Deep six: Reliving top Game 6 moments

If history is any indication, baseball fans could be in for quite the treat tonight when the Blue Jays and Royals take the Kauffman Stadium field for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series (7 p.m. ET air time on FOX Sports 1 and Sportsnet, 8 p.m. ET game time).

In an already compelling series, this matchup between Toronto and Kansas City could be yet another entry into Major League Baseball's rich history of thrilling Game 6's.

• Gear up this postseason

The stakes are nearly as high as can be. For the Blue Jays, their entire season comes down to one night. It's win or go home for a club trying to return to the World Series for the first time since 1993. And for the Royals, a repeat as AL champions in within reach as a victory punches their ticket to a second straight Fall Classic.

Here's a look at some other great Game 6 matchups since the start of the divisional era:

1975 World Series
Video: Fisk's homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World SeriesForty years ago, Carlton Fisk hit one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history to end one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen, Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between the Red Sox and Reds. With the score tied in the bottom of the 12th inning, Fisk launched a 1-0 pitch from Cincinnati's Pat Darcy and moved slowly toward first base, famously waving his arms as he watched it bang off the left-field foul pole at Fenway Park.

Fisk's historic homer gave the Red Sox a 7-6 win and forced the series to a decisive Game 7, which the Reds went on to win, 4-3.

1986 National League Championship Series
Video: '86 NLCS, Gm 6 NYM@HOU: Mets win in 16The Astros jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning, but this one had barely begun. The Mets roared back with three runs in the ninth inning, forcing extra innings at the Astrodome.

Each team scored a run in the 14th, then the Mets rallied for three more in the top of the 16th, moving three outs away from a championship. The Astros responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass to strand the potential winning run at first base. That sent the Mets to the World Series, which would feature an even more memorable Game 6.

1986 World Series
Video: '86 WS, Gm 6: Wilson's grounder gets through BucknerThe Red Sox had a 3-2 series lead entering Game 6 and took a two-run lead over the Mets in the 10th inning. Reliever Calvin Schiraldi recorded two quick outs, putting the Sox one out away from their first championship since 1918. But the Mets rallied for two runs, bringing up Mookie Wilson with the potential winning run on second base. Wilson hit a routine grounder that rolled between Bill Buckner's legs, an infamous error that scored Ray Knight and sent the series to Game 7.

The Mets went on to win, 8-5, prolonging Boston's World Series drought.

1991 World Series
Video: ATL@MIN: Gordon calls Puckett's Game 6 home runWith the Twins facing elimination in Game 6, Kirby Puckett lined a walk-off solo home run into the left-center field seats at the Metrodome to give the Twins a 4-3 win and force Game 7 against the Braves. The Twins won Game 7, 1-0, and the legacy of Puckett's home run lives on.

It was Puckett's homer that prompted broadcaster Jack Buck's famous call: "And we'll see you tomorrow night!" Outside Target Field, there is a statue depicting Puckett pumping his first as he rounded second base following his 11th-inning game-winner.

1993 World Series
Video: 93 WS, GM 6, PHI@TOR: Joe Carter touches them allDown a run and facing Phillies closer Mitch Williams in the bottom of the ninth inning at the SkyDome in Toronto, the Blue Jays had two runners on with one out and Joe Carter coming to the plate. The Jays held a 3-2 series lead, one win away from claiming their second consecutive World Series championship.

Carter crushed a 2-2 pitch into the left-field seats, setting off a celebration north of the border. To this day, Carter's three-run shot remains one of only two walk-off home runs in a World Series-clinching victory. The only other Series-ending homer came from the Pirates' Bill Mazeroski in Game 7 of the 1960 Fall Classic against the Yankees.

1999 NLCS
Video: 1999 NLCS Gm6: Braves advance on walk-off walkIn this whirlwind of a game, the Braves jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first, and for five innings, they kept the Mets off the board, looking like they would coast right to the World Series. But New York battled back, putting up eight runs in the sixth through eight to climb ahead.

And in yet another turn of events, the Mets' lead wouldn't last beyond the top of the eighth, as the Braves evened it at 8-8 in the home half, eventually sending the game into extra innings. With the bases loaded in the 11th, New York reliever Kenny Rogers walked in a run, handing the pennant to Atlanta.

2002 World Series
Video: MLB Tonight looks back at Game 6 of 2002 World SeriesThe Angels staved off elimination in this 2002 classic en route to winning the title in seven games vs. the Giants. With a 5-0 lead in the seventh, San Francisco manager Dusty Baker turned to his bullpen, pulling right-hander Russ Ortiz after 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Presumably confident in his club's chances, Baker handed Ortiz the souvenir game ball as he headed to the dugout. And the very next at-bat, Scott Spiezio went deep for a three-run homer, sparking a six-run Angels rally.

2004 ALCS
Video: Schilling's gutsy performance in the '04 World SeriesThe 2004 ALCS featured one of the greatest rivalries in sports, pitting the Yankees and Red Sox against each other for a trip to the World Series. Red Sox starter Curt Schilling pitched seven innings at Yankee Stadium, allowing just one run with a torn tendon in his right ankle, resulting in his famed bloody sock.

Boston would go on to win, 10-7, eventually becoming the only team in Major League history to rebound from an 0-3 deficit to win a seven-game series.

2004 NLCS
Video: NLCS Gm6: Edmonds wins it with a walk-off homerThe Game 6 dramatics in 2004 weren't just limited to the AL; the NLCS also featured a thrilling conclusion between the Cardinals and Astros. With Houston down to its final two outs, Jeff Bagwell singled home the tying run, sending the game to extras.

Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds was the difference in this one, winning the game with a walk-off homer in the 12th.

2011 World Series
Video: Must C Classic: Freese's walk-off shot forces Game 7This Game 6 victory would require not one but two late-inning rallies from a resilient Cardinals club. The Rangers got as close as one out from the 2011 championship before David Freese lined a game-tying, two-RBI triple off the wall. St. Louis kept pace with Texas in the 10th as each club plated two runs to extend the game. 

Freese returned to the plate to play the hero role once again, homering for a walk-off win in the 11th and cementing his place in St. Louis franchise history.