Synopsis
One Pitch Away: The Players' Stories of the 1986 League Championships and World Series by Mike Sowell provides an in-depth exploration of one of the most dramatic and memorable seasons in Major League Baseball history. Sowell intricately weaves together the narratives of the players, managers, and games that defined the 1986 postseason, focusing on the intensity and emotion of the American League and National League Championship Series and culminating in the unforgettable World Series between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox.
The book captures the tension and heartbreak of the 1986 playoffs, starting with the ALCS, where the California Angels were on the brink of their first World Series appearance but were undone by the resilience of the Boston Red Sox, highlighted by Dave Henderson's dramatic home run in Game 5 that turned the series around. Sowell delves into the psychological toll these games took on the players and the uncertainty that hovered over every pitch.
In the NLCS, the New York Mets faced off against the Houston Astros in a series that featured one of the greatest games in postseason history—a 16-inning marathon in Game 6 that ended with a Mets victory and sent them to the World Series. Sowell explores the pressure and camaraderie within the Mets' clubhouse, showcasing the unique personalities and stories of key players like Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden, and Keith Hernandez.
The narrative reaches its climax with the 1986 World Series, a battle between the Mets and the Red Sox that is best remembered for the dramatic Game 6, where Boston was just one out away from breaking the "Curse of the Bambino." However, a series of fateful errors, including the infamous ground ball that slipped through Bill Buckner's legs, allowed the Mets to win the game and eventually the series in seven games. Sowell provides detailed accounts from both the Mets and Red Sox perspectives, offering insight into how the events of that night unfolded and how the players coped with the aftermath.
Throughout One Pitch Away, Sowell combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling to create a narrative that is as much about the human experience of competing at the highest level as it is about baseball. The book captures the essence of what makes the 1986 postseason so legendary—its unpredictability, the fine line between victory and defeat, and the lasting impact it had on the players and fans alike.