1991 Minnesota Twins
Every game in a World Series is important, of course, but all pale in comparison to Game 7. It could be the most bland 3-2 game played with no extra base hits and hardly any strikeouts, yet every moment will have every nerve on edge for the very reason that it all comes down to this. So when you play in a Game 7 nail biter a night after a dramatic walk-off homer, then history will remember your victory as something a little extra special, with Hall of Fame tickets being punched as a result of one amazing performance.
It had only been four years since their previous title, but there were very few players from that team left in Minnesota when 1991 began. They were coming off a last place finish and not expected to compete for the pennant. To hammer that point home, the Twins started off as expected as they languished in 5th place in the AL West. Then they rattled off an amazing 15 game winning streak that saw them surge to 1st place in the division and stake their intent to winning now. The rest of the way they would successfully fend off the field and claim a spot in the playoffs with a 95-67 record, 8 games over the 2nd place White Sox.
The Toronto Blue Jays offered little resistance in the ALCS as the Twins easily took the series 4-1 to meet the Braves in the World Series. Both Atlanta and Minnesota had been last place teams in 1990, so this WS would be to feature both teams as worst-to-first for the pennant, with the winner getting the distinction of being the first such world champion in baseball history. As easy as it had been for Manager Tom Kelly and his team to beat the Blue Jays, the Braves would prove to be a bit more tricky.
A dominant start by Jack Morris and a clutch home run by Scott Leius would give Minnesota a quick 2-0 lead in the series, but when the scene shifted from their home park to Atlanta, the tide turned abruptly. Game 3 went to 12 innings that ended in the Braves' favor with a play at the plate where David Justice beat the tag to win it, then the next night Mark Lemke beat a tag as well to walk it off in the 9th and tying up the series. The Braves then blew out Game 5 in the late innings to go up 3-2 in the series.
Game 6 was back at home for the Twins where they would twice go up in the game only for the Braves to tie it back up. As the game went into the 11th inning, Kirby Puckett was due up to hit, where he opined about strategically bunting to get on base. Chili Davis offered a different plan of attack: "Hit it out and let's go home." It what would be the defining moment of his already Hall of Fame career, Puckett would hit the walk-off homer that tied up the series and forced the decisive Game 7.
The was no question to who the Twins would pitch in Game 7 as ace Jack Morris went to work and made quick work of the Braves through the night. John Smoltz of Atlanta was just as effective as both sides put up 0s inning after inning. Jack Morris was pitching the game of his life, but he needed a little unconventional help in the 8th. With no one out and Lonnie Smith on 1st, Terry Pendleton put a ball into the gap on a hit-and-run. With Smith in motion of such a hit, he normally would score, but quick thinking by Chuck Knoblauch and Greg Gagne made him hesitate. The Twins infielders feigned that they were completing a double-play, causing Smith to slow down and he ultimately only went to 3rd base. Morris didn't waste the 2nd chance and worked out of the jam to keep the score at 0-0. Knoblauch and Gagne would prove to save the title with that move of theirs.
The game stayed scoreless into the 10th inning, there Jack Morris was still on the mound for the Twins and constantly arguing with Kelly over being taken out. It helped that as his pitch count went over 120, he was still retiring the Braves with ease. After the 8th inning jam, the Braves were unable to muster any offense as Morris took them down 1-2-3 in the 10th inning. In the bottom half, Tim Kelly was running out of players and pinch-hit an injured Gene Larkin, who responded with a bases loaded hit to finally score a run and give Minnesota their 2nd title (3rd in franchise history) to win a wild Game 7 1-0.
Just like in 1987, the Twins would win every home World Series game and lose every road game. Thankfully both times they had home field advantage. To those who are wondering, the Twins franchise to this day have a 2-16 record on the road in World Series play. They're a more respectable 17-5 at home.
