MLB's 20 Greatest Games - 2003 NLCS Game 6 Voted 7th Greatest Game Ever

MLB Network featured Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS (Marlins -vs- Cubs) tonight as their 7th Greatest Game of all time. Joining Bob Costas and Tom Verducci to talk about the game were Jack McKeon, Mike Lowell and Cubs' SS Alex Gonzalez. Of course, the panel got into quite a bit of discussion over the Bartman foul ball, but they also spent quite a bit of time on the Gonzalez error that kept the 8th inning alive. Interesting program for that reason alone...

about 1 year ago DKT 29 comments 0 recs |

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I don't know if Alex Gonzalez has spoken at length about this game in the past...

but I give him a lot of credit for speaking so honestly about his role in this game. For what it’s worth, Bob Costas made sure to note that Alex had an excellent series up to that point – hitting 3 HR’s and playing great defense.

When you look back at Prior’s pitch count, he was up to 110 pitches shortly after Juan Pierre doubled with one out in the inning so it really does make you wonder why Dusty didn’t at least get somebody up in the pen or make a visit to the mound. Not that we haven’t discussed that a trillion times before, but MLB Network provided a good inside look at this game…

Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!

by DKT on Apr 3, 2011 9:50 PM CDT reply actions

Dusty screwed up with Prior worse in game 2 which probably tired him more for game 3.

Prior had massive leads from early in that game but Dusty had him go out there inning after inning until he got so tired he actually had to be taken from the game, from the mound! How can a manager let his starter pitch himself out in a game he was at one time winning by, I think it was, by 12 runs?

by the nth on Apr 4, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Gonzalez

Was good in the NLDS that year too. Hit a couple singers including one in game five to pad the lead. Later Aramis would homer to give them a five-run lead.

But the game six error is what most will remember Gonzalez by.

Still makes me cringe thinking about that October night in 2003.

Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.

by mikegncb34 on Apr 3, 2011 10:48 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Correction

Aramis put them up 4-0 not five

Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.

by mikegncb34 on Apr 3, 2011 10:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

And *dingers not singers

Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.

by mikegncb34 on Apr 3, 2011 10:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I dunno - if we're talking about Bieber and the dude that sang national anthem yesterday, I'd say stick with 'singers'.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Apr 4, 2011 7:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I recorded...

games 6 and 7 of the 2003 NLCS, but destroyed them. Too painful to relive.

by montecarlo on Apr 4, 2011 4:03 AM CDT reply actions

Was the list compiled by fan voting?

It is supposed to be the greatest games of the past 50 years but I don’t see this as the 7th greatest in the past 50 years. I guess I’ll wait for the remaining 6 games but there are several below it that I would rank higher. For example, Carter’s HR, Dent HR and the 2004 Red Sox comeback game would rank higher for me. The greatest for me might be the Twins/Braves Game 7. I’m sure that one is yet to come.

I wonder if they would include the Marichal/Spahn 16 inning shutout game? I doubt it but it belongs.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Apr 4, 2011 6:41 AM CDT reply actions

Yes, it was fan voting by readers of that site.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on Apr 4, 2011 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't know....

If it had been the Cubs that came back late in such an important game, I think we would all have it ranked pretty damn high. The Marlins put up an amazing comeback. I think the ranking is about right.

by Husker_1 on Apr 4, 2011 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions

I disagree

I think it is the recentness of the game and Bartman that put it so high. The 7th greatest game in the past 50 years? I don’t see it. As the poster says, I think the Sandberg game should rank higher as an overall greater game.

Infamous, yes. Greatest, no.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Apr 4, 2011 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions

correct. Game 6 was infamous, but far from great

other than the horrific half inning, I dont remember much about the game, despite watching every pitch. Again, the media has completely overblown the importance of the Bartman play.

ask not what the Cubs can do for you - ask what you can do for the Cubs.

by holy mackeral on Apr 4, 2011 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

if they voted the Bartman game as #7, then surely they have voted 1986 WS Game 6 as #1

the game with the Buckner error. But that was a great game, with the lead going back and forth. Factor in the infamy of the error, and I am convinced this is #1 on their list

ask not what the Cubs can do for you - ask what you can do for the Cubs.

by holy mackeral on Apr 4, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Unfortunately that could be #1

My vote is still World Series Game 7 in 1991 between the Braves and Twins.

For those that are too young …WS Game 7, Morris vs. Smoltz and it ends in a 10 inning 1-0 game with the winning run scoring in the bottom of the 10th. Jack Morris pitches all 10 innings for the win.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Apr 4, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Judged strictly on emotional impact, I'd say Game 6 '03 should rank higher...

…maybe #2 behind 1986 WS Game 6, and just ahead of #3 1975 WS Game 6. Of course, if the “50 years” includes 1960, then 1960 WS Game 7 goes to the top of the list as possibly the greatest game ever.

If we’re making this a post-1961 or ‘62 list, then the rest of the top 10 could include the last two games of the ’91 Series; the ill-fated Dave Henderson-Donnie Moore matchup in ’86; WS Game 7 in ’75; the Mets extra-inning win against Houston in the ’86 playoffs; the Gracie-Gonzales takeout of the Yankees in ’01; the Gibson HR off Eck; Bucky Dent; the Phils Game 5 win over Houston in ’80; and, like it or not, The Garv’s blast off Lee Smith in ’84.

I’m sure there are many regular season games that should qualify, but as a Mets-hater since ‘62, one of my all-time favorites is the 1987 game where Terry Pendleton almost single-handedly destroyed the aura of invincibility that had built up around Davey Johnson’s Mets. Amazing, isn’t it, how one hit can make or break a franchise for decades?

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Apr 4, 2011 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

A lot of those games are already there.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Apr 4, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Sure, I'm forgetting the Ozzie Smith and Jack Clark HR's in '85,

maybe Denkinger’s blown call or the Derek Jeter/Jeffrey Maier HR, along with Joe Carter vs. Wild Thing. The list could go on, and I must say I’m surprised at how many Cubs and ex-Cubs are involved.

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Apr 4, 2011 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions

that play

is what makes it “great”
Had it not happened it could have been a totally different result. Yes, I know that they still could have come back to beat us, nobody will ever know that answer.
What it comes down to is that, great or infamous, it will be talked about forever, and long after this generation is gone.

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby

by imacubman on Apr 4, 2011 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Honestly...

I would be shocked if “The Sandberg Game” isn’t somewhere in the Top 6. From start to finish, that was an unforgettable game…

Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!

by DKT on Apr 4, 2011 7:57 AM CDT reply actions

I don't know whether it would make it or not.

Only 6 left. I didn’t look at the list when the voting was going on. I’m trying to figure out the top 6.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Apr 4, 2011 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Not that great

Actually, the 3rd game of this series was much more exciting than this one, from an ordinary baseball fans perspective. I know as a Cub fan I was emrionally drained after that game, and could not even celebrate the victory until I had a full nights rest.

"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields

by KedzieKid on Apr 4, 2011 8:37 AM CDT reply actions

One of the best ever: Randall Simon and Doug Glanville. The most exciting postseason win for the Cubs since Game 6, 1945.

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Apr 4, 2011 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Game 5 was the best.

I wish I taped these games :(

Screw the haters. It's Cutler time.

by lexmarklover on Apr 4, 2011 8:43 AM CDT reply actions

Why was the Cubs getting blanked by Beckett so great?

It's 106 miles to Chicago...

by BDR529 on Apr 4, 2011 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

For me the best game was game 6 of the 1975 World Series

It won’t win because the team that won (Boston) lost the series the next day, but it remains my all time favorite game. I would imagine game 4 or 5 of the Yankee/Red Sox series in 04 or perhaps Yanks D’Backs WS wins but for me it was game 6 in 1975 WS. I can still rememberFred Lynn lying on the ground motionless, Carbo’s HR , Evan’s catch and of course Fisk’s willing the game winning home run fair. Nothing tops that for me.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 4, 2011 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

It also was a long time ago so I suspect that would hurt.

A lot of voters probably know nothing about it. It is probably top 5 for me. I just love pitching match-ups which is why 1991 WS Game 7 would top this one.

I would have loved the Marichal/Spahn game from the 60’s which should be considered for the list.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Apr 4, 2011 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Obviously great pitching match ups are special

but the sheer number of incredible events/plays in the above game make it the best for me.
You are probably right about it being “too old” but it is hard for me to imagine that anyone who saw it live does not consider it just about the best game ever. For a while their Fisk’s going down the line jumping and waving the ball was probably the single most used sports clip next to the crashing “agony of defeat” skier.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 4, 2011 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Many you've already mentioned are on my list too

- Bucky Dent game
- Mets/Astros 1986 NLCS
- Game 4 2004 ALCS
- Tigers 1987 AL East clincher (very tense 1-0 game)
- Game 4 2006 ALCS
- Kerry’s 20K game
- Cards/Cubs Sept. 9, 1989

by EalyEagle on Apr 4, 2011 2:40 PM CDT reply actions

My God, how bad do you feel for Steve Bartman

I realize it’s a topic that has been discussed to death, but watching that clip honestly choked me up a bit. Just imagine yourself in that situation. That guy’s life was ruined over a natural reaction.

Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson

by TheBeerBaron on Apr 6, 2011 8:55 AM CDT reply actions