Special Sub-Topic: World Series: The 1980s Click Here To Play: World Series: The 1980s

After the completion of the 1979 season, only one of the original 16 AL and NL franchises had never won a World Series. Which team finally broke their duck in 1980?

Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies finally won a Fall Classic with a 4-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals. Of the others listed, the Giants had won numerous series in their New York days; the Twins were champions in 1924 when they were known as the Washington Senators; the Cubs won 2 championships in the 1900s.

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a two games to none deficit to defeat the Yankees in 1981. Who was the MVP of this series?

All these. For the first time ever, the MVP award was shared by more than one player. Guerrero batted .333 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs; Cey batted .350 with 6 RBIs; and Yeager batted .286 with 2 homers and 4 RBIs.

Which team made their World Series debut in 1982?

Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers, nicknamed Harvey's Wallbangers after manager Harvey Kuenn, had hit 216 homers during the regular season. In the World Series, however, it was the St. Louis Cardinals who came out on top in 7 games.

The 1983 series was nicknamed the I-95 Series. Which 2 teams were involved?

Philadelphia and Baltimore. The 1-95 highway passes through both Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Orioles won this battle of near-neighbours in five games, with Rick Dempsey batting .385 on his way to an MVP award.

In 1984, the Detroit Tigers won their first crown since 1968. Which team, making their World Series debut, did they defeat?

San Diego Padres. The Padres had recovered from an 0-2 deficit in the NLCS versus the Cubs, but were unable to live with the Tigers in the World Series, going down in five games.

Which team won their first-ever World Series crown in 1985?

Kansas City Royals. The Royals met their cross-state rivals, the St Louis Cardinals, in what was variously dubbed the "Show-Me Series" and the "I-70 Series". The Cardinals seemed to be heading for victory with a 3-2 lead going into game 6, but a blown call at first base by Don Denkinger in the 9th inning proved to be the turning point as the Royals went on to win their first title in 7 games.

The "Curse of the Bambino" struck again for the Boston Red Sox in 1986, when which player allowed a Mookie Wilson ground ball to slip between his legs to give the New York Mets a vital victory in game 6?

Bill Buckner. The Red Sox took a 3-2 series lead into game 6 at Shea Stadium, and saw the Mets tie the game at 3-3 in the 8th, before Buckner's error led to the winning run in the 10th. The Mets won the deciding 7th game two nights later.

Which city celebrated its first World Series triumph in 1987?

Minneapolis. The Minnesota Twins defeated the St Louis Cardinals to win their first crown since relocating from Washington in 1961. A couple of series firsts were created in this year : Game 1 at the Metrodome was the first series game to be played indoors; and this was the first time that the home team won every game in a series, the Twins eventually prevailing in seven games.

The heavily-favored Oakland Athletics were upset in the 1988 series by the underdog Los Angeles Dodgers. Who hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th in game 1 to set the Dodgers on the path to victory?

Kirk Gibson. Gibson was badly injured during the NLCS versus the Mets, and wasn't expected to play in the series, but came to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 9th inning of game 1, with the Dodgers trailing 3-4. Gibson's two-run homer off Dennis Eckersley won the game for the Dodgers, and they never looked back, wining the series in 5 games.

The 1989 series between Oakland and San Francisco wasn't completed until the 28th October. What caused the delay?

An earthquake in the Bay Area. Oakland had won the first 2 games at the County Coliseum, and were looking to stretch that lead at Candlestick Park on October 17th, when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the area, minutes before the game was due to begin, resulting in the deaths of 63 people throughout the Bay Area. The game was cancelled, and eventually played on October 27th. The Athletics eventually wrapped up the series 4-0.