Baseball’s Greatest Plays of All Time
Contents
- The Greatest Plays in Baseball History
- The Most Memorable Plays in Baseball
- The Most Iconic Plays in Baseball
- The Most Famous Plays in Baseball
- The Most Influential Plays in Baseball
- The Most Important Plays in Baseball
- The Most Game-Changing Plays in Baseball
- The Most Exciting Plays in Baseball
- The Most Unforgettable Plays in Baseball
- The Greatest Moments in Baseball
From “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to Hank Aaron’s 715th career home run baseball has provided its fans with some truly incredible moments. Join us as we countdown the greatest plays in the history of America’s pastime!
The Greatest Plays in Baseball History
From “The Shot Heard Round the World” to Kirk Gibson’s home run in the 1988 World Series some of the greatest moments in baseball history have been captured on film. Here are ten of the most famous, most exciting, and most important plays in baseball history
The Most Memorable Plays in Baseball
Throughout the history of baseball, there have been countless memorable and exciting plays. These are some of the most famous and influential moments in the sport that have thrilled fans and inspired players for generations.
Inning: Bottom of the ninth, two outs, game tied
The Batter: Kirk Gibson
The Pitcher: Dennis Eckersley
The Result: Walk-off home run
This is one of the most iconic moments in baseball history Gibson, who was injured and barely able to walk, stepped up to the plate in a do-or-die situation and delivered one of the most clutch home runs ever hit. This moment is widely considered to be one of the greatest performances in sports history.
Inning: Top of the ninth, two outs, score tied
The Batter: Aaron Boone
The Pitcher: Tim Wakefield
The Result: walk-off home run
This play is significant not only because it ended one of the most exciting World Series games ever played, but because it also marked the beginning of a new era in baseball. The “home run Derby” between Wakefield and Boone is considered to be one of the greatest pitching duels in baseball history and it culminated in one of the sport’s most dramatic walk-off home runs
The Most Iconic Plays in Baseball
There are many iconic plays in baseball history from great catches to heroic home runs Here are some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history.
One of the most famous plays in baseball history took place during the 1925 World Series In the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Earl Smith made a dramatic catch of a popup off the bat of New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth The catch allowed the Pirates to win the game and eventually take the series.
In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Al Gionfriddo made a leaping catch of a Yogi Berra home run at Yankee Stadium robbing the Yankees slugger of a go-ahead homerun. The catch helped the Dodgers win that game and eventually take home the National League pennant.
In recent years there have been several other great catches, including Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar’s grab against the Baltimore Orioles in 2015 and San Francisco Giants outfielder Gregor Blanco’s catch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016.
The Most Famous Plays in Baseball
There are many great plays in baseball history But which ones are the most famous? Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic moments in America’s pastime.
The most famous play in baseball history is probably Babe Ruth’s “called shot.” In the 1932 World Series Ruth allegedly pointed to center field before hitting a Home Run to that part of the park. While some say Ruth was simply gesturing to the crowd, the legend of the “called shot” has lived on for generations.
Another famous baseball moment came in 1978, when Bucky Dent hit a go-ahead home run for the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox The “Boston Massacre” remains one of the most iconic comebacks in Baseball History
In 2001, Luis Gonzalez hit a bloop single off Mariano Rivera to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a walk-off win over the Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series The play is remembered as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
These are just a few of the most famous plays in baseball history There are countless other moments that have captured America’s imagination. What’s your favorite?
The Most Influential Plays in Baseball
There have been many great and influential plays in baseball’s rich history. Here are some of the most important ones:
The Shot Heard Round the World: On October 3, 1951, New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the National League pennant. The “Miracle Mets” would go on to win the World Series that year, but it was Thomson’s home run that is remembered most.
The Catch: In Game 7 of the 1954 World Series New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays made an amazing catch of a fly ball off the bat of Cleveland Indians batter Vic Wertz. The catch is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history
Buster Posey’s grand slam On May 7, 2010, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey hit a Grand Slam home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ramon Ortiz in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game. The Giants would go on to win 12-11 in Extra Innings This Grand Slam was significant because it helped cement Posey as one of baseball’s best young players
The Most Important Plays in Baseball
Over the long history of baseball, there have been many great and important plays that have shaped the game as we know it today. Here are just a few of the most influential:
-The 1864 Brooklyn Atlantics vs. New York Mutuals game was the first ever to be played using the now-standard rules of baseball. It is considered by many to be the most important game in baseball history
-In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional Team In Baseball This event caused a major shift in the sport, as it began to attract more skilled players and gain popularity across the country.
-In 1887, catcher Moses Fleetwood Walker became the first African American player in Major League Baseball His debut with the Toledo Blue Stockings marked an important moment in both baseball and civil rights history.
-In 1920, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern ERA His courageous decision to break baseball’s color barrier proves that anyone can achieve their dreams if they are willing to fight for them.
The Most Game-Changing Plays in Baseball
There have been many great plays in the long history of baseball, but some stand out above the rest. These are the most game-changing plays in baseball, the ones that had the greatest impact on the game at the time they were made.
1. Babe Ruth’s Called Shot: In Game 3 of the 1932 World Series Ruth pointed to center field before hitting a home run off Chicago Cubs pitcher Charlie Root. The homer gave the New York Yankees a 7-5 lead, and they went on to win the game and eventually the Series.
2. Jackie Robinson Steals Home: In Game 1 of the 1955 World Series Robinson stole home plate to score the winning run for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees It was a key moment in breaking baseball’s color barrier.
3. Kirk Gibson’s Walk-Off Homer: In Game 1 of the 1988 World Series Gibson hit a walk-off home run off Oakland Athletics pitcher Dennis Eckersley to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 win. Gibson was injured and not expected to play in that game, but he came off the bench as a pinch hitter and hit one of the most famous homers in baseball history
4. Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run In Game 7 of the 1960 World Series Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry to give Pittsburgh a 10-9 win and clinch the series for Pittsburgh. It remains one of only two times that a team has won a World Series after trailing in ninth inning of Game 7 (the other being Toronto in 1992).
5. Luis Aparicio’s Steal of Home: In Game 2 of 1960 World Series Aparicio became first player ever to steal home in a season game as he helped lead Chicago White Sox to 4-3 win over Pittsburgh Pirates
The Most Exciting Plays in Baseball
Few plays in baseball are as thrilling as a well-executed home run A solo home run is great, but a Grand Slam is even better. A Grand Slam happens when the bases are loaded and the batter hits a home run resulting in four runs scored
While a home run is typically the most exciting play in baseball, there are other exciting plays that can happen on the field. A no-hitter is when a pitcher doesn’t allow any batters to get a hit during a game. A perfect game happens when no batters reach base at all, and it’s even more rare than a no-hitter. These games are so rare that there have only been 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball history.
Another special play is known as an unassisted Triple Play This happens when one fielder, typically the second baseman, catches a ball hit by the batter, steps on second base to force out a runner, then touches third base to force out another runner before throwing the ball to first base to force out the batter. This is an extremely rare play; there have only been 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history.
The Most Unforgettable Plays in Baseball
Many of baseball’s greatest moments have come about as a result of a spectacular play. These are the types of plays that fans remember for years to come and which often decide the outcome of crucial games. Here are just a few of the most unforgettable plays in baseball history
The Most Unforgettable Plays in Baseball:
-Babe Ruth’s Called Shot: In Game 3 of the 1932 World Series Babe Ruth hit a home run off Chicago Cubs pitcher Charlie Root that gave the New York Yankees a 7-5 lead. As he rounded first base, Ruth gestured toward the Cubs’ bench, apparently indicating that he was going to hit another home run The Yankees went on to win the game and the Series.
-Bill Mazeroski’s Walk-Off Homer: In Game 7 of the 1960 World Series Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit a home run off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry to give the Pirates a 10-9 victory. It was the first and only time that a Game 7 has been decided by a walk-off homerun.
-Leon Durham’s Error: In Game 5 of the 1984 National League Championship Series Chicago Cubs first baseman Leon Durham made an error on a ground ball hit by San Diego Padres outfielder Steve Garvey The error allowed two runs to score, giving the Padres a 5-4 lead. The Padres went on to win the game and the series.
-David Freese’s Walk-Off Homer: In Game 6 of the 2011 World Series St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese hit a home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Mark Lowe to tie the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Cardinals went on to win in extra innings 10-9.
The Greatest Moments in Baseball
From miraculous catches to awe-inspiring Home Runs there have been many great moments in baseball history Here are some of the most incredible plays the sport has ever seen.
One of the most famous moments in Baseball history came in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 the 1960 World Series With the score tied at 9-9, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run to give his team the victory. To this day, it is considered one of the greatest moments in baseball history
Another great moment came in 1971, when Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson hit a Home Run that sailed out of Memorial Stadium. The ball traveled an estimated 502 feet, making it one of the longest home runs ever hit.
One of the most iconic moments in baseball occurred in 1978, when New York Yankees captain Thurman Munson died in a plane crash. His death sent shockwaves through the Baseball World and brought his team, and the city of New York, together during a time of grief.