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Jeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros doubles in opposition to the Texas Rangers in the course of the first inning at Globe Life Subject on September 6, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.
Ron Jenkins/Getty PhotographsWhereas the stakes of a World Series appearance are actually sufficient to convey critical drama to the Lone Star State throughout the subsequent week, there’s something of an added edge at play when the Houston Astros face off in opposition to the Texas Rangers within the American League Championship Sequence.
Not solely does this 12 months’s version of the ALCS pair two division rivals. It additionally marks MLB’s third instrastate playoff battle within the final twenty years, and extra importantly,the primary playoff battle between Houston and its neighbor to the north. So, with a pair of cities not precisely keen on one another squaring off with a World Sequence berth on the road, a pure query arises: Is that this the largest intrastate matchup in Texas sports activities historical past?
Let’s throw on our historians’ hats right here as we type by means of the proof. It is protected to say the 2023 ALCS is a very powerful matchup on the diamond given the Astros and Rangers have by no means earlier than met within the postseason. There isn’t any NFL battle that involves thoughts, with the Texans’ upset over Dallas to launch its franchise in 2002 serving as extra of an outlier trying again than an indication of issues to come back. Look to the faculty sport, and maybe the hatred-element is current with Texas’s walk-off win over Texas A&M in 2011, however that was a regular-season contest, and furthermore, these groups are actually renewing their rivalry as soon as once more in 2024.
After some digging, solely three actual candidates emerge among the many largest Texas sports activities battles in historical past.
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Texas vs. Texas Tech, 2008
Texas Tech extensive receiver Michael Crabtree (5) scores the successful landing as Texas cornerback Curtis Brown (3) tries to achieve for him within the last seconds of his sport Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. Texas Tech received 39-33.
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle through Getty ImagIn a extra bitter reminiscence for Longhorns’ followers, the Pink Raiders handed No. 1 Texas its lone lack of 2008 with a final-second landing to receiver Michael Crabtree that despatched the Lubbock crowd into an absolute frenzy. The loss in Lubbock saved Mack Brown’s squad out of the nationwide title sport, leaving them to accept a matchup with Ohio State within the Fiesta Bowl (which they received 24-21 on Colt McCoy TD move within the final minute). A one-loss Oklahoma workforce took the Longhorns’ place within the title sport, however—in typical Sooners’ style—was promptly dismissed by Florida. Had Crabtree’s catch not occurred, maybe McCoy exits Austin with a nationwide title of his personal. (And no, when you’re questioning, I am not nonetheless bitter, nor mad at Blake Gideon…)
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The frenzy of Crabtree’s catch goes to be arduous to match in Houston or Arlington. However the stakes readily available are a bit greater within the ALCS. Whereas Texas nonetheless had three video games remaining after shedding to Texas Tech, the ALCS winner shall be inside one collection victory of hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Rockets vs. Spurs, 1995
San Antonio Spurs ahead Dennis Rodman, left, and Houston Rockets middle Hakeem Olajuwon, prime middle, battle for a rebound within the second quarter of their NBA Western Convention Finals sport Sunday, Could 28, 1995, in Houston. (AP Picture/Tim Johnson, File)
TIM JOHNSON/APThe 1995 Western Convention finals is akin to the ALCS as a de-facto semifinal spherical, and there was loads of buzz coming into the matchup after David Robinson was topped the league’s regular-season MVP earlier than the collection started. However after tip-off of Recreation 1, the disparity grew to become clear. Rockets all-timer Hakeem Olajuwon rapidly seized the belt as the game’s finest participant alive by averaging 35.3 factors and 12.5 rebounds throughout the collection, main the way in which in a fairly breezy six-game defeat of San Antonio. I sense we’ll have a bit of extra drama readily available on this collection, with a possible Recreation 6 and seven looming at Minute Maid Park.
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Dallas Texans vs. Houston Oilers, 1962
Earlier within the 1962 common season, Houston Oilers DB Tony Banfield (4) intercepts a Dallas Texans move and is tackled by Texans receiver Invoice Miller (82) for whom the move was meant. The Oilers defeated the Texans 14-6.
Bettmann/Bettmann ArchiveWe’ve got to look again greater than 60 years in the past for what’s arguably a very powerful intrastate battle to this point in Texas sports activities historical past. The constructing previously generally known as Jeppesen Stadium in Houston—positioned on the UH campus—served because the host of the 1962 American Soccer League title sport, with the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Texans (who later grew to become the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs) going through off for the AFL crown. What adopted was probably the most notable video games within the sport’s pre-merger historical past.
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Dallas survived a 20-17 double-overtime victory that was dubbed the longest sport in skilled soccer historical past. The competition was broadcast on ABC, offering the nationwide viewers a front-row seat because the Oilers narrowly missed a 3rd straight championship. The 1962 contest remains to be the final title sport performed by a Houston skilled soccer franchise, with neither the Oilers nor Texans reaching an AFC championship or Tremendous Bowl to this point.
The decision?
Accuse me of recency bias if you want, however this 12 months’s ALCS actually could also be a very powerful intrastate battle in Texas historical past, particularly if the AL champion then seals the deal within the World Sequence. The Astros are on the lookout for a 3rd championship and one other bullet on their resume as one of many sport’s nice dynasties. The Rangers are mashing their strategy to the franchise’s first ever title, one that might erase the bitter reminiscence of their 2011 heartbreak in opposition to St. Louis.
With all due respect to Hank Strahm, Len Dawson, George Blanda and the numerous luminaries at Jeppesen Stadium in 1962, the 2023 ALCS is a second unmatched earlier than within the Lone Star State.
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