The 1989 American League Championship Series was played between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays from October 3 to 8. A dominant Oakland team took the Series four games to one, en route to a sweep of their cross-bay rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in a World Series marred by the destructive Loma Prieta earthquake. Background The Athletics finished the 1989 regular season as the best overall team in baseball, with a 99–63 record (.611). They easily won the American League West division title by seven games over the Kansas City Royals. The Blue Jays finished the 1989 regular season with an 89–73 record (.549). However, their winning of the American League East division title was by a much narrower margin: only two games over the Baltimore Orioles. Summary The ALCS began with Games 1 and 2 being played at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, with the Athletics winning both. The Series then shifted to the SkyDome in Toronto, where the Blue Jays managed a win in Game 3 before losing Games 4 and 5 to Oakland. Athletics ace Dave Stewart earned two wins (in Games 1 and 5), while closer Dennis Eckersley saved three games (Games 2, 4, and 5) to send Oakland to the World Series. Athletics left fielder Rickey Henderson was named the ALCS MVP. During the Series, Henderson had doubled, tripled, hit two home runs (in Game 4), and drove in 5 runs. Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays Game summaries Game 1 Tuesday, October 3, 1989, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California The A's went off as heavy favorites largely due to their status as defending American League champions. The Blue Jays had been in second place much of the year before catching and passing the Baltimore Orioles on the final weekend of the season. Both teams threw their aces against each other, as Dave Stewart, the 20-game winner, took the mound for Oakland against Dave Stieb for Toronto. In the bottom of the first inning, Rickey Henderson set the tone by walking and stealing second. Although he was stranded at third, it was a mere prelude of what was to come. In the top of the second inning, George Bell singled and went to third on a single by Tony Fernández. Fernandez stole second, and Bell scored on a sacrifice fly by Ernie Whitt. Nelson Liriano then singled home Fernandez to give