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Most Significant Sports History on October 14th
Learn about October 14th's most significant sports history including the Steve Bartman incident, the AL's first Champion, iconic celebrations, and more!
Morry Gash / AP Images
Deep in the midst of postseason baseball, October 14th is filled with memorable playoff and World Series moments. A day known for iconic bat flips and walk-off celebrations at home plate, nothing may be more memorable than what occurred at Wrigley Field in 2003 that all but ruined an innocuous Cubs fan’s life. Additionally, one of the NFL’s all-time greatest duos put together a record-setting performance en route to a record-extending victory.
YEAR: 2003
SIGNIFICANCE: Cubs’ fan Steve Bartman disrupts a potential catch; Marlins follow up with 8 runs in NLCS Game 6
In the 8th inning of NLCS Game 6 between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins, Cubs fan Steve Bartman stretched his arms out for a foul ball, messing up a potential catch by Cubs LF Moises Alou. It would’ve been the second out of the inning, which meant that Chicago could’ve been four outs away from their first World Series since 1945. Mark Prior, who prior to the incident had allowed just three hits and no runs, ended up walking Luis Castillo, the batter during that whole scene. What followed is “Exhibit A” of the “Curse of the Billy Goat”.
The Marlins went on to score eight runs in that same inning, all following Alou’s and Bartman’s controversy and ended up winning the game 8-3. The next night, Florida won 9-6 and extended the Cubs’ NL Pennant drought to 57 years. It would take until 2015 for the Cubs to win another postseason game and until ‘16 to finally reach the World Series and win the whole thing, breaking a 108-year dry spell.
YEAR: 2015
SIGNIFICANCE: Jose Bautista‘s go-ahead HR in the 7th inning was followed by an iconic bat flip in the winner-take-all ALDS Gm5
In one of the most eventful single-innings in recent postseason history, OF Jose Bautista clobbered one of the most iconic home runs in baseball history when he took RP Sam Dyson deep into the left field seats. Bautista stared at the baseball and delivered the single-most incredible bat flip ever. The home run and the flip were generation-defining moments for Canadian baseball fans, one that is carved into most of sports fans brains all across the world.
It was Game 5 of the ALDS, a winner-take-all game, and the home run followed the half inning where Rougned Odor scored on an E2, giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning. In the bottom half, the Rangers infield, specifically Elvis Andrus, had some key errors that led to Bautista’s three-run bomb. Toronto ended up scoring four runs on three hits and three errors during that pivotal frame. The entire seventh inning lasted a whopping 53 minutes that day and is cemented in baseball history forever.
Scenes of the crowd, 1906 World Series (Cubs v White Sox) http://t.co/Q9lDIIRM4q via @DPLA pic.twitter.com/QAGOhMGnrs
— Slate Vault (@SlateVault) October 23, 2014
YEAR: 1906
SIGNIFICANCE: The Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs in the 1st all-Chicago World Series (4-2)
On this day in 1906, the Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-3 to win the first ever Crosstown Series. The White Sox’s 4-2 series defeat was very impressive, as they took down the giants of the National League, winners of 115 regular season games. The Sox were led by Hall of Fame SP Ed Walsh, who posted a 0.66 ERA in 15 innings after recording a 1.88 ERA during the regular season. The White Sox scored 19 runs in the whole series, and all but one run was driven in by just four hitters: HOFer George Davis had 6 RBI while George Rohe, Jiggs Donahue and Frank Isbell all had 4 apiece.
YEAR: 1992
SIGNIFICANCE: Braves won Game 7 of the NLCS over the Pirates on a walk-off hit followed by a memorable celebration at the plate
28 years ago, the Atlanta Braves walked-off the Pittsburgh Pirates to win Game 7 of the NLCS after entering the 9th inning down two runs. Ron Gant hit a sac-fly to make it a one run game before Francisco Cabrera delivered the RBI-single that scored David Justice and Sid Bream, who barely beat Barry Bonds‘ weak throw from left field.
The celebration that followed the game-winning run scoring is one of the most memorable from baseball in the 90’s; a pile of bodies at home plate with 52,000 fans going absolutely mad in Fulton County Stadium. This walk-off sent the Braves to their second straight World Series and the second of their five eventual trips to the Fall Classic during the ’90s decade. Atlanta would go on to play the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1992 World Series, and fall short for the second straight season.
YEAR: 1990
SIGNIFICANCE: HOF Joe Montana threw for 476 yards and 6 TDs where HOF Jerry Rice became the 1st WR with 5 REC TD
In a 45-35 shootout victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the San Francisco 49ers’ famed pitch-and-catch duo combined for a legendary performance. On 32 completions (49 attempts), QB Joe Montana recorded a career-high 476 yards and a franchise-record six TDs while also throwing two interceptions. WR Jerry Rice’s stat line was even more impressive, hauling in 13 passes for 225 yards and a NFL record-tying five touchdowns.
Originally set by Bob Shaw in 1950, Rice was the second player to ever tie the record after Kellen Winslow in 1980 but the first receiver to haul in 5 TD passes (both were TEs). After jumping out to a 45-21 lead in the 4th quarter, the win bumped the 49ers to 5-0 on the season and extended the reigning 2x Super Bowl champions’ record streak of 13 consecutive road victories.
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