250 for 250: Top 10 'put 'em on your back' performances

As part of our celebration of America 250, MLB's content team has created 25 top 10 lists that capture the plays, people, rituals and moments that made baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.

1. Is this the best single-game performance of all-time?
2025 NLCS Game 4 vs. Brewers

Perhaps we’ve grown numb to Shohei Ohtani’s two-way brilliance. But in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS, the four-time MVP left everyone with their jaws dropped. Ohtani clobbered three home runs while recording 10 strikeouts over six-plus scoreless innings in a pennant-clinching victory. He became the first player in MLB history to strike out at least five batters in a game where he also hit three home runs.

2. Morris' masterpiece push Twins to title
1991 World Series: Game 7 vs. Braves

A pair of Hall of Famers carried the Twins to a World Series title in 1991. Kirby Puckett’s walk-off home run in the 11th inning of Game 6 set the stage for Jack Morris’ iconic performance the next night in Game 7. The right-hander out-dueled Atlanta’s John Smoltz, firing 126 pitches across 10 scoreless innings. No pitcher has thrown at least 10 scoreless innings in a postseason game since.

3. Aces wild in the desert
2001 postseason

Arizona’s co-aces were historically dominant in the 2001 postseason, combining to go 9-1 with a 1.30 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 89 2/3 innings. The D-backs needed every last bit of it to dethrone the Yankees. Curt Schilling fired 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball in Game 7 of the World Series, while Randy Johnson earned the win with 1 1/3 perfect innings out of the bullpen to set up Luis Gonzalez’s walk-off.

4. "We Are Family" Pirates pen historic comeback
1979 World Series

There was no quit in the iconic “We are family” Pirates, who adopted the classic disco hit as their rallying cry. Pittsburgh stormed back from a 3-1 series deficit in the Fall Classic to stun the Orioles, and Willie Stargell punctuated the comeback with a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning of Game 7 to put the Pirates ahead for good. The Hall of Famer won NLCS and World Series MVP honors.

5. Pedro's brilliant relief outing
1999 ALDS Game 5 vs. Cleveland

Pedro Martínez is one of the best starting pitchers of all time, but the defining moment of his Hall of Fame career may have come in relief. Battling an ailing right shoulder, Martínez entered Game 5 of the ALDS with Boston and Cleveland tied, 8-8, in the bottom of the fourth. Pedro calmed the slugfest, holding Cleveland without a hit across six brilliant innings and vaulting the Sox to the ALCS.

6. The legend of MadBum grows
2014 postseason

Madison Bumgarner joined the company of postseason legends in 2014, pitching to a 1.03 ERA across a whopping 52 2/3 innings. He saved his best for last: In the fifth inning of Game 7 of the ‘14 World Series, the bullpen gates opened, and Bumgarner walked through them. That was the end for the Royals. Bumgarner notched a five-inning save on two days' rest to clinch the Giants’ third title in five years.

7. The night "Mr. October" earned his nickname
1977 World Series Game 6 vs. Dodgers

Reggie Jackson earned his timeless nickname -- “Mr. October” -- with a legendary performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. Jackson clubbed three home runs against three Dodgers pitchers on exactly three different pitches, spurring the Yankees to their first championship in 15 years and a relentless chorus of “Reg-gie!” chants from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

8. Not one, not two, but three shutouts for Mathewson
1905 World Series

Some players are forever linked to a single postseason. That’s certainly the case with Christy Mathewson and the fall of 1905. The Hall of Fame righty tossed three shutouts in a six-day span in the 1905 World Series, almost single-handedly powering the Giants past the Philadelphia A’s. Mathewson’s record -- three shutouts in a single Fall Classic -- is considered one of baseball’s unbreakable achievements.

9. Sabathia carries Brewers to postseason berth
2008 regular season

Few Deadline deals have been more impactful than the one the Brewers swung to land CC Sabathia on July 7, 2008. The Hall of Fame lefty went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts down the stretch for Milwaukee. Sabathia went the distance to down the Cubs in the regular-season finale, clinching the NL Wild Card and securing the club its first postseason appearance since the 1982 World Series.

10. No days' rest? No problem for dominant Yamamoto
2025 World Series

After winning Game 6 of the 2025 World Series with six strong innings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto went to the trainer’s room to prepare for a potential relief appearance in Game 7. Sure enough, he spun 2 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 7 to deliver the Dodgers their second consecutive championship. Yamamoto won World Series MVP honors and pitched to a 1.45 ERA across 37 1/3 innings -- including consecutive complete games -- that postseason.

Honorable Mentions

Roberto Clemente homers for his 13th hit of the 1971 World Series: Watch >
Walter Johnson closes out 1924 World Series with four scoreless relief innings
Ryne Sandberg hits game-tying homers in 9th and 10th innings vs. Cardinals in 1984: Watch >
Stan Musial homers five times in one day in Cards' day-night doubleheader in 1954
Mike Schmidt goes yard four times in one game vs. Cubs in 1976: Watch >
Nolan Arenado hits walk-off homer to complete cycle on Father's Day: Watch >
Mikey Lolich throws three complete games in 1968 World Series: Watch >
Adam Kennedy blasts three homers in Angels' 2002 ALCS clincher: Watch >
Bob Gibson homers and strikes out 10 in complete game to clinch 1967 World Series: Watch >
Daniel Murphy homers in sixth straight postseason game to set MLB record: Watch >