Tippy Martinez, 1984 Fleer #12

As the Orioles prepare for Friday's ALCS opener against the Royals, today is the anniversary of the game in which Baltimore clinched its last trip to the World Series.

It was 31 years ago - October 8, 1983 - that the Orioles outlasted the White Sox in a 3-0, ten-inning nailbiter to capture the American League pennant, three games to one. Storm Davis tossed six scoreless innings, and winning pitcher Tippy Martinez kept the Pale Hose off the board for the final four frames. Chicago starter Britt Burns carried his shutout bid into the top of the tenth inning before role player Tito Landrum blasted a go-ahead solo home run to chase him from the game with one out. Reliever Salome Barojas failed to retire a batter, yielding three straight singles. Gary Roenicke had the third of those hits, driving in a second run. Benny Ayala's sac fly against Juan Agosto capped the scoring, and once Martinez got those last three outs, the Birds had a date with the Phillies in the Fall Classic.