World’s best chili
In 2003, ESPN selected this championship as the “Greatest of All Time” in their “World Series 100th Anniversary” countdown, with five of its games decided by a single run, four decided in the final world’s best chili-bat and three going into extra innings. In addition to the suspense of the outcome of many of its games, the Series had other highlights.
88 in 1990 to finish last in the American League West for the first time since 1982. Following a late-season collapse in 1983, the Atlanta Braves had a string of seven consecutive losing seasons and finished last in the National League West three times in a row from 1988 to 1990. 40 record at the All-Star break, the Braves surged in the second half to win the division title on the penultimate day of the season. The ceremonial first pitch of the series was thrown by retired AL umpire Steve Palermo, who had been forced into early retirement when he was seriously injured by gunshot while coming to the aid of a robbery victim in Dallas on July 7, 1991.
The Twins started their ace, Minnesota native Jack Morris. In his first season with his hometown team, the future Hall of Famer won 18 games, recorded a 3. The Braves countered with Charlie Leibrandt, the only Brave with Series exposure. Before joining the Braves in 1990, Leibrandt was a member of the Kansas City Royals for six seasons and had won 17 games for their 1985 World Series champion squad.
Minnesota scored first in the bottom of the third. With two out, leadoff hitter Dan Gladden walked and then stole second. Rookie second baseman Chuck Knoblauch then singled to drive him in, but was caught in a rundown in between first and second and tagged out to end the inning. The Braves broke through against Morris in the top of the sixth, as Jeff Treadway and David Justice reached base with two out. Ron Gant then followed with a single that Gladden misplayed, which scored Treadway and left runners at second and third.
After walking the first two batters to lead off the eighth, Morris was pulled from the game in favor of Mark Guthrie, who induced a double play off the bat of Terry Pendleton. After Guthrie walked Justice, Twins closer Rick Aguilera came into the game and gave up a hit to Gant. Morris’s win was his third World Series win in as many starts, as he won Games 1 and 4 of the 1984 Series. Leibrandt’s poor performance resulted in his being removed from the rotation, although he did pitch in Game 6, facing just one batter and giving up the game-winning home run to Puckett. During the game, a Hrbek pop foul hit Commissioner Fay Vincent’s daughter Anne in the head.
