The year 1989 consisted of Sports Championship winners Calgary Flames (NHL), Detroit Pistons (NBA), Oakland Athletics (MLB), San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
1989 Stanley Cup Final saw the
Calgary Flames face off against the
Montreal Canadiens. The series was a best of seven and the Flames won the first two games in
Montreal. The Canadiens responded with three straight wins to take the lead in the series. The Flames then won the next two games, forcing a game seven in
Montreal. The Flames won the game 4-2 to take the series 4-3 and win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The series was marked by the Flames' strong offense, led by stars like Joe Nieuwendyk and Doug Gilmour, and the goaltending of Mike Vernon, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.
The
1989 NBA Championship Final Series featured the
Los Angeles Lakers and the
Detroit Pistons. The series went the full seven games, with the Pistons winning the championship in the decisive game. The Pistons were led by Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer, while the Lakers were led by Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Pistons won the first two games of the series, but the Lakers fought back to win the next three. The Pistons then won the sixth game to force a seventh and deciding game. The Pistons came out on top in the seventh game, winning the championship by a score of 108-105. It was the first
NBA championship for the Pistons, and the first time a team had won the championship after trailing three games to two.
The
1989 MLB World Series was a classic Bay Area battle between the
Oakland Athletics and the
San Francisco Giants. After splitting the first two games in
Oakland, the Athletics won the next three games in
San Francisco to take a 3-2 series lead. The Giants responded by winning the next two games to force a decisive Game 7 back in
Oakland. The Athletics came out on top in the final game, winning the series 4-3. Game 4 was particularly memorable, as the Athletics overcame a 5-0 deficit to win 9-6 in 10 innings. The Athletics were led by Series MVP Dave Stewart, who won two games in the series and pitched a complete game in the decisive Game 7. The Athletics went on to win the World Series for the fourth time in nine years.
The
1989 NFL Super Bowl was an epic battle between the
San Francisco 49ers and the
Cincinnati Bengals. The 49ers, led by Joe Montana, had one of the most dominant offensive performances in Super Bowl history. They scored on their first six possessions, and Montana threw a record five touchdown passes. The Bengals, led by Boomer Esiason, were unable to keep up with the 49ers' offensive onslaught. The final score was 49-26, in favor of the 49ers. The 49ers' victory marked the first of their five Super Bowl championships, and the start of their dynasty in the
1990s.