The Most Heartwarming On-Field Moments in MLB History

From Lou Gehrig's famous farewell to Hank Aaron's 715th trip around the bases, MLB history is littered with heartwarming moments.

They're the kind of stirring and moving scenes that make you stop, think and ultimately smile.

It's a delicate task to rank the 10 most heartwarming moments of all time, but after digging through the archives, that's exactly what we are about to do.

In the process of compiling this list, we considered two key factors:

1. How prominently the main character(s) from a given moment fit into the narrative of baseball
2. Whether the moment was just about an on-field accomplishment or whether it also related to a larger societal issue

As a result, the moment that claims the No. 1 spot in these rankings is not only highly important in the history of the game but also in the history of our country.

Honorable Mentions

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Bill Mazeroksi's 1960 home run trot was so famous that it was immortalized as a statue.

There were dozens and dozens of moments that were under consideration for this list, but here's a few that just missed out on the cut.

These all fit the "heartwarming" description, but they didn't match the criteria that we just laid out quite as closely as the moments that did make the top 10.

• Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard 'Round the World
• Albert Pujols and Champ Pederson's Home Run Derby Exchange
• Joe Carter's Game 6 Homer in the 1993 World Series
• Bill Mazeroski's 1960 World Series Walk-off Homer

10. Leroy "Satchel" Paige Debuts as the Oldest Rookie Ever

Matty Zimmerman/Associated Press

In 29 seasons as a pro, Satchel Paige compiled a 3.27 ERA.

Making his first-ever major league appearance at the age of 42 years and two days, Leroy "Satchel Paige" is the oldest rookie in the history of the game.

The 6'3" righty from Mobile, Alabama, first stepped onto a MLB mound on July 9, 1948—a season after Jackie Robinson smashed the color barrier—and just two days after Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck purchased Paige's contract.

In his first outing, Paige pitched a pair of scoreless frames in relief, allowing two singles and striking out one. He did so in front of an utterly packed home crowd.

"More than 200,000 came to see his first three starts, including a Cleveland record for a single game of 78,382," M.B. Roberts of ESPN Classic wrote.

During his first go-around with the Tribe, Paige tallied a 2.48 ERA in 21 outings as he helped the club secure the World Series title.

For the vet, the big stage was nothing new by that point in his career. While pitching for the Kansas City Monarchs, Paige won four consecutive Negro League Pennants from 1939 to 1942, per History.com. What's more, he claimed three W's during the Monarch's four-game sweep of the 1942 Negro League World Series.

9. Neil Diamond Sings "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway Park

This was quite the surprise.

On April 20, 2013—less than a week after the Boston Marathon bombings—Neil Diamond popped by Fenway Park to lead the crowd in a rendition of "Sweet Caroline," the song that has been a fixture at the stadium since 2002.

As Diamond explained to Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times, he was just trying to do his part in the wake of the disaster.

“With a tragedy like this, there are no words, but if people can find healing in music, this is the reason I’ve been doing this for the last 50 years. It goes beyond what I ever imagined.”

Diamond was certainly the most famous star to belt out the song, but he was far from the only person to do so. As Jason Mastrodonato wrote on MLB.com, a slew of clubs adopted Boston's anthem in the days immediately after the bombing: "It rang out at ballparks across the country."

8. Jack Buck Delivers His Post-9/11 Poem

Jack Buck, the former longtime broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals, authored an unforgettable moment on September 17, 2001—just six days after the 9/11 attacks.

Rick Weinberg of ESPN.com described the setting that night at Busch Stadium, as Buck shared his poem with the crowd:

"As firefighters unfurl a huge American flag in center field, a video tribute plays on the scoreboard accompanied by the beautifully chilling Lee Greenwood song, 'Proud to be an American.'"

Weinberg was spot on, as the music, the flag and Buck's bright red blazer made for a chilling scene. As Weinberg detailed, Buck's poem was followed by a "21-gun" salute, a spattering a fireworks, and then finally, the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers began.

7. The First Game at Shea Stadium After the 9/11 Attacks

September 21, 2001, was a night to remember at Shea Stadium.

The game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves was the first major sporting even in New York following the 9/11 attacks. As Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News explained, it was a star-studded evening in Queens:

"The night was full of pageantry, with Marc Anthony singing the national anthem, Diana Ross ... giving a stirring rendition of 'God Bless America,' and Liza Minnelli inspiriting the Flushing faithful with 'Theme From ‘New York, New York.’”

But the biggest highlight of all came in the eighth inning, courtesy of Mike Piazza's bat.

The catcher launched the go-ahead (and eventual game-winning shot), as the Mets downed their National League East foes 3-2.

"For Mike to do what he did when his team needed him, his city needed him, and baseball and the country needed him," Manager Bobby Valentine said, per Ian O'Connor of ESPN. "I mean, I don't want to make it bigger than a game. But it was bigger than a game."

As if that wasn't enough, Piazza also hit the home run for free, as he and all his teammates donated their game checks (about $450,000) to the relief effort, according to O'Connor.

6. Cal Ripken Takes a Lap After Becoming Baseball's New Iron Man

On September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game, and in the process, broke Lou Gehrig's record.

But it was after a third-inning homer that the real show started at Camden Yards. At the behest of his teammates, Ripken took a lap around the yard to thank his fans. As he explained in the video above, The Iron Man loved every moment of his signature jaunt:

"

By about a quarter of a lap, it didn't matter how long the delay was going to be anymore. It really was enjoyable for me to take that celebration to a more personal level. Seeing people's faces that you saw in the stands your whole career. You know some by name—not know some by name, but know by face. And it just became a terrific celebration. And that lap became slower and slower as you went around. And that rhythm of the game that I was worried about didn't matter any longer. So, it was a great thing.

"

That lap around the Baltimore Orioles home digs would be the high point of Ripken's incredible streak, but the run would go on. Overall, Ripken played in 2,632 games before voluntarily pulling the plug on his streak on September 19, 1998.

5. Babe Ruth Says Goodbye to His Fans

There's no question about it—this is one of the saddest moments on this list.

During "Babe Ruth Day" on April 27, 1947, the Sultan of Swat had his chance to say goodbye to his legions of fans. Ruth, who racked up 714 homers, had been diagnosed with a case of terminal throat cancer and it's staggering to hear just how weak the slugger's raspy voice was.

"You know how bad my voice sounds," Ruth admitted. "Well, it feels just as bad."

But it's also beyond cool to hear Ruth offer a direct "thanks" to the crowd that always supported him. And on "Babe Ruth Day" at Yankee Stadium, that's exactly what The Bambino did: “There's been so many lovely things said about me and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to thank everybody. Thank you.”

Just over a year later—on August 16, 1948—Ruth passed away at the age of 53.

4. MLB Honors Ted Williams at the 1999 All-Star Game

This has to be the most epic golf cart ride ever.

Before the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park, the public address announcer introduced the All-Century team, and when Ted Williams' name was called, The Splendid Splinter came riding in on a golf cart from center field.

As you can watch in the video above, Williams' fellow teammates on the All-Century squad and the All-Stars from that year's Midsummer Classic all looked like thrilled little kids as the 80-year-old joined the festivities.

Rick Weinberg of ESPN.com painted the scene, explaining just how powerful it was:

"

Williams wipes away tears as he chats with star after star; the fans stand and watch. Ten minutes pass. Then 15. Officials from Major League Baseball move in on the spontaneous scene and attempt to break it up so that the game isn't delayed too much longer.

But the players don't budge. Even the public address announcer asks the players to return to their dugouts. But they ignore the announcement. They just wouldn't let go of the moment.

"

It was a moment befitting of one of the greatest hitters to ever step in a batter's box and the last player to eclipse the elusive .400 plateau.

3. Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier

John Rooney/Associated Press

The NL Rookie of the Year in 1947, Jackie Robinson was an All-Star six times in 10 seasons.

The only reason that this moment doesn't land even higher up the list is that at the time it occurred there were plenty of people whose hearts were far from warmed by Jackie Robinson shattering the color barrier in 1947.

As Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post wrote, "hecklers hurled insults, racists berated him at every turn, and fellow players questioned his presence."

Per Janes, the story from the Associated Press on April 15 of that year, hardly acknowledged the historical significance of 28-year-old Brooklyn Dodger.

“Although he did not get a hit in four official times at bat, Jackie Robinson, first Negro to play in modern big league ball, signalized his official debut as a Dodger by sprinting home with the deciding run on Reiser’s smash and playing perfect ball at first-base.”

In retrospect, Robinson's arrival in the bigs was an uplifting and courageous triumph. A triumph that we are reminded of each season on Jackie Robinson Day when all big leaguers don nameless jerseys bearing his No. 42.

2. Lou Gehrig Delivers His "Luckiest Man" Farewell Speech.

Just how powerful was Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech?

Consider the fact that he was an absolute giant on the diamond—a .340 career average, 493 home runs—and yet he delivered his most lasting moment when he addressed the crowd at Yankee Stadium in 1939, following his diagnosis for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Here's the most well-known line from the six-time World Series champs speech: “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

That speech on July 4, 1939, was Gehrig's final public appearance. And it provides the perfect reminder of just how lucky the baseball world was to watch, read and hear about a legend like The Iron Horse.

1. Hank Aaron Hits Home Run No. 715

This moment gets the top billing on this list because it was not only an iconic scene in baseball lore, but also an iconic scene in the story of race relations in the country.

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron smashed his 715th home run into the seats at Turner Field, passing Babe Ruth to become the then-all-time home run leader.

The incomparable Vin Scully, who was on the call that night, let the Atlanta Braves masher circle the bases in silence before breaking into a brilliant recap that you can listen to in its entirety in the video above.

"

What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us and particularly for Henry Aaron.

"

A marvelous moment, indeed. And a moment which will also be recounted whenever the story of baseball is told.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All videos courtesy of YouTube.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.