Of all the postseason home runs that have punctured a tense October (or November) air, 232 of them have resounded within a winner-take-all scenario. Across those singular swings and flights during the tension of a win-or-go-home affair, only two have ever occurred as late as the eighth inning and stunningly […]
The start of the 2024 postseason got rolling on the same day October did, when eight clubs began marking their routes toward the very same dream destination. After just a few days had passed, four had woken up to a dim reality – end of the road – while four […]
In the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1953 World Series, Brooklyn – facing elimination – was down two runs to the Yankees, only three outs away from seeing their season reach a dead end. Gil Hodges flew out, but then Duke Snider drew a walk to bring Carl […]
The bases are filled, a batter steps to the plate and settles in to await the delivery. The ball hurtles toward the plate, the batter swings, and soon after, the bases are empty and the space around the plate is filled with four teammates. A grand slam – it’s one […]
Quick (and be honest with your response): who hit the most World Series home runs as a first baseman? Riffle through the mental rolodex …. of course, Lou Gehrig. This bit of trivia is probably unsurprising, as Gehrig – who ended up with 10 four-baggers – famously walloped NL […]
The very last games of a season being played to determine a champ, a series of games played within a tight window on the calendar. By its very formula, the World Series is an alchemist of drama, a stoker of tension and breathlessness. Sometimes, though, it really transmutes the ingredients […]
Down by a run, down to their three final outs, the Dodgers start to rally back and conclude the surge with a swing that makes World Series history. Before the momentous swing, an intentional walk hits pause in the tension while also ratcheting the tightness. And then the history-making swing […]
Later today, before Jack Flaherty delivers the first salvo of the 120th Fall Classic, presumptive NL MVP Shohei Ohtani will be a central focus during one set of lineup introductions. AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge will absorb the same sort of attention in the other roll call. Before a single […]
Fernando Valenzuela made only one World Series appearance in his career: a complete game in Game 3 of the 1981 World Series to, for all intents and purposes, save the Dodgers season. It’s fitting that the left-hander’s rescue effort came in front of the Dodger Stadium crowd in 1981, for […]
See Here for Part 1 On the morning of October 3, 2000, the set of batters who could proclaim they ended their postseason careers with a .300/.400/.500 line (“ahem,” they might cough, “with at least 100 plate appearances”) numbered six: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Gene Woodling, […]