2011 World Series: Ranking 25 Most Clutch Hits in World Series History

With the Rangers and the Cardinals punching their ticket to the 2011 World Series and things set to kick off this Wednesday, we will write a new chapter in the long and storied history of the Fall Classic.

Throughout the history of the World Series, some of the most memorable moments in the history of baseball and sports in general have come in the Fall Classic, and there is nothing quite like a walk-off hit in a deciding Game 7 when the stakes are the highest.

It is in these crucial situations that legends are born, and here is a look at the 25 most clutch hits in World Series history.

No. 25: Alex Gonzalez Walk-Off HR in 2003, Game 4

After coming back to beat the Cubs in the NLCS, the Marlins once again found themselves down in the series against the Yankees, 2-1.

The Marlins struck for three runs in the first inning, and held a 3-1 lead going into the ninth. That brought in closer Ugueth Urbina, but he gave up a two-out, two-run triple to Ruben Sierra to send the game into extras.

After a scoreless 10th and 11th, the Marlins finally broke through in the bottom of the 12th, when shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who was hitting just .077 to that point in the series, led off the inning with a game-winning long ball.

No. 24: Scott Podsednik Walk-Off HR in 2005, Game 2

The White Sox held a 6-4 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning, as they looked to go up 2-0 against the Astros. They called on closer Bobby Jenks, and he did not have his best stuff to close out the game.

He had runners on second and third with two outs, and the White Sox still up 6-4, when the Astros called on pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino for one last chance. He hit the first pitch he saw for a two-run single, tying things up and chasing Jenks. Neal Cotts managed to get the Sox out of the inning without further damage.

The Astros then called on their own closer, Brad Lidge, to keep the game tied. After getting the first batter of the inning out, Scott Podsednik came to the plate for the Sox.

Podsednik had gone without a home run in 507 regular season at-bats, but he drove Lidge's 2-1 offering over the right center field wall for the most improbable of walk-off wins.

No. 23: Cookie Lavagetto Walk-Off Double in 1947, Game 4

With the Yankees leading the series 2-1, the Dodger fell behind early in Game 4 when the Yankees scored a run in the top of the first, and found themselves trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth inning.

However, this was no ordinary 2-1 lead for the Yankees as starter Bill Bevens carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, albeit with eight walks and a run allowed.

After getting a quick first out, Bevens walked Carl Furillo for his ninth free pass of the game to put the winning run on base. A popout by Spider Jorgensen put Bevens one out from a no-hitter and the Yankees one out from a 3-1 series lead.

Al Gionfriddo came on to pinch-run for Furillo and promptly stole second, prompting the Yankees to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Pete Reiser. That brought on another pinch-hitter in Cookie Lavagetto and he delivered with a two-run, walk-off double.

No. 22: Eddie Mathews Walk-Off HR in 1957, Game 4

The Braves trailed the Yankees 2-1 following a 12-3 shellacking in Game 3, and they had their ace Warren Spahn on the hill with a chance to even the series.

Spahn pitched well through eight innings, giving up just one run as the Braves led 4-1 heading into the top of the ninth. However, he ran into trouble in the ninth, giving up three runs as the Yankees tied things up to force extra innings.

The Braves then opted to leave Spahn in for a 10th inning, and he gave up another run as the Braves found themselves down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the 10th.

The first batter of the inning was hit by a pitch then sacrificed over to second base. That was followed by an RBI double from Johnny Logan, as the Braves tied things up.

The damage was not done, however, as the next batter was Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews. He launched a home run to deep right field to give the Braves the win and bail out Spahn.

No. 21: Tommy Henrich Walk-Off HR in 1949, Game 1

The opening game of the 1949 World Series was the definition of a pitcher's duel, as the Dodgers' Don Newcombe and Yankees' Allie Reynolds each threw eight scoreless frames.

Reynolds, who gave up just two hits, retired the Dodgers in order in the top of the ninth, as he was absolutely dominant the entire game.

Newcombe had given up just four hits, while striking out 11 through eight innings, and he faced Tommy Henrich to start the top of the ninth. And just like that, the shutout and the game was over, as Henrich hit the first pitch he saw for a game-winning homer.

No. 20: Dusty Rhodes Walk-Off HR in 1954, Game 1

This game is best remembered for the "The Catch," when Willie Mays made an insane over-the-shoulder catch on a dead sprint to preserve a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth. However, that catch also set up one of the biggest walk-off home runs of all time.

The Indians struck for two runs in the first inning, but the Giants came back and tied things up in the bottom of the third. The teams would go scoreless through the ninth inning.

After the Indians failed to score in the top of the 10th, they sent their ace Bob Lemon back to the mound for a 10th inning of work. After striking out the leadoff hitter, Lemon walked Willie Mays, who then stole second base. That led to an intentional walk of Hank Thompson to set up the double play.

With Monte Irvin scheduled to hit next, the Giants elected to pinch-hit, as Irvin was 0-for-3 in the game. They sent utility man Dusty Rhodes to the plate and he responded by hitting the first pitch he saw for a game-winning home run to deep right field.

No. 19: Bing Miller Walk-Off Double in 1929, Game 5

Entering Game 5 of the World Series, the A's led the Cubs 3-1 and were looking to close the door on the series and take home the title.

Cubs starter Pat Malone had other ideas, however, as he took a two-hit shutout into the bottom of the ninth inning with his team leading 2-0 and seemingly headed to a Game 6.

After striking out the first batter of the ninth inning, Malone gave up a single and then a two-run home run to Mule Haas to tie things up. The next batter up was catcher Mickey Cochrane and he grounded out for the second out of the inning, but Malone would be unable to get the game into extra innings.

Up next was Al Simmons who reached on a double, and he was followed by the always dangerous Jimmie Foxx who was intentionally walked. That brought up right fielder Bing Miller who had one of the two hits off of Malone entering the inning. Miller put the game and the series away with a walk-off RBI double.

No. 18: Goose Goslin Walk-Off Single in 1935, Game 6

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 series lead in the 1935 World Series, but the Cubs scored a 3-1 win in Game 5 to force a sixth game.

Things were all knotted up at 3-3 entering the ninth inning, and Tigers starter Tommy Bridges had pitched around trouble all game with 11 hits allowed to that point. It was much of the same in the ninth inning as Bridges gave up a lead-off triple to Stan Hack but managed to get out of the inning unscathed.

Cubs starter Larry French was in the same boat, with 10 hits allowed through eight innings, and he too found himself in trouble in the ninth inning. After striking out the first batter, he surrendered a single to catcher Mickey Cochrane, who was moved over to second base on a Charlie Gehringer ground out.

That brought up future Hall of Famer Goose Goslin, who was 0-for-4 on the game. He stepped up when it counted, though, as he singled to right field to score Cochrane and give the Tigers a walk-off series win.

No. 17: Billy Martin Walk-Off Single in 1953, Game 6

Best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, Martin also enjoyed a solid 11-year playing career with his best season coming in 1953. That year, he hit .257 BA, 15 HR, 75 RBI and garnered some MVP votes.

He was even better in the World Series, as he went 12-for-24 with two home runs and eight RBI, but no RBI was bigger than his Game 6 single that gave the Yankees the series in dramatic fashion.

Leading the series 3-2, the Yankees took a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning and looked on their way to clinching things. The Dodgers had other ideas, though, as Duke Snider drew a one-out walk and Carl Furillo launched a two-run home run to tie things up in what qualifies as an incredibly clutch moment in itself.

Hank Bauer then led off the bottom of the inning for the Yankees with a walk, and Mickey Mantle put runners on first and second with a one-out single. That brought up Martin, who lined a single to center field to score Bauer and give the Yankees the win.

No. 16: Dane Iorg Walk-Off Single in 1985, Game 6

With the Cardinals leading the series 3-2, the Royals entered Game 6 in a must-win situation but they found themselves trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth and set to face Cardinals closer Todd Worrell.

Pinch-hitter Jorge Orta led off the inning and was called safe on an infield single despite the fact that he was clearly out as umpire Don Denkinger blew the call. That was followed by a single, a ground out and an intentional walk to bring up pinch-hitter Dane Lorg with the bases loaded and one out.

The 35-year-old had hit just .213 during the regular season with only 21 RBI, but he came through when it mattered with a single to right, scoring two runs and sending the series to a Game 7 that the Royals would go on to win.

No. 15: Harry Walker RBI Double in 1946, Game 7

Following a 4-1 victory in a must-win Game 6, the Cardinals took the field against the Red Sox for Game 7 of the 1946 World Series and jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after five innings.

However, the Red Sox knotted things up in the top of the eighth when Dom DiMaggio connected on a two-run double.

Enos Slaughter led off the bottom of the eighth for the Cardinals with a single, but he was still standing on first base when Harry Walker stepped up to the plate later in the inning with two outs, hoping to keep the inning alive.

He did just that when he lined a double into the left-center gap, and just as center fielder Leon Culberson got the ball in to cutoff man Johnny Pesky, Slaughter was running through the third base coach's stop sign and heading for home.

For one reason or another, Pesky momentarily froze, perhaps out of surprise that Slaughter was running, but in the end, his relay throw to the plate was too late and Slaughter scored what held up to be the winning run of the game and the series.

No. 14: Bernie Carbo Three-Run HR in 1975, Game 6

Game 6 of the 1975 World Series is considered by some to be the single greatest baseball game ever played, and it was certainly not short on memorable moments.

While the iconic image of Carlton Fisk waving his game-winning home run fair gets the recognition, it would not have been possible had it not been for an unlikely home run earlier in the game.

Trailing 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Red Sox put two men on to open the inning before Rawly Eastwick came on in relief and got out the first two batters he faced.

With the pitcher's spot due up, the Red Sox called on their top bat off the bench in Bernie Carbo, and he responded with a huge three-run home run to tie things up and set the stage for Fisk's home run in the 12th inning.

No. 13: Tino Martinez Two-Run HR in 2001, Game 4

After jumping out to a 2-1 series lead, the Diamondbacks held a 3-1 lead heading into the eighth inning of Game 4.

Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly turned to his closer Byung-Hyun Kim for a two-inning save. Kim looked great in the eighth inning striking out the side. Things would not go as smoothly in the ninth inning, however.

After getting Derek Jeter out to lead off the inning, Kim surrendered a single to Paul O'Neill but rebounded to strike out Bernie Williams. That brought Tino Martinez to the plate with the Diamondbacks one out from a 3-1 series lead.

Martinez had other ideas though, as he launched a two-run home run to tie things up and send it to extras, setting up the next hit on our list...

No. 12: Derek Jeter Walk-Off HR in 2001, Game 4

After the Diamondbacks failed to score in the top of the 10th, Brenly decided to stick with his closer for a third inning. He got the first two batters of the inning out, bringing up Jeter just as the clock at Yankee Stadium passed midnight, marking the first time baseball had been played in November.

After drawing a full count, Jeter smacked one over the wall in right field for an opposite-field game winner. That earned him the nickname "Mr. November."

That was not all for the Yankees though, as there would be more heartbreak for Kim in the next game...

No. 11: Scott Brosius Two-Run HR in 2001, Game 5

Looking to bounce back from the drama of Game 4, the Diamondbacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Game 5 and got a great start out of Miguel Batista who went 7 2/3 innings and allowed just five hits and no runs.

Showing all the confidence in the world in his closer, Bob Brenly turned to Byung-Hyun Kim once again to protect a two-run lead.

Jorge Posada led off the inning with a double, but he got the next two batters out bringing the Yankees to their final out once again. And once again, the Yankees came though as this time it was Scott Brosius who launched a two-run home run to tie things up, as the Yankees eventually won it in the bottom of the 12th on an RBI single by Alfonso Soriano.

No. 10: Jim Leyritz Three-Run HR in 1996, Game 4

In the World Series for the first time since 1981, the Yankees dropped the first two games of the 1996 Series at home before taking Game 3 in Atlanta. However, they looked to be on their way to a 3-1 deficit when the Braves took a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning.

A three-run top of the sixth moved the Yankees within three runs, but when the Braves turned to closer Mark Wohlers to start the eighth inning, it was clear they intended to slam the door.

The Yankees had other ideas though, as Charlie Hayes and Darryl Strawberry opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Following a Mariano Duncan groundout, backup catcher Jim Leyritz stepped up to the plate.

Leyritz entered the game in the fifth inning when starting catcher Joe Girardi was pinch hit for, and he made the most of the position he found himself in as he launched a three-run, game-tying home run.

The Yankees went on to win the game in extra innings, and the next two games as well to take the series. The momentum of the Leyritz home run is pointed to as the true start of the Yankees' late 1990s and early 2000s dynasty.

No. 9: Scott Spezio Three-Run HR in 2002, Game 6

The Angels' postseason magic seemed to have run out in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series as they trailed 5-0 and had just nine outs to work with.

After dealing through six innings, Giants starter Russ Ortiz surrendered back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh inning and Giants manager Dusty Baker called on right-hander Felix Rodriguez to face Scott Spezio.

After working the count full, fouling off four pitches in the process, Spezio got the pitch he was looking for and, with one swing of the bat, he gave the Angels new life, and all the momentum in the world.

Rodriguez would get out of the inning without further damage, but the Angels struck for three more runs in the eighth inning and went on to win the game and the series.

No. 8: Kirk Gibson, Walk-Off HR in 1988, Game 1

Leading 4-3 heading into the ninth inning of Game 1, the A's turned to their all-world closer Dennis Eckersley, who had an AL-best 45 saves and finished second in AL Cy Young voting, to slam the door in the ninth inning. After getting two quick outs, Eck walked pinch-hitter Mike Davis, and the Dodgers turned to Kirk Gibson to pinch hit for the pitcher's spot.

With two bad knees, Gibson hobbled up to the plate as the Dodgers' last chance. After fouling off a number of pitches, he managed to work a full count. According to Gibson, Dodgers scout Mel Didier had told him that Eckersley threw a backdoor slider nearly exclusively whenever he had a 3-2 count.

Gibson got the pitch he was looking for and hit it into the right field bleachers, setting the tone for the rest of the series, which the Dodgers would win in five games.

No. 7: Carlton Fisk Walk-Off HR in 1975, Game 6

On the brink of elimination down 3-2 to the Reds in the World Series, the Red Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 6-6, and that remained the score until the bottom of the 12th inning.

After throwing two perfect innings of relief, the Reds' Pat Darcy took the mound for his third inning of work in the 12th, and first up for the Red Sox was cleanup hitter Carlton Fisk.

After taking the first pitch he saw for a ball, Fisk lined a ball deep down the left field line that had the distance but looked as though it may drift foul.

With Fisk waving his arms in an attempt to coax it fair, in what has become an iconic baseball moment, the ball kicked off the left field foul pole for a home run.

The Red Sox would go on to lose Game 7, but the home run has gone down as one of the best in baseball history.

No. 6: Joe Carter Walk-Off HR in 1993, Game 6

With the Blue Jays up 3-2 in the series, the Blue Jays held a 5-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning with starter Dave Stewart pitching well.

However, Stewart led off the inning allowing a walk, a single and then a three-run Lenny Dykstra home run promptly chased him from the game. The Phillies would go on to score two more runs before the Jays got out of the seventh, and they held that 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

The Phillies turned to closer Mitch Williams in the ninth. Williams had 43 saves during the regular season, but he was not known as "Wild Thing" for nothing, as he walked the first batter of the inning in Rickey Henderson.

After getting a fly out, Williams then surrendered a single to Paul Molitor. That brought up Joe Carter with runners on first and second, and he hit a 2-2 pitch to deep left field, just clearing the wall to give the Jays the win and the series.

No. 5: Earl McNeely Walk-Off Single in 1924, Game 7

A 24-year-old rookie in 1924, Earl McNeely played in just 43 regular-season games but did enough to find himself as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter in the postseason as he hit .330 with 31 runs scored in 179 at-bats.

McNeely entered Game 7 hitting just .238 for the series. The game was a battle from the start and ended up going to extra innings. Hall of Famer Walter Johnson took over in the top of the 11th for the Senators and kept things tied up entering the bottom of the 11th.

After the first batter of the inning grounded out, the second batter Muddy Ruel doubled after getting new life on a missed foul pop-up by the catcher. Johnson then came up and reached on an error by the shortstop putting runners on first and second with one out for McNeely.

McNeely then hit a ground ball to Giants third baseman Freddie Lindstrom which took a bad hop and got past him into left field for a single, as Ruel scored for the walk-off win and the Senators captured their only World Series title.

No. 4: Edgar Renteria Walk-off Single in 1997, Game 7

One of the bigger underdog stories in World Series history, the Marlins took on a loaded Indians team in 1997 and the teams alternated wins through the first six games to take things to a deciding Game 7.

The Indians held a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning and closer Jose Mesa took the mound in an attempt to slam the door and give the Indians a title. However, he was unable to lock things down and after a pair of singles, Craig Counsell delivered with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

After a scoreless 10th, Jay Powell came on and pitched a scoreless top of the 11th to bring the Marlins up with a chance to win it against Indians ace Charles Nagy.

Bobby Bonilla led off the inning with a single, and following a Greg Zaun pop-out, Craig Counsell reached on an error. That was followed by an intentional walk to Jim Eisenreich to load the bases, but Nagy managed to get the second out of the inning when Devon White grounded out to second and Bonilla was forced out at home.

That brought up 21-year-old shortstop Edgar Renteria, and he singled up the middle to score Counsell and give the Marlins a title in just their fifth season as a team.

No. 3: Luis Gonzalez Walk-Off Single in 2001, Game 7

In one of the most exciting World Series of all time, the Diamondbacks entered Game 7 coming off of a 15-2 victory in Game 6 that was preceded by a pair of blown saves by closer Byung-Hyun Kim that resulted in extra-inning losses.

However, things looked to be all over as the Diamondbacks entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 2-1 set to face the greatest closer of all time in Mariano Rivera.

Mark Grace led off the ninth with a single, and an error by Rivera put runners on first and second with no one out. A failed sacrifice bunt by Jay Bell made it first and second with one out when leadoff hitter Tony Womack smacked a double down the right field line to score one and tie things up.

Clearly rattled, Rivera hit the next batter to bring Luis Gonzalez to the plate. Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, tie game, World Series Game 7, the ultimate scenario and Gonzalez delivered with a bloop single to score Bell and give Arizona the title.

No. 2: Kirby Puckett Walk-Off HR in 1991, Game 6

Down 3-2 in the series to the Braves, it was do-or-die for the Twins in Game 6, and they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Braves tied things up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, but the Twins once again took the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning.

A Mark Lemke single to open the seventh inning chased Twins starter Scott Erickson, and after reliever Mark Guthrie loaded the bases, Ron Gant tied things up with an RBI ground out.

The score would remain 3-3 until the bottom of the 11th, when Puckett led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to left center off of a 2-1 pitch from reliever Charlie Leibrandt, pushing the series to a Game 7, a game that would be won on a dominant pitching performance by Jack Morris.

No. 1: Bill Mazeroski Walk-Off HR in 1960 Game 7

Mazeroski is widely regarded as the best defensive second baseman ever to play the game, yet the crowning achievement of his career is without a doubt his game-ending and World Series-ending home run in 1960.

After hitting 11 home runs during the regular season, one of just six times he broke double digits during his 17-year career, Mazeroski led off the bottom of the ninth inning in what had been a back-and-forth seventh game of the series.

After scoring five runs in the eighth to take a 9-7 lead, the Pirates surrendered two runs in the top of the ninth to tie things up. Mazeroski led off the bottom of the ninth, hitting in the eighth spot in the lineup, and he crushed Ralph Terry's 1-0 offering over the left field wall for the first World Series-winning home run in baseball history.