The Greatest Walk-Off Home Runs in World Series History
There are many exciting moments in the sport of baseball, but it is difficult to match the thrill of a walk-off home run to end a game. Walk-off home runs become even more exciting when they take place in a World Series, which has only happened 15 times. Here is a list of some of the greatest ones.
Bill Mazeroski, Pittsburgh Pirates
One of only two home runs that ended a World Series was Bill Mazeroski’s in 1960. The lead in Game 7 switched multiple times between the Yankees and Pirates, and the game became tied going into the bottom of the 9th. First at bat was Mazeroski who hit a walk-off home run, ending the series with one swing.
Joe Carter, Toronto Blue Jays
The second home run to end a World Series was Joe Carter’s in 1993. In Game 6 with the Blue Jays trailing the Phillies 6–5, the Phillies only needed two more outs to reach Game 7. Joe Carter stepped up to the plate with the tying run on base and hit a homer over the left field wall to secure the championship.
Kirby Puckett, Minnesota Twins
The 1991 World Series between the Twins and the Braves was nothing short of exciting with the first 5 games of the series being decided by only 1 run. The Braves led the series 3–2 going into Game 6. In the bottom of the 11th, Kirby Puckett hit a walk-off home run, pushing the Twins to Game 7 where they would the clinch the World Series.
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
In the wake of 9/11, the 2001 World Series between the Yankees and Diamondbacks started later then normal. In Game 4, Derek Jeter took the plate in the bottom of the 10th, just minutes after midnight on November 1, making it the first ever MLB game to be played in November. Facing a full count, Jeter hit a walk-off home run to end the game, earning him the nickname Mr. November from Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay.
Carlton Fisk, Boston Red Sox
Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, which was played between the Red Sox and the Reds, was tied at 6–6 going into the bottom of the 12th. Carlton Fisk, the Red Sox catcher, hit a shot towards Fenway Park’s Big Green Monster that looked like it was going foul. Fisk started waving his arms as if he were telling the ball to stay fair, which it did, forcing Game 7.
