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. Clemente's cannon saves Game 6
Game 6 of 1971 World Series
Roberto Clemente saved his best for the biggest moments, like Game 6 of the 1971 World Series. With the winning run on first base in the bottom of the ninth, Don Buford hooked a double that caromed off the right-field wall. From the warning track, Clemente unleashed a dart to home plate that stopped the runner at third. The Pirates lost Game 6 but won the World Series, and Clemente was named MVP.
2. "Yes he can!" Bo cuts down winning run
June 5, 1989 at Mariners
In the words of Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews: “He can’t do it. Yes he can!” On the diamond and the gridiron, Bo Jackson tested the limits of what was possible. His uncanny athleticism led to one of the best throws you’ll ever see in the bottom of the 10th inning on June 5, 1989. Jackson fielded a carom off the left-field wall and fired a cannon to home plate, cutting down the winning run.
3. Ichiro makes an early statement
April 11, 2001 at Athletics
The A’s were the first to learn a lesson that swept across the league: Don’t run on Ichiro. In his eighth MLB game, Ichiro used a perfect crow hop to fire a laser beam to third baseman David Bell, nabbing Terrence Long on his attempt to go first to third on a single. In his postgame press conference, Ichiro dropped the mic, asking reporters: “Why did he run when I was going to throw him out?”
4. After miscue, Céspedes saves game with epic throw
June 10, 2014 at Angels
One of the most stunning defensive plays in baseball history started with a miscue, as Yoenis Céspedes could not field a looping base hit cleanly in left field. When he tracked down the ball along the side wall, Céspedes unleashed what Angels manager Mike Scioscia called a “guided missile.” The throw reached catcher Derrick Norris on the fly, preventing the go-ahead run from scoring in the eighth inning.
5. Laureano completes stunning double play
Aug. 11, 2018 at Angels
There’s something about Anaheim that brings out the best among A’s outfielders. Ramón Laureano raced 76 feet in the left-center-field gap to take away extra bases with a splendid backhand grab. Then, he planted off his back foot and unleashed a strike to double up Eric Young Jr. at first base. Per Statcast, Laureano’s throw traveled 321 feet, or a longer distance than the length of a football field.
6. Parker rescues NL with perfect strike in All-Star Game
1979 All-Star Game
Dave Parker starred in front of baseball’s best at the 1979 All-Star Game in the Kingdome. He saved the game for the National League in the eighth inning, handling a high bounce off the artificial turf on a base hit from Graig Nettles. From right field, Parker fired a perfect strike to the plate, nailing the potential go-ahead run. The NL won the game an inning later and Parker captured MVP honors.
7. Back to the infield? No problem for Acuña
July 18, 2025 vs Yankees
Ronald Acuña Jr. has an elite arm in the outfield, and on July 18, 2025, he reminded everyone of it. Everything about this strike was brilliant -- especially its nonchalance. There was no crow-hop or forward momentum; a flat-footed Acuña simply caught a fly ball in the right-field corner with his back to the infield, spun around and hosed the runner attempting to advance to third for an unreal double play.
8. Flat-footed Guerrero nails runner at home
July 7, 2001 vs Blue Jays
Speaking of flat-footed throws: The artificial turf at Olympic Stadium all but forced Vladimir Guerrero into making one on July 7, 2001. Moving toward right-center field, Guerrero played back on a softly hit ball that bounced high off the turf. He fielded the ball over his head, and with his momentum moving him away from the plate, unleashed an on-the-fly strike to nab Alberto Castillo at home plate.
9. Manny being Manny -- at third base
July 7, 2013 at Yankees
Manny Machado won the Platinum Glove Award in 2013 as the best defender in the AL because of plays like this one. It looked like Luis Cruz had himself an infield single when he pulled the ball down the third base line. But after a bobble, Machado unleashed one of the best throws you’ll ever see. By the time he fired the ball across his body, momentum had taken him well onto the dirt in foul territory.
10. Ankiel shows off his pitching arm with two outfield assists
May 6, 2008 at Rockies
Ankiel retired from pitching after a bout with the yips, but he still put his arm to use in the outfield. That was certainly the case on May 7, 2008, at Coors Field, when Ankiel recorded two improbable outfield assists. The first was impressive -- nailing a speedy Willy Tavares at third base -- and the second was stunning, as Ankiel reached third on the fly from the edge of the center-field warning track.
Honorable Mentions
Elly De La Cruz's 97.9 mph dart sets a Statcast record: Watch >
Aaron Hicks nails runner at home for double play: Watch >
Pudge Rodriguez picks off runner in 2003 World Series: Watch >
Jose Guillen misses the catch, but nails the runner: Watch >
Vladimir Guerrero saves a run with massive heave: Watch >
Yasiel Puig nabs Trevor Story trying for a triple: Watch >
First of many for Mets wizard Rey Ordonez, in his MLB debut: Watch >
Mookie Betts goes 305 feet on the fly: Watch >
Oneil Cruz unleashes then-record 97.8 mph missile: Watch >