1982 NLCS Game 7 Darrell Porter Home Run
One double in the bottom of the eighth propels the Cardinals to a 7-6 win and a World Series berth.
The 1982 National League Championship Series Game 7 stands as one of the most dramatic and defining moments in St. Louis Cardinals history. Played at Busch Memorial Stadium on October 13, 1982, this contest featured a legendary duel between the Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, culminating in a go-ahead two-run double by George Hendrick in the bottom of the eighth inning that proved to be the decisive blow. This clutch hit not only propelled the Cardinals to a 7-6 victory but also clinched the pennant, sending St. Louis to the World Series where they would claim their seventh championship title later that month, cementing Hendrick's legacy as a clutch performer.
- Player
- George Hendrick
- Team Affiliation
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Opponent
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Series Context
- 1982 NLCS Game 7
- Outcome
- Go-ahead Two-Run Double (Pennant Clincher)
- Location
- Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis
Lore & Background
George Hendrick, a steady run producer in the middle of the Cardinals lineup, delivered the biggest hit of the game. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth and the score tied, Hendrick stepped to the plate against Dodgers reliever Terry Forster. The crowd was on its feet, sensing history in the making. When the ball split the gap in left-center field, it wasn't just a double; it was an exorcism of doubt and a coronation for the team that would soon be crowned champions. Darrell Porter, who had walked earlier in the inning, scored on the play, but it was Hendrick's bat that provided the decisive blow.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Busch Stadium felt heavy, charged with the static of two thousand fans holding their breath. The rain had stopped hours ago, leaving the grass glistening under the floodlights as Darrell Porter adjusted his batting gloves. He could hear the muffled roar of the crowd over the crack of the bat from the previous batter. In the silence between pitches, he visualized the flight path, the arc needed to clear the fence in left field. As Hooton wound up and released, time seemed to suspend. The connection was pure—a sharp *crack* that echoed off the brick walls. Porter rounded first base, then second, his eyes locked on the ball as it sailed past the outstretched glove of the outfielder. He crossed home plate not with a sprint, but with the weight of an entire city's hope lifted onto his shoulders.
Reader's Guide
The game arrived at the bottom of the ninth inning in a scoreless tie, a testament to the pitching dominance displayed by both clubs throughout the night. The Cardinals had managed to scratch out a run earlier, only for the Dodgers to answer back, keeping the tension unbearable for the St. Louis faithful. With two outs and runners on base, Darrell Porter stepped into the batter's box against Los Angeles veteran Burt Hooton. Hooton threw a pitch that caught just enough of the plate for Porter to drive it. The ball shot toward left field with authority, clearing the wall in what is often described as one of the most perfect swings in postseason history. As Porter rounded the bases, the stadium erupted into chaos. The home run gave St. Louis a 2-1 victory and a 4-3 series win, sending them to the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. This moment is etched in fan memory because it represents the ultimate 'clutch' performance under maximum pressure. It was not just about winning a game; it was about overcoming a superior opponent on their own terms in a do-or-die situation. The image of Porter raising his bat as he crossed home plate remains an iconic symbol of Cardinals resilience.
Did You Know?
- George Hendrick's go-ahead two-run double made him a hero in Game 7 of the 1982 NLCS, a blast that proved to be the game-winner.
- The 1982 Cardinals went on to win the World Series, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in six games to claim their seventh championship title.
- Terry Forster, the pitcher who gave up the go-ahead double, was a key reliever for the Dodgers that season.
- This victory marked the first time since 1968 that the Cardinals had advanced to the World Series, ending a long drought for the franchise.