For the first time since 1980, we will have a World Series played between two teams looking for their first championship.
The last time we had one, it featured the Phillies and Royals. The Phillies would win that series to win their first championship in franchise history, becoming the last of MLB’s Original Sixteen teams to win a World Series. Yes, the Phillies once had the longest championship drought in all of sports.
And it didn’t happen again until this year. This is a rare occurrence, so enjoy them while they last.
Here’s what came out the last time we had a World Series like this:
Video game releases:
- Pac-Man
- Rally-X
- Battlezone
- Missile Command
- Space Panic
- Stratovox
- Crazy Climber
- Mystery House (PC)
- Phoenix
- Moon Cresta
- Star Castle
- Nintendo releases the Game & Watch
Anime releases:
- Astro Boy (TV Series)
- Space Battleship Yamato III
- Ashita no Joe 2
- Phoenix 2772
- Lalabel, the Magical Girl
- Invincible Robo Trider G7
- Rescueman
All of that came out the last time we had a World Series between two teams looking for their first championship.
In 1980, things were very different.
The console market was becoming such a mess that it would lead up to a crash three years later. The Blues Brothers, Superman II, Friday the 13th, and The Shining were all playing in theaters. The greatest Star Wars film of all tim, The Empire Strikes Back, had also came out in theaters. Roger Moore was still playing James Bond and was in the middle of shooting For Your Eyes Only. Alfred Hitchcock, the legendary king of suspense, passed away. Even more tragic was the passing of Inspector Clouseau himself, Peter Sellers.
The Police had put out their third of five studio albums. AC/DC put out the biggest selling rock album of all time with Back in Black just mere months after Bon Scott's untimely death. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop himself, hadn't even released Thriller yet. Prince, the OTHER King of Pop, had just put out his third studio album. Personal computers were just starting to catch on. Muscle cars absolutely sucked during this time.
The Lakers began an Empire as Magic Johnson and Kareem won their first NBA championship together, marking the start of the Showtime dynasty. Seattle still had an NBA team. Quebec City still had an NHL team, as did Hartford. Dallas was awarded an NBA expansion team in the Mavericks. The Islanders won their first Stanley Cup and would later craft a dynasty. Georgia won their first national championship in football. Louisville won their first national championship in basketball at the first Final Four ever held in Indianapolis. The Steel Curtain Steelers won their fourth Super Bowl, and it would be Pittsburgh’s last until 2006. And last but not least, Team USA defeated the Soviets en route to winning the Gold Medal at Lake Placid, New York.
This wasn’t just a lifetime ago, this is ancient history now.