Nelson Cruz and 12 More of the Greatest Walk-off Home Runs in Postseason History
By (Correspondent) on October 11, 2011
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The Texas Rangers were able to secure a 2-0 ALCS lead over the Detroit Tigers after Nelson Cruz's bottom of the 11th grand slam. Cruz has only the second walk-off grand slam in postseason history.
Walk-off home runs are always exciting; it's even more of a rush when it happens in the postseason.
The feat has been done a few other times in MLB history. These are the top 10 walk-off home runs in MLB postseason history.
Aaron Boone, New York Yankees: 2003 ALCS, Game 7
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Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox stayed in the game until the 11th inning.
It was a highly questionable decision by Red Sox manager Grady Little at the time, and allowed the New York Yankees to send the game into extra innings in the bottom of the ninth.
The decision was made to look even exponentially worse when Aaron Boone came to pinch hit in the bottom of the 11th.
Boon proceeded to blast the first offering from Tim Wakefield into the left field stands, clinching Game 7 of the ALCS and extending Boston's misery and World Series drought.
Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers: 2006 ALDS, Game 4
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Magglio Ordonez's three-run walk-off home run completed the Tigers' sweep of the Oakland Athletics in 2006.
Detroit went on to the World Series, only to fall to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to one.
Chris Burke, Houston Astros: 2005 NLDS, Game 4
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Chris Burke secured the Astros' second straight year in the NLCS after he hit a solo shot out of the park off the Atlanta Braves' Joey Devine, thus ending the 18-inning marathon..
The game was the longest—both in innings and time—in postseason history.
Todd Pratt, New York Mets: 1999 NLDS, Game 4
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Mike Piazza was injured in the NLDS so Todd Pratt had to step up in his place for the Mets.
He was a good replacement. In the 10th inning, Pratt hit the game-winning three-run home run to center field, just over the glove of Arizona Diamonback Steve Finley.
Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals: 1985 NLCS, Game 5
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Ozzie Smith only had 13 home runs in eight seasons leading up to the 1985 NLCS.
The game-winning shot was his first home run from the left side.
After the homer, commentator Jack Buck told the fans, "Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!"
Chris Chambliss, New York Yankees: 1976 ALCS, Game 5
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Chris Chambliss hit the first pitch of the ninth inning out of the park and secured the first Yankees pennant in 12 years.
An ensuing mob of celebrating fans would storm the field, leading to about $100,000 of damages.
Carlton Fisk, Boston Red Sox: 1975 World Series, Game 6
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In the 12th inning of the 1975 World Series, Carlton Fisk put the Boston Red Sox ahead with a solo homer over the Green Monster.
The television broadcast showed the now-famous shot of Fisk's reaction leading up to the homer, where he was waving his home run fair. That shot changed the way television would show home runs.
Robin Ventura, New York Mets: 1999 NLCS, Game 5
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In the 15th inning of the 1999 NLCS, Robin Ventura hit the first game-winning grand slam in postseason history.
He was only credited with an RBI single, as he only managed to touch first base before being mobbed by teammates.
With 18 career grand slams, Robin Ventura is tied for fifth on the all-time list.
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox: 2004 ALCS, Game 4
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David Ortiz became the first player to hit two-game winning home runs in the same postseason.
This home run came in the 12th inning with no outs and one on base.
He followed that game with a game-winning single the next day. He was named ALCS MVP after the Boston's historic comeback from a 3-0 series deficit.
Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles Dodgers: 1988 World Series, Game 1
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Kirk Gibson made the most of his only 1988 World Series appearance with a two-out, two-run home run off future Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley.
It was the first time in a World Series that a team came from behind and won with a walk-off home run. Gibson was later named the National League MVP.
Bill Mazeroski, Pittsburgh Pirates: 1960 World Series, Game 7
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It was a high-scoring Game 7 in 1960. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Bill Mazeroski knocked a solo shot out of the park.
It marked the first and only Game 7 game-winning home run in World Series history.
Bobby Thomson, New York Giants, 1951 NL Tiebreaker, Game 3
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