1986 American League Championship Series - Aftermath

Aftermath

By virtue of winning the ALCS, the Red Sox advanced to the 1986 World Series, where they faced the New York Mets, with memorable results. Like the Angels in the ALCS, the Red Sox found themselves one strike away from winning the World Series, yet could not hold the lead. Taking a 5–3 lead into the bottom of the tenth inning of Game 6, the Red Sox gave up three runs, culminating in an infamous ground ball through the legs of Bill Buckner to hand the Mets a 6–5 victory. The Mets would go on to win Game 7 and the Series.

As for the Angels, Donnie Moore was regarded the goat of the series for giving up Henderson's home run in Game 5, and then his game-winning sacrifice fly two innings later. Moore was blasted by the sports media, as well as the fans. He sank into depression and alcoholism over the next two years, and committed suicide on July 19, 1989.

In retrospect, most people consider the 1986 postseason to be one of the best (if not the best) postseasons of all time, as it not only was exciting but also made up for a lackluster regular season, in which the Red Sox, Angels, Mets, and Houston Astros all won their divisions handily.

In 2002, the Angels would finally have their moment(s) of glory. They would win the American League Wild Card, as well as their Division Series (dethroning the four-time defending A.L. champion N.Y. Yankees in four games), their first-ever pennant (over Minnesota in five games), and their first-ever World Series title (over San Francisco in seven games).

In 2004, the Angels and Red Sox would meet again in the American League Division Series. And again, the Red Sox would take this series in a sweep of three games. The Red Sox would eventually go on to defeat the New York Yankees for their first pennant since 1986 and also win their first World Series title since 1918 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2007, the Angels and Red Sox met for the third time in the playoffs, playing each other in the ALDS. The Red Sox easily won this series in a sweep, continuing their domination of the Halos in the postseason. The Red Sox would go on to win another world championship that year.

Since Game 4 of the 1986 ALCS, the Angels had not won a postseason game against the Red Sox, having lost eleven straight until Game 3 of the 2008 ALDS. Also, the Red Sox had won all four playoff meetings against the Angels.

In 2009, the Angels finally broke through and defeated the Red Sox in a clean sweep in the ALDS.