Most memorable moments in MLB postseason history

New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thompson's game winning home run to win the 1951 NL Pennant is better known as: “The Shot Heard Round the World.” Thompson’s home run was the first ever walk-off hit seen on a nationally televised MLB postseason game.

In Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankee’s legend Babe Ruth pointed out to center field during his fifth inning at bat, and proceeded to hit a home run to center on the very next pitch. Although some believe the tale to be more of a myth, there is video footage of Ruth pointing out to center field during his fifth inning at bat.

In Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, Yankees pitcher Don Larsen threw the first and only ever perfect game in the Fall Classic. The Yankees would go on to defeat the Dodgers in seven games that year.

In the bottom of the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk hit a high fly ball down the left field line. Fisk proceeded to waive his hands violently, pleading with the ball to stay fair. It did, and the Red Sox won. Unfortunately, the Red Sox would lose the decisive Game 7 the following night to the Cincinnati Reds.

In the bottom of the eight inning in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hit a high fly ball to deep right. As Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco reached to catch it, 12-year-old Yankees fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the stands and knocked the ball into the bleachers. Although Jeter should have been ruled out due to fan interference, it was ruled a home run. The Yankees won 1996 ALCS in five games.

In Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, Mets catcher Mike Piazza broke his bat off of a pitch from Roger Clemens. In an extremely bizarre moment, Clemens then picked up a shard of Piazza’s broken bat and proceed to hurl it directly at him. Apparently, there was no malice involved; Clemens would say after the game that he just had a lot of nervous energy, and didn’t see Piazza. Still, it was bizarre and memorable postseason moment.

In Game 6 of the 1977, Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson earned himself the nickname “Mr. October.” Jackson hit three monster home runs in Yankee Stadium to beat the Dodgers and clinch the World Series for the Yankees.

Due to the tragedies of 9/11, the 2001 World Series extended into November. Game 4 of that year’s World Series went into extra innings, where New York’s spiritual baseball leader won the game for the Yankees with a home run in the bottom of the 10th. Although the Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks in seven games, the home run earned Jeter the nickname “Mr. November.”

It was perhaps the most unlikely home run in MLB history. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth to the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the Dodgers sent up badly injured star Kirk Gibson to hit. Somehow, some way, Gibson managed to hit a game-winning home run off of one of the greatest closers in baseball history, Dennis Eckersley. It was Gibson’s only at-bat of the Series, and the Dodgers went on to win it all in five games.

After 86 years of misery, the wait had finally ended. The Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series in four games over the Cardinals, and perhaps no fan base had ever rejoiced more. The “Curse of the Bambino” was finally over.

In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, the Yankees sent the greatest closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera, to seal the deal against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Instead, the D’Backs rallied, and outfielder Luis Gonzalez would give Arizona its first and only World Series title with a bases-loaded RBI single.

Facing elimination in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series, Minnesota Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett helped his team live another day. Puckett hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the Twins would go on to defeat the Braves the following night to win the Fall Classic.

In Game 5 of the 2001 ALDS, Athletics outfielder Terrence Long appeared to give the A’s the go-ahead run with a late double, but Derek Jeter refused to let it happen. After the cutoff man was missed, Jeter raced to the first baseline, grabbed the ball, and flipped it to catcher Jorge Posada just in time for him to tag Jeremy Giambi out at the plate.

In Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the arch-rival Red Sox, Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone took Tim Wakefield deep on the first pitch of the bottom of the tenth inning. The home run helped to continue Yankee dominance and further Red Sox misery... at least for one more year.

Down by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Toronto outfielder Joe Carter won the World Series for the Blue Jays with a three-run home run. The home run gave the Blue Jays back-to-back World Series championships.

Tied in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, Pittsburgh Pirates second basemen Bill Mazeroski would make history. Mazeroski hit the first ever game-ending home run to a World Series when he took Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry deep on a 1-0 pitch. The home run gave the Pittsburgh its first and only World Series championship.

In Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay became the first MLB player to throw a postseason no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956. Halladay simply shutdown the Reds, needing only 104 pitches to accomplish the feat.

In the midst of breaking the color barrier in professional sports, Dodgers Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson made one of the gutsiest plays ever in Game 1 of the 1955 World Series. With the Dodgers down 6-3, Robinson amazingly stole home, just avoiding a desperate tag from Yankees catcher Yogi Berra. Although the Dodgers would lose, Robinson stealing home is one of the baseball’s greatest postseason moments.

With the Red Sox facing elimination in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS versus the Yankees, Boston pitcher Curt Schilling pitched a gem, despite having suffering 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, then Game 7, and ultimately go on to win the World Series.

Tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS, Yankees first basemen Chris Chambliss hit a walk-off home run off of Royals pitcher Mark Littell. The home run by itself was memorable, but what was far more remarkable was the fact that Yankees fan began to storm the field, almost preventing Chambliss from rounding the bases to make the dinger official.

The 1997 World Series between the Florida Marlins and Cleveland Indians came down to the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7. In that inning, 20-year-old Marlins shortstop Edgar Renteria hit the game-winning single that would give the Marlins their first-ever World Series title.

In the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, the Chicago Cubs looked to poised to defeat the Florida Marlins and reach the World Series. Then, Marlins infielder Luis Castillo hit a pop fly into foul territory, where Cubs fan Steve Bartman reached out and took an out away from Cubs outfielder Moises Alou. The Cubs then became the Cubs of old and collapsed, losing Game 6, and Game 7 the following night. If Bartman had not interfered with Alou, many believe the Cubs would have gone on to win their first World Series since 1908.

In over 3,000 at bats from the left side of the plate, Hall of Fame Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith had never hit a home run. In Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS, Smith hit his first-ever home run has as a lefty, and it just so happened to be a walk-off.

In Game 1 of the 1955 World Series between the Indians and Giants, one of the greatest catches in MLB history was made. With the game tied 2-2, Vic Wertz hit what looked to be a go-ahead extra-base hit in the eight inning. Instead, Giants outfielder Willie Mays raced out to deep center and made a spectacular over the head catch that saved the day. The play has simply become known as “The Catch.”

Trailing three games to zero in the series to Yankees, in the bottom of the 12th inning in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, the Red Sox needed a miracle to jump start a series comeback. They received one in the form of a two-run David Ortiz walk-off home run. The Red Sox would go to win four straight games over the Yankees, and win that year’s World Series.

Down 4-3 in extra innings in Game 4 of the 1957 World Series, the Milwaukee Braves needed to make a comeback. After tying the game at five runs a piece against the Yankees, slugger Eddie Mathews walked to plate, and belted the game-winning two-run home run. It was one of the first walk-off home runs in World Series history.

With the St. Louis Cardinals needing just one more out to win the 1985 World Series over the Kansas City Royals, first base umpire Don Denkinger made history, and not in a good way. In the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6, Denkinger incorrectly called a Royals baserunner safe at first, when he was clearly out. The Royals would go on to win the game, and the Series in seven games, aided by the help of Denkinger’s blown call.