Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - A Classic Fall Classic: 1987

Episode Date: November 7, 2020

The Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals faced off in the 1987 Fall Classic, which went the full seven games. In fact, this was the first World Series in which the home team won every game. It was also the first Series featuring a team that had been outscored in the regular season. There were some lopsided victories, some close ballgames, and also some great pitching performances. Also, one team hit not one, but two grand slams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thank you for tuning in to Locked-on Mariners, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Here's your host, D.C. Lundberg. Thank you very much, Joey. Another Saturday edition here on Locked-on Mariner's, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, or T-L-O-Pen, or Slopin. Please remember to download, rate, and subscribe to this program on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, or whichever podcast, and you personally care to use. Ask your smart device to play Locked-on Mariner's podcast or any program here on. Tomlopin. Follow us on Twitter at L-O-U-O-U-N-S-K-R-N-B-E-R-G, if you are scoring at home.

Yeah, another Saturday edition of this program, gang, I apologize. I just can't seem to buy a break this week. Hopefully things are starting to fall into place. Nothing really bad has happened, just kind of a lot, including some car trouble. I've had something of an illness this week. I know you guys don't care, but that is why this show is late. We're going to talk about the 1987 World Series today, which took place in 1987. Okay. Wow. Anyways, this was between the Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals. That previous comment does not bode well or how the show is going to go today.

Hopefully I get it together. This is the first World Series, ladies and gentlemen, in which one team had been outscored during the regular season. And that team was the Minnesota Twins who finished with an 85 and 77 record, which was good enough for first place in the West that year. Detroit won the Eastern Division at 98 and 64. As a matter of fact, there were four teams in the East who had better records than the Western Division winner. Detroit at 98 and 64, as we mentioned.

Toronto was 96 and 66. Milwaukee, 91 and 71, and the Yankees were 89 and 73. Minnesota, again, 85 and 77, a two-game lead over the Kansas City Royals at season's end. They would play those Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series, and they would beat them four to one. Minnesota was not what you would call a stacked team.

Offensively, they did the little things right. They got the timely hit, and they just knew how to play good fundamental baseball. Yes, they had superstar Kirby Puckett. Yes, they had some very good RBI men in Kent Herbeck, Gary Gaietti, and Tom Bernanski. But they played good, crisp, sound, fundamental baseball, and that can be attributed to their manager.

First-year manager, Tom Kelly, who would also lead them to the 1991 title. On the pitching side, they also were not all that deep there. Frank Viola had a fabulous season. 36 starts, 290 ERA, 251 and two-thirds innings pitched. Bert Blylevin was on their staff as well. He was probably their second best starter.

37 games started, 401 ERA. And then it was 28-year-old rookie Les Stryker, who had a 437 ERA. Mike Smithson did not have a very good season. Joe Necro did not have a very good season. And their bullpen was hit or miss also. However, Jeff Reardon, maybe the best closer of his day outside of Lee Smith.

On the National League side, it was the St. Louis Cardinals, who finished the regular season with a record of 95 and 67. They'd play the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship series, and that series went all seven games. In fact, the MVP of that series was a giant.

Future Mariner, Jeffrey. Leonard. The Cardinals came into the World Series somewhat hobbled as they were missing Star First Baseman Jack Clark and Star 3rd Baseman Terry Pendleton, who would later win an MVP award. They would be replaced by Jim Lindemann and Tom Lawless, respectively. There's a story about Tom Lawless that I'll tell in the second half of the show. In any case, Game 1 took place on October 17, 1987 in the Metrodome, Frank Viola starting for the twins against rookie Joe McGrane for the Cardinals, Frank Viola's brother, by the way, got married on this exact day. So it was a big day in the Viola household.

First on the board would be the Cardinals in the top of the second inning. Jim Lindeman would lead off with a double, and he'd later be driven in on an RBI groundout from catcher Tony Pena. Bottom of the fourth inning, everything changed. Gary Gaietti led off with a single. Don Baylor singled and Tom Brunanski singled to load the bases. That brought up Minnesota native Kent Herbeck, who would hit a ground ball up the middle,

scoring both Guyetti and Baylor, giving the twins a two-to-one lead. Steve Lombardoz would then walk and McGrane was finished. He'd be replaced by Bob Forch, who immediately gave up an RBI single, to Tim Laudner, who hit 191 in the regular season. Bases are still loaded for Twins lead-off hitter Dan Gladden. Not known as a power hitter, did all the little things right. Typical Minnesota twin, and I mean that in the best way possible. Well, guess what, gang?

Gladden Parks won over the left center field wall, sending Grandma to the kitchen to break out the rye bread and the mustard for a grand salami and a seven to one twins lead. Seven runs scored this inning before an out was recorded. They would not score again until the bottom of the fifth, however, on a Steve Lombardosie to run home run. The Mighty Mites kind of muscling up in this game. Dan Gladden would later add another RBI on a double to score Lombardosie in the seven. inning for a 10 to 1 lead, which wound up being the final. St. Louis pitching did not fare very well. Joe Magrade, three innings, four hits, five runs all earned, four walks and a strikeout.

Bob Forch, three innings, four hits, four runs, all of them earned, two walks and two home runs. Ricky Horton, two innings, three hits, one run it was earned and one strikeout. Viola, on the other hand, did exactly what you would expect. Eight innings, five hits, one run, it was earned, no walks, and five strikeout. Keith Atherton pitched the final inning. Twins would also take game two, and they would be on the board first in the second inning on a Gary Gaiety home run. So somebody you would expect to hit a home run does in this case.

And in the bottom of the fourth inning, they'd have another big inning. Same inning in which they went off in the last game. Designated hitter Randy Bush, who usually came off the bench later in the game was a pinch hitter, but started today. Two-run double, scoring Puckett and Herbeck. Later on in the inning, Tim Laudner. Yes, Tim Laudner once again, a two-run single to score Guyetti and Bush. Dan Gladden then hits an RBI single to score Brunansky. Danny Cox has done at that point, starting pitcher Danny Cox has pulled in favor of Lee Tunnel,

who promptly gives up an RBI double to Greg Gagney. 7-0 is the twins lead at this point in the game. Cardinals sort of answer back in the next half frame. Top of the fifth inning Tonya Pena with another RBI ground out. This scored Terry Pendleton, who was, as I said, injured going into the series, but he was D-Hing today. He could swing left-handed. He could not swing the bat right-handed, and he could not run very well. But he starts today and scores a run. Bottom of the sixth inning, the twins get that run back with a home run from guess who? Yeah,

Tim Laudner, the man who hit 191 in the regular season. He'd actually make the All-Star team next year, good defensive catcher, not all that much offensively, but he gets that run back for an 8-1's lead, pardon me. Top of the seventh inning, Tony Penaet with another RBI. This one is single to center field to score Kurt Ford. However, Jose O Kendo got caught in a rundown between third base and home plate, and he's out to end that inning. Cardinals would score two more in the top of the eighth on a Dan Drieson RBI double and a Willie McGee RBI single. That was it, though, as the final score was eight to four. Scene shifts now to St. Louis for game three of the series. on October 20th in the pitching matchup this day was John Tudor for the Cardinals,

their best left-hander, against 28-year-old rookie Les Stryker for the twins. And Stryker wound up doing pretty well. It was given up later by the bullpen, namely Juan Barangare, which we'll get to in just a little bit. Minnesota got on the board first in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single from Tom Bernanski to score Gary Gaietti. The aforementioned Juan Barron Gare came in to pitch the seventh inning for the twins, first batter he faced was Jose Okendo who would single.

Tony Pena would then single and Terry Pendleton would then pinch hit for pitcher John Tudor. He would hit a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners and he was very nearly safe at second base. If he were healthy, he probably would have been it out. But as it was, it's a sacrifice fly, one out and runners on second and third.

Vince Coleman would then drive in both runs on a double, giving the Cardinals a two-to-one lead. Coleman would steal third base and then would be scored on an Ozzie Smith RBI single. Three to one the score at this point. In fact, three to one was the final score. Cardinals pick up a ball game and they would win game four as well in St. Louis with a seven to two final to even up the series. Frank Viola would start for the twins.

He would not have his best stuff. More on that in a minute as the twins were actually on the board first in the top of the third inning, a solo home run from shortstop Greg Gagney. Bottom of the frame, the Cardinals would tie it right back up on an RBA single from Jim Lindemann to score Ozzie Smith. And remember, Lindeman was the one who was replacing first baseman Jack Clark. Fourth inning is when the Cardinals would do their stuff. Tony Pany would lead off the inning with a walk. Jose Okendo would then single.

And then Tom Lawless, who was replacing Terry Pendleton at third base, three run, home run, with a bat flip to boot, which Lawless said he didn't realize he did until he watched the report. play to give his Cardinals a four to one lead. Pitcher Bob Forch would then line out, but then Frank Viola would walk Vince Coleman, and that would be the last batter that Viola face as Dan Shatteter came in to replace Viola. Shateter would give up an RBI single again to Jim Lindemann and a two-run double to Willie McGee for a seven-to-one Cardinals lead. Twins would get one back in the next frame on a RBI single from Kirby Puckett,

scoring Gene Larkin. That's the final in this ballgame, gang, a 7-2 final. Bob Forch gets the win in relief for the Cardinals. Greg Matthews had started the game. He only went three and two-thirds innings. We're going to take a little bit of a break at this time, ladies and gentlemen. I'm going to lead off the second half of this program

with that little trivia bit on Tom Lawless that I mentioned at the beginning of the program. Before any of that happens, it's time for a word from Bilt Bar. Yes, gang, Bilt Bar. The greatest protein bars in the history of things that are high in protein and low in sugar, calories, and carbohydrates. Not only that, they're covered in 100% real chocolate, and they taste great. They taste as close to a candy bar as a protein bar can get. I love these things, and I do not eat what doesn't taste good.

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Yes, indeed, Locked on Mariners will return to finish talking about the 1987 World Series as soon as I come back from getting a snack. Now back to Locked on Mariner's and your host, D.C. Lundberg. Thanks, J.M. We are talking about the 1987 World Series today on Locked on Mariner's And before we get to games 5, 6, and 7, little note about Tom Lawless, which I kind of tease at the beginning of the program. He is the source, well, not necessarily source of this rumor, but it was once rumored that heavy metal singer Blackie Lawless

once played baseball in the Reds minor league system in the 1970s. That wound up not being true. The source of that confusion was that Tom Lawless did play minor league baseball in the Reds system at that time. I'm not exactly sure how this rumor got started. This was about 10, 15, 20 years ago or so, but Tom Lawless is the one who played in the red system. Blackie Lawless, whose real name is not Lawless, by the way,

never played professional baseball, although this was a reasonable rumor to believe at the time. Not only is Blackie the right age to have played minor league baseball in the 1970s, but his uncle was former Major League pitcher Ryan Duren. In fact, Blackie Lawless is, his real name is Stephen Duren. Blackie himself is a baseball fan and keeps up with the games that he can when he's touring the United States and abroad with his band Wasp. Back to the 1987 World Series. We are in Game 5 at this point. The series is tied at two games apiece, and this Game 5 took place

on October 22nd in Bush Stadium. Danny Cox was on the mound for the Cardinals, who his game two start did not go very well, and he was opposed by Bert Blyleven. Neither team would score until the sixth inning when the Cardinals would have gone on the board for three runs, a two-run single from Kurt Ford, and then Dan Dresen would score on an error. Jose Akeno hit a ground ball to shortstop Greg Gagney. Gagney booted it, Driesen scores, no RBI for Okendo, and it's an unearned run. So the Cardinals now have a three-to-nothing lead at this point, which they would extend to four-nothing in the seventh inning on an RBI single from Ozzie Smith.

Twins would get two back in the eighth inning on a two-run triple from Gary Gaietti, scoring Dan Gladden and Greg Gagney, and that winds up being the final score, 4 to 2. Cox atone for his poor game 2 performance by pitching a solid ballgame here. 7 in a third innings, 5 hits, 3 watts, 6 strikeouts, 2 runs give it up. No home runs hit by either team in this game. Back to the Metrodome for game 6, with the Cardinals holding a 3 games to 2 series lead, and there will be a lot of scoring in this ball game. game. On the mound for the Cardinals, John Tudor, usually reliable John Tudor, opposing

Les Strayker, and the two men would pitch a combined seven innings. Not a good day for the starting pitchers. The Cardinals would be on the board in the top of the very first inning. It was a Tom Hur home run. Twins would score two in the bottom of the first inning, an RBI single from Kirby Puckett and an RBI single from the late Don Baylor. The Cardinals would tie it up in the second inning, an RBI single from Jose Akendo. Two to two is the score going into the fourth inning, and the Cardinals would extend their lead on an RBI single from Terry Pendleton and a sacrifice fly from Jose Akendo.

Four-two cards lead at this point, which they would extend to five to two on a Willie McGee RBI single in the fifth. Bottom of the fifth inning, the twins go ahead. Kirby Puckett leads off with a single against new pitcher John Morris. Gary Gaietti immediately drives him in with the single, and then Don Baylor hits a two-run home run to tie the ball game at five apiece. Steve Lombardozy drove in Tom Brunansky on a single later in the inning to give the twins a six to five lead. And in the sixth inning, the twins would bust out once again all in one swing.

With Gagney, Puckett, and Baylor on base, Big Kent Herbeck would send Grandma back to the kitchen for another Grand Salami, the twins' second of this series. It's now a 10 to 5 twins lead, and they'd go up 11 to 5 on an RBI groundout from Brunanski in the 8th inning. 11 to 5, the final in this one. Pitchers need not apply, especially if you're on the St. Louis Cardinals side. That brings up game 7. Yes, the decisive game 7, ladies and gentlemen, in the Metrodome on October 27, 1987, with 55,376 fans packed into the decibel shattering thunder. Dome. Back on the mound for the twins, Frank Viola, being opposed by Joe McGrain once again

in a rematch of game one. Cardinals would be first on the board. Top of the second inning, RBI single from Tony Pena and an RBI single from Steve Lake. Quick two-to-nothing lead, which would be a two-to-one lead thanks to Steve Lombardoz who drove in Tom Brunanski on a single in the second inning. It's now a two-to-one Cardinals advantage and the twins would tie it up in the fifth with Greg Gagney aboard, Kirby Puckett hits a single to drive him in and tie the game. Twins would go ahead in the sixth, Greg Gagney being involved one more time, although he'd have the RBI on a single to score Tom Bernanski. 3 to 2 is a score at this point, which they would extend to 4 to 2 in the 8th inning on

an RBI double from Dan Gladden to score Tim Laudner. Jeff Reardon comes in the game to replace Frank Viola. Maybe the best closer of his day, not named Lodner. Lee Smith. Tom Hur begins by flying out to center field, one away. Kurt Ford pitch hits for Jim Lindemann, who pops out to third base. Reardon now just needs one more out to give the Minnesota Twins their first ever World Series championship, and in his way would be speedster Willie McGee, who grounds out to third baseman Gary Gaietti to, yes, hand the twins their very first World Series championship. Remember, gang, this is a team that was outscored

in the regular season. A team that did the little things right, had a very, very good manager who knew when to press the right buttons and a team that always seemed to get the timely hit. These were not spectacular Minnesota Twins teams, but these are the teams that I like to see play baseball because they're fundamentally very sound

and they just don't make very many mistakes. This was also the first World Series, ladies and gentlemen, in which the home team won every single game. That had not happened before. MVP of this World Series was Frank Viola, who would win the American League's Cy Young Award the following year. That'll do it for today, gang.

Again, I'm sorry that this is as late as it was. I hope you enjoyed listening to it nonetheless. We're going to be talking more classic World Series next week, and also the awards are starting to trickle in. The Mariners of Won Tool Gold Gloves. We'll talk about that next week after all the awards have been announced, and also hopefully next week, the Mailbag episode.

Next time on this program, though, looking back at another great world series of the past, and here with me to do that will be Arthur Carlson, the Kool-Aid man, and an electric razor. You do not want to miss that one, gang. So download, rate, and subscribe to this program, so you never miss an episode. Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, or any podcasting app that may happen to spring the mind.

Look for us there. Follow us on Twitter at L.O. underscore Mariners, and follow me on Twitter at D.C. underscore Lundberg. Thanks again for listening today, ladies and gentlemen. We'll be back on Monday. Talk to you then. This is Joey Martin speaking for Locked-on Mariners, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network.