Dave Henderson, who passed away two days ago aged 57, hit seven home runs in his postseason career. But there are two that came to mind in his passing.
The Boston Red Sox, Henderson's team, trailed the California Angels three games to one in the 1986 ALCS. And when they fell behind 5-2 in game five at Anaheim Angels, they looked like goners. In game four, Boston was up 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth. But instead of tying the series at two, they choked and the Angels eventually won. Now, as the fifth game moved into the top of the ninth, it was California just three outs away from their first ever appearance in the World Series.
It did not happen.
Bill Buckner, who is always remembered when you mention "1986" by everyone, started the inning by singling off Mike Witt. But when Witt fanned Jim Rice, the Angels were closer still. Two more outs. But Don Baylor blasted a two-run home run on a payoff pitch, and suddenly Boston was down by just one run. Mike stayed in the game, and retired Dwight Evans.
But Rich Gedman was the batter. The failure to get Baylor out was bigger than one might expect. Gedman was hitting only .250 after four games, but had been 3-3 off Witt. So it was decided to bring in the lefty, Gary Lucas to face the lefty, Gedman.
As it turned out, Lucas threw only one pitch.
Lucas threw high and inside, and Gedman brought both his hands up. The ball struck him on top of his right hand. Gedman trotted to first, and Lucas was out of the game. The batter was Dave Henderson. The pitcher was Donnie Moore.
Working carefully, Moore quickly got two strikes on Henderson. Dave took the fourth pitch of the at bat for ball two. Donnie was just a strike away from sending the Halos to the Fall Classic. But Henderson fouled off the next two pitches. On the seventh pitch, he launched one over Brian Downing's head in left for a stunning, two-run home run. The Red Sox were suddenly up, 6-5. But the game was far from over.
Bob Stanley (Still another name remembered from 1986), came in finish it off for Boston. The first to face him was Bob Boone. Boone, the catcher, was matching Gedman in catcher performances on this day. 2-2. A single made him 3 for 3. He was removed for pinch runner Ruppert Jones. The Angels, playing for the tie, sacrificed Jones to second. Rob Winfong was the batter, a lefty. So Boston decided to try the lefty vs. lefty strategy themselves.
Like California, the moved failed. Joe Sambito came in, and watched helplessly as Winfong hit a clutch single to right. Evans, the right fielder, came up throwing, but it was too late. Jones, with the headfirst slide, beat the throw. 6-6.
The Angels kept coming. Steve Crawford came on to pitch, but could not stem the tide. At least at first.
Dick Schofield singled, and Winfong motored into to third. There was still only one out. Brian Downing was no the batter. The Red Sox walked him intentionally to set up the force at home. Doug DeCinces came to the plate. He swung at the first pitch and flied out to short right, Winfong holding. The inning ended as Bobby Grich lined back to Crawford.
The Red Sox put two on in the top of the tenth, but Jim Rice ended that threat by grounding into an inning-ending double play. California got only one runner on in their half, and he never got past first. Henderson though, wasn't through with his heroics, and put the Red Sox ahead 7-6 with a sac fly in the top of the eleventh. Calvin Schiraldi came in and retired the Angels 1-2-3. Boston had won. They'd win games six, 10-4 and game seven, 8-1.
Henderson and co. then looked to have the World Series all wrapped up for Boston, and put an end to the drought for the Red Sox. It was Boston vs. New York. The Sox had not won a World Series since 1918. Ahead 3-2 in games, the sixth contest in Shea Stadium was tied 3-3. That is, until Henderson came up in the top of the tenth.
Henderson hit a solo home run to break the tie. A double and a single made it 5-3, Boston. Three more outs.
Schiraldi was again on the hill, and had things seemingly in hand as Wally Backman and Keith Hernanded made two quick outs on fly balls. But the Mets came alive.
Gary Carter singled on an 0-1 pitch. Kevin Mitchell, pinch-hitting, stoked a clutch single to centre. The tying run was now at first. Schiraldi jumped ahead 0-2 on Ray Knight, then jammed him with an inside pitch. Knight blooped a single over second basemen Marty Barrett's head and it was 5-4 and Mitchell was at third.
Enter Stanley again. To face switch-hitting Mookie Wilson.
Again, the Mets were down to their last strike. Bob got the count to 2-2 as Wilson fouled one off. Wilson fouled off two more, but then Stanley threw a wild pitch. Here comes Mitchell with the tying run. And now Knight was at second.
Wilson fouled off another pitch, but Stanley finally seemed to have him as he sent a slow roller to first. But the ball went through Bill Buckner's legs for an error! The Mets had won, 6-5. As history shows, they also won game seven, 8-5 despite Henderson touching home in the second to make it 3-0, Boston.
Dave Henderson would play in the Fall Classic three years in a row from 1988-1990, winning in '89. But I don't really think about his years in Oakland. I always remember that dramatic home run to keep Boston alive, and that long ball that pushed New York to the brink.
References
Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/. Web. (28 Dec. 2015).
The Boston Red Sox, Henderson's team, trailed the California Angels three games to one in the 1986 ALCS. And when they fell behind 5-2 in game five at Anaheim Angels, they looked like goners. In game four, Boston was up 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth. But instead of tying the series at two, they choked and the Angels eventually won. Now, as the fifth game moved into the top of the ninth, it was California just three outs away from their first ever appearance in the World Series.
It did not happen.
Bill Buckner, who is always remembered when you mention "1986" by everyone, started the inning by singling off Mike Witt. But when Witt fanned Jim Rice, the Angels were closer still. Two more outs. But Don Baylor blasted a two-run home run on a payoff pitch, and suddenly Boston was down by just one run. Mike stayed in the game, and retired Dwight Evans.
But Rich Gedman was the batter. The failure to get Baylor out was bigger than one might expect. Gedman was hitting only .250 after four games, but had been 3-3 off Witt. So it was decided to bring in the lefty, Gary Lucas to face the lefty, Gedman.
As it turned out, Lucas threw only one pitch.
Lucas threw high and inside, and Gedman brought both his hands up. The ball struck him on top of his right hand. Gedman trotted to first, and Lucas was out of the game. The batter was Dave Henderson. The pitcher was Donnie Moore.
Working carefully, Moore quickly got two strikes on Henderson. Dave took the fourth pitch of the at bat for ball two. Donnie was just a strike away from sending the Halos to the Fall Classic. But Henderson fouled off the next two pitches. On the seventh pitch, he launched one over Brian Downing's head in left for a stunning, two-run home run. The Red Sox were suddenly up, 6-5. But the game was far from over.
Bob Stanley (Still another name remembered from 1986), came in finish it off for Boston. The first to face him was Bob Boone. Boone, the catcher, was matching Gedman in catcher performances on this day. 2-2. A single made him 3 for 3. He was removed for pinch runner Ruppert Jones. The Angels, playing for the tie, sacrificed Jones to second. Rob Winfong was the batter, a lefty. So Boston decided to try the lefty vs. lefty strategy themselves.
Like California, the moved failed. Joe Sambito came in, and watched helplessly as Winfong hit a clutch single to right. Evans, the right fielder, came up throwing, but it was too late. Jones, with the headfirst slide, beat the throw. 6-6.
The Angels kept coming. Steve Crawford came on to pitch, but could not stem the tide. At least at first.
Dick Schofield singled, and Winfong motored into to third. There was still only one out. Brian Downing was no the batter. The Red Sox walked him intentionally to set up the force at home. Doug DeCinces came to the plate. He swung at the first pitch and flied out to short right, Winfong holding. The inning ended as Bobby Grich lined back to Crawford.
The Red Sox put two on in the top of the tenth, but Jim Rice ended that threat by grounding into an inning-ending double play. California got only one runner on in their half, and he never got past first. Henderson though, wasn't through with his heroics, and put the Red Sox ahead 7-6 with a sac fly in the top of the eleventh. Calvin Schiraldi came in and retired the Angels 1-2-3. Boston had won. They'd win games six, 10-4 and game seven, 8-1.
Henderson and co. then looked to have the World Series all wrapped up for Boston, and put an end to the drought for the Red Sox. It was Boston vs. New York. The Sox had not won a World Series since 1918. Ahead 3-2 in games, the sixth contest in Shea Stadium was tied 3-3. That is, until Henderson came up in the top of the tenth.
Henderson hit a solo home run to break the tie. A double and a single made it 5-3, Boston. Three more outs.
Schiraldi was again on the hill, and had things seemingly in hand as Wally Backman and Keith Hernanded made two quick outs on fly balls. But the Mets came alive.
Gary Carter singled on an 0-1 pitch. Kevin Mitchell, pinch-hitting, stoked a clutch single to centre. The tying run was now at first. Schiraldi jumped ahead 0-2 on Ray Knight, then jammed him with an inside pitch. Knight blooped a single over second basemen Marty Barrett's head and it was 5-4 and Mitchell was at third.
Enter Stanley again. To face switch-hitting Mookie Wilson.
Again, the Mets were down to their last strike. Bob got the count to 2-2 as Wilson fouled one off. Wilson fouled off two more, but then Stanley threw a wild pitch. Here comes Mitchell with the tying run. And now Knight was at second.
Wilson fouled off another pitch, but Stanley finally seemed to have him as he sent a slow roller to first. But the ball went through Bill Buckner's legs for an error! The Mets had won, 6-5. As history shows, they also won game seven, 8-5 despite Henderson touching home in the second to make it 3-0, Boston.
Dave Henderson would play in the Fall Classic three years in a row from 1988-1990, winning in '89. But I don't really think about his years in Oakland. I always remember that dramatic home run to keep Boston alive, and that long ball that pushed New York to the brink.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major
League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/.
Web. (28 Dec. 2015).
