too badly with his new team, the Texas Rangers. The team bolstered such hitters as Ivan Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Dean Palmer, Juan Gonzalez, Jose Canseco and Julio Franco. Plus, his old buddy, shortstop Manuel Lee, had also gone from Toronto to Texas. Henke saved 40 games.
George Brett was having quite a career in Kansas City by this point. He played his entire career there. In 1990, he hit .329 to capture the batting crown. He was now 37 years old, and still going strong. 1993 proved to be his last year, and he still had it, clubbing 19 home runs.
So it was Texas vs. Kansas on October 3rd, 1993. A Sunday. Brett was his familiar DH spot, having been primarly a third basemen for his 20-plus years in MLB.
Facing the Rangers' Steve Dreyer in the top of the first, Brett could only fly out. He was also retired his next two times up. But in the top of the ninth, with Kansas up 2-1, Brett faced his old pal Henke to lead off the ninth. And when he singled up the middle to start the inning, it was his last plate appearance.
Brett then got to touch home, as Gary Gaetti hit a 2-run home run for the visitors. The Royals won the game, 4-1, Henke not factoring into a decision or save. Henke would play two more years, continuing to dominate hitters in that 9th inning. Perhaps they were a little easier with Brett not around any longer!
References
1992 World Series. Performance by Len Cariou, Major League Baseball Productions, 1992. DVD.
1993 World Series. Performance by Len Cariou, Major League Baseball Productions, 1993. DVD.
Brunt, Stephen. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years Of Blue Jays Baseball. Penguin, 1997. Print.
Dan Diamond and Associates and Toronto Blue Jays Club. Toronto Blue Jays Official Guide 1987, 1993, 1994. Print.
Major League Baseball. World Series Official Programs 1992 & 1993. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Gamester, George, and Gerald Hall. On Top Of The World: The Toronto Star’s Tribute To The ‘92 Blue Jays. Doubleday Canada, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David. The Baseball Chronicle: Year-By-Year History Of Major League Baseball. Publications International, Ltd., 2008. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 24 July. 2018 .
Thorn, John, and Pete Palmer. Total Baseball. Vers. 1994. Portland, OR: Creative Multimedia Corp., 1994. Computer software. CD-ROM.
Youtube. Youtube. Web. 24 July. 2018. <https://www.youtube.com/>.
Henke came over to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985. You see, Bill Caudill was there first, in the closer role. He didn't exactly do bad, going 4-6, posting 14 saves and recording an ERA of 2.99. He did, however, blow 5 saves despite allowing just 6.9 hits per 9. Toronto needed something better and Tom Henke, aquired via free agent compensation from Texas, was just the man to do that.
Tom saved 13 out of 15 opportunties, joining Caudill and Jim Acker as Blue Jays' relievers with at least 10 saves that year. But the job was going to be clearly his in the ALCS vs. Kansas.
George Brett's team.
Didn't seem like Henke would be needed as Toronto, playing at home, had game one all the way. They were ahead 6-0 after 8 as Dave Stieb tamed KC. But there was Tom on the hill to start the ninth.
It started to look like a bad move as Willie Wilson greeted him with a single. Brett was next, and he followed suite. Jorge Orta was retired on a pop up to right. But Pat Sheridan grounded out, scoring Wilson from third. Henke bore down and got Frank White to fly out to Lloyd Moseby in centre.
Henke couldn't hold 'em in game 2. Presented with a 4-3 lead as he pitched the top of the 8th, Pat Sheridan got another RBI off him, this time with a home run. The 4-4 tie was broken in the 9th as Henke had back-to-back K's of George Brett and Hal McCrae. Frank White put the visiting team up 5-4 with a single.
The good news was Toronto came back to win it in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the frame. The Royals went home and took a close 6-5 game three. Toronto then trailed 1-0 after 8 innings despite another great start from Dave Stieb. Tom Henke had to hold them in the bottom of the 8th and 9th.
He had a fine 1-2-3 8th as Brett, McCrae and Sheridan went down. Toronto was clutch again in the 9th as the visiting team scored not once, not twice, but three times. Given a 2-run lead, Henke notched his second win in the series despite two walks in the 9th. Toronto now led the series 3-1.
Unfortunately, the Royals rallied. They won the next three games to stop Toronto's World Series bid that year. Brett ended up as the MVP of that American League Championship Series. Amazingly, Kansas rallied from 3-1 down against St. Louis in the Fall Classic for good measure. Bret hit .370 in the World Series, including a 4-5 performance in game seven. So George Brett had his ring. Henke, by the way, didn't appear in the last three games of that ill-fated ALCS.
But Tom pitched a-plenty in the 1989 and 1991 ALCS for Toronto. Trouble is, they came up empty both times against Oakland and then Minnesota. Henke was still there in 1992. George Brett, meanwhile, collected his historic 3,000th hit that season. But it was Tom and Toronto that won the World Series.
They wouldn't have done it without Henke. He saved three games in the ALCS vs. Oakland. The clincher was the Blue Jays 9-2 rout of the Athletics in game six at home. Tom got the last out.
In the World Series, it was Atlanta's turn to see more heroics from Henke. Toronto needed the second contest in Atlanta after losing the opener, 3-1. Toronto bounced back with a 5-4 win in game 2, as Henke got the save. Tom wasn't needed in game 3, as the Blue Jays won it, walk-off style. His setup man, Duane Ward, was getting the wins, just as Tom had in the 1985 American League Championship Series. Ward won games 2 and 3. In game four, another member of the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays appeared.
Jimmy Key had pitched well in the four American League Championship Series that Toronto had appeared. But he'd only made one appearance in 1989, 1991 and 1992. His 1992 appearance consisted of a 3-inning relief stint in game five. But now, in the Fall Classic, he held Atlanta in check through 7 2/3 innings. It was 2-1 for Toronto. Duane Ward and Tom Henke took over from there.
Ward got the last out of the inning as Jeff Blauser grounded to John Olerud at first. Henke then had a 1-2-3 9th to collect his second save. So close, 3-1 Toronto in the World Series. Would they get it done in game 5? No, Atlanta won, 7-2.
Toronto was undaunted. They went to Atlanta and grabbed a 2-1 lead into the last of the ninth. Tom Henke was back on the hill, and looking to match his ALCS series total of saves.
But Jeff Blauser got Atlanta on the comeback trail with a single to start. He was sacrificed to second by Damon Berryhill. Henke then walked Lonnie Smith, putting the winning run aboard. Francisco Cabrera batted for pitcher Mark Wohlers. He lined out to left, with Candy Maldonado making a fine catch. Otis Nixon came through with a clutch single, alas. The game was tied.
Henke got Terry Pendleton out on a grounder to start the last of the tenth. The game was still tied. Jimmy Key relieved Tom and got the next two batters out. The Blue Jays tallied twice to the Braves' one in the 11th inning. Toronto had it's World Series ring.
Henke would not be back for 1993. Duane Ward took over for him, earning an American League-leading 45 saves. Tom didn't fare too badly with his new team, the Texas Rangers. The team bolstered such hitters as Ivan Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Dean Palmer, Juan Gonzalez, Jose Canseco and Julio Franco. Plus, his old buddy, shortstop Manuel Lee, had also gone from Toronto to Texas. Henke saved 40 games.
George Brett was having quite a career in Kansas City by this point. He played his entire career there. In 1990, he hit .329 to capture the batting crown. He was now 37 years old, and still going strong. 1993 proved to be his last year, and he still had it, clubbing 19 home runs.
So it was Texas vs. Kansas on October 3rd, 1993. A Sunday. Brett was his familiar DH spot, having been primarly a third basemen for his 20-plus years in MLB.
Facing the Rangers' Steve Dreyer in the top of the first, Brett could only fly out. He was also retired his next two times up. But in the top of the ninth, with Kansas up 2-1, Brett faced his old pal Henke to lead off the ninth. And when he singled up the middle to start the inning, it was his last plate appearance.
Brett then got to touch home, as Gary Gaetti hit a 2-run home run for the visitors. The Royals won the game, 4-1, Henke not factoring into a decision or save. Henke would play two more years, continuing to dominate hitters in that 9th inning. Perhaps they were a little easier with Brett not around any longer!
References
1992 World Series. Performance by Len Cariou, Major League Baseball Productions, 1992. DVD.
1993 World Series. Performance by Len Cariou, Major League Baseball Productions, 1993. DVD.
Dan Diamond and Associates and Toronto Blue Jays Club. Toronto Blue Jays Official Guide 1987, 1993, 1994. Print.
Major League Baseball. World Series Official Programs 1992 & 1993. Print.
Gamester, George, and Gerald Hall. On Top Of The World: The Toronto Star’s Tribute To The ‘92 Blue Jays. Doubleday Canada, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David. The Baseball Chronicle: Year-By-Year History Of Major League Baseball. Publications International, Ltd., 2008. Print.
Retrosheet. Retrosheet. Web. 24 July. 2018. <www.retrosheet.org>.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 24 July. 2018 .
Thorn, John, and Pete Palmer. Total Baseball. Vers. 1994. Portland, OR: Creative Multimedia Corp., 1994. Computer software. CD-ROM.
Youtube. Youtube. Web. 24 July. 2018. <https://www.youtube.com/>.
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