On a rainy mid-week afternoon in Manhattan, Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor Tyler Stanger die as their four-seat plane crashes into an Upper East Side high-rise building. Manny Acta, the Mets third base coach, is not sure he will be able to go to his home after tonight’s scheduled Game 1 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium, due to damage to the Belaire Condominiums caused by the crash.

In the inaugural season in their new ballpark, the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-2 at Busch Stadium to take the NLDS playoff three games to one. The Redbirds advance to the championship series for the third consecutive season when Chris Carpenter gets the win, earning his second victory in the best-of-five series.

Three years after enduring a 119-loss season, the wild-card Tigers upset the much-favored Yankees to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 1987. After beating New York 8-3 to take the ALDS 3 games to 1, the Detroit players start spraying champagne on fans at Comerica Park, who have suffered through 12 consecutive losing seasons and a tough month of September before the team wins their first postseason series in 19 years.

The Mets defeat Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, 9-5, to complete a three-game sweep in the NLDS. The Dodgers have won only one postseason game in 13 attempts since beating the A’s in the 1988 World Series.

After failing to advance past the first round of the American League playoffs in their previous five postseason appearances, the A’s beat the much-favored Twins, 8-3, to complete a three-game ALDS sweep. The victory, which was the team’s tenth opportunity to win a clinching game, puts Oakland in the ALCS for the first time since 1992.

At Game 2 of the NLCS played at Petco Park, Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, who recently became baseball’s all-time saves leader, catches the ceremonial first pitch thrown by Lee Smith, the reliever he surpassed with his 479th save. The two ‘firemen’ exchange autographed baseballs after the toss.

Russell Martin’s double kills a promising two on and none out rally as both Dodgers runners are nailed at home. Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew both try to score, but the relay from right fielder Shawn Green to second baseman Jose Valentin to Paul Lo Duca gives the catcher an opportunity to tag each runner during their headfirst slides into the plate.

Citing the need for a different kind of communicator in the dugout, Jon Daniels, one year after he becomes the youngest GM in big league history, fires veteran skipper Buck Showalter. The Ranger manager compiled a 319-329 record during his four-year tenure in Texas.

Chicago’s veep and GM Jim Hendry announces that the Cubs have declined to renew Dusty Baker’s contract to return as the team’s manager. During his four-year reign in the northside dugout, the 57 year-old skipper compiled a 322-326 record, including a 66-96 campaign last season.