1995 ALDS

The 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 1995 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Sunday, October 8, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. As a result of both leagues realigning into three divisions in 1994, it marked the first time in major league history that a team could qualify for postseason play without finishing in first place in its league or division. The teams were:

*Seattle Mariners (Western Division champion, 79–66) vs. New York Yankees (Wild Card, 79–65): Mariners win series, 3–2.
*Boston Red Sox (Eastern Division champion, 86–58) vs. Cleveland Indians (Central Division champion, 100–44): Indians win series, 3–0.

The format of this series and the NLDS was the same as the League Championship Series prior to 1985, a five-game set wherein the first two games were played at one stadium and the last three at the other. This format was later changed in 1998 for the present 2–2–1 format, which has been used in the Division Series since except for 2012, when the 2–3 format was used again due to the addition of the Wild Card Game. Because of realignment, this was the first time that both the Yankees and the Red Sox reached the playoffs in the same year.

The Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians went on to meet in the AL Championship Series (ALCS). The Indians became the American League champion and lost to the National League champion Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series.

Matchups

Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians

Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees

Boston vs. Cleveland

Game 1

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

After a 39-minute rain delay, Game 1 got underway with two veterans, Roger Clemens and Dennis Martínez, starting the opener. Playing in its first playoff game since Game 4 of the 1954 World Series, Cleveland trailed early as the Red Sox jumped in front first in the third on John Valentin's two-run homer. The Indians, however, rallied against Clemens in the sixth with two two-out singles followed by a two-run double by Albert Belle that tied the game and a single by Eddie Murray that scored Belle. But Luis Alicea's eighth inning home run off of Julián Tavárez sent the game into extra innings. Tim Naehring would give the Red Sox the lead in the 11th with a home run off of Jim Poole, but Belle's leadoff home run off of Rick Aguilera tied the game in the bottom half. The Indians would put the winning run in scoring position later in the inning but failed to come through. In the bottom of the 13th, 15-year veteran Tony Peña hit the game winning homer with two outs. It was the Indians' first postseason win since the clinching Game 6 in the 1948 World Series.

Game 2

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

Game 2 featured an unlikely matchup between Erik Hanson and Orel Hershiser. Both pitchers were on even turns until the Indians broke through in the fifth with Omar Vizquel's two-run double after two walks. It remained 2–0 until the eighth when the Indians put the game away on Eddie Murray's two-run home run after a walk. That gave the Indian bullpen a comfortable 4–0 lead in the ninth. Hanson pitched a complete game in a losing effort. Hershiser struck out seven and allowed only three hits in innings.

Game 3

Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts

Charles Nagy faced Tim Wakefield in the potential clincher. In the top of the second, with a man on first, Jim Thome gave the Tribe the lead with a two-run home run just inside the Pesky Pole. Thome later drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to make it 3–0. In the fourth, the Red Sox loaded the bases on three singles with one out, but scored only one run on Mike Macfarlane's sacrifice fly. The Indians blew the game open in the sixth. After a single and walk, Paul Sorrento's single and Sandy Alomar's double scored a run each and knocked Wakefield out of the game. Rhéal Cormier in relief struck out Kenny Lofton, but Omar Vizquel's singled scored two and Carlos Baerga's double scored another. In the eighth, the Red Sox again loaded the bases on three one-out singles, but again only scored once on Willie McGee's fielder's choice off of Julián Tavárez. Paul Assenmacher would pitch a scoreless ninth to end the series. The loss was the Red Sox 13th consecutive postseason loss dating back to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Composite box

1995 ALDS (3–0): Cleveland Indians over Boston Red Sox

Seattle vs. New York

Both teams finished the strike-shortened 1995 season with 79 wins. The Seattle Mariners were making their postseason debut on the strength of an amazing divisional comeback. The New York Yankees made it to the postseason for the first time since losing in the 1981 World Series, and the only time with Don Mattingly on their roster, as the AL Wild Card. The series featured at least ten runs per game and two extra-inning games. Ken Griffey Jr. was the star, hitting five home runs. The total number of home runs from both teams at the end of the series was 22, a record for a postseason series despite only having five games.

Griffey also was one of two key participants in perhaps the most iconic moment ever for Mariners fans, DH Edgar Martínez's two-run double in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 5, on which Griffey scored the winning run from first base. The result of the series, and what became known as " The Double", is considered a redemptive moment for long-suffering Mariners fans, and often credited with ensuring that Major League Baseball remained in Seattle.

Seattle's win marked the fourth time in history that an expansion team won its first postseason series, after the New York Mets in their first championship season, in 1969, Montreal in 1981, and San Diego in 1984. Florida and Tampa Bay have since accomplished the same feat.

Even though the Yankees made it to the post-season for the first time since 1981, they were still reeling from having the best record in the American League taken away from them by the strike. Yankees Manager Buck Showalter sat in "admitted misery" throughout that fall, as he "ached for Mattingly, the one player he believed deserved a postseason more than anyone else in the game." Mattingly had led active players in both games played and at bats without ever appearing in the postseason then.

Game 1

Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York

Don Mattingly finally made it to the postseason in what would be his final games. Chris Bosio faced David Cone

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases