1987 ALCS, Game 5: Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Sparky with an incredibly humble interview at the end. Don't make em like that anymore. Thanks Mr. Anderson from a MN fan/resident.

[@mauriceogletree9845]

He knew those fucks were stealing signs all season ...that tigers era had to be less than 3 the last month of the season .. especially against the bluejays the last 7 that they played ..then all of a sudden these MFS avg 6 runs a game in that series ...foh!!

[@10-3leader]

I remember watching this game as a college senior and now, coming back to it, I am again struck by the sheer class of Sparky Anderson.

[@joshtibbetts6321]

The Twins arrive home and discover the Metrodome is at capacity. Fifty thousand fans . Chills!!

[@deanladue3151]

I remember going down there with friends, and we were turned away at the door. The dome staff told us it was at full capacity and couldn't let any more people in.

[@jamesm895]

Love how fast the pitchers work. Miss that in today’s game

[@danjones2164]

They should institute a pitch clock.

[@mikeycham3643]

That interview with Sparky at the end. What a class act.

[@noahgrace1877]

A Tiger fan for 50 plus years and one of my top five moments was at 15:05 when Evans was given a standing ovation his first time up. He made 2 errors and had been picked off of third base in the pivotal game 4 which in essence ended any chance the Tigers had to get back in the series. Evans had given so much to Detroit and was such a class act, it was a great tribute. You could see how he was doing everything he could to keep it together.

[@tramlou1]

Class move by Tiger fans giving Darrell Evans a standing ovation in first inning after his rough night in game 4.

[@mrnatural1961]

(From MN) I had a Darrell Evans model Wilson glove purchased in 1974 (still have it) Fr year in HS. Was always a fan!!

[@111highgh]

We ride together, we die together. Bad boys for life.

[@ethanmutz3220]

As a lifelong Twins fan, I have always enjoyed the Tigers, both their team and their fans. I loved the ovation they gave Jim Thome when he hit his 600th home run.

[@Weebs82589]

Twins moments: 7:13 Gagne’s double 23:43 Gaetti’s single 28:42 Brunansky’s 2 run double 30:05 Lombardozzi’s single 33:08 Gladden’s RBI single 35:42 Puckett’s RBI single 45:17 Bush steals 2nd 59:34 Puckett’s single 1:01:21 Puckett steals 2nd 1:41:08 Hrbek’s single 1:44:43 Bush’s RBI Sacrifice Fly 1:45:26 Brunansky’s single 1:58:01 Gladden’s double 2:03:04 Gladden scores on an error by Evans 2:06:35 Hrbek’s single 2:25:45 Brunansky’s Homer 2:26:48 Lombardozzi’s infield single 2:30:14 Gladden’s RBI double 2:31:33 Gagne’s RBI double 2:47:11 1987 American League Champions Minnesota Twins

[@kja9881]

Thanks Mike

[@tryste_mx]

42:42 "Set that [Randy] Bush on fire!" -Detroit fan getting kinky in the top of the 3rd with Eric King pitching to Randy Bush

[@erichaugen8411]

Much appreciated

[@turtle19dad]

Well spoken by the legendary Sparky Anderson. Greatest Manager ever.

[@Markus-Domanski]

This was the first full game of baseball that I ever saw on TV. I still have the old VHS-tape in the cellar. Even though the Tigers lost, these were good times. I'll never forget Sparky and the Boys of Summer.

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

Old school Monday afternoon playoff baseball. This was back when a playoff game head to head with Monday Night Football was unthinkable

[@paulsonj72]

And this was a year where they could risk it(NFL was on week 2 of using replacement players)

[@ryanstrnad8442]

Yea, then Fox started doing it (in '96) just to be different. BTW, I'm sure NBC already had programming planned or did not want to risk a last minute change by either ABC or themselves, that's why they remained at their originally scheduled starting time for that Monday.

[@charleshendren3961]

@@ryanstrnad8442back then it was also traditional for there to be an LCS game played on Columbus Day.

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Always liked the random start times for the playoffs.

[@joshtibbetts6321]

I had forgotten how quiet it was at Tiger Stadium. Thankfully, "Black Jack" Morris joins the Twins in 1991 for another World Series Title.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I remember being 12 and this series seeming to take forever. I just couldn’t take the excitement and the worry of them making it to the World Series or not. Amazing memories. Thanks for posting it.

[@cdelano81]

When this ALCS began, most thought the Tigers would win the series in 5 games. Get a split at the Metrodome, and then capitalize on the Twins 29-52 road record. And sure enough, the series did go 5 games........in the TWINS' favor!! We don't know if it's Metrodome magic, the Tigers underestimating the Twins, or if Detroit was exhausted from those 7 games against the Blue Jays (all decided by a run) just to get there. And with the Twins winning two on the road, it gave them confidence as they headed to the World Series. The lasting image of this ALCS was what took place after Game 5. The Twins would fly home and were told there'd be a rally after their plane landed. The rally was at the Metrodome, and 50,000+ fans were on hand to cheer their team back home. If you don't get chills from this, then you're in the wrong business. Like the song said in the Mary Tyler Moore show, "Love is All Around" when the fans saluted the Twins back home, as they made it after all. And their season was capped with their first ever World Championship.

[@DaDitka]

Count me as one of those who thought the Tigers would beat the Twins in 5. I figured the power of the Tigers would be a big asset in the Metric, and as you said, the horrible play of the Twins on the road made me think that they wouldn't win any in Detroit. Man. Was I ever wrong! Lol

[@walterlv01]

At 2:53:50 - Sparky was just 53 years old at this time - when I was growing up watching baseball in the 1980s I thought he was 65-70 years old.

[@TL2354]

He was early 40's when the Reds won in 75 & 76, He looked older than that

[@robertburklund3664]

he always looked 100 and above since i watched.lol

[@bitterangrydrunk]

Twins fan here. Sparky Anderson was a good man. Also, I had my first grey hair at age 15, so I can relate.

[@arthurfonzarelli9828]

When Tigers hired him in 1979 Sparky was 45 years old, too funny

[@joeboo629]

Sparky had white hair in 1970 when he took over the Reds. Great man and manger beloved in two cities Cincinnati and Detroit. The Reds made a big mistake when he was let go in 1978.

[@cedricfarrell-mm6bj]

Tom Kelly is a helluva of a coach

[@daleschmieg9050]

I had forgotten some of the stellar defensive plays in this game and series. Although Gagne was charged with two errors in the series, they were both tough plays. He and Lombo made some great plays up the middle i n this game. Trammell had a great play also, where the ball goes off the pitcher, then off the base at second, and he still makes the play.

[@DaDitka]

I agree with Kubeck around the 15:50 mark. Baseball is a game of ups and downs, but if you are down one day, you have a chance to be up the next. Of course, it can go the other way as well. Many players throughout history can attest to this.

[@Mario-cv5el]

Morris pitched for the Tigers in 1987 and then for the Twins in the 1991 World Series

[@hankluvsdagny]

juan berenger, dan schatzeder, sal butera,joe niekro, chris pitaro...It was like the Tigers playing the ex-Tigers.

[@mattheweggleton7887]

Yeah. Chris Pitaro was the key to that 87 Twins team, really the difference maker of this Series

[@paulsonj72]

The Minnesota Twins are in the World Series. Words I thought I would never hear(at that time)

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

In a way, I thought it was somewhat symbolic and uniquely epic that the Twins clinched on the road considering all the background noise about their road record

[@Dean-em7jb]

Sparky Anderson was a man 60 years before he was born.

[@wpbarchitect1800]

2:53:56 Sparky is old school class. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. I was a freshman in high school in Minneapolis and this whole postseason for the Twins was like the Minnesota sports world blowing up decades of frustration all at once. We also blew up the old stereotype of Minnesota fans (and in general): overly polite, quiet, stoic, uptight...'Minnesota Nice'. Growing up there you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, disconnected from mainstream America (because....you were.) We didn't win championships. We didn't go crazy as fans. And then...we did. Combined with '91 (was at the game when Hrbek hit his granny and it was like being inside of a tornado) we had planted our flag. I left for college in '94 and never came back (to live) and those Twins pennant runs and Series wins were highlights of growing up there. It was such a different place then, and it's very sad to see what Minneapolis (aka 'Murderapolis') has become. Cheers for posting these.

[@ryanstrnad8442]

Kirk Gibson would have to wait a year with the Dodgers to display his post season heroics.

[@robertburklund3664]

sometimes the wait is worth it..

[@keithlast1487]

1984 World Series against the Padres

[@mattheweggleton7887]

He didnt wait for s#!+! 2 homeruns in game 5 of the 84 series against San Diego. He was MVP of 84 ALCS vs Kansas City. Gibbys a legend!!

[@ryanstrnad1852]

@@mattheweggleton7887 Well excuuuuuse me. Yes, Gibby did have a memorable World Series that year, in 84. Though I was surprised the Twins won this series easily. Some have a theory the Tigers had to battle the Blue Jays the last 2 weekends and that exhausted them, as well as the Blue Jays too. But the Twins did come up with some big hits here. Tiger only had 2 left handed hitters.

[@deanladue3151]

Worth the wait though. Gibson hit probably the most famous World Series home run ever in the modern age.

[@tramlou1]

One of the worst memories of my childhood. 1987 Tigers were my favorite team - even more so than 1984 - but they just couldn't get on track. If they had won, they'd be legends because of their late rally over Toronto to win the division; but since they didn't they have been largely forgotten.

[@DualityofManLimited]

Yep, and George Bell chosen as MVP over Alan Trammell was the first snub.

[@ProfessorBMedia]

And maybe that's why it took both Jack Morris and Alan Trammel to get into the Hall Of Fame.

[@dickvandickweed]

@@DualityofManLimited Wade Boggs had a better season than both of them and received zero first place votes although I agree Trammell deserved it more than Bell and I'm a Jays fan. That '87 season still bothers me from a Jays fan perspective and that Madlock bush league slide on Tony will never be forgotten. Miss the old Jays-Tigers rivalry, was a great one.

[@DaDitka]

The Tigers had a quality team that year, and I still remember listening to the news to see how the Tigers/Blue Jays series turned out. But yes, I agree. Their late-season surge combined with the collapse of the Jays (I think they lost their last seven?) would have made them at least mentionable in post-season history if they could have pulled it off.

[@travismcdonald6576]

Not sure what happened to Detroit after 1984. That team was stacked and at least had another title run in them. 87 Twins were fun to watch and just destined that year.

[@DaDitka]

The Tigers offense fell considerably in 1985, when you look at all of the numbers and the context of they year they played. And a huge reason for that was because the bench fell apart. I can't think of a single bench player in 1985 who played anywhere near as well as they did in 1984. Not sure about 1986. I think they just were in the wrong division, as Boston and New York had excellent teams that year.

[@stephenvargo6076]

Great game! Thank you for the memories.

[@paulsonj72]

This isn’t the actual NBC broadcast from that day. It’s a replay from the late 1990’s on Midwest Sports Channel (Bally Sports North today) The MSC logo in the upper right hand corner of the screen gives it away

[@markjohnson9455]

This game is the last post season game ever played in Tiger Stadium, and their next post season appearance comes in 2006 at the new Tiger Stadium (Coamerica Park).

[@SSNESS]

Brunansky was out at first on the Evans throw

[@krustymadrid4953]

Gagne was a great shortstop,he should have won multiple gold glove awards. He could come up with a big hit , but he also chased the down and away pitch.

[@METALBUG999]

everyone in detroit knew the series was over before the game. a very quiet 47,000 crowd.

[@conductorinblack]

Thirty years later and I still don't believe it.

[@Weebs82589]

Twins strikeouts: 14:54 Blyleven K’s Whitaker 1:09:41 Blyleven K’s Grubb 1:32:03 Blyleven K’s Lemon

[@RuffRyder_43]

2:53:28 Sid Hartman walks in front of the camera.

[@dpjbdpjb]

exciting series

[@goodquestion1105]

Why show the winner in the thumbnail? Some people want to watch it as if it were live at the time and not know the result.

[@zacharybinx8642]

The Twins were too good! I think I hear someone banging on a trash can lol.

[@kja9881]

Remember this like yesterday! 1987 Twins played great against a great Tigers team. Win TWINS

[@TL2354]

Tom Kelly was 37? Jesus

[@scottlowman.1044]

TL2354 agreed, 37? looks 57.

[@METALBUG999]

@@scottlowman.1044 it's the old man glasses.

[@bobbyg433]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@deanladue3151]

And the Twins GM was 34, but looked like he was 16.

[@hameltheanimal90]

What the hell was that at 17:19? What are they anxiously awaiting the arrival of!?!

[@Weebs82589]

36 years ago today

[@JamesClarke-n9v]

missed both,basic training for first lived in Florida for second

[@Nickrj3]

17:18 sounded like Jerry the King Lawler.

[@hmhm856]

1987 Twins A mega elite 56-25 home record A horrendous 29-52 road record If I was the Tigers, I would be beatching as to why in the world do the Twins have homefield, to scratch that "random" homefield selection, and just go with best record for homefield

[@Willsatx]

So back then home field advantage was rotated every year and not decided by the records?

[@mattbadish7840]

Yep.

[@DaDitka]

Yes. However, if the Cubs would have made it to the Series in 1984, there was talk about giving home field to Detroit despite the fact that it was the NL's turn to have it. Wrigley Field didn't have lights at that time, and MLB wanted to minimize the number of day games. Either that, or the Cubs would have played either in Milwaukee or St. Louis. I'm not a Cubs fan but there is a piece of me that is only happy they lost to San Diego because then it's likely they get screwed out of home field. Although no one was going to beat Detroit in 1984, in my opinion...

[@paulsonj72]

@@DaDitka Had the Cubs won the National league pennant Games 3,4,and 5 would have been in Chicago. Tickets for that year’s series were not sold by game number but by letter due to the uncertainty of who would have the weekend games

[@DaDitka]

@@paulsonj72 Hmm... I could have sworn that the Cubs were slated to have home field in 1984 if they had won. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Lol

[@paulsonj72]

@@DaDitka If the Cubs had won the NL Detroit would have had home field due to the fact they could host games 1,2,6,and 7 at night.

[@danjones2164]

90% of this broadcast is heavily centered around Detroit.

[@onehandclapping3094]

I loved tiger stadium

[@mauriceogletree9845]

The twins stole signs all year ...and sparkly knew it ..

[@germansanchez1291]

se les aparesio papa

[@hmhm856]

2:47:10 And thus begins the Tigers postseason drought, as they wont be in the postseason for almost 20 years. Next time they will be in will be in the 2006 season, when the Twins snatched the AL Central division from them on game 162 and the Tigers had to settle for the AL Wild Card. Shame these two teams didnt face each other in the 2006 ALCS

[@mauriceogletree9845]

..That's not what happened ..the lost game 163 in 2009 eliminating them ...they settled for the wild card in 06 when the royals beat us at home in the last series of the year ..but eventually made the world series and lost to st. Louis..but I guess you kinda right ..they didn't snatch it from us ..the tigers lost ..when all they needed was a lousy base hit and we win the division ..they snatched the division from us in 09 at the metropolitan (shit) dome 😂😂😂

[@slushygod09]

2:47:10

[@Randetroit]

The final post season game at the corner!

[@germansanchez1291]

los tigres no que muy gallos aqui pagaron lo que isieron. alos padres de 1984.

[@zacharybinx8642]

Circle me Bert!

[@katherineberger6329]

ZacharyBinx86 Circle-change, Bert!

[@dpaulak]

i wish they go back to these uniforms, the ones now....does not remind me of baseball uniforms.

[@kevzvipe]

no game 4?

[@leafyutube]

What Twins team was better, 87 or 91?

[@joeboo629]

Why did Detroit let Gibson move on after the 87 season?

[@paulsonj72]

He was a new look free agent who became a free agent due to he collusion case the owners lost. Players who were free agents after the 1985 season(I think) got a chance to test the market without having too give up the contracts they were currently on.

[@joeboo629]

The collusion was spring of 87. Just odd with him being from Michigan and he did play for the Tigers and Sparky yrs later.

[@paulsonj72]

There were three collusion cases in the 1980's. 1985-1987 were the years collusion and the MLB Players Association won each cases and that's how players got what was called "new look" free agency. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_collusion

[@deanladue3151]

So he could hit one of the most famous World Series home runs in history.

[@rcviolet6]

Absurd statement and that home run is a bit overrated PERIOD!

[@donniedorn1751]

It's hard to believe twins won it all..probably one worst records for a WS winner

[@hmhm856]

2006 Cardinals had the worst with 83 wins. 1973 Mets came close to winning the WS but didnt, and they only won 82 games

[@cedricfarrell-mm6bj]

The twins first world series I thought was a fluke

[@centrist1008]

Great except for Costas

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

What a joke that Minnesota got in. They won 85 fucking games. The AL East had 4 teams with better records. Just goes to show that the postseason is a crap shoot. Anyone can win.

[@ricardolozano6265]

FAITHandLOGIC good at home terrible at home

[@PrinceTron1]

And what did the Twins do to the team that came out on top in the AL East? Perhaps if the wildcard was in effect in 1987 then things would've been different. Nevertheless, the team that has more wins in their division than anybody else wins that division. The Florida/Miami Marlins have won two World Series and in neither of the years of 1997 & 2003 did they win their division, the NL East. It's about when your hot. Time and chance.

[@deanladue3151]

The '87 Twins were peaking at the absolute perfect time. In the month of September they took charge in the AL West and went 18-9 for that month. They lost the remaining ballgames after clinching the division, but the playoff format was already decided, so all they had to do was get rested up for it.

[@dickvandickweed]

They actually overachieved based on their projected wins for that season, which further emphasizes your point.

[@thefrase7884]

I still can’t believe these clowns won the whole thing

[@h2ofield]

Boooooo!