Major League Baseball's and Japan's Top 25 Plays of All Time

What is the greatest baseball play of all time?

The MLB has been around since 1869, so there are many options to choose from.

Where does Willie Mays's over-the-shoulder catch rank? Where does Kirk Gibson's home run fall on the list? Does Joe Carter or Bill Mazeroski have the more memorable World Series-winning walk-off home run?

This list will (hopefully) answer all those questions.

Here we go.

Honorable Mentions: Those That Just Missed the Cut

- Kirby Puckett's leaping catch in the World Series

- Brooks Robinson in the World Series

- Ichiro wall catch

- Torii Hunter robs Barry Bonds

- Otis Nixon robs home run

- Ken Griffey Jr. makes catch and breaks hand

- Aaron Rowand makes catch and breaks nose

No. 25: Francisco Cabrera's Pennant-Winning Single

Sid Bream might have been slow, but he was fast enough to score on one of the most famous singles in major league history.

Entering the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1992 National league Championship Series, the Atlanta Braves had been outscored 22-5 over the previous 26.5 innings.

They had let a three games to one series lead become a 3-3 tie and were three outs from elimination.

After a double from Terry Pendleton, an error from sure-handed second baseman Jose Lind on a David Justice grounder, a walk to Bream, a sacrifice fly from Ron Gant, a walk to Damon Berryhill, and a Brian Hunter popout, Cabrera came to the plate to pinch-hit for pitcher Jeff Reardon.

On a 2-1 count, Cabrera hit a Stan Belinda fastball into left field where Pirates left fielder Barry Bonds raced to his left to field it.

Justice scored easily from third to tie the game, and Bream, running as fast as he could, was just barely able to avoid Mike Lavalliere's desperation tag, sending the Braves to the World Series.

Pittsburgh has not had a winning season since.

No. 24: Asdrubal Cabrera Behind the Back

Asdrubal Cabrera etched his name into major league history in 2008 when he became the 14th player to turn an unassisted triple play against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Since then, Cabrera has become a human highlight reel in the Cleveland Indians' infield, making such plays as bare handing a hard-hit ball at shortstop and throwing a runner out, bare handing a deflected ball while sitting and holding a runner at third base while throwing out a runner at first base.

Cabrera has made the Indians almost watchable in Cleveland.

This play, from May 19 this past season, finds its way onto the list.

No. 23: Aaron Boone Home Run

Aaron Boone hit 126 home runs in 4,329 career plate appearances, an average of one homer per 34.36 appearances.

But he hit one of the most memorable home runs in the history of the most storied franchise in baseball, the New York Yankees.

The Yankees rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championships Series against their greatest rival, the Boston Red Sox.

In the top of the 11th inning, Boone, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner, led off against Boston's knuckle ball-throwing right hander, Tim Wakefield.

Boone launched Wakefield's first pitch high and deep into the New York night, sending the Yankees to their 39th World Series.

No. 22: Kevin Mitchell Bare-Handed Catch

Kevin Mitchell was perhaps best known, not for his play, but his behavior on and off the field.

Despite a 13-year playing career that saw Mitchell put up respectable numbers, including a .284 batting average and 234 home runs, as well as the 1989 National League Most Valuable Player Award, Mitchell bounced around between nine teams during his career.

However, Mitchell left his mark on history early in the 1989 season.

In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Mitchell overran an Ozzie Smith fly ball in foul territory in left field.

Realizing what he had done, he stuck his right hand out and snagged the ball, crashing through an unlatched door that led under the stands.

This play has been a highlight reel favorite ever since.

No. 21: Buck Martinez Broken Leg Double Play

Many baseball fans do not know about this legendary play, and its a shame because the likes of it may never be seen again.

While playing for the Blue Jays at the Kingdome in 1985, Martinez, a catcher, was knocked down by the Mariners' Phil Bradley as Bradley tried to score.

The collision broke Martinez's leg and severely dislocated his ankle. Amazingly, Martinez held on.

When Martinez then saw Gorman Thomas break for third, he tried to catch him, but his throw went into left field.

As Thomas rounded third base, left fielder George Bell threw the ball back to Martinez, who caught the ball while laying on the ground and tagged Thomas.

This completed the only 9-2-7-2 double play in major league history.

Special Thanks to Tim Eapen for finding the video.

No. 20: Japan Spiderman Catch

One of two plays on this list coming in from international play, Amaya Souichirou comes in at No. 20.

Little is known about exactly when this play took place, but the attached video should tell you what you need to know.

The catch is first shown in the video around the :19 mark.

No. 19: David Wright Bare-Handed Catch

2005 was Wright's first full season in the Majors, but on August 9 against the Padres, Wright showed he could make plays well beyond his 22 years.

In the bottom of the seventh inning at PETCO Park, Brian Giles hit a one-out blooper about 20 feet into the outfield grass.

Wright, with his back to home plate, reached out and snagged the ball with his bare hand as he fell to the turf. Wright's play even drew a standing ovation from the appreciative PETCO crowd.

The play was eventually named the 2005 MLB Play of the Year by many media outlets.

No. 18: Brian Giles Catch

In a June 2003 game against the Cleveland Indians, Giles ran deep into the left foot corner, jumped and momentarily planted his spikes in the PNC Park wall to rob Brandon Phillips of a home run.

The catch aided the Pirates to an extra inning win.

No known photo or video has been found yet for this play.

No. 17: Jose Guillen Throw

Jose Guillen bounced around between 10 teams in his 13-year Major League career.

But he left his mark forever with his first team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, thanks to his actions on July 27, 1998.

In the bottom of the third against the Colorado Rockies, Neifi Perez hit a high fly ball to right field that sent Guillen back to the wall.

The ball bounced off a slight extension and rolled a few feet away from the wall.

Guillen picked up the ball and fired a more than 300-foot strike from right field to third base to nail Perez, who was attempting to stretch the hit into a triple.

It is perhaps the greatest outfield assist in major league history.

No. 16: Ben Revere Catch

The most recent addition to this list, Ben Revere comes in at No. 16.

On August 22 this year, Vladimir Guerrero of the Baltimore Orioles hit a fly ball to deep center field at Target Field. 

Revere, the Twins' center fielder, ran to the wall, and timed his jump perfectly so that his foot, his glove, and the ball all arrived at the same time to make perhaps the catch of the year.

No. 15: Endy Chavez Catch

Had the New York Mets won the 2006 National League pennant, this play would be in the top 10. Had they won the 2006 World Series, this play would be in the top five.

In the top of the sixth inning of Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, with the game tied at one and Jim Edmonds on first base, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen hit an Oliver Perez pitch deep to left field.

Chavez, the Mets' left fielder, raced back to the wall and leaped as high as he could, reaching several feet over the wall.

The ball settled into a snow cone position in his glove, with some of it in his glove and some of it out.

Chavez looked at his glove for a second to see if had caught it, then fired it back in to second baseman Jose Valentin, who then fired to first baseman Carlos Delgado to double up a stunned Edmonds.

Unfortunately, Chavez was unable to grab the eventual pennant-deciding two run home run from Yadier Molina in the top of the ninth inning.

No. 14: Mark Buehrle Flip

By the time Opening Day of the 2010 season came along, Mark Buehrle was a household name.

He had already thrown a no-hitter and a perfect game, thanks to someone we will be seeing very shortly.

In the top of the fifth inning, Cleveland Indians' catcher Lou Marson hit a hard ground ball right back at Buehrle, who stopped the ball from possibly going into the outfield with his leg.

But the ball rolled toward the White Sox dugout and looked like a sure hit.

Buehrle raced off the mound, grabbed the ball with his glove and flipped the ball between his legs to first baseman Paul Konerko, barely beating Marson for the out.

Buehrle's play was so amazing that ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" introduced a 'Buehrle Meter' as a way of comparing all other top defensive plays against Buehrle's.

In the video, the play takes place in the first 10 seconds, then switches to something else.

Turn the audio up to listen to the call of the play, then be prepared to pause and/or turn down the volume as as soon as the play ends.

No. 13: DeWayne Wise Perfect Game Catch

DeWayne Wise spent the first eight innings of Mark Buerhle's perfect game on July 23, 2009 on the bench, not knowing just how large a role he would play by the end of it.

Inserted in the top of the ninth inning as a defensive replacement, Wise was put to work quickly.

Gabe Kapler led off the inning with a drive to deep left center.

Wise and Scott Podsednik, playing left field, took off after the ball but Wise had the only chance to make a play on it.

As Wise reached the wall, he jumped, caught the ball, fell down, juggled the ball, rolled over, and held on, showing his miraculous catch off with his bare hand to a standing ovation from the Cellular Field crows and an even more appreciative Buehrle.

A strikeout and a ground-out later, Buehrle had his perfect game, and Wise was rewarded with a bottle of Crown Royal for his efforts.

No. 12: Japan Spiderman Catch by Akamatsu

Our second play from Japan comes from Masato Akamatsu, the Hiroshima Carp teammate of Amaya Souichirou, No. 20 on this list.

Much like Souichirou's catch, there is not much information on about the play. Just enjoy it.

No. 11: Gary Matthews Jr. Catch

Gary Matthews Jr. left his mark on history in a July 1, 2006 game against the Houston Astros.

In the top of the eighth inning, Mike Lamb hit a deep fly ball to center field that looked like a home run by several feet.

Matthews Jr. raced back to the wall, pushed off it, stretched his arm as far as it would go, and made the catch, all while spinning 180 degrees.

It stunned the Rangers' crowd and Lamb as well.

No. 10: Carlton Fisk Home Run

One of the great catchers of all time, Carlton Fisk kicks off the top 10.

Game 6 of the 1975 World Series entered the bottom of the 12th inning with the Red Sox and Reds still tied at six.

Fisk swung at pitcher Pat Darcy's second pitch and hit a fly ball down the left field line.

In a now memorable image, Fisk hopped up and down the first base line, trying to wave the ball fair. He succeeded, as the ball hit high off the foul pole, turning Fisk into a little boy as he circled the bases.

Boston won perhaps the greatest baseball game ever played but lost to the Reds in Game 7 the next night. 

No. 9: Shot Heard 'Round the World

The 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers blew a 13.5 game, mid-August lead, setting up a three-game playoff for the National League pennant with the New York Giants

The two teams split the first two games, setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 at the Polo Grounds.

The Dodgers entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead.

After an Alvin Dark single, a Don Mueller single, a Monte Irvin pop-out and Whitey Lockman double, Ralph Branca was brought in from the bullpen to face Bobby Thomson.

Thomson swung at Branca's second pitch, a fastball high and in, and hit a line drive that just cleared the 315 sign in left field for a walk-off three run home run.

It is well known today as "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."

No. 8: Evan Longoria Walk-Off Home-Run

That's right, Longoria's home run is better than Thomson's. Why?

Because it capped a comeback of seven runs that began in the eighth inning, as well as capped the greatest September collapse in baseball history.

Longoria's walk-off homer against Scott Proctor on September 28 gave the Rays the American League Wild Card.

Start the following video at the :30 mark to watch the incredible night that was, or just skip to the 8:58 mark to see Longoria's home run.

No. 7: Ozzie Smith Bare Hand

Ozzie Smith has a number of plays considered to be great, but this is his best.

On April 20, 1978, "The Wizard of Oz," while playing for the San Diego Padres, took away a sure hit from Jeff Burroughs of the Atlanta Braves by fielding a grounder with his bare hand and throwing to first.

The ball had taken a bad hop and bounced behind where Smith had dove, but he was able to make one of the greatest defensive plays in major league history.

No known video or photo of the play exists.

No. 6: Joe Carter Home Run

Joe Carter's 1993, Game 6, World Series-winning walk-off home run checks in at No. 6.

Trailing the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 in Game 6, but up 3-2 in the series, Ricky Henderson started things off for the Blue Jays in the bottom of the ninth with a walk.

After a Devon White fly-out, Paul Molitor singled to center, putting runners on first and second with one out, which brought up Carter.

On a 2-2 pitch, Carter hit a fastball low and inside down the left field line that disappeared over the 328 mark in left field.

Carter went crazy as he bounced around the bases, giving the Blue Jays their second straight World Series championship.

They have not been back to the postseason since.

The moment occurs at around the 15:30 mark in the attached video.

No. 5: Bill Mazeroski Home Run

Bill Mazeroski is one of the finest defensive second baseman of all time, but he is best known for an offensive moment.

The 1960 World Series went to a winner-take-all Game 7, despite the Yankees outscoring the Pirates 46-17 in the first six games.

In Game 7, the Pirates trailed 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth but rallied with five runs to take a 9-7 lead.

The Yankees came back, saving their season with a two-run rally in the top of the ninth, forcing the Pirates to hit to win it.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mazeroski led off and hit a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for an amazing 10-9 victory.

No. 4: Derek Jeter Flip

Derek Jeter's play in Game 3 of the American League Division Series just may have carried the Yankees to the 2001 World Series.

With the Yankees leading 1-0 in the seventh inning, Terrence Long of the Oakland Athletics hit a double down the right field line with Jeremy Giambi on first base.

Right fielder Shane Spencer overthrew cutoff man Tino Martinez, as the ball slowly bounced down the first base line as Giambi was rounding third.

Jeter ran from his position at shortstop over toward the first base line, fielded the bouncing ball, and flipped it to Jorge Posada who applied a swipe tag on Giambi's leg the moment before he crossed home plate.

The play kept the Yankees in the lead, who rallied from a 2-0 series deficit and eventually reached the World Series.

No. 3: Willie Mays Catch

One of the greatest players of all time brings us one of the greatest plays of all time at No. 3.

On September 29, 1954, during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Giants, Willie Mays established his place in history.

Vic Wertz of the Indians hit a ball to dead center at the Polo Grounds, which, thankfully for Mays was 483 feet to the wall.

Mays made an over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track, then immediately spun and threw the ball back into the infield, preventing the runner on second base from advancing. 

The play prevented the Indians from taking the lead and, in the bottom of the 10th, the Giants won the game on a walk-off home run from Dusty Rhodes.

The Giants eventually swept the series.

The catch is often considered to be one of the best and most memorable plays in the history of baseball because of the difficulty of the play and the importance of the game itself.

No. 2: Kirk Gibson Home Run

Kirk Gibson was not supposed to play in the 1988 World Series after injuring both legs in an NLCS victory over the New York Mets.

He still had one at-bat, but it is perhaps the single greatest at-bat in World Series history.

In the bottom of the ninth of Game 1, Oakland A's closer Dennis Eckersley was brought on to try and finish a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Eckersley retired the first two hitters he faced, then walked pinch-hitter Mike Davis. 

Gibson then hobbled out of the dugout to pinch-hit for pitcher Alejandro Pena.

Gibson was able to work the count full to 3-2, after which Eckersley threw a back door slider, a pitch Gibson had been told by a Dodgers scout to look for.

Gibson hit it over the right field fence for a memorable 5-4 win, and his hobble around the bases will be shown on highlight reels for years to come.

No. 1a: Jim Edmonds Diving Catch

On June 10, 1997 at Kauffman Stadium, Jim Edmonds made one of the greatest catches in Major League Baseball history.

In a game between the Anaheim Angels and Kansas City Royals, the eight-time Gold Glover played shallow with David Howard at the plate and two men on.

The game was tied in the fifth inning.

As soon as the ball was lined to straightaway center, Edmonds turned around and raced toward the wall, diving and fully extending to make the catch over his shoulder.

He landed on the warning track not far from the wall, amazing teammates, opposing players, and umpires alike.

1b: Devon White Robs David Justice

In Game 3 of the 1992 World Series, Blue Jays center fielder Devon White robbed David Justice of a two-run double by making a leaping catch while crashing into the center field wall at the SkyDome.

Terry Pendleton, who had been on first base, was called out for passing teammate Deion Sanders while running.

Sanders was called safe at second after being caught in a rundown, though replays showed Blue Jays third baseman Kelly Gruber tagged his foot.

That would have resulted in the first triple play in World Series play since 1920, but it wasn't meant to be.

White's catch helped propel the Blue Jays to two consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993

Thanks for Reading!

Thanks for the read!

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Let the debate begin in the comments section down below.

Please look to see if someone has suggested a play you are thinking of, so there are not hundreds of separate posts on the same play.

Also, if anyone can find a better quality video or photo for any play, please post the link in the comments, and I will credit you in the article.

Thank you.