A Season in First Place Falls Apart at End

File Photo

B.J. Surhoff (pictured, right) and the Orioles were stunned after their season ended with a 1-0, 11-inning loss to Cleveland in Game 6 of a riveting AL Championship Series. The O's spent every day of the 1997 season in first place in the AL East on their way to their first division title since 1983, yet failed in their shot at a World Series appearance.

Loss Provides Bitter Ending Once Again
Camden Yards resembled a torture chamber during Game 6 of the ALCS as Baltimore wasted a gem of a pitching performance by Mike Mussina. Two dozen Orioles came to bat with a teammate on the bases. Yet, no one came home and 14 Orioles were stranded as Mussina's effort — one hit and 10 strikeouts over eight innings — went down the drain.

Baltimore, or Less in This Case Post columnist Tony Kornheiser examines a theory that holds that Washingtonians are somehow to blame because Baltimore's Armando Benitez couldn't get outs and Lenny Webster couldn't hold onto the baseball.

Staying the Course In a philosophical look back at the season, Post columnist Thomas Boswell notes that there is no ride like that provided by a baseball season, but that the destination is extremely uncertain and can be unfair.

Fernandez's Homer Is Final Blow for O's

AP Photo

With one swing of the bat by Tony Fernandez (pictured), the Orioles became the first team in major league history to fail to reach the World Series after spending every day of the regular season in first place. Fernandez's 11th-inning gave the Indians a 1-0, series-clinching victory over the Orioles in Game 6.

A Look Back at the ALCS GAME 5: Davis's Homer Wins Game GAME 4: For O's, Wrong Alomar Shines GAME 3: In a Fall Classic, Indians Prevail GAME 2: Grissom's Home Run Shocks O's GAME 1: Indians Draw a Blank

First Round Recap O's Advance With Mussina Fassero Trips up O's Game 2 Sees O's Repeat O's Defeat Big Unit in Game 1