Fall is in the air, and the 162-game grind that is the Major League Baseball season culminated earlier this month, as eight teams all competed for the chance to call themselves World Champions.
This year’s postseason has been nothing short of thrilling. Fans have seen moments that have made them jump for joy and in some cases cry like babies. They’ve had a chance to see Roy “Doc” Halladay throw a no-hitter in his first career postseason start, the Twins fail again in October at the hands of the Yankees, the Braves stifled by the dominant pitching of the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers win their first ever postseason series and advance to their first World Series.
The American League Championship series was extremely exciting with the Rangers ousting the reigning World Champion New York Yankees 4-2 by means of their youthful talent.
Meanwhile in the National League Championship Series, the San Francisco Giants virtually dominated the Philadelphia Phillies in the first three games of the series. Even the gritty style of play that the Phillies are known for couldn’t stop the wrath of the mighty Giants as they went on to win the series 4-2.
With both the Giants and the Rangers winning their pennants and coming into an environment they are not used to, their respective cities are sure to be full of energy and pride over the next week.
This postseason has been especially remarkable because it seems as though every game has had a different hero. That being said, while one player may stand out, such as Cliff Lee with his gutsy pitching performances, the fact remains that without the help of their teammates, each team’s accomplishments wouldn’t be possible.
Baseball has always had unforgettable moments, but never are those moments more incredible and meaningful than in the playoffs, when in the words of the diehards, magic happens.