2006 World Series - Tigers vs. Cardinals (The Official Highlights MLB DVD Release)
The2006 World Series: Tigers vs. CardinalsDVD is really the story of the underdog team from St. Louis. Not that the Detroit Tigers are ignored. But the Cardinals took the championship within five games despite a lousy regular season--a mere 83 wins--proving that baseball is not a game of statistics but of whatever dramas are happening on the field in the here-and-now.2006 World Series, narrated by Cardinals fan Billy Bob Thornton, takes viewers through the team's many post-season dramas, beginning with the National League championship series in which the Cards faced the seemingly superior New York Mets. What matters, the team's players and manager Tony La Russa declare in interviews, is not the numbers but relentless, hard work--keeping the fire alive until something breaks in one's favor. Indeed, as one can see from this disc's thoughtful analysis and great storytelling, things began to click for the Cardinals right when they needed it. Besides taki!  ng a close look at the lead-up to the World Series, this documentary dissects each game in the championship competition. (We also see a generous amount of film footage from the last couple of times--most recently in 1968--the Cards faced the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.) There's a lot to love here: action on the field, the history of La Russa's close friendship with Tigers' manager Jim Leyland, player insights, Thornton's compelling narration. Plus some great bonus material, including footage of the suspenseful, final out of the last game between St. Louis and Milwaukee in the 1982 World Series. 60 min.--Tom Keogh