Like how you and your dad were jumping around in front of the black-and-white living room TV, right along with Carlton Fisk in Game 6 of the 1975 Fall Classic …

Or how you griped to your friends at school the next day after Don Denkinger dinked up Game 6 in 1985.

Or how the Braves ruined your fall semester at college in 1995.

Or how you barely even noticed what was happening in 2015 — kids, job, hassles — until someone mentioned that the Royals — the Royals — were about to take it all.

Whether these were your exact scenarios or not, I’ll bet dollars to donuts the general sentiment fits your fandom.

And I’ll bet, too, that this list of World Series winners by year — accompanied by a representative baseball card for each decade — will get your memories all stirred up.

1900s World Series Winners

We all know that the Chicago Cubs suffered through a century-plus World Series drought, but the truth is, they were the bomb in the first decade of the Fall Classic.

The Cubbies took two Series in a row, in 1907 and 1908, which accounted for a third of all championships in the 1900s.

The team even inspired some poetry, courtesy of their famed double-play combination.

T202 Hassan Triple Folders Frank Chance – Johnny Evers – Joe Tinker

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1903 World Series – Boston Pilgrims (AL) over Pittsburgh Pirates (NL), 5 games to 3
1904 World Series – no World Series
1905 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over Philadelphia Athletics (AL), 4 games to 1
1906 World Series – Chicago White Sox (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 2
1907 World Series – Chicago Cubs (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 0
1908 World Series – Chicago Cubs (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 1
1909 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 3

1910s World Series Winners

Like the Cubs, the Boston Red Sox went forever between championships — 86 years, in fact.

But before they fell under the Curse of the Bambino in 1919, they were the class franchise of the game in the 1910s, nabbing titles in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918.

This success was due in no small part to the dude they sold off to induce the aforementioned curse …

1916 M101-4 — M101-5 Babe Ruth rookie card (#151)

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1910 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 1
1911 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1912 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
1913 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 1
1914 World Series – Boston Braves (NL) over Philadelphia Athletics (AL), 4 games to 0
1915 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 1
1916 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Brooklyn Robins (NL), 4 games to 1
1917 World Series – Chicago White Sox (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1918 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 2
1919 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Chicago White Sox (AL), 5 games to 3

1920s World Series Winners

Where Ruth went, wins followed, and the New York Yankees rode their new stallion to six World Series appearances and three championships in the 1920s.

1925 Exhibits Babe Ruth

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1920 World Series – Cleveland Indians (AL) over Brooklyn Robins (NL), 5 games to 2
1921 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 5 games to 3
1922 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 0
1923 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1924 World Series – Washington Senators (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
1925 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Washington Senators (AL), 4 games to 3
1926 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1927 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Pittsburgh Pirates (NL), 4 games to 0
1928 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 0
1929 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 1

1930s World Series Winners

Turns out, the Bombers were just getting started as the Great Depression dawned. And, with Ruth pushing into his 30s, Lou Gehrig emerged as maybe the greatest player in the game in the new decade.

That combo, plus a cadre of other superstars, pushed New York to five titles in the 1930s.

1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig Rookie Card (#92)

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1930 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 2
1931 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Philadelphia Athletics (AL), 4 games to 3
1932 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 0
1933 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over Washington Senators (AL), 4 games to 1
1934 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 3
1935 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 2
1936 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1937 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 1
1938 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 0
1939 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 0

1940s World Series Winners

Even as Gehrig succumbed to the disease that today bears his name, young Joe DiMaggio was building himself into the next Yankees legend.

With Joe D. in center, New York continued to dominate the sport and copped four more World Series titles in the 1940s.

1940 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio (#1)

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1940 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 3
1941 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1
1942 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 1
1943 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 1
1944 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over St. Louis Browns (AL), 4 games to 2
1945 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 3
1946 World Series – St. Louise Cardinals (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1947 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
1948 World Series – Cleveland Indians (AL) over Boston Braves (NL), 4 games to 2
1949 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1

1950s World Series Winners

Yankee-hating became something of a national hobby in the 1950s, as yet another NYY youngster — Mickey Mantle — ascended to lead yet another Bomber streak of dominance.

In the 1950s, New York won a ridiculous six titles and came within two wins of two more crowns.

1956 Topps Mickey Mantle (#135)

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1950 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 0
1951 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1952 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
1953 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 2
1954 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 0
1955 World Series – Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1956 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
1957 World Series – Milwaukee Braves (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1958 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Milwaukee Braves (NL), 4 games to 3
1959 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over Chicago White Sox (AL), 4 games to 2

1960s World Series Winners

The Yankees won two more titles in the early 1960s, but the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers joined them in the two-title circle.

And, with a 1959 World Series crown and the transcendent Sandy Koufax on their side, it’s tough to pick anyone but the Dodgers as the team of the 1960s.

1965 Topps Sandy Koufax (#300)

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1960 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1961 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 1
1962 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over San Francisco Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
1963 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 0
1964 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1965 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over Minnesota Twins (AL), 4 games to 3
1966 World Series – Baltimore Orioles (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 0
1967 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1968 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 3
1969 World Series – New York Mets (NL) over Baltimore Orioles (AL), 4 games to 1

1970s World Series Winners

The 1970s were a great time for dynasties, as the Oakland A’s won three consecutive titles in the early part of the decade, the Yankees took two in a row (1977-78), and the Pittsburgh Pirates scored rings in 1971 and 1979.

But there was only one Big Red Machine, and even though the Cincinnati Reds won “only” two Series in the decade, they appeared in two more and copped six National League MVP awards.

And, of all the superstars who wore Cincinnati Red in the 1970s, it was Little Joe Morgan who paced the team at their 1975-76 peak.

1976 Topps Joe Morgan (#420)

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1970 World Series – Baltimore Orioles (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 1
1971 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Baltimore Orioles (AL), 4 games to 3
1972 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 3
1973 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over New York Mets (NL), 4 games to 3
1974 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1
1975 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1976 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 0
1977 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 2
1978 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 2
1979 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Baltimore Orioles (AL), 4 games to 3

1980s World Series Winners

The 1980s were all about parity when it came to championships, with ten different teams winning the ten World Series that decade.

Of all those clubs, though, it was the 1984 Detroit Tigers who felt like a dynasty in the moment, and who ran away with the whole sport that magical summer.

Their plucky Hall of Fame shortstop, Alan Trammell was named the MVP of the Fall Classic that October.

1984 Topps Alan Trammell (#510)

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1980 World Series – Philadelphia Phillies (NL) over Kansas City Royals (AL), 4 games to 2
1981 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 2
1982 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Milwaukee Brewers (AL), 4 games to 3
1983 World Series – Baltimore Orioles (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 1
1984 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over San Diego Padres (NL), 4 games to 1
1985 World Series – Kansas City Royals (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 3
1986 World Series – New York Mets (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1987 World Series – Minnesota Twins (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 3
1988 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over Oakland Athletics (AL), 4 games to 1
1989 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over San Francisco Giants (NL), 4 games to 0

1990s World Series Winners

The 1990s were almost like two different decades, delimited by the ugly strike that cancelled the 1994 World Series and shortened the 1995 season.

On the front side, you had the Toronto Blue Jays and their rings in 1992 and 1993.

Then, after the fall, who should emerge but our old friends, the New York Yankees.

From 1996 through 1999, the Yanks won three Series (with another in 2000), and youngster Derek Jeter established himself as a legend.

1993 Topps Derek Jeter Rookie Card (#98)

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1990 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Oakland Athletics (AL), 4 games to 0
1991 World Series – Minnesota Twins (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 3
1992 World Series – Toronto Blue Jays (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 2
1993 World Series – Toronto Blue Jays (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 2
1994 World Series – No World Series due to players strike (BOO!!)
1995 World Series – Atlanta Braves (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 2
1996 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 2
1997 World Series – Florida Marlins (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 3
1998 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over San Diego Padres (NL), 4 games to 0
1999 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 0

2000s World Series Winners

In 2004, the Red Sox finally broke through to win the World Series after decades and decades of near misses.

That win changed the entire tenor of the franchise, and they won another title in 2007 … and two more in the 2010s.

Along the way, Big Papi became a baseball god and likely punched his ticket to Cooperstown as a designated hitter.

2004 Topps David Ortiz (#623)

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2000 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Mets (NL), 4 games to 1
2001 World Series – Arizona Diamondbacks (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
2002 World Series – Anaheim Angels (AL) over San Francisco Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
2003 World Series – Florida Marlins (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 2
2004 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 0
2005 World Series – Chicago White Sox (AL) over Houston Astros (NL), 4 games to 0
2006 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 1
2007 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Colorado Rockies (NL), 4 games to 0
2008 World Series – Philadelphia Phillies (NL) over Tampa Bay Rays (AL), 4 games to 1
2009 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 2

2010s World Series Winners

Even though the Sox added to their title count in the 2010s, and even though the Royals, Cubs, and Houston Astros broke their own championship droughts, none of them could match the San Francisco Giants when it came to October glory.

Copping titles every other year from 2010 through 2014, San Fran had us all believing that even-numbered years would always end in the Bay.

And the face of the franchise, especially when it came to big games, was a dude the world called Mad Bum.

2010 Bowman Madison Bumgarner Rookie Card (#206)

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2010 World Series – San Francisco Giants (NL) over Texas Rangers (AL), 4 games to 1
2011 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Texas Rangers (AL), 4 games to 3
2012 World Series – San Francisco Giants (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 0
2013 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 2
2014 World Series – San Francisco Giants (NL) over Kansas City Royals (AL), 4 games to 3
2015 World Series – Kansas City Royals (AL) over NY Mets (NL), 4 games to 1
2016 World Series – Chicago Cubs (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 3
2017 World Series – Houston Astros (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
2018 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1
2019 World Series – Washington Nationals (NL) over Houston Astros (AL), 4 games to 3

2020s World Series Winners

The 2020s got off to a rough start all over the world and in all aspects of life — thanks, COVID.

But, after some fits and starts, and with a looming strike or lockout, baseball managed to keep their stuff together enough to not miss any World Series at all.

Here’s how they went down …

2020 World Series – Los Angeles Angels (NL) over Tampa Bay Rays (AL), 4 games to 2
2021 World Series – Atlanta Braves (NL) over Houston Astros (AL), 4 games to 2

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If you lived through that moment in baseball history, chances are that “earthquake” is one of the first words you think of when reaching back to that Bay Area series.

And, to be sure, the sport took a back seat to real life that October, as the good folks in San Francisco dealt with the aftermath of the monstrous earthquake that rocked the city minutes before the scheduled start of Game 3 (see below).

But there was also some baseball played that month, and, although the Fall Classic went the minimum four games, there were plenty of moments worth celebrating.

With that in mind, here is a game-by-game remembrance of the 1989 World Series, illustrated with one baseball card that captures the atmosphere and events of each contest.

Play ball!

1989 World Series Game 1 – A’s 5, Giants 0

1989 Bowman Dave Stewart (#188)

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Dave Stewart won 20 games for the third time in a row in 1989 (he’d tack on a fourth in 1990), but he faced tough competition in the Cy Young Award race from Kansas City’s Bret Saberhagen.

In fact, it seemed that all during Stewart’s run of dominance, there was always at least one guy each year who was just a bit more dominant.

Of course, you can’t control what the competition is doing, right?

What Smoke could control, though was how he pitched each night.

And, when Tony Phillips singled home Rickey Henderson in the bottom of the second inning in Game 1, you got the feeling the game was probably in the bag.

Your feeling was right, because, although Oakland tacked on four more runs, Stewart didn’t need a one of them.

The Oakland workhorse threw 138 pitches in going the distance, and he struck out six while allowing just five hits and issuing a single walk in the shutout.

Like the man himself, Stewart’s 1989 Bowman card is oversized and downright intimidating.

1989 World Series Game 2 – A’s 5, Giants 1

1989 Starting Lineup Terry Steinbach (#36)

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Things were a little tougher for the A’s in Game 2 … but not a whole lot.

Henderson again scored the game’s first run, this time on the back of a Carney Lansford double in the bottom of the first, and then then the Oakland bats went quiet for awhile.

The Giants tied things up in the thirrd when Robby Thompson drove in Brett Butler, but otherwise Mike Moore and Rick Reuschel looked like they were going to be stingy moundsmen.

In the bottom of the fourth, though, leadoff man Jose Canseco walked, and Dave Parker drove him home with a double.

A Dave Henderson walk and a Mark McGwire strikeout brought up catcher Terry Steinbach with two on and one out.

On a 2-0 pitch from Reuschel, Steinbach slammed the ball into the leftfield stands, and the A’s were up 5-1.

The bullpens took over in the fifth (Giants) and sixth (A’s) and locked it down from there.

As for Steinbach, he went back to his day job behind the plate, a gig represented well by his 1989 Starting Lineup figure and card.

1989 World Series Game 3 – A’s 13, Giants 7

1989 Donruss Diamond Kings Dave Henderson (#20)

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Of course, Game 3 of this World Series is not remembered so much for what happened on the field as for the tragedy that delayed the contest a full week and a half.

With thousands of fans already in Candlestick Park for the 5:35 pm first pitch, the stadium began to rumble a little after five, and it didn’t take long before the locals figured out what was happening … earthquake!

The Loma Prieta quake didn’t last long, but it had devastating effects — dozens of deaths, thousands of injuries, billions of dollars in damage.

Suddenly, the World Series was an afterthought, and with the power gone and hunks of concrete falling from the upper deck, playing a game was pretty much an impossibility.

After ten trying days, though, and with the Bay Area still reeling, the A’s and Giants set up shop again in Candlestick.

And, for fans who needed to get their minds off the real world for awhile, this was just the ticket — a real slugfest!

The scoring started right off the bat (har!) and continued straight through the bottom of the ninth, when the Giants made a valiant comeback attempt with a four-run rally.

The two teams hit seven home runs between them, and tore through nine different pitchers. In the end, the Bash Brothers prevailed by a gaudy 13-7 score.

With that monster onslaught, how do you pick one guy as the face of the game?

Carefully, of course.

So … I’m going with the dude who got it all started … Dave Henderson. One of the heroes of the 1986 ALCS for the Red Sox, Hendu double off Scott Garrelts in the first to drive in Carney Lansford and Canseco.

Henderson wasn’t a one-hit wonder, either, as he went 3-for-4 with a homer, four runs batted in, and two runs scored in the contest.

You better believe Henderson was a king of the diamond that night, just as he was on his 1989 Donruss Diamond Kings card.

1989 World Series Game 4 – A’s 9, Giants 6

1989 Donruss Baseball’s Best Rickey Henderson (#78)

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With November staring them in the face, the A’s and Giants were back on the field for Game 4 the next day, October 28.

Oakland batters, in particular, seemed anxious to make sure they were home in time for Halloween, because the Bash Brothers and Others came out mashing.

It all started with Rickey Henderson, who led off the game with solo shot to left on Don Robinson‘s third pitch.

The A’s tacked on seven more runs through the top of the sixth, and it was pretty much all over … or maybe not quite.

Kevin Mitchell homered in the bottom of the frame off Moore, driving in Will Clark.

After Kelly Downs set down the A’s in order in the seventh, the Giants scored four more on a a two-run shot by Greg Litton (driving in Terry Kennedy), followed by a Candy Maldonado triple, a Brett Butler double, and a Robby Thompson single.

That damage ripped through the A’s bullpen, sending Gene Nelson and Rick Honeycutt to the showers before Todd Burns came in to get the third out (a Mitchell fly ball).

The A’s answered with a bit of small ball that included a single (Lansford), a walk (Canseco), a Mark McGwire foul popout, a Hendu walk, and, finally, a Terry Steinback walk to “drive” in the final run of the game.

From their, the bullpens settled into the fall air, with Burns, Steve Bedrosian, and A’s Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley recording nine straight outs to seal the Oakland championship.

Game 4 was never really close, though the Giants gave it a run there in the middle. But the man at the top, Rickey Henderson, set the tone and set the stage for a sweeping A’s victory.

On that night and forever, Rickey belonged among Baseball’s Best, just like this Donruss card told us.

The Tribe beat the Boston Braves, four games to two in 1948.

Here’s what the Series hero looked like …

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The record for most years between championships, however, belongs to the Chicago Cubs, who beat the Detroit Tigers in 1908, then didn’t take another World Series trophy home to Wrigley Field until 2016 … when they took out the Indians.

That’s a span of 108 years, in case you left your calculator in your other pants.

Honorable mention goes to the Boston Red Sox, who won the World Series in 1918 … sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in December of 1919 … then remained “cursed” by the Bambino until 2004, when they swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the Fall Classic.

Eight-five years between championships is nothing to sneeze at, and it’s also the American League record for World Series droughts.

Failure by Any Other Name …

However, there are other kinds of futility besides just not winning a World Series.

For instance, an extended stretch without ever even reaching a World Series …

Among current teams, the Washington Nationals had never made the Fall Classic cut in their half century of existence, though they were the Montreal Expos through 2004. But that all changed in 2019 when the Nats won the whole dang thing!

If you’re looking for a futile franchise that hasn’t moved during their big-stage drought, and that’s still searching for relief, the Seattle Mariners have you covered — they’ve never once made it to the World Series since their founding as an expansion club in 1976.

Considering only franchises who actually have *some* World Series experience, the Pittsburgh Pirates “lead” the pack, having last appeared in the Series in 1979.

Not far behind are the Milwaukee Brewers, whose only Series appearance came in 1982.

The Baltimore Orioles checked in for the last time — so far — the next year (1983).

Next in line are the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s, who faced off in the 1990 World Series, but neither of whom has made it back since.

And then, there are the Minnesota Twins, who thrilled the world with their seven-game nail-biter over the Atlanta Braves in 1991 … and then went away.

Interestingly, four of these teams are still in play as the 2020 playoffs get underway.

So … maybe this is the year?

Historically Missing

In case you’re wondering, only the Cubs top the Nationals’ record when it comes to long stretches without a Series appearance, as the North Siders whiffed on the last series of season between 1945 and 2016.

The Mariners are also looking up at Chicago’s other baseball team, as the White Sox made it to the Fall Classic in 1959 but then not again until 2005.

And, though it didn’t get as much play, the ChiSox were actually in worse shape than the BoSox in the drought department before that ’05 victory.

You probably remember that the White Sox (at least allegedly) threw the 1919 World Series to the Reds, but they also won the 1917 Fall Classic over the New York Giants.

Between then and 2005, though, it was just losses by the Black Sox and Go-Go Sox … and dead air.

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See, this Series was supposed to be a yawner because it pitted the high-flying Bash Brothers Oakland A’s of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire fame against the stingy and scrappy Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tommy Lasorda was a Dodgers legend, and Orel Hershiser was maybe the game’s best pitcher, but … come on! No amount of NL-style tactical maneuvering would overcome the Athletics’ firepower.

We all knew it would be a minor miracle if this thing lasted even five games.

And … that’s how it played out. Sort of.

All these years later, this is still remembered as one of the most dramatic World Series of all time, but the thing is … just about all the drama happened in Game 1.

Here, let me tell you about it game by game, with the help of the one most significant baseball card related to each contest.

1988 World Series Game 1 – Dodgers 5, A’s 4

OK, rules are made to be broken. Especially when they’re your own rules and you just have to break them because they’re too darn limited.

That’s definitely the case with Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, because you can’t tell the tale with just one pasteboard.

The story for this one began late in the regular season, and especially in the NLCS against the Mets. In particular, the Dodgers’ big off-season acquisition, Kirk Gibson, came out of that series barely able to walk thanks to injuries to his left hamstring and right knee.

1988 Fleer Update Kirk Gibson (#U93)

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Gibby had been the heart and soul of the Blue all season long, and many thought he was in line for the NL MVP award (he was, as it turned out).

So, entering Game 1 without their leader, the Dodgers looked like a longshot to make any noise whatsoever.

And things pretty much played out as you would expect, with the A’s scoring four runs in the second inning on a two-out Jose Canseco grand slam against Tim Belcher.

Luckily for the Dodgers, they had already — and uncharacteristically — struck first thanks to a two-run dinger by Mickey Hatcher off Dave Stewart in their opening at-bat.

Dodgers relievers, and Stewart, pretty much shut stuff down from there, though L.A. managed to scratch out another run in the sixth on a Mike Scioscia RBI single.

Heading to the bottom of the ninth, then, the A’s were right where they wanted to be — up by a run and with a fresh lockdown Superman closer Dennis Eckersley on the hill.

Game over.

And it looked like that through the first two batters, too, as Sciosia popped out to short and Jeff Hamilton struck out.

Down to their final out, though, former “A” Mike Davis coaxed a walk from Eck.

With pitcher Alejandro Pena due up, Dodger Stadium began to chatter at the possibility of a pinch hitter … couldn’t happen could it?

Tommy wouldn’t do it … would he? And, even if he wanted to, could he … ??

And then, it happened.

Gibson himself hobbled to the plate and chills shot down spines across America.

1988 Donruss Baseball’s Best Dennis Eckersley (#43)

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Eckersley threw everything he had at the former Tiger, and Gibby worked the count to 2-and-2, then fouled off two more pitches before taking ball three.

Davis stole on that pitch, which meant Gibson could tie the game with a hit, but that still seemed like an impossibility.

On the next pitch, though, the eighth of the at-bat, Gibson tied into Eckersley’s slider and sent it flying deep into the October night, not stopping until it reached the right field bleachers.

I was jumping around my bedroom watching that game even though I hated the Dodgers (as a Reds fan), and I swear to this day that The Natural theme music began playing somewhere outside in the dark Indiana night.

These two cards wrap up that feeling as well as any could with “Baseball’s Best” closer (Eckersley) delivering his nasty stuff while new L.A. hero Gibson digs in wrapped all up in Red, White, and Dodger Blue on his 1988 Fleer.

1988 World Series Game 2 – Dodgers 6, A’s 0

1988 Topps Mike Marshall (#249)

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For a lot of years, Dodgers fans held out hope for Mike Marshall to deliver Major League power to the team.

The big (6’5″, 215 pounds) right fielder definitely showed some pop, reaching a career high of 28 home runs in 1985.

But Marshall also had trouble staying on the field, peaking at 144 games played … in 1988.

That timely healthy season carried into the playoffs and put him in the batter’s box against Storm Davis in the third inning of Game 2.

The Dodgers had already scored a couple of runs in the frame, courtesy of consecutive singles by Hershiser, Steve Sax, Franklin Stubbs, and Hatcher after a leadoff pop-out by Alfredo Griffin.

All Marshall did was pull Davis’ 0-2 pitch into the left field stands, giving L.A. a 5-0 lead in a game they would win 6-0.

Fittingly, big Mike is swooping through the zone with a powerful swing on his 1988 Topps card.

1988 World Series Game 3 – A’s 2, Dodgers 1

1988 Topps Mark McGwire ’87 Record Breakers (#3)

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The A’s headed home for Game 3 of the Series in a 2-0 hole and with their big bats just sort of laying flaccid on the side of the baseball road.

It wasn’t at all what anyone expected, and if Oakland didn’t get off the snide soon, the unthinkable might happen.

The A’s bought themselves a sigh of relief by small-balling a run in the bottom of the third to take 1-0 lead, but L.A. came “roaring” back to tie it up in the fifth.

It stayed that way deep into the ninth, and it looked like the game was headed to extra innings when Canseco popped up to lead off the inning.

Next up, though, was 1987 American League Rookie of the Year, who had fallen all the way from 49 home runs that magical summer to *just* 32 in ’88.

After working the count to 2-2 against Dodgers reliever Jay Howell, though, Big Mac slammed a live drive into the left-center seats to end the game.

In that moment, he totally looked like that bashing young man on his 1988 Topps ’87 Record Breakers card.

1988 World Series Game 4 – Dodgers 4, A’s 3

1988 Topps Big Alfredo Griffin (#247)

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Griffin, like Howell, had played with the A’s in 1987 but came to the Dodgers in a humongous trade that, among other things, sent Bob Welch to Oakland that December.

The veteran shortstop made it into just 95 games with L.A. in 1988, but he drew the starting assignment for Game 4 of the Fall Classic.

It was a contest that saw the Dodgers once again jump out in front, and they led 3-1 after three.

The A’s scored again in the bottom of the sixth, and then the Dodgers got something going in the seventh when Griffin drew a one-out walk off of Stewart.

Alfredo went to third on a Steve Sax single to center, and then Tracy Woodson grounded out to short as Griffin scored.

It would be the insurance run the Dodgers needed, as the A’s scored once in the bottom of the frame (Dave Henderson doubled home Walt Weiss) … and then were done.

Griffin running in Blue — as he’s doing on his 1988 Topps Big card — is the enduring image of Game 4.

1988 World Series Game 5 – Dodgers 5, A’s 2

1988 Topps Revco League Leaders Orel Hershiser (#12)

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If there was one guy you wanted on the mound in October of 1988 when you absolutely needed to keep the other team from scoring runs (like, you know, all the time), it was Orel Hershiser.

After all, the dude had just broken Don Drysdale‘s record for the most consecutive scoreless innings and posted a 23-8 record with a 2.26 ERA. A few weeks after the World Series, that would be good enough to land a Cy Young Award for Bulldog.

Before that, though, the Dodgers had a chance — three! — to close out the A’s.

Hatcher got the party started early with a two-run homer off Storm Davis in the first, and that was mostly all Hershiser needed.

He went the distance and struck out nine, giving up four hits and four walks, and two runs courtesy of two Stan Javier ribbies (on a sac fly and a single).

By the time of that second bit of Javier magic, though, the Dodgers had already tacked on three more, and the Fall Classic was pretty much done.

With two complete-game wins, Hershiser nabbed the Series MVP award and established himself as an October legend — just like his teammate Gibson.

It’s all blue skies on Hershiser’s Revco card, which isn’t the most gorgeous issue but marries a bona fide “League Leader” with the box set, a staple of the 1980s hobby.

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Question was, which one was stronger — the irresistible force or the immovable object?

As it turned out, both strengths came to the fore that October, but some surprises popped up, too, just like they always do in baseball’s second season.

In the end, what looked like it might be a laugher of a Fall Classic turned into a thriller for the ages.

Let’s step back now and take another look at that 1979 World Series, game by game, through the lens of the baseball cards of the players who made the moments.

1979 World Series Game 1 – Orioles 5, Pirates 4

1979 Topps Mike Flanagan (#160)

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When a guy who is the favorite to win the Cy Young Award in a month takes the hill in Game 1 of the World Series, you generally expect big things to happen.

Or … not to happen, from an opposing-offense standpoint

Mike Flanagan pretty much lived up to those expectations against the Pirates in 1979, at least for much of the game.

With his teammates staking him to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a Doug DeCinces home run and sundry Bucs miscues, Flanagan settled into a run of breezy innings to start the game.

The Pirates started chipping away in the middle frames, though, and with Bruce Kison chased in the first, their bullpen put the cuffs on the O’s.

With a single here and a sacrifice fly there and an error or two thrown in for bad measure, Pittsburgh scratched out three runs heading to the top of the eighth inning.

That’s when leadoff man Willie Stargell took Flanagan deep to make the score 5-4, O’s.

Baltimore manager Earl Weaver left his ace in the game, though, and Flanagan repaid him by retiring the next two batters before giving up two more hits — a rally?

Nah … Omar Moreno struck out looking to end the inning.

And Flanagan came back out for the ninth, too. A one-out single by Dave Parker turned into a stolen base attempt that was scored as a putout and an E6, leaving the Cobra safe at second.

Bill Robinson advanced him to third with a groundout, but Stargell flied out to short to end the game.

Flanagan bent about as far as a man could without breaking, and it must have been a gut-wrenching couple of innings … which sort of shows up on his expression on that 1979 Topps card of his.

But, you know, it was a win.

1979 World Series Game 2 – Pirates 3, Orioles 2

1979 Topps Manny Sanguillen (#447)

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While Game 1 was all about building a winter reserve (of runs) and then trying not to eat through it all before spring, Game 2 was a little more even.

After the Pirates touched Jim Palmer for two runs in the top of the second, Eddie Murray smacked a leadoff home run against Bert Blyleven in the bottom of the frame.

That was all she wrote in terms of scoring until the bottom of the sixth, when Murray got to Be Home By again, this time an RBI double after the inning started with a Ken Singleton Single.

Blyleven would finish the inning, and Palmer would pitch the top of the seventh, but then the bullpens took over.

The next two innings featured a flurry of activity on the bases from both teams, but home plate remained untouched.

Then, with two out in the top of the ninth, Bucs manager Chuck Tanner sent in Manny Sanguillen to hit for pitcher Don Robinson with two out and runners on first and second.

Manny delivered with a single to right off Don Sanhouse, driving in Ed Ott and moving Phil Garner to third.

Moreno ended the inning with a lineout to second, but the Pirates had their first lead of of the series.

Submariner/sidearmer Kent Tekulve made it stick in the bottom of the ninth, setting down Rick Dempsey, Kiko Garcia, and Al Bumbry in order.

Manny was the hero, though, and he looks characteristically giddy about the whole deal on his 1979 Topps card.

1979 World Series Game 3 – Orioles 8, Pirates 4

1979 Topps Kiko Garcia (#543)

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When Orioles shortstop Kiko Garcia came to bat against the Pirates’ John Candelaria in the top of the fourth inning in Game 3, Baltimore was down 3-2.

But, even facing a deficit against as imposing a figure as the Candy Man, and even though he was a light-hitting middle infielder, Garcia must have been feeling pretty good about his chances.

After all, he had already drawn a walk and smacked a double against the Bucs’ big lefthander.

And … well, Garcia did it agin.

The bases were loaded with Rich Dauer, Rick Dempsey, and Scott McGregor, and Kiko promptly unloaded them with a triple on the 1-2 offering from Candelaria.

Suddenly, the O’s were up 5-3, and Garcia would score a couple of batters later on a Ken Singleton single.

Garcia wasn’t done yet, either, as he’d touch Enrique Romo for an RBI single in the top of the seventh to put Baltimore up 7-4.

The hero of the Orioles’ 8-4 win, Kiko is beaming in the sunshine on his 1979 Topps baseball card.

1979 World Series Game 4 – Orioles 9, Pirates 6

1980 Topps John Lowenstein (#287)

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Staring at the possibility of falling behind three games to one, the Pirates struck early and hard in Game 4.

Willie Stargell kicked off a four-run barrage in the second inning with a homer off starter Dennis Martinez, and the Bucs added one more in each of the fifth and sixth.

For their part, the Orioles answered with three runs in the top of the third, aided by more heroics from Garcia (a two-run double off Jim Bibby).

But the score stood 6-3 in favor of Pittsburgh entering the eighth inning, and the O’s were getting anxious about their chances.

Singles by Garcia, Singleton, and DeCinces, though, left the bases full with one out (Eddie Murray) when John Lowenstein came to bat against Tekulve in place of fellow outfielder Gary Roenicke.

On a 2-2 pitch, Lowenstein doubled to left field to drive in two, with the not-so-fleet Decinces stopping at third.

The floodgates were open, though, and Lowenstein was one of four more O’s to score before the inning was over.

That was all Baltimore reliever Tim Stoddard needed, and the Birds won, 9-6, to take a 3-1 series lead.

For Lowenstein, this was a story of redemption, as the Orioles had claimed him off waivers from the Texas Rangers the previous November.

That meant he didn’t get his first O’s baseball card until 1980 Topps, where we find him concentrating in the cage, preparing for whatever opportunity might come his way.

1979 World Series Game 5 – Pirates 7, Orioles 1

1980 Topps Tim Foli (#246)

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With one game left in Pittsburgh before heading back to Baltimore, and already down by two games, the Pirates knew they had to get their bats rolling against Flanagan in Game 5.

Problem was, he wasn’t having any of it.

Through 5 1/2 innings, the game’s only run had come on a ground-ball double play off the bat of Dauer, driving in Roenicke against Pirates’ starter Jim Rooker in the top of the fifth.

The Bucs finally scratched out a couple of runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead, but they needed some insurance.

It came in the unlikely form of shorstop Tim Foli, who tripled off reliever Stoddard in the bottom of the seventh, driving in Omar Moreno.

Foli himself scored a batter later when Dave Parker doubled off Tippy Martinez.

But Foli wasn’t done yet, as he singled to drive in two more Pirates teammates in the bottom of the eighth, blowing the game open at 7-1.

Like Lowenstein, Foli had been an off-season acquisition — traded by the Mets for Frank Taveras — and didn’t get a Pirates card until his 1980 Topps doozy.

That one shows him in his more natural habitat of the middle infield in a great action shot that displays the Bucs pillbox hat to good effect.

1979 World Series Game 6 – Pirates 4, Orioles 0

1979 Kellogg’s Dave Parker (#21)

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After a day off to think about what they had done, the Bucs and O’s headed back to Baltimore for Game 6.

There was a lot on the line for both teams …

The Pirates, of course, were trying to stave off winter for the second-straight game.

And the Orioles had the pressure of closing out a World Series at home … with dark thoughts about what would happen if they failed and allowed the Series to reach a seventh game.

All of which is to say that starters Jim Palmer and John Candelaria were locked in and laser-focused on the task at hand.

To be sure, there were some chinks in the armor that late in the season, and both teams made some noise from the batter’s box and on the bases.

But, through six innings, the moundsmen remained unscathed, and the score stood 0-0.

With the Bucs coming to bat for the seventh time, Palmer continued on his way, striking out Lee Lacey to start things off.

But then …

Moreno singled to right.

Foli slapped an infield safety.

And then, big Dave Parker also singled to right, driving in Moreno and moving Foli to third.

Willie Stargell picked up Foli with a sacrifice fly to left before John Milner flied out to end the inning.

But the Pirates were up by two, and they never looked back.

Tekulve relieved Candy in the seventh, but Palmer stayed in long enough to give up another two runs in the bottom half.

By the time Tim Stoddard relieved Cakes in the eighth, the final score was already on the board … PIT 4, BAL 0.

Parker is the one who broke the seal on the shutout, and you could almost hear “We Are Family” wafting in from Pittsburgh as Pirates fans fired up their disco machines and caressed their groovy 1979 Kellogg’s cards of the Cobra.

1979 World Series Game 7 – Pirates 4, Orioles 1

1979 Hostess Willie Stargell (#104)

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So we were on to Game 7, with the Orioles trying to stop their bleeding and the Pirates trying to pull of the rare feat of winning a Fall Classic after falling behind three games to one.

As in Game 6, the hurlers came out dealing, and kept the game scoreless through the top of the third.

In the bottom of that inning, though, Rich Dauer led off with a home run against Jim Bibby, and the Orioles were in the driver’s seat again.

That situation held steady all the way to the top of the sixth.

After Parker grounded out, Bill Robinson singled to leftfield to bring up Willie Stargell.

Now, Pops was 39 years old and looked the part, but he was the unquestioned leader of the Pirates and a favorite to win the National League MVP award (he ended up sharing that honor with Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals).

Lost in this conversation so far is that Stargell’s two home runs mentioned above were the only Pirates dingers all Series … until this at-bat against Scott McGregor.

Willie drove the first offering deep into right field, and the Bucs were up, 2-1.

By that time, Grant Jackson had relieved Robinson for the Pirates, and then Jackson gave way to Tekulve in the eighth.

Not one of those guys gave up another run to the Orioles.

The Pirates weren’t interested in a bottom-of-the-ninth-inning scenario where they were up by just one run, though, so they worked Orioles relievers Tim Stoddard, Mike Flanagan, Don Stanhouse, Tippy Martinez, and Dennis Martinez for two more in the top of the inning.

You have to hand it to Weaver for throwing everything he had at the Bucs, but, in the end, it didn’t matter.

World Series MVP Willie Stargell was too much in his signature moment, and that made his 1979 Hostess card even sweeter.

And, by the time they streaked all the way to 35-5, we all pretty much assumed the Tigers would end the year as champions.

It would have been a disappointment if they didn’t, really.

But before the Tigers could ascend to the throne, we had an exciting summer ahead of us, one that included breakout seasons by the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs, not to mention another AL West title for the Kansas Royals.

In the end, the Pads beat out the sweetheart Cubs and MVP Ryne Sandberg for National League supremacy.

And Detroit rolled over K.C. in the ALCS.

Would the Tigers hold true to their season-long dominance and prevail over San Diego in the Fall Classic?

You probably know the answer to that by now, but it’s never too late to drink in the 1984 World Series again … so let’s imbibe game by game, with a nod to one baseball card which best exemplifies how each contest played out.

1984 World Series Game 1 – Tigers 3, Padres 2

1984 Topps Larry Herndon (#333)

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This game started exactly the way the Tigers wanted it to … a Lou Whitaker double followed by an Alan Trammell single had Detroit up 1-0 after two batters.

Trammell got caught stealing, and Kirk Gibson flied out, but the next two Tigers — Lance Parrish and Larry Herndon — singled.

Barbaro Garbey grounded out to end the inning, but the Tigers had shown they could rough up starter Mark Thurmond, and, with ace Jack Morris on the mound, they probably only needed a single run, anyway.

Those assumptions fell apart quickly, though, as Morris surrendered two-out singles to Steve Garvey and Graig Nettles, and then a double to catcher Terry Kennedy that drove both home.

Bobby Brown ended the inning with a groundout, but the Friars were up at home in Game 1.

For the next three innings, the two starters settled into bend-but-don’t-break mode, allowing some baserunners but no runs.

It looked like more of the same in the top of the fifth when leftfielder Larry Herndon stepped to the plate against Thurmond with two outs and Parrish on second after he had doubled.

This time, though, Herndon drove Thurmond’s three-one pitch the other way and deposited it behind the rightfield wall.

As it turns out, that was the end of the scoring.

San Diego manager Dick Williams lifted Thurmond for Andy Hawkins in the sixth, and he and Morris quieted the lumber the rest of the game.

Herndon juiced just enough thunder from his bat to get the job done, though, and his 1984 Topps card appropriately shows him and his weapon about to step in to the batter’s box to get down to business.

1984 World Series Game 2 – Padres 5, Tigers 3

1984 Topps Kurt Bevacqua (#346)

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Game 2 started out eerily similar to Game 1, with slugger Darrell Evans joining Trammell, Gibson, and Parrish in a first-inning Tigers attack on Padres starter Ed Whitson before Hawkins came in for the last out.

After a string of hits and steals and sacrifices, Detroit emerged with a 3-0 lead.

San Diego scratched out a run in the bottom of the frame, courtesy of an Alan Wiggins single, a Tony Gwynn walk, a Garvey sac bunt, and a Nettles sac fly.

That was all anyone could muster until the Pads gritted out another run against Dan Petry in the fourth inning, as Hawkins turned in a string of one-two-three innings.

After the Tigers went down in order in the fifth, Garvey flied out to center, Nettles walked, and Kennedy singled to bring up Kurt Bevacqua.

The former bubble gum bubble-blowing champ wouldn’t have been in the lineup at all had the designated hitter rule not been in effect, but he used that quirk to good advantage and rocked the 0-1 pitch from Petry for a three-run blast.

(Note: From 1976 through 1984, the DH was used in the Fall Classic in even-numbered years.)

In came Aurelio Lopez to retire the Padres, but the damage was done … that was the last bit of scoring for the night, and San Diego had its first win in a World Series game. (And their only one to date).

Bevacqua’s 1984 Topps card ironically shows him in the field, a position he never assumed on his big night.

1984 World Series Game 3 – Tigers 5, Padres 2

1984 Donruss Marty Castillo (#247)

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The first two games of the 1984 World Series came down to big innings — big moments — and then long stretches of stingy pitching.

Game 3 was no different, except the big inning and big moment came early on and set the tone for the rest of the game … and, really, the rest of the Series.

With the Fall Classic knotted at a game apiece and moving back to Detroit, you had to figure the Tigers had the advantage, but this was no rollover of a Padres team.

Things stayed as tied-up as they could be through three scoreless half-innings before Chet Lemon singled with one out in the bottom of the second.

Padres starter Tim Lollar then uncorked a wild pitch, sending Lemon to second, and Evans lofted a sac fly to center that got his teammate to third.

All the next batter, Marty Castillo, needed in order to get the Bengals on the board was a deep fly ball, and he obliged … with a home run to leftfield.

That 2-0 lead greased the skids for a hit-and-walk barrage by Lou Whitaker, Trammell, Gibson, Parrish, and Herndon, staking Tigers starter Milt Wilcox to a 4-0 lead.

(On a side note, DH Barbaro Garbey made the first and last outs of the second for the Tigers.)

The Pads squeaked out a couple of runs over the next seven innings, but it was a 5-2 romp for Detroit, and they never really looked back.

A smiling Castillo on his 1984 Donruss card looks like he just might have an inkling of what lay ahead, don’t you think?

1984 World Series Game 4 – Tigers 4, Padres 2

1984 Drake’s Big Hitters Alan Trammell (#30)

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As Game 4 dawned, you could sense the Tigers were starting to lock in.

And, if you needed more proof of that, Jack Morris gave it to you in the top of the first by inducing groundouts from Wiggins, Gwynn, and Garvey.

That brought up the top of the Tigers order, and they repeated their exploits from the beginning of Game 1, only better.

After Lou Whitaker reached base on an error by Wiggins, Trammell went deep on a 2-0 offering from Eric Show.

Kennedy touched Jack Morris for a homer in the bottom half of the inning, but Whitaker and Trammell struck again in the third — a Sweet Lou single followed by a Trammell dinger.

Morris shut down the Padres the rest of the way until allowing a run in the ninth on a wild pitch, but it was much too little too late for the San Diego crew.

Even though his season-high home run total entering the season was just 14, Trammell’s appearance in the Drake’s Big Hitters set seems just about perfect given his World Series MVP performance.

1984 World Series Game 5 – Tigers 8, Padres 4

1984 Nestle Kirk Gibson (#65)

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There was blood in the water for the Tigers as they entered Game 5 of the World Series at home, up three games to one.

They feasted heartily.

After a leadoff single by Alan Wiggins, starter Dan Petry retired the Padres in order in the first.

In the bottom of the first, the Tigers sang a familiar song, even if the parts were jostled a bit … Whitaker led off, Trammell grounded out to advance the should-be Hall of Fame second baseman, and then Kirk Gibson stepped to the plate.

Channeling his 1988 flair for the dramatic, Gibby drove Mark Thurmond’s first pitch into the right-center bleachers, and the Tigers were up, 2-0.

They would tack on another run before the inning was over.

The Pads fought back with a run in the third and two in the fourth, but the Tigers reclaimed the lead with single scores in the fifth and seventh.

After Bevacqua connected on a solo shot off Willie Hernandez in the top of the eighth, the Tigers clung to a one-run lead.

Castillo led off the bottom of the frame with a walk, then Whitaker reached base on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

Trammell bunted, too, sacrificing himself to move his teammates along.

That brought up Gibson again, and he did what Kirk Gibson does in the postseason — namely, he pounded Rich Gossage‘s 1-0 offering over the rightfield fence, and the Tigers suddenly were up, 8-4.

In the top of the ninth, Bruce Bochy managed a one-out single against Hernandez, but this thing was over.

Gibson’s 1984 Nestle card shows the two-time World Series hero getting ready to practice his craft in the cage at Tiger Stadium.

Think he was imagining the glory to come, playing through World Series scenarios like a kid in the back yard?

Yeah, me too.

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