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The Biggest Postseason Home Runs vs. Each Team Since 2000

  • Turner Givens
  • May 17, 2020
  • 6 min read

Updated: Jul 6, 2020

There are so many exciting moments that happen in baseball, but we can all agree a clutch late inning tank, in the postseason, might top them all. Well, this is a list with those types of exciting moments, but not in favor of your favorite team. Buckle up. These might sting a little.


Arizona Diamondbacks: 2007 NLCS Gm4 – Matt Holliday 3-run HR


For the Diamondbacks, this was win or go home. This Matt Holliday 3-run HR extended the lead to 5 and put a possible Game 5 out of reach.




Atlanta Braves: 2005 NLDS Gm4 – Chris Burke Walk Off HR 18th Inning


The Braves were running the NL East every year but hadn’t won the World Series since 1995. They may have thought this was their year, but Chris Burke and the Houston Astros had other things on their minds: A trip to St. Louis.




Baltimore Orioles: 2016 AL Wild Card Game - Edwin Encarnacion Walk Off HR


Wild Card games might be the most stressful series in MLB Postseason. One and done. Everything is on the line to stay alive just a little bit longer. Ubaldo Jimenez let a fastball run back over the middle of the plate and Edwin Encarnacion went for a slow trot around the bases with his pet parrot.




Boston Red Sox: 2003 ALCS Gm 7 - Aaron Boone Walk Off HR


Even though it’s the most hated team in baseball, there’s nothing better than a walk off shot to move on to the World Series. Tim Wakefield left a non-knuckling knuckleball center cut at 69 MPH. Nice. Aaron Boone definitely thought so.



Chicago Cubs: 2016 World Series Gm7 - Rajai Davis Game Tying HR


Now, one can say: “The Cubs ended up winning so why is this even on here.” With that famous rain delay going into extra innings, you might recall the tweet from @RaysFanGio from 2014:



Holy shit is right. In that moment, all Cubs fans would have agreed that this deserves to be on this list.



Chicago White Sox: 2000 ALDS Gm1 - Edgar Martinez & John Olerud B2B HRs


Back to back jacks would ruin a series for nearly every team. The White Sox probably agree.



Cincinnati Reds: 2012 NLDS Gm5 - Buster Posey Grand Slam


Matt Latos offers up a fastball on a silver platter to Buster Posey for a towering G Slam. The Reds' catcher couldn’t bear to watch.




Cleveland Indians: 2007 ALCS Gm7 - Dustin Pedroia 2-Run HR


What else needs to be explained here? Winner advances to the World Series. Bottom of the 8th in a 1-run ball game. Dustin Pedroia sends a 2-run shot on top of the green monster. Coming back down 1 at Fenway is much easier than down 3. Goodnight Cleveland.




Colorado Rockies: 2007 World Series Gm4 - Bobby Kielty solo HR


Who is Bobby Kielty you might ask? I have no clue, but his solo HR put the Red Sox up by 3, with only 2 innings to go to complete the World Series sweep. There’s no doubt this was a dagger straight to the heart.



Detroit Tigers: 2013 ALCS Gm6 - Shane Victorino Go Ahead Grand Slam


Up 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th, the Tigers looked to hold on and for a Game 7 in the 2013 ALCS. Firecracker, Shane Victorino, slapped a Grand Slam to the green monster. To make it worse, it was an 0-2 count with 1 out. Who knows what would’ve happened if they survived that inning.




Houston Astros: 2019 World Series Gm7 - Howie Kendrick Go Ahead 2-Run HR

As an Astros fan, this one is tough to talk about. The Astros were the powerhouse and the Nationals were the Cinderella story. Howie Kendrick was clutch not just in the postseason, but in the regular season as well. Something crazy was bound to happen, and it did. Vroom Vroom.




Kansas City Royals: None (Only two playoff appearances since 2000)


Only two playoff appearances since 2000. The two World Series trips, with one ending in a win, is impressive. However, tough to find heartbreaking home runs with only two playoff runs.


LA Angels: 2004 ALDS Gm3 - David Ortiz Walk Off Solo HR


Anytime you give up a walk off HR in a series clinching game, it’s going to sting…. a lot. Big Papi was the man in the 2004 playoffs. Ask the Yankees after the same postseason, just a couple weeks later.



LA Dodgers: 2019 ALDS Gm5 - Howie Kendrick Go Ahead Grand Slam


It was down to two choices for the Dodgers. George Springer’s 2-run HR in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series was a huge home run and gave the Astros a 5-run lead, however it came in the 2nd inning, which meant there was plenty of baseball left in a series that had already had incredible ups and downs. The extra inning G Slam by Howie Kendrick was pretty much the end of all hope for the Dodgers in 2019.



Miami/Florida Marlins: None (Only one playoff appearance & won the WS)


Congrats on the World Series win. It’s going to be awhile before you find the Marlins on this list.


Milwaukee Brewers: 2018 NLCS Gm7 - Yasiel Puig Go Ahead 3-Run HR


It was a late 2-out, 3-run HR to take a commanding lead in a winner to the World Series Game 7. What else is there to say?



Minnesota Twins: 2009 ALDS Gm3 - Jorge Posada Go Ahead Solo HR


The Twins were on the verge of being swept and were holding on to a 1-1 tie before Posada put them out of their misery and slapped a go ahead solo HR in the top of the 7th.




New York Mets: 2006 NLCS Gm7 - Yadier Molina Go Ahead 2-Run HR


In the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, Yadier Molina’s go ahead 2-run dinger sealed the fate of the less talented team from New York.



New York Yankees: 2019 ALCS Gm6 - Jose Altuve Walk Off 2-Run HR


I tried to exhaust all avenues in finding the biggest postseason home run vs the Yankees. This one stood out way more than others. And no, Altuve was not wearing a buzzer. That was just a hanging slider to one of the best hitters in the MLB.



Oakland Athletics: 2006 ALCS Gm4 - Magglio Ordonez Walk Off 3-Run HR


This ALCS was the closest the A’s have been to the World Series since losing it in 1990. Not only was it a clean sweep by the Tigers, but a walk off 3-run jack to finish the job. That hurts.



Philadelphia Phillies: 2010 NLCS Gm6 - Juan Uribe Go Ahead Solo HR


Juan Uribe has been known to be extremely clutch in the playoffs, and to the Phillies' expense, he continued the trend.And don't forget the A++ bat flip after the swing.



Pittsburgh Pirates: 2013 NLDS Gm5 - Matt Adams 2-Run HR


It was only the Pirates first postseason appearance since 2000, and Matt Adams kindly welcomed them with a painful 2-run home run to extend the lead and ultimately help the Cardinals advance to the NLCS.



San Diego Padres: None (Two playoff appearances - Lost in NLDS both times)


The Padres don’t have much to show for in the playoffs. Two early exits in 2005 and 2006 doesn’t give them many chances to be heartbroken by a long ball.


San Francisco Giants: 2000 NLDS Gm3 - Benny Abgayani Walk Off Solo HR


Maybe not a well known name to many baseball fans, but Benny Agbayani and his walk off bomb in the bottom of the 13th might ring a bell for die hard Giants fans.



Seattle Mariners: 2001 ALCS Gm4 - Alfonso Soriano Walk Off 2-Run HR


The Mariners had a chance to even up the series and force a return to Seattle to end the series. Alfonso Soriano, instead, decided to put the 116-win Mariners down in the series (3-1) with a walk off 2-run HR.



St. Louis Cardinals: 2014 NLCS Gm5 - Travis Ishikawa Walk off HR to WS


This gut punch sent the Cardinals back to the couch and the Giants to another World Series. St. Louis has broken plenty of hearts in the playoffs before this, so it’s only right that they get a taste of their own medicine.



Tampa Bay Rays: 2019 ALDS Gm5: B2B HRs by Michael Brantley & Jose Altuve


This wasn’t a walk off, but it’s back to back HRs by Brantley and Altuve to take a commanding lead late in a series deciding game 5. I know this is tough to watch by Rays fans.



Texas Rangers: 2011 World Series Gm6 - David Freese Walk Off Solo HR


David Freese was officially crowned the “Daddy of the Texas Rangers” after this walk off tank to dead center. The Rangers were never the same after that.



Toronto Blue Jays: None (Only two playoff appearances since 2000)


The Blue Jays have been a part of some electric playoff games during their only two appearances. However, they don't have any big blows against them.


Washington Nationals: 2014 NLDS Gm2 - Brandon Belt go ahead HR


Poor Nationals. The Giants finish this list breaking the hearts of 4 different teams, so grinding for 18 innings and punching a go ahead solo HR into the right field seats just seems to come natural for these guys.


Even after spending hours and hours on this list, I’m almost positive there are other home runs that have a reasonable argument to be on here instead of others. If you disagree with my pick for your favorite team, comment below with which home run was more worthy and why.

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