The 25 Most Legendary Home Runs in Baseball History
In baseball, there are few things more exciting than a home run. It doesn't matter when it happens; there is something truly magical about watching these athletes turn on a 95 mph fastball and launch it deep into the night.
In the long and illustrious history of baseball there have been a number of memorable home runs. Some of them have won World Series, some have won All-Star Games and some have broken the hearts of the opposing team and their fans.
But above all else, these magical moments have withstood the test of time and become a part of the stories that we are told when we are children, and those become the stories that we tell our children.
Who can forget Joe Carter's jump for joy around the bases when he smashed that Mitch Williams fastball over the left field fence to win the 1993 World Series? Or how about seeing Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth's all-time home run record?
No matter what your favorite memory is, the home run, no matter when it happens, is a marvelous feat and something that sports fans everywhere will talk about forever.
Here are the 25 most memorable home runs hit in baseball history.
Babe Ruth Calls His Shot
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The 1932 World Series is remembered for this one moment.
There is some dispute as to whether or not he was actually calling his shot or just pointing the bat at the pitcher. Understanding the Babe as a player, it’s pretty easy to believe that he was telling the Cubs what he was going to do.
No matter what you want to believe, the Babe’s “called shot” is one of the most iconic moments from one of the most iconic players in the history of baseball. It’s also noteworthy because it would be the Babe’s final home run in his final World Series game.
Ted Williams Homers to Win the 1941 All-Star Game
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1941 was a magical year for Ted Williams. He hit over .400 for the season, the last time that anyone has hit over .400 in a season.
He also did something that no one had ever done or has ever done since: hit a walk-off home run in the All-Star Game.
The American League went into the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 5-3. The AL cut the lead to 5-4, and with two men on and two outs, Williams stepped to the plate and launched a shot over the wall in Briggs Stadium. The AL wins it 7-5.
Hank Greenberg’s Game-Winning Grand Slam Clinches Pennant in 1945
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In 1945, Hank Greenberg was busy fighting in World War II. He was discharged from military service in the middle of the summer that year. When he got back, he went right back to playing baseball with the Detroit Tigers.
The umpire was ready to call the game on account of darkness, as there were no lights in the stadium. Greenberg stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and smashed a home run to give the Tigers the win and the American League pennant. They would defeat the Cubs in the World Series.
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Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ‘Round the World
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The New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers were battling for the National League pennant throughout the summer of 1951. They played each other in a three-game playoff series to determine the National League Championship.
The Dodgers were leading Game 3 by a score of 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ralph Branca, who coincidentally gave up a go-ahead homer to Thomson in Game 1 of the series, was brought in to pitch to Thomson.
On the 1-0 pitch, Thomson swung and hit a shot down the line in left field that just cleared the fence.
Here is a portion of the famous call by Russ Hodges, the Giants radio announcer at the time: “There's a long drive...it's gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they're goin' crazy, they're goin' crazy! HEEEY-OH!!!''
Bill Mazeroski Hits First World Series Walk-Off Home Run
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Known more for his defense at shortstop than his offense, Bill Mazeroski provided one of the most memorable moments in baseball history in the 1960 World Series.
The Pirates were playing the heavily favored New York Yankees. It was Game 7, and it went back and forth between the two teams all game long.
The game was tied at nine in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mazeroski led off the inning and smashed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left field, giving the Pirates the victory over the mighty Yankees.
Roger Maris Breaks Babe Ruth’s Single-Season Home Run Record
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1961 was a great year, particularly if you were a New York Yankees fan. The season was a bit of a struggle early on, but there was an epic home run race between Yankee legend Mickey Mantle and the reigning American League MVP Roger Maris.
Maris was seen as something of a villain, even in New York, because they wanted Mantle to break the record. Mantle got hurt, leaving Maris to challenge Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. He would hit the record-breaking homer on the last day of the season, in game 162.
Ruth hit his 60 homers in 154 games, leaving some people to challenge the validity of Maris’ record. It was later determined that Maris’ record was the official record, later broken by Mark McGwire.
Hank Aaron Sets the All-Time Home Run Record
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Perhaps the most under-appreciated great player, Hank Aaron was a humble man that challenged the most hallowed record in all of sports.
714 was the first number that sports fans had ingrained into their brains back before 1974. Babe Ruth was the home run king, and no one would ever touch that record.
Hank Aaron was able to do the unthinkable, and he did so under very intense scrutiny and pressure. He received a number of death threats from people that said they were going to kill him if he kept playing long enough to break the record.
In April of 1974 Aaron’s Braves were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers. In front of a sellout crowd, Aaron hit a towering fly ball off Al Downing. It was home run No. 715. Hank Aaron had become the most prolific home run hitter of all time. He would finish his career with 755 home runs.
Carlton Fisk Waves the Ball Fair
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The 1975 World Series is not so much remembered for the Cincinnati Reds winning it but for Game 6, with Carlton Fisk’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The Red Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at six. It would stay tied until Fisk stepped up in the 12th inning.
He hit the second pitch that he saw high and deep down the left field line. The ball looked like it was going to hook foul; Fisk was jumping in the air, waving his arms and telling the ball to stay to the right. It did, and the Red Sox won the game 7-6.
Tony Perez Brings the Reds Back to Life
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After Carlton Fisk’s dramatic home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, Boston seemed poised to capture their first championship since 1918. They were leading 3-0 in the sixth inning, and Cincinnati was doomed.
Tony Perez came to the plate with a man on against Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee. Lee threw Perez an eephus pitch that Perez waited back on and then absolutely turned on. The Reds climbed to within 3-2 and set the stage for their dramatic victory in the game.
Reggie Jackson Becomes Mr. October
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The New York Yankees of the mid to late 1970s were as difficult a team to like as there has ever been. There were a number of players on that team that were just so cocky and arrogant they made Terrell Owens look like the perfect teammate.
In 1977, Reggie Jackson, who was as cocky and arrogant as they come, launched himself into baseball immortality.
The Yankees were playing the Dodgers in the 1977 World Series. In the clinching Game 6 of the series, Jackson hit three home runs against Dodger pitching. He did that on three consecutive pitches too.
In fact, if you went back to the eighth inning of Game 5, Jackson hit homers in four consecutive at-bats on four straight pitches.
Bucky “Bleeping” Dent Leads Yankees Past Red Sox
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Red Sox fans hate talking about 1978 as much as any season in team history. They were up by as many as 14 games over the Yankees that season. The Yankees put together an unbelievable 39-14 record to finish the season tied with the Red Sox and force a one-game playoff.
The Yankees were trailing 2-0 in the seventh inning, and unlikely hero Bucky Dent stepped up to the plate with two men on base. He hit a towering fly ball into left field that would clear the Green Monster and give New York a 3-2 lead. They would go on to win the game 5-4 en route to winning the World Series.
Willie Stargell’s Go-Ahead Home Run in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series
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The Pittsburgh Pirates were dead and buried in the 1979 World Series against Baltimore. They were down three games to one and appeared to have no hope. After staying alive in Games 5 and 6, the Pirates set the stage for one of the most dramatic comebacks of all time.
In Game 7, Baltimore took an early 1-0 lead. Then in the sixth inning Willie Stargell came to the plate with a man on and smashed a mammoth home run, giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead. They would win the game 4-1 and the World Series.
George Brett Goes Ballistic
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In what is forever remembered as “The Pine Tar Game,” the Royals took the lead over the Yankees 5-4 on a George Brett two-run home run.
After the homer, the umpires examined the bat and determined that Brett used too much pine tar. Brett exploded out of the dugout and wanted to rip someone’s head off.
It was later determined that the amount of pine tar was fine, and the Royals' victory was upheld.
The Wizard of Oz Has a Bat
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Ozzie Smith made a Hall of Fame career based on what he did with his glove. He is the greatest defensive shortstop in the history of baseball.
But he provided one magic moment with his bat in the 1985 National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Ozzie Smith stepped up to the plate trying to get on base to give his teammates a chance.
He was batting left-handed, and he had never in his career hit a home run from the left side of the plate. He swung and put a charge into the ball that would clear the right field fence, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 victory.
Dave Henderson Turns the 1986 ALCS Around
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The California Angels were well on their way to capturing the 1986 American League pennant over the Boston Red Sox until Dave Henderson changed things.
In the ninth inning, with the Red Sox 5-2, they put together a four-run ninth inning, capped off by Henderson’s go-ahead home run.
The series wasn’t over at that point, as Boston was still down three games to two. But that moment in that game completely shifted all of the momentum.
Kirk Gibson Gives the Dodgers One Good Shot
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Kirk Gibson, inexplicably, won the 1988 National League MVP award. The Dodgers won the National League Pennant that year and had to go up against the mighty Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Gibson was injured and not likely to play in the World Series.
With the Dodgers trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda called on Gibson to give him a spark. Gibson limped to the plate against Dennis Eckersley, probably the best closer in the game.
With a full count and a runner on first, Gibson turned on a slider and gave the Dodgers a 1-0 series lead. It was the only plate appearance for Gibson in the Series.
Kirby Puckett Sends the 1991 World Series to Game 7
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When people rank the greatest World Series of all time, it doesn’t take long to get to the epic between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves. The most memorable game in the series is Game 7, when Jack Morris threw a 10-inning complete game shutout.
However, without Kirby Puckett’s walk-off in Game 6, that game never would have happened. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Puckett smashed a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center, giving the Twins a dramatic 4-3 victory.
Joe Carter’s Walk-Off Wins 1993 World Series
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Joe Carter’s blast is the second ever walk-off home run to clinch a World Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies were locked in a battle with the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Toronto was leading 5-1 after six innings. The Phillies scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead.
They held that lead until the bottom of the ninth, when Joe Carter stepped up with two men on base.
Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams threw a pitch that nearly took him out of his shoes, and Carter turned on it, launching it over the left field wall.
David Justice Gives Braves Their First Championship Since 1957
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The Braves teams from 1991 through 2005 were more remembered for “only” winning one World Series and not the 14 straight division titles. In 1995, everything finally came together for the Braves, and they won the World Series over the Cleveland Indians.
It was Game 6, tied 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, and David Justice would provide the only offense the Braves would need. He smashed a pitch off Indians reliever Jim Poole, and the Braves won the game 1-0 and the series 4-2.
Cal Ripken’s Home Run on the Night He Breaks Lou Gehrig’s Record
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Baseball was in a very precarious position in the summer of 1995. They had just come back from a labor strike that cancelled the 1994 World Series, and fans were bitter. Enter: Cal Ripken.
On a September night in Baltimore, he was going to break arguably the most impressive streak in baseball history, Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak of 2,130. Ripken came to the plate and hit a home run in that same game. It was voted by fans as the most memorable moment in baseball history.
Derek Jeter Gets a Little Help from His Friends
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In 1996, Baltimore was a powerhouse in the American League East, and the Yankees were starting to put together a new dynasty, led by their rookie shortstop Derek Jeter.
In Game 1 of the ALCS, the Yankees were trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning and appeared like they were going down in the series 1-0.
Derek Jeter came to the plate and hit a drive to right field. As it approached the wall, a fan (later identified as Jeffrey Maier) reached over the fence and stole the ball. The umpires called it a home run, and the Yankees would go on to win the game and the series.
Mark McGwire Breaks the Single-Season Home Run Record
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The summer of 1998 has a very different feeling to baseball fans now then it did when it originally occurred. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa put on a home run-hitting display the likes of which had never been seen.
Fans were glued to their seats watching every day. On September 8, 1998 with Sosa’s Cubs playing McGwire’s Cardinals, the record would be broken with the shortest home run that McGwire would hit that season.
He hit a scorching line drive down the left field line that barely cleared the fence giving him home run No. 62.
Scott Brosius Gives the Yankees Another Dramatic Comeback Win
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2001 was a very difficult time for everyone in the United States and throughout the world. Baseball was a wonderful release that we had, and fortunately the 2001 World Series between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks gave us drama and passion to keep our minds off things, for however brief it may have been.
In Game 4, Tino Martinez hit a ninth inning, game-tying home run off Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim, and the Yankees would win the game in extra innings.
Game 5 followed the exact same script. Scott Brosius came up in the bottom on the ninth with a man on base and launched a high fly ball down the left field line that tied the game at 2. The Yankees would win the game 3-2 but lose the series 4-3.
David Ortiz Gives Boston Some Life
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The 2004 American League Championship Series is remembered as the year that “The Curse of the Bambino” died.
The Yankees were up three games to none and were primed to sweep the Red Sox and head back to the World Series for the second consecutive year.
The Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 4. With the game tied at four in the bottom of the 12th, David Ortiz stepped up to the plate with a man on first. He took a Paul Quantrill pitch deep into the Boston night and gave the Red Sox their first of eight straight wins to end the 2004 postseason.
Barry Bonds Breaks All-Time Home Run Record
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Whether you like Barry Bonds or not—and most people don’t—you can’t deny the talent that he had. There are allegations, and we all have suspicions, but even before he became the Incredible Hulk, he was still one of the greatest players in baseball history.
In 2007, with his career coming to an end, he broke the most hallowed record in all of sports. Hank Aaron endured a lot in his lifetime, particularly when he set the home run record amid death threats, and didn’t want to see his record fall to Barry Bonds.
On August 7, 2007, Bonds launched a shot over the wall in San Francisco that gave him 756 home runs in his career. People will always have questions that will never have answers, but to deny the fact that this was one of the most memorable home runs in history is bitter resentment for one of the most unlikable athletes of all time.
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