1987 National League Championship Series
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The 1987 National League Championship Series took place between October 6 and October 14 at Busch Stadium (Games 1, 2, 6, and 7) and Candlestick Park (Games 3, 4, and 5). It matched up the St. Louis Cardinals (95-67) and the San Francisco Giants (90-72), with the Cardinals winning in seven games. They would then lose in the 1987 World Series to the Minnesota Twins.
San Francisco's Jeffrey Leonard would be named the series MVP despite the fact that his Giants lost the series. Oddly enough, this was the second consecutive year the NLCS MVP came from the losing team, following Mike Scott winning the award with the Houston Astros the previous year; however, to date, Leonard is the last player in any postseason series (League Championship Series or World Series) to achieve such a disinction.
Umpires: John Kibler, Ed Montague, Dave Pallone, Eric Gregg, Jim Quick, Bob Engel
Television: NBC (Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola announcing)
Series MVP: Jeffrey Leonard, San Francisco
Contents |
[edit] Series summary
[edit] Game 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| W: Greg Mathews (1-0) L: Rick Reuschel (0-1) SV: Ken Dayley (1) | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – Jeffrey Leonard (1) STL – None | ||||||||||||
[edit] Game 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| W: Dave Dravecky (1-0) L: John Tudor (0-1) SV: None | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – Will Clark (1) Jeffrey Leonard (2) STL – None | ||||||||||||
[edit] Game 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
| San Francisco | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Bob Forsch (1-0) L: Don Robinson (0-1) SV: Todd Worrell (1) | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – Jeffrey Leonard (3) Harry Spilman (1) STL – Jim Lindeman (1) | ||||||||||||
In Game 3, Joe Magrane (STL) and Atlee Hammaker (SF) were set to face off. The matchup was not expected to be quite as low scoring as the series had been to date. The predictions were correct, as San Francisco broke first with four runs in the first three innings, looking to take the series lead. In the second inning, consecutive hits from Chili Davis, Will Clark and Bob Brenly put the Giants on the board. Yet another home run from Leonard tacked on a 4th run in the 3rd.
After looking completely beaten through 5 innings, the Cardinals heated things up in the 6th with a 2-run home run from hot-hitting Lindeman, and then a triple by Willie McGee. But, in the 7th is when they really made their attack, not only tying the game, but scoring four to take the lead, 6-4. The four runs came on a large rally, highlighted by a 2-run single by left fielder Vince Coleman.
With right-handed Todd Worrell pitching for the Cards, manager Roger Craig pinch hit left-handed batter Harry Spilman for Robby Thompson. Spilman homered to right field, putting new life back in the Giants, even with 2 down. However, third baseman Kevin Mitchell flew out to center field, and the Cards had completed a stunning comeback.
[edit] Game 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| San Francisco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| W: Mike Krukow (1-0) L: Danny Cox (0-1) SV: None | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – Robby Thompson (1) Jeffrey Leonard (4) STL – None | ||||||||||||
[edit] Game 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| San Francisco | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Joe Price (1-0) L: Bob Forsch (1-1) SV: None | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – Kevin Mitchell (1) STL – None | ||||||||||||
[edit] Game 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| St. Louis | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| W: John Tudor (1-1) L: Dave Dravecky (1-1) SV: Ken Dayley (2) | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – None STL – None | ||||||||||||
Game 6 was possibly the most exciting game in the series, with the Cards winning in a classic 1-0 pitcher's duel. Dave Dravecky had pitched another brilliant game, but took the loss against, what some call, the gutsiest performance in the history of the LCS, while facing elimination. It came from John Tudor, who had been excellent for the Cards the entire season, going 10-2. In spite of the great performance, he was removed in the 8th, and manager Whitey Herzog called on Todd Worrell. Between Worrell and Ken Dayley, the Giants didn't get another baserunner. Before that, Tudor had shut them down, allowing 6 hits, 3 walks, and had 6 strikeouts.
The Cards' run came in the 2nd inning on a Tony Peña fly ball, infamously misplayed by Candy Maldonado for a triple, and a sacrifice fly by right fielder José Oquendo. Bob Melvin went 3-for-3 for the Giants in the loss, and not surprisingly, Jeffrey Leonard had a hit. Besides Peña, the Cards had four hits, two from Jim Lindeman, and two from Tommy Herr.
The series was going to be a 7-gamer and both teams were ready.
[edit] Game 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| St. Louis | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| W: Danny Cox (1-1) L: Atlee Hammaker (0-1) SV: None | ||||||||||||
| HRs: SFG – None STL – José Oquendo (1) | ||||||||||||
Game 7 was played on October 14, the same day little Jessica McClure fell into the well in Midland, Texas. The Cardinals jumped on Atlee Hammaker with four runs in the 2nd. Singles by Terry Pendleton, Tony Peña and Willie McGee produced the first run and José Oquendo, who had homered only once during the regular season, drilled a three-run shot to left. St. Louis added two more runs in the 6th on a two-run single by Tommy Herr. Cardinals starter Danny Cox went the distance in the 6-0 win, scattering eight hits and striking out five. The victory gave the Cardinals their 3rd pennant in six years and 15th overall.
[edit] Series stats & information
Cardinals Hitting Bests:
- Series AB's: Herr (27)
- Series Runs: Pena (5)
- Series Hits: Pena (8)
- Series Doubles: Dan Driessen (2)
- Series Triples: Pena, McGee, Terry Pendleton, Ozzie Smith (1)
- Series HR's: Oquendo, Lindeman (1)
- Series RBIs: Coleman, Oquendo (4)
- Series Base on Balls: Coleman (4)
- Series Batting Average (at least 10 at bats): Pena (.381)
Giants Hitting Bests:
- Series AB'S: Mitchell (30)
- Series Runs: Thompson (4)
- Series Hits: Leonard (10)
- Series Doubles: Clark (2)
- Series Triples: Thompson (1)
- Series HR's: Leonard (4)
- Series RBIs: Leonard (5)
- Series Base on Balls: Thompson (5)
- Series Batting Average (at least 10 at bats): Leonard (.417)
Cardinals Pitching Bests:
- Series Wins: Cox, Tudor, Mathews, Forsch (1)
- Series Saves: Dayley (2)
- Series Complete Games: Cox (2)
- Series IP: Cox (17)
- Series SO's: Tudor (12)
- Series ERA (at least 4 innings pitched): Dayley, Worrell (2.66)
Giants Pitching Bests:
- Series Wins: Dravecky, Krukow, Price (1)
- Series Saves: None
- Series Complete Games: Dravecky, Krukow (1)
- Series IP: Dravecky (15)
- Series SO's: Dravecky (14)
- Series ERA (at least 4 innings pitched): Dravecky (0.60)
[edit] Quotes of the Series
| “ | Into shallow left (field), Vince Coleman...Minnesota bound!!! - NBC Sports announcer Vin Scully calling the final out of Game 7. | ” |
| “ | Here's the pitch, swing and a fly ball, you wanna know the winner here... Coleman going to it, YOU GOT IT!! Cardinals announcer Jack Buck calling the final out of Game 7. | ” |
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