THE TOP WORLD SERIES MOMENTS From Walk-Offs to Broken Curses

The World Series. The Fall Classic. America’s pastime hits its peak in late October/early November and there is hardly a championship series in another sport quite like it. While there have been countless worthy moments in the last 114 years (how about Game 2 this year?!), here are ManScore’s top moments in the history of the World Series.


Bill Mazeroski’s Walk-off Homer | 1960 Game 7
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Og0gUKfvc) Some call it the “Greatest Game Ever Played,” and whether you agree or not, this one was special. With the Yankees leading 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Pirates came alive scoring five runs in crazy fashion. New York would not be outdone, scoring two runs in the ninth and tying the game. This would set up Bill Mazeroski to become the first player to ever hit a walk-off home run in the World Series and encasing himself forever in baseball history.


Cubs Finally Win It All | 2016 Game 7
The longest drought in sports history finally came to an end…but it wasn’t easy by any means. 2016’s World Series found the Cubs down 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians and it was quickly looking like the “curse of the goat” wasn’t just folklore. Against all odds, Chicago clawed their way back to force a pivotal game 7; one that will be remembered for a long time. After the Cubs failed to preserve a three-run lead in the eighth inning, the game was tied and headed to extras—at least until a 17-minute rain delay halted action. A Cubs player’s meeting during the delay (with Jason Heyward leading) amplified the team’s spirits, leading to a two-run top of the tenth and their first World Series title since 1908.


The Wild Card Marlins Walk It Off | 1997 Game 7
It’s hard to beat a Game 7 in the World Series, and 1997’s was one for the books. After tying it in the ninth and sending the game to extras, the Florida Marlins looked to win their first ever championship in their young five years of existence. With the bases loaded, Édgar Rentería got his chance and delivered with a walk-off base hit up the center, making the Marlins baseball’s first wild-card team to win the Fall Classic


Joe Carter’s Biggest Home Run | 1993 Game 6
Okay, there’s a lot of walk-offs on this list, but can you blame us? There’s just something about one swing of the bat deciding a season that took 162 regular season games and 8 playoff games that is mesmerizing. This one ain’t no different. Down by one in the bottom of the ninth, Joe Carter strode into the box for the Blue Jays and took a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall in one of the greatest finishes the World Series has ever seen. “Touch ‘em all, Joe. You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life.”


Blown Call Leads to a Kansas City Rally | 1985 Game 6
Blown calls are pretty rare nowadays, with video replay technology aiding the human error aspect of the game that was awfully prevalent in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Three outs away from clinching, Cardinal’s Todd Worrell pitched to Jorge Orta who hit a chopper to first baseman, Jack Clark. Orta covered first, making the play in time, but umpire Don Denkinger didn’t have a good look and called him safe. Kansas City would rally to a walk-off win, forcing a game 7 and a World Series title. St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog stated in his book, You’re Missing A Great Game, that he wishes he would have asked commissioner Peter Ueberroth to overrule the call. He says that if Ueberroth didn’t, he would have pulled his team and forfeited the game. That’s baseball for ya.


Bonus: Red Sox Break the Curse | 2004 Game 4
The 2004 Boston Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS and swept the Cardinals in the World Series to win their first title in 86 years. It was impressive and was undoubtedly a special moment for baseball fans everywhere when they finally won it all. Joe Castiglione’s call for WEEI in Boston said it all: “Swing and a ground ball stabbed by Foulke! He has it, he underhands to first—and the Boston Red Sox are the world champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won’s baseball’s world championship! Can you believe it?”

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