Greatest League Division Series Moments

The League Division Series has existed from 1995-The Present. There was also NL and AL Division Series’ following the Strike-Shortened 1981 season.

Tony Pena HR in 13th: Game 1 (October 3, 1995): Tony Pena’s home run off Zane Smith in the 13th gave the Tribe a 5-4 win. It was one of the first real dramatic LDS moments.
On another note, Boston won Game 5 of the 1986 World Series and did not win another Post Season game until Game 1 of the 1998 ALDS. The streak hit 11 games.

Griffey’s mad dash: Game 5 (October 8, 1995): The greatest LDS ever was in 1995. The Yanks held a 2-0 series lead and blew it. In Game 5, they held a 4-2 lead in the 8th. The Mariners tied it. In the bottom of the 11th, Edgar Martinez doubled in Ken Griffey Jr and the M’s went wild. Randy Johnson came into the game in the 9th and got the win.

Pedro pitches in relief: Game 5 (October 11, 1999): Boston had not won a playoff series since 1986. After three innings, the Tribe led 8-7. Pedro Martinez came into the game in the 4th inning and finished the game out. The Red Sox won 12-8.

Jeter’s throw: Game 3 (October 13, 2001): The A’s beat the Yanks in the first two games of the ALDS. The Yankees led 1-0 into the bottom of the 7th. With 2 out, Jason Giambi singled. Torrence Long doubled to right. Shane Spencer missed the cutoff man. Jeter noticed and swiftly reacted. He ran down the line, grabbed the ball 20 feet from home, and whirled home. He had no time to set. Giambi was out. The Yankees won 1-0 and they would win the series in five.

Pudge holds the ball: Game 4 (October 4, 2003): The Marlins led the Giants 2-1 in the NLDS and 7-5 in the 9th of Game 4. The Giants rallied for one and the tying run, J.T. Snow, was thrown out at home. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez held onto the ball for the win.

Ortiz 10th inning HR ends series: (October 8, 2004): Boston has Anaheim’s number. Leading two games to none in the ‘04 LDS, the Sox were tied with Anaheim in the 10th. David Ortiz hit a 2 run shot to win the game and the series.

Chris Burke hits HR in 18th: Game 4 (October 9, 2005): The Braves and Astros went 18 innings. Chris Burke hit a walk-off home run and won the series…in the 18th inning.

Clemens comes in to pitch in relief: Game 4 (October 9, 2005): In the aforementioned 18 inning contest, Roger Clemens came into pitch in the 16th inning. He was the Astros last available pitcher and got the win.

Kenny Rogers handcuffs Yanks: Game 3 (October 6, 2006): Kenny Rogers was a terrible postseason pitcher. That changed in 2006 when he became the first pitcher since Christy Mathewson in 1905 to have three scoreless postseason starts. This was the first of those three starts.

Bondo has perfecto through 5: Tigers beat Yanks: Game 4 (October 7, 2006): The Yankees were hitless until the 6th inning. Bonderman went 8 1/3 for the win and the Tigers wiped the Yankees out of the postseason.