I think most people in Philadelphia would tell you “the 2008 World Series”!!!
Yeah, this was my first thought as well. That series captured imaginations.
Even in Washington DC, where I was a 24 year old chucklehead at the time it dominated everything. I recall taking the escalator up at the Rosslyn metro and hearing the commuters break into that ‘Tomahawk Chop’ chant almost spontaneously. And that’s in a city with, at that point, not even a team to its name.
And Jack Morris was insane in that series.
And Knoblauch suckering Smith with the fake throw from second. Then Smith on third with less than two outs and the Braves not driving him home.
Man, that was just great. It was the best one I’ve seen, at any rate. Though, admittedly, I pretty much just follow baseball.
I dunno, man. The 2008 series had the ugly Dusty Finish in the rain-shortened game, where Selig basically said “Them’s the rules, but that’s dishonorable, so screw that.”
I hate both teams involved and still have to agree with this. Amazing series, although most everyone in New York probably disagrees.
The 1991 World Series, easily. Four games were decided by the final at bat, can’t get any better than that. Jack Buck and Skip Caray’s comments after the Puckett home run we’re classic as well.
More like “Everyone outside of Boston.”
The thing is, a truly great series has to end with a great game. Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS was a blowout, over by the third inning.
And all this was after coming from 13 games back in August to force a one game tie breaker with the California Angels for the AL West title.
I was 12. I remember watching that game like it was yesterday. I’ve never seen people become so obsessed with any team like the Mariners were during that stretch. IMO and I’m sure I’m not alone, 116 wins was nothing compared to that season.
I was going to say that. People don’t think about it because it wasn’t the World Series and they remember what happened next with Bill Buckner. In second place I would put the 86 World Series, Mets vs Red Sox. I can’t put it first because game 7 was a bit of a let down after game 6. But it would be impossible to top game 6.
The 2003 Yanks-Sox ALCS was much better than 04, regardless of who won it. I know 04 is the curse is broken and all that but the 03 series was legendary in my mind, ending with the extra inning walk off home run. That is drama.
On the 100th anniversary of the World Series, ESPN ranked the the 1991 Series (Twins-Braves) as the best ever played, and I agree. (I seem to recall that Sports Illustrated made a similar proclamation at the time.)
This is the ONE. The drama of the Seventh Game especially can’t be imagined. The Pirates, went into the bottom of the 8th losing 7-4, and scored 5 runs, the final 3 on a home run by Smokey Burgess, giving the Pirates a 9-7 lead. Yankee and baseball fans will remember the 8th inning as being the one where Tony Kubeck, the Yankee shortstop approached a routine groundball that hit something in the infield and hit him in the throat, keeping the inning going.
Imagine Smokey Burgess, flying high with a three run home run in the bottom of the eight to give his team a cushion of two runs going into the 9th.
Of course, the Yanks tied it in the top of the ninth, setting the stage for Mazeroski’s home run in the bottom of the 9th to win it.
The Yankees blew out the Pirates in their three wins. The Pirates just did enough to win 4.
Here’s a good link to read all about the greatest series ever played.
My favorite NBA series of all time was the 1988 playoff series between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics. The game 7 duel between Larry Bird and Dominique “The Human Highlight Reel” Wilkins was epic. YouTube highlights. More here. (Dominique scored 47 points in the game, and Bird scored 20 in the 4th quarter.)
Boxing:
Barrera vs. Morales trilogy was a stunner. Three exceedingly close fights, all went the distance, all featured insane levels of action.
Ali vs. Frazier trilogy. It would be no. 1 if not for the second fight, which Ali won easily. The other two fights belong in the top 5 greatest boxing matches ever.