The Play’s the Thing

Bill Shakespeare had it right over 400 years ago. A baseball game in its essence is a sequence of plays, always starting at the same point and then tracing out a unique road that leads to the final outcome. And all the best games have a long and winding road. Having previously established that Power WPS is the ULTIMATE measure of how exciting a baseball game is, we’re ready for the real fun to begin. The fun of course being the compiling of various lists which can be the basis for pointless arguments. Since we rate the games based on the plays, we should establish a framework by first talking about the plays. When we remember a game, what we really remember is a few plays. So what is a typical play, what is the distribution of plays, what is a ‘big’ play?

Through 2017 there have been 305 playoff series, comprised of 1535 games and 119,712 plays, or about 78 plays per game. The average play moves the probability by 3.4%; The median play moves the probability by 2 percent. The table below shows the distribution of all those plays.

Only about 6.27 percent of all plays move the needle by as much as 10%, so a typical game will have about 5 of those.

Only about 1.14 percent of all plays move the needle by as much as 20%. A typical game will have about 1 of those. That’s the play they’ll show on the evening news.

Only about 0.42 percent of all plays move the needle by as much as 30%. About 1 in 3 games would feature a play like that.

Only about 0.13 percent of all plays move the needle by as much as 40%. About 1 in 10 games would feature a play like that.

Only about 0.03 percent of all plays move the needle by as much as 50%. A team might have about 4 of them in a season.

 

Change in
winning%
# Plays % of plays Cum % Change in
winning%
# Plays % of plays Cum %
0% 13673 11.42% 11.42% 26% 70 0.06% 99.44%
1% 24970 20.86% 32.28% 27% 53 0.04% 99.49%
2% 26781 22.37% 54.65% 28% 57 0.05% 99.53%
3% 17106 14.29% 68.94% 29% 50 0.04% 99.58%
4% 11175 9.33% 78.28% 30% 44 0.04% 99.61%
5% 6649 5.55% 83.83% 31% 40 0.03% 99.65%
6% 4562 3.81% 87.64% 32% 39 0.03% 99.68%
7% 3208 2.68% 90.32% 33% 28 0.02% 99.70%
8% 2357 1.97% 92.29% 34% 45 0.04% 99.74%
9% 1725 1.44% 93.73% 35% 40 0.03% 99.77%
10% 1414 1.18% 94.91% 36% 33 0.03% 99.80%
11% 1145 0.96% 95.87% 37% 25 0.02% 99.82%
12% 922 0.77% 96.64% 38% 32 0.03% 99.85%
13% 664 0.55% 97.19% 39% 27 0.02% 99.87%
14% 499 0.42% 97.61% 40% 14 0.01% 99.88%
15% 379 0.32% 97.93% 41% 15 0.01% 99.89%
16% 328 0.27% 98.20% 42% 19 0.02% 99.91%
17% 309 0.26% 98.46% 43% 16 0.01% 99.92%
18% 279 0.23% 98.69% 44% 9 0.01% 99.93%
19% 208 0.17% 98.86% 45% 6 0.01% 99.94%
20% 140 0.12% 98.98% 46% 13 0.01% 99.95%
21% 128 0.11% 99.09% 47% 9 0.01% 99.95%
22% 98 0.08% 99.17% 48% 6 0.01% 99.96%
23% 91 0.08% 99.25% 49% 7 0.01% 99.97%
24% 91 0.08% 99.32% 50% 5 0.00% 99.97%
25% 73 0.06% 99.38% >50% 36 0.03% 100.00%

Caveat: BBRef has updated the percentages over time, my results reflect the values I captured over the years which may differ slightly from the current values.

 

Choosing one great game, we can see what at all of those levels look like. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series (Cards 10 Rangers 9, in 11 innings) has them all.

In the top of the 2nd, Ian Kinsler hit a 2-out double with a man on second tying the game at 2 (11%)

In the top of the 7th, Adrian Beltre hit a leadoff homer, breaking a 4-4 tie (21%)

In the bottom of the 11th, David Freese led off with a walk-off homer (37%)

In the top of the 10th, Josh Hamilton hit a 1-out 2-run homer to break a 7-7 tie (43%)

In the bottom of the 9th, David Freese hit a 2-out 2-run triple to tie the game at 7 (54%)

 

Obviously, the biggest plays will tend to come at the end of the game when there are fewer (or no) opportunities to come back.

But what are the highest rated early plays in a game?

1st play 12%: A Pete Rose homer off Catfish Hunter in G5 of the 1972 WS

2nd play 16%: Most recently a Stephen Piscotty 2-run homer off Jason Hammel in game 4 of the 2015 NLDS

3rd play 21%: A 1-out 2-run homer by Frank Robinson off Don Drysdale in game 1 of the 1966 WS

4th play 23%: A 1-out 3-run homer by Willie Stargell off Doug Rau in Game 3 of the 1974 NLCS

5th play 24%: A 2-out 3-run homer by Garrett Anderson off Randy Johnson in Game 3 of the 2005 ALDS

6th play 26%: A 2-out 3-run homer by Lucas Duda off Jason Hammel (AGAIN) in Game 4 of the 2015 NLCS

7th play 23%: A 2-out 3-run double by Moises Alou off Greg Maddux in Game 1 of the 1997 NLCS

8th play 25%: A 2-out 3-run homer by Bob Watson off Jerry Reuss in Game 1 of the 1981 WS (bottom of 1st)

9th play 26%: A 2-out 3-run homer by Ron Cey off Dave Righetti in Game 3 of the 1981 WS (AGAIN) (bottom of 1st)

10th play 26%: A 2-out 3-run double by Alex Gordon off CJ Wilson in Game 3 of the 2014 ALDS (bottom of 1st)

11th play 33%: A 2-out Grand Slam by Ryan Roberts off Randy Wolf in Game 4 of the 2011 NLDS (bottom of 1st)

12th play 26% yada

13th play 28% yada

14th play 22% yada

15th play 24%

16th play 33%: A 1-out 3-run homer by Gene Tenace off Jim McGlothlin in Game 5 of the 1972 WS (bottom of 2nd)

17th play 25%

18th play 39%: A 2-out Grand Slam by Jose Canseco off Tim Belcher in Game 1 of the 1988 WS (Top of 2nd, turned into a footnote 7 innings later)

19th play 30%

20th play 30%

 

The earliest we get a 40% play is

41st play 42%: A 2-out grand slam by James Loney off Ryan Dempster in Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS (top 5th). Gives team 2 run lead

The Earliest we get a 50% play is

56th play 55%: A 2-out 2-run Pete Rose homer off John Candeleria in Game 3 of the 1975 NLCS (top 8th). Gives team 1 run lead

 

Speaking of those over 50% plays, how many of those biggest 41 plays that changed the odds by at least 50% can you think of? No credit for naming the Pete Rose play…

Series Road Team score home team score IP Top
Play
1988 WS G1 Oakland Athletics 4 Los Angeles Dodgers 5 9 87.0%  Gibson’s 2-out 2-run walk-off Homer Off Eck
2009 NLCS G4 Los Angeles Dodgers 4 Philadelphia Phillies 5 9 83.0%  Jimmy Rollins 2-out 2-run walk-off Double Off Jonathan Broxton
1947 WS G4 New York Yankees 2 Brooklyn Dodgers 3 9 82.0%  Cookie Lavagetto 2-out 2-run walk-off double off Bill Bevens, also ending Bevens no-hitter bid
1985 NLCS G6 St. Louis Cardinals 7 Los Angeles Dodgers 5 9 74.0%  Jack Clark 2-out 3-run homer off Tom Neidenfuer in the top of the ninth gives Cards the lead
1992 NLCS G7 Pittsburgh Pirates 2 Atlanta Braves 3 9 74.0%  Francisco Cabrera 2-out 2-run walk-off single off Stan Belinda
1986 ALCS G5 Boston Red Sox 7 California Angels 6 11 73.0%  Dave Henderson 2-out 2-run homer off Donnie Moore in the top of the 9th gives Red Sox temporary 1-run lead
2003 NLDS1 G3 San Francisco Giants 3 Florida Marlins 4 11 73.0%  Ivan Rodriguez 2-out 2-run walk-off single off Tim Worrell
2005 NLCS G5 St. Louis Cardinals 5 Houston Astros 4 9 73.0%  Albert Pujols 2-out 3-run homer off Brad Lidge in the top of the 9th gives Cards the lead
1986 NLCS G3 Houston Astros 5 New York Mets 6 9 73.0%  Lenny Dysksta  1-out 2-run walk-off homer off Dave Smith
1988 NLCS G1 Los Angeles Dodgers 2 New York Mets 3 9 72.0%  Gary Carter 2-out 2-run double off Jay Howell in the top of the 9th gives Mets the lead
1972 ALCS G1 Detroit Tigers 2 Oakland Athletics 3 11 71.0%  Gonzalo Marquez 2-out 2-run walk-off single (plus error) off Chuck Seelback
1985 WS G2 St. Louis Cardinals 4 Kansas City Royals 2 9 69.0%  Terry Pendleton 2-out 3-run double off Charlie Leibrandt in the top of the 9th gives Cards the lead
1941 WS G4 New York Yankees 7 Brooklyn Dodgers 4 9 69.0%  Charlie Keller 2-out 2-run double off Hugh Casey in the top of the 9th gives Yankees the lead
1992 WS G2 Toronto Blue Jays 5 Atlanta Braves 4 9 67.0%  Ed Sprague 1-out 2-run homer off Jeff Reardon in the top of the 9th gives Blue Jays the lead
1993 WS G6 Philadelphia Phillies 6 Toronto Blue Jays 8 9 66.0%  Stupid Joe Carter
1960 WS G7 New York Yankees 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 9 63.0%  Hal Smith 2-out 3-run Homer off Bob Coates in the bottom of the 8th.Defines the minimum distance from immortality to obscurity.
2005 WS G2 Houston Astros 6 Chicago White Sox 7 9 58.0%  Paul Konerko 2-out Grand Slam off Chad Qualls in the bottom of the 7th gives Sox a 2-run lead
2009 ALDS2 G3 Anaheim Angels 7 Boston Red Sox 6 9 57.0%  Vladimir Guerrero 2-out 2-run single off Papelbon I the top of the 9th gives Anaheim a 1-run lead
1978 ALCS G3 Kansas City Royals 5 New York Yankees 6 9 57.0%  Thurman Munson 1-out 2-run Homer off Doug Bird in the bottom of the 8th gives Yankees a 1-run lead
1997 ALCS G2 Cleveland Indians 5 Baltimore Orioles 4 9 56.0%   Marquis Grissom 2-out 3-run home run off Armando Benitez in the top of the 8th gives Cleveland a 1-run lead
1972 WS G4 Cincinnati Reds 2 Oakland Athletics 3 9 56.0%  Bobby Tolan 2-out 2-run double off Vida Blue gives Cin a temporary lead….stay tuned
2010 NLDS2 G3 San Francisco Giants 3 Atlanta Braves 2 9 56.0%  Eric Hinske 1-out 2-run homer off Sergio Romo in the bottom of the 8th gives the Braves a temporary lead
1975 NLCS G3 Cincinnati Reds 5 Pittsburgh Pirates 3 10 55.0%  Pete Rose 2-out 2-run Homer off John Candelaria in the top of the 8th. Reds go on to win in extra innings
1933 WS G4 New York Giants 2 Washington Senators 1 11 55.0%  Carl Hubbell get Cliff Bolton to hit into a bases loaded walk-off double play in the bottom of the 11th. One for the defense!
2011 WS G6 Texas Rangers 9 St. Louis Cardinals 10 11 54.0%  David Freese 2-out 2-run triple off Neftali Feliz in the bottom of the 9th ties the game…leading to madness
1987 ALCS G3 Minnesota Twins 6 Detroit Tigers 7 9 54.0%  Pat Sheridan 1-out 2-run homer off Jeff Reardon gives the Tigers a 1-run lead
1923 WS G6 New York Yankees 6 New York Giants 4 9 54.0%  Bob Meusel 2-out 3-run single (+error) off Rosy Ryan in the top of the 8th gives Yanks a 2-run lead.
1998 NLCS G5 Atlanta Braves 7 San Diego Padres 6 9 53.0%  Michael Tucker 1-out 3-run homer off Kevin Brown in the top of the 8th gives Braves a 1-run lead
1998 WS G3 New York Yankees 5 San Diego Padres 4 9 53.0%  Scott Brosius 1-out 3-run homer off Trevor Hoffman in the top of the 8th gives NY a 2-run lead
1972 WS G4 Cincinnati Reds 2 Oakland Athletics 3 9 52.0%  Don Mincher 1-out 1-run single off Clay Carrol in the bottom of the 9th ties game and puts winning run on third. Only playoff game with two 50+% plays
2014 ALDS2 G2 Detroit Tigers 6 Baltimore Orioles 7 9 52.0%  Delmon Young 1-out 3-run double of Joakim Soria in the bottom of the 8th gives the Orioles a 1-run lead
2016 NLDS1 G3 Chicago Cubs 5 San Francisco Giants 6 13 51.0%  Conor Gillaspie 1-out 2-run triple off Arnoldis Chapman in the bottom of the 8th gives Giants a 1-run lead
2003 ALDS1 G4 Oakland Athletics 4 Boston Red Sox 5 9 51.0%  David Ortiz 2-out 2-run double off Keith Foulke in the bottom of the 8th gives the Sox a 1-run lead
1938 WS G2 New York Yankees 6 Chicago Cubs 3 9 51.0%  Frankie Crosetti 2-out 2-run homer off Dizzy Dean in the top of the 8th gives the Yanks a 1-run lead
1999 NLCS G4 Atlanta Braves 2 New York Mets 3 9 51.0%  John Olerud 2-out 2-run single off John Rocker in the bottom of the 8th gives the Mets a 1-run lead
1912 WS G8 New York Giants 2 Boston Red Sox 3 10 51.0%  Tris Speaker 1-our 1-run single off Christy Mathewson ties game, winning run advances to 3rd.  The first ever +50% in the post-season
1993 WS G4 Toronto Blue Jays 15 Philadelphia Phillies 14 9 50.0%  Devon White 2-out 2-run Triple off Mitch Williams in the top of the 8th gives the Jays a 1-run lead
1980 ALCS G3 Kansas City Royals 4 New York Yankees 2 9 50.0%  George Brett 2-out 3-run homer off Goose Gossage in the top of the 7th gives the Royals a 2-run lead
2014 NLDS1 G1 St. Louis Cardinals 10 Los Angeles Dodgers 9 9 50.0%  Matt Carpenter 2-out 3-run double off Clayton Kershaw in the top of the 7th gives the Cards  1-run lead
2004 ALDS2 G2 Minnesota Twins 6 New York Yankees 7 12 50.0%  Arod 1-out 1-run double off Joe Nathan in the bottom of the 12th puts winning run on 3rd
2001 WS G7 New York Yankees 2 Arizona Diamondbacks 3 9 50.0%  Tony Womack 1-out 1-run double off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th puts winning run on 3rd

 

Part of the fun of a list like that is the memories of players I have not thought of in many moons (apologies to the Cleveland Indians for that cultural appropriation) and other players that I’d never heard of in the first place. Of course while these plays turned an individual game around, some had a greater impact on the outcome of a series, those plays being the ones that happened in the closing games of a series. We can make that list too…

Here are the 24 plays that changed the odds of victory for a playoff series by at least 35%. NINE of them occurred in just four games (they are marked with funny symbols).

 

Series Road Team score home team score IP Top
Play
Series Impact Game
weight
Description
1992 NLCS G7 Pittsburgh Pirates 2 Atlanta Braves 3 9 73.0% 73.0% 100.0%  Francisco Cabrera 2-out 2-run walk-off single off Stan Belinda
1960 WS G7 New York Yankees 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 9 63.0% 63.0% 100.0%  Hal Smith 2-out 3-run Homer off Bob Coates in the bottom of the 8th. ****
1912 WS G8 New York Giants 2 Boston Red Sox 3 10 51.0% 51.0% 100.0%  Tris Speaker 1-our 1-run single off Christy Mathewson ties game, winning run advances to 3rd.
2001 WS G7 New York Yankees 2 Arizona Diamondbacks 3 9 50.0% 50.0% 100.0%  Tony Womack 1-out 1-run double off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th puts winning run on 3rd
1972 NLCS G5 Pittsburgh Pirates 3 Cincinnati Reds 4 9 45.0% 45.0% 100.0%  Johnny Bench leadoff homer in the bottom of the 9th off Dave Guisti ties the game…the inning isn’t over yet ^^^^
2006 NLCS G7 St. Louis Cardinals 3 New York Mets 1 9 42.0% 42.0% 100.0%  Yadier Molina 1-out 2 run homer off Aaron Heilmanin the top of the 9th breaks the tie
1981 NLCS G5 Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Montreal Expos 1 9 43.0% 42.0% 100.0%  Rick Monday 2-out homer off Steve Rogers in the top of the 9th breaks the tie
1982 ALCS G5 California Angels 3 Milwaukee Brewers 4 9 41.0% 41.0% 100.0%  Cecil Cooper 2-out 2-run single off Luis Sanchez in the bottom of the 7th breaks the tie
2012 NLDS1 G5 St. Louis Cardinals 9 Washington Nationals 7 9 41.0% 41.0% 100.0%  Pete Kozma 2-out 2-run single off Drew Storen in the top of the ninth breaks the tie $$$$
1980 NLCS G5 Philadelphia Phillies 8 Houston Astros 7 10 40.0% 40.0% 100.0%  Manny Trillo 2-out 2-run triple off Ken Forsch in the top of the 8th breaks the tie ####
2016 WS G7 Chicago Cubs 8 Cleveland Indians 7 10 39.0% 39.0% 100.0%  Rajai Davis 2-out 2-run homer off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the 8th ties the game
2001 NLDS2 G5 St. Louis Cardinals 1 Arizona Diamondbacks 2 9 39.0% 39.0% 100.0%  Tont Womack (again) 2-out 1-run walk-off single off Steve Kline
1972 NLCS G5 Pittsburgh Pirates 3 Cincinnati Reds 4 9 38.0% 38.0% 100.0%  Bob Moose’s walk-off wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth allows pinch runner George Foster to score ^^^^
1980 NLCS G5 Philadelphia Phillies 8 Houston Astros 7 10 38.0% 38.0% 100.0% Garry Maddox 2-out 1-run double off Frank LaCorte in the top of the 10th breaks the tie…again ####
1985 NLCS G6 St. Louis Cardinals 7 Los Angeles Dodgers 5 9 74.0% 37.0% 50.0%  Jack Clark 2-out 3-run homer off Neidenfur in the top of the ninth gives Cards the lead
1976 ALCS G5 Kansas City Royals 6 New York Yankees 7 9 38.0% 38.0% 100.0%  Chris Chambliss 0-out 1-run walk-off homer off Mark Littell
1968 WS G7 Detroit Tigers 4 St. Louis Cardinals 1 9 37.0% 37.0% 100.0%  Jim Northrup 2-out 2-run triple off Bob Gibson in the top of the 7th breaks a scoreless tie
1960 WS G7 New York Yankees 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 9 37.0% 37.0% 100.0%  Bill Mazeroski’s leadoff walk-off homer off Ralph Terry in the bottom of the ninth breaks the tie ****
2003 NLDS1 G3 San Francisco Giants 3 Florida Marlins 4 11 73.0% 36.5% 50.0%  Ivan Rodriguez 2-out 2-run walk-off single off Tim Worrell
1977 ALCS G5 New York Yankees 5 Kansas City Royals 3 9 36.0% 36.0% 100.0%  Mickey Rivers 1-out 1-run single off Larry Gura ties the game in the top of the 9th. Winning run to 3rd
2003 ALCS G7 Boston Red Sox 5 New York Yankees 6 11 36.0% 36.0% 100.0%  Aaron Boone 0-out walk-off homer off Tim Wakefield in the 11th
2012 NLDS1 G5 St. Louis Cardinals 9 Washington Nationals 7 9 36.0% 36.0% 100.0%  Daniel Descalso 2-out 2-run single off Drew Storen in the top of the 9th ties the game $$$$
1924 WS G7 New York Giants 3 Washington Senators 4 12 35.0% 35.0% 100.0%  Buckey Harris 2-out 2-run single off Virgil Barnes in the bottom of the 8th ties the game
1980 NLCS G5 Philadelphia Phillies 8 Houston Astros 7 10 35.0% 35.0% 100.0% Jose Cruz 2-out 1-run single off Tug McGraw in the bottom of the 8th re-ties the game ####

 

Yep, of the top 24 decisive plays EVER affecting a series outcome, Three happened in Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS.

 

You can also factor in the series level (WS =100%, CS=50% DS=25%). As this focuses down to just a few games, repeats become more common

Series Road Team score home team  score IP Top
Play
Game
weight
Series Level WS%
1960 WS G7 New York Yankees 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 9 63.0% 100.0% 100% 63.00% Hal Smith 2-out 3-run Homer off Bob Coates in the bottom of the 8th. ****
1912 WS G8 New York Giants 2 Boston Red Sox 3 10 51.0% 100.0% 100% 51.00% Tris Speaker 1-out 1-run single off Christy Mathewson ties game, winning run advances to 3rd.  ####
2001 WS G7 New York Yankees 2 Arizona Diamondbacks 3 9 50.0% 100.0% 100% 50.00% Tony Womack 1-out 1-run double off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th puts winning run on 3rd
2016 WS G7 Chicago Cubs 8 Cleveland Indians 7 10 39.0% 100.0% 100% 39.00% Rajai Davis 2-out 2-run homer off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the 8th ties the game \\\\
1960 WS G7 New York Yankees 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 9 37.0% 100.0% 100% 37.00% Bill Mazeroski’s leadoff walk-off homer off Ralph Terry in the bottom of the ninth breaks the tie ****
1968 WS G7 Detroit Tigers 4 St. Louis Cardinals 1 9 37.0% 100.0% 100% 37.00% Jim Northrup 2-out 2-run triple off Bob Gibson in the top of the 7th breaks a scoreless tie
1992 NLCS G7 Pittsburgh Pirates 2 Atlanta Braves 3 9 73.0% 100.0% 50% 36.50% Francisco Cabrera 2-out 2-run walk-off single off Stan Belinda
1924 WS G7 New York Giants 3 Washington Senators 4 12 35.0% 100.0% 100% 35.00% Buckey Harris 2-out 2-run single off Virgil Barnes in the bottom of the 8th ties the game
1960 WS G7 New York Yankees 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 9 34.0% 100.0% 100% 34.00% Yogi Berra 1-out 3-run homer off Roy Face in the top of the 6th gives the Yanks a temporary 1-run lead ****
1975 WS G7 Cincinnati Reds 4 Boston Red Sox 3 9 34.0% 100.0% 100% 34.00% Joe Morgan 2-out 1-run single off Jim Burton in the top of the 9th breaks the tie
1997 WS G7 Cleveland Indians 2 Florida Marlins 3 11 34.0% 100.0% 100% 34.00% Edgar Renteria 2-out 1-run walk-off single off Charles Nagy in the bottom of the 11th ^^^^
1993 WS G6 Philadelphia Phillies 6 Toronto Blue Jays 8 9 66.0% 50.0% 100% 33.00% More Stupid Joe Carter
1946 WS G7 Boston Red Sox 3 St. Louis Cardinals 4 9 32.0% 100.0% 100% 32.00% Harry Walker 2-out 1-run double off Bob Klinger in the bottom of the 8th breaks the tie &&&&
2016 WS G7 Chicago Cubs 8 Cleveland Indians 7 10 31.0% 100.0% 100% 31.00% Ben Zobrist 1-out 1-run double off Bryan Shaw in the top of the 10th gives the Cubs the lead \\\\
1946 WS G7 Boston Red Sox 3 St. Louis Cardinals 4 9 31.0% 100.0% 100% 31.00% Dom Dimaggio 2-out 2-run double off Harry Brecheen in the top of the 8th ties the game &&&&
1947 WS G4 New York Yankees 2 Brooklyn Dodgers 3 9 82.0% 37.5% 100% 30.75% Cookie Lavagetto 2-out 2-run walkoff double off Bevens, also ending the no-hitter
1979 WS G7 Pittsburgh Pirates 4 Baltimore Orioles 1 9 30.0% 100.0% 100% 30.00% Willie Stargell 1-out 2-run homer off Scott MacGregor in the top of the 6th gives the Family a 1 run lead
1925 WS G7 Washington Senators 7 Pittsburgh Pirates 9 9 29.0% 100.0% 100% 29.00% Carson Bigbee 2-out 1-run double off Walter Johnson in the bottom of the 8th ties the game $$$$
1925 WS G7 Washington Senators 7 Pittsburgh Pirates 9 9 29.0% 100.0% 100% 29.00% Kiki Cuyler 2-out 2-run double off Walter Johnson in the botton of the 8th gives the Pirates a 2-run lead $$$$
1912 WS G8 New York Giants 2 Boston Red Sox 3 10 29.0% 100.0% 100% 29.00% Fred Merkle 1-out 1-run single off Smokey Joe Wood in the top of the 10th temporarily breaks a tie ####
1991 WS G7 Atlanta Braves 0 Minnesota Twins 1 10 29.0% 100.0% 100% 29.00% Jack Morris gets Sid Bream to hit into a 1-out bases loaded double play in the top of the 8th  @@@@
1988 WS G1 Oakland Athletics 4 Los Angeles Dodgers 5 9 87.0% 31.3% 100% 27.19% Gibson
1982 WS G7 Milwaukee Brewers 3 St. Louis Cardinals 6 9 27.0% 100.0% 100% 27.00% Keith Hernandez 1-out 2-run single of Bob McClure in the bottom of the 6th ties the game
1923 WS G6 New York Yankees 6 New York Giants 4 9 54.0% 50.0% 100% 27.00% Bob Meusel 2-out 3-run single (+error) off Rosy Ryan in the top of the 8th gives Yanks a 2-run lead.
1958 WS G7 New York Yankees 6 Milwaukee Braves 2 9 27.0% 100.0% 100% 27.00% Elston Howard 2-out 1-run single off Lew Burdette in the top of the 8th breaks te tie
1991 WS G7 Atlanta Braves 0 Minnesota Twins 1 10 27.0% 100.0% 100% 27.00% Mike Stanton gets Kent Hrbek to hit into a 1-out bases loaded double play in the bottom of the 8th @@@@
2011 WS G6 Texas Rangers 9 St. Louis Cardinals 10 11 54.0% 50.0% 100% 27.00% David Freese 2-out 2-run triple off Neftali Feliz in the bottom of the 9th ties the game
1941 WS G4 New York Yankees 7 Brooklyn Dodgers 4 9 69.0% 37.5% 100% 25.88%  Charlie Keller 2-out 2-run double off Hugh Casey in the top of the 9th gives Yankees the lead
1912 WS G8 New York Giants 2 Boston Red Sox 3 10 25.0% 100.0% 100% 25.00% Olaf Henriksen 2-out 1-run double off Christy Mathewson in the bottom of the 7th ties the game  ####
1925 WS G7 Washington Senators 7 Pittsburgh Pirates 9 9 25.0% 100.0% 100% 25.00% Roger Peckinpaugh 1-out 1-run homer off Ray Kremer in the top of the 8th gives the Senators a temporary lead $$$$
1997 WS G7 Cleveland Indians 2 Florida Marlins 3 11 25.0% 100.0% 100% 25.00% Charles Johnson 1-out 0-run single off Jose Mesa in the bottom of the 9th advances tying run to 3rd ^^^^

A list dominated by the 42 World Series that went a least seven games.

Now don’t get accustomed to seeing these kind of results. One would need to watch nearly a decade of games to see this many impactful plays.





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Ryan
6 years ago

Great work, I expected the Rajai Davis home run to be weighted a bit more but I guess the fact that it was only a one run game and it only tied the game really limited it. Oh well.