Walk-off home run

In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead and the win in the bottom of the final inning of the game. Thus the losing team (the visiting team) must then "walk off" the field immediately afterward, not finishing the inning, and the winning team (the home team) can "walk off" the field with the win. The winning runs must still be counted at home plate.

Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 to clinch the 1960 World Series title for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the New York Yankees.

History and usage of the term

Although the concept of a game-ending home run is as old as baseball, the adjective "walk-off" attained widespread use only in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The first known usage of the word in print appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 21, 1988, Section D, Page 1. Chronicle writer Lowell Cohn wrote an article headlined "What the Eck?" about Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley's unusual way of speaking: "For a translation, I go in search of Eckersley. I also want to know why he calls short home runs 'street pieces,' and home runs that come in the last at-bat of a game 'walkoff pieces' ..." Although the term originally was coined with a negative connotation, in reference to the pitcher (who must "walk off" the field with his head hung in shame),[1] it has come to acquire a more celebratory connotation, for the batter who circles the bases with pride and with the adulation of the home crowd.

Other types of "walk-off" wins

Sportscasters also use the term "walk-off hit" as any kind of hit which drives in the winning run to end the game. The terms "walk-off hit by pitch", "walk-off walk" (a base on balls with the bases loaded), "walk-off wild pitch", "walk-off reach-on-error", "walk-off steal of home", "walk-off passed ball", and "walk-off balk" have been also applied, and the latter has been dubbed a "balk-off". It is a separate stretch of the term to call a hit a walk-off when what ends the game is not the hit but the defense's failure to make a play (as in a single with a possible out at the plate). The day after Eric Bruntlett pulled off a game-ending unassisted triple play for the Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Mets on August 23, 2009, the Philadelphia Daily News used the term "walk-off triple play" in a subheadline describing the moment.

Walk-off grand slam

A grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners ("bases loaded"), thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. A walk-off home run with the bases loaded is therefore known as a walk-off grand slam.

Starting in the 1990s, a walk-off grand slam that erases a three-run deficit has come to be known as an ultimate grand slam.[2][3][4] There have been 29 such instances documented in major league history – all taking place during the regular season,[5] 15 of those coming with two outs.[6] Of the 29 home runs, only Roberto Clemente's was hit inside the park, at spacious Forbes Field on July 25, 1956.[lower-alpha 1] Pirates manager/third base coach Bobby Bragan instructed him to stop at third, but Clemente ran through the stop sign to score the winning run.[9] Alan Trammell's June 21, 1988[10] and Chris Hoiles' May 17, 1996 grand slams occurred under the most dire situation: bases loaded, two outs, full count, bottom of the ninth inning, and down by three runs.

The most recent walk-off grand slam was hit by Stephen Piscotty of the Oakland Athletics on August 4,2020, against the Texas Rangers.[11] Three players have hit two walk-off grand slams in a season, Cy Williams in 1926, Jim Presley in 1986, and Steve Pearce in 2017. Pearce's first was on July 27 (an 8–4 victory over the Oakland Athletics)[12] followed by his second on July 30 (an ultimate grand slam, for an 11–10 win over the Los Angeles Angels), becoming the first player in MLB history to hit multiple walk-off grand slams within the span of a single week.[13][14]

Only five pitchers in major league history have surrendered two game-ending grand slam home runs in one season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau:

• Satchel Paige of the St. Louis Browns, in 1952, to Sammy White of the Boston Red Sox on June 30, and to Eddie Joost of the Philadelphia Athletics on July 15.
• Lindy McDaniel of the Chicago Cubs, in 1963, to Bob Aspromonte of the Houston Colt .45s on June 11, and to Jim Hickman of the New York Mets on August 9.
• Lee Smith of the California Angels, in 1995, to Mark McGwire of the Oakland Athletics, on June 30, and to Albert Belle of the Cleveland Indians on July 18.
• Francisco Rodríguez of the New York Mets, in 2009, to rookies Everth Cabrera of the San Diego Padres, on August 7, and Justin Maxwell of the Washington Nationals on September 30. Rodríguez is the only pitcher to surrender two game-winning grand slams to two rookies.
• Bud Norris of the Los Angeles Angels, in 2017, to Edwin Encarnación of the Cleveland Indians, on July 25, and Steve Pearce of the Toronto Blue Jays on July 30. Norris surrendered both in the same week, and it was the second game-winning walk-off grand slam by Pearce in the same week.

Walk-off celebration injury

Walk-off celebrations typically consist of an entire baseball team leaving the dugout to meet a player at home plate after the batter hits a walk-off home run, or at whichever base the hitter happens to reach if a traditional base hit results in a walk-off victory. Players often encircle teammates who hit a walk-off before dancing and roughhousing to celebrate their victory. During a walk-off celebration on May 29, 2010, Kendrys Morales, then a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, broke his left leg while celebrating a walk-off grand slam.[15] As a result of this injury, team manager Mike Scioscia instituted new guidelines for his team that ensured a much tamer response to all subsequent walk-off victories.[16]

Relevant rules

The rules of baseball[17] provide that:

• A batter is entitled to a home run only "when he shall have touched all bases legally." (Rule 6.09(d); also 7.05(a))
• A batter is out, on appeal, for failing to touch each base in order or for passing a preceding runner. In some cases, all runs that score are negated. (Rule 7.10 and 7.12)
• On a game-winning hit, a batter is credited for the full number of bases only if "the batter runs out his hit." (Rule 10.06(f))
• A game-winning home run is allowed to complete before the game ends, even if it puts the home team ahead by more than one run. (Rule 4.11(c), Exception; also 10.06(g))

The first point above was problematic in the 1976 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. The Yankees and Royals entered the bottom of the ninth inning of the decisive fifth game with the score tied, 6–6; Mark Littell was the pitcher for Kansas City, and Chris Chambliss was the first batter for New York. Chambliss hit Littell's first pitch into the right field bleachers to win the game and the American League pennant for the Yankees. However, Yankees fans ran onto the field at Yankee Stadium to celebrate the victory, and prevented Chambliss from rounding the bases and touching home plate. Recognizing the impossibility of Chambliss successfully negotiating the sea of people who had been on the field, umpires later escorted Chambliss back out to home plate and watched as he touched it with his foot, thereby making the Yankees victory "official". (A comment to Rule 4.09(b) permits the umpires to award the run if fans prevent the runner from touching home plate.)

The third point above led to Robin Ventura's "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 NLCS. In the bottom of the 15th inning, the New York Mets tied the score against the Atlanta Braves at 3–3. Ventura came to bat with the bases loaded, and hit a game-winning grand slam to deep right. Roger Cedeño scored from third and John Olerud appeared to score from second, but Todd Pratt,[18] on first base when Ventura hit the home run, went to second, then turned around and hugged Ventura as the rest of the team rushed onto the field. The official ruling was that because Ventura never advanced past first base, it was not a home run but a single, and thus only Cedeño's run counted, making the official final score 4–3.

The fourth point above was not a rule prior to 1920; instead, the game ended at the moment the winning run scored. This rule affected the scoring of 40 hits, from 1884 to 1918, that would now be scored as game-winning home runs.[19] Babe Ruth would have been credited with 715 career home runs had the modern rule been in effect in 1918; in a 10-inning game Ruth's fence-clearing, walk-off RBI hit was scored a triple because the game was deemed over when the lead baserunner reached home.[20]

Playoff tiebreakers, postseason, and All-Star Game

World Series

In the charts below, home runs that ended a postseason series are denoted by the player's name in bold. Home runs in which the winning team was trailing at the time are denoted by the final score in bold.

Follow the linked year on the far left for detailed information on that series.

Year	Game	Batter	Site	Pitcher	Situation	Final score	Series standing	Notes
1949	Game 1, October 5	Tommy Henrich, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Don Newcombe, Brooklyn	0–0, 9th 0 out 0 on	1–0	1–0 NYY	Henrich's blast leading off the ninth was the first game-winning home run in Series history, and provided the game's only run.
1954	Game 1, September 29	Dusty Rhodes, N.Y. Giants	Polo Grounds	Bob Lemon, Cleveland	2–2, 10th 1 out 2 on	5–2	1–0 NYG	Rhodes' three-run pinch-hit homer with one out in the tenth is not as well remembered as Willie Mays' spectacular over-the-shoulder catch earlier in the game.
1957	Game 4, October 6	Eddie Mathews, Milwaukee	County Stadium	Bob Grim, N.Y. Yankees	5–5, 10th 1 out 1 on	7–5	2–2	Mathews hits a two-run shot with one out in the tenth inning to tie the Series.
1960	Game 7, October 13	Bill Mazeroski, Pittsburgh	Forbes Field	Ralph Terry, N.Y. Yankees	9–9, 9th 0 out 0 on	10–9	4–3 PIT	Leading off the ninth, Mazeroski homers to end the Series, giving the Pirates their first championship since 1925. It is the only Game 7 game-winning home run in World Series history. After Forbes Field was demolished, the section of the left-field wall where the home run left the park was moved to the Pirates' new home of Three Rivers Stadium, and still later was moved to their current home, PNC Park. A line of bricks marks that section of the wall, next to a preserved wall section, and a plaque indicating the spot where Mazeroski's homer left the park is embedded in the current sidewalk.
1964	Game 3, October 10	Mickey Mantle, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Barney Schultz, St. Louis	1–1, 9th 0 out 0 on	2–1	2–1 NYY	Mantle hits a home run on the first pitch of the ninth for a Yankee victory.
1975	Game 6, October 21	Carlton Fisk, Boston	Fenway Park	Pat Darcy, Cincinnati	6–6, 12th 0 out 0 on	7–6	3–3	Fisk's home run to lead off the 12th inning, high off the left-field foul pole above the Green Monster, ties the Series in one of the best remembered moments in the sport's history. The homer arguably changed the way televised sports are covered; because camera operators missed a cue from the producer, the camera lingered on Fisk trying to "wave his home run fair." This image of Fisk proved so dramatic that "reaction shots" became standard fare in sports broadcasting.
1988	Game 1, October 15	Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles	Dodger Stadium	Dennis Eckersley, Oakland	3–4, 9th 2 out 1 on	5–4	1–0 LA	The injured and hobbling Gibson, later named the NL MVP, makes his only Series appearance with a pinch-hit, two-run, two-out shot for the underdog Dodgers, marking the first game-winning Series homer by a team that trailed at the time. Oakland's José Canseco had provided all his team's scoring with a second-inning grand slam. Jack Buck, who called the game for CBS Radio, exclaimed "I don't believe what I just saw!" as Gibson circled the bases. Further information: Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run
1988	Game 3, October 18	Mark McGwire, Oakland	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	Jay Howell, Los Angeles	1–1, 9th 1 out 0 on	2–1	2–1 LA	McGwire's home run with one out gives Oakland its only win in the Series. It is the first time that two game-winning home runs are hit in the same post-season series.
1991	Game 6, October 26	Kirby Puckett, Minnesota	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	Charlie Leibrandt, Atlanta	3–3, 11th 0 out 0 on	4–3	3–3	Puckett, who had made a game-saving defensive play earlier in this game, leads off the 11th inning with a homer to tie the Series, as Jack Buck told the nation on CBS, "We'll see you... tomorrow night!" In addition, Puckett falls a double short of hitting for the cycle, getting two singles, a triple, and the homer.
1993	Game 6, October 23	Joe Carter, Toronto	SkyDome	Mitch Williams, Philadelphia	5–6, 9th 1 out 2 on	8–6	4–2 TOR	Carter hit a three-run homer with one out to give Toronto its second consecutive championship. Radio sportscaster Tom Cheek's call of "Touch 'em all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" would go down as one of the most iconic moments in Toronto sports history.
1999	Game 3, October 26	Chad Curtis, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Mike Remlinger, Atlanta	5–5, 10th 0 out 0 on	6–5	3–0 NYY	Curtis leads off the tenth inning with his second home run of the evening to give the Yankees a commanding Series lead.
2001	Game 4, October 31	Derek Jeter, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Byung-hyun Kim, Arizona	3–3, 10th 2 out 0 on	4–3	2–2	Jeter's homer with two out in the tenth ties the Series in the first-ever Series at-bat by any player in the month of November (just after midnight on November 1); the series had been delayed because of the September 11, 2001 attacks. It also gave him the nickname of "Mr. November".[21][22]
2003	Game 4, October 22	Álex González, Florida	Pro Player Stadium	Jeff Weaver, N.Y. Yankees	3–3, 12th 0 out 0 on	4–3	2–2	González, who had five hits in 53 at-bats in the postseason and one hit in 13 at-bats in the World Series, hits a home run on a full count to lead off the 12th inning, tying the Series and shifting momentum to Florida for the remainder of the Series.
2005	Game 2, October 23	Scott Podsednik, Chi. White Sox	U.S. Cellular Field	Brad Lidge, Houston	6–6, 9th 1 out 0 on	7–6	2–0 CHW	After Paul Konerko hits a grand slam to give Chicago a 6–4 lead in the seventh, and Houston ties it in the ninth, Podsednik, who had not homered in 129 games in the regular season, hits one to right-center with one out to win it.
2011	Game 6, October 27	David Freese, St. Louis	Busch Stadium	Mark Lowe, Texas	9–9, 11th 0 out 0 on	10–9	3–3	After Texas had taken the lead in the ninth and tenth innings by two runs each, the Cardinals rallied twice to keep the score tied in the bottom of the tenth. Jake Westbrook pitched a scoreless 11th inning to set up David Freese's solo walk-off home run to tie the series and force Game 7, which the Cardinals won. Fox play-by-play commentator Joe Buck echoed his late father Jack's call of Kirby Puckett's home run from the 1991 World Series, saying, "...we will see you tomorrow night!" Puckett's and Freese's home runs occurred under similar circumstances: 1) both happened during Game 6 of the World Series, and 2) both men were the first batter of the final inning.
2018	Game 3, October 26	Max Muncy, L.A. Dodgers	Dodger Stadium	Nathan Eovaldi, Boston	2–2, 18th 0 out 0 on	3–2	2–1 BOS	After missing a home run by a few feet in the 15th inning, Muncy hit a full count pitch over the left field wall off Eovaldi leading off the bottom of the 18th inning, giving the Dodgers the win and ending the longest World Series game in history in terms of innings (18) and time (7 hours, 20 mins).

Playoff tiebreakers

Year	Game	Batter	Site	Pitcher	Situation	Final score	Series standing	Notes
1951 NL tiebreaker	Game 3, October 3	Bobby Thomson, N.Y. Giants	Polo Grounds	Ralph Branca, Brooklyn	2–4, 9th 1 out 2 on	5–4	2–1 NYG	The Giants trailed 4-1 entering the ninth. Alvin Dark and Don Mueller started the inning with singles. After an out, Whitey Lockman doubled to score Dark and send Mueller to third. Dodgers starting pitcher Don Newcombe was then replaced by Branca. With a count of no balls and one strike, Thomson homered down the left field line to send the Giants to the World Series. The home run came to be known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World".[23]

Other postseason series

Wild Card Game

Year	Date	Batter	Site	Pitcher	Situation	Final Score	Notes
2016 ALWC	October 4	Edwin Encarnación, Toronto	Rogers Centre	Ubaldo Jiménez, Baltimore	2–2, 11th 1 out 2 on	5–2	With two runners on Edwin Encarnación drives the first pitch to left field to advance the Blue Jays to the ALDS.

Division Series

Year	Game	Batter	Site	Pitcher	Situation	Final Score	Series Standing	Notes
1981 NLDS	Game 1, October 6	Alan Ashby, Houston	Astrodome	Dave Stewart, Los Angeles	1–1, 9th 2 out 1 on	3–1	1–0 HOU	With two out in the ninth, Ashby wins it with a two-run shot after Nolan Ryan pitches a two-hitter.
1981 NLDS	Game 4, October 10	George Vukovich, Philadelphia	Veterans Stadium	Jeff Reardon, Montreal	5–5, 10th 0 out 0 on	6–5	2–2	Vukovich pinch-hits a 2–0 pitch to right field leading off the tenth inning, tying the series.
1995 ALDS	Game 1, October 3	Tony Peña, Cleveland	Jacobs Field	Zane Smith, Boston	4–4, 13th 2 out 0 on	5–4	1–0 CLE	In a five-hour game delayed twice by rain, Peña hits a two-out shot in the 13th inning at 2:08 AM to win; it is Boston's 11th consecutive postseason loss, and Cleveland's first post-season win since the 1948 World Series. The longest game to date in post-season history, it holds the record for only one day.
1995 ALDS	Game 2, October 4	Jim Leyritz, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Tim Belcher, Seattle	5–5, 15th 1 out 1 on	7–5	2–0 NYY	With one out in the 15th inning, Leyritz hits a two-run homer to right. At five hours 13 minutes, it breaks the record set one day earlier for the longest post-season game.
1999 NLDS	Game 4, October 9	Todd Pratt, N.Y. Mets	Shea Stadium	Matt Mantei, Arizona	3–3, 10th 1 out 0 on	4–3	3–1 NYM	Pratt, substituting for an injured Mike Piazza, hits a home run to center field with one out in the tenth to win the series; Steve Finley nearly makes a leaping catch, but the ball just clears his glove.
2000 NLDS	Game 3, October 7	Benny Agbayani, N.Y. Mets	Shea Stadium	Aaron Fultz, San Francisco	2–2, 13th 1 out 0 on	3–2	2–1 NYM	With one out in the 13th, Agbayani homers to left-center to end a five-hour 22 minute contest. Barry Bonds popped up with two men on in the top of the inning, ending a Giants threat.
2003 ALDS	Game 3, October 4	Trot Nixon, Boston	Fenway Park	Rich Harden, Oakland	1–1, 11th 1 out 1 on	3–1	2–1 OAK	With one out in the 11th, pinch-hitter Nixon slams a 1–1 pitch to center field for a game-winning two-run homer.
2004 NLDS	Game 2, October 7	Rafael Furcal, Atlanta	Turner Field	Dan Miceli, Houston	2–2, 11th 2 out 1 on	4–2	1–1	With two out in the 11th, Furcal hits a two-run home run to right field on a 1–2 pitch to even the series.
2004 ALDS	Game 3, October 8	David Ortiz, Boston	Fenway Park	Jarrod Washburn, Anaheim	6–6, 10th 2 out 1 on	8–6	3–0 BOS	Washburn enters the game with two out in the tenth and Ortiz smashes his first pitch to left field for a two-run homer to win the series for the Red Sox. Vladimir Guerrero had tied the game for the Angels with a grand slam in the seventh.
2005 NLDS	Game 4, October 9	Chris Burke, Houston	Minute Maid Park	Joey Devine, Atlanta	6–6, 18th 1 out 0 on	7–6	3–1 HOU	Burke homers to left field on a 2–0 pitch with one out in the 18th inning, sending the Astros to the NLCS for the second year in a row. At five hours, 50 minutes long, it was the longest game by both innings and time in postseason history before Game 2 of the 2014 National League Division Series when the Nationals and Giants finished in 18 innings and 6 hours, 23 mins.
2007 ALDS	Game 2, October 5	Manny Ramírez, Boston	Fenway Park	Francisco Rodríguez, L.A. Angels	3–3, 9th 2 out 2 on	6–3	2–0 BOS	With two out in the bottom of the ninth inning and two men on base, Ramírez slams a 1–0 pitch over the Green Monster, over the seats behind it, and onto Lansdowne Street behind Fenway Park.
2009 ALDS	Game 2, October 9	Mark Teixeira, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	José Mijares, Minnesota	3–3, 11th 0 out 0 on	4–3	2–0 NYY	With nobody out and nobody on in the bottom of the 11th, Teixeira lined a 2-1 pitch down the left field line that bounced off the top of the wall and landed in the first row of seats to give the Yankees a 4-3 win and a 2-0 series lead.
2012 ALDS	Game 3, October 10	Raúl Ibañez, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Brian Matusz, Baltimore	2–2, 12th 0 out 0 on	3–2	2–1 NYY	In the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and nobody on, Ibañez hit a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2. Then in the 12th, he hit another home run into the second deck to win the game and give the Yankees a 2-1 series lead.
2012 NLDS	Game 4, October 11	Jayson Werth, Washington	Nationals Park	Lance Lynn, St. Louis	1–1, 9th 0 out 0 on	2–1	2–2	Werth drilled the 13th pitch of the at-bat into the left field bullpen to win the game for the Nationals and force a Game 5.
2013 ALDS	Game 3, October 7	José Lobatón, Tampa Bay	Tropicana Field	Koji Uehara, Boston	4–4, 9th 2 out 0 on	5–4	2–1 BOS	With two outs and nobody on in the ninth inning, Lobatón hit a game-winning home run into the right-center field fish tank to keep the Rays' postseason hopes alive.

League Championship Series

Year	Game	Batter	Site	Pitcher	Situation	Final score	Series standing	Notes
1973 NLCS	Game 1, October 6	Johnny Bench, Cincinnati	Riverfront Stadium	Tom Seaver, N.Y. Mets	1–1, 9th 1 out 0 on	2–1	1–0 CIN	Seaver sets an NLCS record with 13 strikeouts and drives in the Mets' only run, but makes two costly mistakes in Pete Rose's game-tying homer in the eighth and Bench's winning shot with one out in the ninth.
1973 ALCS	Game 3, October 9	Bert Campaneris, Oakland	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	Mike Cuellar, Baltimore	1–1, 11th 0 out 0 on	2–1	2–1 OAK	Campaneris hits the second pitch of the 11th inning over the left field wall; it is only the fourth hit allowed by Cuellar.
1976 ALCS	Game 5, October 14	Chris Chambliss, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Mark Littell, Kansas City	6–6, 9th 0 out 0 on	7–6	3–2 NYY	After George Brett ties the game with a three-run shot in the eighth, Chambliss brings the Yankees their first pennant in 12 years with a homer to right on the first pitch of the ninth inning. A flood of fans then storms the field in a virtual riot; Chambliss is surrounded as he rounds first base, and has to reach out to touch second, which has been torn out by a fan. He never reaches third, but teammates later have him return to step in the general area of home plate. Damages are estimated at US$100,000.
1979 ALCS	Game 1, October 3	John Lowenstein, Baltimore	Memorial Stadium	John Montague, California	3–3, 10th 2 out 2 on	6–3	1–0 BAL	With two out in the tenth, Lowenstein pinch-hits a two-strike pitch to left for a three-run homer.
1984 NLCS	Game 4, October 6	Steve Garvey, San Diego	Jack Murphy Stadium	Lee Smith, Chi. Cubs	5–5, 9th 1 out 1 on	7–5	2–2	With one out in the ninth, Garvey hits a fastball to right-center for a two-run homer, his fourth hit of the day with five RBI; he has a record 20 career RBI in the league playoffs.
1985 NLCS	Game 5, October 14	Ozzie Smith, St. Louis	Busch Memorial Stadium	Tom Niedenfuer, Los Angeles	2–2, 9th 1 out 0 on	3–2	3–2 STL	Smith shocks the crowd with a one-out homer down the right field line on a 1–2 pitch. He has had 13 career homers in eight seasons, but this is his first ever when batting from the left side. The call, by KMOX and longtime Cardinals announcer Jack Buck, implores the fans to "Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!"
1986 NLCS	Game 3, October 11	Lenny Dykstra, N.Y. Mets	Shea Stadium	Dave Smith, Houston	4–5, 9th 1 out 1 on	6–5	2–1 NYM	With one out in the ninth, Dykstra hits an 0–1 pitch for a two-run homer to right field. It is the first time in post-season history that a game winning homer is hit by a team which is trailing.
1996 ALCS	Game 1, October 9	Bernie Williams, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Randy Myers, Baltimore	4–4, 9th 0 out 0 on	5–4	1–0 NYY	In one of the most controversial postseason games in history, Williams leads off the 11th with a game-winning homer. The Yankees had tied the game at 4–4 in the eighth inning when a 12-year-old fan reached over the right field wall and pulled a fly ball hit by Derek Jeter into the stands; umpire Rich Garcia ruled it a home run, but conceded his mistake after seeing a replay.
1999 ALCS	Game 1, October 13	Bernie Williams, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Rod Beck, Boston	3–3, 10th 0 out 0 on	4–3	1–0 NYY	After Beck enters the game to begin the tenth, Williams homers to center on his second pitch, becoming the first player to hit two game-winning home runs in postseason play.
1999 NLCS	Game 5, October 17	Robin Ventura, N.Y. Mets	Shea Stadium	Kevin McGlinchy, Atlanta	3–3, 15th 1 out 3 on	4–3	3–2 ATL	The Mets tie the score at 3–3 with a bases-loaded walk with one out in the 15th, bringing up Ventura, who with 13 career grand slams is tied for the lead among active players with Harold Baines and Mark McGwire. He comes through with the first game winning grand slam—and the first grand slam in extra innings—in post-season history, clearing the center-right field wall and forcing Game 6, but is officially credited with only a one-run single after being mobbed by teammates upon passing first base.
2001 ALCS	Game 4, October 21	Alfonso Soriano, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Kazuhiro Sasaki, Seattle	1–1, 9th 1 out 1 on	3–1	3–1 NYY	With one out in the ninth, Soriano hits a two-run shot to center field to bring the Yankees within a victory of their fourth straight pennant.
2003 ALCS	Game 7, October 16	Aaron Boone, N.Y. Yankees	Yankee Stadium	Tim Wakefield, Boston	5–5, 11th 0 out 0 on	6–5	4–3 NYY	After a managerial decision (subject to much second-guessing both immediately and later) to leave starter Pedro Martínez in the game allows the Yankees to tie it, Boone homers to left on the first pitch of the 11th inning to give the Yankees their sixth pennant in eight years.
2004 ALCS	Game 4, October 17	David Ortiz, Boston	Fenway Park	Paul Quantrill, N.Y. Yankees	4–4, 12th 0 out 1 on	6–4	3–1 NYY	With none out in the 12th, Ortiz hits a two-run shot to right on a 2–1 pitch to keep Boston's hopes alive in the series; coming only ten days after his game winning shot against the Angels, he is the first player to hit two game winning homers in the same postseason. It is the Red Sox's first win in their historic ALCS comeback against the Yankees. Later that day (the game ended after midnight), Ortiz will hit a game-winning single in the 14th, leading him subsequently to be named series MVP.
2004 NLCS	Game 5, October 18	Jeff Kent, Houston	Minute Maid Park	Jason Isringhausen, St. Louis	0–0, 9th 1 out 2 on	3–0	3–2 HOU	With one out in the ninth, Kent hits a three-run homer to left field on the first pitch for the game's only scoring, bringing the Astros within a victory of their first pennant.
2004 NLCS	Game 6, October 20	Jim Edmonds, St. Louis	Busch Memorial Stadium	Dan Miceli, Houston	4–4, 12th 1 out 1 on	6–4	3–3	In the very next game of the Astros-Cardinals series, Edmonds hits a two-run homer to right field on an 0–1 pitch with one out in the 12th, tying the series. Miceli becomes the first pitcher to surrender two game winning homers in the same post-season.
2006 ALCS	Game 4, October 14	Magglio Ordóñez, Detroit	Comerica Park	Huston Street, Oakland	3–3, 9th 2 out 2 on	6–3	4–0 DET	With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, after back-to-back two-out singles by Craig Monroe and Plácido Polanco, Ordóñez crushes a 1–0 fastball high over the left-field bullpen to complete a Tigers sweep, giving them their first pennant in 22 years.
2011 ALCS	Game 2, October 10	Nelson Cruz, Texas	Globe Life Park in Arlington	Ryan Perry, Detroit	3–3, 11th 0 out 3 on	7–3	2–0 TEX	With no outs in the bottom of the 11th, after back-to-back-to-back singles by Michael Young, Adrián Beltré, and Mike Napoli, Cruz hit a slider over the left-field wall, putting the Rangers two wins away from back-to-back World Series appearances with MLB's first-ever official postseason walk-off grand slam.
2014 NLCS	Game 2, October 12	Kolten Wong, St. Louis	Busch Stadium	Sergio Romo, San Francisco	4–4, 9th 0 out 0 on	5–4	1–1	With no outs in the bottom of the ninth and a 1-0 count, Wong hit a lead-off home run over the right-field wall, clinching the Cardinals NLCS-tying game against the San Francisco Giants.
2014 NLCS	Game 5, October 16	Travis Ishikawa, San Francisco	AT&T Park	Michael Wacha, St. Louis	3–3, 9th 1 out 2 on	6–3	4–1 SF	With one out in the bottom of the ninth, with runners on first and second due to a single by Pablo Sandoval (Joaquin Arias pinch running) and a walk by Brandon Belt, and a 2-0 count, Ishikawa hit a home run over the right-field wall, clinching the Giants' 4-1 NLCS victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. It is the first time in NLCS history that a walk-off home run ended the series.
2017 NLCS	Game 2, October 15	Justin Turner, Los Angeles	Dodger Stadium	John Lackey, Chicago Cubs	1–1, 9th 2 out 2 on	4–1	2–0 LAD	With runners on first and second with two outs after walks by Yasiel Puig and Chris Taylor, Turner crushed a 1-0 fastball over the center-field fence to give the Dodgers a 2-0 series lead, exactly 29 years after Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run.
2019 ALCS	Game 2, October 13	Carlos Correa, Houston	Minute Maid Park	J.A. Happ, New York Yankees	2–2, 11th 0 out 0 on	3–2	1–1
2019 ALCS	Game 6, October 19	José Altuve, Houston	Minute Maid Park	Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees	4–4, 9th 2 out 1 on	6–4	4–2 HOU	With a runner on first with two outs after a walk by George Springer, Altuve crushed a 2-1 fastball over the left-field fence to give the Astros a 4-2 series victory. This was also the second time in New York Yankees franchise history they lose a postseason series on a walk off. The first by Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 World Series

All-Star Game

Year	Batter	Date and site	Pitcher	Final score	Notes
1941	Ted Williams, AL (Boston)	July 8, Briggs Stadium	Claude Passeau, NL (Chicago)	7–5	With two men on and the AL one out away from defeat, Williams hits a 1–1 pitch off the right field press box for the junior circuit's sixth win in nine contests. He later says, "I just shut my eyes and swung." It is the first All-Star game to be decided in the final inning.
1955	Stan Musial, NL (St. Louis)	July 12, Milwaukee County Stadium	Frank Sullivan, AL (Boston)	6–5	After being down 5–0 in the seventh inning, Musial's home run to right field on the first pitch of the 12th inning completes the NL's comeback; it is their fifth win in six years.
1964	Johnny Callison, NL (Philadelphia)	July 7, Shea Stadium	Dick Radatz, AL (Boston)	7–4	With two on and two out in the ninth, Callison wins the game with a homer to right field. Willie Mays had tied the score earlier in the inning with a walk, stolen base, and run on Orlando Cepeda's single. It is the NL's sixth win in the last seven decided games.

Other leagues

Year	Batter	Event	Date and Site	Pitcher	Situation	Final score	Notes
1955	Rich Cominski, Morrisville, Pennsylvania	Little League World Series	August 26, Williamsport, Pennsylvania	Tommy Trotman, Merchantville, New Jersey	3–3, 7th Leadoff	4–3	Cominski leads off the seventh inning of the title game with a home run after the teams are tied following six regulation innings. Both batter and pitcher are regular catchers playing out of position—Cominski in right field due to an injured thumb, and Trotman due to the starter reaching the series limit for pitchers' innings. Cy Young threw out the first pitch of the tournament, two months before his death at age 88.[24]
1996	Warren Morris, LSU	College World Series	June 8, Rosenblatt Stadium	Robbie Morrison, Miami	7–8, 9th 1 on, 2 out	9–8	Morris hits a two-out, two-run game-winning home run on the last pitch in the championship game, giving the LSU Tigers their 3rd CWS title—it was also Morris' first and only home run of the season—and the only walk-off championship-winning home run in College World Series history. In addition, it is the only two-out, ninth inning, walk-off home run in a championship of any collegiate or professional level.[25] The home run also won Morris the 1997 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award.
2005	Michael Memea, Ewa Beach, Hawaii	Little League World Series	August 28, Lamade Stadium	Christopher Garia, Willemstad, Curaçao	6–6, 7th Leadoff	7–6	Memea hits a game winning solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the championship game, giving Hawaii the title over the defending champions from Curaçao. Hawaii had only been put into position for the dramatic extra-inning win with a furious three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth.[26]
2007	Deion Rosalia, Willemstad, Curaçao	Little League World Series	August 23, Volunteer Stadium	Reinaldo Amaro, Maracaibo, Venezuela	1–2, 7th 2 on, 2 out	4–2	In a semifinal of the International bracket, the Curaçao and Venezuela teams were tied 1–1 at the end of the regulation six innings. Venezuela's Bryan Charry led off the top of the seventh with a solo homer, staking them to a 2–1 lead. Curaçao had no one on with two out in their half of the seventh, but a single and walk set the table for Rosalia, who was down to his last strike before hitting his game-ending shot.[27]
2007	Ryo Kanekubo, Tokyo, Japan	Little League World Series	August 25, Lamade Stadium	Rudson Pietersz, Willemstad, Curaçao	3–4, 6th 3 on, 1 out	7–4	Two days later, in the championship game of the international bracket, Curaçao becomes the victim of a game-winning shot. They take a 4–3 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but the Japan team responds by loading the bases for Kanekubo's shot, sending them to the title game the next day.[28]
2007	Dalton Carriker, Warner Robins, Georgia	Little League World Series	August 26, Lamade Stadium	Junsho Kiuchi, Tokyo, Japan	2–2, 8th Leadoff	3–2	This time, the Japan team becomes a game-winning victim as Carriker hits a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the state of Georgia its second straight title and the U.S. a third straight title.[29]
2016	Haruki Nishikawa, Hokkaido Fighters	Japan Series	October 27, Sapporo Dome	Shota Nakazaki, Hiroshima Carp	1–1, 9th 3 on, 1 out	5–1	In Game 5 of the 2016 Japan Series, Nishikawa hits the first walk-off grand slam since 1992 when, on a 1–0 count in the bottom of the ninth, he connects on a Nakazaki pitch to right field. The win was the third consecutive win by the Fighters, which would go on to win Game 6 and the series after losing the first two games.[30]

See also

• Game-winning RBI
• Homer in the Gloamin'
• Career record for walk-off home runs

Notes

1. The source for this frequently cited factoid is Madison McEntire's 2006 book, Big League Trivia; Facts, Figures, Oddities, and Coincidences from our National Pastime. (Indeed, as late as July 23 of that year, two days prior to the home run's 50th anniversary, an eyewitness account written by Pittsburgh-based sportswriter John Steigerwald stated merely that it "may have been done only once in the history of baseball."[7] [Emphasis added.]) However, the claim, as it appears on page 53, and has since been repeated extensively, in print and online (i.e. "Clemente is the only player to end a game with an inside-the-park grand slam."), is actually qualified (along with most of the book's items) by McEntire in the book's introduction. "Unless stated otherwise, I used the year 1900 – the beginning of the modern baseball era – as the starting point for the items in this book."[8]

References

1. Dan Shaughnessy. "Term covers all the bases". "The Boston Globe." June 24, 2005. Retrieved June 30, 2016
2. Krabbenhoft, Herm. "Dramatic finishes: Ultimate grand slams have decided 19 major league games". The Schenectady Gazette. October 5, 1991. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
3. Amedio, Steve. "Krabbenhoft helps rewrite baseball records". The Schenectady Gazette. April 18, 2003. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
4. Chuck, Bill; Kaplan, Jim (2007). Walkoffs, Last Licks and Final Outs: Baseball's Grand (and Not-so-grand) Finales. Skokie, Illinois: ACTA Sports. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-87946-342-7. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
5. "History of the Game; Doubleday to Present Day: Ultimate Grand Slams". MLB.com. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
6. Jackson, Frank. "Ultimate slam: game over". Hardball Times. September 11, 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2015. "No. 6: 09/11/1955, County Stadium. Hitter: Del Crandall. Pitcher: Herm Wehmeier. Braves 5, Phils 4. This was the first (of 15) ultimate slams with two outs, which would seem to make it a little more special than its predecessors."
7. Steigerwald, John. "This Was Clemente's Grandest Slam". The Indiana Gazette. July 23, 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2015. "On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente did something that may have been done only once in the history of baseball. And I was there to see it. "
8. McEntire, Madison. Big League Trivia; Facts, Figures, Oddities, and Coincidences from our National Pastime. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. p. IX and 53. ISBN 1-4259-1292-3. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
9. Hernon, Jack. "Clemente's Inside-Park Slam Nips Cubs, 9-8; Bucs Bounce Back After Losing Lead". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 26, 1956. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
10. New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers Box Score, June 21, 1988
11. "Athletics' Stephen Piscotty delivers walk-off grand slam against Rangers". Fox News. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
12. Chisholm, Gregor; Lee, Jane (July 27, 2017). "Pearce hits walk-off slam as Toronto sweeps A's". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
13. Matheson, Keegan; Guardado, Maria (July 30, 2017). "Deja Blue Jay: Pearce's historic slam". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
14. Harrison, Ian (July 30, 2017). "Pearce slams again, Jays score 7 in 9th, beat Angels 11-10". ledger-enquirer.com. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
15. "Angels' Morales breaks leg celebrating slam". ESPN.com. 2010-05-30. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
16. "Saxon: Angels party responsibly after walk-off". ESPN.com. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
17. 2008 Official Rules of Major League Baseball, ISBN 978-1-60078-106-3
18. Pratt himself had hit a walk-off homer just eight days earlier, on October 9, in the 1999 NLDS. See: § Division series, below.
19. 1996 Macmillan Baseball Encyclopedia, Appendix B (Decisions of the Special Baseball Records Committee)
20. http://www.fenwayfanatics.com/player/babe-ruth/
21. CNNSI.com
22. Baseball Almanac
23. "October 3, 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Giants Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
24. Sheen, Jim (1955-09-07). "Morrisville Little League Champion on Home Run". The Sporting News. p. 15.
25. Kurkjian, Tim (17 June 1996). "LSU steals the College World Series from Miami with a ninth-inning homer, Bagwell busts out, Rockie roads". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
26. "Memea's extra-inning HR lifts Hawaii to Little League title". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
27. "Rosalia blasts HR, sends Curaçao to LLWS international final". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
28. "Kanekubo's grand slam sends Japan to LLWS final". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
29. "Georgia crowned LLWS champs behind Carriker's 8th-inning jack". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
30. Coskrey, Jason (2016-10-27). "Late-game heroics propel Fighters to brink of Japan Series title". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2016-11-04.

External links

• Baseball-Reference.com Play Index – game-winning home runs which ended a postseason series
• YankeeNumbers.com – A list of all walk-off home runs in New York Yankee history...regular and post-season.