1986 ALCS, Game 5: Red Sox @ Angels 

Al Michaels sounded like a kid on Christmas morning from the 9th inning onward. You can really hear his love for the game of baseball and it's a shame that he didn't work for a network that covered baseball for the last 30+ years of his career.

The 9th inning of this game (top and bottom) is the best and most dramatic inning of baseball that I have ever seen and the fact that Al Michaels is at the top of his game just adds to its special quality.

I was crushed by the Dave Henderson home run when I saw this as a kid but looking back I'm glad that he had his moment of glory. He died in 2015.... too young. May he rest in peace.

This might have been the best MLB game ever played. RIP Don Baylor, Dave Henderson, Donnie Moore and Bill Buckner. God bless your souls.

I will always remember watching this game at my best friend’s house. The green carpet. The big, old wood console Zenith TV. By the top of the ninth inning the Red Sox were down 5-2. My friends had given up and gone into the backyard. I stayed. I had watched the whole season(my first season of baseball) and was at least going to see it end. I could hear my friends through the screen door at the picnic table outside. I was sitting in a leather easy-chair and holding a wooden container of drink coasters, for some reason. When Don Baylor hit a two-run homer to make it 5-4 I got excited, but decided I couldn’t move from the chair to let everyone know what happened. Before Gedman got plunked, my best friend looked through the screen door and asked if it was over. I said “No, it’s 5 to 4.” They all rushed in, asked what happened and sat down. We watched it unfold together in absolute silence until Dave Henderson’s’ home run. Then we just exploded. I jumped out of the easy chair and dropped the coasters which rolled all over the floor. I still remember my best friend being amazed by the clip of Henderson leaping vertically and spinning around on the first base line, kind of hanging there. Floating.

Never gets old watching this classic homer. Put yourself in that situation with 65,000 screaming fans, down to your last strike and security people on the field and in the dugouts waiting for you to fail. Simply the best clutch hit that never gets old. RIP Mr. Henderson.

no cell phones, no graphics splashed all over the screen, just awesome. The good old days.

RIP Dave Henderson one of the late inning clutch players in postseason history.

1986 Ranks as the most exciting mlb playoffs and world series for me ever, unbeliveable theater, the highs and lows for the players were unreal

Even as a Yankee fan, this is one of the best games I've ever watched.

Without question. Two of the five best LCS's and then an absolutely outrageous World Series.

I'll never forget this game, watched it Sunday afternoon and thats all everyone was talking about the next day at school in Junior high as im from Los Angeles and we were all shocked.

A clutch ballplayer and a class act gone far too soon. Still remember him smiling and having fun with the fans in the bleachers at Fenway. He enjoyed his time in Boston after playing in front of only ushers and vendors in Seattle. Simply the greatest clutch moment in baseball when he saved the Red Sox from losing to the Angels with only one strike to go and smoked a fork ball for a red sox lead that would propel them to victory and an eventual series win in seven games. He hit .400 in the world series with two homeruns before it all fell apart.

I had no idea how awesome the 1986 ALCS & NLCS were, It's too bad everyone else just remembers what happen in Game 6 of the World Series that year

That's the best baseball game I've ever seen still to this day & I'm a Reds fan

It’s sad knowing this game was the beginning of the unraveling of Donnie Moore’s life, but to blame him entirely for the Angels losing the 1986 ALCS is ridiculous.

Greatest sports call I've ever heard ! I remember watching this and it still rings after thirty years.Pure Classic !

"THIS GAME IS SO GREAT, I CAN'T TAKE IT!" - Al Michaels

RIP DAVE HENDERSON...GRET PLAYER GREAT MEMORIS

I can't believe there has only been one other view of this video of this all time classic game. Disclaimer, I myself am responsible for watching it the other 123999 times! Lol. Never gets old. Omg

This is in my opinion the greatest postseason game ever played.

This game broke my heart into a million pieces. I carried on in life, the 2002 season aided the healing process, but I never recovered.

I'll never forget this day !! I actually remember before this game ABC showing college football scores and the 3 teams in a row they showed were scored for Rice Baylor and Clemson. I turned Clemson to Clemens and thought it was a good sign !! It was :)

I was stationed in san diego california u.s. navy . I saw this game at the y.m.c.a. live as a 21 year old man and to this day i must say that was the greatest game i had ever seen. 37 years later and still cant believe how great of a game that was.

Al Michaels legendary call: To left field and deep and Downing goes back and it's gone unbelievable you're looking at one for the ages

Al Michaels and Jim Palmer were great together. I watched this from Germany on Armed Forces Network. Sunday with the six hour time difference. Games six and seven began at 2:00 am.

- Imagine if Social Media existed back in 1986, these playoff games in the ALCS & NLCS would've blown up Twitter LOL :-o :-)

1986 mlb playoffs among the best ever, alcs, nlcs, and World Series!

1986 was the best postseason in the history of Major League Baseball. Period. End of story. It's not even close.

First time ive ever seen this game, and what a stirring one it is! Made even better by having the legendary Al Michaels on play-by-play. This must be what baseball in heaven is like (or hell if you're an Angels fan or Donnie Moore).

I was 12/13 during the 1986 baseball season and a young Cubs fan. This was the first season I followed MLB. Up until 1986 I was still into G.I. Joe, Transformers, Robotech, Voltron, He-Man, Star Wars, etc. I missed the Cubs disappointment and heartbreak in 1984. But I heard and read all about it. The Cubs were a 5th place team in 1986 and well out of the mix. But I was fascinated by the other contending teams like the Mets, Astros, Giants, Angels, Red Sox, etc. Yes, that 1986 NLCS/ALCS was some of the most exciting, tense and dramatic sports theater I've seen to date.

I was a huge Mets fan at the time waiting for their game later that night, so I watched the 9th inning with passive interest. It's always a novelty to watch a team win a playoff series because the fans still rushed the field back then. When Don Baylor hit the home run earlier in the inning (many people forget that HR...there's no Dave Henderson heroics if not for Don Baylor's heroics) I thought wow, this may be interesting. Then when Henderson hit his, I knew that I was watching a magical moment. The rest is history. People also forget that Dave Henderson almost won the World Series too with his homer in the 10th inning of game 6. But we all know how that game ended. 1986 post season...there will never be another like it.

Both the ALCS and NLCS were crazy insane and the best advert for baseball

Rip Dave Henderson

The '86 postseason was the best in the history of baseball. I can't think of any year that topped it.

1986, I was 21 years old ,..working mowing lawns up in Beverly Hills Ca,.. I watched this unfold in like a slow motion I will NEVER FORGET ,..Al Michaels Call from "then" I can still hear ,.. This was UNREAL ,... RIP

I was watching this game at Filenes Dept Store on the 7th floor. I was on my knees PRAYING for at least a base hit. I got more than I bargained for. I was 19 years old at the time wearing my Red Sox cap. When Henderson hit hat home run, the electronics section of the store went berserk. I can still hear the screams of joy till this day. RIP Mr Henderson and Mr Moore.

Watching this on TV right now and it amazes me how much better the broadcasts were 30 years ago. No unnecessary graphics, no constant updating of the counts in the upper right corner. They gave people the chance to watch and pay attention and know the score and count.

I remember this so well because I was stuck in the hospital for the entire series and watching the games were the high points of each day.

1986 post season was simply the best ever imo. It has 3 of the greatest games ever, one from each series. Too bad younger viewers may not realize it, but hopefully with you tube they can appreciate it

I was at this game and was a huge Angels fan. This was the most emotional baseball game I've ever seen. We were one out away from the World Series, which I had bought tickets to and of course what happened is history. What was an embarrassment as an Angels fans was that fans booed Donnie Moore every time he came into a game after this. He of course later committed suicide and tried to kill his wife.

One of the best heartfelt moments as aRed Sox fan since age 6 to witness this on tv at age 18...I think I lost my breath as my Yankee fan Dad looked at me in complete silence!....I well knew of 75 and 78 by then...

Two days later they interviewed Henderson. He was still completely in a daze, and describing his frame of mind when he stepped out of the box just before the homer, he said, "I didn't have a clue." I'll never forget that.

One of the greats catches of all time by Brian Downing off of Ed Romero is unfortunately omitted in the top of the 11th.

It's crazy watching all of the security and police, as well as Angels fans ready to storm the field to celebrate winning the AL pennant and being denied; though I didn't see this series when it occurred-I did see the final two games of the 1986 World Series-as a three decades-plus Angels fan, it saddens me. Just so happy the franchise won it in 2002 and the joy and peace long-time Angels fans must've felt that night (I know I was happy as hell).

Hendu RIP, one of my favorites!

Obviously played in October, I was watching the Redskins beating the Cardinals, and during a commercial break , I changed channels as Bill Buckner was leading off the 9th. Never switched back to the football game. Hindu's homer here, and Gibson's two years later were the most riveting moments in my baseball life.

At 3:17:40 the plug is yanked and fast forwarded to the bottom of the 11th. We are deprived of seeing Brian Downing's extraordinary back crashing against the wall line drive catch, off the bat Of Ed Romero. This was indeed one of the most sensational plays of the entire game.

I actually watched this RU-vid video. After the Sox load the bases in the top of the 11th, the video skips to the Rob Wilfong hitting lead-off in the bottom of the 11th. Didn't even get to see the winning run cross the plate! Perhaps MLB needs a copy from my video archive. I'm an Angel fan, so I don't know what I'm even doing putting myself through this misery.

I love going back and hearing the broadcaster in this case Al Micheals talk about how great of a game this is even before the great shit starts happening !! Like hold on you ain't seen nothing yet !!

Great playoff game and series wow

Baylor and hendu saved our ass, red Sox fan. One of best games I ever saw....rip to both

2:19:35 - Boston should owe a lot to Bill Buckner as without his leadoff single here, the Red Sox wouldn't have made it to the World Series.

Man.Just found this.My Dad and I were at this game.We were big Angel fans at the time .Unreal,insane ,roller-coaster of emotions game. Still an Angel fan.RIP Dad.

Steve Crawford was nails in the 9th inning. Amazing for a guy who was low on the totem pole for the 86 Red Sox even with their questionable bullpen.

THE best overall playoff year in MLB history.......!

espn classic had this game on recently. That at bat by Henderson has to be one of the greatest at bats of all time in baseball history. What an epic game and epic series.

You skipped the best line: "If you're just tuning in, too bad!"

That wasnt a bad pitch by Moore, tho you could argue he had a ball to give and coulda put it in the dirt, Henderson just went out and got it. It happens

Great series, thanks for sharing these games.

The best MLB playoff game at least in my lifetime.

In my opinion, the greatest MLB postseason game ever played.

AL MICHAELS CLASSIC CALL..ONE OF HIS BEST EVER..~~

remember this like it was yesterday. What a freaking game. Just like Al Michaels said. Astonishing

I was 12 years old when I was at this game, getting ready to run on the field to celebrate with my Angels. Still a little bit of heartbreak watching this after all these years.

I was driving to Wimpy Burgers when Henderson hit his HR. Still remember that.

The unbelievable thing about this truly great baseball game was that ABC begins this broadcast with Highlights of Game 4 the night before that was also a fantastic game that the Angels won. No one today remembers Game 4 because this game was even better. In my estimation this was the greatest playoff game in baseball history. Certainly it was the greatest in the Division era of baseball that began in 1969. It is part of baseball history. A game for the ages.

2:26:33 Red Sox down to their final out 2:29:16 Start of Dave Henderson at bat 2:29:45 Red Sox down to their last strike 2:31:56 Dave Henderson hits a home run to keep the Red Sox's season alive 3:23:10 Red Sox send the ALCS back to Boston

What a game. What. A. Game.

Bases loaded Angels with DeCinces and the series winner is on third. And Donnie Moore got all the blame....!

Simply the most exciting playoff game as a lifetime long Red Sox fan. Sure the sox have won 3 world series in 10 years, but to comeback in this fashion when the game was over in everyone's mind was simply incredible. Even Al Michaels said it was the greatest baseball game he has ever broadcast. One pitch before the epic homerun Jim Palmer says "Henderson with 15 homeruns on the season is a dangerous hitter." Talk about prophetic.

After watching for three hours, thanks for inexplicably editing out the Red Sox going ahead with the bases loaded in extra innings.

That was a great game. The Angels have not had much to cheer about over the last 33/34 years. They do have the best player Mike Trout on their current team. Little did the Red Sox know, that one of the most exciting innings in baseball history was coming their way during the 1986 playoffs. Thanks for the video.

1986 had some great playoff games.

What I also liked what ABC did (which would never happen now)is in the middle of the 9th inning after the Henderson historic home run, THEY NEVER WENT TO COMMERCIAL. The Producers and Execs smartly stayed with Micheals and Palmer for their immediate reactions to that HR.

Outstanding blue blazers for the ABC guys.

There is a separate video of the run scoring on the sacrifice fly

RIP Donnie Moore and Dave Henderson, the highs and lows in sports moments

Well finally got to witness final innings of this most classic game. Rocky Roe strike zone really shrunk in the top of Boston's ninth inning, Witt had 2 perfect strike in which Roe failed to ring Don Baylor up,then 2 run homer on the next pitch. WHY did Lacheman NOT Gene Mauch make pitching changes to bring in Lucas and Moore?? Wish they shown Henderson GW sac fly top of 11th.

wow, an LCS..or for that matter any postseason baseball game played during the day????!!! ah the good ole days... great upload!!!

Game 7 of the 1991 Series was a classic, but neither championship series was one for the ages. The 1992 NLCS will always be about Francisco Cabrera's Game 7 heroics, but neither the ALCS or the Series were particularly memorable. Game 6 of the '86 NLCS was just as good as the game we've been watching here. The Mets rallied from 3-0 in the ninth against Bob Knepper to tie the game and eventually win (and the series) in 16 innings. One of the all-time great games. For me, nothing can top 1986.

Fascinating how Henderson called time and stepped out of the box right before the homer. Very cool.

The ninth inning is one of the best in baseball history.

RIP to the great Don Baylor. Without his 2-run HR in the 9th, Hendu's iconic homer a few batters later never would've happened. And he scored the go-ahead run in the 11th on Henderson's sac fly. (which strangely isn't shown here)

I can't remember a season that had two more entertaining championship series than 1986. The Mets-Astros series was every bit as dramatic as the Sox vs. the Angels. Just terrific baseball.

Many people say that, but it's interesting to note that in 1982, in the bottom of the 7th of Game 5 of the LCS versus Milwaukee, Mauch left in Luis Sanchez, a right, to face Cecil Cooper with two outs. He had Andy Hassler, who was death to lefties, ready and didn't bring him in. Cooper singled in the tying and winning runs. That was unquestionably the wrong move and close to unforgivable. So, in 86 he makes the move he should've made in 82 and it doesn't work out.

Being a Red Sox fan, I think how terrible how Donnie Moore's life turned on one pitch. His career went into the toilet and eventually led to a murder/suicide.

When I see this, all I remember watching the ESPN special The pitch that killed Donnie Moore.

I'm not sure if I agree with Al Michaels' assertion that Dave Henderson's homerun "ranks second only to Fisk." If Fisk didn't come through in Game 6 of the '75 Series vs. the Reds, the game simply would have continued on. Conversely, had Henderson failed here, the Red Sox would have been heading home, losers in five games.

Hendu was the ORIGINAL Papi!!!

What, Dave Hendersons sac fly for the go ahead run in the 11th is cut out and missingb along with Ed Romero's deep drive to left where Brian Downing makes a remarkable catch crashing face first into the wall to keep the game close. What a huge disapointment to miss two huge plays in this historic game.

This game literally made me sick to my stomach. I was 14 years old at the time, an extremely emotionally committed Angels fan, who, just a few years before that, had to suffer through them blowing a 2-0 lead to Milwaukee (in a best of five). One strike away... Those were the only words I could articulate to myself over the course of the following two weeks. The Angels never emotionally recovered from that game either. When the series moved back to Boston, they all looked like zombies, just going through the motions of the inevitable total collapse. I watched both of those games, but to this day, I still cannot tell you one thing I remember about either Game 6 or Game 7... other than the empty dejected faces in the Angels dugout after it was all over. And of course, poor Donnie Moore took the brunt of the anger and disappointment. But rewatching this now for the first time in 27 years, I have to say, that 2-2 forkball was NOT badly located. For Henderson to be able to pull a pitch that was tailing down and away, and not pop it up to shallow left, is pretty remarkable really. I wasn't Donnie's fault at all. The truth is, Gene Mauch lost that game. Pulling Mike Witt with two outs and nobody on, immediately after getting Evans to pop out, made absolutely NO sense. Yeah I know Gedman seemed to have had Witt's number that day. But with all the adrenaline pumping, and the momentum back on your side, you stick with the guy who got you there for one more lousy out! Ugh... What a painful joy the game of baseball is. Thank God for 2002... haha

People focus on Henderson's homerun, but the hero of that game without a doubt was Rich Gedman. He had four hits including a two run homer. He gunned down both runners who tried to steal -- White and Downing. He got on base in the 9th so that Henderson's homer scored two. In the 11th he bunted Baylor over to third and beat out the throw to first. Baylor then scored the winning running on a sacrifice fly. And he caught Crawford, who hardly pitched in the regular season or playoffs. It's too bad he didn't get more recognition for dominating that game.

The most crushing Angel defeat EVER.

I remember seeing this game live. I was crushed by the Dave Henderson homer as I thought the Angels had finally put together a team that had everything necessary to go to the World Series. It wasn't to be. May the great Donnie Moore rest in peace.

Like in 1982, I was in the Army and in Germany and could not watch the last few games of the series. I was (still am) an Angels fan. In retrospect, probably the better team won if Wally Joyner did not play in games 5 -7. The Angels had their chances and their home run in the game as a result of a Boston mishap created a different context than being one strike away from winning the ALCS. To this day, my feeling is if the Angels beat the Red Sox either in the season series or the ALCS (like in 2009), the year is a success. Also, after he hit the home run in the 6th inning, thought Grich was too jubilant - in a game that was close with a few innings to go.

The thing that made the 1986 playoffs so magical was that each of the four teams in the playoffs was capable of winning the World Series. Each team also wanted to win extremely badly. It's not like today where 12 teams are in the playoffs, including ones that are just slightly better than average.

GREAT hard-core game right there !!!

This was one of the greatest games I seen in my life.... well at least ALCS championship games!

I heard him clarify this in an interview; it was his favorite baseball game to call, but Lake Placid is the #1 overall moment for him.