Joe Carter celebrates with his Toronto Blue Jay teammates after hitting a walkoff, World Series clinching home run in 1993. (*Photo:* *Bleacher Report*)

Tonight, the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks will face-off in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 119th World Series. Both teams were “long shots” to even make it to the series, but with that being said, should make for a great “Fall Classic.”

Arizona finished 16 games out of first place, made the postseason on the last day of the regular season, and is the first team in World Series history to make the Fall Classic with a negative run differential (-15).

Texas took out the three hottest teams in MLB all season (Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and Houston), while not winning their division, and being the road team in all of their series’ during the American League (AL) playoffs. They will finally have home field advantage in the World Series.

The first World Series was held in 1903 between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston won the 9-game series 5-3.

The World Series has been played every year except for two: 1904, when the National League (NL) Champion New York Giants declined to play the AL and reigning champion Boston Americans, and in 1994, due to the player’s strike.

Of the 118 World Series’ that have been played, the AL has won 67 and the NL has won 51. Some teams made their mark during the Fall Classic and those traditions stand strong today.

The New York Yankees of the AL have played in 40 World Series’ - walking away victorious in 27 of them. Their 27 titles are the most among any North American professional sports leagues. The St. Louis Cardinals have the most championships of any NL team with 11. The red birds have appeared in 19 World Series - third most among NL teams.

The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have represented the NL the most with 21 appearances and 7 titles. Their 14 losses in the World Series are the most of any team in MLB.

Through 2023, the Seattle Mariners are the only team to never appear in the World Series.

As Texas and Arizona battle for the Commissioner’s trophy starting tonight, there will definitely be moments in this series that will become historical. There have been plenty of moments that have defined MLB’s Fall Classic - some more historical than others, and even some that went for the losing team.

Moments can define a franchise forever, and also haunt one for years. These moments make baseball the best, and have cemented themselves in baseball history forever.

Here are my Top Five Fall Classic finest moments.

HONORABLE MENTION

It’s hard to pick five moments in 118 World Series - So don’t be surprised that there are a few Honorable Mention moments. These didn’t quite crack my top 5, but they are worth recognizing.

The Catch

During Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians, the best baseball player of all-time (in my opinion) made one of the greatest plays ever. Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who patrolled centerfield for the Giants for 21 years, saved the series for the eventual World Champs.

In the bottom of the eighth with the score tied 2-2, Cleveland’s Vic Wertz hit a towering fly ball to centerfield. With runners on first and second, it looked as Cleveland was going to take the lead, and the game.

Thanks to the unique dimensions at the Polo Grounds (279 ft to left, 450 to left center, 483 to center, 449 to right center, and 258 to right), the Giants had a chance, especially with Mays in the outfield.

Surely a home run to those watching, Mays made an incredible over the should catch on the warning track, and with his athleticism, spun around and prevented the runners advancing.

The Giants would eventually win the game 5-2, sweep the series, and Mays began the track towards Cooperstown on that October afternoon.

Willie Mays, saving the game for the Giants, and solidifying himself as a World Series great during the 1954 Fall Classic. (*Photo:* *SABR*)

Fisk Waves it Fair

Hoping to win their first World Series title since 1918, the Boston Red Sox faced the Cincinnati Reds in the 1975 Fall Classic. It was Boston’s first World Series appearance since 1967, and Cincinnati was appearing in their third in the last five years.

In Game 6, and with the Cincinnati leading the series 3-2, Boston would score three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 6-6. The game would go to extras, and in the 12th inning, Red Sox legend Carlton Fisk would create a World Series moment of his own.

Cincinnati pitcher Pat Darcy, who was their eighth pitcher to appear, remained for the 12th inning after retiring the previous six batters. As the game passed four hours of play, and with a 1-0 count, Darcy delivered a fastball that Fisk got airborne.

The ball was hit towards the foul pole in left field, and was hit high enough to clear the Green Monster. As the ball was traveling, Fisk could be seen trying to wave the ball fair, and it eventually did, hitting the foul pole, and gave Boston a 7-6 win that tied the series.

This was the last time a catcher hit an extra innings home run until J.T. Realmulto did it 47 years laster in last year’s World Series. Game 6 of the 1975 World Series still to this date is the only game Cincinnati has ever lost in their World Series history. They would win the following night 4-3, giving them their third title in their franchise’s history.

The loss for Boston extended “The Curse of the Bambino” to 57 years, as it would continue for another 29 miserable years until Boston won the 2004 World Series.

Carlton Fisk waving the ball fair during Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. (*Photo:* *Sports Illustrated*)

Now lets get to the Top Five Fall Classic moments.

5. Touch ‘em all, Joe

Joe Carter hit 396 home runs during his career, but none were bigger than the one he hit in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series.

Carter, who was playing right field for the Toronto Blue Jays in the game, had helped them take a 3-2 lead over the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies. His bat helped Toronto score 37 runs through the first give games, and for the series, Carter would hit .280, drive in 8 runs, and score 6 runs, as well.

In Game 5, Toronto’s offense went cold as they only mustered five hits between three players. They left six runners on base, and were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position. They would lose the game 2-0, and force a pivotal Game 6.

In the bottom of the 9th, Philadelphia closer Mitch Williams walked Rickey Henderson.

In order to counter Henderson’s speed, Williams decided to switch up his delivery to the plate. Instead of lifting his front leg, the left-handed reliever decided to take a slide step approach when delivering his pitches.

Williams later would admit he had never done that before in his career, and it would cost him and Philadelphia dearly.

Devon White would fly out, and Paul Molitor would single, advancing Henderson to second.

Carter would step to the plate looking to rebound after already being 0 for 3 in the game. Just before the fifth (and final pitch), CBS announcer Tim McCarver mentioned that Carter “…looked awkward and uncomfortable at the plate.”

Williams delivered a pitch to Carter that he smashed over the left field wall giving Toronto a 8-6 win, and a World Series title for the second year in a row.

Carter’s excitement was captured after the ball cleared the wall as he began to jump high and pump his fist emphatically.

It was the second year in a row Carter was involved in a World Series ending play, as in the 1992 Fall Classic, he caught the final out giving Toronto a 4-2 series win over the Atlanta Braves.

Toronto’s play-by-play radio, Tom Cheek, had one of the more memorable calls after Carter’s home run.

“Touch ‘em all Joe. You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life!”

Carter’s home run was, and still is, only the second ever World Series clinching walk off home run. I’ll get to the other later in the list.

Joe Carter rounds second after hitting a series clinching walk-off home run for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series. (*Photo:* *Sports Net*)

4. Behind the bag!

Baseball is unpredictable. Compared to other sports, one small mishap can swing momentum, and sometimes, keep teams still searching for a championship. Especially if a team has been yearning for one for 68 years.

The 1986 Boston Red Sox finally looked like the were going to break The Curse of the Bambino. They finished with the best record in the AL (95-66) and won the AL East by 5.5 games over the New York Yankees.

Their lineup was loaded. They finished third in MLB in RBI’s (752), second in batting average (.271), and second in OBP% (.346). Their pitching was stellar too, finishing third in wins (95), second in complete games (36 - unheard of in 2023), and first in walks (474 - least amount allowed in MLB).

After beating the California Angels 4-3, a series in which Boston was down 3-1, many didn’t believe they’d have what it took to beat the NL Champion New York Mets.

The Mets finished with the best record in baseball (108-54), and were making their first Fall Classic appearance since 1973. Boston was back in their first World Series since 1975.

Both teams split the first four games, and Boston won a crucial Game 5 at Fenway, and took a 3-2 Series lead back to Queens.

Boston took an early 2-0 lead, and with Roger Clemens on the mound, many believed the curse was finally going to be broken.

New York eventually tied the game in the 5th, Boston took the lead in the 7th, and New York once again tied it in the 8th.

The game would go to extra innings, and Boston would score two in the top of the 10th to take a 5-3 lead. Was this going to be it?

It sure looked like it as Wally Backman flied out to left, and then Keith Hernandez flied out to center to start the bottom of the 9th.

The scoreboard flashed “Congratulations Boston Red Sox, 1986 World Series Champions.” No celebration would take place as New York catcher Gary Carter singled which brought the tying run to the plate.

Kevin Mitchell would get a pinch-hit single, and Ray Knight, the winning run, came to the plate. Knight would single to left-center, plating Carter, and the speedy Mitchell advanced to third.

Things were not looking good for Boston - the “scoreboard champs.”

Mookie Wilson was the next batter, and after a pitching change, and with the count 2-2, a wild pitch plated Mitchell to tie the game. Knight advanced to second as the winning run.

On the tenth, and final pitch of the game, Wilson hit a ground ball to first base, surely to end the game, series, and the curse for Boston. Boston first baseman Bill Buckner, who was playing on the lip of the outfield (where the dirt and grass meet) moved towards the foul line to field the ball, but it rolled between his legs and trickled into right field.

Knight would score from second, giving New York a 6-5 win and it forced a decisive Game 7. New York would go on to win the next night 8-5, giving them their first title since 1969, and Boston and its fans would have to endure more pain.

As NBC caught MLB personnel removing champagne and the commissioners trophy from Boston’s locker room, many thought Game 6 was the clinching game - Similar to the United States beating the Soviet Union in the semifinals, not the finals, of the 1980 Winter Olympics.

The game would be the last World Series game to end on an error until Game 4 of the 2020 World Series.

Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, who was calling the game, screamed “Behind the bag!” as the ball rolled between Buckner’s legs. It’s one of the more iconic calls in Fall Classic history.

To this day - Many still consider Game 6 of the 1986 World Series to be one of the best, not only World Series games ever, but one of the best MLB games of all-time.

Game 6 of the 1986 World Series ended in dramatic fashion, as a ground ball gets by Boston First Baseman Bill Buckner to give New York a 6-5 win. If fielded, Boston would have ended their 68-year championship drought, one they would accomplish 18 years later in 2004.
(*Photo:* *Boston Globe*)

3. Hobbled Homerun

Everyone loves an underdog story, and they’re especially fun to root for in the World Series.

In the 1988 Fall Classic, the powerhouse Oakland Athletics (104-58) took on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Oakland was an offensive machine, led by Jose Canseco (42 home runs, 124 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, .959 OPS), Dave Henderson (100 runs, 38 doubles, 94 RBI’s), and up-and-coming first baseman Mark McGwire (143 hits, 32 home runs, 99 RBI’s).

Oakland’s pitching staff was just as good, as ace Dave Stewart (21 wins, 192 strikeouts, 1.27 WHIP), and Bob Welch (17 wins, 158 strikeouts) sat atop their rotation that led MLB in wins (104), fifth in strikeouts (983), and also led MLB in innings pitched (1,489).

Many did not expect Los Angeles to make it to the World Series, as they were the fourth best team record-wise in the playoffs. They weren’t as explosive as Oakland offensively, but their pitching kept them alive all season.

Orel Hershiser led the way for Los Angeles’ pitching staff, winning an NL best 23 games, leading MLB in complete games (15 - once again - unheard of in 2023) and shutouts (8), while also leading the NL in innings pitched (267). Hershiser would win the 1988 NL Cy Young and finish sixth in the MVP vote.

Tim Leary (17 wins, 180 strikeouts), Tim Belcher (1.080 WHIP, 2.91 ERA) followed Hershiser in the rotation that would be the focal point of the series: Los Angeles’ pitching versus Oakland’s hitting.

Would Los Angeles’ hitting be able to take advantage of Oakland’s pitching to help slow down the slugging A’s? It would be evident in Game 1.

Kirk Gibson had carried Los Angeles offensively for most of the season, posting a 6.5 WAR, but was officially unavailable for the first game of the ‘88 Fall Classic. After sustaining a pulled left hamstring and a swollen right knee in the NLCS, it looked bleak if Gibson would play at all.

The “cards were stacked” against Los Angeles as Hershisher pitched in Game 7 of the NLCS, so they had to turn to Belcher for Game 1. He faced off against Oakland ace Stewart. Both would run into trouble right away.

Belcher loaded the bases in the first after a single and two hit batsmen. Stewart hit Steve Sax with his first pitch as retaliation after the bash brothers (Canseco and McGwire) both got plunked. After an unusual balk, Stewart gave up a two-run home run to Gibson’s replacement in the lineup, Mickey Hatcher, who had only one home run all season.

While Oakland had a 4-2 lead after a Canseco grand slam, unbeknownst to most, Gibson was watching the game and receiving physical therapy in clubhouse. After hearing legendary Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully mention on the call of the game that “Gibson was nowhere to be found,” he started to get antsy. He called Los Angeles’ dugout and had their ballboy meet him at the batting cages to take swings off the tee.

Gibson asked for Los Angeles manager Tommy Lasorda to come down in between innings for an evaluation to show him that he could pinch hit if needed. Lasorda liked what he saw, and the next thing everyone saw was Gibson with a batting helmet on in the Dodger dugout.

Oakland closer and future hall-of-famer Dennis Eckersely came on for the ninth, protecting a 4-3 lead. Eckersely was dominant all season, saving an MLB best 45 games, posting a 2.35 ERA, and a 0.867 WHIP. He was named an All-Star, and finished second in the AL Cy Young vote.

Eckersely would make work of Los Angeles in the ninth, retiring the first two batters, Mike Sciocia and Jeff Hamilton. After Mike Davis, who was batting for Alfredo Griffin walked, Gibson stepped out of the dugout to pinch hit. Clearly in pain, many watching the game felt it was all but over for Los Angeles.

Gibson, who would eventually win the 1988 NL MVP, gave it his best effort against the game’s best closer. He battled, fouled off several pitches, and on the 8th pitch of the at-bat, Gibson entered World Series folklore.

Eckersely threw a backdoor slider to Gibson that he put into the right field bleachers at Dodger Stadium, giving Los Angeles a 5-4 Game 1 win.

Gibson's pain was seen as he hobbled his way around the bases, pumping his fists and celebrating.

He would not bat again in the series.

That game was the only one in World Series history in which a grand-slam hitting team failed to win the game, and the series. Gibson became the second player to record a walk-off hit with two outs and his team trailing in the bottom of the ninth inning of a World Series game, following Cookie Lavagetto in the 1947 World Series. Since then only one other player (Brett Philips - 2020 World Series), has accomplished this feat.

Kirk Gibson hits a hobbled, walk-off home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. It would be Gibson’s only at-bat in the series, and his most famous contribution to the Fall Classic.
(Photo: *Sports Illustrated*)

2. Perfection

The World Series is baseball’s biggest stage for the biggest moments to happen. We all dream of those big moments as players growing up and we strived to be like the greats, including Don Larsen.

Larsen, who was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the New York Yankees in 1954, was at best an average pitcher. He only led MLB one time in a statistical category during his career, and that was losses (21) in 1954.

After he arrived in New York, Larsen became a reliable arm for New York . His first two seasons (‘55 and ‘56), he won 20 games, struck out 151 batters, pitched 11 complete games, and threw two shutouts.

Larsen would make his first Fall Classic appearance in 1955 in Game 4 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was a game to forget.

He pitched four innings, allowed five runs on five hits, and took the loss as Brooklyn won the game, and eventually the series.

The following season, New York and Brooklyn would meet again in the World Series. With the series tied a 2-2, Larsen got the ball for Game 5 at Yankee Stadium.

Larsen was almost “automatic” from his first pitch of the game, but also had tremendous luck, no matter how good of a pitcher you are, its always needed when searching for perfection.

In the second inning, Jackie Robinson hit a line drive off third basemen Andrew Carey’s glove - the ball caromed to shortstop Gil McDougald, who threw out Robinson by a step. In the fifth, Mickey Mantle ran down Gil Hodges deep fly ball in left center field, making a backhanded catch.

Brooklyn also had three line drives during the game - All were nearly hits.

Duke Snider hit a “laser” to Hank Bauer in right field in the first, Mantle made another spectacular catch on a ball hit by Sal Maglie in the fourth, and Carey, New York’s third baseman, caught a low line drive off of Hodges’ bat in the eighth.

New York only needed two runs to support Larsen: Mantle hit a home run in the fourth, and Bauer hit an rbi-single in the sixth.

In the ninth for Brooklyn, Larsen retired Carl Furillo on a flyout to Bauer, then Roy Campanella on a ground ball to second baseman Billy Martin. Dale Mitchell was Brooklyn’s last chance. A career .312 hitting, Mitchell got behind 1-2 in the count. On Larsen’s 97th pitch, he struck out Mitchell for his 27th consecutive out, and the first perfect game in World Series history.

In a 1998 interview, Larsen stated, “I had great control. I never had that kind of control in my life.”

New York’s legendary catcher Yogi Berra leaped into Larsen’s arms at the conclusion of the game, a picture that is most remembered from this historical day.

In the 2022 World Series, four Houston Astros pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, the only other no hitter in Fall Classic history.

Larsen is still the only pitcher ever to reach true perfection come October.

Yogi Berra leaps into the arms of Don Larsen after he threw a perfect game during Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
(*Photo:* *Sports Illustrated*)

Mazeroski’s Magic
We’ve all dreamt of it: Bottom of the ninth, tie game, in Game 7 of the World Series, and you step to the plate with a chance to win it. That’s exactly what Bill Mazeroski did in the 1960 World Series.
Mazeroski, who played his entire 17-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, only hit 138 home runs during his career. He slugged a career high 19 in 1958, but there will always be one he is known for.
Game 7 of the 1960 Fall Classic was somewhat of an oddity in itself. Both teams combined to score a total of seven runs (Five by Pittsburgh in the bottom of the 8th, two for the New York Yankees in the top of the 9th) which made the score 9-9 going into the bottom half for Pittsburgh. The game itself is still the only one to date in which no strikeouts occurred by either team.
Mazeroski got caught up in New York’s comeback, as Pittsburgh came to bat, he had to be reminded he was to lead off the inning.
On a 1-0 pitch, Mazeroski hit a long fly ball just to the left of the 406 sign in left-center field at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
Mazeroski’s walk-off was the first series clincher in a Game 7 in World Series history. His feat still stands today as nobody has yet to accomplish it since.
Fans rushed the field, mobbed Mazeroski, and Pittsburgh celebrated their first, and still only world title.
Nothing compares to the walk-off home run in baseball, and to do it in Game 7 in the bottom of the 9th? Makes it even better - especially since this was has been the only time its happened. Hence why its #1 on 408.

Bill Mazeroski, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, approaches home plate after hitting a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The only walk-off home run in Game 7 in World Series history.
*(Photo:* *FanPop*)

Who will have that moment in this year’s World Series? ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia? Corbin Carroll? The opportunities are endless to shine on baseball’s biggest stage.

Enjoy this year’s World Series - You never know what’s going to happen, and who will create a legacy for themselves in the Fall Classic.