After the Oakland Athletics had a contentious ALCS against the Eastern Division champion Detroit Tigers that saw Bert Campaneris suspended for throwing a bat at pitcher Lerrin LaGrow, clubhouse bomb threats, a critical of error by an out-of-place second baseman in Game 4 to blow an extra-inning lead, and outfielder George Hendrick dodging thrown batteries and other missiles in Game 5 to capture the last out for the AL pennant, the Athletics were headed to their first World Series as an Oakland franchise.
The pennant did not come without an extreme cost.