Fansided

Top 25 MLB pennant races of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

(Original Caption) Bucky Dent is a happy fellow as he jumps on home plate and is greeted by Roy White and Chris Chambliss after he hit a three-run home run in the 7th inning at Fenway Park.
(Original Caption) Bucky Dent is a happy fellow as he jumps on home plate and is greeted by Roy White and Chris Chambliss after he hit a three-run home run in the 7th inning at Fenway Park. /
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BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1982: Robin Yount #19 of the Milwaukee Brewers in action against the Baltimore Orioles during a Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Yount played for the Brewers from 1974-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1982: Robin Yount #19 of the Milwaukee Brewers in action against the Baltimore Orioles during a Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Yount played for the Brewers from 1974-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

19. Brewers and Orioles fight for AL East, 1982

The 1982 AL East playoff race was a classic, and featured the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers playing must-win games all the way to the final day of the season. Longtime Orioles manager Earl Weaver had announced prior to the year that ’82 would be his final year. Weaver began managing the Orioles in 1969 and guided the franchise to the best years in its history.

The Orioles were led by a veteran crew of Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton, Jim Palmer, Al Bumbry and Scotty McGregor. They also had a young, hotshot shortstop named Cal Ripken Jr. Ripken was just beginning to redefine the role a middle infielder with his size and power.

The Brewers were also managed by a colorful skipper, Harvey Kuenn, and were nicknamed “Harvey’s Wallbangers.” Future Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Paul Molitor led the high-powered offense. Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie both went over 30 home runs for the Brewers.

A four-game series on the final weekend of the year would determine the champion of the AL East. To make the playoffs, the Orioles had to sweep the Brewers. One win would put Milwaukee into the playoffs. The Orioles got off to a hot start by sweeping a double header by a combined score of 15-4 on Friday night and then won 11-3 on Saturday.

By this point, the rabid Orioles fans at Memorial Stadium smelled blood in the water. A monumental collapse by the Brewers seemed inevitable, especially with the O’s sending out ace Jim Palmer to start the finale. Alas, over 50,000 Orioles fans went home dejected after the Brewers were able to explode for a 10-2 win. Milwaukee went on to lost the World Series in seven games. It wasn’t all bad for the Orioles, as they won the 1983 World Series.

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