October 12, 1986 - Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CAThe California Angels were playing at home and were in firm command of the best-of-seven series, 3 games to 1. The Halos held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth inning and were three outs removed their first-ever trip to the World Series, but Boston was able to plate two runners on a home run by former Angel Don Baylor, closing the gap to 5-4.
When Henderson stepped to the plate, there were two outs and a runner on first base (catcher Rich Gedman). On a 2-2 count with the Red Sox down to their final strike in the series, Henderson, who had entered the game as a replacement for an injured Tony Armas, hit a drive off pitcher Donnie Moore that kept the Sox alive.
"The pitch . . . To left field, and deep, and Downing goes back. And it's gone! Unbelievable! You're looking at one for the ages here. Astonishing! Anaheim Stadium was one strike away from turning into Fantasyland! And now the Red Sox lead 6-5! The Red Sox get four runs in the ninth on a pair of two-run homers by Don Baylor and Dave Henderson." — Al Michaels, ABC-TV.Henderson began to jump for joy, even running backwards for a few steps, while making his way down the first base line as he watched the ball sail over the outfield fence, having just smacked possibly the most stunning clutch homer since Bobby Thompson in 1951. The home run also saved Henderson from possibly being a scapegoat, after Bobby Gritch’s sixth-inning warning track fly ball deflected off his glove and over the wall for a two-run home run that gave the Angels a 3-2 lead. The ball hit the palm of Henderson's glove an instant before his wrist hit the fence, dislodging the ball and sending it over the fence. The Angels were able to tie the score up at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth, but in the 11th inning, Henderson hit a sacrifice fly that would prove to be the margin of victory. Still down 3 games to 2, the Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park for the final two ALCS games, where they defeated the devastated Angels 10-4 and 8-1 to win the series.
He went on to hit .400 in a losing cause as the Red Sox were defeated in the 1986 World Series (which had its own historic drama) by the New York Mets in seven games. Henderson hit two home runs in that series. On a sad note, Donny Moore, the pitcher who let the game away ended up committing suicide as he was not able to deal with the devastating loss.
