Top 10 World Series Moments

by Annadrome

1. Bill Mazeroski's Series-winning, walk-off homer (Game 7 in 1960)

Ever since the first World Series was played in 1903, kids have dreamed of hitting a ninth-inning, title-winning home run. But Pittsburgh second baseman Bill Mazeroski was the first player make that dream come true.

Maz's blast over the left-field wall in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 gave the Pirates a 10-9 victory over the Yankees and their first world championship in 35 years. The improbable champions were outscored, 55-27, and out-hit, 91-60, but in the end the home team prevailed. Years later, Mickey Mantle was quoted as saying that losing the 1960 series was the biggest disappointment of his career. For Bill Mazeroski, it was the highlight.

2. Carlton Fisk Home Run - 1975 World Series, Game 6

The enduring image of Fisk jumping and waving the ball fair as he made his way to first base is considered by many to be one of baseball's greatest moments (it is referred to in the Gus Van Sant movie Good Will Hunting). The ball struck the foul pole, giving the Red Sox a 7-6 win and forcing a seventh and deciding game of the fall classic. The next day, the Reds won the first of two back-to-back World Series championships.

3. Willie Mays over-the-shoulder catch

"I had it the whole time," Giants center fielder Willie Mays quipped after making his famous catch of a shot off the bat of Cleveland's Vic Wertz. He probably did. Depending on whom you talk to, Wertz hit the ball between 450 feet and 450 miles in the cavernous Polo Grounds, with runners on first and second in the top of the eighth of a 2-2 game. Mays' improbable over-the-shoulder catch saved two runs, and the Indians now had runners on first and third with one out. New York reliever Don Liddle had been brought in to face Wertz but now was being taken out of the game. "Well," he said to incoming pitcher Marv Grissom, "I got my man." Grissom squeezed out of the jam, and the Giants went on to win the Series.

4. Joe Carter Home Run - 1993 World Series, Game 6

In Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, with the Blue Jays leading three games to two, Carter came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Blue Jays losing 6-5 and Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor on base. On a 2-2 count, Carter hit a three-run home run off Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams (a hurler against whom he was 0-4 career) to win the World Series, only the second time a Series has ended with a home run (the other being in 1960, when Bill Mazeroski did it).

5. Kirk Gibson Home Run - 1988 World Series, Game 1

It was the game's best reliever, Oakland's Dennis Eckersley, protecting a one-run lead with a runner on against the Dodgers' ailing MVP, Kirk Gibson, who volunteered to pinch-hit despite a ravaged knee that was supposed to keep him out of the Series. Gibson looked anything like the NL's best player as he worked the count to 3-2, before serving an Eckersley slider into the right-field seats. Bedlam. To this day, no one has summed up the event quite like radio announcer Jack Buck, who said, "I don't believe what I just saw!" It was Gibson's only at-bat in the Series.

6. Bill Buckner Error

On October 25, 1986, the Boston Red Sox faced the New York Mets in game 6 of the World Series. Boston led the best-of-7 series 3 games to 2, and had a two-run lead with two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning. New York came back to tie the game with three straight singles off Calvin Schiraldi and a wild pitch by pitcher Bob Stanley. Mookie Wilson fouled off several pitches before hitting a ground ball to Buckner at first base. The ball bounced on the dirt and rolled under Buckner's glove, through his legs, and into right field, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run from second base, forcing a seventh game, which the Mets won two nights later.

Reenactment of the Bottom of the Tenth Inning using RBI Baseball

7. Babe Ruth's "Called Shot" against the Cubs (Game 3 in 1932)

Maybe it never happened, which is why it's "only" No. 6. Legend has it that Ruth pointed his bat at Cubs pitcher Charlie Root in the fifth inning of a 4-4 tie, and then pointed his bat toward the center-field fence. Moments later, the Babe crushed a massive homer to the center-field bleachers, powering the Yanks to a 7-5 win and a sweep of the Series.

8. Don Larsen's Perfect Game - 1956, Game 5

In 100 years of World Series play, there has been only one day when a pitcher was perfect. And if they play the World Series for 100 more, Don Larsen may still be the only man to take on 27 batters from a league champion and send 'em all back to the bench.

The perfect game give the Yanks a 3-2 series lead over Brooklyn in an eventual seven-game victory for the Bronx Bombers. Who can forget Yogi Berra's leap into Larsen's arms?

9. Reggie Jackson's 3 Home runs - 1977, Game 6

Three swings, three homers and the legend of "Mr. October" was born. Jackson's three-homer outburst in Game 6 gave New York an 8-4 victory and a six-game victory over the Dodgers.

10. The Mad Dash - 1946, Game 7

In the bottom of the eighth of a 3-3 game, Cardinals outfielder Enos Slaughter took off from first with the pitch, which was shot into left-center by Harry Walker. Red Sox center fielder Leon Culberson bobbled the ball briefly, and there was no stopping Slaughter who recklessly ran through a stop sign at third and charged home. Second baseman Johnny Pesky's relay throw was late and one of baseball's most contended stories was born. Was it a double? Walker was credited with one, but he would surely have stopped at first if Slaughter hadn't drawn a throw home. Thus, we say, Slaughter scored the Series' game-winning run from first on a single (and fielder's choice). The ultimate moment of hustle.