25 Most Memorable MLB Postseason Moments
Relive the 25 most memorable moments in MLB Postseason history, leaving you with them nostalgic feels all over again.
There is nothing like the magic of October MLB Postseason baseball, with America’s past time providing fans with moments that just take their breath away, leaving us on the edges of our seats.
Many moons ago, New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth called his shot — or did he? — hitting a key home run on a 0-2 pitch in the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Who could forget when Carlton Fisk willed and “pushed” his home run over the Green Monster in Fenway during Game 6 of the 1975 Fall Classic against the Cincinnati Reds?
In most recent memory, David Frees’ Game 6 heroics in St. Louis was one for the ages, leaving the Texas Rangers faithful reeling — and still without a World Series title in their team’s history. No matter what your favorite MLB postseason moment is, we can all agree there is nothing like the thrill of the MLB Postseason, America’s long living past time.
With over 100 years of moments to choose from, we were able to narrow down the list to just 25 moments, moments that will bring back your own dreams of playing in a Game 7 when you wished upon a star as a child. With the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals combining for 38 total World titles, don’t be surprised to see those two historic franchises pop up on more than a few occasions.
Let’s take a journey down memory road, with the 25 most memorable moments in MLB Postseason history. Other’s have composed their lists, so why not us?
25. Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals: 2012 NLDS Game 5
MLB Postseason Moment: October 12, 2012. St. Louis Cardinals at the Washington Nationals. Game 5 of the NLDS. The Cardinals win a thriller 9-7, but the score does not tell the whole story.
Why It’s Memorable: The Nationals jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, as they were looking to earn their first-ever trip to the National League Championship Series. The early charge was led by home runs from phenom Bryce Harper and Mr. National himself Ryan Zimmerman.
The St. Louis Cardinals charged back, cutting the lead to 6-5, but the Nationals created separation with an insurance run in the 8th inning. The Nationals were just one out away from advancing to the NLCS when a deflected single off the bat of utility man Daniel Descalso tied the game up at seven apiece.
The Cardinals weren’t done, when Pete Kozma — maybe one of the most disappointing first-round picks in team history — made that pick worthwhile on this play alone, delivering the death blow with a game-winning two-run single.
The Nationals have had several teams with the promise to win World titles, but the team still has not made an appearance in the NLCS, while the Cardinals made the Fall Classic in 2013, without returning since.
2018 will be a do or die season for the Nationals, with franchise player Bryce Harper in the final year of a large contract, where he is expected to leave for the bright lights of a big city. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have a young team and look to return to the “Cardinal Way” in 2018.
23. The Chicago Cubs break the curse of the billy goat, winning the 2016 World Series
MLB Postseason Moment: November 2nd, 2016. The Chicago Cubs win the 2016 World Series, breaking a 108-year drought, defeating the Cleveland Indians in seven games.
Why It’s Memorable: The Chicago Cubs trailed the Cleveland 3-1 in the series, all but dead in the water. The Indians were looking to end a drought of their own, with their last World Series title in 1948, where something had to give.
The Cubs won game five, sending the series back to Cleveland, where they still had much work to do. After winning game six, we were treated to a game seven for the ages, that went extra innings in the process.
That alone doesn’t do this game justice, where the Cubs were up 6-4 with their flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman in to close it out one inning early in the 8th. Rajai Davis smashed a two-run home run to tie the game up, sending the Cleveland crowd into a frenzy.
A 17-minute weather delay killed a bit of that momentum, allowing the Cubs to regroup, where they scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning. The Indians put together a mild rally but were only able to muster together one run, with the Cubs winning the World Series for the first time in over a century.
There’s more than just the 108 World Series drought, with the Cubs (allegedly) jinxed by the “Curse of the Billy Goat,” wherein 1945, Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis pet billy goat caused such an awful smell in the “friendly” confines of Wrigley Field, that he was banned by Cubs owner Phillip K. Wrigley from the complex. A furious Sianis allegedly declared:
“You are going to lose this World Series and you are never going to win another World Series again. You are never going to win a World Series again because you insulted my goat.”
The Cubs lost the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers in seven games, after leading the series 2-1. So this monumental win in 2016 was even more meaningful than just a 108 years of normal suffering but killed the curse of the awful (smelling) billy goat.
22. The Arizona Diamondbacks become giant slayers
MLB Postseason Moment: November 4th, 2001. The Arizona Diamondbacks win the 2001 World Series in game seven, winning their first in franchise history while defeating the heavily favored New York Yankees.
Why It’s Memorable: Anytime a franchise wins its first title, that is always memorable, but in this case, even more so. The Diamondbacks rode the arms of their two Cy Young aces — Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson — who won a combined three games in the series.
This was just the beginning of epic World Series moments for Schilling, which we will get to later on. Speaking of Johnson, the daunting 6′ 11″ southpaw won both games six and seven, which was no easy feat against a fearsome Yankees lineup.
The most memorable moment was the RBI single by Luis Gonzales off of Yankees Hall of Fame stopper Mariano Rivera, whose postseason resume is nearly immaculate, outside of this blunder and the 2004 ALCS, which we will dive into with great detail later.
A tale of two franchises, one around for ages, the other just getting started, showing that past accomplishments mean nothing once the first pitch is thrown.
The Diamondbacks’ first season was in 1998, so winning a World Series in just their 4th season as a franchise is impressive, most impressive, to say the least. As of 2017, the Yankees have 27 World Series titles in their team’s history out of 42 appearances, while the Diamondbacks have that lone appearance and championship, but what a title that was!
21. Mr. 3,000 Roberto Clemente with a World Series for the ages
MLB Postseason Moment: 1971 World Series. Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Baltimore Orioles.
Why It’s Memorable: Led by Roberto Clemente, the Pirates won the NL East, following it up with a National League pennant win against the San Francisco Giants, earning a berth to play the Baltimore Orioles in the 1971 World Series.
The Orioles team was one for the ages, one that had won 100 games, who swept the American League Championship Series, while also being defending World Series champions. The Orioles won the first two games in the series, but Pittsburgh struck back, winning the series in seven games.
Clemente fueled the series win for the Pirates with a .414 batting average (12 hits in 29 at-bats), stellar defensive play and hit the deciding home run in the game seven victory, winning the World Series Most Valuable Player award in the process.
The following season, Clemente earned his 3,000 hit to end the regular season, then led the Pirates to the 1972 NLCS, where they came up just short in the to the “machine” that was the Cincinnati Reds. During the off-season, he died in a tragic plane crash while doing humanitarian work, earning the forever title “Mr. 3,000.”
March 20, 1973, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America elected Clemente for the Baseball Hall of Fame, waiving the waiting period for Clemente, due to the tragic events of his untimely death, posthumously sending him straight into the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, a nod that was truly a class act by Major League Baseball and its staff.
Clemente’s Hall of Fame plaque originally had his name etched out as “Roberto Walker Clemente” instead of his proper Spanish designation “Roberto Clemente Walker,” which was later corrected in 2000. May you Rest in Peace, Mr. Roberto Clemente Walker.
19. A win that changed a city.
MLB Postseason Moment: 2014 Wild Card game in Kansas, City Missouri. Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland Athletics.
Why It’s Memorable: With the Wild Card format added to the mix in 1995, it opened things up for teams like the Royals to make a run, who would have (in the past) been on the outside looking in. It also gave the second team, like the Oakland Athletics, in this case, an opportunity as well.
We can thank the powers to be for those two additions, or we would have been robbed a game for the ages, with this one giving us a bit of everything.
In a see-saw battle that had some small ball, home runs, and tense moments, the final inning is what summed up the entire game. In the extra innings, Hosmer smacked a triple, after Alberto Callaspo put the Athletics ahead in the top of the inning. Colon drove in Hosmer with an infield single.
Now, with Colon at second, Perez hit a line-shot past diving Josh Donaldson at third, to end the game, sending a frenzy of over 40,000 Royals fans — who have waited since 1985 to be in a postseason game — with that walk-off win by Perez with the Royals winning it 9-8 in 12 innings.
Yost told the Kansas City Star: “That’s the most incredible game I’ve ever been a part of.” That would soon change just weeks later, with the Royals in the World Series game seven that topped even this epic moment. Stay tuned for the details of that Fall Classic thriller.
18. A playoff to get into the playoffs
MLB Postseason Moment: Technically not the MLB Postseason, this game still found its way into the mix with it being an extension of the playoffs, with the Colorado Rockies defeating the San Diego Padres in the 2007 Wild Card tie-breaker, creating the phenomenon “Rocktober” in the process.
Why It’s Memorable: The Rockies’ playoff run stretch run was the greatest, against all odds type final month in Major League Baseball history. In mid-September, the Rockies had a meager record of 76-72, then rattled off 14 of their final 15 regular season contests with victories, capping it off with a 9-8, 13-inning victory over the San Diego Padres in a tie-breaker for the Wild Card spot in their 163rd game of the year.
In a back and forth contest that went into extra innings, the two NL West division rivals capped off the contest with an epic final inning. The Padres took an 8-6, after a two-run bomb by Scott Hairston, that seemed to all but clinch it for the Padres.
However, the Rockies clawed back tying the game, then an epic play at the plate — with Matt Holliday diving chin first literally into the plate — winning the epic game for the Rockies.
The Rockies were just getting started, by winning all seven playoff games in the National League portion of the playoff bracket, preserving their first National League Pennant in team history. Next, the Rockies ran into a buzz-saw that was the Boston Red Sox, losing all four of the games in the series, with the Rockies yet to return to the Fall Classic since.
Up until that sweep at the hands of the Sox, the Rockies had won a total of 21 out of 22 games, running out of gas. Even though they weren’t able to close out the final four games, “Rocktober” will live within the hearts of baseball fans for eternity to come.
17. Joe Carter going legend by hitting a World Series ending walk-off home run
MLB Postseason Moment: 1992 World Series game six. Philadelphia Phillies at the Toronto Blue Jays, Joe Carter‘s three-run home run wins the series for the Jays.
Why It’s Memorable: In a very competitive first five games of the 1992 World Series, the series shifted back to the Canadian Province of Toronto, with the Blue Jays leading the series three games to two. In a game that saw the Jays jump out to an early three-run lead, the Phillies battled back, taking the lead in the 9th, with the Blue Jays with one more shot to close the game out.
Phillies tough-guy closer Mitch Williams came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth with his team holding a slim a 6–5 lead. After beginning the inning by walking Rickey Henderson — the greatest of all-time if you ask him — Paul Molitor then singled, putting the potential game-tying plate, with Joe Carter coming to plate next.
Carter calmly launched a three-run, lined-shot into the stands in left field, not only winning the game but the team’s second World Series title in as many seasons.
Ironically, Carter was actively involved in the final play of the World Series for the second year in a row, where Carter caught the final out of the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves.
Joe Carter’s named is in the Toronto Blue Jays Hall of Fame, as one of the all-time baseball greats, thanks in part to his World Series, walk-off heroics.
16. Derek Jeter with the most clutch, incredible defensive plays in Postseason history.
MLB Postseason Moment: New York Yankees at the Oakland Athletics. Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS, where Jeter made an unreal defensive play.
Why It’s Memorable: This play definitely changed the momentum of the 2001 ALDS, since Oakland had already won the first two games in New York to take a 2-0 advantage, just game away from winning the series.
Derek Jeter, future Yankees Hall of Famer had different thoughts, changing the tone of the series on just one play. It’s hard to describe using just words, but it was one for the ages.
Jeter came out of nowhere to cut off the play, flipping the ball to Jorge Posada — who made an incredible tag himself — on a play that changed the direction of the game, and ultimately the series.
The Yankees went on to win the ALDS, then went on the take care of the Mariners in five games to win the American League pennant.
They came up short against the Diamondbacks, but nevertheless, Jeter’s savvy play is one for the ages, talked about still nearly 20 years later.
Joe Girardi recently commented on that play, highly complimenting Jeter:
“Maybe he should have been an option quarterback, too.”
A’s manager Bob Melvin was impressed by the play, even though it cost his team a chance to win it all in that 2001 MLB Postseason.
“That’s one of those plays you talk about. He’s got point-guard qualities, where he’s just in the right place at the right time. That was probably as being in the right place at the right time as you’re ever going to be on a baseball field.”
15. Bobby Thomson hits the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”
MLB Postseason Moment: 1951 National League one-game playoff between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, with Bobby Thomson hitting a walk-off home run to win the National League pennant.
Why It’s Memorable: The shot heard around the world” originally referred to the American Revolution, but now has the same impact on
America’s past-time. with a monumental moment in a one-game tiebreaker between the hated rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, in a one-game playoff for the rights to win the NL pennant and go to the World Series.
Bobby Thomson hit this epic walk-off homer, to send the Giants to the Fall Classic:
“ There’s a long drive … it’s gonna be, I believe … The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they’re going crazy! They’re going crazy! I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! I do not believe it! Bobby Thomson hit a line drive into the lower deck of the left-field stands and this blame place is going crazy”!
The New York Yankees ended up winning the World Series that season four games to two, but the “shot heard round the world” by Thompson is the moment from the 1951 MLB Postseason that still resounds even today.
14. Mr. October: Reggie Jackson
MLB Postseason Moment: 1978 World Series. New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Why It’s Memorable: Not known by many, the nickname “Mr. October” for Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson was coined by a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thurman Munson was interviewed and suggested that Jackson, due to his clutch post-season performances of the past, should be interviewing Jackson and him: “Go ask Mister October.”
Jackson lived up to that recently christened title, by hitting home runs in both games four and five of that 1978 World Series. What also added the legend, making this nickname stick for ages to come? Jackson smashed a home run off Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton in his last at-bat during game five, then went on to crush three home runs in game six.
If you’re counting at home, that is four home runs in exactly four swings for “Mr. October.” Jackson is the only player to win the World Series MVP award for two separate teams — The Yankees and the Oakland Athletics.
In 27 World Series games during his career, Jackson has ten home runs, including a World Series best five during the 1977 Series to go with 24 RBI and a .357 batting average.
Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, and Pablo Sandoval are the only other players to hit three home runs in a single World Series game. Jackson also broke Ruth’s record of 22 total bases, accumulating three more than the legend with 25 himself.
An often forgotten aspect of the ending of that critical game six was the way Jackson left the field to end the game. Fans had been getting somewhat rowdy in anticipation of the game’s end.
Opposing fans from the Dodgers were classless, tossing firecrackers out near Jackson’s area in right field, but the slugger had already been pulled from the game to protect him.
What we do remember are the ten home runs and clutch hitting from “Mr. October”, the most clutch player in America’s past time’s history.
13. Madison Bumgarner single-handily beats the Kansas City in the 2014 Fall Classic
MLB Postseason Moment: 2014 World Series. San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals.
Why It’s Memorable: If it wasn’t for Madison Bumgarner, the Kansas City Royals would have won back to back titles in 2014 and 2015. The southpaw single-handedly won the series for the Giants, winning both of his starts, and on short rest, came in for a three-inning save to shut-down and end the magical season for the Royals.
This series was no fluke, with Bumgarner’s World Series (and MLB Postseason) statistics just flat-out stupid:
- 0.25 career World Series ERA (minimum 25 innings)
- 0.50 career postseason road ERA (minimum 25 innings)
- 52 2⁄3 innings pitched in a single postseason (2014)
- 8-3 career postseason record
With Bumgarner entering the winner take all seventh game, the Giants were clinging to a 3-2 lead, giving up just two hits, striking out four Royals batters. The second hit for the Royals was nearly catastrophic for the Giants when Gregor Blanco misplayed a sinking line-drive hit by Alex Gordon, letting the ball go under his glove.
To the surprise of everyone watching, Gordon was slow coming out of the box and slowed down coming around second, where we were robbed an epic play at the plate. Video footage shows that Gordon would have most likely been gunned out at the plate, but I believe that was the highest probability of the Royals scoring against the Bumgarner that they would have.
Naturally, on the very next pitch, the lefty gets Royals catcher Salvador Perez to pop out, clinching the title for the Giants, their third in just five seasons. Of course, Bumgarner won World Series Most Valuable Player honors, with his two wins, microscopic ERA, and three-inning save in game seven.
There is no debating that Bumgarner is the best big-game pitcher in the game’s history, just ask Joe Buck.
12. Shoeless Joe Jackson banned from baseball after the 1919 World Series
MLB Postseason Moment: 1919 World Series. San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals.
Why It’s Memorable: The 1919 World Series seems bizarre to modern baseball fans for a few reasons. First, looking at the box score, the Reds won the series 5-3. Back during that era, you had to win five games to be declared World champions.
Another is the fact that “Shoeless” Joe Jackson was banned from baseball after putting together a very productive World Series campaign. Here are the eight White Sox players charged and convicted of gambling on the game, swaying its outcome:
- “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, outfielder, one of the best hitters and players in Major League Baseball at the time. Admitted to a grand jury that he accepted $5,000 from the gamblers. Years after, he took back his statement, claiming his innocence. He was banned from the game of baseball for life, never to be let back in.
- Arnold “Chick” Gandil, first baseman. The ring-leader (allegedly) of the eight Sox players in on the plan.
- Oscar “Happy” Felsch, center fielder.
- Fred McMullin, utility infielder. Originally, he would not have been included in the gambling ring had he not accidentally learned of the dealings, where he threatened to rat out the others if not involved.
- Charles “Swede” Risberg, shortstop. Was 2-for-25 at the plate and committed four errors in the series.
- George “Buck” Weaver, third baseman. He apparently knew about the details of the scandal but did not get personally involved.
- Claude “Lefty” Williams, pitcher. Went 0–3 with a 6.63 ERA for the series. Just one of two pitchers to ever lose three World Series games as a pitcher, so it was clear that he was in on this scheme.
- Eddie Cicotte, pitcher
The White Sox continued losing over the next few games, and by October 6, the Reds reigned victoriously. Everything was proceeding as planned, yet according to later accounts, many of the crooked Sox players had begun to grow restless.
According to allegations, the players involved in this fix were set to receive a total of about $100,00—$20,000 after each loss—but of course, the trustworthy “gangsters” failed to pay up.
After game five, the furious ballplayers supposedly called off the fix once and for all and resolved to play to win for the rest of the series. Over the next two games, the Sox sprang to life, winning 5-4 and 4-1 and putting themselves back in the race for the championship. Backing out of a deal with gangsters proved difficult, however, and several of the players later hinted at having received threats against their families. Whether because of intimidation or merely an unexpectedly strong opposition, the Sox went on to lose game eight to the Reds 10-5, giving Cincinnati their first ever World Series win.
This event was heavily mentioned in the 1990’s classic movie Field of Dreams, with Kevin Costner, where we get to “see” Joe Jackson play once again.
What a dark and tragic set of events for baseball, and Joe Jackson. I don’t condone his actions, if true, but I can’t imagine being threatened by mobsters and gamblers to go in with the fix. If you look at Jackson’s stats, he looks like he still played like his normal self.
Rest in Peace, “Shoeless” Joe, where I hope you get into the baseball Hall of Fame in Heaven.
11. The Red Sox end the curse of the “Great Bambino.”
MLB Postseason Moment: 2004 ALCS. Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox. Games 4-7.
Why It’s Memorable: No team in the history of baseball, or major sports for that matter, had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. In 2004, the New York Yankees were playing their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, with that very lead in the ALCS, while being ahead 4-3 in game four.
The Yankees had not lost four straight games all season either, keep that in mind as we go along. With their Hall of Fame stopper on the mound, who’s postseason stats and performances had been lights out. The Bronx Bombers looked like the team destined to play the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 Fall Classic.
Destiny had other plans, however, with game four turning in Boston’s favor, with the speed of Dave Roberts tying up the game off of Mariano Rivera. Later in the 12th inning, “Big Papi” David Ortiz, kept the Sox’s hopes on life support, with a walk-off, game-winning home run to force a game five.
Things just unraveled for the Yankees from that moment on, which you can see for yourself in this clip from the documentary Breaking the Curse: The Story of the 2004 Boston Red Sox:
The Red Sox ended up winning the series in seven games with epic fashion, with the bloodied sock of Curt Schilling showing the toughness of this squad. The Sox then turned their sights on the St. Louis Cardinals, sweeping the Redbirds to win their first World Series title since 1918, breaking the “curse of the Great Bambino.”
Like the Chicago Cubs, the Red Sox had a curse of their own, when they traded legend Babe Ruth to the Yankees during the 1920 season. Ruth had been an integral part of their MLB Postseason success, winning it all in 1915, 1916, and 1918, with the Red Sox not winning a World Series again until 2004 due to this “curse.”
When the Red Sox won the World Series, with coming back from that improbable ALCS deficit against the Yankees in the process — the very team they sold Ruth to — that 2004 title is memorable and special, to say the least.
10. The “Wizard” walks off the Dodgers in the NLCS
MLB Postseason Moment: 1985 NLCS Game 6. Los Angeles Dodgers at the St. Louis Cardinals
Why It’s Memorable: Ozzie Smith, known more his gold glove than his bat, hit a walk-off home run off the Dodgers to force a game seven, which the Cardinals ultimately won.
What a time to hit your first career left-handed home run, with Smith inspiring the epic broadcast words of legendary play by play announcer Jack Buck, with the epic:
“Go crazy folks, go crazy.”
The celebration would be short-lived, with the Cardinals losing in heart-breaking and controversial fashion to the Royals in the World Series.
10 b. Buckner’s blunder
MLB Postseason Moment:1986 World Series Game 6. Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
Why It’s Memorable: At the time, the Boston Red Sox had a 68 year World Series title drought, which was looking to end on an October night in 1986 against the “amazing” New York Mets.
The Red Sox had the lead entering the inning, then were just one out from lifting the “curse of the Great Bambino,” when the unthinkable happened. Mets Mookie Wilson hit a routine grounder to first baseman Bill Buckner — who was a gold glover by the way. The ball took a funny hop, and somehow, went under the sure-handed Buckner’s mitt, with the Mets winning in walk-off fashion.
The Red Sox were unable to recover, with the Mets winning game seven, and the curse still in-tact. The Sox would have to wait about 20 years to life the Bambino’s haunting spirit, but it would be worth the wait.
Buckner was finally welcomed back to Fenway Park in 2004 after the Sox broke that great postseason curse.
9. The 1927 New York Yankees and their murderer’s row
MLB Postseason Moment: 1927 World Series. New York Yankees vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates
Why It’s Memorable: There isn’t really much to speak about regarding the series itself, with the Yankees making quick work of the Pittsburgh Pirates in a four-game sweep.
However, if you put together the whole season’s body of work for the New York Yankees, the 1927 postseason was memorable as a collective whole. Take a look at the this “murderers row” lineup for the 1927 Yankees, focusing on their top six hitters.
Regular Season Record: Record: 110-44/ Winning percentage: .714
- Earle Combs: CF – Batting average: .356 Home Runs: 6 RBI: 64 Runs scored: 137
- Mark Koenig : SS – Batting average: .285 Home Runs: 3 RBI: 164 Runs scored: 99
- Babe Ruth: RF – Batting average: .356 Home Runs: 60 RBI: 164 Runs scored: 158
- Lou Gehrig: 1B – Batting average: .373 Home Runs: 47 RBI: 175 Runs scored: 149
- Bob Meusel: LF- Batting average: .337 Home Runs: 8 RBI: 103
- Tony Lazzeri: 2B – Batting average: .309 Home Runs: 18 RBI: 102 Runs: 92
Their pitching staff was no slouch either, with a combined ERA of 2.57, making it an impossible task for opponents to keep up with that incredible lineup.
Babe Ruth also broke the MLB season single Home Run record — which he previously owned — hitting 60 long bombs on the season. Keep in mind, they only played 154 back in the day. Ruth didn’t think he had it in him, but he was oh so wrong:
“I don’t suppose I’ll ever break that 1921 record. To do that, you’ve got to start early, and the pitchers have got to pitch to you. I don’t start early, and the pitchers haven’t really pitched to me in four seasons. I get more bad balls to hit than any other five men…and fewer good ones.”
Even with the 2017 season showing a record number of home runs and a lot of offense, we will never see a lineup like “Murderers Row” ever again.
8. Willie Mays makes “the catch” in the 1954 World Series
MLB Postseason Moment: 1954 World Series. Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians. Game one.
Why It’s Memorable: “Say hey” its Willie Mays. Even without the stakes as high as a World Series-clinching game, this catch would still be one of the best ever. Then, add what was hanging in the balance to the mix, it makes this play monumental, to say the least.
Vic Wertz, who had hit a two-run triple for the Indians in the first inning of the game, came up to the dish looking to do much of the same. With Mays roaming in center field, Wertz then hit a drive that had the looks of extra bases, when he went back and made this improbable play:
“The Catch” was spawned, extinguishing any chance the Indians had to make a series comeback. If this catch wasn’t enough for the accolades of Hayes, check out his career stats, which are equally impressive:
- Major League Baseball Hall of Fame
- 24-time All-Star (1954–1973)
- World Series champion (1954)
- 2- time NL MVP (1954, 1965)
- National League Rookie of the Year (1951)
- Career Batting average: .302
- Career Hits: 3,283
- Career Home runs: 660
- Career RBI: 1,903
- Career Stolen bases: 338
- 12-time Gold Glove Award winner (1957–1968)
- Roberto Clemente Award (1971)
- National League batting champion (1954)
- 4-time National League home run leader (1955, 1962, 1964, 1965)
- 4-time National League stolen base leader (1956–1959)
- Hit 4 home runs in one game.
7. An earthquake during the 1989 series in the City by the Bay
MLB Postseason Moment: 1989 World Series. Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. Game 3.
Why It’s Memorable: On Oct. 17, 1989, the sports world stood still, when a natural disaster disrupted Game 3 of the Bay Area World Series battle with the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants at the historic Candlestick Park.
Known as the “Loma Prieta earthquake” — registering at 6.9 on Richter Scale — destroying bridges, leveling highways, while killing over 60 people, injuring thousands more. The damage at Candlestick Park was little to none, but what the players, fans, and all those involved went through was terrifying.
Al Michaels and Tim McCarver, broadcasters for the 1989 World Series, were on the air at the time, keeping viewers and themselves calm when the quake struck right before first pitch.
Once they were able to recover from this disaster, Game 3 was then was played ten days later, where bash-brothers led Athletics out-slugged the Giants in a football-like score 13-7 to take a three-nil series lead, finishing off the Giants the next night to sweep the series.
Even though the Giants were devastated by the series loss, baseball was the furthest thing from their mind, with this reminded us all that sometimes there are things bigger than baseball.
6. The Kansas Royals defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in controversial fashion
MLB Postseason Moment: 1985 World Series Game 6. Kansas City Royals at the St. Louis Cardinals.
Why It’s Memorable: The Cardinals were about to put the finishing touches on their second World Series title in three seasons when Don Denkinger made one of the most memorable MLB Postseason, or regular season, umpiring blunders to this day.
A weak ground ball to first base and a flip to first would have been the first out of the inning for the Cardinals, who were just three outs away from winning it all.
Royals Jorge Orta clearly got to the bag after Cardinals closer Todd Worrell, but Denkinger said: “Safe! Safe.” This set off a chain reaction with the Royals ultimately winning the game, leaving the Cardinals reeling, who didn’t bother showing up for game seven.
The Royals won the rubber match game 11-0, behind the arm of Brett Saberhagen, and the hot bats of their determined lineup.
Don’t bring up 1985 to St. Louis Cardinals fans, even though it’s over 30 years since the missed call, where there is still a bitter taste of Royal blue — and umpire blue as well — in the mouths of fans.
We were hoping for a rematch of that the past couple of seasons, but the Cardinals didn’t do their part in 2014 or 2015 to join the Royals for a rematch of the I-75 World Series. Two years later, the Cardinals suffered another game seven World Series defeat, at the hands of the Minnesota Twins.
5. Babe Ruth calls his shot in the 1932 World Series against the Cubs
MLB Postseason Moment: 1932 World Series game three. Chicago Cubs vs the New York Yankees.
Why It’s Memorable: Babe Ruth’s final World Series, which he won seven and appeared in five others, might have been his best — or at least his most memorable moment.
The greatest baseball player of all-time, and with a million dollar personality to go along with it, George Herman — known as “Babe Ruth”, The Great Bambino”, “The Sultan of Swat”, “The Colossus of Clout”, and “The King Of Crash” is like no other baseball player to ever play America’s past-time.
His career stats were out of this world, to go along with his many championships:
- 7 time World Series champion (1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932)
- Batting average: .342
- Career Hits: 2,873
- Career Home runs: 714
- Career RBI: 2,213
- Record as a pitcher: 94–46
- Earned run average 2.28
- AL ERA leader (1916)
- 2× All-Star (1933, 1934) — the first MLB All-Star game wasn’t until 1933
- American League MVP (1923)
- American League batting champion (1924)
- 12 time American League home run leader (1918–1921, 1923, 1924, 1926–1931)
- 6 time American League RBI leader (1919–1921, 1923, 1926, 1928)
- New York Yankees No. 3 retired at Yankee Stadium
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
In the 5th inning of game three of the 1932 World Series, Ruth hit a home run, which didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. Ruth apparently predicted that he was going to hit the home run, pointing in the exact direction he was going to hit it, which he did. He even confirms exactly what went on before that epic home run.
“I looked out at center field and I pointed. I said I’m going to hit the next pitched ball right past the flagpole. Well, the good Lord must have been with me.”
Some believe he was pointing the dugout; others think he was saying there were two strikes in the count, while some say he did call his shot, while others emphatically believe to their grave that the “Babe” called his shot.
No matter what you choose to believe, the legend lives on, with its mystery making the MLB Postseason moment even more memorable.
4. Carlton Fisk wills a home run to force a game seven.
MLB Postseason Moment: 1975 World Series. Cincinnati Reds at Boston Red Sox. Fisk hits a historic walk-off home run.
Why It’s Memorable: Fisk crushed Red’s pitcher, Pat Darcy‘s second pitch over the Green Monster, down the high wall of the left-field line. The ball struck the foul pole, with Fisk charismatically waving his arms trying to will the ball fair, with the Red Sox forcing a game seven.
What’s lost in the mix is the team who actually won the World Series that year, the Cincinnati Reds — known also as the Big Red Machine. With the likes of Jonny Bench, Pete Rose, George Foster, Dave Concepcion, Ken Griffey Sr., Tony Perez, and Sparky Anderson leading the charge as manager.
Fisk’s career was more than just one hit, with a fantastic Major League career, where he averaged 20 HR’s and 70 RBI during his steady time as a big leaguer. His best regular season was in 1977, where he hit .315 with 26 HR and 102 RBI.
- 11-time All-Star (1972–1974, 1976–1978, 1980–1982, 1985, 1991)
- American League Rookie of the Year (1972)
- Gold Glove Award (1972)
- 3 time Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1985, 1988)
- Boston Red Sox No. 27 retired at Fenway Park
- 2,356 career hits
- 376 career home runs
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Even with all of those career highlights, Fisk will always be known for that shot over the Green Monster, which lives in infamy to this very day.
That was really the only meaningful reason the Red Sox fans had to cheer for in years — as well as for the next 29 seasons — where the curse of the Bambino was finally broken, which we already went into in great detail before.
2. Kirk Gibson’s heroic home run in the 1988 World Series game one against the Oakland Athletics.
MLB Postseason Moment: 1988 World Series game one. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Oakland Athletics, in Los Angeles.
Why It’s Memorable: An injured Kirk Gibson, pinch-hitting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth inning, hit a two-run walk-off home run against the Athletics All-Star closer Dennis Eckersley, sending the home crowd home happy with a one-run win.
The Dodgers were underdogs throughout the entire 1988 MLB Postseason, knocking off the heavily favored New York Mets in the NLCS, then facing an Athletics squad which was picked to win as well.
Gibson, who did not start the game as usual, due to injuries in both legs suffered the series before in NLCS, entered the game as a pinch-hitter.
To the shock of everyone — down 4–3 with two outs, representing the game-winning run. Gibson’s home run—his only at-bat the entire World Series—set the tone for the Dodgers who easily won the series four games to one, becoming the sixth World Series title in Dodger’s history.
With the stakes as high as they were, this is the greatest home runs of all time, outside of Babe Ruth’s called shot against the Cubs. To add icing to the cake, Gibson was named 1988 National League MVP, showing why with that man’s game home run at the highest level, with the largest stakes involved.
Now with the Dodgers back in the 2017 Fall Classic for the first time since this epic moment, will they have something up their sleeve to rival that of Gibson’s heroics?
1. The perfect game by Don Larsen with the stakes at their highest.
MLB Postseason Moment: October 8, 1956, in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees threw a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, the only perfect game in World Series history, one of only 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball throughout the years.
Why It’s Memorable: It’s one of only 23 perfect games in the history of the MLB, with it being the only one ever in a World Series, or playoff game for that matter. An iconic picture shows Yogi Berra, Yankees Hall of Fame catcher, in the arms of Larsen, who only needed 97 pitches to retire all 27 batters.
The game also featured solo home runs from Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin, the only runs of the game, but Larsen’s efforts earned him the 1956 World Series Most Valuable Player. What was most impressive about this feat is that the Dodgers scored 19 runs in the first two games, showing just how dominant Larsen was, shifting momentum to the Bronx Bombers.
The Yankees ultimately won the series in seven games, with this rivalry between two opposing league teams — Dodgers and Yankees — facing off a total of 11 times throughout the years, with the Yankees winning eight of them.
Don Larsen’s career regular season record was only 81-91, with an ERA at a respectable, but not dominate 3.78. His best regular season followed the perfect game of the 1956 series, where he went 10-4, by far his best Major League regular season.
What fans remember the most, however, is the dominant game three of the Fall Classic, which is by far the most memorable in any playoff game ever.
Next: Tony Gwynn: Mr. Padre’s legend and legacy in San Diego
What a fun ride that was taking a trip down memory, wasn’t it? Did your favorites make our list, or did we miss one as Buckner did in the 1986 series?
Tell us in the comments below and on our social media pages. The MLB Postseason does it like no other sport!