1986 NLCS Game 6

New York Mets @ Houston Astros – October 15, 1986
Location: Astrodome, Houston, TX
Final Score: Mets 7, Astros 6 (16 innings)
Series Result: Mets win NLCS, 4–2

Game Summary:

Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS was an epic, exhausting, and dramatic classic that stretched across 16 innings and nearly 5 hours—a test of endurance, willpower, and championship resolve. The Astros, behind starter Bob Knepper, dominated early, taking a 3-0 lead into the 9th inning. With just three outs to go and ace Mike Scott looming for Game 7, it looked all but over for the Mets.

But New York wasn’t done.

In the top of the 9th, the Mets strung together clutch hits, including a critical RBI double from Wally Backman and a game-tying sacrifice fly by Lenny Dykstra to stun the home crowd and send the game into extra innings at 3–3.

From there, the game turned chaotic and unforgettable.

Both teams missed chances in extra frames. The Mets took a 4–3 lead in the 14th, only for Billy Hatcher to crush a game-tying homer off the foul pole in the bottom half. In the 16th, the Mets broke through with three runs, helped by a Ray Knight RBI single and a wild pitch.

Even then, Houston wasn’t finished. The Astros scored two runs in the bottom of the 16th and brought the winning run to the plate before Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass with the tying and winning runs on base, ending the instant classic and sending the Mets to the World Series.

Why It’s One of the Greatest Comebacks in Baseball History:

1. Down to Their Last Outs: The Mets were 3 outs away from losing Game 6 and facing Mike Scott in Game 7, who had dominated them twice already. Their chances looked slim.
2. High Stakes: This wasn’t just a single-game comeback—it was a season-saving rally with the pennant on the line.
3. Length & Drama: A 16-inning rollercoaster that saw four lead changes and clutch hits on both sides. It was a war of attrition, featuring contributions from almost every player on both rosters.
4. Legendary Status: Many baseball historians and players call it the greatest postseason game ever played not named Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. It had everything—narrative tension, late-inning heroics, managerial chess, and emotional swings.

Quote from Mets Manager Davey Johnson:

“If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it.”

Game 3 – October 3, 1951 @ Polo Grounds (NY)

On October 3, 1951, the Giants staged a dramatic come‑from‑behind comeback in the bottom of the ninth at the Polo Grounds when Bobby Thomson hit the legendary walk-off homer off Ralph Branca, turning a 4–2 deficit into a 5–4 pennant win. The radio broadcast, carried on WMCA in New York, featured broadcaster Russ Hodges, whose repeated exclamation “The Giants win the pennant!” became one of the most timeless calls in sports history.

Why It Still Matters

• One of baseball’s most-cinematic finishes  from a 13½-game deficit in mid-August to a pennant-clinching home run. ☑️

• The first major league game ever televised coast-to-coast, opening a new era radio remained the emotional centerpiece for that moment. sabr.org

• Russ Hodges’ radio narration, captured by a lucky fan on home tape recorder, ensures that moment lives on even decades later.

  
  

  Radio Broadcast: “The Giants win the pennant…”

  Local Giants radio home broadcasts on WMCA (New York) featured Russ Hodges at the mic, with his partner Ernie Harwell (listed as Giants radio team for the season), though for Game 3 Harwell was assigned to national TV while Hodges handled the radio alone. Russell Hodges’ ecstatic call, "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!", repeated four times, became the most famous call in baseball history. sabr.org

  This game was also carried on multiple networks, including the Mutual and Liberty systems, as well as Dodgers’ and Giants’ local affiliate feeds. Dodgers’ radio voice Red Barber, calling the play for Brooklyn fans, had his own classic ending:

  “It is … a home run! And the New York Giants win the National League pennant and the Polo Grounds goes wild!”

On October 4, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers secured their first World Series title by defeating the New York Yankees 2–0 in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. This victory marked a significant moment for the Dodgers, who had previously lost five World Series to the Yankees.

Game Summary

The game's standout performer was 23-year-old left-handed pitcher Johnny Podres, who delivered a complete-game shutout. He allowed only eight hits and no runs over nine innings, earning his second win of the series and being named the World Series MVP.

Offensively, the Dodgers scored their first run in the fourth inning and added another in the sixth. Key contributions came from players like Gil Hodges, who provided crucial RBIs. The Yankees threatened in the sixth inning with runners on base, but a pivotal defensive play by left fielder Sandy Amoros, who made a remarkable catch and initiated a double play, helped preserve the Dodgers' lead.

Radio Broadcast

The radio broadcast of Game 7 featured renowned announcers Mel Allen and Vin Scully, who provided play-by-play commentary for NBC Radio. Their broadcast captured the excitement and tension of the game, bringing the historic moment to fans across the nation.

This game was the first-ever World Series televised in color.

Key Moments Packed Into 2 Action‑Filled Minutes

• Johnny Podres’ Comeback Legacy
  Despite a modest regular season (he was 9–10), the 23-year-old lefty delivered a five-hit complete-game shutout, one of two brilliant starts in the series, and earned World Series MVP—the first ever awarded

• Gil Hodges: Two clutch RBIs
  Hodges drove in runs with a two-out single in the 4th inning and a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 6th, both set up by aggressive baserunning from Campanella and Reese.Wikipedia

• Sandy Amorós to Reese to Hodges — game‑saving double play
  In the 6th, with Yankees threatening and runners on first and second, Amorós made a diving catch in left‑field corner on a Yogi Berra liner. He then threw to Pee Wee Reese, who relayed to Hodges to complete a double play, ending the rally.

• Defining moments with runners in scoring position
  The Yankees scattered eight hits but had just one with two men in scoring position. In the 3rd inning, a Rizzuto-RBI grounder resulted in an out at third base on Phil Rizzuto being awarded first—the play was viewed by Dodgers as a pivotal “omen.

• Pee Wee Reese finishes it off
  The final out came one batter earlier than usual: Elston Howard hit a ground ball to Reese at short, who flipped to Hodges at first—and Brooklyn broke their long “curse” over the Yankees.

• Jackie Robinson's only Series absence
  Remarkably, this was the only World Series game Robinson never appeared in—Don Hoak started at third base in Game 7.

Personally ,this is a holy grail find.

I was looking for games from the 1950's that had a sense of ambience, and found this.

Not an awful lot happens on this Tuesday night game from June 4th, 1957 but the ambience, sound and most of all, commentary from Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett, Al Helfer and Tex Rickards is top shelf.

Incredible mood, there is no dramatic steals or series‑clinching tension in this game just a great atmosphere.

I’ve split it into two parts, applied a gentle EQ roll‑off to tame the ultra–high frequencies while preserving everything I love about the sound of this.

as for the game itself -

Game Summary

• Final Score: Dodgers 7, Cubs 5 

• Winning Pitcher: Sandy Koufax (in relief)

• Save: Clem Labine

• Scoring Highlights:

  • Dodgers: Roy Campanella crushed a 2‑run double off the scoreboard in the 1st inning; Duke Snider homered in the 3rd; Gil Hodges in the 5th.

  • Cubs: Randy Jackson Speake homered in the 6th; Ernie Banks pulled one in the 8th.

• Noteworthy: Joe Pignatano made his MLB debut after Campanella was plunked in the 3rd inning; the game's ambient energy is captured in full on the original WOKO‑preserved radio broadcast

Broadcast Team -

Vin Scully (opened the broadcast, first 3 innings + middle-inning shifts)

Jerry Doggett (handled most of the mid- & late innings)

Al Helfer (between innings & post‑game summary)

Tex Rickards (public-address announcer at Ebbets)

Personally ,this is a holy grail find.

I was looking for games from the 1950's that had a sense of ambience, and found this.

Not an awful lot happens on this Tuesday night game from June 4th, 1957 but the ambience, sound and most of all, commentary from Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett, Al Helfer and Tex Rickards is top shelf.

Incredible mood, there is no dramatic steals or series‑clinching tension in this game just a great atmosphere.

I’ve split it into two parts, applied a gentle EQ roll‑off to tame the ultra–high frequencies while preserving everything I love about the sound of this.

as for the game itself -

Game Summary

• Final Score: Dodgers 7, Cubs 5 

• Winning Pitcher: Sandy Koufax (in relief)

• Save: Clem Labine

• Scoring Highlights:

  • Dodgers: Roy Campanella crushed a 2‑run double off the scoreboard in the 1st inning; Duke Snider homered in the 3rd; Gil Hodges in the 5th.

  • Cubs: Randy Jackson Speake homered in the 6th; Ernie Banks pulled one in the 8th.

• Noteworthy: Joe Pignatano made his MLB debut after Campanella was plunked in the 3rd inning; the game's ambient energy is captured in full on the original WOKO‑preserved radio broadcast

Broadcast Team -

Vin Scully (opened the broadcast, first 3 innings + middle-inning shifts)

Jerry Doggett (handled most of the mid- & late innings)

Al Helfer (between innings & post‑game summary)

Tex Rickards (public-address announcer at Ebbets)

In Summary

Ken Johnson’s April 23 outing was a pitcher’s dream and nightmare in one: dominant on the mound, but undone by tiny errors. A rare and unforgettable slice of baseball history.

Why It Matters

• Johnson's game stands as a unique oddity in modern baseball lore—a heartbreaking masterpiece.

• The story also underscores how defensive miscues, not just pitching performances, can shape a game’s fate.

• Despite this gem, the Colt .45s struggled all season, finishing 9th in the NL with a 66–96 record

  
  

  Scoring Breakdown

  • In the top of the 9th, Reds’ Pete Rose laid down a bunt. Johnson’s errant throw allowed Rose to reach second

  • Two batters later, Vada Pinson grounded out but Nellie Fox committed a critical error on the play—scoring Rose from second

    • That lone, unearned run decided the entire game.

On July 9, 1976, at the Astrodome in Houston, Larry Dierker delivered a historic performance, pitching a no-hitter as the Astros defeated the Expos 6–0

Pitching Masterclass by Larry Dierker

• Dierker threw a complete-game gem, issuing four walks but fanning 8 batters—including two in the decisive ninth inning 

• It was the fifth no-hitter in Astros franchise history

• He improved to 8–8 on the season

  
  

  Historical Significance

  • Dierker’s performance was his first no-hitter, capping off after near-misses and solid seasons

  • This feat marked a turning point in his career, showcasing his passion and resilience

  
  

Orioles @ Pirates - World Series Game 5 , 1971

Final Score & Context

• Pirates 4, Orioles 0

• The win gave Pittsburgh a 3–2 lead in the best‑of‑seven series

  
  

Key Moments

• Starting Pitchers:

  • Nelson Briles (PIT) started over aces to save them for Games 6–7—a bold move by manager Danny Murtaugh 

  • Dave McNally (BAL) took the loss—Baltimore's veteran lefty struggled, allowing two early runs

• Dominant Pitching:

  • Briles threw a complete-game two-hit shutout, striking out two and allowing zero earned runs

• Scoring Summary:

  1. 2nd inning:

     • Bob Robertson hit a leadoff home run off McNally: 1–0 

     • Manny Sanguillén followed with a single, stole second, and scored on Briles's RBI single: 2–0 .

  2. 3rd inning:

     • A wild pitch with runners on first and third pushed a run across: 3–0

  3. 5th inning:

     • Gene Clines tripled to leadoff and scored when Roberto Clemente delivered his first RBI of the series: 4–0

       
       

Why It Mattered

• Briles' complete-game gem was a pivotal moment, shifting momentum firmly to Pittsburgh and putting Baltimore on the brink of elimination 

• The strategic choice to sit Blass and Ellis paid off handsomely.

Giants @ Phillies - July 9th, 1993

Highlights

• Win: Starter Bud Black (8–1) earned the win, silencing speculation about his postseason readiness 

• Loss: Phillies’ starter Ben Rivera took the loss, falling to 9–4 

• Key Inning for Giants: They blew the game open in the 2nd with 7 runs.

• Giants’ Offense: Mattress-fields like Will Clark (3 H, HR), Barry Bonds (3 H), Steve Scarsone (4 H, HR), and Kirt Manwaring (4 H) were on fire.

• Phillies’ response: Dug in with homers from Ricky Jordan, alongside RBI hits from Stocker and Hollins

  
  

  Context & Aftermath

  • The series tilted heavily in the Giants' favor: they swept the doubleheader that day and followed up with a 3–8 loss and 10–2 win in the remaining games .

  • Despite this offensive outburst, the 1993 Giants narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing with 103 wins—only to be edged out in the standings

    
    

    Notable Trivia

    This game tied with the worst blowout against the Phillies all season: their defense gave up a whopping 15 runs—the most allowed that year .

Dodgers @ Reds - July 28, 1957

Broadcasters: Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett

Game Summary (1957-07-28: Dodgers vs. Reds)

• Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds

• Venue: Crosley Field, Cincinnati

• Result: The Dodgers won the game 5–3.

• Highlights:

  • Don Drysdale pitched for the Dodgers.

  • The Dodgers' offense was bolstered by home runs and timely hitting.

  • The game was part of the final season the Dodgers played in Brooklyn before moving to Los Angeles in 1958.

During that time:

• Dodgers Broadcasters: Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett were the primary radio and TV voices for the Brooklyn Dodgers.