Burke's heroic homer still legendary - B-Dub, Astros.com

[Miguel]

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070721&content_id=2101203&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Since Ben won't whore his own stuff here, I will. Good read of the best Astros game I've ever been to.

[yo]

I was there too.

Rock on.

[TMac640]

all i remember that day is "I've got to finish watching this game, **** doing homework that i NEED to do."

lol

[JaWindex]

I prefer the Brad Ausmus homer with 2 outs in the 9th.

[ths balla]

greatest game ever been to and ever saw sitting in the crawford boxes with tickets from ebay. best purchase ever never felt that kinda feelin at a sporting event was somethin very spcial

[JuLiO-R-]

I had to listen to most of this game on the radio. Listening to it on the radio was a cool experience though. I heard Berkman's grand slam on the radio, and then Ausmus' HR too. I was finally got to a TV during the last couple of innings, and got to see Burke's game winner. It was one of the best games I ever heard/saw.

[Buck Turgidson]

Most awesomest HR's in Stros history:

Ausmus
Hatcher
Kent
Burke

Discuss.

[codell]

Kent's HR is tops for me. Most will disagree with this, but that whole game, putting us up 3-2, ending a great GREAT pitchers duel ......and Kent's out of character reaction .........

[msn]

Most awesomest HR's in Stros history:

Ausmus
Hatcher
Kent
Burke

Discuss.
Was thinking about this last night and that was the list I had.

I was driving back home when I heard Milo's call: "CHRIS BURKE!!!!"

I've been known holler, cheer, and pump my fist in my SUV during the playoffs.

[wrath_of_khan]

Most awesomest HR's in Stros history:

Hatcher
Kent

Discuss.

Those 2 are still the most thrilling for me because Hatcher's came from nowhere after I'd given up all hope and Kent's was in the NLCS and had me finally believing we might actually go to the WS.

However, Ben's article was awesome as a reminder about how screwed we might have been in a Game 5 against the Braves.

With our entire 'pen being completely gassed, Pettitte sick as a dog, and having to face Astro-killer Smoltz in Game 5, Burke's HR really was massive. I'm not sure I even realized at the time how much game 4 might have been do-or-die.

Great article, Cat!

EDIT: I actually have to put Berkman's grand salami in Game 4 against the Braves up there, too. Again, just because it seemed so hopeless at that point and the only thing that could have gotten us back in the game was a grand slam right then. Nothing less would have sufficed. Amazing to think 3 of the top Astro HRs ever came in one game!

[BetterThanI]

I remember watching that game from the 8th inning all the way 'til Burke hit it out. My wife actually watched that game with me, which was pretty amazing because it was the very first time she'd ever seen a MLB game. After it was over, she turned to me all wide-eyed and asked, "Are ALL the games like this?" She loved it, and she's now an Astro fan. All thanks to Chris Burke.

[texanskan]

Greatest HR ever? I'll say Kent's in game 5 (2004) now that was the best game I have ever been too.

Berkman's in game 5 (2005) would of been the greatest but Lidge and the Cards first baseman took care of that.

[MadMax]

Was there with my son....we had SRO tickets and we stayed for the whole thing. The grand slam from Berkman....the improbably Ausmus homer with 2 outs in the 9th to get to extra innings...Clemens coming on in relief...Burke's homer. He and I talk about that game all the time.

[redgoose]

Let me reverse this for one bit. :)

The worst game i've ever been to was game 4 of the World Series. It should have been the best game i've ever been to. I got 2 tickets for face value from someone who won a raffle from the Houston Chronicle and could buy up to 20 tickets. They weren't good seats (in the outfield near the restaurant, still cost 100 dollars) and Backe pitched lights out against Freddy Garcia and i kept waiting and waiting for us to score a run. It was so frustrating and seemed like an eternity! :( What a let down. Then we got to see the White Sox charge the mound and celebrate their championship on our home field. :mad:

[The Cat]

It really depends on the criteria.

For shock value, definitely Ausmus' shot in the ninth inning of Game 4. For sheer euphoria and drama, definitely Berkman's 7th inning shot in 2005 NLCS Game 5 and Kent's shot in the 2004 Game 5. In terms of meaning the most on the scoreboard, it's Berkman's grand slam in the eighth inning of Game 4.

But all the veterans I talked to... when it came down to what they remembered most and what meant the most... Burke's was always the one that came up. Considering it was a postseason series-winner in the franchise's glory year, that's why it ended up being the choice without too much debate. That, and the forgotten part of that game by the 18th inning was the status of the two pitching staffs... the Astros would've been all but screwed.

For me, personally... I'd say the most thrilling homer in the moment was Berkman in 2005 Game 5. In terms of looking back, though, I have to go with Burke.

[Poloshirtbandit]

I had to listen to most of this game on the radio. Listening to it on the radio was a cool experience though. I heard Berkman's grand slam on the radio, and then Ausmus' HR too.

Same here. I was on my way to work and ironically drove on 59 past MMP when Ausmus hit the HR. I didn't have a TV, so I had to listen to the stream online once I got to work. After the game was over, I bought and downloaded it from mlb.com

[macalu]

it's strange to think that the grand slam doesn't happen if the umpire didn't blow the call at first. Franco's foot did NOT come off the bag...at least, not until after he caught the ball.

[Shohoku79]

Not sure exactly why, but when I read the article and thought back at that game and the reactions from radios, PAs, The voice of PA at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas suddenly popped into mind. Yes, the same guy who seem to butcher Eliyahu's name differently every time.

"Ooooooh....! Home Run!"

[Red Chocolate]

I remember MMP clearing out big time once the Astros got down 5 runs. I had such crappy seats that I couldn't even actually see where Burke's HR landed. All I remember is the place going nuts. That's definitely the best MLB game I will ever go to.

[JusBleezy]

Kent's HR is tops for me. Most will disagree with this, but that whole game, putting us up 3-2, ending a great GREAT pitchers duel ......and Kent's out of character reaction .........

Sums up my thoughts exactly.

[ryan17wagner]

Greatest HR ever? I'll say Kent's in game 5 (2004) now that was the best game I have ever been too.

Berkman's in game 5 (2005) would of been the greatest but Lidge and the Cards first baseman took care of that.


I still can't believe you chose to go to the Texans game (0-3 at the time) over this. I remember telling you, "you're going to miss the greatest game ever."

[texanskan]

I still can't believe you chose to go to the Texans game (0-3 at the time) over this. I remember telling you, "you're going to miss the greatest game ever."

well in all fairness I had/have Texans season tickets and we had a radio in there plus a tv outside in the parking lot.

I watched over three hours of that game plus every second of extra innings minus the top half one one inning while I was racing home to catch the rest of it.

[thacabbage]

I'm a Rockets fan first and foremost. In fact, it's not even close. I could name off the top of my head all 12 guys on the team each year of the last 17 years and how they were acquired. I don't think I even remember last year's Astros batting order.

With that said, those two runs, in 2004 and 2005, created my most memorable memories as a sports fan. Much more than the Rockets championships. While the Rockets title runs were no doubt emotional and thrilling, there weren't many "moments." Other than Elie's "kiss of death", nothing else comes to mind.

But those two Astros runs - there are moments I will never forget as a sports fan. Kent's curiously awkward flip of the helmet after the HR in game 6, Beltran's grace at the plate and in the field, the sheer emotion of Bagwell walking to the plate to pinch hit in Game 4, the shots of Clemens sitting alone in the bullpen in that same Game 4 (something ESPN couldn't have scripted any better if they even tried to), and of course...the absolutely deafening madness when Lidge took the mound in NLCS '04 against the Cards.

Lidge collectively in '04 is my greatest ever memory as a sports fan. Lyons/Buck/Brenneman wouldn't even speak or call the pitches in the 9th except to say "1 away, 2 away..." It was the performance that prompted Peter Gammons to claim that Brad Lidge was the most unhittable pitcher he had ever seen in his 178 years of watching baseball.

That's probably why I never posted in the Lidge bashing threads. It doesn't matter to me that he helped blow the World Series in '05 or our season last year. He provided me with my most unforgettable memory as a sports fan.

[texanskan]

I'm a Rockets fan first and foremost. In fact, it's not even close. I could name off the top of my head all 12 guys on the team each year of the last 17 years and how they were acquired. I don't think I even remember last year's Astros batting order.

With that said, those two runs, in 2004 and 2005, created my most memorable memories as a sports fan. Much more than the Rockets championships. While the Rockets title runs were no doubt emotional and thrilling, there weren't many "moments." Other than Elie's "kiss of death", nothing else comes to mind.

But those two Astros runs - there are moments I will never forget as a sports fan. Kent's curiously awkward flip of the helmet after the HR in game 6, Beltran's grace at the plate and in the field, the sheer emotion of Bagwell walking to the plate to pinch hit in Game 4, the shots of Clemens sitting alone in the bullpen in that same Game 4 (something ESPN couldn't have scripted any better if they even tried to), and of course...the absolutely deafening madness when Lidge took the mound in NLCS '04 against the Cards.

Lidge collectively in '04 is my greatest ever memory as a sports fan. Lyons/Buck/Brenneman wouldn't even speak or call the pitches in the 9th except to say "1 away, 2 away..." It was the performance that prompted Peter Gammons to claim that Brad Lidge was the most unhittable pitcher he had ever seen in his 178 years of watching baseball.

That's probably why I never posted in the Lidge bashing threads. It doesn't matter to me that he helped blow the World Series in '05 or our season last year. He provided me with my most unforgettable memory as a sports fan.

I'm not like you in the sense that the Astros, Rockets, Texans/Oilers were always and will always be my favorite teams in a very close 1-1a-1b order so I think my opinion is valid on this issue.

The Rockets run in 95>>>94>>>Astros 04-05

The Rockets were down in the first two series in 95, pulling out of a 7 point hole (five min left) in game 5 at Utah after winning game 4 facing elimination. They then won three in a row over the Suns (games 5 and 7 on the road) and then blew a 2-0 lead to the Spurs before taking care of buisness on thier floor again in game 5 and then taking it at home in game 6.

BEATING 4 50+ WIN TEAMS AND FACING 5 ELIMINATION GAMES IN ROUTE TO A TITLE TRUMPS THOSE TWO ASTROS RUNS.

Maybe because it's fresh in your mind still but come on Rockets 95 than right after it's choke city 94 followed two games later by clutch city.

[msn]

Maybe because it's fresh in your mind still but come on Rockets 95 than right after it's choke city 94 followed two games later by clutch city.
Or maybe it's because it's his opinion, which is just as valid as yours.

I don't think I could choose between the 2nd Rox championship and the Astros 2005 NL championship. It was amazing to finally break through and get to the Series. When I think about it, it's still exciting.

The front page of the Chronicle from the following day is still hanging in my office:

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PENNANT

Awesome.

[ryan17wagner]

I prefer the Dynamo winning it all in '06 on Texas soil and being on the field to witness it!

[Major]

Maybe because it's fresh in your mind still but come on Rockets 95 than right after it's choke city 94 followed two games later by clutch city.

Or maybe it's because he was talking about specific individual memorable moments and not games or series. In general, because of the amount and type of scoring, baseball and football are going to have more memorable individual moments than basketball. Single runs in baseball or TDs in football are huge. Buckets in basketball happen every 20 or 30 seconds, so a huge basket will quickly be followed by another huge play.

[texanskan]

Or maybe it's because he was talking about specific individual memorable moments and not games or series. In general, because of the amount and type of scoring, baseball and football are going to have more memorable individual moments than basketball. Single runs in baseball or TDs in football are huge. Buckets in basketball happen every 20 or 30 seconds, so a huge basket will quickly be followed by another huge play.

makes sense, I was thinking about the whole picture.

yes I have very vivid memories of the 04-05 runs

[thacabbage]

Or maybe it's because he was talking about specific individual memorable moments and not games or series. In general, because of the amount and type of scoring, baseball and football are going to have more memorable individual moments than basketball. Single runs in baseball or TDs in football are huge. Buckets in basketball happen every 20 or 30 seconds, so a huge basket will quickly be followed by another huge play.
Exactly. Because almost 75% of the 3 hours of a baseball game is basically eventless, every last second is magnified, every last pan to the dugout or bullpen for dramatic effect is dramatized, and every last facial expression is that much more memorable.

[Puedlfor]

Weirdly enough, my favorite memory from that playoff run wasn't any of the homers against the Braves - it was Roy Oswalt against Pujols in the first inning of Game 6. After the ending to Game 5, to see Roy come out and just blow Pujols away - I enjoyed the heck out of that.

[Kam]

Does anyone have a copy of this game?

I want to watch it. I was at the game. I bought the tickets from some Miguel dude. I think that was the first time I met him. Anyhoo.

That game was awesome. I was in the 400s above where the Crawford box is, so we really didn't see the homeruns.

But I remember the expression on some dudes face when Ausmus hit the homerun in the 9th.

He had the same facial expression as that guy on the 1992 Duke team after Lattener hit that turn around.

The homerun in the 8th inning brought the crowd back, plus it was a grand slam, so that was exciting.

The game was long and tedious in extra innings. it was neat to see that PAB Clemens in the bullpen.

And yeah, that Chris Burke Homerun didn't suck.

So if you have a copy of that game, hook a brother up.

[msn]

Weirdly enough, my favorite memory from that playoff run wasn't any of the homers against the Braves - it was Roy Oswalt against Pujols in the first inning of Game 6. After the ending to Game 5, to see Roy come out and just blow Pujols away - I enjoyed the heck out of that.
DING DING DING!!!!

That was my favorite, too. Especially the swing (iirc) for strike one. Roy made Pujols look like a schoolgirl on that one.

With all the .jpgs abounding of Lidge watching that drive and Pujols trotting in the background, I searched and searched for a .jpg of Pujols flailing at that wicked pitch from Roy, and came up empty.

I'm grinning just thinking about that. Roy's entire Game 6 was freaking epic.

[thacabbage]

DING DING DING!!!!

That was my favorite, too. Especially the swing (iirc) for strike one. Roy made Pujols look like a schoolgirl on that one.

With all the .jpgs abounding of Lidge watching that drive and Pujols trotting in the background, I searched and searched for a .jpg of Pujols flailing at that wicked pitch from Roy, and came up empty.

I'm grinning just thinking about that. Roy's entire Game 6 was freaking epic.
iirc it was up and away and had pujols nearly drop his bat on the swing.