October 2

1971 ... The Pirates lose their fourth consecutive playoff game to Gaylord Perry and the Giants, 5-4, in Game 1 of the 1971 NLCS. Perry pitches a complete game and gives up three earned runs, while Willie McCovey and Tito Fuentes each hit two home runs.

October 3

1971 ... In Game 2 of the 1971 NLCS against the Giants, Pirates first baseman Bob Robertson becomes the first Major Leaguer to hit three home runs in League Championship history. He also drives in five runs and helps the Pirates defeat the Giants, 9-4.

1970... In Game 1, the Twins rock Orioles pitcher Mike Cuellar for six runs in four-plus innings. But Cuellar does his own damage to the Twins before he leaves the game, belting a wind-aided grand slam. The Orioles go on to win the game, 10-6.

October 4

1989 ... First baseman Will Clark goes 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs as the Giants rock the Cubs in Game 1 of the 1989 NLCS, 11-3. Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux lasts just four innings and gives up eight runs.

1969... With the score tied at three in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 1, Baltimore center fielder Paul Blair lays down a surprising two-out bunt that scores Mark Belanger and helps the Orioles beat the Twins, 4-3.

October 5

1970 ... At age 19, Don Gullett records his second save as the Reds edge the Pirates, 3-2, to sweep the 1970 NLCS and win their first pennant since 1961.

1969... In the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 2, pinch hitter Curt Motton breaks a 0-0 tie by driving in Boog Powell with a single and helps the Orioles defeat the Twins, 1-0.

October 6

1984 ... With the Padres down 2-games-to-1 and tied with the Cubs at five in the bottom of the ninth of Game 4 of the 1984 NLCS, first baseman Steve Garvey belts the game-winnings home run off Lee Smith to help the Padres win the game 7-5 and tie the series at two. Garvey, who would be named the MVP of the series the next day, went 4-for-5 and drives in five runs.

1978... Royals third baseman George Brett hits three home runs off Yankees starter Catfish Hunter in Game 3. But catcher Thurman Munson steals the show by hitting a dramatic two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning that helps the Yankees defeat the Royals, 6-5.

October 7

1975... After winning three consecutive championships, the A's dynasty comes to an end as they are defeated and eliminated by the Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALCS, 5-3. Red Sox starter Rick Wise baffles the A's for seven-plus innings and earns the win.

1975 ... Pitcher John Candelaria strikes out 14 batters in 7 2/3 innings, but the Pirates fail to score enough runs for him as the Reds win Game 3, 5-3, and sweep the 1975 NLCS, 3-0.

October 8

1972... In the seventh inning of Game 2 of the ALCS, Tigers reliever Lerin LaGrow hits A's shortstop Bert Campaneris with a pitch that nearly elicits a brawl. Campaneris, seeking revenge, throws his bat at LaGrow, causing both benches to empty. Both LaGrow and Campaneris are subsequently ejected. Campaneris is later suspended for the rest of the series.

1973 ... In Game 3 of the 1973 NLCS, the Mets take a 2-1 lead in the series by whipping the Reds, 9-3. However, the highlight of the game occurs in the top of fifth inning when Reds outfielder Pete Rose and Mets Shortstop Bud Harrelson come to blows after Rose elbows Harrelson in the face. In the bottom of the inning, the Shea Stadium crowd showers Rose with debris. Willie Mays, Tom Seaver and Rusty Staub are finally able to calm the crowd.

October 9

1996 ... With the Yankees trailing the Orioles, 4-3, in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hits a deep fly ball to right field and it appears Tony Tarasco has a beat on it. But 12-year-old Yankees fan Jeff Maier reaches over the wall and deflects the ball into the stands. Much to the Orioles' dismay, umpire Richie Garcia rules the play a home run and the Yankees tie the score. The game goes into extra innings, and Bernie Williams swats a home run in the 11th to lead the Yankees past the Orioles, 5-4.

1988 ... After pitching seven solid innings and getting a no-decision the previous day, right-hander Orel Hershiser gets his first postseason save in Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS. Hershiser gets Mets outfielder Kevin McReynolds to fly out to John Shelby for the final out of the game and give the Dodgers a 5-4 victory. Hershiser goes on to be named the MVP of the series.

October 10

1990 ... In Game 4 of the ALCS between the Red Sox and A's, Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens is ejected by Terry Cooney in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes. The Red Sox -- already down 1-0 -- would go on to lose the game, 3-1 and be swept 4-0 in the series.

1973 ... The New York Mets, who won only 82 games during the regular season, advance to the 1973 World Series by whipping the Reds in the fifth and deciding game of the NLCS, 7-2. Mets right-hander Tom Seaver pitches 8 2/3 innings and gives up one earned run for the win.

1986 ... New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra's two-run home run off Dave Smith with one out in the bottom of the ninth gives the Mets a 6-5 win over the Astros and a 2-1 lead in the NLCS.

October 11

1985... Manager Dick Howser breaks a personal eight-game losing streak in the LCS as the Royals edge the Blue Jays in Game 3, 6-5. George Brett was the hero, going 4-for-4 and hitting two home runs.

1972 ... With the Reds down, 3-2, in the bottom of the ninth of the fifth and deciding game of the 1972 NLCS against the Pirates, catcher Johnny Bench leads off the inning and hits a dramatic home run against reliever Dave Gusti to tie the score. The clout comes minutes after Bench's mother yells from the stands for him to hit a home run. After consecutive singles by Tony Perez and Denis Menke, Gusti is replaced by Bob Moose, who uncorks a wild pitch that allows George Foster, pinch running for Perez, to score the winning run and the Reds to win their second pennant in three years.

October 12

1986 ... One strike away from winning their first pennant in the history, the Angels blow a 5-4 lead when closer Donnie Moore gives up a two-run homer to Red Sox outfielder Dave Henderson. The Angels tie the score in the bottom of the ninth, but Henderson breaks the tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th inning. The Red Sox win the game and go on to win the pennant three days later.

1980 ... The Phillies win their first pennant in 30 years by beating the Astros, 8-7, in 10 innings in Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS. In the game, both teams use a combined 10 pitchers and see the lead change hands three times. In the top of the 10th inning, Gary Maddox drives in the game-winning run with an RBI double, while pitcher Dick Ruthven holds the Astros scoreless in the bottom of the 10th.

1988 ... NLCS MVP Orel Hershiser shuts out the Mets to win Game Seven. The 6-0 win puts the Dodgers into the World Series for the first time since 1981.

October 13

1993 ... The Phillies win the their first pennant in 10 years by upsetting the Braves in Game 6 of the 1993 NLCS, 6-3. Braves pitcher Greg Maddux gives up all six runs including a two-run home run to Dave Hollins in the fifth inning. Winning pitcher Tommy Greene pitches seven solid innings and gives up only three runs.

1991... In Game 5, Kirby Puckett goes 3-for-5 and drives in two runs including the game winner as the Twins top the Blue Jays, 8-5, and win their second pennant in five years.

October 14

1992 ... After four tries in the ALCS, the Blue Jays finally win their first pennant by beating the A's 9-2 in Game 6. Blue Jays outfielder Candy Maldonado is the hitting hero, smacking two hits and driving in three runs.

1985 ... Light-hitting switch hitter Ozzie Smith never homered from the left side of the plate during his career until Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS when he hits the game-winning home run off Tom Niedenfuer to give the Cardinals a 3-2 victory and a 3-2 lead in games in the Series.

October 15

1986 ... The Mets avoided facing nemesis Mike Scott in Game 7 by beating the Astros, 7-6, in a 16-inning marathon in Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS and winning their first pennant in 13 years. Astros starter Bob Knepper takes a 3-0 lead going into the ninth inning, but the Mets tie the score, on Ray Knight's sacrifice fly. The Mets think they have the Astros beaten in the 11th on Wally Backman's RBI single, but Billy Hatcher ties things up with a home run in the bottom of the inning. Two innings later, the Mets score three runs, but the Astros battle back with two run in the bottom of the 16 inning. However, they fall short when closer Jesse Orosco strikes out Kevin Bass to end the game.

1981... Graig Nettles goes 4-for-4 and drives in three runs as the Yankees whip the A's 13-3 in Game 2. Nettles goes on to be named MVP of the series.

October 16

1999... It's billed as the pitching matchup of the 1999 ALCS -- Pedro vs. the Rocket. But the game turns out to be one-sided as Martinez and the Red Sox best Clemens and the Yankees 13-1.

1985 ... With the Cardinals down, 5-4, and with runners on second and third and two outs in the top of the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1985 NLCS, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda refuses to walk Jack Clark and pays for it dearly when the latter hits a dramatic three-run homer off closer Tom Niedenfuer. The Dodgers fail to score in the bottom of the inning, and the Cardinals win their second pennant in four years.

October 17

1995 ... Randy Johnson runs out of gas and gives up three unanswered runs to the Indians in the eighth inning of Game 6. The Indians go on to win the game 4-0 and secure their first pennant since 1954.

1991 ... The Braves win their first pennant in Atlanta when pitcher John Smoltz pitches a six-hit (4-0) shutout against the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1991 NLCS. Braves first baseman Brian Hunter delivers the biggest blow by hitting a two-run home run against John Smiley in the first inning.

October 19

1981 ... Outfielder Rick Monday breaks a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning by hitting a dramatic home run off reliever Steve Rogers in the fifth and deciding game of the 1981 NLCS. Monday's home run helps the Dodgers win their third pennant in five years.