The Greatest Games in IBC History
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:52 pm
Aaron and I have been working for a few years on a comprehensive history of the IBC (mostly him), and it's finally coming to fruition to share with everybody. I've got the DMB Encyclopedia all set up with all of our boxscores and statistics throughout IBC history, so we can chart career stats and eventually launch our own Hall of Fame, located in Manchester, Connecticut!
To get everything rolling, we're going to post the greatest games in IBC history. We've got 21 games selected as the best, most important games in league history picked and ranked. Aaron went ahead and provided very amusing radio play-by-play and commentary for each game, so hats off to him for that.
Before we get into our top 21 games, we've got two no-hitters to share and launch everything. Then we'll start hitting the top 21 one game per day starting tomorrow.
No. 21: Vazquez Leaves Trail of Tears, Game 3, 2005 World Series
No. 20: Escape from New York, Game 5, 2011 World Series
No. 19: Tigers Roar Back, Advance to ALCS, Game 5, 2009 ALDS
No. 18: Coming of Ace: Wainwright pitches Cardinals into World Series, Game 6, 2008 NLCS
No. 17: The Empire Strikes First, Game 1, 2004 World Series
No. 16: Giant Comeback, Game 1, 2005 NLDS
No. 15: Casey at the Bat, Game 6, 2010 NLCS
No. 14: Freebyrd and the Uggla Duckling, Game 5s, 2011 NLDS
No. 13: Oh Mo, Game 6, 2009 ALCS
No. 12: Snakes Rattle & Roll to NL Crown, Games 5 and 6, 2003 NLCS
No. 11: A's Good as it Gets, Game 5, 2007 ALDS
No. 10: Too Much BS: Angels Beat Gagne (Again), Game 5, 2002 ALDS
No. 9: Fish and Hits: Chipper sends Marlins to NLCS, Game 4, 2006 NLDS
No. 8: Ranger Danger, Game 7, 2012 ALCS
No. 7: The Slam, Game 163, 2008
No. 6: St. Louis Blue, Game 7, 2008 World Series
***
“Buehrle No-No Brings Cubs to Cusp of Title,” Game 5, 2002 World Series
Game 5 of the 2002 World Series looked to be a strong pitching performance, as Mark Buehrle squared off with Matt Morris. The series was deadlocked at two games apiece. The Angels made a miracle run to get into the playoffs, then had three comeback wins against the White Sox to advance to the ALCS, then survived a hard hitting series with the Red Sox. The Cubs rolled through the NL playoffs, sweeping the NLCS and losing only one NLDS game. The Cubs were heavily favored but there was a little magic in the air with the Angels.
The Cubs jumped ahead early with a run in the bottom of the first, then added two more in the third. Bobby Higginson would add a two run blast in the 5th to make the score 5-0. Meanwhile, Mark Buehrle was tossing a gem. He had a no hitter through 8 innings, and had only walked two batters. *We do not have play by play for the 2002-2003 seasons so what follows may not have been what actually occurred, but hey, I’m doing the work here so shut up and deal with it.*
“Mark Buehrle takes the mound for the 9th, on the verge of history. Not since Don Larsen in 1956 have we been this close to a no hitter in the playoffs. Now the lefty will face Conine, Beltre and Bernie Williams here in the 9th.”
“Joe, I was with your dad in Minnesota in 1991 when Jack Morris threw 10 shutout innings in Game 7 of the World Series and I thought that was the best performance I had seen in a World Series game by a pitcher since I retired, but this has topped it.”
“Conine steps in, the hero of the ALCS and owner of a World Series ring from 1997. He swings at the first pitch and pops it up to first. Helton is there and he makes the play. That’ll bring Adrian Beltre to the plate, hitting under .200 for the series so far.”
“This Cub pitching staff has dominated the Angels all series Joe, without some timely performances by the Angels pitching staff this series could well be in the books tonight.”
“Beltre takes ball one outside. He’s batting leadoff tonight as Nick Perry has tried to shake things up and get the offense going. Ground ball to third, Rolen up and over to first, two down. Bernie Williams is the last hope for the Angels.”
“Well if you need one guy in this lineup to give you a good at bat and keep the game alive Joe, it would be Bernie Williams. He has four World Series rings from his time with the Yankees.”
“Bernie swings at the first pitch, in the air to Bobby Higgenson. Mark Buehrle has pitched the first playoff no hitter since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956! The Angels backs are against the wall. What a performance by the young left hander.”
***
“Lilly Comes Up Roses,” Game 4, 2005 ALCS
The Indians entered Game 4 of the ALCS at the Oakland Coliseum holding two games to one advantage in the series. With both AL East powers eliminated in the first round, the path was clear for one of the underdogs to make it to the World Series against the Giants, who had a three to one series lead after missing a sweep against the Astros earlier in the afternoon. The veteran heavy Indians, who won the NL Central the year before, seemed ready to take their first pennant, while the A’s, in their first trip to the playoffs in franchise history, looked to even the series, turning to Ted Lilly to even things up.
Lilly would retire the side in order the first three innings, but the A’s offense could get nothing going against Kenny Rogers. Soriano got aboard when Bill Mueller booted a routine grounder with one away in the fourth, would steal 2nd, but advanced no farther. Things remained scoreless through 5, as the Indians still had yet to get a hit, and the crowd was starting to buzz with thoughts of a no hitter. Lilly plunked Erstad in the leg with an errant curve in the 6th. The former Husker punter would advance to second on a groundout and steal 3rd, but was stranded when Soriano flew out to end the inning. The A’s offense woke up in the 6th, with Lew Ford scoring on a single by Hafner. Mueller would come home on a sac fly to center by Konerko. Nomar followed that with a home run deep to left to make it 4-0. The A’s would add 3 more the next inning when Konerko homered to left center to make it 7-0, and all that remained to be seen was if Lilly could finish off the no hitter. In the eighth, Lilly struck out the side to bring his total for the evening to 13 strikeouts. We’ll join Fox’s Joe Buck and Tim McCarver for the final inning.
“Ted Lilly finishing his warm-up pitches, 3 outs away from history. Brad Geiss is going to pinch hit for Erstad with Valderrama to lead off the 9th.”
“I guess he wants some speed Joe. I tell you this reminds me of Game 1 of the 1968 World Series. Bob Gibson struck out 17 Tigers! Willie Horton swung and missed at a slider for the last out of the game that started behind him. He grunted as he swung because he was sure the ball hit him!”
“ Fastball inside. What a spot to put Valderrama in, only played in 3 games in the regular season, makes the playoff roster and here he is trying to stop Ted Lilly from becoming an October immortal. Called strike one on the outside corner. Lilly started the inning at 110 pitches, so you know he’s tired. Fouled away, 2 strikes on Valderrama.”
“One of the finest performances I’ve ever seen Joe.”
“Curveball in the dirt for ball two. The crowd is on their feet, they want strikeout number fourteen. Fouled straight back. Two and two the count on Valderrama. Hit on the ground to Mueller, over to Konerko, one away. That’ll bring in Vizquel.”
“Vizquel was on the Indians in 1995 when Tom Glavine one hit them to clinch the World Series at Fulton County Stadium Joe, so he’s been in this spot before.”
“Called strike one right down the middle. Soriano waits on deck, one of only two Indians to get on base today. Lilly misses with a fastball low, the count is even at one. Lilly’s motioning for the ball, he wants to work fast. On the ground to Mueller, over to Konerko, two away!’
“Lilly has gone all fastballs since missing with the curve. He’s at 119 pitches Joe, Soriano has to be his last batter.”
“Ted Lilly, one out away from history. Lilly grew up in Oakhurst, California, lots of family in the stands. Ball one high. Lilly was 13 during the Bay World Series in 1989 and the way this crowd is, I think you could feel the stadium shaking on the Richter Scale. Ball two. He’s really tired. Call strike out the outside corner, two and one to Soriano. Fly ball to right field, Ford coming on, and Ted Lilly has thrown a no hitter! The first playoff no hitter since Mark Buehrle in 2002. Nine innings, no hits, 13 strikeouts, an absolutely dominating performance by the lefthander.”
To get everything rolling, we're going to post the greatest games in IBC history. We've got 21 games selected as the best, most important games in league history picked and ranked. Aaron went ahead and provided very amusing radio play-by-play and commentary for each game, so hats off to him for that.
Before we get into our top 21 games, we've got two no-hitters to share and launch everything. Then we'll start hitting the top 21 one game per day starting tomorrow.
No. 21: Vazquez Leaves Trail of Tears, Game 3, 2005 World Series
No. 20: Escape from New York, Game 5, 2011 World Series
No. 19: Tigers Roar Back, Advance to ALCS, Game 5, 2009 ALDS
No. 18: Coming of Ace: Wainwright pitches Cardinals into World Series, Game 6, 2008 NLCS
No. 17: The Empire Strikes First, Game 1, 2004 World Series
No. 16: Giant Comeback, Game 1, 2005 NLDS
No. 15: Casey at the Bat, Game 6, 2010 NLCS
No. 14: Freebyrd and the Uggla Duckling, Game 5s, 2011 NLDS
No. 13: Oh Mo, Game 6, 2009 ALCS
No. 12: Snakes Rattle & Roll to NL Crown, Games 5 and 6, 2003 NLCS
No. 11: A's Good as it Gets, Game 5, 2007 ALDS
No. 10: Too Much BS: Angels Beat Gagne (Again), Game 5, 2002 ALDS
No. 9: Fish and Hits: Chipper sends Marlins to NLCS, Game 4, 2006 NLDS
No. 8: Ranger Danger, Game 7, 2012 ALCS
No. 7: The Slam, Game 163, 2008
No. 6: St. Louis Blue, Game 7, 2008 World Series
***
“Buehrle No-No Brings Cubs to Cusp of Title,” Game 5, 2002 World Series
Game 5 of the 2002 World Series looked to be a strong pitching performance, as Mark Buehrle squared off with Matt Morris. The series was deadlocked at two games apiece. The Angels made a miracle run to get into the playoffs, then had three comeback wins against the White Sox to advance to the ALCS, then survived a hard hitting series with the Red Sox. The Cubs rolled through the NL playoffs, sweeping the NLCS and losing only one NLDS game. The Cubs were heavily favored but there was a little magic in the air with the Angels.
The Cubs jumped ahead early with a run in the bottom of the first, then added two more in the third. Bobby Higginson would add a two run blast in the 5th to make the score 5-0. Meanwhile, Mark Buehrle was tossing a gem. He had a no hitter through 8 innings, and had only walked two batters. *We do not have play by play for the 2002-2003 seasons so what follows may not have been what actually occurred, but hey, I’m doing the work here so shut up and deal with it.*
“Mark Buehrle takes the mound for the 9th, on the verge of history. Not since Don Larsen in 1956 have we been this close to a no hitter in the playoffs. Now the lefty will face Conine, Beltre and Bernie Williams here in the 9th.”
“Joe, I was with your dad in Minnesota in 1991 when Jack Morris threw 10 shutout innings in Game 7 of the World Series and I thought that was the best performance I had seen in a World Series game by a pitcher since I retired, but this has topped it.”
“Conine steps in, the hero of the ALCS and owner of a World Series ring from 1997. He swings at the first pitch and pops it up to first. Helton is there and he makes the play. That’ll bring Adrian Beltre to the plate, hitting under .200 for the series so far.”
“This Cub pitching staff has dominated the Angels all series Joe, without some timely performances by the Angels pitching staff this series could well be in the books tonight.”
“Beltre takes ball one outside. He’s batting leadoff tonight as Nick Perry has tried to shake things up and get the offense going. Ground ball to third, Rolen up and over to first, two down. Bernie Williams is the last hope for the Angels.”
“Well if you need one guy in this lineup to give you a good at bat and keep the game alive Joe, it would be Bernie Williams. He has four World Series rings from his time with the Yankees.”
“Bernie swings at the first pitch, in the air to Bobby Higgenson. Mark Buehrle has pitched the first playoff no hitter since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956! The Angels backs are against the wall. What a performance by the young left hander.”
Code: Select all
10/23/2002, Ana02-ChN02, Wrigley Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2002 Anaheim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
2002 Chicago (N) 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 x 5 11 0 6 1
Anaheim AB R H BI AVG Chicago (N) AB R H BI AVG
Beltre 3b 4 0 0 0 .118 Eckstein ss 3 2 2 0 .389
Williams,B cf 2 0 0 0 .056 Rolen 3b 4 1 2 0 .333
Boone 2b 2 0 0 0 .222 Helton 1b 4 0 0 1 .063
Gonzalez lf 3 0 0 0 .000 Guerrero rf 4 0 0 0 .125
Olerud 1b 3 0 0 0 .214 Ortiz 2b 4 1 2 1 .214
Lo Duca c 3 0 0 0 .118 Higginson lf 4 1 4 3 .545
Salmon rf 3 0 0 0 .267 Rowand cf 4 0 0 0 .118
Guzman ss 3 0 0 0 .188 Cardona c 0 0 0 0 .000
Morris p 2 0 0 0 .000 Ausmus c 4 0 1 0 .200
Conine ph 1 0 0 0 .250 Matos cf 0 0 0 0 .000
26 0 0 0 Buehrle p 3 0 0 0 .000
34 5 11 5
Anaheim INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Morris L 1-1 8.0 11 5 5 0 5 117 78 3.18
8.0 11 5 5 0 5 117 78
Chicago (N) INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Buehrle W 1-1 9.0 0 0 0 2 2 104 64 2.12
9.0 0 0 0 2 2 104 64
Ana: Conine batted for Morris in the 9th
ChN: Cardona inserted at c in the 9th
Matos inserted at cf in the 9th
2B-Rolen, Ortiz, Higginson. HR-Higginson(1). K-Gonzalez, Morris, Rolen,
Guerrero, Ausmus, Buehrle 2. BB-Williams,B, Boone. HBP-Eckstein. HB-Morris.
GWRBI: Helton
Temperature: 52, Sky: clear, Wind: in from right at 7 MPH.
“Lilly Comes Up Roses,” Game 4, 2005 ALCS
The Indians entered Game 4 of the ALCS at the Oakland Coliseum holding two games to one advantage in the series. With both AL East powers eliminated in the first round, the path was clear for one of the underdogs to make it to the World Series against the Giants, who had a three to one series lead after missing a sweep against the Astros earlier in the afternoon. The veteran heavy Indians, who won the NL Central the year before, seemed ready to take their first pennant, while the A’s, in their first trip to the playoffs in franchise history, looked to even the series, turning to Ted Lilly to even things up.
Lilly would retire the side in order the first three innings, but the A’s offense could get nothing going against Kenny Rogers. Soriano got aboard when Bill Mueller booted a routine grounder with one away in the fourth, would steal 2nd, but advanced no farther. Things remained scoreless through 5, as the Indians still had yet to get a hit, and the crowd was starting to buzz with thoughts of a no hitter. Lilly plunked Erstad in the leg with an errant curve in the 6th. The former Husker punter would advance to second on a groundout and steal 3rd, but was stranded when Soriano flew out to end the inning. The A’s offense woke up in the 6th, with Lew Ford scoring on a single by Hafner. Mueller would come home on a sac fly to center by Konerko. Nomar followed that with a home run deep to left to make it 4-0. The A’s would add 3 more the next inning when Konerko homered to left center to make it 7-0, and all that remained to be seen was if Lilly could finish off the no hitter. In the eighth, Lilly struck out the side to bring his total for the evening to 13 strikeouts. We’ll join Fox’s Joe Buck and Tim McCarver for the final inning.
“Ted Lilly finishing his warm-up pitches, 3 outs away from history. Brad Geiss is going to pinch hit for Erstad with Valderrama to lead off the 9th.”
“I guess he wants some speed Joe. I tell you this reminds me of Game 1 of the 1968 World Series. Bob Gibson struck out 17 Tigers! Willie Horton swung and missed at a slider for the last out of the game that started behind him. He grunted as he swung because he was sure the ball hit him!”
“ Fastball inside. What a spot to put Valderrama in, only played in 3 games in the regular season, makes the playoff roster and here he is trying to stop Ted Lilly from becoming an October immortal. Called strike one on the outside corner. Lilly started the inning at 110 pitches, so you know he’s tired. Fouled away, 2 strikes on Valderrama.”
“One of the finest performances I’ve ever seen Joe.”
“Curveball in the dirt for ball two. The crowd is on their feet, they want strikeout number fourteen. Fouled straight back. Two and two the count on Valderrama. Hit on the ground to Mueller, over to Konerko, one away. That’ll bring in Vizquel.”
“Vizquel was on the Indians in 1995 when Tom Glavine one hit them to clinch the World Series at Fulton County Stadium Joe, so he’s been in this spot before.”
“Called strike one right down the middle. Soriano waits on deck, one of only two Indians to get on base today. Lilly misses with a fastball low, the count is even at one. Lilly’s motioning for the ball, he wants to work fast. On the ground to Mueller, over to Konerko, two away!’
“Lilly has gone all fastballs since missing with the curve. He’s at 119 pitches Joe, Soriano has to be his last batter.”
“Ted Lilly, one out away from history. Lilly grew up in Oakhurst, California, lots of family in the stands. Ball one high. Lilly was 13 during the Bay World Series in 1989 and the way this crowd is, I think you could feel the stadium shaking on the Richter Scale. Ball two. He’s really tired. Call strike out the outside corner, two and one to Soriano. Fly ball to right field, Ford coming on, and Ted Lilly has thrown a no hitter! The first playoff no hitter since Mark Buehrle in 2002. Nine innings, no hits, 13 strikeouts, an absolutely dominating performance by the lefthander.”
Code: Select all
10/15/2005, Cle05-Oak05, McAfee Coliseum
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2005 Indians 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1
2005 Athletics 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 0 x 7 15 1 9 0
Indians AB R H BI AVG Athletics AB R H BI AVG
Vizquel ss 4 0 0 0 .214 Ford rf 5 2 3 0 .381
Soriano 2b 4 0 0 0 .000 Mueller 2b 5 1 1 0 .222
Lowell 3b 3 0 0 0 .250 Hafner dh 4 2 2 1 .250
Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 .143 Konerko 1b 4 1 2 4 .188
Lopez,J c 3 0 0 0 .188 Garciaparra ss 4 1 2 2 .267
Edmonds cf 3 0 0 0 .200 Martinez c 3 0 0 0 .250
Wilkerson rf 3 0 0 0 .294 Rivera cf 4 0 4 0 .353
Alou dh 3 0 0 0 .250 LeCroy lf 4 0 1 0 .250
Erstad lf 1 0 0 0 .154 Youkilis 3b 4 0 0 0 .000
Valderrama ph 1 0 0 0 .000 37 7 15 7
28 0 0 0
Indians INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Rogers L 0-1 6.1 12 7 7 0 1 75 48 9.95
Mallette 1.2 3 0 0 2 1 26 12 0.00
8.0 15 7 7 2 2 101 60
Athletics INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Lilly W 1-0 9.0 0 0 0 0 13 123 78 0.00
9.0 0 0 0 0 13 123 78
Cle: Valderrama batted for Erstad in the 9th
E-Erstad, Mueller. 2B-Konerko, Rivera, LeCroy. HR-Konerko(1), Garciaparra(1).
SB-Soriano(1), Erstad(2). K-Vizquel, Lowell, Morneau, Lopez,J 2, Edmonds 3,
Wilkerson 2, Alou 3, Hafner, LeCroy. BB-Hafner, Martinez. SF-Konerko.
HBP-Erstad. HB-Lilly.
GWRBI: Hafner
Temperature: 69, Sky: clear, Wind: out to right at 12 MPH.