What was the most Memorable Game You have sen in person?

ChuckRoss · #1 07-11-2009, 07:10 AM

I remember seeing a number of great Orioles games over the decades and can still picture the triple play they pulled off against the Yankees in the late 80's. But for me the most memorable game was the last game at Memorial Stadium. The game ended and no one there knew what was going to happen...were we just going to leave or did the O's have something planned? As people started shuffling around to get out of there while taking one last look, the music from Field of Dreams started playing and slowly, one at a time, all the O's greats (Brooks, Frank R, Boog Powell, etc) jogged out to their former positions. It actually brought chills. After a short ceremony, a limousine came in and the home plate was scooped up and driven over to the home plate spot at the still unfinished Camden Yards.

Exhibitman · #2 07-11-2009, 07:29 AM

1976 Game 3. Damned Reds...

ullmandds · #3 07-11-2009, 07:59 AM

My most memorable game was game 4 of the 1978 world series...Dodgers v Yankees...in the bronx. Starters Ed Figueroa and Tommy John were locked in a scoreless duel before Reggie Smith struck with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth. John continued his shutout through the fifth, but, in the Yankees' half of the sixth, things got a little crazy.

Reggie Jackson finally got the Yankees on the board with a one-out RBI single. With Thurman Munson on second and Jackson on first, Lou Piniella hit a low, soft liner that shortstop Bill Russell fumbled (some claim intentionally). Russell recovered the ball and stepped on second to force Jackson, but his attempted throw to first to complete the double play struck a confused Jackson in the right hip and caromed into foul territory. Munson scored, partially because first baseman Steve Garvey stopped to yell at the first-base umpire over the non-interference call before retrieving the ball. The Dodgers' protests went for naught but would not had been necessary if Russell had made the proper play. Thinking Russell was going to catch Piniella's liner, Munson retreated to second and was thisclose to Russell when Russell stepped on second and threw to first. The inning would have been over if Russell had tagged Munson (out# 2) and stepped on second (out# 3) and the score would have remained 3-0, instead the score was then 3-2.

The Yankees tied it in the eighth when Munson doubled home Paul Blair. The score remained tied until the bottom of the tenth. Dodger rookie and Game 2 hero Bob Welch walked Roy White with one out. After Welch retired Munson, Jackson strode to the plate for his first confrontation with Welch since Game 2. This time, Reggie got the better end by singling White to second. Lou Piniella then lined a single to center, scoring White and tying the Series.

The bungled Russell/Jackson play changed the entire Series; instead of the Dodgers going up 3-1 in games, the Series was then tied and the momentum shifted to the Yankees who outscored the Dodgers 19-4 in the final two games.

And if this wasn't enough...I caught a foul ball off the bat of Reggie Smith. What a game for a 9 yr old!

pete ullman

Jay Wolt · #4 07-11-2009, 08:00 AM

I've been fortunate to see perhaps 200 games from Mickey Mantle day in '69 to the opening of the "new" Yankee Stadium in '76 to all the playoff & World Series games in NY in 1981.

My favorite game was in 1981 on a cold dreary day in Sept when the Yanks faced Cleveland. John Denny was pitching and through tight at Reggie and the struck him out. Words were exchanged, nothing else. Reggie's next at bat he hits a titantic homer off of Denny and stood and watched it and slowly jogged around the bases where Denny was just about following him from 2nd to home yelling at him. Reggie stepped on home plate and went up to Denny and a fight ensued, both benchs emptied. Reggie had to be retrained and carried off the field, he was laughing the whole time.
While the fight was slowing down, Lou Piniella came charging out of the dugout towards the Indians. We assumed he was on the can when it first happened.

Old Mill Man · #5 07-11-2009, 08:13 AM

In the 75 World series I was at game six and saw Carlton Fisk win the game as he jubiliantly waved his hands for the ball to stay fair and it was such a great moment I was only 13 then.Is that lucky?,LOl ;-)

canjond · #6 07-11-2009, 08:18 AM

Jim Abbotts no-no on 9/4/93 again the Cleveland Indians. Boggs made an incredible play early in the game to save the no hitter. Who knew at the time how big that play would be.

It was an incredible moment to watch a pitcher with one hand achieve such an amazing feat.

terjung · #7 07-11-2009, 08:24 AM

I don't have any legendary games under my belt, but I was able to get to see the Rays beat the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series last year (the Rays only win). The atmosphere was electric and it was an experience that I will never forget.

rdixon1208 · #8 07-11-2009, 08:35 AM

I got to see Craig Biggio get his 3,000 hit here in Houston.

Jacklitsch · #9 07-11-2009, 08:47 AM

This one is easy.

May 12, 1970 Wrigley Field, Chicago. Braves vs. Cubs.

Pat Jarvis serves up Ernie's 500th home run. I'm in the left field bleachers. The ball comes zooming toward me but the guy in front of me has the chance. Ball bounces off his hands back onto the field. Rico Carty picks up the ball and runs it in to give to Ernie.

It was a chilly, misty day, attendance 5,246 though I'm sure you'd find 20,000fans in Chicago who would claim to have been there. Me, I can prove it as I got my picture in next days paper.

jimonym · #10 07-11-2009, 08:52 AM

ALCS Game 5 (October 18, 2004).
Stage 2 in Boston's epic comeback/NY's epic collapse.
14 innings, five hours and forty-nine minutes.
David Ortiz won it with a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the 14th, after a 10-pitch at bat...
I still haven't heard another Fenway roar to match it.

yanks12025 · #11 07-11-2009, 08:56 AM

Game 2 of the 2004 ALDS Twins vs. Yankees. The Yankees won in extra innings.

jimonym,
2004 Red Sox*

T206Collector · #12 07-11-2009, 06:50 PM

My top 5 are probably:

The "Aaron Boone" game -- 2003 ALCS Game 7
Game 7 of the 1986 WS
Jeter's "Mr. November" Game -- 2001 WS Game 4
Cone and Well's perfect games (1999 and 1998 respectively)

I also saw Al Leiter throw a no-hitter against the Rockies on May 11, 1996 in Miami.

sealmark2 · #13 07-11-2009, 06:57 PM

How about TWO no hitters four months apart? I was at Catfish's perfecto on May 8, 1968 and Gaylord's no-no on September 17, of that year. In those days the players were really cooperative so I have autographed programs and ticket stubs framed on my office wall from both games. No I did not work at the ballparks I just happened to hit it right as a fan.

Also, regarding Catfish's feat the story would have you believe there were thousands of people in the stands. Just ask any A's fan. In fact there were probably 1000 +/- of us at the conclusion when Roseboro fanned.

Mark K. Bowers
(sealmark)

Danny Smith · #14 07-12-2009, 08:44 AM

I have not seen anything in person in comparison to some of the stories previously mentioned, but i'm pretty sure after I go to the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game on Monday and Tuesday those will top my list for a long time to come.

Danny

packs · #15 07-12-2009, 10:18 PM

I was lucky enough to see what I think is still the last recorded unassisted triple play, Randy Velarde's at Yankee Stadium.

But the best ever was David Cone's Perfect Game against the Expos.

Andy Baran · #16 07-13-2009, 08:27 AM

Game 4 of the 2004 World Series in St. Louis. My wait for the Sox to win the Championship was over, and I was there!

Jewish-collector · #17 07-13-2009, 09:29 AM

Game 7 of the 1979 World Series vs Pirates at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. O's lost, of course

They could never beat Pittsburgh.

Koufax · #18 07-13-2009, 09:53 AM

Mine was George Brett's pine tar game in '83. Sat 4th row behind Royals dugout. Amazing what unfolded that day. Memories:
- Gossage was throwing absolute beebies, only Brett could get around on smoke like that
- Fans really didn't have any idea what Brett was called out for. We knew it had something to do with the bat, fans were clueless about the pine tar rule prior to that day.
- When we left the stadium, we knew it was an interesting occurrence, but had no idea it would capture such attention for such a long time.

Fast forward to late 1984. I'm in a book store and I see a book called "Pine Tarred and Feathered", covering the 1983 season. I'm flipping thru the book, looking at pictures, and see photos to the pine tar game. After a minute or two, I think "Hey, I was at that game!". Lo and behold, there I am in 2 photos in the book in the background as Brett is storming out of the dugout. Then I look at the cover of the book ... and yes, there's me, front and center watching Brett run out of the dugout. My 2 minutes of fame! Needless to say, I bought the book and my kids have gotten a big kick out of it.

As with others on this thread, I was also at Seaver's 300th at Yankee Stadium, watching his White Sox beat the Yankees. Seaver was my childhood hero, so it was an amazing game to attend. Also, was the last game I ever went to with my folks.

Rickyy · #19 07-13-2009, 04:30 PM

I don't remember the specific games as they were all regular season or exhibitions, but I do recall seeing the players.

Lotte Orions vs SF Giants this was an exhibition game between the 1971 Japanese Pacific League Champions vs the SF Giants. The Japanese team came to train with the Giants in Casa Grande and they did an friendly game at Candlestick. It was memorable because this was the only time I saw Wille Mays play in person. Willie McCovey also played a few innings and a couple of Japanese hall of famers as well and George Altman who was a big american star in Japan at the time.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs SF Giants - I'm thinking this was 1972? Memorable because I saw Roberto Clemente play in person (his last year) and ofcoruse Pops Stargell. I recall Clemente made a rocket throw to home to prevent a runner from scoring.

Oakland A's vs Texas Rangers 1974. I recall it was Glenn Abbot vs Jackie Brown...Billy Martin had the Rangers competitive with Jim Bibby and Ferguson Jenkins that year. I saw Rudi, Jackson, Bando, Green, Tenance...the 2nd year of their 3 straight world series champions. I think Reggie hit a double and the A's won ofcourse.

Giants vs Dodgers 1978 ... I sat in the bleachers in the upperdeck in an August day game and it was still freezing cold! I don't recall the score, but I remember Ron Cey killing my Giants again!

Ricky Y

DixieBaseball · #20 07-13-2009, 10:26 PM

- Music City Miracle... This playoff game was by far the most memorable game I have ever seen and it was in Nashville!

-The second most memorable game for me was seeing Michael Jordan playing for the B-Ham Barons against the Nashville Xpress in 93-94ish... I had front row seats in Right field and a Hitachi 8mm in hand, and recorded the whole game as I sat and watched him play right field, bat, etc... (You gotta remember, at the time, he had just won 3 straight rings and was a living legend, so the ball park at Greer Stadium was sold out and rocking)

- My third most memorable game was probably an assortment of games I saw as a kid... The Big Red Machine in the mid to late 70's w/ Charlie Hustle, George Foster, and the HOF gang as well as the Atlanta Braves w/ Dale Murphy,Bob Horner, and Niekro... (I lived 3 hours between both cities, so it was an annual trip... Good memories - Great Thread!)

jobermeyer2 · #21 07-14-2009, 08:34 PM

I got laid off on a Thursday in October, 1995. The good news is I had already purchased my Seattle Mariners playoff package, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday!

Game 5, 1995, Divisional Series, Mariners vs. Yankees. As a Mariners fan, it was about as good as it gets. Randy Johnson comes out of the bullpen late in the game (I think the 9th) after pitching in Game 3 two days earlier. Cora's bunt single... Griffey's single up the middle... and Edgar's double down the left field line put the Mariners in the ALCS. Bedlam ensued. It was awesome.

Jeff

MVSNYC · #22 07-14-2009, 08:45 PM

growing-up in NY, i've been to a ton of Yankees & Mets games...one of the best i've seen in person, was Robin Ventura's "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 NLCS...it was raining, and the game seemed to have lasted forever!

The Mets tied the score 3�3 with a bases-loaded walk with one out in the 15th, bringing up Ventura, he came thru with the first walk-off grand slam�and the first grand slam in extra innings�in postseason history, clearing the center-right field wall and forcing Game 6, but is officially credited with only a 1-run single after being mobbed by teammates upon passing first base.

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