Most important HRs of our lifetimes

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Boomcoach

Wasn't Joe Carter's the first time a WS ended on a HR?

There can't possibly be a more important home run than one that outright wins a World Series. You are 100% correct, sir.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Mike Bleeping Scioscia
Conor Bleeping Gillaspie
Alex Bleeping Gordon (I still refuse to believe that one went out…and I was there!)
Yadier Bleeping Molina
Terry Bleeping Pendleton (ONE HR all year before that!)

Alonso (never done before)
Darryl off the clock
The Grand-Slam single
Darryl off the roof
Darryl with the nice slooooooooooooow trot
Mo Vaughn off the Beer sign
Murph's streak
Piazza in 2000 (rather the 10-run rally than some over-politicized "event")
HoJo's salami off of Worrell
Frankie in Toronto

Some memorable moments there. I remember the Stargell HR called by Garagiola before it was probably out of the infield. Fastest HR call I ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icl6Qh5E_Cc

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

There can't possibly be a more important home run than one that outright wins a World Series. You are 100% correct, sir.

On the surface that looks to be true but reality is that World Series winning home runs are not created equal. One in the six game isn't as important as one in the seventh game. One that breaks up a tie isn't as important as one that scores two when a team is a run behind.

[Cobra Mgr]

Have no idea what every one said here, but I'm going to go w/my top 10. Operative word here is "important".

1. Joe Carter - World Series Game 6 10/23/93 Every kid who grew up loving baseball has had the same dream. Bottom of the 9th, game 7, grand slam to win the WS. That is why Bill Mazeroski's is the most important of all time. He came the closest to every young baseball fan's dream. But we are talking "in my lifetime" & I was born in '69, nine years after Bill's achievement. Next closest is Joe's.

2. Carlton Fisk - WS Game 6 10/21/75 Many still say it was the greatest game ever. And it certainly became the most replayed HR ever. Anyone who witnessed it remembers Carlton using body language to send the series to a 7th game. This was the pinnacle of baseball as America's pastime.

3. Kirk Gibson - WS Game 1 10/15/1988 The most Hollywood HR in the most appropriate place. The moment couldn't have been more dramatic if you scripted it. The call from Vin Scully couldn't have been better if you scripted it.

4. Hank Aaron 4/8/74 Class all the way. People gave all the reasons in the world why he shouldn't break Ruth's record. Some clothed in hidden racism. Some in outright buck naked racism. And no one in the public knew. He never let that defeat him. Just got the job done. He will always be the HR king to me.

5. Kirby Puckett WS Game 6 10/26/91 Probably the most underrated WS of all time. Kirby willed the Twins into game 7 & their 1st World Championship.

6. Ozzie Smith NLCS Game 5 10/14/85 Maybe not as important as memorable. But when Oz came to bat, I just knew that thing was headed to extras. This was truly one of those "That's baseball" moments. Go crazy folks! Go crazy!

7. Reggie Jackson WS Game 6 10/18/77 I admit. I'm cheating here. Neither homer would be memorable w/o the other 2. But this was when Reggie was as good as he told us he was. When he became not Mr., but MISTER October. When he landed on Wheaties boxes. When he had his own candy bar. When he indeed stirred the drink. The magnitude of Reggie Jackson.

8. Jose Altuve Game 6 ALCS 10/19/2019 Not all important HR's need be likable. This homer is the centerpiece of the Astros cheating scandal that got them a ring and on the hate list of most baseball fans.

9. George Brett KC vs NYY 7/24/83 "The Pine Tar" game. This was as memorable a moment as there has ever been in baseball. The call. The reactions. The HOF's involved. You could make a movie around this one game.

10. Dave Justice WS Game 7 10/28/1995 A tight WS saw a struggling Justice hit a solo shot that was the game's only run. It would be the Braves dynasty's only WS triumph.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

2nd time, Bill Mazeroski did it in 1960 for the Pirates

There is a difference. Mazeroski's broke a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, while Carter's was a come-from-behind victory in the bottom of the ninth.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Have no idea what every one said here, but I'm going to go w/my top 10.

Why do you post to threads where you have people on Ignore and thus can't know what the thread is about?

[twins_34]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

5. Kirby Puckett WS Game 6 10/26/91 Probably the most underrated WS of all time. Kirby willed the Twins into game 7 & their 1st World Championship.

Most underrated world series? The 91 World Series is regarded as probably one of the best series in the decade and one of the best in the last 100 years in 2003.

A number of outlets regard the 1991 World Series as one of the greatest ever. In 2003, ESPN selected this championship as the "Greatest of All Time" in their "World Series 100th Anniversary" countdown, with five of its games decided by a single run, four decided in the final at-bat and three going into extra innings.

1st World Series Championship? Was 1987 not a thing? Also the Twins have 3 as a total organization all the way back to 1924. 1924, 1987, and 1991 have all been won by the Twins/Senators. 1991 was the organizations 3rd World Series win for the Minnesota Twins

And yes, this homerun was probably one of the best of all time. For a Twins fan it was for sure the best of all time just beating out Kent Hrbek's Grand Slam in Game 6 of the 87 world series https://youtu.be/r6tPmCoVVNI?si=9sqIZSmgbvSSBh6n

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

There is a difference. Mazeroski's broke a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, while Carter's was a come-from-behind victory in the bottom of the ninth.

There's a difference in every home run ever hit. Does that make one less important than the other?

In this case there's also a similarity between these two - both were walk off Series winning HR's.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by twins_34

Most underrated world series? The 91 World Series is regarded as probably one of the best series in the decade and one of the best in the last 100 years in 2003.

1st World Series Championship? Was 1987 not a thing? Also the Twins have 3 as a total organization all the way back to 1924. 1924, 1987, and 1991 have all been won by the Twins/Senators. 1991 was the organizations 3rd World Series win for the Minnesota Twins

And yes, this homerun was probably one of the best of all time. For a Twins fan it was for sure the best of all time just beating out Kent Hrbek's Grand Slam in Game 6 of the 87 world series https://youtu.be/r6tPmCoVVNI?si=9sqIZSmgbvSSBh6n

1. I forgot about '87. My bad.

2.Since I'm not a Twins fans or live in Minnesota I'm not inundated w/Twin talk. Therefore, when I hear about WS history, the '91 series isn't mentioned as much as others. It is all an opinion anyway.

3. I never include title from previous locations. I'm pretty sure Twin fans don't wax poetic about the great Senator teams from the 20's. Nor will Vegas fans recollect w/fondness the times the A's played in Philly, KC or Oakland. And we can go on & on.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

There's a difference in every home run ever hit. Does that make one less important than the other?

In this case there's also a similarity between these two - both were walk off Series winning HR's.

Carter's was the first come-from-behind game winning home run in World Series history. Records are all about the details.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Carter's was the first come-from-behind game winning home run in World Series history. Records are all about the details.

Records? I think you're in the wrong thread. This one is about important home runs, not records.

Maybe you missed the part where I acknowledged there's a difference in every home run? I was merely pointing out a similarity between those two.

The fact that they were both walk off series ending.

So yes, I think they're both important.

[Brad K]

Some people here recognize that not all game winning HRs are created equal and that is the first step toward determining importance.

Actually the most important home run is that which creates the highest championship win probability added. Some of the factors in this are what game in the series it occurred in, later being better, how late in the game it occurred, with again later being better, Other important home runs are those that set records, those that break long standing supposedly unbreakable records, along with doing something very unlikely to be repeated, say, on the order of winning a $800m Powerball jackpot by buying a single ticket.

Going with Championship Win Probability Added, the most important HR is one that in the bottom of the eighth in the seventh game of a World Series brought the batter's team from a one run deficit to a two run advantage. The fact the two run lead was erased the next inning is irrelevant. The HR had a CWPA of 63.6%.

HERE is a video explaining the importance of Smith's HR.

This event is the three run homer hit by Hal Smith in the bottom of the eighth in game seven of the 1960 world series. Bill Mazeroski's home run in the next inning has a CWPA of 36.7%.

I have Mazeroski fifth on my list. Although winning a World Series is important, and a hit that does it in the seventh game is a very important hit, Maz's HR has some additional non game situational aspects. His HR beat the Yankees who at the time had the biggest base of anti-fans of any team. That base was so big a play and movie Damn Yankees or The Year The Yankees Lost The Pennant was highly successful. A nice touch was that in the play/movie the biggest Yankees fan was Satan!

[Reed]

1. Mazeroski. I was in 6th grade and teacher let us listen to game 7. Most figured Yankees would win since they clobbered the Pirates in their 3 wins whereas the Pirates won their 3 games with very close scores.
2. Maris The home run race between Mantle and Maris and the pressure of either one hitting 61.
3. Aaron 715. Very historic home run but a little anticlimactic since we all knew it was going to happen.
4. Reggie Jackson becoming Mr. October.

Nice thread Brad K

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Have no idea what every one said here, but I'm going to go w/my top 10. Operative word here is "important".

1. Joe Carter - World Series Game 6 10/23/93 Every kid who grew up loving baseball has had the same dream. Bottom of the 9th, game 7, grand slam to win the WS. That is why Bill Mazeroski's is the most important of all time. He came the closest to every young baseball fan's dream. But we are talking "in my lifetime" & I was born in '69, nine years after Bill's achievement. Next closest is Joe's.

2. Carlton Fisk - WS Game 6 10/21/75 Many still say it was the greatest game ever. And it certainly became the most replayed HR ever. Anyone who witnessed it remembers Carlton using body language to send the series to a 7th game. This was the pinnacle of baseball as America's pastime.

3. Kirk Gibson - WS Game 1 10/15/1988 The most Hollywood HR in the most appropriate place. The moment couldn't have been more dramatic if you scripted it. The call from Vin Scully couldn't have been better if you scripted it.

4. Hank Aaron 4/8/74 Class all the way. People gave all the reasons in the world why he shouldn't break Ruth's record. Some clothed in hidden racism. Some in outright buck naked racism. And no one in the public knew. He never let that defeat him. Just got the job done. He will always be the HR king to me.

5. Kirby Puckett WS Game 6 10/26/91 Probably the most underrated WS of all time. Kirby willed the Twins into game 7 & their 1st World Championship.

6. Ozzie Smith NLCS Game 5 10/14/85 Maybe not as important as memorable. But when Oz came to bat, I just knew that thing was headed to extras. This was truly one of those "That's baseball" moments. Go crazy folks! Go crazy!

7. Reggie Jackson WS Game 6 10/18/77 I admit. I'm cheating here. Neither homer would be memorable w/o the other 2. But this was when Reggie was as good as he told us he was. When he became not Mr., but MISTER October. When he landed on Wheaties boxes. When he had his own candy bar. When he indeed stirred the drink. The magnitude of Reggie Jackson.

8. Jose Altuve Game 6 ALCS 10/19/2019 Not all important HR's need be likable. This homer is the centerpiece of the Astros cheating scandal that got them a ring and on the hate list of most baseball fans.

9. George Brett KC vs NYY 7/24/83 "The Pine Tar" game. This was as memorable a moment as there has ever been in baseball. The call. The reactions. The HOF's involved. You could make a movie around this one game.

10. Dave Justice WS Game 7 10/28/1995 A tight WS saw a struggling Justice hit a solo shot that was the game's only run. It would be the Braves dynasty's only WS triumph.

Might have to find some way to squeeze tonight's homer into this list.

[Leo_The_Lip]

the only name that should top this list is:

Bucky Dent

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I will always remember the Dave Kingman bomb out of Wrigley that hit the ladies porch down the street.

I also attended a Tiger game back in the day in which Jason Rooftop Thompson hit a home run over the roof. Didn't know he did so until we were driving home from the game and heard them talking about it on the radio. Our seats were far enough back in the lower deck that we couldn't see it go over.

How bout Reggie Jackson's blast in the 1971 all star game.

[BaseballMan]

Does Ken Griffey Jr hitting the warehouse at Camden Yards count?
Wasn't in a game but i don't think anyone else has done it.

[BaseballMan]

In our lifetime is a lot different from what we might think are the most important home runs as we were either lucky or unlucky to have lived during that time.

In my lifetime i would have to go with the Kirk Gibson's blast.
Yes Joe Carter's hr won the series but i pretty much expected the Jays to eventually win.
With Gibson's hr, i had no idea he was gonna do it.
I was about to pay my tab at the bar.
I though the A's would win in a cakewalk.
Can you blame me?
That team was a powerhouse.
I thought the Dodgers had no chance.
So i figured what the hell i might as well watch Eck put
the A's out of their misery.
Can't remember being so wrong and yet enjoy being wrong so much.
The signs were all there for an epic moment.
We had the best closer in the game against a hobbled and probably past his prime hitter.
Plus the drama of the game on the line. Eck coming after Gibson with no pity and all respect after the blast.
I think thats what i liked most.
Gibson enjoyed the moment but didn't try to show Eckersley up and Eck didn't pout or try to ruin Gibson's moment.
Just two players respecting the game.

[thehef]

I align with this...

Originally Posted by dsvitak

There can't possibly be a more important home run than one that outright wins a World Series.

... but due to extenuating circumstances I've got to go with Gibson's homer, mainly for the reasons BaseballMan expresses.

Obviously, it all depends upon one's definition of importance. Mine would relegate the feat of Wise hitting one while he also pitched a no-no as really cool, super rare, and very interesting, but not particularly important (same for Gaylord Perry's dinger & Bart Colon's). I couldn't even tell you the circumstances of Hatteberg's & a few others mentioned in this thread... Homers such as Aaron's & Bonds' were the culmination of long & amazing careers, but the homers themselves didn't impact meaningful games. I'd put Aaron's along with Maris' a tick above Bonds' and other milestone homers due to overall significance, (and the widely held perception that Bonds' HR totals are tainted) but definitely a rung below the epic homers that won - in dramatic fashion - important games...

So with that said my runners-up IMO would be:

2. Maz - A World Series winning shot in the bottom of the ninth of game seven. I can't speak to it's dramatic effect as I wasn't born yet, but it's hard to argue against it.
3. Carter - A come-from-behind series winner. The kind of stuff kids dream about...
4. Thomson - Didn't win a WS but was perhaps the first hugely important homer hit to be heard (and seen) 'round the (figurative) world...
5. Fisk - Despite being hit for the team that lost the WS, it was pretty much the defining & most-dramatic moment of perhaps the greatest WS in history.
6. Freeman - Perhaps my own recency bias but dang - the parallels to Gibby's shot!
7. Dent - Like most of those above but unlike many others mentioned in this thread, I'm guessing most of us know exactly where we were (I was in jr high, listening on a transitor radio with some other kids and the PE teacher).

(I suppose Maz' & Thomson's could be DQ'd since they occurred not in my lifetime...)

And the reason I'd rank Gibby's above Carter's or Maz - even though those two were World Series winners - is because of the combo of the unexpectedness of it AND that it had the effect of winning the series. It was a jolt like no other HR, IMO, in that even though it occurred in game one, it effectively decided a World Series in favor of the big underdog.

[Cobra Mgr]

Amended Top 10........

1. Joe Carter - World Series Game 6 10/23/93 Every kid who grew up loving baseball has had the same dream. Bottom of the 9th, game 7, grand slam to win the WS. That is why Bill Mazeroski's is the most important of all time. He came the closest to every young baseball fan's dream. But we are talking "in my lifetime" & I was born in '69, nine years after Bill's achievement. Next closest is Joe's.

2. Carlton Fisk - WS Game 6 10/21/75 Many still say it was the greatest game ever. And it certainly became the most replayed HR ever. Anyone who witnessed it remembers Carlton using body language to send the series to a 7th game. This was the pinnacle of baseball as America's pastime.

3. Kirk Gibson - WS Game 1 10/15/1988 The most Hollywood HR in the most appropriate place. The moment couldn't have been more dramatic if you scripted it. The call from Vin Scully couldn't have been better if you scripted it.

4. Hank Aaron 4/8/74 Class all the way. People gave all the reasons in the world why he shouldn't break Ruth's record. Some clothed in hidden racism. Some in outright buck naked racism. And no one in the public knew. He never let that defeat him. Just got the job done. He will always be the HR king to me.

5. Freddie Freeman WS Game 1 10/25/2024 Grand slam to win in extra innings. The highlight of a magical, clutch post season for the former MVP.

6. Kirby Puckett WS Game 6 10/26/91 Probably the most underrated WS of all time. Kirby willed the Twins into game 7 & eventually the World Series title.

7. Ozzie Smith NLCS Game 5 10/14/85 Maybe not as important as memorable. But when Oz came to bat, I just knew that thing was headed to extras. This was truly one of those "That's baseball" moments. Go crazy folks! Go crazy!

8. Reggie Jackson WS Game 6 10/18/77 I admit. I'm cheating here. Neither homer would be memorable w/o the other 2. But this was when Reggie was as good as he told us he was. When he became not Mr., but MISTER October. When he landed on Wheaties boxes. When he had his own candy bar. When he indeed stirred the drink. The magnitude of Reggie Jackson.

9. George Brett KC vs NYY 7/24/83 "The Pine Tar" game. This was as memorable a moment as there has ever been in baseball. The call. The reactions. The HOF's involved. You could make a movie around this one game.

10. Freddie Freeman WS Game 3 10/27/25 Or maybe it was the 28th. (What time was it in LA when Freddie knocked it out?) The capper on an odyssey of a game. Seventeen innings plus ended on Freeman's solo blast. On a night that his teammate had his 2nd game of the ages in the postseason, it was Freeman who finished it off. Becoming the 1st to ever hit 2 walk off HR's in the WS.