What was the Greatest Game You Ever Saw?

I love this: Sports Illustrated recently asked some of their writers to share their memories of the greatest game they ever saw. For Pete McEntegart, that game was Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS, Mets vs. Astros. McEntegart tells a wonderful story of how he missed the first 8 innings of the game because he had to attend – of all things - a musical of Shaggy DA with his High School English class. It’s a great read. To check it out, click here.

For me, the greatest game I ever saw – and I hate to admit this – was Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Red Sox vs. Yanks; Aaron Boone’s walk off home run in the 11th. I was in attendance that night with my brother who is a big Yankees fan. I, of course, was quietly rooting for the Red Sox and was really looking forward to watching them finally defeat their long-time nemesis. Plus, it was Clemens against Pedro!

I remember the crowd was uneasy that night, especially after the Sox knocked Clemens out of the game in the 4th. He got hammered, and I was loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Clemens stink it up in that big of a game. On the other side, Pedro was dominating, fooling hitters all night.

I’ll never forget this old man, dressed sharply in a suit with a classy coat and a Boston Red Sox cap on his head. He was with his son, mid-40’s or so and I kept noticing how nervous the old man looked, how unconfident he was even with a 4 run lead and the greatest right handed pitcher of our generation on the mound. He had been around a long time and knew all too well about Red Sox history and the Curse. At one point, he and his son got up to go the rest room, or something, and the Yankees fans were all over him calling him all kids of names you could imagine. I felt bad for him and it made me want the Sox to win even more.

Jason Juicin’ Giambi remarkably - or not so remarkably, when you have the “stuff” flowing through your veins – hit two home runs off Pedro and kept the Yanks’ hopes alive. Then on a rally in the 8th (and a controversial decision by Grady Little to leave a tiring Pedro in the game) the Yanks tied the game and went on to the World Series after the legendary Boone home run.

And I can still remember that old man walking up those steps with glazed eyes, head down, in disbelief. Red Sox lost again.

What was the greatest game you ever saw? Post it below.