That's a Winner - 1987 Season Recap

[pioneer98]

Enjoy!!!! I have to say, all in all, it was good to be a child of the 1980s.

The 1987 Cardinals baseball season from Spring Training through the Fall Classic. Narrated by Jack Buck.
Excitement. Energy. Enthusiasm. The 1987 St. Louis Cardinals generated those feelings, and a lot more as they defied the odds and battled their way into the World Series.
Who can forget Jack Clark at the plate...the sound of his bat meeting the ball. Vince Coleman on base. The Secret Weapon. Offense. Defense. Teamwork. And Whitey, making another move, and yes, another victory!
In 1987, there were 102 wins pulled off by a couple dozen players who refused to say no. Who refused to give in. And more than 3 million fans who wouldn't let them. The hits, the heroes, and the memories.
Many of them are right here, in the official story of our 1987 Redbirds.
From the first pitch to the final out...it's all here!
Starring baseball's most exciting team, co-starring baseball's best fans.
A story of a love affair between a team and a town which joined together as one, forming a special bond best described by one phrase. Three words say it all.
That's a winner!

That's a Winner - Part 1 of 5
That's a Winner - Part 2 of 5
That's a Winner - Part 3 of 5
That's a Winner - Part 4 of 5
That's a Winner - Part 5 of 5

Note: you may have to crank up the volume a bit!!! It's a little quiet. And to think that 1987 was the year of the "lively ball".

Here are a few of the key moments if you don't feel like watching the whole thing:
* Tommy Herr's walk-off grand slam on seat cushion night - start at 6:10 of part 1
* Pendleton's 2 run HR vs Mets with 2 outs in the 9th in September - 6:30 of part 3
* Cards clinch the NL East - 11:30 of part 3
* Classic sequence with Jeffrey "The Hack-man" Leonard - 6:40 of part 4
* Game 7 of the NLCS (The Secret Weapon's HR) - 3:15 of part 5
* Game 4 of the World Series (Tom Lawless' classic HR) - 7:40 of part 5

[pioneer98]

A few additional thoughts:
* This team really had no business going as far as they did!!! They were way too banged up, but they found a way.
* They did it with good (not great) starting pitching, an excellent bullpen, and speed + defense.
* These home runs were ridiculous. Tommy Herr only hit 2 all year, and one was the granny on seat cushion night. Oquendo only had one during the regular season, then of course he hits one in game 7 of the NLCS. Tom Lawless only had 1 other HR in his whole career. Astounding. Moments like these are why I watch baseball!!!
* Oh yeah, and this was the first NL team outside of NY or LA that drew 3 million fans. They deserved it!

All in all it was a great season. I never felt it was fair back then that home-field was decided by whether it was an even or odd year, especially when that home field was as lethal as the Metrodome. I truly believe if this was an "even" year, the Cards probably win it all, even without Clark or Pendleton. The Twins have never won a road game in the World Series (going 0-3 in both the 1987 and 1991 World Series).

I have to admit, I was extremely happy when the Twins opened Target Field. Now if we could just get the Vikings out of the Metrodome, we could finally implode that place. I say we have Bobby Cox pull the trigger, with Whitey and Jim Leyland at his side.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Thanks for posting. One of my favorite seasons as I, too, am a child of the 80's.