MLB's 10 Most Meaningful Walk-off Homers of All Time

A walk-off home run is one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports.

From the thunderous roars from the crowd that flow throughout the stadium, to the hero's ever-so graceful trot around the bases, a walk-off home run is certainly a marvel that will make the hair on your neck stand straight up.

On occasion, we see a walk-off home run on SportsCenter that wins a regular-season game for an irrelevant team.

However, it's the home runs that either force a team into the postseason or win them a playoff game that are the most important.

Here's a list of the 10 most meaningful walk-off home runs in MLB history.

10. Evan Longoria

While some might be surprised to see Evan Longoria's home run on this list, it was the situation that made his shot one for the record books.

The Tampa Bay Rays were nine games behind the Boston Red Sox at the start of September, and many were ready to stick the fork in them.

As it turned out, many of us were wrong.

The Rays roared back into contention, and the winner of the American League Wild Card went down to the very last game of the season. While The Red Sox were only one out away from winning their game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Rays sat all knotted up with the New York Yankees in the 12th inning.

Then the magic happened.

The Orioles scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Red Sox.

And only three minutes later, right when the Red Sox were walking into the clubhouse to watch the Rays game, Longoria smacked a walk-off home run to send them into the playoffs.

It honestly couldn't have been written any better than that.

9. Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett's walk-off home run in Game 6 of the World Series was one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history. 

In a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 11th inning, Puckett stepped to the plate unknowing—or maybe he did know—that he was about to become a baseball legend.

Puckett smashed a home run into the left field seats off Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Leibrandt.

CBS radio announcer Jack Buck was on that call that night, and his memorable, "We'll see you tomorrow night," call still rings in the ears of many.

The Twins did see the Braves the next night and ended up completing the comeback by winning Game 7 of the World Series.

8. Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter's swing of the bat in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series made many believe that the New York Yankees were well on their way to winning yet another World Series Championship.

Off of Arizona's star closer Byung-Hyun Kim, Jeter smashed a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning, which knotted up the series at two games a piece.

Even though the Arizona Diamondbacks ended up winning the series, Jeter's home run was just another triumph in his prolific career.

7. Aaron Boone

The thought of Aaron Boone's home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS is still ingrained in the minds of Red Sox fans everywhere.

Boone hit the first pitch he saw from Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and raised his arms up in the air as he watched it fly over the left field fence. 

As the Yankees went to the World Series, the Red Sox went home wondering what they needed to do in order to break the Curse of the Bambino.

6. David Ortiz

David Ortiz's home run in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS was arguably the greatest home run in the one of the best comebacks of the modern sports era.

After being down 3-0 against their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, the Red Sox needed a miracle to continue their season. They got that miracle from Ortiz, who hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning.

This was only the beginning of the Red Sox's improbable comeback as they went on to win seven straight games, three in the ALCS and four in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

5. Joe Carter

Five-year-old kids in the backyard playing wiffle ball dream of the situation Joe Carter was in.

It was Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, and Joe Carter and the Blue Jays were looking to close out the series in the friendly confines of the Toronto SkyDome.

In the bottom of the ninth with the Jays down by one, Carter stepped up to the plate to face Phillies closer Mitch Williams. All Carter needed was a single to tie the game, but he had greater ambitions.

Carter sent a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall and won the World Series on a walk-off home run.

His gallop around the bases will not be soon forgotten by the Blue Jays fans who witnessed it.

4. Carlton Fisk

Carlton Fisk's walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series is one of baseball's most memorable moments.

It wasn't only the home run itself, but it was also Fisk's gesture to keep the ball fair as he leaped sideways and watched the ball sail into the Green Monster of Fenway Park. The same gesture has kids doing the same in their backyards as they try to reenact Fisk's historical moment.

3. Kirk Gibson

The image of Kirk Gibson rounding first base while starting the engine of his imaginary chainsaw is one of the most recognizable moments in baseball history. 

In Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, Gibson hobbled to the plate on his two wounded knees to face one of the game's greatest closers of all time, Dennis Eckersley.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Gibson and his two battered knees stood as the Dodgers' last chance against the Oakland A's. Then on a 3-2 pitch, Gibson defied all odds and pulverized a home run over the right field wall of Dodger Stadium.

Gibson took so long to reach home plate, that he still might be rounding third base as we speak.

2. Bill Mazeroski

While some may argue that Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series is the greatest home run in the history of the game, I believe it was solely the greatest-ever hit in a World Series game.

It was Game 7 of the World Series, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were taking on the infamous New York Yankees. In a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the ninth, the stage was set for one of the greatest moments in World Series history.

Mazeroski, a second baseman who was not known for his power, crushed a walk-off home run over the left field fence, and the rest was history.

Anytime someone hits a walk-off home run in the World Series to beat the Yankees, it should rank near the top of this list.

1. Bobby Thompson

As it is known for, Bobby Thompson's home run in a 1951 NL playoff game against the Dodgers was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World."

The reason this home run is on the top of this list is due to the Giants' hot streak that led up to the moment. The Giants were, at one point, 13.5 games behind the Dodgers, but closed the season by winning 37 of their 43 finals games.

In turn, they ended up trying the Dodgers, and forced a three-game playoff for the NL pennant.

The two teams split the first two games, which set the table for Thompson to work his late-game heroics. He smashed a home run on the second pitch he saw and won the NL pennant with one swing of the bat.

You can still hear Russ Hodges on the radio screaming his famous, "The Giants Win the Pennant," call on the radio.