Baseball History -- October 14

Complete Entry for 10/14 at BaseballLibrary.com is HERE.

Plenty of game-winning hits on October 14:

2002
The Giants beat the Cardinals, 2–1, to take the NLCS and move on to the World Series against Anaheim. Kenny Lofton's base hit in the bottom of the 9th scores David Bell with the winning run. Todd Worrell gets the win in relief for SF.

2001
The Diamondbacks advance to the NLCS with a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals. Tony Womack's 2-out single in the bottom half of the 9th plates the winning run and makes a winner out of Curt Schilling.

1992
The Braves come from behind to defeat the Pirates, 3–2, to win the NLCS. Down 2–0 to Doug Drabek entering the 9th, The decisive blow comes with two outs, as seldom-used 3rd-string C Francisco Cabrera drives in the tying and winning runs with a pinch-hit single. John Smoltz, who works six strong innings without a decision, is named the series MVP.

I still don't know how in the heck Sid Bream beat that throw to the plate by Barry Bonds. But, he did and Sean McDonough absolutley nailed the call on the TV broadcast. Go HERE and click on 1992 for that highlight.

1986
Breaking out of a 1-for-21 slump, Mets C Gary Carter drives in the winning run of the Mets 2–1 win in the bottom of the 12th, rendering meaningless Nolan Ryan's nine innings of 2-hit, 12-strikeout pitching.

1985
Ozzie Smith homers off Tom Niedenfuer with one out in the bottom of the 9th to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead in the NLCS. It is the switch-hitting Smith's first ML home run while batting lefthanded.

1978
Lou Piniella's 10th-inning single scores Roy White with the winning run as New York evens the Series with a 4–3 win.

1976
In the final LCS game, the Yankees take the early lead only to see the Royals even it up on Brett's 3-run homer in the 8th. Chambliss then connects on a dramatic 9th-inning HR off relief ace Mark Littell to win the game 7-6 and the pennant for the Yankees. By the time Chambliss reaches 2B, he is surrounded by screaming fans who escort him around the bases. After he reaches the dugout he returns with a police escort to make sure he touches 3B and home.

Not a big hit, but a big moment in baseball history.

1908
Before the smallest crowd in World Series history—6,210—the host Tigers are tamed on three hits by Overall, who fans 10 in a 2–0 win. The Cubs win the series in five games.

It's been awhile.

Also from 1908:

Upset over seating arrangements at the World Series, sports reporters form a professional group that will become the Baseball Writers Association of America.

It's a good thing the BWAA wasn't at the 2006 Midwest League All-Start Game.