MLB Playoffs 2011: Ranking 20 Worst Blown Saves in Postseason History

The beauty of the MLB postseason is that nothing is guaranteed.  Normally lights-out pitchers and seemingly unbeatable hitters can go from being lions to lambs almost instantly and as a result can change their team's fortunes in the playoffs.  One of the most brutal manners in which this happens is a blown save, which can be not only demoralizing but, in a certain case that we will discuss later, traumatic and tragic.

They're part of the game, but blown saves are a statistic that tend to get pushed aside more often than not.  In reality, some of the most historical games in baseball history, specifically the playoffs, have been the results of blown saves.  A notable one occurred in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, when the normally unbelievable Mariano Rivera imploded and blew a 2-1 lead to practically hand the series to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

That being said, let's count down the 20 worst blown saves in MLB postseason history.

No. 20: Jim Coates, Game 7 of 1960 World Series

The 1960 World Series was played between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates, and it was an absolute dogfight.  In the seven game series, both teams scored a combined 82 runs on a whopping 151 hits.

In Game 7, the Yankees rallied from being down 4-0 at one point to take a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.  The Pirates started with three consecutive singles and one run scored to have pitcher Bobby Shantz replaced with Jim Coates, who got two quick outs before allowing an infield single and an RBI to Roberto Clemente due to a miscommunication with first baseman Bill "Moose" Skowron.  Then, the house fell down.

Coates gave up a three-run blast to the next hitter, Hal Smith, thus giving the Pirates a 9-7 lead.  Though the Yankees would rally to tie in the top of the ninth, Bill Mazeroski hit a home run off of Ralph Terry in the bottom half of the inning to give the Pirates a World Series championship.  Had Coates just headed to first base instead of trying to field Clemente's ground ball, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

No. 19: Stan Belinda, Game 7 of 1992 NLCS

Ever since the 1992 NLCS, the Pittsburgh Pirates have not been able to catch a break, as in they have yet to make the postseason ever again.  In Game 7 of this particular series, they had a 2-0 lead on the reigning NL champion Atlanta Braves going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Pirates manager Jim Leyland opted to remain with starter Doug Drabek to start the inning, who proceeded to load the bases before being pulled for closer Stan Belinda.  The Pirates' seemingly surefire relief man allowed one run on a sacrifice fly before issuing a walk to reload the bases and then getting a popout for the second out.  It looked as though the Pirates would get out of the jam and reach the World Series.

Yet, such was not to be.  Pinch-hitter Francisco Cabrera lined a single to left field to score David Justice and Sid Bream, the latter of whom just beat the throw from left fielder Barry Bonds.

Bonds and other key players on that Pirates team departed via free agency that offseason, and the team has not been the same since.

No. 18: Game 5 of 1999 NLCS

This series featured two division rivals in the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets and was just plain fun to watch.  After taking the first three games of the series, Atlanta lost Game 4 but seemed to rebound in Game 5.

Both teams went toe-to-toe in this game, being tied 2-2 most of the way.  Finally, in the top of the 15th inning, Braves infielder Keith Lockhart drove in the go-ahead run with a triple to make the score 3-2.

Yet, the Mets rallied in the bottom half thanks to a bases-loaded walk worked by Todd Pratt.  Braves pitcher Kevin McGlinchy then had to face power-hitting third baseman Robin Ventura.  On a 2-1 pitch, Ventura launched a shot over the right-field fence to give the Mets the victory.  Seeing as how he was mobbed by his teammates between first and second base and never scored, it was ruled a single and the Mets won 4-3 rather than 7-3.

Today, this is known as the "Grand Slam Single."

No. 17: Game 4 of the 1997 ALDS

With two outs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of this series, the New York Yankees had a 2-1 lead over the Cleveland Indians and seemed primed to return to the ALCS with closer Mariano Rivera about to take the mound.  Yet, such was not to be.

Instead of being Mr. Automatic as he had been all season, having registered 43 saves, Rivera blew the save and gave up a game-tying home run to Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr. (pictured).  It was his first postseason blown save and last until 2001.

This was all the momentum that Cleveland needed as they would win on Omar Vizquel's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth (though that was off Ramiro Mendoza) and then take Game 5 the very next night before reaching the World Series and losing in seven games (more about this later).

No. 16 and 15: Games 4 and 5 of 2001 World Series

2001 was an emotional World Series for everyone.  Just over a month ago, America had been shaken to its core by the tragic events of 9/11 and seemed fully united for the first time in a while.  Sure enough, it was baseball and sports in general that brought everyone together.

The series was played between the New York Yankees, looking to win their fourth straight title, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were still a relatively new team after debuting in 1998.

Arizona had a 2-1 lead in the series entering Game 4 and looked primed to make it 3-1 as they turned to Korean closer Byung-Hyun Kim in the eighth.  Kim struck out the side in the eighth, but started to struggle in the ninth.  With two outs and a man on, Kim surrendered a two-run shot to first baseman Tino Martinez and the game was tied 3-3 in an instant.

For some reason or another, Arizona manager Bob Brenly elected to let Kim pitch the 10th inning as well.  There, on a 3-2 pitch, he gave up a walkoff solo homer to Derek Jeter and the Yankees evened the series.

Yet, to add insult to injury, Kim also blew the save in Game 5!!  After recording two outs following a leadoff double to catcher Jorge Posada, Kim allowed another game-tying home run to Scott Brosius.  The Yankees would go on to win that game in 12 innings to take a 3-2 series lead.

Sadly, that was not to last...

No. 14: Game 7 of 2001 World Series

As a Yankees fan, I still have nightmares about this game.  The team had a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning and Mariano Rivera, who had struck out the side in the eighth, was on the mound.  Yet, by some cruel twist of fate, the future all-time saves leader imploded.

Rivera started the inning by giving up a single to Mark Grace and then made a rare mental error when throwing to second on a bunt by the next batter, Damian Miller.  Why didn't he take the sure out at first?

Either way, two batters later, Tony Womack doubled in the tying run, giving the Diamondbacks runners on second and third with just one out.  With the outfield and infield drawn in, Rivera then hit Craig Counsell to load the bases.  Then, rather than moving the infield back to double-play depth, Yankees manager Joe Torre kept the infield in.

Luis Gonzalez was the next batter and on an 0-1 pitch, he lined a blooper to shortstop that became the game-winning single with the infield in.  The comeback was complete and the Diamondbacks were the champs.

No. 13: Game 1 of 2000 World Series

If there's one closer who I feel sorry for, it's former New York Mets stopper Armando Benitez.  Once an electrifying fireballer, he is now known more for his blowing important games.  One such game was the opening game of the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees, known as the "Subway Series."

Benitez and the Mets had a 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, but it didn't last.  A rally capped by Chuck Knoblauch's sac fly tied the game up and the Yankees eventually won the game in 12 innings.

That was all the momentum the Yankees needed as they went on to clinch the series, their third straight, in five games.  One wonders what could have been had the Mets established dominance with a Game 1 win.

No. 12: Game 6 of 1999 NLCS

While we're on the subject, let's discuss another infamous blown save at the hands of Armando Benitez.  This one occurred in Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS, with the Mets attempting to come back from a 3-0 series deficit against their bitter rivals, the Atlanta Braves.

At first, it looked as though the Braves had this game in the bag as they led 7-3 after six innings.  Yet, in the top of the seventh, the Mets tied the game and went toe-to-toe with the Braves for the next few innings.  In the 10th inning, the boys from Flushing took a 9-8 lead off a sac fly by Todd Pratt.

Yet, Benitez blew it in the bottom frame when he gave up a game-tying RBI single to Ozzie Guillen.  Kenny Rogers then took over in the bottom of the 11th and ended the game in the worst way possible.  After loading the bases with two intentional walks to set up the force at home and the double play, Rogers walked Andruw Jones on a 3-2 pitch to give Atlanta a 10-9 victory.

No. 11: Game 3 of 1998 World Series

The 1998 World Series was an interesting one despite lasting just the minimum four games.  It pitted the young and hungry San Diego Padres against the New York Yankees, who had won 114 games during the regular season.

In Game 3, the Padres seemed destined to take the first game played on their home turf as they had a 3-2 lead entering the eighth inning.  After Randy Myers issued a walk to Paul O'Neill to open the inning, Padres manager Bruce Bochy brought in lights-out closer Trevor Hoffman.  Following a walk to Tino Martinez, Hoffman blew the save by giving up a three-run home run to Scott Brosius.

The Yankees won the game 5-4 and completed the sweep the very next day.  Sure enough, Brosius was named series MVP.

No. 10: Game 2 of 1992 World Series

The 1992 World Series pitted the Toronto Blue Jays, playing in their first World Series, against the Atlanta Braves, who were back in the Fall Classic and looking to avenge their loss to the Minnesota Twins the previous year.  The series opened in Atlanta and after taking the first game, the Braves were in position to win Game 2 as well.  Yet, such was not to be.

Closer Jeff Reardon (pictured) was handed a 4-3 lead entering the ninth inning and after issuing a leadoff walk to Derek Bell, he gave up a two-run shot to backup infielder Ed Sprague.  The Blue Jays went on to take Game 2 and eventually won the series in six games.

No. 9: Game 4 of 1996 World Series

The 1996 World Series marked the New York Yankees returning to the World Series for the first time since 1981, so of course some New Yorkers were going nuts.  The team's opponent was the Atlanta Braves, who had won the previous year's World Series against the Cleveland Indians.

Sure enough, the Braves took the first two games in New York before losing Game 3 in Atlanta.  Yet, not to be deterred, they jumped out to a 6-0 lead in Game 4 before the Yankees cut the lead in half in the seventh inning.

To start the eighth, Braves manager Bobby Cox elected to use closer Mark Wohlers to keep the lead intact.  Wohlers gave up two singles to start the inning and then got one out on a misplayed ground ball that should have been a double play.

At that point, with the crowd roaring, Wohlers imploded and gave up a game-tying three-run homer to Jim Leyritz (pictured).  The Yankees eventually won the game in 10 innings by a score of 8-6 and also took the next two games to win their first championship since 1978.

No. 8: Game 7 of 1997 World Series

The 1997 World Series featured two teams completely different from one another.  Representing the American League were the Cleveland Indians, who were loaded with seasoned veterans and some dangerous power hitters in Jim Thome and outfielder Manny Ramirez.  Representing the National League were the Florida Marlins, a generally young team who had won the NL Wild Card that year.

Believe it or not, the young and scrappy Marlins squad went toe-to-toe with the more experienced Indians, all the way to Game 7 of the series.  Cleveland led 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth and manager Mike Hargrove handed the ball to closer Jose Mesa.  Instead of getting three quick outs like he was known to do, Mesa gave up two singles and a one-out sac fly to tie the game.

The Marlins eventually won the series on Edgar Renteria's RBI single in the 11th inning and Mesa was never the same pitcher again.

No. 7: Game 6 of 1985 World Series

Game 6 of the 1985 World Series featured a blown save that if you look at the replay, should not have even happened.  Played between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals, the game was a pitchers duel until the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead on Brian Harper's RBI single in the top of the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog called upon rookie closer Todd Worrell to get the last three outs.  Jorge Orta led off the inning and hit what looked like an easy bouncer to first baseman Jack Clark.  Worrell covered first and fielded a throw from Clark and replays indicate that Orta was indeed out by a step.

Yet, in a blown call that is discussed to this day, umpire Don Denkinger ruled Orta safe.  The Royals subsequently rallied and won the game on Dane Lorg's two-run bloop single a few batters later.  The Cardinals never recovered and were destroyed in Game 7 by a score of 11-0.

No. 6: Game 6 of 1993 World Series

This is a game that I remember distinctly, as 1993 was the year that I first fell in love with baseball.  One of my favorite players was Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter, whose million-dollar smile and incredible play on the field made him one of the game's most likeable players.  I was only seven years old at the time and my parents told me around the sixth or seventh inning that it was bedtime.  Sure enough, a combination of begging and the sad puppy face convinced them to let me watch the rest.

The game itself was intense.  In the top of the seventh inning, the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from being down 5-1 to take a 6-5 lead.  In the bottom of the ninth inning, manager Jim Fregosi handed the ball to closer Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams.

The tall lefty lived up to his nickname and started the inning with a leadoff walk to Rickey Henderson before getting Devon White to fly out.  Williams then allowed a single to eventual series MVP Paul Molitor, moving Henderson to second.

Carter then came to bat and on a 2-2 pitch launched a line-drive home run down the left field line to give the Blue Jays an 8-6 victory and their second straight World Series title.  To this day, I remember running around my parents' living room in happiness.

No. 5: Game 1 of 1988 World Series

To this day, this blown save is considered one of the most inspirational moments in baseball history.  The Los Angeles Dodgers were taking on the Oakland Athletics in a battle for state pride and in Game 1, Oakland had a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth.

Closer Dennis Eckersley got two quick outs before walking Mike Davis, which brought eventual NL MVP Kirk Gibson to the plate.  Gibson was not expected to play at all, as he had two injured legs and was also battling a stomach virus.  Yet, he played through the pain and fouled off several of Eckersley's best pitches before launching the game-winning two-run shot into right field.

Watch the video to the left and note how hard it is for Gibson to just run the bases.

No. 4: Game 6 of 1986 World Series

My uncle is a diehard Mets fan and he never gets tired of telling this story.  The New York Mets entered Game 6 of the World Series trailing the Boston Red Sox three games to two.  The game was a dogfight as it was tied 3-3 going into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Boston outfielder Dave Henderson gave the Sawx a 4-3 lead with his solo shot and an RBI single by Mart Barrett extended that lead to 5-3.  Boston turned to Calvin Schiraldi to get the last three outs and and he got two quick ones in retiring Keith Hernandez and Wally Backman.  Then, the house fell down.

Gary Carter singled to left field and pinch-hitter Kevin Mitchell followed with a single of his own, moving Carter to second.  Ray Knight then hit a single on an 0-2 pitch, scoring Carter and moving Mitchell to third.

Schiraldi was then replaced with the unpredictable "Big" Bob Stanley, who was to face Mookie Wilson.  Stanley was his usual wild self, allowing Mitchell to score the tying run on a wild pitch.  Then on a 3-2 pitch, Wilson hit a slow grounder to first base that sneaked through the legs and under the glove of first baseman Bill Buckner and both runners scored to give the Mets the victory. 

The Red Sox would blow it again in Game 7, surrendering a 3-0 lead as the Mets went on to win 8-5.  In the end, it all came back to Buckner's error.

No. 3: Game 5 of 2004 ALCS

Even though the Yankees have won a World Series since this disaster of an ALCS, I'm still a bit traumatized.  Yet, I'm a professional and will buck up for the sake of history.

The Yankees had a 3-1 lead entering this game and had a 4-2 lead entering the eighth inning.  David "Big Papi" Ortiz led off the bottom half with a solo shot off of Tom Gordon, who then walked Kevin Millar, who was then replaced with pinch-runner Dave Roberts.  Trot Nixon then hit a single and moved Roberts to third.

Yankees manager Joe Torre then brought in Mariano Rivera to stop the bleeding, but he gave up a sac fly to Jason Varitek and the game was tied.  This game didn't end until the 14th inning, when Ortiz singled home the winning run off of Esteban Loaiza.  I won't even bother into saying how the rest of the series panned out.

Yet, this was not the worst blown save of the series.  Rather...

No. 2: Game 4 of 2004 ALCS

Alright, Josh.  It's time to move on and buck up.  Take solace in the fact that the Red Sox choked this year and probably won't win a World Series for a long time.

Anyway, enough of my inner monologue.  Let's talk about this atrocity of a game.

The Yankees led 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning and Mariano Rivera was naturally on the mound.  After an easy eighth, Rivera started the ninth with a leadoff walk to Kevin Millar, who was replaced with speedster Dave Roberts.

Roberts then stole second base as Rivera pitched to Bill Mueller.  On the next pitch, Mueller lined a single that scored the tying run.  The game remained tied until the bottom of the 11th, when David Ortiz hit a walkoff two-run shot to give Boston the victory.

Sure enough, the Red Sox went on to win the next three games and then the World Series.  To date, Boston fans like to be cruel and remind Yankees fans about this series.

No. 1: Game 5 of 1986 ALCS

With a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Red Sox, the then-California Angels appeared ready to advance to the World Series for the first time.  They had a 5-2 lead entering the top of the ninth, but starter Mike Witt allowed Don Baylor to hit a two-run shot with two strikes to cut the lead to 5-4.

Witt was replaced with Gary Lucas, who then hit Rich Gedman on the first pitch.  Angels Manager Gene Mauch then chose to replace Lucas with closer Donnie Moore, who faced Dave Henderson and came within one strike of giving the Angels the pennant.

Instead, Henderson hit a monster two-run home run to give the Red Sox a 6-5 lead.  The Angels would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning, but would ultimately lose the game 7-6 (on a sac fly given up by Moore to Henderson, oddly enough) as well as the series in seven games.

While this may not seem like the worst blown save, I'm ranking it No. 1 simply because of the aftermath.  Angels fans never forgave Moore and booed him whenever he entered a game from that point on, and it caused him to sink into depression.

Moore's state of mind reached its worst in 1989, when he got into a fight with his wife Tonya and shot her three times in front of their three children.  Tonya fled the scene with 17-year-old daughter Demetria in tow and went to the hospital.  She survived her wounds.

Yet, the story ended in tragedy.  Shortly after his wife and daughter left, Moore turned the gun on himself.  He was just 35 years old.

This blown save may not seem like much in hindsight, but its long-term effects are unquestionable.