The Greatest Series-Clinching Home Runs in MLB Postseason History

Travis Ishikawa became a postseason hero on Thursday with his walk-off home run against the Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the first baseman-turned-left fielder’s three-run blast clinched the NL pennant for the San Francisco Giants, sending the team to its third World Series appearance in the last five years.

Ishikawa’s historic shot also put him elite company, as he became just the ninth player in postseason history to clinch a series with a home run.

So join us in a trip down memory lane as we look back at the greatest series-clinching home runs in playoff history, presented chronologically.

*All box scores and statistic are courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Bill Mazeroski, Pittsburgh Pirates: 1960 World Series, Game 7

Bill Mazeroski had a Hall of Fame career, with seven All-Star selections, eight Gold Glove Awards and 2,016 hits over 17 seasons in the major leagues. However, he’ll always be remembered for what he did against the New York Yankees on Oct. 13, 1960, when he became the first (and only) player to hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the World Series.

The Pirates took an early 4-0 lead in the second inning, but the Yankees responded with seven unanswered runs and carried a three-run lead into the home half of the eighth inning. However, the Pirates rallied for five runs in the inning and led the Yankees 9-7 headed into the ninth inning.

The back-and-forth battle continued as New York pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game, thus setting the stage for Mazeroski’s heroics.

Leading off the bottom of the ninth against Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry, the right-handed hitting Mazeroski, just 24 years old at the time, drilled a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall to clinch the World Series. The home crowd at Forbes Field erupted as Mazeroski rounded the bases.

[Box Score]

Chris Chambliss, New York Yankees: 1976 ALCS, Game 5

Chris Chambliss etched his name in postseason history with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS against the Royals.

The resulting scene on the field is arguably as memorable as the blast itself, as a seemingly endless stream of fans spilled out of the stands and onto the field at Yankee Stadium, preventing Chambliss from completing his trip around the bases. The 6’1", 195-pound Chambliss did his best to plow through the fans in his way—many of whom attempted to snatch his helmet right off his head—in order to cross the plate, but the on-field chaos forced the 27-year-old first baseman to instead make a dash for the dugout.

Chambliss later returned to the field with police officers at his side to officially touch home plate—you know, for good measure—but it didn’t matter, as the umpires had already decided it’d go down as a home run.

Chambliss’ home run was the first pennant-clinching home run in postseason history, and it sent the Yankees to World Series for the first time since 1964.

[Box Score]

Joe Carter, Toronto Blue Jays: 1993 World Series, Game 6

Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams saved 43 games during the 1993 regular season but had struggled in the playoffs, with three blown saves in six opportunities.

Phillies manager Jim Fregosi called upon Williams to protect a 6-5 lead in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series, and the left-hander immediately found trouble with a four-pitch walk to leadoff batter Rickey Henderson. The next batter, Devon White, put together a tough nine-pitch at-bat before hitting a flyout to left field, while Paul Molitor followed with single to center field to bring Joe Carter to the plate with runners on first and second and one out.

With a 2-2 count, Williams nearly fell off the mound trying to overpower Carter with a fastball, but the right-handed slugger was ready for the heat, pulling the ball down the left field and just over the wall. Carter’s walk-off shot in Game 6 sealed Toronto's second consecutive championship, and it remains the only World Series-clinching home run in postseason history.

[Box Score]

Todd Pratt, New York Mets: 1999 NLDS, Game 4

With Mike Piazza injured, the Mets had no choice but to start veteran Todd Pratt behind the plate against the Diamondbacks in Game 4 of the 1999 NLDS.

The Mets were winning 2-1 after seven innings before the Diamondbacks pushed across two runs in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead. The Mets answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, and after a scoreless ninth, the teams headed for extras, tied 3-3.

John Franco pitched the 10th inning for the Mets and retired the side in order, while the Diamondbacks sent out closer Matt Mantei for his third inning of work in the bottom half of the inning. The right-hander retired Robin Ventura on a flyout for the first out, but the next batter, Todd Pratt—who only hit three home runs during the regular season—hit the first pitch of the at-bat out to center field to win the game and clinch the series.

[Box Score]

Aaron Boone, New York Yankees: 2003 ALCS, Game 7

Aaron Boone was just 5-for-31 heading into Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, so it didn’t come as a surprise when the then-30-year-old started the game on the bench. He was eventually called upon as a pinch runner in the eighth inning after the Yankees tied the score 5-5 against Red Sox starter Pedro Martinez. Boone was left stranded on the base paths in the inning but remained in the game at third base.

His first at-bat came in the bottom of the 11th inning against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, and Boone made the most of his opportunity, blasting the right-hander’s first pitch deep into the left-field seats.

Little did anyone know that Boston would have its revenge the following year.

[Box Score]

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox: 2004 ALDS, Game 3

After winning the first two games of the 2004 ALDS, the Red Sox went into Game 3 looking to complete a series sweep of the Angels, and it appeared as though it would happen after Boston jumped out to a 6-1 lead after five innings.

The Angels wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as they tied the game with a five-run seventh inning, led by a grand slam from Vladimir Guerrero.

With one runner on base and two outs in the 10th inning, the Angels replaced Fernando Rodriguez with starter Jarrod Washburn to match up against the left-handed hitter David Ortiz.

The plan backfired immediately, as Ortiz blasted the first pitch he saw from Washburn over the right-field wall to complete the three-game sweep.

We all know what happened after that.

[Box Score]

Chris Burke, Houston Astros: 2005 NLDS, Game 4

The Astros and Braves battled for 18 innings in Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS for almost six hours (five hours and 50 minutes, to be exact), a postseason record until Game 2 this year’s NLDS between the Giants and Nationals—a game that also lasted 18 innings but carried on for an unbelievable six hours and 23 minutes.

The Astros entered the game with a 3-0 lead in the series and a chance to complete their sweep of the Braves at Minute Maid Park. However, the Braves got to starter Brandon Backe early and led the Astros 6-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Houston’s bats would come alive, though, and they scored four runs in the eighth inning courtesy of a Lance Berkman grand slam, and then tied the game with two outs in the ninth on Brad Ausmus’ solo home run.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the 18th inning, when Chris Burke— who entered the game in the 11th inning as a pinch runner—ended it with a solo home run to send the Astros to the NLCS.

[Box Score]

Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers: 2006 ALCS, Game 4

The Tigers ran right through Oakland in the 2006 ALCS, outscoring the A’s 16-5 over the first three games to set up a potential Game 4 clinch in Detroit.

The teams were tied 3-3 heading in the bottom of the seventh when Oakland’s bullpen loaded the bases with one out. A’s manager Ken Macha then called on closer Huston Street to essentially save the season, and he did that with a ground-ball double play to third base.

The score was still 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth when Street headed to the mound for his third inning of work. The game seemed destined for extra innings after Street got two quick outs, but he then served up back-to-back singles to bring up cleanup hitter Magglio Ordonez.

Street missed with his first pitch and fell behind Ordonez, 1-0. The right-hander’s next pitch—his 28th of the game—was deposited over the left-field wall, as the Tigers clinched the AL pennant and ended a 22-year World Series drought.

[Box Score]