October 4, 1969: Paul Blair dropped a bunt in 12th to win game 1 of the first ALCS

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We forget that the first league championship series did not start until 1969.  Well, Game 1 of the 1969 ALCS was a beauty indeed or Minnesota at Baltimore.   

The Orioles won 109 games and ran away with the AL East.    The Twins won 97 and beat the A’s by 9 games.  Both teams spent much of September waiting to play each other in the first ALCS.

The 1969 Orioles were one of the best teams of the 20th century with Frank Robinson (32 HR), Brooks Robinson (23 HR) and Boog Powell (37 HR).    Paul Blair hit 26 HR with 20 stolen bases.  

The 1969 Twins had eventual MVP Harmon Killebrew (49 HR & 140 RBI), Tony Oliva (.309, 24 HR & 101 RBI), Rod Carew (.332 and batting title) and Cesar Tovar who stole 40 bases.

The Orioles started Mike Cuellar (23-11) and the Twins sent Jim Perry (20-6) to the mound.    It was a great game between two of the best pitchers and teams of that era.   

The lead went back and forth and it was 3-3 in the bottom of the 12th.    With two outs, Paul Blair dropped a beautiful bunt scoring Mark Belanger from third.  It was exciting baseball and one of great chapters in Orioles’ history: