Best individual performances in MLB postseason history

Simply put, San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner was impossible to hit in the 2014 MLB playoffs. With a 1.03 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and strikeout-walk ratio of 45-6, Bumgarner had what is considered by many to be the most dominant postseason pitching performance in MLB history. The Giants won the World Series in seven games over the Kansas City Royals, and Bumgarner was named World Series MVP.

For the better part of his career, New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen was an average player. One day in October changed all of that. In Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larsen threw baseball’s first and only postseason perfect game, a feat that may never be accomplished again.

In Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, Minnesota Twins pitcher Jack Morris threw not just nine, but 10 shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves. The Twins would win the game 1-0 in the bottom of the 10th, and Morris was named World Series MVP for his incredible effort.

Starting Game 7 of the 1965 World Series on just two days rest, Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax hurled a three-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins to win it all for the Dodgers. Koufax’s performance is even more remarkable considering he had immense pain in his pitching elbow for the entire season.

In Game 1 of the 1968 World Series, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson struck out 17 batters as the Cards won 4-0 over the Detroit Tigers. Gibson’s 17 strikeouts is a World Series record that still stands to this day.

Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson gave a performance for the ages in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. Jackson hit three monster home runs for the Yankees to help clinch that year’s Fall Classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After hitting those three epic home runs, he became affectionately known to Yankees fans as “Mr. October.”

In Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay threw the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history. It was a remarkable performance, as Halladay only needed 107 pitches to accomplish the feat, and to top it off, it was the two-time Cy Young winner's first postseason start of his career.

It’s too often forgotten that the greatest baseball player of all time was also an incredible pitcher. In Game 2 of the 1916 World Series, Boston Red Sox starter Babe Ruth pitched 14 innings in which he only surrendered one run. The Red Sox won 2-1 in the bottom of the 14th, giving the Babe the win.

Now playing for the Yankees, Babe Ruth would add to his legend in Game 4 of the 1926 World Series. After promising to hit a home run for an 11-year-old who nearly died in horse-riding accident, the Babe outdid himself and hit three dingers. Apparently, upon hearing that the Babe his three home runs for him, the boy's condition miraculously improved. There’s a reason Babe Ruth is a legend.

In Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, the Cardinals inserted third baseman David Freese into the lineup down 7-5 to the Texas Rangers facing elimination. Freese got the Cards the game-tying hit in the bottom on the ninth and also hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning. Fresse’s two at-bats were perhaps the two most clutch ever in MLB postseason history. The Cards won the World Series the following night.

With the Red Sox facing elimination in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS versus the Yankees, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling pitched a gem, despite having a tendon injury in his right ankle. The injury caused Schilling's right ankle to bleed noticeably, giving birth to the “Bloody Sock Game.” Schilling and the Red Sox would win Game 6 and Game 7, and go on to win the World Series.

A quality hitter for his entire career, former Angels outfielder and first baseman Darin Erstad took his game to another level in the 2002 postseason. Erstad tied the postseason record for hits with 25 and hit .353 over the course of the playoffs. The Angels won their first and only World Series title that year.

Say what you will about the man, but former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds was incredible in the 2002 World Series. Bonds batted .471 with an OPS of 1.994. He also hit a home run in Game 6 that still might not have landed yet. Regardless, the Giants lost in seven games to the then-Anaheim Angels.

Roger Clemens threw a one-hit shutout for the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2000 ALCS against the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees would win the series in six games.

Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson dominated the 1970 World Series. Robinson hit .429 with two home runs, but it was his amazing play defensively that captivated the baseball world. The Orioles beat the Reds in five games, and Robinson was named World Series MVP.

In his final season for the Cardinals, first baseman Albert Pujols had a postseason to remember. Pujols hit .353 with an OPS of 1.155 as the Cards went on to win that year’s World Series.

Needing to clinch in New York against the Yankees, Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett threw a five-hit shutout in Game 6 of the 2003 World Series to win the Marlins their second World Championship. The feat was made all the more impressive by the fact the 23-year-old Beckett was pitching on only three days rest.

In the decisive Game 5 of Boston's 1999 ALDS matchup against the Cleveland Indians, Pedro Martinez came in as a reliever to pitch six no-hit innings for the Red Sox. Boston won the game 12-8 and advanced to the ALCS behind Pedro’s eight strikeouts.

Curt Schilling had one of the greatest postseason runs as a pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. Schilling went 4-0 with an ERA of 1.12 and WHIP of 0.64 for the entirety of the postseason. The D’Backs beat the Yankees in seven games in the World Series, and Schilling was named co-World Series MVP with teammate Randy Johnson.

Hideki Matsui’s performance in the 2009 World Series has forever earned him a place in the hearts of Yankees fans. Matsui hit an unreal .615 with an OPS of 2.027. He was named World Series MVP as the Yankees won their 27th championship in six games over the Phillies.

In Game 6 of the 1995 World Series, Braves pitcher Tom Glavine pitched eight innings of shutout baseball to help the Braves win their first-ever championship. For his efforts, Glavine was named World Series MVP.

In Game 4 of the 1995 ALDS against the Yankees, Seattle Mariners DH Edgar Martinez had a game to remember. Martinez batted in seven runs, including two dingers, as the Mariners won 11-8. The Mariners would win Game 5, and the series, the following night.

In his first-ever postseason game, Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum pitched a two-hit shutout over the Atlanta Braves. Lincecum struck out 14 batters, and the Giants easily won Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS.

Desperately needing a win in Game 3 of the 1985 ALCS, Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett went 4-for-4 with two home runs. The Hall of Famer’s performance lit a fire under the Royals, as they came back from two games down to defeat the Blue Jays and went on to win the World Series.

In the 1990 World Series, Reds outfielder Billy Hatcher batted an unreal .750 from the plate, with an OPS of 2.050. Although his stats may have been inflated by a small sample size as the Reds dispatched the Oakland A’s in four games to win the World Series, it was an amazing World Series performance by Hatcher nonetheless.