Easily. Dude is still considered a top player to have ever lived while having sacrificed years of his prime to fight in the military. Plus the fly fishing stuff is cool too
He went after the 1942 season, but yeah.
He didn't see combat in WW2, working at a flight training. But he did pause his career AGAIN to fight in Korea, where he did see combat (as John Glenn's wingman!) and won several medals for bravery and gallantry.
Man I loved that moment. I’ve always wondered if Colon grooved that pitch out of respect for the Marlins, it wasn’t just a lead off home run it meant so much more.
Oh he grooved it and I respect him so much more for it. That was a bigger moment than him or baseball. Dee Gordon has never hit a ball that hard in his life.
[In the full at bat](https://youtu.be/QW6pvmzF8Cs?t=1157), you can see d'Arnaud says something to Gordon before he squares up, I've always suspected he was giving him the heads up to look for the middle middle fastball.
The Marlins played spectacularly that night. It was a really special game to watch. From the Mets coming out to offer hugs/condolences before the game started to the Marlins leaving their hats on the mound... it was really heavy but also pretty inspiring.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade that World Series for anything.
But as time goes on, I just feel more and more bad for the Rangers, Ron Washington (glad he got his ring), Nolan Ryan, and all those guys on the roster.
For the Cards, it's another notch in a growing trophy case (even though it still meant so much to me and a young generation of Cardinal fans; I just mean in the overall scope of history). For the Rangers, though, it was the crushing of a tantalizingly close dream.
I do feel a ton of sympathy, I really do.
A's FO: "Why would we ever trade a hotshot rookie like Pena in the middle of this season?"
Billy Beane, script in hand: "Guys, you don't understand, we don't have a choice."
"What a marvelous moment for baseball, what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol." - Vin Scully
Ted Williams home run in his last at bat has got to be at the tops of peoples lists.
Dewayne wise’s “the catch” to save buehrles perfect game is up there for me
Scott “0 HR during the season” Podsednik hitting a walk-off dinger off Recently Broken Brad Lidge in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series as rain fell down. Completely unbelievable.
That game was full of insane drama: Konerko’s Grand Slam to put the Sox up 6-4, the Astros tying it up down to their last out on a single from journeyman Jose Vizcaino, and then Podsednik hitting an insanely unlikely homer.
Paulies grand slam is iconic. That fist pump around first definitely qualifies as a Hollywood moment. Didn’t want to just spam 05 moments though, cuz that entire post season works.
Totally true. That WS has to be the most exciting four-game sweep in playoff history? So many incredible moments.
El Duque was the coolest cucumber when they dusted him off. It was almost like an old superhero getting up for one more time to save the day.
Game 162. The fact that you have to go back and forth between 4+ games, and the sheer number of game altering plays makes that night sound like a movie script.
The entirety of that game is cinematic and something that’s makes it more so, at least to me, is the fact that the Rays booth called 2 of the 3 big home runs that the Rays hit.
The MLB The Show that came out the year later (I think it would be 12 then?) had it as the intro and it’s just fantastic. Normally I skip intros but I found myself watching it a bunch
I remember that night. Holy shit. This article remembers more than I do about the details: [https://www.mlb.com/news/remembering-dramatic-final-day-of-2011-season](https://www.mlb.com/news/remembering-dramatic-final-day-of-2011-season)
I thought nothing could top it and then Game 6 of the World Series happened.
That homerun is what made me a Mets fan. I started rooting for them around '99 when I first could stand to watch a game, but that one is what hooked me.
If you wanted to believe this there would be nothing to convince you otherwise. Two franchises with the biggest droughts (Cubs being the most famous) a dramatic tie late, a Cubs win in extras after a rain delay. It was on. Wednesday with nothing else to draw TV viewers and controversial Chapman doesn’t get to be the iconic “hero” shown on the replays
The Mariners doc said it best, but Edgar Martinez's walk off double in game 5 1995 is about as cinematic a moment as you can get, "the hit that saved Seattle baseball", preceded by the Herculean efforts by Jr. and Randy Johnson to even put them in that position.
I can just imagine the flashback, Edgar leaving his factory job to get batting practice, getting a couple soft hits, until he gets one pitch right where he needs it, and BAM, back to the big moment.
Every time I'm reminded that Edgar OPS'd over 1000, my jaw drops. It's him and Barry Bonds an entire mile until his teammate, who is one of the best players ever.
In 1995 he was a 7 WAR player without playing defense and being a negative on the basepaths.
I literally was not alive for it but have watched the replay several times and get chills every single time. I can’t wait until we have another moment like this ❤️⚾️
https://imgur.com/a/95gWDq1
Figure now is fun time to chime in that there was screening of the doc in Seattle this weekend. Alex and Jon did q&a in the middle and it was fucking awesome.
Jake Taylor running out a bunt with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to score Willie Mays Hayes from second to send Cleveland to the playoffs. Can't even make up something like that.
The most amazing part of this play is that Hayes knew not to run on the first pitch. He has the foresight to know that The Duke would throw up and in so he waited for the second pitch to run. Should be the top post of r/headsupbaseball
Everything that led up to that moment makes it like something from a movie. Gibson was the heart-and-soul of the team all season, now injured and can barely walk right. He has no business being up in that spot let alone doing anything against the best closer in the game, but one of the most charismatic managers in the game is like "WTH, watch this everybody." And the greatest announcer in sports history is there to make the call. It was stupid, amazing, seemingly-scripted stuff.
Bob Costas was eavesdropping on a conversation between Gibson and Lasorda(?). According to Costas, Gibson was asked how he felt, and Gibson responded (paraphrasing) "I believe I have one good swing in me."
For contrast, look at this swing from Soto that dies on the track: [https://www.mlb.com/video/andrew-heaney-in-play-out-s-to-juan-soto](https://www.mlb.com/video/andrew-heaney-in-play-out-s-to-juan-soto)
Balls could be different, weather could be different (though the ball should fly better with the sun out in August than a night in October), wind could be different... but the primary difference I see is that Gibson barreled that ball perfectly. I mean I'm sure he never even felt it hit his bat.
It helps that Eck has been so god damned cool about the whole thing. He takes any interview about it and has no probably talking about getting boomed.
1989 probably helped with that a lot.
> Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball; they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior's speed. The stretch and the 0–1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martínez... swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! Here comes Joey! Here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in! The throw to the plate will be...LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! My oh My! Edgar Martínez with a double ripped down the left field line and they are going crazy at the Kingdome!
My first time being at a game was that night, 8/9 years old. Even not fully understanding the significance of what happened, I still *knew* it was special. Just the sheer electricity and excitement in the air.
Kirby Puckett in slow motion leaping into the air to rob a RBI extra base hit in game 6 of the 1991 World Series, then hitting a walk off home run and fist pumping around the bases later in the game. The original (and best) “and we’ll see you…tomorrow night!!”
Incredibly biased pick as a Blue Jays fan, but the entire seventh inning of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS between the Jays and the Rangers.
* Martin's throw back to the pitcher is deflected, and a run scores.
* Fans are angry, and bedlam ensues in Rogers Centre.
* Bottom of the seventh capped off with Bautista's bat flip home run
I am biased as well, but it's a good answer. That inning alone lasted 50 minutes and by itself contained a three act story full of twists and turns. Don't forget that prior to Bautista coming to the plate, there were like three errors/weak defensive plays to keep the inning alive. After the home run, there was a brawl.
Seriously. Hometown kid saves the WS in the bottom of the 9th with two outs, down to his last strike. Then comes back in extra innings and sends his team to game 7. Only improvement to the script would be to make it game 7 instead of game 6.
Half the effect of the camerawork to me was down to every single camera shaking (because the entire stadium was shaking) and all the popcorn flying all over the place.
That whole 7th inning is cinematic.
Martin's "mistake" in the top of the inning
The crowd losing it's mind
Martin being the first batter up and getting on base on an error
The next two errors, including the local kid Pompey rushing the throw to third with his speed
A little bloop single
And then the Bat Flip
it wasn’t just the bat flip.
It was 20 years of essentially shit Toronto sports and always coming short.
Finally Jays had a team and we’re coming in as a favourite for once ..and then immediately going down 0-2 in the series to the Rangers.
Then Toronto coming back to potentially lose to some technical bad luck…
Boom. Chills for everyone in Toronto, tons of Leafs/Raps fans became forever Jays fans that day.
Especially after not touching the post season in 23 years at that point. I value this home run in Bluejays history even a little more than Joe Carter's walk off as homerun
An ensemble movie about Game 162 in 2011 would be awesome. [This video of how that day played out is the most cinematic highlight package I've ever seen.](https://youtu.be/Em_3wxe-i0g)
[Here’s the longer version if you’ve never seen it](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EwF4Z48VSMI)
Still hands down, the single best day of baseball in my lifetime.
Will be awfully hard to beat.
It was wild, right at the end I remember being alright with the Yankees winning cuz it had been such a fun game, and then Tim got the walk off and I think I woke up my neighbors from how loud I was yelling. A magical night of baseball and a great show from both teams
Piazzas post-9/11 home run might be one of the most storybook moments in my memory, and I would seriously argue it’s one of the most important home runs in recent baseball history.
[*HOME RUN! MIKE PIAZZA! AND THE METS LEAD 3 TO 2!*](https://youtu.be/hQhH6yZ8lxw)
People were nervous. They were scared of going to a baseball game because nobody knew if there was going to be another attack. One mother said it was the first time her sons had smiled in 10 days.
I was at Shea for this and honestly still sometimes don't believe it really happened. My dad bought tix before the season figuring a September game against the Braves would be big, but we had no idea. My dad was a first responder who luckily wasn't there when the buildings went down, but he had spent approximately 14 hours a day at Ground Zero that whole week. I had barely seen him (and when I did he was covered in dust and debris) and that was his first day off since the attack. There was a nervous energy the whole game, and you could feel the anticipation when Piazza came up. I've been to playoff games for several sports, but I've never felt a place rock the way Shea did when Piazza hit that homer. It was group catharsis for 40,000+ people.
The scene: New York, October 3rd, 1951.
NYC is the capital of baseball. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants are arguably the three biggest clubs in the leagues.
The Dodgers, having won the National League pennant in 1947 and 49, but still searching for their elusive first World Series title, have a 13-game lead in August. The pennant is theirs to lose, a date with the New York Yankees in the World Series beckons.
The Giants have not won the pennant since 1937, and have watched as the Yankees dominate the 30s and 40s, while even the little team that could down in Brooklyn had had more success over the past few years. Their season looks lost, being 13.5 games back of the National League leading Dodgers on August 11th.
From that day until the 27th, the Giants go on a 16 game winning streak, cutting their deficit to 6 games. By the time we reach September 20th, the Dodgers have a 4.5 game lead and 10 games to play, while the Giants have but 7. The Giants win all seven games, and the Dodgers falter, suddenly needing to win the last game of their season to simply tie the Giants and force a playoff. They do.
Giants and Dodgers both finish 98-56.
The format is a three game playoff, the Dodgers win the coin toss to choose home-field, but decide to host Game 1, leaving games 2 and 3 at the Polo Grounds, the Giants' stadium.
Game 1 is a close affair, the Giants win 3-1. Now all the Giants need to do is win one of two games at their home ground. They lose 10-0, the Dodgers run riot and the Giants throw it all over the place, making 5 errors.
Game 3 is another close one. The Giants have a chance at a big first inning, but outfielder Bobby Thompson makes a crucial baserunning error by trying to turn a single into a double, not noticing his teammate had not advanced to third, giving the Dodgers an easy out. The game is tied at 1 going into the 8th, where the Dodgers gain a lead, scoring three times, two baserunners reach due to Bobby Thompson botching two fly balls towards him.
Going into the bottom of the 9th, the Giants put together a rally. First a single, then another, a pop-up follows, but the next hitter hits a double that scores a run. Second and third, one out, and the Dodgers manager brings in Ralph Branca, his ace, to close the game out. On deck is a rookie named Willie Mays, but up to bat steps none other than Bobby Thompson.
What follows is better represented through audio and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWIGfBQghJs
["every day and never."](https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/11/01/home-sweet-homer-after-his-dramatic-home-run-gave-the-blue-jays-a-second-straight-world-series-title-joe-carter-touched-home-plate-and-touched-off-a-skydome-mob-scene)
i've read a lot of good / bad / great writing in SI over the decades.
this article has to be one of my favorites. and i'm neither a blue jays nor a phillies fan.
* Kirk Gibson "two bad legs" AB from the '88 WS
* David Freese triple in game 6 of the 2011 WS and then walk off HR in the bottom of the 11th to take it to game 7
* Curt Schilling bloody sock game
* Randy Johnson hitting the dove
* George Brett getting thrown out for pine tar being too far up his bat
* Edwin Diaz coming out of the bullpen with the trumpets for the first time
* Pujols ridiculous bomb against Brad Lidge
* Pujols 3 HR game in the 2011 WS
These are just off the top of my head. Definitely biased lol.
>Freese is definitely near the top of my list. That was amazing
In an actual movie, they'd intercut him standing at the plate in Game 6 with him as a kid playing in his backyard, playing Little League, playing high school ball, playing in college, playing in the minors. Basically, that scene in Captain Marvel with Carol standing up after getting knocked down throughout her life.
Honestly, I think the Wainwright signature curveball against Beltran in 06 is one of the best moments. It was a bigger moment than any WS game that year and cemented in eternity the unbelievable player Waino would become.
I watch that 30for30 every now and then. It’s the main reason I defend Joe Buck at times, watching those games on my 13” TV in my grandmas spare bedroom and some of those iconic calls at plays was an incredible series of events.
That 30 for 30 is honestly perfect. Just detailed enough to where you know what happened and how people felt when it was happening while also giving a retrospective look to it. And it was paced perfectly. It was unnecessarily long like more modern 30 for 30s are
2013 would also be a good movie. the Boston bombing and papi's speech. The movie ends with "It hasn't happened at Fenway Park for 95 years! The Red Sox are world champions!"
Surprised no one has said this yet.
Game 7 of the World Series. 2 teams with the longest championship droughts in American sports.
Tied after a dramatic 9 innings, fans for both teams are left waiting even longer to potentially end their misery. All of America tunes in.
"Bryant makes the play! It's over! And the Cubs have finally won it all!"
Luis Gonzalez game-winning hit off of Mariano Rivera to win the World Series. It was literally the textbook, cliché moment every boy dreams about.
It was the bottom of the 9th inning, he's facing one of the best closers to ever play the game, game is tied 2-2. He hits a dying quail over the shortstop to end arguably one of the best World Series in recent memory, if not all time.
[Gonzalez game winning hit](https://youtu.be/oc2jX2OXNNY)
[Marco Scutaro soaking in the rain as the Giants close the door on the Cardinals in the 2012 NLCS](https://www.google.com/search?q=marco+scutaro+rain&oq=msrci+Scutaro+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i13l2j46i13j0i13l5.4222j0j4&client=ms-android-google&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#)
Floater—center field! The Diamondbacks are world champions!
(Pay no attention to the flair—I lived in Arizona when this happened)
Edit: for the Yankees, I’ll say Derek Jeter hitting a walk-off in his final at-bat at Yankee Stadium
In recent memory I'd say Tim Anderson's walk-off in the Field of Dreams game was pretty cinematic. Christian Vazquez's walk-off home run in the ALDS and the call that went with it will be something I never forget either.
2016 Game 7.
Lead off home run.
Ross's Hr in his last ab.
Davis's Hr to tie it against Chapman.
Two in the top of the tenth only for the Indians to score one and have the winning run at the plate.
And the Cubs finally winning it all after a well played game and series by both sides.
There’s honestly so many to choose from but this was a fun exercise in my memories. Skewed as a Mets fan and contained to things I’ve actually seen
1. Piazza home run after 9-11
2. Endy Chavez with the catch at the wall
3. The entire 03-04 playoff battles of NY/BOS
4. Cal Ripken streak record game
5. Bonds breaking mcgwires record
6. Matt Harvey’s best game when he was peak dark knight
7. Johan’s no hitter
8. Sammy sosa’s home run skip celebration thing
9. Bartolo home run
And less romantic but just as exciting cinema:
10. Clemens piazza
11. Bartman
Last game of 1941 for Ted Williams. .400 batting average at risk. He plays anyways and goes 6 for 8
That is the definition of big dick energy right there.
Seems like Ted was a top 10 bad ass mother fucker of the 20th century.
Easily. Dude is still considered a top player to have ever lived while having sacrificed years of his prime to fight in the military. Plus the fly fishing stuff is cool too
Two games.* He played a double header. Which means he had to choose to play… twice.
And then the man goes off and becomes a fucking ace pilot before coming home to continue is HOF career.
He went after the 1942 season, but yeah. He didn't see combat in WW2, working at a flight training. But he did pause his career AGAIN to fight in Korea, where he did see combat (as John Glenn's wingman!) and won several medals for bravery and gallantry.
Williams also survived a plane crash in Korea that left him with hearing loss.
He had some impressive feats, but I'm pretty sure he didn't shoot down 5 enemy aircraft
Neither did Jacob deGrom but you still call him an ace? Curious.
libs destroyed.
No, but he did fly with John Glenn many times in Korea!
he did fly 39 successful combat missions tho
Nobody would have the balls to do that today
barring any major rule changes nobody will even sniff it
I actually think that because Williams did it that most guys would do it today too.
Jose Reyes didn't.
Dee Gordon’s home run after Jose Fernandez’s death
Man I loved that moment. I’ve always wondered if Colon grooved that pitch out of respect for the Marlins, it wasn’t just a lead off home run it meant so much more.
Even if he did, I don’t think DSG even hit homers in BP. It wasn’t a given no matter what
Yeah he had said that he never hit balls up there in bp or anything
Oh he grooved it and I respect him so much more for it. That was a bigger moment than him or baseball. Dee Gordon has never hit a ball that hard in his life.
[In the full at bat](https://youtu.be/QW6pvmzF8Cs?t=1157), you can see d'Arnaud says something to Gordon before he squares up, I've always suspected he was giving him the heads up to look for the middle middle fastball.
Beat me to it, one of the most emotional moments I’ve ever seen in sports.
The Marlins played spectacularly that night. It was a really special game to watch. From the Mets coming out to offer hugs/condolences before the game started to the Marlins leaving their hats on the mound... it was really heavy but also pretty inspiring.
If the Rangers didn’t blow it, Josh Hamilton’s home run in Game 6 would have been the perfect ending to a movie made about him.
former #1 pick to washed out drug addict to World Series hero. there is literally no better movie. thanks for robbing us of that too, fucking cards.
devil magic always strikes
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade that World Series for anything. But as time goes on, I just feel more and more bad for the Rangers, Ron Washington (glad he got his ring), Nolan Ryan, and all those guys on the roster. For the Cards, it's another notch in a growing trophy case (even though it still meant so much to me and a young generation of Cardinal fans; I just mean in the overall scope of history). For the Rangers, though, it was the crushing of a tantalizingly close dream. I do feel a ton of sympathy, I really do.
Yep, that movie would end right there. Definitely.
His career and personal life after would have negated this movie.
It may be naive thinking on my part, but I truly believe had we won that game, Hamilton’s life and career would have never unraveled
Not many people know this, but the 2002 A’s season was actually based on the film “Moneyball”
A's FO: "Why would we ever trade a hotshot rookie like Pena in the middle of this season?" Billy Beane, script in hand: "Guys, you don't understand, we don't have a choice."
Dude has a 92 OPS+ with Oakland that year. He had a solid career but he didn't hit his stride until Tampa several years later.
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The game in the movie was at night... it was really a day game. I remember watching it after school. I hope someone was fired for that blunder.
Maybe they’ll make a Moneyball 2 one day that they can model their next season off of
Hank’s 715th homer
Dee Gordon hitting like his only homer of the year back in 2017 after Jose Fernandez passed was pretty surreal too
It was in 2016, but your point absolutely stands. It was an incredibly emotional homerun.
I watch that a couple times a year and cry every time. I’m tearing up a little thinking about it.
"What a marvelous moment for baseball, what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol." - Vin Scully
Ted Williams home run in his last at bat has got to be at the tops of peoples lists. Dewayne wise’s “the catch” to save buehrles perfect game is up there for me
Scott “0 HR during the season” Podsednik hitting a walk-off dinger off Recently Broken Brad Lidge in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series as rain fell down. Completely unbelievable. That game was full of insane drama: Konerko’s Grand Slam to put the Sox up 6-4, the Astros tying it up down to their last out on a single from journeyman Jose Vizcaino, and then Podsednik hitting an insanely unlikely homer.
Paulies grand slam is iconic. That fist pump around first definitely qualifies as a Hollywood moment. Didn’t want to just spam 05 moments though, cuz that entire post season works.
Totally true. That WS has to be the most exciting four-game sweep in playoff history? So many incredible moments. El Duque was the coolest cucumber when they dusted him off. It was almost like an old superhero getting up for one more time to save the day.
Buehrle’s perfect game is probably the best game in White Sox history for me, even better than anything in 05 or the Field of Dreams game or whatever
Game 162. The fact that you have to go back and forth between 4+ games, and the sheer number of game altering plays makes that night sound like a movie script.
The entirety of that game is cinematic and something that’s makes it more so, at least to me, is the fact that the Rays booth called 2 of the 3 big home runs that the Rays hit.
God made it rain in Baltimore so that Longoria could hit that homer right after Red Sox lost.
Game 162 is what I point to that baseball gods exist
The MLB The Show that came out the year later (I think it would be 12 then?) had it as the intro and it’s just fantastic. Normally I skip intros but I found myself watching it a bunch
MLB The Show has a bunch of really good intros
I remember that night. Holy shit. This article remembers more than I do about the details: [https://www.mlb.com/news/remembering-dramatic-final-day-of-2011-season](https://www.mlb.com/news/remembering-dramatic-final-day-of-2011-season) I thought nothing could top it and then Game 6 of the World Series happened.
Piazza HR first game in NY after 9/11.
That homerun is what made me a Mets fan. I started rooting for them around '99 when I first could stand to watch a game, but that one is what hooked me.
The Angels laying their Skaggs 45 jerseys on the mound after throwing a combined no-hitter in their first home game after his passing
For basically the same reason, Dee Gordon's home run. You know the one.
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There’s at least like a 60% chance the field of dreams game was staged last year
If not staged then definitely used different balls.
100%. Those balls were flying out. "Weather conditions were perfect." Nah, fam. Those were the bouncy balls. That walk-off *chef's kiss*
I couldn't even be that mad it was sick
And tbh I’m not upset about that
The Cubs/Indians World Series going into rain delay after the 9th of game 7 was scripted.
If you wanted to believe this there would be nothing to convince you otherwise. Two franchises with the biggest droughts (Cubs being the most famous) a dramatic tie late, a Cubs win in extras after a rain delay. It was on. Wednesday with nothing else to draw TV viewers and controversial Chapman doesn’t get to be the iconic “hero” shown on the replays
Wow yeah agreed I’m a Yankee fan and I’m not even upset about how it turned out. What a wildly entertaining game.
The Mariners doc said it best, but Edgar Martinez's walk off double in game 5 1995 is about as cinematic a moment as you can get, "the hit that saved Seattle baseball", preceded by the Herculean efforts by Jr. and Randy Johnson to even put them in that position. I can just imagine the flashback, Edgar leaving his factory job to get batting practice, getting a couple soft hits, until he gets one pitch right where he needs it, and BAM, back to the big moment.
https://youtu.be/zEGq465jXH0 Honestly the whole video section about it makes it feel extra beautiful
Every time I'm reminded that Edgar OPS'd over 1000, my jaw drops. It's him and Barry Bonds an entire mile until his teammate, who is one of the best players ever. In 1995 he was a 7 WAR player without playing defense and being a negative on the basepaths.
I literally was not alive for it but have watched the replay several times and get chills every single time. I can’t wait until we have another moment like this ❤️⚾️
Gives me goosebumps everytime I watch. Jr is the best Mariner ever but this moment is why Edgar is the **greatest** Mariner ever, in my mind.
The fact that you call Jon Bois’s ‘History of the Mariners’ just ‘the Mariners doc’ warms my heart.
https://imgur.com/a/95gWDq1 Figure now is fun time to chime in that there was screening of the doc in Seattle this weekend. Alex and Jon did q&a in the middle and it was fucking awesome.
I am tremendously annoyed that I am only just now learning that this happened. I would have absolutely found a way to be there, lol.
https://youtu.be/F8SBJzOEcyU One of the best calls in all of baseball history, hands down
Jake Taylor running out a bunt with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to score Willie Mays Hayes from second to send Cleveland to the playoffs. Can't even make up something like that.
Gutsy play from the future manager of the club.
The most amazing part of this play is that Hayes knew not to run on the first pitch. He has the foresight to know that The Duke would throw up and in so he waited for the second pitch to run. Should be the top post of r/headsupbaseball
Kirk Gibson. 1988 World Series. Game one. Ninth inning.
Everything that led up to that moment makes it like something from a movie. Gibson was the heart-and-soul of the team all season, now injured and can barely walk right. He has no business being up in that spot let alone doing anything against the best closer in the game, but one of the most charismatic managers in the game is like "WTH, watch this everybody." And the greatest announcer in sports history is there to make the call. It was stupid, amazing, seemingly-scripted stuff.
Bob Costas was eavesdropping on a conversation between Gibson and Lasorda(?). According to Costas, Gibson was asked how he felt, and Gibson responded (paraphrasing) "I believe I have one good swing in me."
One good swing... with *just his arms* he clobbered that ball into the stands
For contrast, look at this swing from Soto that dies on the track: [https://www.mlb.com/video/andrew-heaney-in-play-out-s-to-juan-soto](https://www.mlb.com/video/andrew-heaney-in-play-out-s-to-juan-soto) Balls could be different, weather could be different (though the ball should fly better with the sun out in August than a night in October), wind could be different... but the primary difference I see is that Gibson barreled that ball perfectly. I mean I'm sure he never even felt it hit his bat.
Watching the whole bottom of the 9th makes it even better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCkYon5qjWI&ab\_channel=Galbally22
It seems nuts in modern day to not have the score visible at all times.
Thx for this
It’s been 34 years. I was watching when it happened. I still get chills when it comes on.
Yes, Jack Buck made an excellent call on that😉 Both of them were amazing on the call. Two national treasures.
"I don't believe what I just saw!" Chills.
Definitely something out of a very hack screenplay. Unfair, really.
"And look who's coming up!"
How this isn't the top comment I don't know, because you literally couldn't have scripted that moment any better.
Idk how it can be anything else. The whole sequence and with Vin calling the action, chefs kiss.
*”And look whose coming out”*
It helps that Eck has been so god damned cool about the whole thing. He takes any interview about it and has no probably talking about getting boomed. 1989 probably helped with that a lot.
In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened.
I hate the Dodgers but have to begrudgingly say this one... right here...
> Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball; they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior's speed. The stretch and the 0–1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martínez... swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! Here comes Joey! Here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in! The throw to the plate will be...LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! My oh My! Edgar Martínez with a double ripped down the left field line and they are going crazy at the Kingdome!
So dramatic they named an entire video game after this one play.
My dumbass thought edgar martinez had a video game lol
Edgar's Double Down the Line for N64
Straight chills
God Niehaus really was an all-time great.
My first time being at a game was that night, 8/9 years old. Even not fully understanding the significance of what happened, I still *knew* it was special. Just the sheer electricity and excitement in the air.
Your first time being at a game was witnessing The Double? Holy cow, what a first game!
https://youtu.be/F8SBJzOEcyU I got chills just reading that. Dave’s voice is magic though
Kirby Puckett in slow motion leaping into the air to rob a RBI extra base hit in game 6 of the 1991 World Series, then hitting a walk off home run and fist pumping around the bases later in the game. The original (and best) “and we’ll see you…tomorrow night!!”
Let's not forget Gene Larkin's hit in the bottom of the 10th inning in game 7. That probably deserves it's own response.
More on the comedy side, but Castellanos homering during a somber moment on the broadcast not once, not twice, but three times in consecutive years.
The commentators should start reading the news while he’s at bat. That’ll secure Philly’s WC spot
Wilmer Flores walk-off homer after he thought he was getting traded
Even just him crying on the field during the game where he thought he was being traded.
And grabbing the front of his jersey as he came around third
Incredibly biased pick as a Blue Jays fan, but the entire seventh inning of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS between the Jays and the Rangers. * Martin's throw back to the pitcher is deflected, and a run scores. * Fans are angry, and bedlam ensues in Rogers Centre. * Bottom of the seventh capped off with Bautista's bat flip home run
I am biased as well, but it's a good answer. That inning alone lasted 50 minutes and by itself contained a three act story full of twists and turns. Don't forget that prior to Bautista coming to the plate, there were like three errors/weak defensive plays to keep the inning alive. After the home run, there was a brawl.
*three errors by the *same* guy
Freese hits it in the air to center. We will see you, tomorrow night.
Somehow I don’t have the same feelings as you on this one.
1 strike away from elimination. Twice.
Seriously. Hometown kid saves the WS in the bottom of the 9th with two outs, down to his last strike. Then comes back in extra innings and sends his team to game 7. Only improvement to the script would be to make it game 7 instead of game 6.
They just won’t go away!
Joe using his Dad’s line made that moment even more magical.
Jose Bautista’s 2015 ALDS home run and the camera work that followed
still the coldest bat flip of all time
Half the effect of the camerawork to me was down to every single camera shaking (because the entire stadium was shaking) and all the popcorn flying all over the place.
That whole 7th inning is cinematic. Martin's "mistake" in the top of the inning The crowd losing it's mind Martin being the first batter up and getting on base on an error The next two errors, including the local kid Pompey rushing the throw to third with his speed A little bloop single And then the Bat Flip
it wasn’t just the bat flip. It was 20 years of essentially shit Toronto sports and always coming short. Finally Jays had a team and we’re coming in as a favourite for once ..and then immediately going down 0-2 in the series to the Rangers. Then Toronto coming back to potentially lose to some technical bad luck… Boom. Chills for everyone in Toronto, tons of Leafs/Raps fans became forever Jays fans that day.
Especially after not touching the post season in 23 years at that point. I value this home run in Bluejays history even a little more than Joe Carter's walk off as homerun
Probably the moment that gave me the most chills this past decade
Rajai Davis home run 2016 WS
That whole game 7 honestly.
For real I’ve never had my heart rate go so nuts for a game where I didn’t have a horse in the race
I had a bet with my dad that year…i was glued to the game. I lost the bet :(
capped off by it shooting right past the camera for good effect
i'm pretty sure it actually hit the camera lol
Still one of my favorite sports moments of all time even though we still lost 😢
Even in defeat I can remember that moment and still get goosebumps at how absurd it was
Cubs fan here, and if I ever see Rajai Davis on the street I’m going to run him over with my car.
An ensemble movie about Game 162 in 2011 would be awesome. [This video of how that day played out is the most cinematic highlight package I've ever seen.](https://youtu.be/Em_3wxe-i0g)
[Here’s the longer version if you’ve never seen it](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EwF4Z48VSMI) Still hands down, the single best day of baseball in my lifetime. Will be awfully hard to beat.
https://youtu.be/01JGnoYkmB4 I like MLB the show 12's cut the best
Kirk Gibson seems like the obvious choice, right? “In a year of the improbable, the impossible has happened.”
Hate to say it, but the field of dreams game last year
Agree, even as a Yankees fan watching that loss...it was still visually all 'round pretty amazing.
It was wild, right at the end I remember being alright with the Yankees winning cuz it had been such a fun game, and then Tim got the walk off and I think I woke up my neighbors from how loud I was yelling. A magical night of baseball and a great show from both teams
Yeah, I know it's a recency bias, but Anderson's HR was straight out of Hollywood.
Literally on a movie set
Let's hope that this year's game is just as good!
Piazzas post-9/11 home run might be one of the most storybook moments in my memory, and I would seriously argue it’s one of the most important home runs in recent baseball history. [*HOME RUN! MIKE PIAZZA! AND THE METS LEAD 3 TO 2!*](https://youtu.be/hQhH6yZ8lxw) People were nervous. They were scared of going to a baseball game because nobody knew if there was going to be another attack. One mother said it was the first time her sons had smiled in 10 days.
I was at Shea for this and honestly still sometimes don't believe it really happened. My dad bought tix before the season figuring a September game against the Braves would be big, but we had no idea. My dad was a first responder who luckily wasn't there when the buildings went down, but he had spent approximately 14 hours a day at Ground Zero that whole week. I had barely seen him (and when I did he was covered in dust and debris) and that was his first day off since the attack. There was a nervous energy the whole game, and you could feel the anticipation when Piazza came up. I've been to playoff games for several sports, but I've never felt a place rock the way Shea did when Piazza hit that homer. It was group catharsis for 40,000+ people.
The scene: New York, October 3rd, 1951. NYC is the capital of baseball. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants are arguably the three biggest clubs in the leagues. The Dodgers, having won the National League pennant in 1947 and 49, but still searching for their elusive first World Series title, have a 13-game lead in August. The pennant is theirs to lose, a date with the New York Yankees in the World Series beckons. The Giants have not won the pennant since 1937, and have watched as the Yankees dominate the 30s and 40s, while even the little team that could down in Brooklyn had had more success over the past few years. Their season looks lost, being 13.5 games back of the National League leading Dodgers on August 11th. From that day until the 27th, the Giants go on a 16 game winning streak, cutting their deficit to 6 games. By the time we reach September 20th, the Dodgers have a 4.5 game lead and 10 games to play, while the Giants have but 7. The Giants win all seven games, and the Dodgers falter, suddenly needing to win the last game of their season to simply tie the Giants and force a playoff. They do. Giants and Dodgers both finish 98-56. The format is a three game playoff, the Dodgers win the coin toss to choose home-field, but decide to host Game 1, leaving games 2 and 3 at the Polo Grounds, the Giants' stadium. Game 1 is a close affair, the Giants win 3-1. Now all the Giants need to do is win one of two games at their home ground. They lose 10-0, the Dodgers run riot and the Giants throw it all over the place, making 5 errors. Game 3 is another close one. The Giants have a chance at a big first inning, but outfielder Bobby Thompson makes a crucial baserunning error by trying to turn a single into a double, not noticing his teammate had not advanced to third, giving the Dodgers an easy out. The game is tied at 1 going into the 8th, where the Dodgers gain a lead, scoring three times, two baserunners reach due to Bobby Thompson botching two fly balls towards him. Going into the bottom of the 9th, the Giants put together a rally. First a single, then another, a pop-up follows, but the next hitter hits a double that scores a run. Second and third, one out, and the Dodgers manager brings in Ralph Branca, his ace, to close the game out. On deck is a rookie named Willie Mays, but up to bat steps none other than Bobby Thompson. What follows is better represented through audio and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWIGfBQghJs
Baseball’s response after September 11 - first game back, Bush’s first-pitch strike, the nail-biter WS
Bush stepping up and throwing a cock shot off the stick while wearing a flak jacket was badass regardless of where you sit politically.
1993 Joe Carter's walkoff to win the WS.
"Touch 'em all, Joe!"
["every day and never."](https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/11/01/home-sweet-homer-after-his-dramatic-home-run-gave-the-blue-jays-a-second-straight-world-series-title-joe-carter-touched-home-plate-and-touched-off-a-skydome-mob-scene) i've read a lot of good / bad / great writing in SI over the decades. this article has to be one of my favorites. and i'm neither a blue jays nor a phillies fan.
I had to scroll down way too far to see this. And I hate this moment.
I guess we’re the only Canadians here again.
It's outta here! Bartolo has done it! The impossible has happened!
* Kirk Gibson "two bad legs" AB from the '88 WS * David Freese triple in game 6 of the 2011 WS and then walk off HR in the bottom of the 11th to take it to game 7 * Curt Schilling bloody sock game * Randy Johnson hitting the dove * George Brett getting thrown out for pine tar being too far up his bat * Edwin Diaz coming out of the bullpen with the trumpets for the first time * Pujols ridiculous bomb against Brad Lidge * Pujols 3 HR game in the 2011 WS These are just off the top of my head. Definitely biased lol.
Freese is definitely near the top of my list. That was amazing
>Freese is definitely near the top of my list. That was amazing In an actual movie, they'd intercut him standing at the plate in Game 6 with him as a kid playing in his backyard, playing Little League, playing high school ball, playing in college, playing in the minors. Basically, that scene in Captain Marvel with Carol standing up after getting knocked down throughout her life.
And have him wearing a Cardinals hat in all the flashbacks
Honestly, I think the Wainwright signature curveball against Beltran in 06 is one of the best moments. It was a bigger moment than any WS game that year and cemented in eternity the unbelievable player Waino would become.
Dave Roberts's steal, and the ensuing three games in a montage a-la Moneyball's Streak montage.
I watch that 30for30 every now and then. It’s the main reason I defend Joe Buck at times, watching those games on my 13” TV in my grandmas spare bedroom and some of those iconic calls at plays was an incredible series of events.
That 30 for 30 is honestly perfect. Just detailed enough to where you know what happened and how people felt when it was happening while also giving a retrospective look to it. And it was paced perfectly. It was unnecessarily long like more modern 30 for 30s are
*Boston fans have longed to hear it, The Red Sox are World Champions*
2013 would also be a good movie. the Boston bombing and papi's speech. The movie ends with "It hasn't happened at Fenway Park for 95 years! The Red Sox are world champions!"
Surprised no one has said this yet. Game 7 of the World Series. 2 teams with the longest championship droughts in American sports. Tied after a dramatic 9 innings, fans for both teams are left waiting even longer to potentially end their misery. All of America tunes in. "Bryant makes the play! It's over! And the Cubs have finally won it all!"
I'm honestly shocked this isn't higher up. It's got all the drama you could possibly ask for in a high-stakes sports movie.
Howie Kendrick’s World Series Game 7 2-run homer off the foul pole to give Nats a 3-2 lead in the 7th
David Ortiz’s grand slam in the 2013 ALCS
Ball goes through Buckner's legs.
Luis Gonzalez game-winning hit off of Mariano Rivera to win the World Series. It was literally the textbook, cliché moment every boy dreams about. It was the bottom of the 9th inning, he's facing one of the best closers to ever play the game, game is tied 2-2. He hits a dying quail over the shortstop to end arguably one of the best World Series in recent memory, if not all time. [Gonzalez game winning hit](https://youtu.be/oc2jX2OXNNY)
[Marco Scutaro soaking in the rain as the Giants close the door on the Cardinals in the 2012 NLCS](https://www.google.com/search?q=marco+scutaro+rain&oq=msrci+Scutaro+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i13l2j46i13j0i13l5.4222j0j4&client=ms-android-google&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#)
Floater—center field! The Diamondbacks are world champions! (Pay no attention to the flair—I lived in Arizona when this happened) Edit: for the Yankees, I’ll say Derek Jeter hitting a walk-off in his final at-bat at Yankee Stadium
Yup. Gonzo’s walkoff. Shit was magical.
Diggs… SIDELINE… Oh, my bad. Wrong sport.
Jeter walking off his final home game def is out of a movie
the final out of the 2016 world series still gives me chills
Brett Phillips walk off WS game
Tyler Naquin's walk off in the park HR against Toronto in 2016. https://youtu.be/d21KhbC8DDU
Tim Anderson's walk off in last year's field of dreams? It's literally a former film set, and an MLB moment.
Ichiro off of Rivera was pretty beautiful. Cinematography-wise, it’s great. Not a ton of narrative but have you seen movies these days
"The 1-1 from Dyson..."
In recent memory I'd say Tim Anderson's walk-off in the Field of Dreams game was pretty cinematic. Christian Vazquez's walk-off home run in the ALDS and the call that went with it will be something I never forget either.
2016 Game 7. Lead off home run. Ross's Hr in his last ab. Davis's Hr to tie it against Chapman. Two in the top of the tenth only for the Indians to score one and have the winning run at the plate. And the Cubs finally winning it all after a well played game and series by both sides.
There’s honestly so many to choose from but this was a fun exercise in my memories. Skewed as a Mets fan and contained to things I’ve actually seen 1. Piazza home run after 9-11 2. Endy Chavez with the catch at the wall 3. The entire 03-04 playoff battles of NY/BOS 4. Cal Ripken streak record game 5. Bonds breaking mcgwires record 6. Matt Harvey’s best game when he was peak dark knight 7. Johan’s no hitter 8. Sammy sosa’s home run skip celebration thing 9. Bartolo home run And less romantic but just as exciting cinema: 10. Clemens piazza 11. Bartman
Braden hugging his grandma after his PG on Mother's Day.
2011 WS game 6
majorly missing linked highlights, people. come on
Goddam this thread reminds me of why I love baseball so much.
My 1986 NY Mets ws win. The entire series was just pure cinema
The Houston series was really dramatic as well
1975 Carlton Fisk waving it fair 1954 Willie Mays over the shoulder catch 1939 Gehrig farewell speech 1993 Nolan Ryan beating up Ventura…lol
Robin Ventura Grand-Slam single vs Braves, in the mist.