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1983 ALCS: BIGGEST COLLAPSE IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Perhaps the title is a bit of hyperbole, but to me it feels apt based on my feelings at the time. It's been a week or two (in real time) since this game happened, so the sting has worn off a bit. But I was in shock and disbelief when it unfolded.
The ALCS went down to the deciding Game 5, because of course it always does. This time we were in Baltimore. The Texas Rangers built up a nice little 3-0 lead, and had Bert Blyleven on the mound (who would later be the unanimous 1983 Cy Young winner).
All of a sudden Bert goes down with an injury in the bottom of the 6th inning, which was disappointing because he was cruising in the deciding game. It was too early to bring in the fireman Goose Gossage. I thought about bringing in Nolan Ryan, as he was rested... but decided I should keep him fresh because I planned on winning this game and going to the World Series. I brought in Charlie Hough because he had the stamina to go a few innings, and a nice knuckleball to keep the BABIP down.
Charlie does OK, but after allowing a run in the 8th, I turn to Goose Gossage in the bottom of the 9th to shut the game down. It's the obvious move, he's been the best reliever in baseball for several years running. And I just need 3 outs. All of a sudden, a walk. And then the next batter -- Butch Wynegar with only 65 career homers IRL -- goes long. It's 3-3. My ticket to the World Series is burning before my eyes.
At this point I'm in shock and just tapping the spacebar waiting for the pain to end. At some point there's 2 outs. Then a double. And another homer. This time Baltimore walks us off. Must have been fun for Orioles fans.
Goose Gossage, he of 65 or 70 Movement, gives up the game tying and ALCS walk-off home runs. I seem to remember Goose being a boob in other playoffs, and lights-out in others. But the only explanation is that the game just didn't want me to win. Yeah, I could have pulled him after the first homer. But it all happened so fast and I was pretty much resigned to my fate. Just check out the win probability graph.
Speechless.
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