Watch Baseball's Best

1952
1 Season

Baseball enthusiasts, get ready to relive some of the greatest moments in MLB history with Baseball's Best, a TV show that highlights some of the most exciting and historic games in baseball history. Produced by MLB Network, Baseball's Best is the ultimate baseball archive that dives into the unforgettable performances, iconic home runs, and game-changing plays.

Every episode of Baseball's Best is dedicated to a specific theme, such as pitchers' duels, walk-off homers, and no-hitters. Each episode features a collection of highlights from several games that all fit the theme, providing fans with a wide range of unforgettable moments to enjoy. With each moment carefully curated and presented with insightful analysis, fans get an inside look into how these games played out and the defining events that made them so memorable.

One of the best things about Baseball's Best is its ability to transport fans back in time to some of the most iconic moments in baseball history. It's the perfect show for fans who want to experience the thrill of the game in a new and exciting way. Whether you're a lifelong baseball fan or just getting into the sport, Baseball's Best is a must-watch for anyone who loves this great American pastime.

While the show heavily relies on highlight reels, it also includes interviews with players, coaches, and experts who share their insights and perspectives on the games and the players who made them so memorable. This inside look at the games, from the players who played them, adds an extra layer of depth to the show and helps fans appreciate certain plays and moments even more.

One of the most notable aspects of Baseball's Best is the high production value that makes the show feel like a cinematic experience rather than a simple highlight reel. The show's producers have gone above and beyond to ensure that each moment is presented in a way that emphasizes the drama and excitement of the game. With stunning visuals, epic music, and sound effects that add to the experience, every episode of Baseball's Best is a true work of art.

The hosts of the show are knowledgeable and passionate about baseball, and their enthusiasm for the sport is infectious. They often provide in-depth analysis of the games, breaking down the key moments and strategies employed by the players and coaches. They also provide interesting facts and statistics that add to the viewer's understanding of the game.

Baseball's Best is perfect for fans who want to revisit some of their favorite moments in baseball history, as well as for those who want to discover new games and players that they may not have previously known about. The show is a testament to the power of baseball to captivate and inspire audiences, and it offers a unique perspective on the sport that cannot be found anywhere else.

In conclusion, Baseball's Best is an exceptional TV show that should be mandatory viewing for all baseball enthusiasts. It's a perfect way to celebrate the history and legacy of this great sport, and it offers an unforgettable viewing experience for fans of all ages. With a perfect blend of nostalgia, analysis, and entertainment, Baseball's Best is truly one of the best TV shows about baseball in existence. If you love baseball, you won't want to miss it.

Baseball's Best is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (94 episodes). The series first aired on October 7, 1952.

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Seasons

98. 2013 ALCS, Game 6: Tigers at Red Sox

October 19, 2013

An inning after the Tigers grabbed their first lead, Shane Victorino put the Red Sox back on top to stay with a grand slam in the seventh, and ALCS MVP Koji Uehara punched Boston's ticket to its third Fall Classic in 10 years with his third save of the series in the ninth.

97. 2013 ALCS, Game 2: Tigers at Red Sox

October 13, 2013

Max Scherzer didn't allow a hit until the sixth and left after seven with a 5-1 lead, but David Ortiz hit a game-tying grand slam off Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit in the eighth and Jarrod Saltalamacchia delivered a walk-off single in the ninth as the Red Sox claimed Game 2 of the ALCS.

96. 2013 NLDS, Game 4: Braves at Dodgers

October 7, 2013

Juan Uribe slugged a two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Dodgers claimed their first NL Championship Series berth since 2009. The Braves had earlier overcome two Carl Crawford homers and outlasted Clayton Kershaw's first career start on short rest before Uribe's decisive shot.

95. 2013 NL Wild Card: Reds at Pirates

October 2, 2013

The Pirates earned their first postseason victory since 1992 with a bang. Russell Martin hit two home runs -- and Marlon Byrd went deep in his first career postseason at-bat -- as part of a 13-hit barrage, and starter Francisco Liriano held the Reds to one run over seven innings.

93. 9/29/13: Henderson Alvarez No-Hitter

August 29, 2013

Most pitchers celebrate a no-hitter from the mound. Henderson Alvarez celebrated his from the on-deck circle, having to wait until the Marlins scored the game's only run. And even that didn't come in typical fashion, with Miami walking off when Giancarlo Stanton scored on a wild pitch.

92. 2013 All-Star Game

July 16, 2013

Pitching in his final Midsummer Classic, MVP Mariano Rivera and the AL pitching staff blanked the NL on just three hits to secure home-field advantage for the Junior Circuit for the first time since 2009. White Sox lefty Chris Sale earned the win with two perfect frames.

91. 2013 Home Run Derby

July 15, 2013

Yoenis Cespedes might not be an actual All-Star, but he was the undisputed star of the Chevrolet Home Run Derby on Monday night. Cespedes put on a show for the sold-out Citi Field crowd, banging out 17 home runs in the first round and six in the second, then capping his night with a final-round flourish of nine home runs to edge Bryce Harper and become the first non-All-Star to win the event.

90. 7/13/13: Lincecum's No-Hitter

July 13, 2013

Tim Lincecum no-hit the Padres, striking out 13 and needing 148 pitches -- the second-highest total ever in a no-hitter -- to complete the 15th no-hitter in Giants history. Early run support and several defensive gems let Lincecum breathe easy.

89. 7/2/13: Bailey's 2nd Career No-Hitter

July 2, 2013

Homer Bailey, author of baseball's last no-hitter in September 2012, etched his name in history once again, overwhelming the Giants to the tune of one walk and nine strikeouts at Great American Ball Park to punctuate the 16th no-no in Reds history.

88. 2012 World Series, Game 4: Giants at Tigers

October 28, 2012

The Giants stifled the Tigers throughout the Fall Classic, and they allowed two homers but little else in Game 4 before Marco Scutaro's go-ahead hit in the 10th. Buster Posey went deep, and San Francisco got no-hit relief after Matt Cain's solid start to win its second title in three years.

87. 9/28/12: Homer Bailey's No-Hitter

September 28, 2012

Cincinnati Reds 1 at Pittsburgh Pirates 0 | F -- Homer Bailey twirled the Reds' first no-hitter since Tom Browning's perfect game in 1988 and the 15th in club history, allowing just two base runners -- on a Scott Rolen error and a walk -- while striking out 10. Todd Frazier drove in the game's lone run with a first-inning sacrifice fly.

86. 8/15/12: Felix Hernandez's Perfect Game

August 15, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays 0 at Seattle Mariners 1 | F -- Felix Hernandez was untouchable, fanning 12 in the first perfect game in Mariners history and the third one of 2012. He got all the run support he'd need in the third, when Brendan Ryan scored on Jesus Montero's single.

85. 6/13/12: Matt Cain's Perfect Game

June 13, 2012

Houston Astros 0 at San Francisco Giants 10 | F -- Matt Cain pitched the first perfect game in Giants history and 22nd overall while also tying Sandy Koufax's Major League-record 14 strikeouts in a perfecto. Cain was aided by Gregor Blanco's dazzling catch in the seventh inning and three two-run homers by his teammates.

84. 6/1/12: Johan Santana's No-Hitter

June 1, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals 0 at New York Mets 8 | F -- Johan Santana took the mound Friday night at Citi Field and did something no Mets pitcher had done in the 51 seasons of the franchise, tossing the first no-hitter in club history. The ace struck out eight and walked five while throwing 134 pitches.

82. 2011 World Series, Game 7: Rangers at Cardinals

October 28, 2011

Texas Rangers 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 6 | F -- A postseason run for the ages concluded with the Cards crowned as World Series champs for the 11th time in franchise history. Chris Carpenter pitched on short rest to help dispatch Texas in Game 7, and David Freese earned Fall Classic MVP honors.

81. 9/19/11: Mariano Becomes MLB All-Time Saves Leader

September 19, 2011

Minnesota Twins 4 at New York Yankees 6 | F -- Mariano Rivera becomes baseball's all-time saves leader, recording save No. 602.

80. 7/9/11: Jeter reaches 3,000 hits, and then some

July 9, 2011

Derek Jeter emphatically entered the history books by becoming just the second player to record his 3,000th hit with a home run, and the captain's fifth hit of the game snapped an eighth-inning tie, propelling the Yanks past the Rays in the Bronx.

79. 5/7/11: Justin Verlander's No-Hitter

May 7, 2011

Detroit Tigers 9 at Toronto Blue Jays 0 | F -- Justin Verlander turned in a dominating performance, becoming only the second Detroit pitcher to record two no-hitters, as he held the Blue Jays without a base runner until the 8th, and faced the minimum 27 batters while throwing 74 of his 108 pitches for strikes.

78. 2010 World Series, Game 5: Giants at Rangers

November 1, 2010

11/1/10: San Francisco Giants 3 at Texas Rangers 1, F - The Giants turned in one of the greatest team pitching performances in Fall Classic history -- backed by Edgar Renteria's MVP bat -- and rolled to their first world championship since moving west to San Francisco in 1958.

77. 2010 ALCS, Game 6: Yankees at Rangers

October 22, 2010

NY Yankees 1 at Texas Rangers 6 | F --The Rangers head to the first Fall Classic in franchise history, as Colby Lewis defeated the Yanks for the second time in the series and Josh Hamilton was named the ALCS MVP.

76. 2010 MLB All Star Game

July 13, 2010

All-Star Game MVP Brian McCann hit a two-out, three-run double in the seventh and the NL withstood an AL threat in the ninth to win its first Midsummer Classic since 1996, 3-1.

75. 5/29/10: Roy Halladay's Perfect Game

May 29, 2010

Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in Major League history, breezing through the Marlins' lineup and outdueling fellow ace Josh Johnson. The lone Phillies run scored on an error in the third inning.

74. 2009 World Series, Game 6: Phillies at Yankees

November 4, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 3 at New York Yankees 7 | F -- The Yankees christened their new home with their 27th World Championship; MVP Hideki Matsui's .615 series batting average is the third-highest in MLB history.

73. 2009 World Series, Game 5: Yankees at Phillies

November 2, 2009

11/02/09: New York Yankees 6 at Philadelphia Phillies 8, F -- The Phillies rode Chase Utley's record-tying fourth and fifth homers of the World Series and another sparkling start by Cliff Lee to force the Fall Classic back to the Bronx down, 3-2. Utley's homer output has equaled Reggie Jackson's historic display in 1977 for the Yankees.

72. 2009 MLB All Star Game

July 14, 2009

7/14/09: The American League extended its unbeaten streak in the Midsummer Classic to 13 years with a 4-3 win over the National League in front of 46,860. The AL's run without a loss is the longest unbeaten streak in All-Star history. First-time All-Stars Adam Jones and Curtis Granderson teamed up to deliver the winning run for the Junior Circuit, which will have home-field advantage in this year's World Series, but All-Star veterans Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera brought the game home in relief.

71. 2008 World Series, Game 5: Rays at Phillies

October 27, 2008

October 29, 2008: 2008 World Series, Game 5, Tampa Bay Rays 3 at Philadelphia Phillies 4, F -- The Phillies led the Series 3-1 when Game 5 got underway on Monday, October 27. For the third consecutive game, the Phils scored in the first inning, this time on Shane Victorino's bases-loaded two-run single. The Rays got a run back in the fourth and tied it up in the sixth, as the weather grew increasingly worse. By the mid-sixth, the "infield was basically underwater," Chase Utley observed. Rain continued through Tuesday, so the tie game resumed on Wednesday evening, in bottom of the sixth, and the Phils wasted no time taking the lead 3-2. The Rays got the run right back on Rocco Baldelli's solo home run. In the bottom of the seventh, the Phils got the last run they would need on a single by Pedro Feliz, taking a 4-3 lead that closer Brad Lidge guarded, ending the Rays own worst-to-first fairy tale and giving Philadelphia a championship for the first time in twenty-eight years.

70. 2008 ALCS, Game 7: Red Sox at Rays

October 19, 2008

Oct 19, 2008: BOS 1 at TB 3, F -- Akinori Iwamura stabbed Jed Lowrie's bad-hop grounder, had a moment of indecision about whether to flip the ball to shortstop Jason Bartlett, then he headed to second base. Once his foot touched down on the bag for the force out, the Rays were headed to the World Series, led by American League Championship Series MVP Matt Garza. A raucous celebration on and off the field followed saw Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg presented the William Harridge trophy for winning the American League pennant. Iwamura moved across the top of the Rays' dugout, slapping palms with fans, and most of the crowd of 40,473 remained in the building, still standing and cheering for their team.

69. 9/21/08: Orioles at Yankees

September 21, 2008

Baltimore Orioles 3 at New York Yankees 7 | F -- Eighty-five years of memorable moments and indelible achievements at Yankee Stadium have been book-ended by Babe Ruth's home run to christen the building and Mariano Rivera's final pitch to close it. Rivera recorded the final out in the history of the Bronx's storied Cathedral on Sunday, inducing a ground ball to first base that put the finishing touches on a 7-3 decision against the Baltimore Orioles, ensuring that Yankee Stadium went out the same fashion it came in -- with a win. "It was emotional -- it was a great night," Rivera said. "It's something that I'll never forget. I was thankful for the opportunity to be on the mound for the last out." The Stadium's last batter was Brian Roberts, who chopped a tight shot down the first-base line. Cody Ransom gloved the ball and ran it to the bag himself, handing the ball off almost immediately to Rivera for safekeeping. The longtime closer said that he was holding it for Yankees principal owner George M. Steinbrenner, who watched the final game from home in Florida.

68. 2008 MLB All Star Game

July 15, 2008

July 15th, 2008 -- On an evening honoring the rich tapestry of Yankee Stadium's history, the American League found another reason to celebrate the Midsummer Classic -- but it'd have to wait. The Cathedral isn't one to let the spotlight go easily. In the longest All-Star Game in history, Michael Young's sacrifice fly delivered the final blow, allowing the AL to defeat the NL in 15 innings, 4-3, on Tuesday. In the 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, it was a memorable finish to perhaps the final national event on the storied Bronx stage. The final twist took hold with the Phillies' Brad Lidge on to work the 15th. Justin Morneau slid home after Young's fly ball to right, with Corey Hart's throw home arriving just a touch too late. "I would have loved to have seen that game wrapped up a little earlier, but we battled and I think it's fitting in Yankee Stadium -- a place where something unpredictable always seems to happen," Young said. "At that point, the legs aren't exactly feeling great, but I had just enough in the tank," Morneau said. Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir pitched a scoreless top half in relief, logging his first All-Star victory with three outs of work. Kazmir did not expect to even see action in the contest, but as the night grew toward its four-hour, 50-minute conclusion, the bullpen members thinned out. "Once I was there by myself, it was a little nerve-racking," Kazmir said. "There's no telling. I was good to go out for another one, that's for sure." It wasn't needed, as the American League extended its unbeaten streak to a record 12 games, improving to 11-0-1 since the National League's last victory in 1996 at Philadelphia. The decision secures the American League's home-field advantage in the World Series, the sixth consecutive year since Major League Baseball began using the All-Star Game to decide placement of the Fall Classic.

67. 5/19/2008: Jon Lester's No-Hitter

May 19, 2008

May 19, 2008: Kansas City Royals 0 at Boston Red Sox 7, F -- If only all the spectators and teammates who reveled in Jon Lester's magical Monday night at Fenway Park could have seen the way it started. There the left-hander was in the bullpen warming up with catcher Jason Varitek, and he had nothing. How was he going to thrive against the Royals when it seemed like all his pitches had stayed home? As it turns out, Lester knows a thing or two about perseverance. And on this night, he stayed the course well enough to throw a no-hitter, the 18th in the history of the Red Sox. "If you all saw my bullpen [session] today, it wasn't pretty," said Lester. "You would have thought I wouldn't have gotten out of the first inning. It was terrible. I got out in the game and I've always been a slow starter. If I can get through the first, second, third, sometimes the fourth inning and be doing all right, then usually I can do all right into the game and get stronger. That was the case. I just felt more comfortable with my delivery, more comfortable with the stuff I was throwing." With each passing inning, Lester (two walks, nine strikeouts) became filthier and filthier. It all came to a jubilant end when Lester blew a 94-mph heater -- his 130th pitch of the night -- by Alberto Callaspo. Just like that, the 7-0 victory was complete, so was Lester's no-no, not to mention the first complete game and the first shutout of his career.

66. 2007 ALCS, Game 7: Indians at Red Sox

October 21, 2007

Cleveland Indians 2 at Boston Red Sox 11, F -- The Red Sox are the AL's best as they rode the home crowd and Dustin Pedroia's five RBIs to surge past the Indians. Daisuke Matsuzaka's solid start and a six-out save by closer Jonathan Papelbon bookended Boston's return to the Fall Classic. Boston completed its dramatic comeback from 3-1 down in this series, becoming the first team in Major League history to pull off that feat three times.

65. 2007 MLB All Star Game

July 10, 2007

American League 5 at National League, 4, F -- Ichiro Suzuki hit the first inside-the-park homer in All-Star history and had three hits en route to the All-Star MVP award. Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford and Cleveland's Victor Martinez also homered to help extend the AL's unbeaten streak to 11 games -- 10 victories and one tie in 2002.

64. 2006 World Series, Game 5: Tigers at Cardinals

October 27, 2006

October 27, 2006: 2006 World Series, Game 5: Detroit Tigers 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 4, F -- Jeff Weaver was astounding, allowing one earned run and fanning nine in eight innings, while Series MVP David Eckstein had two RBIs and scored a run to lead the Cardinals to their first World Series win since 1982. Yadier Molina had three hits and scored twice for the Cards, who were crowned at home in the first season at new Busch Stadium.

63. 2005 World Series, Game 4: White Sox at Astros

October 26, 2005

62. 2005 NLDS, Game 4: Braves at Astros

October 9, 2005

October 9, 2005: 2005 NLDS Game 4: Atlanta Braves 6 at Houston Astros 7, F/18 -- The 2005 Houston Astros needed just about everyone on their 40-man roster to land their Wild Card berth, so it is also fitting that the heroics came from a melting pot of Astros players. The Braves were ahead 6-1 in the eighth, when Lance Berkman launched a grand slam, followed by a game-tying solo shot by Brad Ausmus in the 9th. The second half of the game included three innings of relief by Roger Clemens, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the 15th, and pitching in relief for only the second time in his career (and appearing this time only because the Astros were out of pitchers). The collective efforts in this epic drama will be remembered for many things, the least of which is the fact that it was the longest postseason game in Major League history. It is also the only postseason game to include two grand slams, Berkman's and Adam LaRoche's. Even more remarkable than that, perhaps, is the fact that the fan who caught Chris Burke's game-winning walk-off homer in the 18th was, in fact, the same fan who had caught Berkman's grand slam in the eighth; the fan later donated both balls to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

61. 2004 World Series, Game 4: Red Sox at Cardinals

October 27, 2004

October 27, 2004: 2004 World Series, Game 4: Boston Red Sox 3 at St. Louis Cardinals 0, F -- Behind a dominant, three-hit effort by Derek Lowe, the Red Sox completed their World Series sweep of the Cardinals, winning their first title since 1918. Johnny Damon's first-inning home run started the scoring for Boston, and Trot Nixon hit a two-run double in the third. Manny Ramirez was named series MVP.

60. 2004 NLCS, Game 7: Astros at Cardinals

October 21, 2004

October 21, 2004: 2004 NLCS, Game 7: Houston Astros 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 5, F -- Scott Rolen blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to provide the go-ahead runs and Jeff Suppan threw six strong innings to lead St. Louis into its first World Series since 1987.

59. 2004 ALCS, Game 6: Red Sox at Yankees

October 19, 2004

October 19, 2004: 2004 ALCS, Game 6: Boston Red Sox 4 at New York Yankees 2, F -- They seemed to be clinging onto fading hopes over the weekend at Fenway Park, as the board on the door exiting the Red Sox clubhouse offered a simple message. "We can change history. Believe it!" Simply by riding Curt Schilling's gritty performance and Mark Bellhorn's three-run homer to a 4-2 victory over the Yankees, the Red Sox were in a class all by themselves in the annals of Major League Baseball history. Of the 25 previous teams that trailed a best-of-seven postseason series 3-0, none had ever forced a Game 7. Until now. The Red Sox hopped on Schilling's back, and somehow the big righty's ailing right ankle -- which would be operated on as soon as this season ended -- didn't buckle. "I can't explain to you what a feeling it was to be out there and to feel what I felt," said Schilling, who badly wanted to avenge his subpar loss in Game 1, when the ankle was a hindrance and he gave up six hits and six runs over three innings. Schilling gave the Sox seven clutch innings (four hits, one run, no walks and four strikeouts) on a night the bullpen was positively spent. Closer Keith Foulke, who has been nothing short of heroic in this series, had Sox fans biting their nails by walking Hideki Matsui to open the ninth. He walked Ruben Sierra with two outs, giving Tony Clark a chance to give the Yankees the pennant with one swing. But Foulke, who had thrown 72 pitches in Games 4 and 5, found a way and got Clark swinging on a 3-2 pitch.

58. 5/18/04: Randy Johnson's Perfect Game

May 18, 2004

May 18, 2004: Arizona Diamondbacks 2 at Atlanta Braves 0, F -- The Big Unit did more than turn back the clock on his amazing career, Randy Johnson tossed a perfect game, beating the Braves, 2-0, at Turner Field and proved that this 40-year-old superstar can still dominate an opponent. The Big Unit set down all 27 Braves he faced that night in Atlanta throwing 117 pitches while striking out 13. At 40 years, 251 days he was the oldest pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. Fittingly the final out came when he blew a 98-mph fastball past pinch-hitter Eddie Perez.

57. 2003 ALCS, Game 7: Red Sox at Yankees

October 16, 2003

October 16, 2003: 2003 ALCS, Game 7: Boston Red Sox 5 at New York Yankees 6, F/11 -- All that was on the line was a trip to the World Series. The starting pitchers? Merely two of the greats of their generation in Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, who brought a combined nine Cy Young Awards into this epic showdown. The teams? Just the Red Sox and Yankees, epic rivals for decades upon decades. When they met for Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at a juiced-up Yankee Stadium on the night of October 16, it seemed impossible that the Red Sox and Yankees could live up to a game that was hyped like few others. True enough, it didn't live up to the hype. Instead, it was even better than advertised.

56. 2003 NLCS, Game 6: Marlins at Cubs

October 14, 2003

October 14, 2003: 2003 NLCS, Game 6: Florida Marlins 8 at Chicago Cubs 3, F/11 -- The Cubs, just five outs from their first World Series berth since 1945, allowed eight runs in a wild and wacky eighth inning as the Marlins rallied to take Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, 8-3, at Wrigley Field and force a decisive Game 7. With Mark Prior cruising and the Cubs leading, 3-0, Juan Pierre hit a one-out double in the eighth. Luis Castillo then hit a foul ball on the edge of the seats down the left-field line. Moises Alou reached up to make the catch, but several fans reached for the ball and one knocked it away just inches from Alou's glove. "I thought we had Castillo out," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We didn't have fan interference because [the umpires] can't call it because the ball wasn't on the field of play."

55. 2003 NLDS, Game 5: Cubs at Braves

October 5, 2003

Oct 5, 2003: CHC 5 at ATL 1, F -- The Cubs, anchored by another stellar performance from Kerry Wood, ended a 95-year drought with their 5-1 Game 5 win at Turner Field. The 3-2 Series win was the Cubs' first postseason series victory since their 1908 World Series win.

54. 2002 World Series, Game 7: Giants at Angels

October 27, 2002

October 27, 2002: 2002 World Series, Game 7: San Francisco Giants 1 at Anaheim Angels 4, F -- Anaheim completed its magical run to the top of the sport with a 4-1 win over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 before 44,598 at Edison Field. Third baseman Troy Glaus, who batted .385 with three homers and eight RBIs, was named series MVP. The Angels won the Series, four games to three, bringing the World Series trophy to Anaheim for the first time in the 41-year history of the franchise.

53. 2001 World Series, Game 7: Yankees at Diamondbacks

November 4, 2001

November 4, 2001: 2001 World Series, Game 7: New York Yankees 2 at Arizona Diamondbacks 3, F -- A fitting finale to one of the BEST World Series ever. Surviving two stunning losses in Games 4 and 5, the Diamondbacks found their own late-inning magic in the person of Luis Gonzalez. It began with Hall-of-Fame-bound starters Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling trading zeros through six. Schilling was strong on only two days rest, but left trailing 2-1 in the 8th after an Alfonso Soriano solo HR. Out of the bullpen came Game 5 starter Miguel Batista to face one batter; then manager Bob Brenly made the gutsy call to Randy Johnson -- the Game 6 starter just the night before -- for his second-ever postseason relief appearance. The Big Unit was perfect for 1.1, but all seemed on track for NY as they summoned "automatic" closer Mariano Rivera to hold the one-run lead. Rivera was riding a string of 23 consecutive postseason saves and seemed as invincible as they come. Then, in events as almost as otherworldly as the rain that fell on them in the desert, Mo proved human... and the D-backs became the youngest franchise to win a title on Gonzalez' dramatic game-winning line drive.

52. 2001 World Series, Game 4: Diamondbacks at Yankees

October 31, 2001

October 31, 2001: 2001 World Series, Game 4: Arizona Diamondbacks 3 at New York Yankees 4, F/10 -- Under a full moon on Halloween night, the Yankees pulled off one of the most spectacular and dramatic comebacks in history. Arizona ace Curt Schilling -- starting on three days rest for the first time in his career -- was solid through seven innings, giving way to closer Byung-Hyun Kim in the 8th. Kim retired the next five batters, and the D-backs were just one out away from taking a commanding 3-1 Series lead. Cue Yankee magic: Tino Martinez, 0-for-9 to this point, clobbers the first pitch for a ninth-inning, two-out, two run blast to tie the game, 3-3. Mariano Rivera retired the side in the 10th, and neatly set the stage for Derek Jeter's dramatic walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning. The ball flew out of the park and into a jubilant Yankee Stadium crowd just as the clock crept past midnight, instantly earning Jeter the moniker Mr. November.

51. 2001 ALDS, Game 3: Yankees at A's

October 13, 2001

Oct 13, 2001: NYY 1 at OAK 0, F -- With their backs against the wall for the first time since 1997, the Yankees traveled to Oakland one loss away from elimination. A's starter Barry Zito stifled the Yanks through four innings, until Jorge Posada belted a solo homer in the fifth. Mike Mussina also pitched a gem, the key turning point coming on a bang-bang play in the bottom of the 7th, when Terrence Long drilled a ball into the right field corner. Yankee right fielder Shane Spencer fielded and threw toward the plate, where Jeremy Giambi was trying to score from first without sliding. Shortstop Derek Jeter, up the first base line, cut the throw off and executed a backhanded flip to Posada, who tagged Giambi out, 9-6-2. The eye-popping play preserved the lead, ended the inning, and turned the Series momentum the Yankees' way.

50. 2001 MLB All-Star Game

July 10, 2001

July 10th, 2001: All-Star Game: National League 1 at American League 4, F -- There was magic in the crisp Seattle air at 2001 Midsummer Classic, as Cal Ripken prepared for his 19th and final All-Star Game. Everyone in attendance at Safeco Field (and watching at home) knew history was in the making. As the teams took the field, starting shortstop Alex Rodriguez very publicly gestured to Ripken to move over to his original position at short, motioning that he, Alex, would play third base (foreshadowing his switch with the Yankees some years later). As the crowd cheered them on, Cal, slightly embarrassed, agreed to the switch. In the third inning, as Ripken strode to the plate to the theme from "The Natural," the fans gave Cal one of the longest standing ovations ever. Minutes later, post-ovation, Cal stepped into the batters box swung at the first pitch from Chan Ho Park amid a sea of flashbulbs, and it sailed over the left field wall. Another heartfelt tribute from the fans ushered him around the bases. Prior to the sixth inning, Commissioner Bud Selig presented Ripken and Tony Gwynn, who was also retiring after the season, with the Commissioners' Historic Achievement Award. The award, which was created in 1998, is presented at the commissioner's discretion to any player whose body of work is in itself historical or any player who sets a record of historical significance. Cal put the final touches on his last All-Star game by holding the MVP trophy aloft. A fitting ending indeed.

49. 2000 World Series, Game 5: Yankees at Mets

October 26, 2000

October 26, 2000: NY Yankees 4 at NY Mets 2, F -- The Yankees held a three-games-to-one advantage as the modern-day Subway Series headed into Game 5 at Shea. Through eight, each club had pushed across just two runs against tough pitching -- the Yanks picking up solo home runs by Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter, and the Mets scoring two unearned against starter Andy Pettitte. Mets starter Al Leiter was still on the mound heading into the ninth, when the Yankees, taking advantage of a few unusual plays and a clutch, two-out single from veteran Luis Sojo, scored two runs. Bottom nine: Enter Sandman. Mariano Rivera took the mound and with Mike Piazza up as the tying run with two outs, got him to fly out to the deepest part of the ballpark for the last out. It was Yankees' third consecutive World Series title (and fourth in five seasons), putting the finishing touches on their 26th Championship, and their end-of-the-century dynasty.

48. 2000 World Series, Game 2: Mets at Yankees

October 22, 2000

October 22, 2000: 2000 World Series, Game 2: New York Mets 5 at New York Yankees 6, F -- Although Roger Clemens dominated the game with eight two-hit innings, it wasn't his pitching that garnered the postgame headlines. The Yankees seized control of the first Subway Series in 44 years with a 6-5 victory, but the buzz of the game was the "Clemens vs. Piazza Incident." Shattering Mike Piazza's bat with a first-inning fastball, Clemens bounded off the mound, fielded the bat, and oddly flung the broken piece in Piazza's direction. Both benches cleared, and after some tense moments, order was restored and Piazza grounded out on the next pitch to end the inning. Postgame, Clemens insisted his actions were unintentional and instinctive, while Piazza was simply shocked and confused by the bizarre incident. As for the game, the Yankees built a 6-0 lead before withstanding a ninth-inning Mets rally to earn a 6-5 win for their record 14th straight World Series victory.

47. 1999 World Series, Game 4: Braves at Yankees

October 27, 1997

October 27, 1999: 1999 World Series, Game 4, Atlanta Braves 1 at NY Yankees 4, F -- The Yankees became the first team to sweep consecutive World Series in 60 years -- since the DiMaggio Yankees did it to the Cubs and Reds in 1938-39 - when they beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 in Yankee Stadium. After a regular season filled with personal tragedies and illnesses, the final game of the decade saw 56,752 fans cheer on Roger Clemens for seven-plus innings as the future Hall of Famer allowed just one run, then sat back and watched as Mariano Rivera finished-off Atlanta and helped the Rocket earn his first World Series title.

46. 1999 NLCS, Game 5: Braves at Mets

October 17, 1999

Oct 17, 1999: ATL 3 at NYM 4, F/15 -- At five hours and 46 minutes, it is one of the longest games in postseason history -- but this Shea Stadium classic is well worth the wait. Facing elimination, the Mets hang on against the rival Braves until the 15th inning, when the bases fill up for Robin Ventura. Ventura, hitless thus far in the series, belts a grand slam into the right-field seats ... or does he? Because he is mobbed before he even reaches second base, Ventura's game-winner is scored a single.

45. 9/10/99: Pedro Martinez One-hits Yankees

September 10, 1997

September 10, 1999: Boston Red Sox 3 at New York Yankees 1, F -- Pedro Martinez struck out 17 batters -- the most Yankees ever fanned in a single game -- and allowed only two base runners en route to his 21st victory of the season. DH Chili Davis's solo home run in the second inning provided the Yankees only run. Chuck Knoblauch was the Yankees' only other base runner (after being hit by a pitch leading off the first inning), but got caught stealing, so Pedro only faced 28 batters in this dominating performance. On the other side of the diamond, the Red Sox victimized four different Yankee pitchers for 12 hits, and catcher Mike Stanley's two-run home run was all the offense Pedro needed.

44. 7/18/99: David Cone's Perfect Game

July 18, 1999

July 18, 1999: MTL 0 at NYY 6, F -- Before the game, the Yankees honored Yogi Berra, who caught the first pitch from Don Larsen. Almost 43 years earlier, with Berra behind the plate, Larsen pitched a perfect game in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers at the stadium. Fast-forward to that July day and it was -- as Berra might put it -- "déjÃ vu all over again."

42. 9/6/95: Cal Ripken Becomes Baseball's New Iron Man

September 6, 1995

September 6, 1995: California Angels 2 at Baltimore Orioles 4, F -- They called it the record that could never be broken. But Cal Ripken, Baltimore Orioles superstar, came to work for the 2,131st straight day, surpassing one of baseball's most mythic records. When the game vs. California became official in the 5th inning, Cal had officially overtaken Lou Gehrig as baseball's all-time Iron Man. Truly one of baseball's most magical moments.

41. 5/6/98: Kerry Wood Strikes Out 20

May 6, 1998

May 6, 1998: HOU 0 at CHC 2, F -- The most dominating pitching performance of the 1998 season wasn't turned in by one of the usual suspects. No, it wasn't Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez or Roger Clemens who blew up on May 6th with a phenomenal 20-strikeout, one-hit gem; it was a 20-year old neophyte by the name of Kerry Wood who went from a promising Cubs rookie to a household name in a matter of hours.

40. 1997 World Series, Game 7: Indians at Marlins

October 27, 1997

October 26, 1997: 1997 World Series, Game 7: Cleveland Indians 2 at Florida Marlins 3, F/11 -- At first, the 1997 World Series between the powerful Cleveland Indians and the upstart Marlins seemed as if it would be memorable only because it marked the first time a wild-card team made it to the big dance. But as Florida's Craig Counsell touched home plate to end only the third extra-inning Game 7 in Major League history, it became clear that the two teams had played in a modern classic that was as memorable as any of the great Series-ending contests in Octobers past.

39. 1996 World Series, Game 6: Braves at Yankees

October 26, 1996

October 26, 1996: 1996 World Series, Game 6: Atlanta Braves 2 at New York Yankees 3, F -- Having blown a two-games-to-none lead in the series, the Braves needed a win to stay alive. But the Yanks broke through early, scoring three runs in the third inning off ace Greg Maddux. After a Joe Girardi triple got things rolling, Bernie Williams provided a single that scored Derek Jeter with the winning run in the Series' decisive contest. Jimmy Key and a strong Yankee bullpen held off Atlanta, closing things out when Charlie Hayes squeezed Mark Lemke's foul pop for the final out and the end of a dramatic series.

38. 9/17/96: Nomo's No-No

September 17, 1996

Dodgers 9 at Rockies 0, F: Hideo Nomo's "Tornado" delivery had been baffling hitters for two seasons when capped an excellent sophomore year by tossing a no-hitter in the unlikeliest of ballparks: the high-altitude, hitter-friendly Coors Field.

37. 1995 World Series Game 6: Braves at Indians

October 28, 1995

October 28, 1995: 1995 World Series Game 6: Cleveland Indians 0 at Atlanta Braves 1, F -- After losing the 1991 and 1992 World Series, as well as the 1993 NLCS, the Braves (seemingly dubbed "The Team of the 90s" just a tad bit too early) finally put it all together in 1995. Tom Glavine was masterful, allowing just one hit and three walks over eight shutout innings, with Mark Wohlers working the ninth for the save. David Justice provided all the offense Atlanta needs with a sixth-inning solo shot off Jim Poole.

35. 1993 World Series, Game 6: Phillies at Blue Jays

October 23, 1993

October 23, 1993: 1993 World Series, Game 6: Philadelphia Phillies 6 at Toronto Blue Jays 8, F -- Facing elimination, the Phillies trailed by four in the seventh. But they battled back to score five runs -- three of them courtesy of a Lenny Dykstra homer -- to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth. That's when the Wild Thing, Mitch Williams, trotted out to close the door on the Jays. Instead, he put two men on for Joe Carter, who slammed the first come-from-behind, Series-winning homer in baseball history.

34. 1992 World Series, Game 6: Blue Jays at Braves

October 24, 1992

October 24, 1992: 1992 World Series, Game 6: Toronto Blue Jays 4 at Atlanta Braves 3, F/11 -- Dave Winfield picked the perfect moment for his first extra-base hit in twelve career World Series games. With the score tied in the 11th and the Blue Jays one win away from Canada's first-ever World Series title, Winfield burned Charlie Leibrandt for a double down the left field line to put Toronto up 4-2. The Braves mounted a comeback, but ultimately fell short, 4-3.

33. 1992 NLCS, Game 7: Pirates at Braves

October 14, 1992

October 14, 1992: 1992 NLCS, Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 2 at Atlanta Braves 3, F -- Pittsburgh's ace Doug Drabek was cruising along, holding the Braves scoreless for eight innings, getting out of his only real jam (bases loaded, no out) in the sixth inning. Atlanta's starter, John Smoltz, was similarly solid, with the Pirates scraping together two runs on an Orlando Merced sacrifice fly and an Andy Van Slyke single. The Bucs headed to the 9th inning with a 2-0 lead, just three outs away from the World Series. And that's when it all went wrong. Manager Jim Leyland stuck with Drabek, rather than bringing in a left-hander to pitch to Terry Pendleton and David Justice. Drabek allowed an inning-opening double to Pendleton, and then in what would prove to be a crucial play, normally sure-handed second baseman Jose Lind booted Justice's grounder. A walk to Sid Bream loaded the bases, and closer Stan Belinda finally replaced Drabek. Ron Gant then drove in a run with a warning track sacrifice fly to make it 2-1, and Damon Berryhill walked to reload the bases. Pinch-hitter Brian Hunter popped up to short, and it looked as though Pittsburgh would escape. But pinch-hitter Francisco Cabrera, the last position player on the Atlanta bench, singled to left to score Justice, and Sid Bream, nobody's speedster, tore into a modern "mad dash" (recalling Enos' Slaughter's go-for-broke baserunning play in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series) sliding across home plate just ahead of a skinny Barry Bonds throw. The Braves piled onto Bream at the plate in a famous scene, Fulton County Stadium erupted, and Atlanta went back to the World Series.

32. 1991 World Series, Game 7: Braves at Twins

October 27, 1991

October 27, 1991: 1991 World Series, Game 7: Atlanta Braves 0 at Minnesota Twins 1, F/10 -- A classic World Series is capped by a classic Game 7 as the Twins and Braves need extra frames to determine a winner at the Metrodome. Jack Morris goes the distance with a seven-hit, ten-inning shutout masterpiece and a base-running blunder by Atlanta's Lonnie Smith in the eighth comes back to haunt the Braves as they hold the Twins scoreless through nine and might have won had Smith scored in the eighth. Regardless, the "Dome Field" advantage works its magic for the Twins who take home their second title in five years.

31. 5/1/91: Nolan Ryan's 7th No-Hitter

May 1, 1991

May 1, 1991: Toronto Blue Jays 0 at Texas Rangers 3, F -- When baseball's King of Ks, Nolan Ryan, struck out Roberto Alomar for his 16th strikeout of the game, it marked the completion of Ryan's record seventh no-hit gem -- three more than the man with the second most no-nos in history, Sandy Koufax. The 44 year-old Ryan proved yet again that there was still plenty of life left in the "ole right arm."

30. 1990 World Series, Game 4: Reds at Athletics

October 20, 1990

October 20, 1990: 1990 World Series, Game 4: Cincinnati Reds 2 at Oakland Athletics 1, F -- Just as in 1988, the "Bash Brothers" Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire and the rest of the powerhouse A's were supposed to dominate the Series, this time against the overachieving Reds. But while Oakland ace Dave Stewart was sharp, he could not match Reds' starter Jose Rijo, who allowed just one run and two hits in eight-plus innings. "Nasty Boy" Randy Myers came on for the save, and secured the Reds' improbable World Series sweep over the mighty "Bash Brother-led" A's.

29. 1988 World Series, Game 1: Athletics at Dodgers

October 15, 1988

October 15, 1988: 1988 World Series, Game 1: Oakland Athletics 4 at Los Angeles Dodgers 5, F -- The Dodgers, already serious underdogs against the A's and Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, are given even less of a chance with injured star Kirk Gibson on the shelf. Canseco's second-inning grand slam gives Oakland a 4-3 lead until the bottom of the ninth, when dominating closer Dennis Eckersley comes on to finish it up. But with the tying run on first, Gibson limps up to pinch hit and makes World Series history with a spine-tingling, game-winning two-run homer in his only at-bat of the Series.

28. 1986 World Series, Game 7: Red Sox at Mets

October 27, 1986

October 27, 1986: 1986 World Series, Game 7: Boston Red Sox 5 at New York Mets 8, F -- Both teams were facing their final game in one of the most dramatic postseasons ever: the Mets finally triumphant in an epic NLCS vs. the Houston Astros; the Red Sox fighting the "Curse of the Bambino" and the California Angels in the ALCS... and of course both clubs coming directly off the heels of the infamous "Bill Buckner" Game 6. And so the 1986 season for all the marbles came down to this final game at a packed and raucous Shea Stadium. A rainout of the originally-scheduled Game 7 the day before allowed the pressure to build for another 24 hours. Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead; the Mets tied it four innings later, and built the lead in the 7th and 8th innings, including a home run by Darryl Strawberry and an RBI by closer Jesse Orosco. Indeed, it was Orosco's 1-2-3 ninth inning, and his subsequent flinging of arms and glove into the air that became the iconic image for these '86 Mets and their Championship season, and another defeat for the long-suffering Red Sox and their fans. Of course, it could not be known at the time, but this was the last World Series game the Sox would lose in 20 years; they swept to Championships in 2004 and 2007. At the time, however, it was a heart-stopping end to one of the classic postseasons in baseball history.

27. 1986 World Series, Game 6: Red Sox at Mets

October 25, 1986

October 25, 1986: 1986 World Series, Game 6: Boston Red Sox 5 at New York Mets 6, F/10 -- Leading 5-4 in the 10th inning, just one out away from their first Championship since 1918, the Red Sox (much to the frenzied delight of the Shea Stadium crowd) watch it all roll slowly away from them... literally. Bob Stanley's wild pitch allows Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run. Then, on the final pitch of a fabulous at-bat, Mookie Wilson fights off a fastball and dribbles a grounder up the first-base line that slips between Bill Buckner's legs and into history. Ray Knight dashes home with the game-winning run, forcing a Game 7 and permanently adding Buckner's name to the list of notorious baseball "goats."

26. 1986 NLCS, Game 6: Mets at Astros

October 15, 1986

October 15, 1986: 1986 NLCS, Game 6: New York Mets 7 at Houston Astros 6, F -- The Mets faced a must-win situation -- unless they wanted to face Astros ace Mike Scott in Game 7. Starter Bob Knepper shut out New York for eight innings before the Mets broke through to tie in the ninth. They finally scored again in the top of the 14th, then watched as the Astros re-tied the game on a Billy Hatcher homer. In the 16th, the Mets pushed across three more runs, but again the Astros fought back. They scored more two runs to draw within one run before Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass to send the exultant and exhausted Mets to the World Series.

25. 1986 ALCS, Game 5: Red Sox at Angels

October 12, 1986

October 12, 1986: 1986 ALCS, Game 5: Boston Red Sox 7 at California Angels 6, F/11 -- The Angels needed only one more out to earn their first World Series appearance, but it was the Red Sox who had destiny on their side. Angels closer Donnie Moore pushed Dave Henderson and the Red Sox one strike away from elimination, but Henderson earned redemption for an earlier fielding miscue by hitting Moore's second 2-2 pitch over the left-field fence to give the Red Sox a 6-5 lead. The Angels tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, but Henderson's sacrifice fly off Moore in the eleventh gave the Red Sox the lead and they went on to win the series in seven games.

24. 1986 NLCS, Game 3: Astros at Mets

October 11, 1986

Oct 11, 1986: HOU 5 at NYM 6, F -- Game 3 in a series tied 1-1 are always critical momentum changers. Mets starter Ron Darling was shaky early, allowing four runs in the first two innings, but settled down after that. The Mets got back into the game in the 6th, tying it on Darryl Strawberry's three-run shot. Ray Knight committed the Mets' only error of the series in the 7th, allowing the Astros to regain the lead, 5-4, and it stayed that way until the bottom of the 9th. With Astros' closer Dave Smith on the mound, Wally Backman bunted his way on, benefiting from a controversial runner-out-of-the-baseline call. He advanced to second on a passed ball, but it would not matter. One batter later, up stepped fan favorite, firebrand Lenny "Nails" Dykstra, who struck out in his first at-bat as a pinch-hitter in the 7th. Not known as a power hitter, Nails got ahold of one and enjoyed the two-run walk-off, as the Mets took the game 6-5, and lead in the series, 2-1.

23. 4/29/86: Roger Clemens Strikes Out 20

April 29, 1986

April 29, 1986: Seattle Mariners 1 at Boston Red Sox 3, F -- A 23-year-old legend-in-the-making, Roger Clemens strikes out the side in the first inning to set the tone for the chilly evening (Fenway held just 13,414 witnesses to history that night), as he becomes the first pitcher in Major League history to strike out 20 batters in a single game.

22. 1985 World Series, Game 7: Cardinals at Royals

October 27, 1985

St. Louis Cardinals 0 at Kansas City Royals 11, F -- The "Show-Me Series" came to an end on October 27, 1985 at Royals Stadium when the night after becoming a father, Royals pitcher Bret Saberhagen threw a five-hitter while leading his team to victory. The Royals became the only team to ever come from a three games to one deficit twice in the same postseason to win the World Series.

21. 1985 World Series, Game 6: Cardinals at Royals

October 26, 1985

St. Louis Cardinals 1 at Kansas City Royals 2, F -- Tense and scoreless until the eighth inning, Danny Cox and Charlie Leibrandt were locked in a spectacular Game 6 pitchers' duel. The Cards finally broke through in the eighth, as Brian Harper singled home Terry Pendleton. In the bottom of the 9th, with the bases loaded and the Cardinals only two outs away from a World Championship, KC's Dane Iorg looped a two-run single to right, driving in Onix Concepcion and Jim Sundberg to score, giving the Royals life, and forcing a deciding Game 7.

20. 1984 World Series, Game 5: Padres at Tigers

October 21, 1984

October 14, 1984: San Diego Padres 4 at Detroit Tigers 8, F -- The Padres held a one-run lead in the eighth inning as manager Dick Williams paid a visit to Goose Gossage on the mound. With men on second and third and one out, first base was open for intentionally walking the powerful Kirk Gibson, who already hit a two-run home run earlier in the game. Legend has it that Gibson bet his manager Sparky Anderson that Goose, at that very moment, was talking Williams into letting him pitch to him. In fact, Gossage had dominated Gibson in the past, and felt confident he could get him out. Gibson strode to the plate and promptly responded with a three-run homer into the upper deck, clinching the Series for the Tigers, making Sparky Anderson the first manager to win a championship in both the American and National Leagues.

19. 1982 World Series, Game 7: Brewers at Cardinals

October 20, 1982

Oct 20, 1982: MIL 3 at STL 6, F -- Clutch hits by Keith Hernandez and George Hendrick backed the gutsy pitching of Joaquin Andujar. When Bruce Sutter recorded the last out to close the door on the Milwaukee "Harvey's Wallbangers" Brewers, St. Louis had won its first World Series title since the Bob Gibson-led 1967 squad.

18. 1981 MLB All Star Game

August 9, 1981

National League 5 at American League 6, F -- Originally scheduled to be played on July 14, the 1981 All-Star Game was delayed until August 9th, due to a players' strike, which lasted until July 31st. The 1981 Midsummer Classic set the record for the highest attendance at an All-Star game, with the American League defeating the National League 6-2.

17. 1980 World Series, Game 6: Royals at Phillies

October 21, 1980

October 21, 1980: 1980 World Series, Game 6: Kansas City Royals 1 at Philadelphia Phillies 4, F -- With the Phillies just one tantalizing out away from a Championship, Tug McGraw got ahead on Willie Wilson, then struck him out swinging at a 1-2 fastball. McGraw threw his arms up, his teammates jumped all over each other, and the franchise had its first baseball championship.

16. 1978 World Series, Game 6: Yankees at Dodgers

October 17, 1978

October 17, 1978: 1978 World Series, Game 6: New York Yankees 7 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2, F -- Game 6 turned out to be grand finale for the unlikely heroic duo of Bucky Dent and Brian Doyle. Davey Lopes gave the Dodger home crowd a ray of hope with a leadoff home run off Catfish Hunter. Dent and Doyle put the Yankees ahead in the second; Doyle with a two-run double, Dent with an RBI single. Lopes had an RBI single in the third to cut it to 3-2, but that would be it for the Dodgers. Dent and Doyle pushed the score to 5-2 in the sixth with RBI singles and Reggie Jackson put the final nail in the coffin with a tremendous two-run blast in the seventh off his Game 2 nemesis, Bob Welch. Dent would be named World Series MVP, batting .417 with 10 hits, 7 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Doyle would make a claim for the MVP himself with a .438 average, 7 hits, 2 RBI, and 4 runs. While Lopes had a monster series with three homers and seven RBIs and Bill Russell had 11 hits, the Dodgers' power hitters and their lack of production was their downfall. Steve Garvey (5-for-24, no RBIs) was no factor, and neither were Dusty Baker (5 for 21, one RBI) or Ron Cey (no RBIs after Game 2). Closer Rich "Goose" Gossage blanked the Dodgers for the final two innings, as Captain Thurman Munson caught the final out of the game on a foul pop by Ron Cey. Sadly, this would be the final post-season game of Munson's career before his death during the 1979 season.

15. 1978 AL East Playoff: Yankees at Red Sox

October 2, 1978

October 2, 1978: 1978 AL East Playoff: New York Yankees 5 at Boston Red Sox 4, F -- For two bitter rivals, it all came down to this one-game showdown at historic Fenway Park. The winner would earn a trip to the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals; the loser would go home with 99 wins, and nothing to show for them. The Yankees, who had mounted one of the most memorable comebacks in baseball history (trailing the AL East-leading Red Sox by 14 games in mid-July), sent wiry lefty Ron Guidry and his 24-3 record out to the mound against former teammate Mike Torrez. Reggie Jackson homered and an unorthodox, but key, defensive play by Lou Piniella in left field are both often overlooked, as it was the home run by the light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent that provided the unexpected muscle to power the Yankees into the postseason.

14. 6/16/78: Tom Seaver's No-Hitter

June 16, 1978

June 16, 1978: St. Louis Cardinals 0 at Cincinnati Reds 4, F -- On any given night in his career, Tom Seaver could be virtually unhittable. Three times he had taken a no-hitter into the ninth inning, and five times he finished a game with only one hit allowed. Yet for all his accomplishments, the Cooperstown-bound hurler was unable to bag his own personal white whale in the form of a complete game no-no. All of that changed on one night in the middle of June.

13. 1977 World Series, Game 6: Dodgers at Yankees

October 18, 1977

October 18, 1977: 1977 World Series, Game 6: Los Angeles Dodgers 4 at New York Yankees 8, F -- In a performance as legendary as any Yankee great before him, Reggie Jackson blasted three consecutive home runs on three pitches against three different Dodger hurlers (Burt Hooton, Elias Sosa and Charlie Hough) into the frenzied Stadium throng. It was his defining moment in pinstripes; a dramatic performance that won over the fans, his teammates, (including captain Thurman Munson, with whom he'd had a tumultuous relationship since Reggie claimed he was "the straw that stirred the drink" even before he arrived in New York) and helped justify his self-styled nickname, "Mr. October." His three home runs in one game -- accomplished twice by Babe Ruth -- and five total HRs were both World Series records.

12. 1976 World Series, Game 4: Reds at Yankees

October 21, 1976

October 21, 1976: 1976 World Series, Game 4: Cincinnati Reds 7 at New York Yankees 2, F -- On the heels of the high from Chris Chambliss' Royals-crushing home run in the ALCS to put the Yankees into the World Series, the Yanks crashed right into the steamrolling juggernaut that was the "Big Red Machine" from Cincinnati. With a lineup that boasted George Foster, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey, the Reds only allowed the Yankees the lead once in the Series, for the first three innings of this Game 4. Johnny Bench homered twice to drive in four runs, adding to his Series-leading totals and earning him World Series MVP honors.

11. 1976 ALCS, Game 5: Royals at Yankees

October 14, 1976

Oct 14, 1976: KC 6 at NYY 7, F -- The first series in this budding postseason rivalry culminates in a see-saw affair that returns the Yankees to league preeminence. With the Royals trailing by three, George Brett blasts a clutch homer in the eighth to tie the game at six apiece. But Chris Chambliss leads off the bottom of the ninth with a dramatic solo shot that vaults the Yankees back in the World Series for the first time since 1964.

10. 1975 World Series, Game 6: Reds at Red Sox

October 21, 1975

October 21, 1975: 1975 World Series, Game 6: Cincinnati Reds 6 at Boston Red Sox 7, F/12 -- Home runs by rookie Fred Lynn, pinch-hitter Bernie Carbo and the Reds' George Foster made this back-and-forth affair a World Series game to remember through nine innings. Then Carlton Fisk waved, prayed, cajoled and otherwise willed his home run fair down the left-field line in the 12th, making this one of the most memorable games of all-time.

9. 1974 World Series, Game 1: Athletics at Dodgers

October 12, 1974

October 12, 1974: 1974 World Series, Game 1: Oakland Athletics 3 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2, F -- Reggie Jackson provided the power by opening the scoring with a home run in the second. Ace closer Rollie Fingers provided the pitching, coming on early in relief and earning the win. Staff ace Catfish Hunter closed up shop in the ninth for the save, and the discordant dynasty were on their was to their third consecutive World Championship.

8. 1971 World Series, Game 7: Pirates at Orioles

October 17, 1971

October 17, 1971: 1971 World Series, Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 2 at Baltimore Orioles 1, F -- With four 20-game winners and a powerful lineup featuring Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell, the Orioles were expected to dominate. But with the help of a Roberto Clemente home run in the fourth, and a Willie Stargell run in the eighth, Pirates starter Steve Blass went the distance for the World Series champion Pirates.

7. 1970 World Series, Game 5: Reds at Orioles

October 15, 1970

October 15, 1970: 1970 World Series, Game 5: Cincinnati Reds 3 at Baltimore Orioles 9, F -- After a rocky first inning, Cuellar silenced the Reds over the final eight frames to earn a complete game, six-hit victory. Cuellar was backed by home runs by Frank Robinson and Merv Rettenmund, which highlighted a nine-run, 15-hit onslaught that saw every Baltimore position but Brooks Robinson either score or drive in a run. Although Robinson was quiet with the bat, his two diving stops to rob Lee May in the fourth inning, and Johnny Bench in the ninth, capped his one-man highlight reel. With the series win, the Orioles were able to amend for their humbling defeat the hands of the New York Mets in the 1969 World Series and take their second title in five seasons.

6. 1969 World Series, Game 5: Orioles at Mets

October 16, 1969

October 16, 1969: 1969 World Series, Game 5: Baltimore Orioles 3 at New York Mets 5, F -- Slugger Donn Clendenon and light-hitting Al Weis each homered to back the five-hit pitching of Jerry Koosman as the "Miracle Mets" closed out their first-ever World Series championship with a 5-3 victory over the heavily favored Orioles. A key play in the sixth featured Cleon Jones being plunked on the foot by Baltimore starter Dave McNally. Jones was not originally awarded the base, but manager Gil Hodges retrieved the ball and pointed out the telltale black shoe-polish on the ball as proof. Rattled, McNally surrendered a two-run homer to the next batter, Clendenon, bringing the Mets within a run and shifting the momentum irrevocably toward New York. The Mets tacked on three more runs in the next two innings and the Amazing's upset was complete.

5. 1969 World Series, Game 3: Baltimore at Mets

October 14, 1969

Baltimore Orioles 0 at New York Mets 5, F -- With the Series tied 1-1, Tommie Agee got the momentum going for the "Miracle Mets" with a home run to lead off the bottom of the first. In the fourth, with runners on the corners and two out, Agee would amaze again with an over-the-shoulder, running grab at the wall to end the inning. And he wasn't finished yet... with bases loaded in the seventh inning, he made a diving grab of a line drive in right-center. The Orioles would remain scoreless, while the Mets scored four more runs, taking a 2-1 Series lead.

4. 1968 World Series, Game 1: Tigers at Cardinals

October 2, 1968

October 2, 1968: 1968 World Series, Game 1: Detroit Tigers 0 at St. Louis Cardinals 4, F -- 1968 was frequently called "The Year of the Pitcher," and that season, few were more dominant than Cards' ace Bob Gibson. The menacing Gibby was in peak form in Game 1, as the NL MVP and Cy Young winner matched up against Tigers' ace Denny McLain, whose 31 regular-season wins were the most since 1931. Gibson was at his best against the Tigers' best hitters, striking out Al Kaline and Norm Cash three times each, and fanned 17 to set a World Series record, steam-rolling to a five-hit shutout.

3. 1965 World Series, Game 7: Dodgers at Twins

October 15, 1965

Oct 14, 1965: LAD 2 at MIN 0, F -- With a league-leading 26 wins, 2.04 ERA and a then-record 382 strikeouts, Sandy Koufax was unquestionably the best pitcher in all of baseball. But with an advancing case of arthritis in his golden left arm, every breathtaking outing was countered by hours of treatment to keep the barely tolerable pain at bay. Once again, the light-hitting Dodgers had latched on to the most prized pitcher in baseball to carry them into the World Series, and once again, they were forced to rely on heavy innings from their ace to give them a fighting chance. After over 335 innings of labor in the regular season, it looked like the forces of nature finally caught up with number 32, as he lost Game 2 to the Minnesota Twins. But Koufax bounced back with a shutout victory in Game 5, and was handed the ball for the Series clincher in Minneapolis after only two days of rest. His counterpart on the mound was big southpaw Jim Kaat, whose job in the Series was to keep up with the Dodger ace. The 18-game winner had beaten Koufax in Game 2, then been on the receiving end of the Game 5 shutout. The World Championship depended on which left arm could deliver the best punch.

2. 1952 World Series, Game 7: Yankees at Dodgers

October 7, 1952

Oct 7, 1952: NYY 4 at BKN 2, F -- Gene Woodling and Mickey Mantle homered, and Billy Martin made a game-saving grab of an infield popup gone awry, as the Yankees recovered from a three game to two deficit to win their fourth of five straight World Series, in seven games over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mantle's homer in the sixth gave the Yankees the lead for good, and an insurance run in the seventh made it 4-2. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the inning, Jackie Robinson hit a high pop up that Yankees first baseman Joe Collins appeared to lose it in the sun. But Martin charged in from second base to snatch the ball at his shoe tops to end the inning and snuff out the Dodgers' last threat as the Yankees secured the championship.

1. 1952 World Series, Game 6: Yankees at Dodgers

October 7, 1952

Oct. 6, 1952: NYY 3 at BKN 2, F -- A classic "Subway Series," old-school style. Leading the Series 3-2, Brooklyn rookie Billy Loes battled Yankee veteran Vic Raschi zero for zero for five complete innings. Duke Snider and Yogi Berra exchanged solo shots in the sixth, and young slugger Mickey Mantle's first career World Series home run extended the lead to 3-1. Snider's second HR of the game drew the Dodgers within a run, but Yankees ace Allie Reynolds relieved Raschi and finished off the 3-2 win to send the Series to a seventh game. The Yankees would win that game the following day, leaving the Dodger faithful to, once again, "Wait 'til next year!"

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