The Games Behind The Suffering At The 1989 World Series
This post will focus on the game-by-game narrative of the battle between the A’s and Giants, both of whom stepped up and contributed to their communities in the aftermath of the devastation.
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A Youth Movement Leads The 1989 Chicago Cubs To An NL East Title
The 1989 Chicago Cubs entered the season coming off four years in the wilderness. After winning the NL East title and coming within one game of the National League pennant in 1984, the Cubs immediately regressed and posted four straight losing seasons. In 1989, the combination of a veteran manager and a cadre of talented young players, the Cubs returned to the top of the NL East.
Oakland Turns Back Toronto In The 1989 ALCS
The Oakland A’s were on a mission of redemption in 1989, trying to return to the World Series and atone for their 1988 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Toronto Blue Jays had survived a tough AL East fight against the Baltimore Orioles. The A’s were a solid favorite and that’s how the 1989 ALCS played out—the Blue Jays had their share of moments, and led at some point in most games, but Oakland had too much firepower and they took the pennant in five games.
Pennant Droughts Collide At The 1989 NLCS
The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs met in the 1989 NLCS with each in pursuit of a long-sought pennant. The Cubs’ chase of their first National League pennant since 1945 is the stuff of legend, but the Giants had been out of the Fall Classic for a while themselves. Their last appearance was 1962. It was San Francisco who ended their drought with a five-game victory in 1989
1989 Florida State Football: They Just Took Too Long To Get Rolling
The 1989 Florida State football team just took a bit too long to get started. By season’s end they were one of the best teams in the nation—in fact, a lot of observers felt they were the best. But a slow start meant that no one was arguing their case for a national championship.
1989 Miami Hurricanes: A Third Coach Wins A National Title In Seven Years
Most college football dynasties are marked by a transcendent figure at head coach. The University of Miami was different. Their national championship of 1983 was won with Howard Schnellenberger at head coach. In 1987, Miami won with Jimmy Johnson at the helm. And the 1989 Miami Hurricanes reached the top of the polls in the first year of Dennis Erickson’s tenure. That’s three championship with three coaches in a seven-year period.
1989 Michigan Football: A Vintage Finale For Bo Schembecler
Bo Schembecler was one of the top football coaches in the history of the Big Ten and of college football overall, but the one thing missing on his resume was a national championship. The 1989 Michigan football team was seen as one of his best chances, and were ranked #1 to start the season. The Wolverines were a vintage Schembecler team—tough on defense and a strong running game. But they were vintage in another sense—there was no national title in the end.
The 1988 Seattle Seahawks Win The Franchise’s First Division Title
The Seattle Seahawks came into existence in 1976 and by the early 1980s, they were starting to enjoy some success under head coach Chuck Knox. They made the playoffs three times from 1983-87, and won 48 regular season games. But the one thing the franchise had not done was win a division title. The 1988 Seattle Seahawks might have been the weakest of the organization’s playoff teams in the 1980s, but they were also the only ones to bring home the AFC West crown.
1988 Buffalo Bills: Paving The Way For An AFC Dynasty
The Buffalo Bills would have the great dynasty of the AFC in the early 1990s, winning four straight conference championships from 1990-93. They never won the Super Bowl, but the four straight appearances remain unprecedented. The 1988 Buffalo Bills were the edition that first cracked the postseason with Marv Levy at head coach and Jim Kelly at quarterback.
Buddy Ryan Takes The 1988 Philadelphia Eagles Back To The Top Of The NFC East
Buddy Ryan arrived in Philadelphia as the new head coach in 1986 with much fanfare. Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the 1985 Chicago Bears, one of the great defenses of all time. In three short years, Ryan turned a struggling franchise into a playoff team as the 1988 Philadelphia Eagles captured the NFC East.
A Third Straight Home Playoff Loss Ends The 1988 Chicago Bears Run
The Chicago Bears were one of the NFL’s consistently outstanding teams in the late 1980s under head coach Mike Ditka. But after winning the Super Bowl in 1985, they had suffered disappointing home playoff losses in the second round to the Washington Redskins. The 1988 Chicago Bears made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, but another home playoff loss gave a great season a sour ending.
1981 Washington Redskins: The Start Of The Joe Gibbs Era
A new era of Washington Redskins history started in 1981, when they hired the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, Joe Gibbs, as their new head coach. Gibbs had overseen the most explosive attack in the NFL to put him on the map as head coach material. The 1981 Washington Redskins didn’t have the most auspicious of beginnings—to put it mildly—but they eventually generated the momentum that started the most glorious era in franchise history.