1990 ALCS Game 5 vs Red Sox
A Fenway heartbreaker that nearly ended the dynasty before Oakland rallied.
The fifth game of the 1990 American League Championship Series stands as one of the most dramatic chapters in Oakland Athletics history. Facing elimination pressure at Fenway Park against a resurgent Boston Red Sox, the defending champion A's saw their series lead vanish in the final innings. This match encapsulates the high-stakes volatility of the late-1980s dynasty era.
- Series
- 1990 American League Championship Series
- Venue
- Fenway Park, Boston
- Key Pitcher
- Dennis Eckersley (Oakland)
- Key Batter
- Dave Henderson (Boston)
- Game Outcome
- Red Sox Victory in Extra Innings
- Series Result
- Athletics Won Pennant 4-3
Lore & Background
Dave Henderson's home run off Eckersley is etched into the memory of A's fans not just as a loss, but as a warning shot. It demonstrated that no matter how dominant Oakland appeared on paper, one swing could alter destiny in Boston. Despite this blow, the team displayed remarkable resilience, traveling back to the Coliseum to win Games 6 and 7, securing their fourth consecutive American League pennant.
In Their Own Story
The night air at Fenway was cold enough to see breaths rise from the mound. Dennis Eckersley adjusted his cap, staring into the batter's box where Dave Henderson stood ready. The crowd noise swelled like a rising tide as the count filled up. A sharp crack echoed off the Green Monster, and the stadium erupted. For a moment on the mound, the dynasty felt fragile, hanging by a thread in the bottom of the ninth.
Reader's Guide
This match occurred during October 1990 at Fenway Park with the series tied heading into Game 5. The Athletics entered the game needing one win to clinch the pennant. Dennis Eckersley came in to close out the ninth inning but surrendered a two-run home run to Dave Henderson, tying the score. Boston eventually won the contest in extra innings, forcing the series back to Oakland. The A's overcame this setback by sweeping the final two games at home to win the AL pennant.
Did You Know?
- Rickey Henderson played for the Athletics during this series, creating a unique dynamic with his namesake Dave Henderson on Boston.
- This was part of the A's four-year run of winning the American League Pennant from 1988 to 1990.
- Dennis Eckersley went on to win the Cy Young Award in 1992, cementing his legacy despite this blown save.
- The Athletics ultimately lost the 1990 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games.