Sounds of the Postseason

When you have a game or pastime as long as baseball has been around, you’re bound to come across some prophets. Ok, maybe not prophets, but people who have sounded like them. Or better yet, people who have been quoted so often it becomes a part of everyday culture. We have all heard the Yogi-isms such as “90% of the game is half mental” or “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded” and of course “It’s déjà vu all over again.” With fall upon us, and when I say fall I mean Fall Classic, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the greatest quotes regarding baseball’s postseason play. So in no particular order here are a handful of quips that deserve to be mentioned and recognized:

“Don’t let us win this game tonight. Then they get Petey and then they get Schill game 6. And game 7, anything happens” – Kevin Millar, whose team was down three games to none before game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Yankees vs. Red Sox.

“I’ll have to deal with it. But don’t expect me to curl up and hide from people because I gave up a homerun in the World Series. Life’s a bitch. I could be digging ditches somewhere. Well, I’m not” – Mitch Williams after giving up the World Series clinching homerun to Joe Carter, game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Phillies vs. Blue Jays.

“That’s the guy that killed Donnie Moore” – Dave Henderson, speaking about the whispers he still gets in public regarding his homerun off Moore, game 5 of the 1986 ALCS, Red Sox vs. Angels. Donnie Moore committed suicide three years later.

“Derek Jeter shook my hand. I went right to the clubhouse and like a 12 year old little leaguer I buried my face in the towel and I balled my eyes out” - David Cone, speaking about being lifted after walking in the tying run, game 5 of the 1995 ALDS, Yankees vs. Mariners.

“And now the only question was, could he make it around the base pads unassisted?” - Vin Scully, describing the replay of Kirk Gibson’s game winning homerun, game 1 of the 1988 World Series, A’s vs. Dodgers.

“Mariano’s up and Mariano’s in and my managing decisions are over for this year” – Joe Torre, speaking about putting Mariano Rivera in to protect a 2-1 lead, game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Yankees vs. Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks came back to win 3-2.

“One thing I remember running around the bases is telling myself to look around and take all of this in –“ Aaron Boone, speaking about his thoughts after his series clinching homerun, game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Red Sox vs. Yankees.

“So I want Barry (Bonds) to have the best opportunity to throw him out. So when I motion him in, he turned to me and gave me the international peace sign” Andy Van Slyke, speaking about trying to move Barry Bonds in just seconds before Francisco Cabrera’s series clinching single, game 7 of the NLCS, Pirates vs. Braves.

“And these chimes mean it is November. For the first time in the history of Major League Baseball, playing the World Series during the month of November” - Joe Buck, seconds after the clock struck midnight, November 1^st, just seconds before Derek Jeter’s game winning homerun, game 4 of the 2001 World Series, Diamondbacks vs. Yankees.

 

“Let’s make him famous. Let’s make him famous” – Mark Redmond’s comments from the Marlins’ dugout about a fan that interfered with Moises Alou’s attempt to catch a foul ball near the stands, game 6 of the 2003 ALCS, Marlins vs. Cubs. Redmond, wish granted.

With all of these quotes, sometimes you have to hear it to experience the excitement for yourself. Below is a clip that shows some of the greatest moments in baseball history: