Unreal

ESPN columnist Jayson Stark on the most unbelievable moment of the 2005 baseball season:

"It was only one swing of Albert Pujols' bat. It was only one baseball, heading for history. It was only one moment in the life of two franchises.

Down to their final out, Albert Pujols saved the Cardinals' season with a three-run homer to win Game 5.

But it was a swing, a baseball, a moment that seemed to change the world.

In an instant, in one click of a camera lens, in one quick gulp of air, in one flash of Albert Pujols' bat, victory dissolved into defeat. Euphoria transformed into disbelief. Ear-drum-rattling noise turned to how'd-that-happen silence.

And the Houston Astros' trip to the first World Series in the life of their franchise had just taken an unexpected detour -- back to a nearly defunct stadium in St. Louis that had been abruptly rescued from the implosion button for one more night of baseball. Or more.

What just happened? Did we really see what we just saw?

We could have sworn we saw the great Albert Pujols hit a season-saving three-run home run off the unhittable, untouchable, unbeatable Brad Lidge. With two outs in the ninth inning. But were we sure this was real?

Beerleaguer: I'm with Angelo Cataldi, who said this morning on WIP radio that he took great pleasure in seeing the stone cold looks on the faces of the Astros crowd. I was in that place just three days ago, watching a certain college football game that will never be spoken of again.

Comments

[Ken M]

kindof sad, but i really enjoyed the fan shots as well...just like enjoyed watching the red sox fans suffer after going to those 3 abortions at the park this summer with all those redsox nationlosers

now we get one more (for those of us who like our misery with a little company)...its not a lock but astros still have excellent chance to win and we get to see the cardinal fans suffer as well

what a great post-season!!!

[Tom G]

I know I should be against the Astros, but I can't help but root for Bagwell and Biggio. They've played good and hard for a lot of years, it would be nice if they could go into the HOF with a ring.