Baseball's Best Post-Season Performers
Submitted by BuckGS71 on Thu, 07/12/2001 - 01:42
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- Reggie Jackson (Oakland A's 1972-74, New York Yankees 1977-78) - The man they called Mr. October certainly earned his rep in Game 6 of the '77 World Series, with his three-pitches-three-HRs performance. But he also solidified his rock-solid post-season credentials as a hard-hitting member of the Swinging A's dynasty from '72-'74.
- Bob Gibson (St. Louis Cardinals 1964-1968) - in three WS appearances ('64, '67-'68), he started and completed 8 games, winning 7 of those starts.
- Of those 8 starts, 3 were deciding games, which he won 2. Arguably the most intimidating pitcher in baseball history, and totally unhittable in the post-season.
- Babe Ruth (Boston Red Sox 1915-1918, New York Yankees 1923, 1926-29, 1931-32) - The only player in history to hold post-season records as a hitter and a pitcher. His scoreless innings streak as a lefty Red Sox pitcher in 1918 remained unbroken for nearly 40 years. His hitting in countless WS appearances as a Yankee lives on in legend - did he really call his home run shot at Wrigley Field in 1932?
- Orlando Hernandez (New York Yankees 1998-2000) - Truth be told, "El Duque" holds a .500 winning percentage in the regular season, but come the postseason, he's been the true ace the current Yankee dynasty calls when victory is needed. He's made 8 starts, winning and dominated 7 of them, and he barely lost his last start by the score of 2-1. His experience as the former ace of the Cuban National Team forged his rep.
- Kirk Gibson (Detroit Tigers 1984, Los Angeles Dodgers 1988) - Culminated a terrific personal and Tigers' postseason run by smacking two homers in their Game 5 WS-clinching victory, and hit one of the most memorable homers in WS history as he fought off both a crippling knee injury and a ferocious pitch sequence tossed by the great Dennis Eckersley to key the Dodgers' improbable 1998 WS win over the heavily-favored Oakland A's.
- Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers 1963, 1965-66) - Pitched some great games in the WS, none more important than Game 7 of the '65 series, when he pitched a complete game on just two days rest to beat the heavy-hitting Minnesota Twins.
- Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees 1951-53, 1955-59, 1960-1964) - Holds the record for most home runs in WS play with 18. The Mick was a huge part of the Yankee Dynasty of the 1950's.
- Bernie Williams (New York Yankees 1996, 1998-2000) - If Orlando Hernandez has been the best pitcher in the current Yankee post-season dominance, Williams has been their best hitter. He literaly owns all offensive records in Divisional Series play, and just has a knack for coming through with a game-winning hit time after time.
I've been watching way too much Classic Sportscenter lately...The years listed by each player reflect the year their teams played in and/or won the World Series.