1987 National League Championship Series

The 1987 National League Championship Series took place between October 6 and 14 at Busch Memorial Stadium (Games 1, 2, 6, and 7) and Candlestick Park (Games 3, 4, and 5). It matched the East division champion St. Louis Cardinals (95–67) against the West division champion San Francisco Giants (90–72), with the Cardinals winning in seven games. The Cardinals would go on to lose the 1987 World Series to the Minnesota Twins, also in seven games.

1987 National League Championship Series
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season
St. Louis Cardinals (4) Whitey Herzog 95–67, .586, GA: 3
San Francisco Giants (3) Roger Craig 90–72, .556, GA: 6
DatesOctober 6–14
MVPJeffrey Leonard (San Francisco)
UmpiresJohn Kibler
Ed Montague
Dave Pallone
Eric Gregg
Jim Quick
Bob Engel
Broadcast
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersVin Scully and Joe Garagiola
RadioCBS
Radio announcersDick Stockton and Johnny Bench

San Francisco's Jeffrey Leonard was named the Series MVP despite the fact that his Giants lost the series. Oddly enough, this was the second consecutive year that the NLCS MVP came from the losing team, as Mike Scott had won the award with the Houston Astros the previous year. However, to date, Leonard is the last MVP of any postseason series (League Championship Series or World Series) to have played for the losing team. There is no MVP awarded for the wildcard round or division series.

Summary

St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants

St. Louis won the series, 4–3.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 6San Francisco Giants – 3, St. Louis Cardinals – 5Busch Stadium (II)2:3455,331[1] 
2October 7San Francisco Giants – 5, St. Louis Cardinals – 0Busch Stadium (II)2:3355,331[2] 
3October 9St. Louis Cardinals – 6, San Francisco Giants – 5Candlestick Park3:2757,913[3] 
4October 10St. Louis Cardinals – 2, San Francisco Giants – 4Candlestick Park2:2357,997[4] 
5October 11St. Louis Cardinals – 3, San Francisco Giants – 6Candlestick Park2:4859,363[5] 
6October 13San Francisco Giants – 0, St. Louis Cardinals – 1Busch Stadium (II)3:0955,331[6] 
7October 14San Francisco Giants – 0, St. Louis Cardinals – 6Busch Stadium (II)2:5955,331[7]

Game summaries

Game 1

Tuesday, October 6, 1987, at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789RHE
San Francisco100100010370
St. Louis00110300X5101
WP: Greg Mathews (1–0)   LP: Rick Reuschel (0–1)   Sv: Ken Dayley (1)
Home runs:
SF: Jeffrey Leonard (1)
STL: None

The Giants struck first on an RBI groundout by Candy Maldonado, but the Cardinals tied it in the third on Vince Coleman's RBI single. Jeffrey Leonard gave the Giants a short-lived lead in the fourth on a homer, as the Cards quickly re-tied it when Ozzie Smith tripled and Willie McGee drove him home with a single.

The Cardinals took control of the game in the sixth by plating three runs off Giants starter Rick Reuschel. Terry Pendleton, Curt Ford, and pitcher Greg Mathews all had RBI singles in the rally. Ken Dayley pitched the ninth and got the save.

Game 2

Wednesday, October 7, 1987, at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789RHE
San Francisco0201000205100
St. Louis000000000021
WP: Dave Dravecky (1–0)   LP: John Tudor (0–1)
Home runs:
SF: Will Clark (1), Jeffrey Leonard (2)
STL: None

The Giants pulled even in the series on the strength of a complete-game shutout by Dave Dravecky. Dravecky got all the runs he needed in the second on a Will Clark two-run homer. Jeffrey Leonard added a homer in the fourth, his second in two NLCS games. Two more runs came across in the eighth for the Giants on a rare Ozzie Smith throwing error.

It was in this game that Leonard aroused the ire of the Cardinal fans by going into his "Cadillac home run trot" around the bases. Leonard spread out his arms, airplane-style, but kept his left arm pinned to his side ("flap-down"). To further irritate the fans, Leonard slowed to a walk between third and home.

Game 3

Friday, October 9, 1987, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco

Team123456789RHE
St. Louis0000024006111
San Francisco031000001571
WP: Bob Forsch (1–0)   LP: Don Robinson (0–1)   Sv: Todd Worrell (1)
Home runs:
STL: Jim Lindeman (1)
SF: Jeffrey Leonard (3), Harry Spilman (1)

In Game 3, Joe Magrane (STL) and Atlee Hammaker (SF) were set to face off. The matchup was not expected to be quite as low scoring as the series had been to date. The predictions were correct, as San Francisco broke first with four runs in the first three innings, looking to take the series lead. In the second inning, consecutive hits from Chili Davis, Will Clark and Bob Brenly put the Giants on the board. Yet another home run from Leonard tacked on a fourth run in the third.

On Leonard's next at-bat, however, Bob Forsch, who had relieved starter Magrane, plunked Leonard in the left shoulder with his first pitch, presumably in retaliation for his home-run trot antics. The Giants would load the bases in the inning with one out, but Forsch pitched out of it.

The Cardinals heated things up in the sixth with a two-run home run from Jim Lindeman, who replaced the injured Jack Clark, and then a triple by Willie McGee. But, in the seventh is when they really made their attack, not only tying the game, but scoring four to take the lead, 6–4. The four runs came on a large rally, highlighted by a two-run single by left fielder Vince Coleman.

With right-handed Todd Worrell pitching for the Cards, manager Roger Craig pinch hit left-handed batter Harry Spilman for Robby Thompson. Spilman homered to right field, putting new life back in the Giants, even with two down. However, third baseman Kevin Mitchell flew out to center field, and the Cards had completed a stunning comeback.

Cardinals slugger Jack Clark made his only appearance in the Series in Game 3. Nursing a sprained ankle, he came up as a pinch-hitter and struck out looking. His injury caused him to be left off the roster for the World Series, so the Cardinals could add another pitcher.

Game 4

Saturday, October 10, 1987, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco

Team123456789RHE
St. Louis020000000290
San Francisco00012001X492
WP: Mike Krukow (1–0)   LP: Danny Cox (0–1)
Home runs:
STL: None
SF: Robby Thompson (1), Jeffrey Leonard (4), Bob Brenly (1)

The Giants knotted the series at 2–2 by the longball and another complete-game pitching performance, this time by Mike Krukow. Krukow was touched for two runs in the second on RBI singles by opposing pitcher Danny Cox and Vince Coleman, but then pitched shutout ball the rest of the way. Robby Thompson hit a homer in the fourth, Jeffrey Leonard put the Giants ahead 3–2 in the fifth with his fourth homer in the NLCS, and Bob Brenly closed out the scoring with a shot in the eighth.

Game 5

Sunday, October 11, 1987, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco

Team123456789RHE
St. Louis101100000370
San Francisco10140000X671
WP: Joe Price (1–0)   LP: Bob Forsch (1–1)
Home runs:
STL: None
SF: Kevin Mitchell (1)

Tom Herr put the Cardinals up 1–0 in the first off Rick Reuschel with a sacrifice fly, then the Giants tied it in their half of the first on a Kevin Mitchell RBI single.

The Cardinals looked on the verge of breaking it open against Reuschel in the third. Tony Peña and pitcher Bob Forsch led off the inning with consecutive singles, and then Vince Coleman beat out a bunt, loading the bases with none out. Ozzie Smith could only produce a sacrifice fly, however, and Herr bounced into a double play to end the threat. Mitchell tied it at 2–2 for the Giants in the third on a homer.

Terry Pendleton then gave the Cards back the lead in the fourth in this nip-and-tuck game by smashing a two-out triple and scoring when Reuschel mishandled a throw by Will Clark on a ground ball hit by John Morris.

The Giants answered back in the bottom of the fourth when Jose Uribe drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single for a 4–3 Giants lead. Mike Aldrete then pinch-hit for Reuschel and hit a sacrifice fly and Robby Thompson drove in the last run with a triple. Joe Price then relieved Reuschel and pitched five innings of one-hit, shutout relief.

Thompson's RBI would be the last Giants run of the series.

Game 6

Tuesday, October 13, 1987, at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789RHE
San Francisco000000000060
St. Louis01000000X150
WP: John Tudor (1–1)   LP: Dave Dravecky (1–1)   Sv: Ken Dayley (2)

Facing elimination, the Cardinals rolled out their ace, John Tudor, to face Dave Dravecky once again. Tudor was injured for most of the first half of 1987, but rebounded to go 10–2 in the second half of the season. And, like his great 1985 season, Tudor was golden in the postseason. He scattered six hits in seven innings and struck out six before giving way to Todd Worrell.

Tudor got the only run he needed in the second inning when Tony Peña hit what appeared to be a routine fly ball to right, but Candy Maldonado misplayed it and it fell for a triple. José Oquendo then drove Pena home with a sacrifice fly.

Ken Dayley pitched the ninth for his second save of the series.

Game 7

Wednesday, October 14, 1987, at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789RHE
San Francisco000000000081
St. Louis04000200X6120
WP: Danny Cox (1–1)   LP: Atlee Hammaker (0–1)
Home runs:
SF: None
STL: José Oquendo (1)

The Cardinals gave starter Danny Cox a quick 4–0 lead by jumping on Giants starter Atlee Hammaker in the second. Singles by Terry Pendleton, Tony Peña and Willie McGee produced the first run and José Oquendo, who had hit only one home run during the regular season, drilled a three-run shot to left. St. Louis added two more runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Tommy Herr. Cox went the distance, scattering eight hits and striking out five. The victory gave the Cardinals their third pennant in six years and 15th overall.[8][9] The only downside in the victory was Pendleton suffering a strained ribcage while running the bases, which limited his availability in the World Series.

Composite box

1987 NLCS (4–3): St. Louis Cardinals over San Francisco Giants

Team123456789RHE
St. Louis Cardinals17220740023563
San Francisco Giants25272004123545
Total attendance: 396,597   Average attendance: 56,657

Series stats & information

Cardinals Hitting Bests:

Giants Hitting Bests:

  • Series AB'S: Mitchell (30)
  • Series Runs: Thompson (4)
  • Series Hits: Leonard (10)
  • Series Doubles: Clark (2)
  • Series Triples: Thompson (1)
  • Series HR's: Leonard (4)
  • Series RBIs: Leonard (5)
  • Series Base on Balls: Thompson (5)
  • Series Batting average (at least 10 at bats): Leonard (.417)

Cardinals Pitching Bests:

  • Series Wins: Cox, Tudor, Mathews, Forsch (1)
  • Series Saves: Dayley (2)
  • Series Complete Games: Cox (2)
  • Series IP: Cox (17)
  • Series SO's: Tudor (12)
  • Series ERA (at least 4 innings pitched): Dayley, Worrell (2.66)

Giants Pitching Bests:

  • Series Wins: Dravecky, Krukow, Price (1)
  • Series Saves: None
  • Series Complete Games: Dravecky, Krukow (1)
  • Series IP: Dravecky (15)
  • Series SO's: Dravecky (14)
  • Series ERA (at least 4 innings pitched): Dravecky (0.60)

Aftermath

The Cardinals and Giants developed quite the disdain for each other in the mid-to-late 80s.[10][11] One of the more memorable brawls happened between the two clubs the following season in 1988. The first fight was prompted by a hard slide into second by Will Clark that sent Cardinals second baseman José Oquendo reeling toward left field. Oquendo and Shortstop Ozzie Smith both threw a punch at Clark and both benches emptied. Oquendo and Clark were ejected. A second confrontation occurred moments later when the Cardinals' Scott Terry nearly hit Mike Aldrete in the head with a pitch. The teams poured onto the field again but were intercepted by the umpires. Terry was ejected, and the ninth inning was played without incident.[12]

The Cardinals and Giants have played each other three more times in the postseason, with the Giants winning all three. Those series wins came in the 2002 National League Championship Series, the 2012 National League Championship Series, and the 2014 National League Championship Series.

References

  1. "1987 NLCS Game 1 – San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  2. "1987 NLCS Game 2 – San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  3. "1987 NLCS Game 3 – St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  4. "1987 NLCS Game 4 – St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  5. "1987 NLCS Game 5 – St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  6. "1987 NLCS Game 6 – San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  7. "1987 NLCS Game 7 – San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  8. "Oquendo's homer lifts Cards to Series". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 15, 1987. p. C1.
  9. "St. Louis sends Giants packing". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. October 15, 1987. p. D1.
  10. "1986 brawl cardinals v giants - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  11. "SF@STL: Benches clear after Clark's slide into second - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  12. "CARDINALS, GIANTS CONTINUE TO BATTLE". Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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