From the article: 20 Most Famous Home Runs of All-Time
The most dramatic play in baseball is the home run, and when the drama is ratcheted up the highest, magic happens. Weighing in factors such as the setting, the probability of a home run at that point and what was at stake, which do you think is the most famous home run of all-time? Is it Bobby Thomson's from 1951? Bill Mazeroski's from 1960? Kirk Gibson's from 1988? Another one that's not quite as evident immediately. Tell us your pick, and why. You Make The Call
Bill Mazeroski
- Game 7, World Series. Pirates and Yankees. Future legends on the field. Mazeroski hits a Terry pitch over Yogi's head to win the series. And this is second? Pirates' fans still recall the excitement 62 years later, even if they weren't born yet! This was (is) the greatest home run in baseball history.
- —Guest cealemelag
Gibby did it twice
- There is justification for Gibson's homer off of Eckersley in 1988 which won the game. For my money the homer off Gossage to clinch the 1984 series was at least equal in greatness. I was in the park that day. For my money, He should be recognized twice on the list of the top 20!
- —Guest Stephen Marshall
GIbson should be third
- I enjoyed your list. I think it's a fine list. I remember quite well Gibson's HR. However, I would put it 3rd. The first would be the "shot heard around the world." I remember as child learning about that game and the history of the call. I was so young. It made an impact on me. Second should be Mazeroski's HR. It was a Game 7 walk-off against the yanks. And finally, third should be Gibson's because the HR, while dramatic, did not end a series. It was only Game 1.
- —Guest magnus
Babe Ruth's 714th
- Babe Ruth’s 714th. Why? Because it’s the record. Any good hitter that hangs around long enough can break a record. Bonds had 9847 at bats, Aaron 12364, Ruth 8399. Remember, Ruth was a pitcher with the Red Sox for six years, and it was seven years before he had 500 at-bats in a season. Give Bonds and Aaron the same number of at-bats that Ruth had, 8399, and they don’t come close to 714. Had Ruth stepped to the plate as many times as Aaron did, he’d have put 1051 baseballs in the seats. Like they say, the numbers don’t lie. Bonds may be the career home run leader, but Ruth is the greatest home run hitter of all time, and 714 is still the number that they shoot for.
- —eddie49
Bobby Thomson
- 1) Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard Round The World; 2) Bill Mazeroski's in the ninth, winning the '60 World Series; 3) Kirk Gibson's Walk-Off; 4) Babe Ruth's "Called Shot"; 5) Mr. October's fifth in one World Series; 6) Reggie's pinch-hit blast in the third inning of the 1971 All Star Game in Tiger Stadium; 7) Dusty Rhodes' pinch-hit homer in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series over the heavily favored Cleveland Indians; 8) Carlton Fisk's blast in the 1975 Series; Tim Ford
- —Guest Tim Ford
Magglio Ordonez's home run
- Why isn't Ordonez's homer on this list? What could be better? Bottom of the ninth, if they win the make it from 119 losses in 03 to World Series in '06. How is that not ranked in the top 10 even?
- —Guest PJ
Babe Ruth's Called Shot
- Babe Ruth pointing to the direction he would place the home run ball.
- —Guest Alberto
She is gone!!!!
- Gotta be Kirk Gibson. He changed the entire tone of the Series with that one beautiful stroke. The A's were done with at hit, even though it was only the first game. They were no longer invincible; it was the Dodgers who clawed out a victory over the Mets in the NLCS who showed they were the better team. It was pure baseball, the team and the individual, at different times dominant and yet both integral parts of the game.
- —Guest RG
Carlton Fisk
- Carlton Fisk's home run won the sixth game of the 1975 World Series, which many people consider the best game ever played in the World Series. Certainly its the greatest home run I remember in my lifetime. (I was just an infant when Mazeroski hit his.)
- —hachmom
Tatis's 2nd Slam
- What about Fernando Tatis's 2nd grand slam in the same inning in 1999? That may never happen again. Shouldn't it at least be an honorable mention?
- —Guest Lanidrac
More Famous Home Runs
- Scott Podsednik's walk-off home run in the second game of the 2005 World Series, along with Paul Konerko's grand slam a few innings earlier. Also Pat Seerey's 4-home run game at Shibe Park against the A's in 1948, where his 4th was hit in extra innings, thus becoming the second AL player to hit four in one game -- the other being Lou Gehrig.
- —Guest Robert Schoeler
Most famous vs. most important
- Given almost three decades of technological and media advances, there can be no question that Kirk Gibson's is the most famous. Everyone, and I mean, everyone has seen it live or replayed. Yet the Mazeroski homer, hit mid-week at approximately 3:40 pm, was a World Series winning walk-off viewed by relatively very few and is the single most consequential home run ever hit, followed by Thompson's.
- —Goophee
Homer in the Gloamin'
- Where is Gabby Hartnett's 1938 "Homer in the Gloamin?" Note from Scott Kendrick: Click to page 2 of the document.
- —Guest ART HELLYER ABC TV
"Shot Heard Round The World"
- I was 10 years old in 1951 listening on radio. One of the most exciting sports events ever, growing up in Miami.
- —Guest GEN.DUKE
