Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
Some home runs are just runs on the board (though they’re still exciting). Others, though, are the ones that take the sport to new heights—literally. The “best” blasts aren’t only about distance; they’re about timing, tension, and the way a crowd’s noise suddenly turns into history. Come with us as we walk back through history.
Bobby Thomson — “The Shot Heard ’Round the World” (1951)
When Thomson launched Ralph Branca’s pitch to win the National League pennant for the Giants, it was seismic. Everything from the radio call and the instant sprint, right down to the Polo Grounds, made it an instantly recognizable moment.
Bill Mazeroski — Walk-Off to Win the World Series (1960)
Game 7, bottom of the ninth, tie game, and Mazeroski—better known for his glove—ends the Series with one swing. It’s the rarest baseball ending, the kind that makes you check the rulebook just to confirm it’s allowed to be that perfect.
Carlton Fisk — The Waving Fair-Pole Classic (1975)
Fisk’s extra-inning shot in the ’75 World Series comes with built-in theater: the clank off the pole and that iconic body language, pleading the ball to do what you want. You can watch it today and still feel like you’re holding your breath with him.
Kirk Gibson — One-Legged Lightning (1988)
User Sacoo on en.wikipedia on Wikimedia
At the time, Gibson could barely walk, which made his pinch-hit at-bat feel more like a dare than a plan. But then Dennis Eckersley hung a pitch, and Gibson turned pain into a classic trot, capped by the fist pump that practically trademarked October.
Joe Carter — “Touch ’Em All, Joe” (1993)
Carter’s ninth-inning, walk-off homer didn’t just win a game; it ended the World Series on the spot. The leap, the rounding of the bases, and the pure disbelief in the stadium give you a finale so clean it feels scripted.
