250 for 250: Top 10 iconic series clinchers

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 make baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.

1. Bill Mazeroski's magic moment
Game 7 of the 1960 World Series

The Yankees outscored Pittsburgh 55-27 in the Series, but Game 7 came down to a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the ninth at Forbes Field. Leading off against Ralph Terry, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski took a 1-0 high slider and drove it over the 406-foot left-field wall. Fans swarmed the field as he rounded the bases. It remains the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history, sealing a 10-9 win.

2. Joe Carter touches 'em all
Game 6 of the 1993 World Series

Trailing the Phillies, 6-5, in the bottom of the ninth at SkyDome, Toronto had two runners on with one out. Reliever Mitch Williams worked a 2-2 count before Joe Carter turned on an inside fastball, lining a three-run walk-off homer down the left-field line. Tom Cheek called, "Touch 'em all, Joe!" as Carter bounced around the bases, clinching back-to-back World Series titles for the Blue Jays in an 8-6 thriller.

3. Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World"
Game 3 of the 1951 NL Tiebreaker Series

Trailing Brooklyn by 13 games in August, the Giants forced a tiebreaker series. In the deciding Game 3 at the Polo Grounds, the Giants trailed, 4-2, in the bottom of the ninth. With two on and one out, Bobby Thomson turned on Ralph Branca’s 0-1 inside fastball, launching a three-run walk-off homer to left. Russ Hodges famously screamed, "The Giants win the pennant!" as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" won it, 5-4.

4. Luis Gonzalez's beautiful bloop
Game 7 of the 2001 World Series

Facing legendary closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth, Arizona rallied to tie Game 7 at 2. With the bases loaded and one out, 57-homer slugger Luis Gonzalez jammed his hands on an 0-1 cutter. He blooped a soft single over a drawn-in infield into shallow left. Jay Bell scored from third, handing the fourth-year expansion Diamondbacks a 3-2 win and snapping New York's three-year title reign.

5. Aaron Boone becomes bane in Boston
Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS

Tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 11th at Yankee Stadium, a heated ALCS came down to extra innings. Aaron Boone, who entered as a late pinch-runner, led off against Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Boone jumped on a hanging 66 mph knuckler on the very first pitch, driving a soaring solo walk-off homer into the upper deck in left field. The 6-5 win extended Boston's championship drought for another year.

6. Edgar Renteria's extra effort
Game 7 of the 1997 World Series

Cleveland entered the bottom of the ninth just three outs away from its first title since 1948, but the Marlins tied it at 2. In the bottom of the 11th, with two outs and the bases loaded, 21-year-old shortstop Edgar Renteria faced Charles Nagy in an 0-1 count. Renteria slapped a sinker up the middle, over Nagy's glove into center. Craig Counsell scored from third, making the fifth-year Marlins the fastest expansion team to win a World Series (a record later broken by the 2001 D-backs).

7. Sid Bream's slide saves Braves
Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS

Trailing Pittsburgh, 2-1, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded, Braves manager Bobby Cox called on backup catcher Francisco Cabrera. Facing Stan Belinda in a 2-1 count, Cabrera lined a single to left. David Justice scored easily, and slow-footed Sid Bream slid under Mike LaValliere's tag at home to complete a legendary 3-2 comeback win, sending Atlanta to the World Series.

8. Edgar Martinez doubles the fun in Seattle
Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS

Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the 11th at the Kingdome, Seattle put runners on first and third with no outs against Jack McDowell. Edgar Martinez took an 0-1 splitter down and in, ripping a two-run walk-off double down the left-field line. Joey Cora scored, and Ken Griffey Jr. dashed all the way from first to score the winning run in a 6-5 victory, famously rallying community support to save baseball in Seattle.

9. Jose Altuve's heroism in Houston
Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS

After DJ LeMahieu tied the game in the top of the ninth with a homer, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve stepped up with two outs and a runner on against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom half. Sitting on a breaking ball in a 2-1 count, Altuve crushed an 84 mph hanging slider deep over the left-field wall. His two-run walk-off homer secured a 6-4 win and sent Houston to its second pennant in three years.

10. Chris Chambliss sparks a bash in the Bronx
Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS

After George Brett tied Game 5 at 6 in the eighth with a three-run homer, Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss stepped up in the bottom of the ninth against Mark Littell. Chambliss launched the very first pitch over the right-field wall for a walk-off homer. Thousands of fans stormed the field in absolute pandemonium, forcing Chambliss to dodge the crowd and touch home plate minutes later to finalize the 7-6 pennant-clinching win.

Honorable Mentions

Babe Ruth gets caught stealing to end 1926 World Series
Edwin Encarnación wins 2016 Wild Card Game with a homer: Watch >
Travis Ishikawa blasts Giants into World Series: Watch >
Adam Wainwright's curve freezes Carlos Beltrán to end 2006 NLCS Game 7: Watch >
Magglio Ordonez clubs walk-off shot to win pennant for Tigers: Watch >
Pudge hangs on to the throw at home, and the Marlins move on: Watch >
Johnny Bench's ninth-inning homer ties 1972 NLCS Game 5 before Reds win on wild pitch: Watch >
Hank Aaron's walk-off homer clinches 1957 NL pennant: Watch >
Bobby Richardson snags Willie McCovey's liner to end 1962 World Series: Watch >
Mets win 1999 NLDS on Todd Pratt's 10th-inning walk-off homer: Watch >