The 25 most decisive plays in World Series history

Oct 24, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; The Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) and right fielder Brett Phillips (14) celebrate Phillips hitting the game winning two run walk off single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in game four of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; The Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) and right fielder Brett Phillips (14) celebrate Phillips hitting the game winning two run walk off single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in game four of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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Enos Slaughter scores from first on Harry Walker’s base hit at the climax of the 1946 World Series. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)
Enos Slaughter scores from first on Harry Walker’s base hit at the climax of the 1946 World Series. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)

13. Game 7, October 15, 1946, Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Cardinals

Harry Walker vs. Bob Klinger. Change in Championship Probability: 31.95 percent

With Ted Williams due to follow DiMaggio to the plate, his game-tying double actually put the Red Sox in an even more advantageous position than the math suggested. But the all-time Red Sox great had been having a bad World Series, when with the lead  run in scoring position he popped out, sending the game into the bottom of the eighth.

Boston manager Bob Klinger called on his bullpen ace, Bob Klinger, to navigate those final outs and hopefully preserve the tie. Enos Slaughter gave Cardinal hopes a boost with a clean single to center, but Klinger retired Whitey Kurowski and Del Rice, Slaughter anchoring at first.

The next hitter, Harry Walker, and bounced back from a sub-standard regular season to persistently  nettle the Red Sox. He had hit safely in each of his four previous Series starts, and earlier that afternoon had driven in one run and scored another.

With Slaughter running on the pitch, Walker drove what looked like a clean single fielded in center field by Leon Culberson. Slaughter raced toward third, then without braking barreled toward home. His aggression perhaps caught shortstop Johnny Perky, handling Culberson’s throw, by surprise. Pesky’s momentary indecision was all Slaughter needed to slide home safely with the go-ahead – and eventual winning – run.

Brecheen still had to navigate a ninth inning that turned precarious. But with two out and runners at second and third, he retired Tom McBride on a groundout to wrap up the Series for St. Louis.