It doesn’t get any bigger than a final clinching game. Through 2002 there have been 76 of them, including 17 in the League Championship Series.
Of the 17, 10 occurred when the format was five games, and seven have happened since. The home team is 11-6, and nine of the games were won in come-from-behind fashion.
And if you’re curious, the most such games played has been 20 by the Yankees (12-8; 5-6 in the World Series) with St. Louis second at 13 (8-5 including seven in the World Series). The Cubs are 2-2 (0-1 in the Series) and the Marlins are 1-0 (in the 1997 Series).
11: Number of the 17 League Championship Series deciding games that were won by the home team.
6: Number of League Championship Series that went to a deciding game after one team was down 3-1 (for a 7-game series) or 2-0 (for a 5-game series).
3: Number of League Championship Series won in a deciding game by a team that was down 3-1 (for a 7-game series) or 2-0 (for a 5-game series).
7 memorable deciding games
1980
Philadelphia over Houston
The Astros led 5-3 in the 7th and had Nolan Ryan on the mound in the Astrodome. But the Phillies rallied with five runs in the eighth and after Houston tied it, the Phillies won it on Garry Maddox’s 10th-inning double to bring the Phillies their first pennant in 30 years.
1982
Milwaukee over California
In a dramatic and thrilling ALCS, Milwaukee became the first team to overcome an 0-2 deficit to win the then five-game series. After losing two in Anaheim, the Brewers swept three at County Stadium. Game 5 included a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh.
1986
Boston over California
The Red Sox completed their comeback from a 3-1 deficit with an 8-1 victory in Game 7. But the series will always be remembered for California, one pitch away from its first World Series ever in Game 5, losing 7-6 when Dave Henderson hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth off Donnie Moore. Henderson then won the game with a sacrifice fly in the 11th.
1987
St. Louis over San Francisco
After winning Game 6 with a 1-0 shutout, the Cardinals capped their comeback with a 6-0 victory in Game 7. Danny Cox went the distance scattering eight hits.
1988
Los Angeles over New York Mets
Orel Hershiser had a complete-game five-hitter as the Dodgers knocked out the Mets and Ron Darling with a five-run second inning.
1992
Atlanta over Pittsburgh
Doug Drabek and the Pirates took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning at Fulton County Stadium before Atlanta rallied with three runs to win the seventh game. It was the second straight year the Braves beat the Pirartes in Game 7 of the NLCS.
1996
Atlanta over St. Louis
Any suspense in this showdown ended quickly as the Braves knocked out Cardinals starter Donovan Osborne with a six-run first inning on their way to a 15-0 Game 7 victory.
LCS deciding games
The AL Championship Series has not come down to a deciding game since 1986.
1972 Oakland A’s over Detroit Tigers
1973 Oakland A’s over Baltimore Orioles
1976 N.Y. Yankees over Kansas City Royals
1977 N.Y. Yankees over Kansas City Royals
1982 Milwaukee Brewers over California Angels
1985 Kansas City Royals over Toronto Blue Jays
1986 Boston Red Sox over California Angels
Ten of the 17 LCS deciding games were played by National League teams.
1972 Cincinnati Reds over Pittsburgh Pirates
1973 N.Y. Mets over Cincinnati Reds
1980 Philadelphia Phillies over Houston Astros
1981 L.A. Dodgers over Montreal Expos
1984 San Diego Padres over CUBS
1987 St. Louis Cardinals over San Francisco Giants
1988 L.A. Dodgers over N.Y. Mets
1991 Atlanta Braves over Pittsburgh Pirates
1992 Atlanta Braves over Pittsburgh Pirates
1996 Atlanta Braves over St. Louis Cardinals
2003 Florida Marlins at CUBS
Sources: baseballpage.com, baseball-reference.com
