History of the World Series – 1992 While the 1992 World Series between the Braves and Toronto Blue Jays might have fallen just short of equaling the 1991 Series for sheer excitement, it was real close. Thisclose. This time, the Series participants engaged in four one-run games out of the six — and the decisive…

History of the World Series – 1991 In this duel of uppity upstarts (the Twins and Braves finished last in 1990), Minnesota proved the better team. Barely. In Game 7, the 36-year-old Morris, a longtime standout for the Tigers, was matched against John Smoltz, 24, a Detroit native who as a youngster had idolized his…

History of the World Series – 1990 An aura of invincibility was enveloping Manager Tony La Russa’s A’s, who had won three straight AL pennants and entered the ’90 World Series as defending titleists. In 1989, Oakland had dispatched San Francisco in four games in the fall classic. The Athletics had power, speed, defense and…

History of the World Series – 1989 The on-field action was, in fact, mostly devoid of excitement. And yet the 1989 World Series — the first all-Bay Area classic — may well rank as the most unforgettable Series ever. Game 1, though, was little more than a showcase event for A’s ace righthander Dave Stewart,…

History of the World Series – 1988 After closing the regular season with a record-breaking 59 consecutive scoreless innings and then racking up one victory and a save in four National League Championship Series appearances, the Dodgers’ Hershiser was the recipient of a well-deserved rest when the World Series got under way at Dodger Stadium…

History of the World Series – 1987 Herzog’s Cardinals, on the other hand, went 95-67 and ruled the roost in the NL East. And, as fate would have it, Herzog’s club and Manager Tom Kelly’s Twins wound up as opponents in the 84th World Series. While St. Louis entered the Series with manpower problems —…

History of the World Series – 1986 An unbelievable half-inning capped by a hard-to-fathom at-bat, the last of the 10th forever will be a source of exhilaration for New York Mets fans and devastation for Boston Red Sox followers. The Red Sox, ahead three games to two in the Series after lefthander Bruce Hurst’s 4-2…

History of the World Series – 1985 Jack Clark belted a single to left field, scoring McGee. Tito Landrum blooped a double down the right-field line, sending Clark to third. Cesar Cedeno was given an intentional walk, loading the bases. And then Terry Pendleton doubled down the line in left, sending Clark, Landrum and Cedeno…

History of the World Series – 1984 The 1984 Detroit Tigers were simply too good. For everyone. They won 35 of their first 40 regular-season games, sprinted to the AL East championship with 104 victories and a 15-game bulge over their nearest competitor, swept the Royals in the AL Championship Series, then made short work…

History of the World Series – 1983 The 1983 Phillies featured such oldsters as Pete Rose, 42; Joe Morgan, 40; Tony Perez, 41; Steve Carlton, 38; and Ron Reed, 40. Mike Schmldt (34), Garry Maddox (34) and Gary Matthews (33) weren’t fuzzy-cheeked youngsters, either. But just as youth had served the ’50 team well, age…