25 unlikely MLB playoff heroes from the past

Now a Hall of Famer, Mazeroski probably wouldn't be there if not for his walk-off home run to win the 1960 World Series. He hit 138 homers in 17 MLB seasons.

After hitting only .215 during the regular season, Weis sparked the Mets during the 1969 World Series by hitting .455 with a 1.290 OPS. New York went on to win the Series in five games.

Tenace hit only .225 in 1972 for Oakland but won World Series MVP after hitting four homers and nine RBI. He went on to become an offensive force the following year, hitting 24 homers for Oakland.

Beattie had a career ERA above 4.00, but he was spectacular for the Yankees during the 1978 playoffs. He started two games during the playoffs, including a complete-game win in the World Series.

The light-hitting Dent hit an improbable home run in the one-game playoff to determine the AL East Champion. The Yankees went on to win the World Series in 1978.

Denkinger's long umpiring career will forever be defined by his bad call in the 1985 World Series. Umpiring at first base, he called Royals DH Jorge Orta safe at first base in the ninth inning with the Cardinals leading the game 1-0 and the series 3-2. The Royals went on to win the game and the series.

Sundberg didn't pile up stats in the 1985 playoffs, but he played a pivotal role in the ALCS vs. Toronto and slid into home to help the Royals win Game 6 of the World Series.

Smith is now a Hall of Famer, but that certainly wasn't for his power with 28 career home runs. However, Smith won Game 5 for the Cardinals in the NLCS and was named series MVP.

Unlikely to play in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, Gibson emerged from the tunnel at Dodger Stadium to become the hero. He hit a game-winning home run off Dennis Eckersley in a series the Dodgers went on to win in five games.

Hatcher made an incredible contribution for the Reds in the 1990 World Series, catching fire to hit .750 in four games after hitting only .276 with five homers during the regular season.

Sprague didn't contribute much for Toronto during the 1992 season until Game 2 of the World Series. Trailing by two runs, he launched a two-run game-winning homer vs. the Braves.

In Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, a 13-year-old fan sitting in the right field stands reached over the wall to pull a "home run" over Tony Tarasco's head. The Yankees went on to win the game and eventually the World Series.

Leyritz hit a game-tying homer in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series. The homer eventually allowed the Yankees to tie the series at two games and win it in six games vs. Atlanta.

A youthful 26-year-old second baseman at the time, Kennedy hit only seven home runs in 144 games during the 2002 season. He almost singlehandedly won Game 5 of the ALCS by hitting three homers.

A relatively unknown 20-year-old relief pitcher, Rodriguez had only five appearances late in the 2002 season. He was lights-out during the postseason, however, allowing four earned runs in 18.2 innings with 28 strikeouts. He went on to become an elite closer by 2005.

Considered more as a scapegoat for the Cubs' failures in the 2003 NLCS, Bartman is legendary in Chicago. The poor guy reached over in left field foul ground to take an out from Cubs outfield Moises Alou. Ahead 3-2 in the series, the Cubs went on to give up eight runs in the inning and eventually lose the series to the Marlins.

Red Sox fans aren't fond of Boone after he ended the ALCS in 2003. Boone launched a walk-off homer to win Game 7 in the 11th inning.

Roberts had possibly the most important stolen base in baseball history. He swiped second base off Mariano Rivera in Game 4 of the ALCS with the Red Sox facing elimination, down by one run in the ninth inning. Roberts eventually came around to score, and the Red Sox won four straight games before knocking off the Cardinals in the World Series.

Blum had a long career as a utility infielder with a sub-.700 OPS for his career. He had only one at-bat during the 2005 World Series, but it was a big one with a home run to win Game 3.

Playing in his second World Series, the scrappy Eckstein was a catalyst for the Cardinals. He hit .364 and won World Series MVP.

The 2006 Cardinals were arguably the worst team to ever win the Series, and they wouldn't have done it without Suppan. He was the NLCS MVP, hurling two great starts vs. the Mets and allowing only one run in 15 innings.

Lowell had one of his best seasons in 2007, but he still wasn't the centerpiece of Boston's lineup. He went on an incredible run in the 2007 World Series, posting a 1.300 OPS and winning World Series MVP.

Giants fans will always have fond memories of Ross during his one-plus years in San Francisco. Ross hit five homers during the team's playoff run in 2010 and won NLCS MVP.

Freese came up big in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, arguably the greatest game in World Series history. Freese tied the Rangers in the ninth inning with a two-run triple before hitting a walk-off homer in the 11th inning. He went on to win World Series MVP.

The Cardinals shocked the Nationals during the 2012 NLDS with a come-from-behind Game 5 win, and Descalso made a big contribution with a home run and game-tying single.