Why Raul Ibanez’s Historic Night Is One of The Best Walk-Off Homers of My Lifetime.

Raul Ibanez was the hero on Wednesday night. His 9^th inning game tying homerun was a shocking turn in the game. With A-Rod due up, Joe Girardi decided to bench the hall of famer for the 41 year old platoon player. Ibanez stepped up and crushed a 1-0 pitch over the right field wall. Only two innings later, Ibanez won the game on the first pitch of the bottom 11^th. He crushed the pitch to the second deck in right. Not only was it such a crazy sequence of events with A-Rod being benched; but Ibanez’s clutch performance came at a time when the Yankees were in threat of going down 2-1 in a series where they seemingly can’t score any runs. This was a huge huge walk-off moment for the Yankees and if they go on to win the series and move on to the World Series, this will surely be the defining moment. Though Ibanez’s walk-off is surely one of the top ten I have seen in my life-time, I had just too many others to list. So here are the (other) top 10 Walk-Off Home Runs in the MLB Playoffs in my lifetime.

10. Jeff Kent

The 5^th game between the Cardinals and Astros in the 2004 National League Series was an all-time great pitching duel. Woody Williams allowed one hit through seven innings while Brandon Backe allowed just one hit through eight. Eventually, the game came down to the bottom of the 9^th where Kent blasted a three run homer of Jason Isringhausen to move the Astros within 1 win of the World Series.

9. Alfonso Soriano

2001 was a magical year for the Yanks. It all started in game 4 of the ALDS. The Yankees were up 2-1 against the Mariners and game 4 was another great duel. The score was 1-1 through 8 innings with each team amassing only 1 hit. After Rivera breezed through the 9^th, Soriano crushed a pitch deep to center field, sending the Yanks to the ALCS and ultimately the World Series vs the Diamondbacks.

8. Nelson Cruz

After failing to win the World Series the year before, the Rangers were facing the Tigers last year. In game 2, with the game tied 3-3, Cruz stepped up in the 11^th inning and crushed a walk-off grand slam. This highlighted Cruz’s crazy postseason of 6 homers and 13 RBIs.

7. Jim Edmonds

Ya, remember this guy. Well a day after Jeff Kent hit a walk-off for the Astros (see #10), Edmonds returned the favor. After the Astros tied game 6 in the 9^th with a score of 4-4, Edmonds crushed a three run homer in the 12^th, which ultimately propelled the Cardinals to the World Series.

6. Bernie Williams

Bernie, the all-time leader in post season HR and RBI is sure to make this list at least once. In 1996, the Yankees and Orioles faced off in the ALCS. Game one was a tight 4-4 game headed into the 11^th inning. Bernie stepped up to the played and rocked a Randy Myers pitch into the bleachers, earning the Yanks an early series lead.

5. Chris Burke

The Astros and Braves faced off in the 2005 NLDS. With Houston holding a 2-1 series lead, the teams faced off in a game 4. The Braves were looking to force a fifth game with a 6-1 lead in the 8^th. The Astros then scored 4 in the 8^th and headed down one run in the 9^th. Brad Ausmus tied the game with a solo shot in the 9^th. The game then continued for another 9 whole innings where in the bottom of the 18^th inning, Burke launched a 2-0 pitch over the fence. His shot ended the longest post season game ever and clinched the series for the Astros.

4. Bernie Williams

Only a few short years later, Bernie continued his post season dominance. The Yanks faced off against the Red Sox in the 1999 ALCS. With the game tied 3-3 in the 10^th, Bernie Williams hit an inning lead-off walk-off homer. This set the tone for the Yanks who won both the 1996  and 1999 series in just 5 games on their way to two World Series titles.

3. David  Ortiz

This one hurts to put on but is deserving. The Yankees exploded in the first three ALCS games against the Sox, earning a 3-0 lead. But in the bottom of the 9^th down to their last out, the Sox tied the game. Then in the bottom of the 12^th, Big Papi himself crushed a Paul Quantrill pitch for the walk-off. This started the greatest comeback in sports history as the Sox pulled off 4 straight wins on the way to their first World Series in 86 years.

2. David Freese

The Rangers were clearly on their way to the World Series Championship, right? Wrong. Twice, down to their last out, Friese came to the plate with the game on the line. In the bottom of the 9^th, he hit a game-tying triple and then in extra innings, he belted a walk-off Homer after the Cardinals had tied the game. Friese has become an instant hero in the world of sports and his heroics helped the Cardinals earn their 2^nd title in the past decade.

1. Aaron Boone

The 2003 ALCS between the Yanks and the Sox was a slugfest. This fight to the end was the infamous Pedro Martinez. The Yanks were down late before Pedro was left in too long, ushering a Yankee comeback. The amazing 8^th inning comeback was topped a few innings later when Aaron Boone led off the bottom of the 11^th. After Rivera pitches his 3^rd scoreless inning, Boone who barely had a hit the rest of the series, crushed a Tim Wakefield knuckleball over the left field wall. This was without a doubt the most exciting Yankee and baseball moment over the last 20 years.