Player Poll: Most Memorable Postseason HR of the Last 25 Years
The last 25 MLB postseasons have provided us with some very dramatic and incredible moments. Many of them have come in the form of homeruns. This week’s Player Poll question asks what the most memorable postseason homerun of the last 25 years is. Not surprisingly, all of the homers on my list were walk-offs and eventually helped the team win that particular series.
6. David Oritz
Year: 2004
Game: ALCS Game 4
Opponent: New York Yankees
Game Result: Avoided a 4-0 series sweep
This was the HR that led to the most improbable postseason series run in MLB history. No team had ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the series, and this HR started the Red Sox down that path against their archrival New York Yankees.
5. Kirby Puckett
Year: 1991
Game: World Series, Game 6
Opponent: Atlanta Braves
Game Result: Tied the series at 3-3, forced a Game 7
The Twins needed a clutch performance in this World Series elimination game, and they got it from their best player. In addition to a first inning RBI and a highlight reel catch, Puckett hit a walk-off HR to send them Game 7. Priceless.
4. Aaron Boone
Year: 2003
Game: ALCS, Game 7
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
Game Result: Clinched AL Pennant, sent NYY to the World Series
This is one of the biggest HRs in the Yankees’ storied history. Boone’s historic and heroic blast helped keep the “Curse of the Bambino” alive (albeit, only for one more season). This homer also gave rise to a social media posing trend that Boone himself embraced. Time to bring #ABooning back!
3. Kirk Gibson
Year: 1988
Game: World Series, Game 1
Opponent: Oakland Athletics
Game Result: 1-0 World Series lead
This HR displayed Gibson’s unrivaled toughness. He battled serious injuries in both legs and a stomach virus that many thought would keep him from competing at all. He fought through it all to hit this dramatic walk-off that will go down as one of the greatest pinch-hit HRs ever.
2. Joe Carter
Year: 1993
Game: World Series, Game 6
Opponent: Philadelphia Phillies
-Game Result: Won the World Series
“Touch ‘em all Joe!” This call by Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek followed the first World Series winning walk off homerun since Bill Mazeroski’s shot in 1960. Carter’s bomb gave the Toronto Blue Jays their second straight World Series title.
1. David Freese
Year: 2011
Game: World Series, Game 6
Opponent: Texas Rangers
Game Result: Tied the Series at 3-3, forced a Game 7
As if you didn’t see this pick coming... This homerun capped what many say is the best game that they have ever seen. This homer was a microcosm of the Cardinals’ comeback attitude and performances over their entire 2011 World Series run. Freese hit a 2-R triple to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th in order to set up this unbelievable shot in the 11th. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series will live forever in St. Louis Cardinals lore, and it capped the greatest baseball game that I have ever seen.
Ashley Chavez’ pick: “David Ortiz was great during the Sox 2004 run. Who in the world (other than Yankee fans) did not want to see the Red Sox go all the way and win their first World Series in a million years? I know I did, and Ortiz’s extra inning bomb during the 2004 ALCS vs. their most bitter rivals was something out of a storybook with the happiest of endings. It was an amazing time for baseball. Don’t get me wrong, but we ALL know if the question didn’t cap us at the last 25 years...the greatest postseason homer is 100% Bobby Thompson’s ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World!’”
Ricardo Marquez’ pick: “Obviously I have to be a homer but my most memorable Postseason homer in the past 25 years was Scott Spiezio's homer during game 6 of the 2002 World Series. That three run blast gave the Halos enough momentum to conquer anything.”
Don’t forget to watch the final #PlayerPoll of the season on FOX at 3:00pm EST this Saturday to see what the players and fans think are the most memorable postseason homeruns of the last 25 years. Also, tweet your picks to @MLBFanCave and @KyleOKC using the hash tag #CavePickEm.