History

There have been many important days in Twins history. Oct. 25th, 1987 (first World Series victory), Oct. 27th, 1991 (second World Series), and June 5th, 2001 (drafting of Joe Mauer) spring to mind for many fans. But the absolute most important date had nothing to do with winning a world series or drafting a future hall of fame catcher. The day in question is July 3rd, 2000.

There have been a lot of disputed and controversial calls in MLB playoff history.

From Jeffrey Maier to Steve Bartman, to balls called strikes and safe runners called out, there's controversial calls in every postseason. 

In this article, I'll recognize the most important and most controversial calls in MLB playoff history.

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Mickey Mantle has become better than Joe DiMaggio despite the fact that Mickey played his last game in 1968 and Joe played his last game in 1951.

How is this possible? The answer is that it is not possible.

During his career, the baseball writers and the fans excoriated Mickey because he wasn't Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Joe DiMaggio rolled into one.

As everyone witnessed this past ALCS and NLCS, postseason games come down to the final pitch. Some ball players are propelled toward excellency in this one moment, and some are forever distastefully remembered for it, but its the rare feat of striking out looking that really pushes the buttons of baseball fans everywhere, and the mere fact that a backwards K can end a teams season as quickly as it began is something no fan looks forward to. 

Name the infield for the 2005 Chicago White Sox.

You have that jerk at catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who everyone knows. Paul Konerko, of course, Juan Uribe before his backside developed its own zip code, and Joe Crede.

Who was that one guy at second base? Why can't I remember his name? He was Asian, wasn't he?

Tadahito Iguchi.

Phineas Taylor Barnum was a born showman. He was placed on this Earth to sell tickets, fill houses and count receipts. He was the Columbus of show business—P.T. discovered acts and freaks—sometimes they were one and the same.

Barnum had a wonderfully simple explanation of how he was able to become a millionaire with traveling shows that featured lizard boys, bearded women and the “Feejee” mermaid (a creature with the head of a monkey and the tail of a fish).

How did ole P.T. do it?

Of course we could all speculate on the greatest moments in World Series history.

But as you will see, I've taken moments from many different eras and tried to compile what I believe to be some of the World Series' greatest moments.

Some may surprise you, and others were probably forgotten about.

Let's take a look.

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There is something timeless about fathers and sons and knuckleballers. Flying to New York City to visit my parents, I pondered the question of how to help my about-to-turn 79 year old father celebrate his birthday later that week. A suitable gift is always easiest to find for one who has little or wants a lot.

Shaking his head and flashing a deprecatory grin, Joe DiMaggio started talking about it again.

"There has to be an element of luck to it," he modestly told a group of baseball writers, "but the one thing that sticks in my mind is that whenever I kept the streak alive with a scratch hit, I always came through in that same game with an honest hit that could not be questioned. That's what made it so satisfying."

The 2010 MLB Postseason has been bittersweet for the Cincinnati Reds and their fans.

Making the playoffs for the first time since 1995 is a huge deal. In fact just getting over .500 was a cause for celebration this season.

The Reds were able to fight off the big bad St. Louis Cardinals and finally made it to October baseball.

But then the Reds were no-hit by the Philies Roy Halladay. Running into a buzzsaw like that was part bad luck, but also part first game jitters of an inexperienced team.