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Page 2's List: Greatest
World Series moments

Page 2 staff



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The Fall Classic is here, and Page 2 is here to remember the classic moments from past falls.

Bill Mazeroski
The image of Bill Mazeroski circling the bases after homering to win Game 7 of the 1960 World Series is one of baseball's most indelible memories.
Check out our list of the 10 greatest moments in World Series history, and then see what World Series highlights were worthy of Page 2 readers' top 10. And be sure to vote in the poll to pick the best World Series moment of all-time.

Here's Page 2's list:

1. Bill Mazeroski's Series-winning, walk-off homer (Game 7 in 1960)
One of only two homers to end a Series and the only one to come in a seventh game, Maz's blast over the left-field wall gave the Pirates a 10-9 victory over the Yankees and their first world championship in 35 years. Nothing like livin' the backyard dream of every kid in America.

2. The final pitch of Don Larsen's perfect game (Game 5 in 1956)
The imperfect man pitched a perfect game, giving the Yanks a 3-2 series lead over Brooklyn in an eventual seven-game victory for the Bronx Bombers. Who can forget Yogi Berra's leap into Larsen's arms?

Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson's two-run homer gave L.A. a 5-4 win over Oakland in Game 1 of the '88 World Series.
3. Kirk Gibson's walk-off homer (Game 1 in 1988)
"I don't believe what I just saw." In a scene straight out of "The Natural," Gibson limped up to the plate and hit a pinch-hit homer off the dominating Dennis Eckersley to win the Series opener and set the tone for the Dodgers' five-game upset of the mighty A's.

4. Willie Mays' over-the-shoulder catch off Vic Wertz (Game 1 in 1954)
The best fielding play in Series history and perhaps the best catch ever, Mays' over-the-shoulder grab in the eighth inning kept Game 1 between the Giants and Indians tied at 1-1. The Giants won it 5-3 in 10 innings and went on to sweep the Series.

5. Carlton Fisk's extra-inning, game-winning, foul-pole-skimming homer (Game 6 in 1975)
It doesn't matter to us that the Red Sox lost in Game 7. We just smile at the image of Fisk waving his dramatic homer fair, forcing a classic Reds-Red Sox series to go the distance and ending one of the best World Series games ever.

Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk's homer stayed fair and kept the Red Sox alive in 1975.
6. Babe Ruth's "Called Shot" against the Cubs (Game 3 in 1932)
Maybe it never happened, which is why it's "only" No. 6. Legend has it that Ruth pointed his bat at Cubs pitcher Charlie Root in the fifth inning of a 4-4 tie, and then pointed his bat toward the center-field fence. Moments later, the Babe crushed a massive homer to the center-field bleachers, powering the Yanks to a 7-5 win and a sweep of the Series.

7. Reggie Jackson's third homer (Game 6 in 1977)
Three swings, three homers and the legend of "Mr. October" was born. Jackson's three-homer outburst in Game 6 gave New York an 8-4 victory and a six-game victory over the Dodgers.

8. Bill Buckner's error (Game 6 in 1986)
So many goats and villains for the cursed Red Sox in their epic seven-game loss to the Mets, but Billy Buck's the one everybody remembers.

9. Joe Carter's Series-winning, walk-off homer (Game 6 in 1993)
Like Maz, Carter got to live out every little kid's dream by hitting a home run to win the Series as his Blue Jays downed the Phillies.

10. Billy Martin's Series-saving catch of Jackie Robinson's wind-blown infield fly (Game 7 in 1952)
The key play for the Yanks in the only five-peat in baseball history.

Also receiving votes
  • Edgar Renteria's extra-inning Series-winning hit (Game 7 in 1997) for Florida.

  • Dodger pitcher Bob Welch's epic strikeout of Yankees' Reggie Jackson (Game 2 in 1978).

  • Kirby Puckett's Series-saving catch (Game 6 in 1991) for the Twins vs. the Braves.

  • Tommy Agee's catch for the Miracle Mets (1969) against the Orioles.

  • Brooklyn outfielder Sandy Amoros' Series-saving catch off Yankees' Yogi Berra (Game 7 in 1955).

  • Brooklyn's Al Gionfriddo robs Yankees' Joe DiMaggio of three-run homer (Game 6 in 1947).

  • Cookie Lavagetto's game-winning double off Bill Bevens, which broke up the Yankees pitcher's no-hitter with two outs in the ninth (Game 4 in 1947).

  • Bobby Richardson's Series-saving catch of Willie McCovey's line drive with men on second and third and two outs in the last of the ninth (Game 7 in 1962) for the Yankees.




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