Ranking All 36 World Series Game 7’s: Fan’s Opinion

The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers just completed the 2011 World Series. The series was the 36th time that the World Series ended in a Game 7 climax. How did the 2011 Game 7 compare to the previous Game 7’s?

Keep in mind that I obviously have not seen every minute of every one of these World Series. I have not even been alive for all of these World Series. To be old enough to live through all of these World Series a fan would have to be 102 years old. If there is actually a 102-year old out there that can write well enough to do their own ranking-and isn’t afraid of these computer contraptions-then that is a blog I’d like to read. Until you find that person you’ll have to settle for me.

36. 1934 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals 11, Detroit Tigers 0
The 1934 Game 7 was by far the worst. After a dramatic six game series there is no worse way to end the series than a 11-0 blowout.

35. 1985 World Series Game 7: Kansas City Royals 11, St. Louis Cardinals 0
For the first six games the 1985 World Series was a great contest between the two Missouri baseball teams. Unfortunately Game 7 was the most anticlimactic game in World Series history. The Cardinals didn’t put up much of a fight in a 11-0 loss. The offense was led by George Brett who went 4 for 5 although somehow did not have an RBI. Brett did score two runs. In fact, seven of the nine starters scored and three of them scored twice. Meanwhile, Bret Saberhagen pitched the complete game shutout for the Royals.

34. 1956 World Series Game 7: New York Yankees 9, Brooklyn Dodgers 0
In the 1955 World Series the Brooklyn Dodgers finally beat the New York Yankees for the first time in 5 series. The Yankees were not too pleased and wanted revenge in 1956. The Dodgers extended the series to seven games after a 10-inning Game 6 ended with a 1-0 score. Game 7 would not have the same outcome. The starting pitcher for the Dodgers, Don Newcombe, would only last three innings and surrender five runs. Newcombe can only take solace in the fact that he wasn’t the worst pitcher that day. One of the Dodgers’ relievers, Roger Craig, gave up the Yankees’ other four runs and never retired a single batter. The best pitcher of the day was Yankees starter Johnny Kucks, who pitched nine scoreless innings. The star for the game on the Yankees offense was Yogi Berra. Berra went 2 for 3 with two walks, three runs, two home runs and four RBI.

33. 1909 World Series Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 8, Tigers 0
The 1909 World Series is significant because it was the first World Series to go the maximum amount of games. That’s about the only positive thing to say about this game though. Game 7 was the third start in this series for Babe Adams. In all three games Adams allowed just six hits. One key reason the Pirates won this series is because they held Ty Cobb to 6 for 26 for the series.

32. 1945 World Series Game 7: Detroit Tigers 9, Chicago Cubs 3
The Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs faced off in a classic postseason game that ended with a 8-7 score in 12 innings. Unfortunately that was Game 6 of the series. Game 7 was not quite as dramatic. The Tigers scored 5 runs in the top of the first. The Cubs would answer with one run in the bottom of the first but that was the closest they got as the Tigers cruised to a 9-3 victory.

31. 2002 World Series Game 7: Anaheim Angels 4, San Francisco Giants 1
The 2002 World Series was full of offense. Game 2 was a 11-10 slugfest won by the Angels, the Giants won a 10-4 game and the Giants won a 16-4 game. The Giants bats would be silenced at the most inopportune time though, Game 7. John Lackey would pitch five innings and allow just one. Brendan Donnelly allowed just one hit in two innings of relief, Francisco Rodriguez struck out three batters in the 8th and Troy Percival closed the door in the ninth. The Angels scored all the runs they would need in the first three innings. Bengie Molina hit a RBI double to tie the game in the bottom of the 2nd. In the third inning the bases were loaded when Garrett Anderson hit a bases clearing double. The Angels would go on to win Game 7 by a score of 4-1.

30. 1986 World Series Game 7: New York Mets 8, Boston Red Sox 5
The ending of Game 6 is one of the most famous plays in World Series history. A Mookie Wilson ground ball trickled through Bull Buckner’s legs and the Mets won. Many fans may think that was the end of the series because nobody remembers Game 7. Why does nobody remember Game 7? It wasn’t very good. The Boston Red Sox took a three run lead in the second inning but after that it was all Mets. Ray Knight went 3 for 4 including with a two-run home run. Keith Hernandez had 3 RBI and Darryl Strawberry added a home run.

29. 1957 World Series Game 7: Milwaukee Braves 5, New York Yankees 0
The 1957 World Series went to seven games but there wasn’t a lot of drama involved in the final game. The Braves put up a 4-spot early in the game and the Yankees never recovered. New York had two runners on in the sixth and the bases loaded in the ninth but couldn’t eke out a run in either game. The Braves won 5 – 0 behind Bob Hazle and Eddie Mathews’ bats and a complete game shutout by Lew Burdette. Burdette was named the World Series MVP after three complete games and two shutouts in the series.

28. 1967 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals 7, Boston Red Sox 2
Game 7 of the 1967 World Series was another anticlimactic game. Both teams pitched their aces, Bob Gibson and Jim Lonborg. Lonborg pitched on two-days rest though and struggled. Lonborg gave up six runs and ten hits in six innings pitched. Gibson on the other hand pitched his third complete game win, struck out ten and contributed offensively by hitting a home run.

27. 1964 Game 7 World Series: St. Louis Cardinals 7, New York Yankees 5
Coming into Game 7 of the 1964 World Series the New York Yankees had never lost back-to-back World Series-they lost the previous season to the Dodgers-but the Cardinals had never lost a Game 7 in the World Series before. Something had to give. Unfortunately the game was not as good as the buildup. The final score, 7-5, was close but the Cardinals were up 6-0 after six innings and the Yankees were playing from behind the rest of the game. The Yankees did score 2 runs in the ninth to make it interesting at 7-5 but the rally stopped there. The New York Yankees are the greatest team in baseball history but this victory gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 3 – 2 edge against the Yankees in head-to-head World Series.

26. 2011 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers 2
Chris Carpenter had been one of the heroes for the Cardinals improbable World Series run so things looked negative right off the bat for the Cards when Josh Hamilton and Michael Young hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning. The Cardinals would come right back in the bottom of the first though. David Freese set the postseason record for most RBI when he hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the third Allen Craig hit a home run to give the Cardinals the lead. In the fifth inning the Cardinals had the bases loaded when Yadier Molina walked and Rafael Furcal got hit by a pitch. Molina would get an RBI single in the sixth, scoring Lance Berkman. After the rocky first inning Carpenter would allow a run for the next five innings. Arthur Rhodes, Octavio Dotel, Lance Lynn and Jason Motte didn’t allow any runs in relief and there were no phone miscommunications.


25. 1947 Worlds Series Game 7: New York Yankees 5, Brooklyn Dodgers 3
The New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers would face each other six times in a span of ten seasons from 1947 to 1956 and four of those series would require the full seven games. Since the two clubs played so close together-The Bronx and Brooklyn-it was decided there would be no off days between switching stadiums, because of that many of the pitchers were fatigued on both sides but especially the Dodgers who pitched all three of their best pitchers in Game Six to survive a 8-6 game and stay alive.

The Dodgers started Hal Gregg, who at the time had the distinction of being the World Series starter with the fewest regular season games and the highest ERA so far up to that point. The Dodgers gave Gregg an early lead of 2-0 in the second inning but the Yankees came back and scored immediately in the bottom of the 2nd on a Phil Rizzuto single. In the second inning Gregg bent and in the fourth inning he broke. The Yankees scored two more runs to take a 4-2 lead and added a fifth run in the seventh. The Yankees would go on to win 5-2 and Hal Gregg never pitched in a Major League uniform again.


24. 1982 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals 6, Milwaukee Brewers 3
The 1982 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers was very back and forth. The Brewers won the first game to take a 1-0 lead, then the Cardinals won two in a row to lead 2-1. The Brewers came back with two wins to make it 3-2 Brewers but the Cardinals won the last two games to win 4-3. The Brewers were ahead 3-1 in the sixth inning when Ozzie Smith singled and Lonnie Smith doubled. Gene Tenace was walked to load the bases and then Keith Hernandez hit a single that scored two runs. Next George Hendrick singled to make the score 4-3. In the eighth inning the Cardinals brought in Bruce Sutter and he closed the door on a 6-3 victory for the Cardinals.


23. 1931 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals 4, Philadelphia Athletics 2
This was the third consecutive season that the A’s would play in the World series and the second consecutive season they would play the Cardinals. In the first meeting the A’s won in six games but the Cardinals had other plans this time around. The fate of the Cardinals rested squarely on the shoulders of Burleigh Grimes and he did not disappoint the St. Louis faithful. Grimes pitches 8.2 innings and gave up two earned runs but both of those runs did not come until the ninth inning. By then the Cards had a 4-run lead thanks to a two run home run by George Watkins. Bill Hallahan pitched the final third of the ninth inning to give St. Louis the Championship.


22. 1973 World Series Game 7: Oakland A’s 5, New York Mets 2
The Oakland A’s were the defending World Series Champions, won 99 games and dispatched of the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS. Meanwhile the New York Mets won just 82 games, possessed the lowest winning percentage of a playoff team to date and lead the team in injured players. Yet the Mets somehow won the division over the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies-making it the only season between 1970 and 1980 that one of those two teams didn’t win the division-and upset the defending National League Champion Cincinnati Reds. The A’s were the overwhelming favorite but the Mets pushed the series to seven games. It all came apart for the Mets in the third inning though. Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson hit a two-run home run each and those four runs were all the A’s needed in a 5-2 victory.


21. 1958 World Series Game 7: New York Yankees 6, Milwaukee Braves 2
The Yankees and Dodgers played six times in ten seasons but now it was the Braves time on top for a short period. The Braves played the Yankees in the World Series two consecutive seasons but unfortunately for Milwaukee the second World Series did not have the same result as the first. Not only was it a rematch of teams but it was the same two starting pitchers as Game 7 the previous year, Lew Burdette and Don Larsen. Larsen would give up a run in the first inning and Burdette would give up two runs in the second. The Yankees decided to pull Larsen early when they saw he wasn’t pitching well while the Braves left the ball in Burdette’s hands. Those decisions decided the game. Larsen was replaced by Bob Turley, who pitched 6.2 innings and only allowed one run. Burdette on the other hand imploded in the eighth and the Yankees scored four runs in that inning to win 6-2.


20. 1971 World Series Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 2, Baltimore Orioles 1
Some of the games later on this list had better pitching duels but this game was no slouch either. Steve Blass and Mike Cuellar started in Game 7 and they did not disappoint. Only ten hits were allowed in the entire game and only three runs crossed the plate. The first run came in the 4th inning when World Series MVP Roberto Clemente hit a solo home run. The Pirates would score a second run in the top of the eighth when Jose Pagan hit a double that scored Willie Stargell. Blass was dominating the Orioles and the only run they could score was an RBI on a groundout by Don Buford.


19. 1952 World Series Game 7: New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 2
If you hate the New York Yankees now then imagine how everyone must have felt in 1952. The Yankees were seeking their fourth consecutive World Series championship and their 15th World Series title overall. Nobody hated the Yankees more than the Brooklyn Dodgers because Brooklyn had already lost to New York twice in the last six years. In the 4th inning the Yankees got the scoring started with a single by Phil Rizzuto and a double by Johnny Mize. The Dodgers would come right back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 1-1. The very next inning they would do it again. The Yankees take a 2-1 lead on a Gene Woodling home run and then the Dodger came back and tied it on a Pee Wee Reese single. Unfortunately for the Dodgers-and the rest of baseball-the Yankees had a fellow by the name of Mickey Mantle. Mantle homered in the sixth inning and got another RBI single in the seventh inning and that was the difference in the Yankee’s 4-2 victory.


18. 1965 World Series Game 7: Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Minnesota Twins 0
Walt Alston had a tough decision to make in Game 7. Should he start Sandy Koufax of Don Drysdale in Game 7? Okay, Koufax or Drysdale is not the worst decision to have to make but Alston went with Koufax simply because he wanted to start the southpaw. The plan was for Drysdale to be available for relief but he was never needed. Koufax pitched nine innings, allowed no runs, only three hits and struck out ten batters. The Twins countered with Jim Kaat, who allowed two runs in three innings pitched. The Twins relievers would not allow another run but the two runs of support was all Koufax needed.


17. 1979 World Series Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 1
The Pittsburgh Pirates were down in the 1979 World Series three games to one but refused to go away. The “We Are Family” Pirates were led by none other than Willie “Pops” Stargell. In Game 7 Stargell went 4 for 5 with a single two doubles and a two-run home run. The home run in the sixth inning was all the Pirates needed. The Pirates didn’t get a legendary performance from an ace starter like in many World Series but four pitchers-Jim Bibby, Don Robinson, Grant Jackson and Kent Tekulve-combined for nine innings and only one run allowed.


16. 1987 World Series Game 7: Minnesota Twins 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2
In the second inning it looked like the St. Louis Cardinals might cruise to a World Series victory. Minnesota pitcher Frank Viola gave up three singles to start the second inning. Tony Pena then knocked in the first run of the game. Viola managed to get the next two batters out but Steve Lake singled in another run before Viola got out of the jam. The Cardinals were up 2-0 but the Twins were fortunate it was only two runs.

A Steve Lombardozzi single scored Tom Brunansky in the bottom of the second and the Twins were on the board. In the fifth inning Kirby Puckett hit a double that scored Greg Gagne and the Twins had tied the game 2-2. After three walks in the bottom of the sixth inning Gagne delivered a single to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. Meanwhile, Viola was mowing down the Cardinals. After the two runs scored in the second Viola hadn’t allowed another run in six innings. In the bottom of the eight the Twins added an insurance run on a RBI double by Dan Gladden. Jeff Reardon then closed the game and the Minnesota Twins won their first World Series.


15. 1968 World Series Game 7: Detroit Tigers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 1
Bob Gibson was on display again in the 1968 World Series, one year after winning three of the Cardinals four wins in the 1967 World Series. This time the opponent was the Detroit Tigers and their ace pitcher Mickey Lolich. For the first six innings Gibson and Lolich were locked in one of the best pitching duels in Game 7 history. Then in the seventh inning Jim Northrup crush a ball to deep center. Normally Curt Flood, who had won several Gold Glove Awards would have a shot to track down the ball but this time Flood misjudged the ball and started to come in before realizing it was hit harder than he thought. That small hesitation caused the ball to go over his head. Two runs scored and Northrup ended up with a triple. The Tigers would add another run and then one more in the ninth inning. The Cardinals scored in the bottom of the ninth on a Mike Shannon solo home run but could not muster any more runs.


14. 1972 World Series Game 7: Oakland A’s 3, Cincinnati Reds 2
The Oakland A’s took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an unearned run when center fielder Bobby Tolan misplayed a fly ball. In the bottom of the fifth the Reds had a difficult decision to make. The tying run was on third with pitcher Jack Billingham coming up to the plate. Naturally they wanted to score the run on third but Billingham had pitched 13 2/3 innings in the World Series without allowing an earned run. It was decided that Hal McRae would pinch hit for Billingham. McRae came through with a sacrifice fly that would tie the game but Billingham’s replacement, Pedro Borbon, would enter the next inning and give up two runs. The Reds scored a run to cut the deficit to 3-2 but Rollie Fingers closed out the Reds in the ninth inning.


13. 1940 World Series Game 7: Cincinnati Reds 2, Detroit Tigers 1
The 1940 Detroit Tigers were led by a star-studded offense but their starting pitcher was one of those stories of a unheralded player shining bright on the big stage. Bobo Newsom had been a journeyman pitcher for most of his career but pitched the Tigers to a 7-2 victory in Game 1 with his elderly father watching in the stands. The next morning Bobo’s father passed away. Bobo pitched again in Game 5 and after dedicating the game to his father he pitched a three-hit shutout.

The Tigers decided to turn to Bobo once more in the final game of the series. For the first two innings both Bobo and his counterpart Paul Derringer looked sharp. The Tigers scratched out a run in the third inning when an infield single scored a runner from third base. At the time it looked like this Game 7 could end in a 1-0 victory for Detroit. Unfortunately the third time was not a charm for Bobo. In the seventh inning back-to-back doubles by Frank McCormick and Jimmy Ripple tied the game at one. Jimmie Wilson bunted Ripple to third, Ernie Lombardi walked and then Billy Myers hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. Paul Derringer would do the rest of the work as he shut the door on the Detroit Tigers.


12. 1924 World Series Game 7: Washington Senators 4, Giants 3
The New York Yankees are the king of the World Series now but from 1921 to 1924 the New York Giants were the first team to make it to four consecutive World Series. Like the 1912 World Series the deciding game was an extra inning affair. The 1924 World Series is probably the only sporting event that was ever decided by a pebble.

The Giants were leading the Senators 3 – 1 in the 8th inning when Bucky Harris came to the plate with two runners on. Harris hit a routine ground ball down the third base line but the ball hit a pebble and took a bad hop that got past third baseman Freddie Lindstrom. Both runners scored to tie the score at 3-3. The Senators then brought in their ace Walter Johnson to shut down the Giants. In the 12th inning the Senators got runners on first and second and a ground ball by Earl McNeely again took a bad hop and this time it scored the winning run.


11. 1925 World Series Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 9, Washington Senators 7
Forbes Field was the site of the final game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Sentators in 1925. The 7th game was played under horrible conditions and many consider it to be the worst weather that a World Series game has ever played in. When the eventual game-winning hit dropped in for the Pirates in the 8th inning one of the outfielders for the Senators claimed that the ball was actually a foul but the umpire couldn’t see where the ball landed because of the fog in the satdium. This would be the first of about 70 billion “umpires are blind” jokes.


10. 1962 World Series Game 7: New York Yankees 1, New York Giants 0
Ralph Terry pitched two of the top 5 games on this list. Terry would probably like to be remembered for this game rather than the other one later on the list. The 1962 World Series was famous for being the longest World Series in history. The series lasted 13 days due to rain delays. Due to the rain delays the Yankees were able to pitch Terry in Game 7 instead of Jim Bouton.

Terry had pitched well twice already in the series but split the two games with the Giants. His third start would be his best and would be one of the best pitching displays in Game 7 history. Through nine innings Terry allowed no runs, only three hits and did not walk any batters. Jack Sanford pitched great for the Giants as well. Sanford pitched seven innings and only allowed one run. That one run scored on a double play ball, but since there was a runner on third and no outs the runner was able to score. You know it’s a pretty great pitching duel when the only run of the game scores on a ground ball double play. The 1962 Game 7 would stand as the best pitching duel in Game 7 history until about 30 years later but we’ll get to that game in a minute.


9. 1946 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals 4, Boston Red Sox 3
The 1946 World Series was such an epic battle that the eventual winning play was given a nickname, the “Mad Dash”. The 1946 World Series featured the premier hitter in each league. Ted Williams in the American League and Stan Musial in the National League. It was the best batter face off since Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner in 1909 but as it often does in the World Series, the final plays would come from much less known players.

The Cardinals led the Red Sox 3-1 and the game seemed over. St. Louis pitcher Murray Dickson had retired 18 batters in a row. Then in the top of the eighth a pinch hitter named Rip Russell singled. Another pinch hitter, Catfish Metkovich, doubled putting runners on second and third. Harry Brecheen relieved Murray and immediately retired the first two batters. Then with two outs Dom DiMaggio delivered a game tying double. The Red Sox seemed like they were going to come from behind and win the World Series, but let’s not forget this was the first World Series for Boston since Babe Ruth was traded. The “curse” was about to strike.

The next batter was Ted Williams. There is no Red Sox player that fans would rather see but Williams popped out to end the inning and the rally. In the top of the eighth inning Dom DiMaggio had twisted his ankle and was replaced defensively by Leon Culberson. DiMaggio was a very good defensive center fielder but what are the odds the game would come down to that position? Uhhh…well, you’ll see. Enos Slaughter singled to start the bottom of the eighth but the next two batters were retired. The next batter, Harry Walker, lined the ball to where else? Centerfield. Culberson retrieved the ball and threw to the relay man Johnny Pesky. When Pesky got the relay throw he then held the ball, not realizing that Slaughter was going to dash home all the way from first base. Pesky’s hesitation was just enough that the throw home was late and Slaughter scored what would stand as the winning run. Many blamed Pesky’s hestitation but a faster DiMaggio in centerfield also would have prevented Slaughter from scoring. I think we know who the real culprit is though. It wasn’t Pesky or Dom, it was the curse!


8. 1955 World Series Game 7: Brooklyn 2, New York Yankees 0
If you were athletic as a kid but had an older brother or sister who was bigger than you then you probably remember the day that you were finally able to beat them. That must have been the feeling that the Brooklyn Dodgers had in the 1955 World Series. Since the Yankees’ loss in the 1926 World Series New York had been to 16 World Series and had won 15 of them. Nobody could beat the Yankees and the Dodgers themselves had zero championships because New York had beaten them in the World Series four times already.

Gil Hodges would provide most of the offense for the Dodgers. In the 4th inning Hodges had an RBI single and in the 6th inning Hodges hit a sacrifice fly. Two runs would be all that the Dodgers required because starting pitcher Johnny Podres would throw nine scoreless innings. The performance was not totally masterful because the Yankees knocked out eight hits, but they were spread far enough apart that the Yankees couldn’t score. Podres’ performance helped him to capture the first ever World Series MVP.


7. 1975 World Series Game 7: Cincinnati Reds 4, Boston Red Sox 3
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series was one of the most exciting playoff games ever, but like the 1986 World Series, sometimes the seventh game can’t match up to Game 6. The 1975 World Series is one example where game six is very memorable-for Cartlon Fisk waving his arms trying to will his home run shot into fair territory-but game seven was still great too.

The Red Sox would take a two run lead early in the game. In the third inning Carl Yastrzemski came through with an RBI single to give Boston a 1-0 lead. Fisk walked to load the bases and then the starting pitcher, Don Gullet, proceeded to walk the next two batters. Rico Petrocelli and Dwight Evans’ walks forced in two runs to give the Red Sox the 3-0 lead. The Red Sox are finally going to win the World Series right? Well, I think you know what happens next.

Bill “The Spaceman” Lee was pitching for the Red Sox and had pitched five scoreless innings. Lee had a patented Esphus pitch that he called the “Space ball”. Lee threw the “Space bal” to Tony Perez in the fifth inning but Perez timed it perfectly and hit a two home run to cut Boston’s lead to one run. In the next inning Ken Griffey-senior, not junior-produced a run. Griffey walked to start the inning and then stole second base. The next two batters were retired but Pete Rose hit a two-out single to score Griffey and tie the game.

In the ninth inning it was Griffey again that produced a run. Griffey got aboard on another walk, advanced to second on a Cesar Geronimo sacrifice and then moved to third on a groundout. The Reds didn’t want a piece of Rose again and wanted a force out at second base so they intentionally walked Rose. The next batter was Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan. Morgan hit a bloop single that scored Griffey and put the Reds ahead. In the bottom of the ninth inning Reds pitcher Will McEnaney shut down the Red Sox and the Reds won the World Series.


6. 1926 World Series Game 7: St. Louis Cardinals 3, New York Yankees 2
Jesse Haines and Waite Hoyt were the starting pitchers for the final game of the 1926 World Series. The Yankees took a one run lead in the third inning thanks to a solo home run by a man named Babe Ruth. The Yankees defense would relinquish the lead in the very next frame. Mark Koening kicked a gound ball and Bob Meusel dropped a fly ball to allow three runs to score for the Cardinals.

After Ruth’s blast in the third inning the Cardinals intentionally walked him the next three at bats. Finally in the ninth and two outs the Babe came to the plate again. The pitcher, Grover Cleveland Alexander, decided he wanted to face Ruth and not walk him. Alexander would face Ruth but end up unintentionally walking Ruth. Ruth trotted down to first base. Did you question the Cardinals and St. Louis Cardinals this season when they tried to steal a base with Albert Pujols up to bat? Well, here’s one better for you. The Yankees didn’t try to steal with Ruth up at the plate, they tried to steal using Babe Ruth. That’s right, the 1926 World Series ended with Babe Ruth trying to steal second base, and failing.


5. 1997 World Series Game 7: Florida Marlins 3, Cleveland Indians 2
The 1997 World Series between the Marlins and Indians did not include the big market teams and didn’t even have many players that were household names but that didn’t stop the two teams from playing in a classic World Series Game 7. In the third inning Jim Thome walked and Marquis Grissom walked. A sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third. Tony Fernandez followed with a two-run single to give the Indians a two-run lead.

Jaret Wright was crusing until the seventh inning when Bobby Bonilla hit a home run to make the score 2-1. That was the only hiccup for the Indians pitchers for the first eight innings of the game. The Indians then brought in their closer Jose Mesa to close out the World Series but the Marlins had other plans. Moises Alou hit a single and a single by Charles Johnson advanced Alou to third base. Craig Counsell hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 2-2 and the game went into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 11th inning Bonilla singled off of Charles Nagy. Counsell hit a ground ball that Fernandez couldn’t field and Bonilla advanced to third. Nagy intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases so there would be a force out at every base. The strategy worked for the next batter because Devon White hit a ground ball and Bonilla was forced out at home. The next batter was Edgar Renteria. Renteria was not a household name but was maybe the worst possible batter the Indians could face. That season Renteria had five walkoff extra inning hits and against Nagy he got his sixth. The line drive hit by Renteria was so close to being caught that it grazed off of Nagy’s glove before rolling up the middle of the field.


4. 1912 World Series Game 7: Boston Red Sox 3, New York Giants 2
The 7th game of the 1912 World Series is not a very well known series but is considered a classic by the few that are aware of it. The New York Giants started their Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Matthewson but the Red Sox did not bring in their top pitcher, Smoky Joe Wood, until the 8th inning. The two aces kept the game knotted up until the 10th inning.

In the top of the 10th inning Red Murray doubled for the New York Giants and Fred Merkle singled to knock in the run and give New York the 2 – 1 lead. In the bottom of the 10th inning pinch hitter Clyde Engle hit a routine fly ball that Fred Snodgrass dropped. Harry Hooper launched one into center field but this time Snodgrass tracked it down with a great running grab. Unfortunately Engle moved up to third. Matthewson walked Steve Yerkes. That brought up the Red Sox’s star Tris Speaker. Speaker hit a foul fly but none of the fielders could quite reach it. Speaker got a second try and singled home Engle. Larry Gardner then hit a sacrifice fly for the winning run.


3. 2001 World Series Game 7: Arizona Diamondbacks 3, New York Yankees 2
The 2001 World Series was great from start to finish. There was emotion surrounding the series due to the 9/11 attacks, it was a battle between the winningiest team in baseball history versus a team with no World Series appearances, there were future Hall of Fame players on both sides and plenty of last minute heroics.

Game 7 started with Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. Both pitchers won 21 games that season, Clemens was the AL Cy Young and Schilling finished second behind his teammate Randy Johnson. Both could be in the Hall of Fame some day. So it came as a shock to nobody that neither team had scored through five and a half innings. It was the Diamondbacks that struck first against Clemens though. Steve Finley hit a single and Danny Bautista hit a double that scored Finley. Bautista tried to stretch the double into a triple though and got thrown out at third.

This is the New York Yankees though. They seemed invincible over the past six or seven years. New York came back in the top of the 7th and Derek Jeter scored on a Tino Martinez single. Diamondbacks manager decided to keep Schilling in the game and Schilling gave up a solo home run to Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees now had a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth and Mariano Rivera was in the game. Rivera is only the greatest closer in the history of baseball and possibly the greatest playoff performer of all-time. The game was over.

In the eighth Rivera faced the middle of the Diamondbacks lineup. Luis Gonzalez? Strike Out. Matt Williams? Strike Out. Danny Bautista? Strike Out. Mark Grace led off the ninth inning with a single and when Damian Miller hit a ground ball to Rivera it seemed like an easy double play. Instead Rivera threw an errant toss to second base and both runners were safe. Jay Bell laid down a bunt but this time Rivera made a good play to throw out the lead runner at third. Womack hit a double down the right field line scoring pinch runner Midre Cummings. With two runners on Rivera hit Craig Counsell to load the bases. With one out and the bases loaded the Yankees infield played shallow which was key. The next batter, Luis Gonzalez, hit a soft line drive that would be a double play with the infield at regular depth but with the infield drawn in the hit went over Derek Jeter’s head. Rivera’s career postseason ERA is 0.70 but on this night his ERA was 9.00.


2. 1991 World Series Game 7: Minnesota Twins 1, Atlanta Braves 0
The 1991 World Series was already one of the best World Series ever played even before Game 7. The Twins opened with a Game 1 victory and then won a close one run game in Game 2. The Braves won Game 3 in the 12th inning with a walkoff single by Mark Lemke of all people. The Braves won another one run game in Game 4 then broke out the bats in a 14-5 victory in Game 5. Game 6 ended with the famous Kirby Puckett walkoff home run in the 11th inning.

The reason the 1991 Game 7 was epic was because it was the best pitching duel in World Series history. In the third inning the Twins had a chance to score a run. Dan Gladden was on third base but John Smoltz struck out Puckett to end the frame. In the fifth inning the Braves had a chance to score with Mark Lemke on third base but Terry Pendleton popped up and Jack Morris struck out Ron Gant to end the inning. Morris and Smoltz were so dominant that those were the only scoring chances for either team for the first seven innings.

In the eighth inning Lonnie Smith was on first base and Bobby Cox put on the hit-and-run. Terry Pendleton hit one in the gap and with Smith’s speed he should have scored all the way from first. But Greg Gagne and Chuck Knoblauch faked a double play and it made Smith hesitate. Instead of scoring Smith stopped at third. Ron Gant grounded out and Morris intentionally walked Dave Justice to load the bases. Sid Bream then hit into a 3-2-3 double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning Randy Busch singled, Smoltz retired Gladden and then Knoblauch singled. Cox decided to bring in reliever Mike Stanton. Stanton intentionally walked Puckett to load the bases but got Kent Hrbek to line out right to Lemke who then stepped on second to double off Knoblauch.

Multiple times during the game Minnesota manager Tom Kelly attempted to remove Jack Morris but Morris refused to come out of the game. In the ninth inning Morris sent down Brian Hunter, Greg Olson and Lemke in order and in the 10th inning he did the same to Jeff Blauser, Lonnie Smith and Pendleton. In the bottom of the 10th. Gladden doubled to lead off the inning and Knoblauch sacrificed the runner to third. The reliever Alejandro Pena intentionally walked Puckett and Hrbek to load the bases but the Twins had Jarvis Brown up next because earlier he pinch ran for Chili Davis. Kelly decided to bring in pinch hitter Gene Larkin even though he didn’t have a single at-bat in the series. Larkin delivered with a single to left field to win the game.


1. 1960 World Series Game 7: Pittsburgh Pirates 10, New York Yankees 9
There are two reasons that the 1960 World Series Game 7 is the greatest of all-time (well, actually three reasons if you count “because they are my team”). The Pittsburgh Pirates were epic underdogs against the mighty New York Yankees. Even as the series was going on and the Pirates were winning games it was still hard to believe what was happening. During the first six games the Pirates eked out low scoring games of 6-4, 3-2 and 5-2. In the other three the Yankees demolished the Pirates by scores of 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0. For the series the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27, had 31 more hits and batted .80 points higher. After Game 6 if you had told any baseball fan that there were going to be 19 runs scored in Game 7 everyone would assume the Yankees were going to win by a score of 15 – 4 but instead the Pirates pulled out a 10-9 victory.

Bob Turley, the Yankees winner in Game 2, got the start in Game 7 and lasted one inning. The Pirates scored two runs in the first on a Rocky Nelson home run and two more in the second on a Bill Virdon single. The Yankees got on the board in the fifth and then broke out in the fifth with four runs highlighted by a Yogi Berra home run that put New York up 5 – 4. The Yankees added two more runs in the eighth and it seemed they would pull away. Three consecutive singles by Gino Cimoli, Virdon and Dick Groat made the score 7-5 and gave the Pirates hope. That hope turned into reality when Roberto Clemente hit a chopper and used his speed to leg out an infield single that scored another run. More importantly the infield single kept the inning alive and Hal Smith hit a three-run home run to give the Pirates the 9-7 lead.

Now it seemed like the Pirates were inevitably going to win, but this was the New York Yankees. The Yankees are never out of a game, especially a World Series game. In the top of the 9th inning Bobby Richardson and Dale Long both singled and Pittsburgh went to its bullpen and Harvey Haddix. Haddix retired Roger Maris but Mantle single home a run. With runners on first and third Yogi Berra hit a ground ball to the first baseman. Nelson stepped on first for the second out and threw the ball to second to try and get Mantle. Mantle realizing that the play was no longer a force play returned to first base and allowed the tying run to score.

Game 7 of the 1960 World Series was already an epic game but what catapults the game to the easy top choice is how it ended. The first batter in the bottom of the ninth was Bill Mazeroski. Mazeroski was a ten-time All-Star but it was mainly because of his glove. Mazeroski won 8 Gold Glove Awards at second base, third all-time to Roberto Alomar and Ryne Sandberg. Today Mazeroski was the offensive hero. With the count 1-1 Mazeroski hit a Ralph Terry pitch over the fence and Mazeroski delivered the only Game 7 walkoff home run in World Series history. Years later Mickey Mantle admitted that the only time he cried after a loss was after Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Sources:
Stats, Records and Results found at Baseball-Reference.com

The last several generations of Lee Andrew Henderson’s family were Pittsburgh born and even though he was born in Alabama he has been a long time fan of the Pirates, Steelers and Panthers. Lee Andrew Henderson can be found on Twitter @LeeAHenderson


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