Bobby Thomson's Epic walk-off HR, (to propel the Giants in the 51 World Series), is noted as MLB's best Epic HR, in MLB History, by MLB. Kirk Gibson's walk off HR in the 88 World Series, is noted as MLB's 2nd greatest HR feat in MLB, by MLB. Why by MLB?: because I strongly differ with their generic criteria in choosing such often epic, lack of criteria moments. Sure Thomson's "shot heard around the world", HR, is perhaps the single greatest HR in history, tho' it was in the NLCS, & propelled the Giants past the Bums, into World Series lore. Gibson's 88 W.Series walk off HR, is ranked #2. giving the underdog Bums a one game lead, (when the A's were heavily favored to win it all), Hershiser, and a over achieving Doy-Yers pitching staff, shutdown both McGwire and Canseco to 2 hits in 21 at bats. But lets' look at the bigger picture, that is, more than one HR, in World Series Play by one man. Not just one HR to get a team into the Series, (both Thomson & Rhodes were key contributors to the Giants team they were team-mates. Mays heroics must also be considered, as elemental to the 54 Series win. Rhodes tho' hit, Not just one but 2 key Pinch Hit HR's to win games 1 and 2, with the game winning RBI Hit in Game 3, of the 1954 World Series, NY Giants vs. Cleveland's Indians: Dusty Rhodes: Rhodes 54 performance was amazing. His career of 567 gms over 7 yrs. Perhaps the 1 single PH'er performance, more impressive than K.Gibson's walk off in 88, as a last moment Pinch Hitter. Moreso then even Thomson's one HR 'shot heard around the wolrd'. Rhodes gm. 1 & 2 from 'off the bench': Game 1 of Series, pinch hit 10th inning game winner, 3 RBI's. Game 2 Again in 2nd game, a winning pinch hit HR off the bench. Game 3 Awarded for his efforts, Dusty got to start gm. 3. A 3-At-Bat game, a rare key 2 RBI hit; followed by intentional & crucial walks. In his first at bat he Drives in runs 2 & 3, final score: Cleveland had but 2 runs. Rhodes 2 RBI;s put game out of reach, after Mays prior hit a 1-0 solo HR. Game 4 (Giants swept Cleveland) Rhodes didn't even play in game 4's clincher. After his 3 game heroics, he was benched because Cleveland Pitchers would NOT throw to him, but walk him intentionally, like his last 3 at bats in game 3, (event then Cleveland quit pitching to him after his first at bat doing the damage to put them away early in the game. No Notes: There was no W.S.- MVP Award til 55. Key bases loaded RBI in gm. key Run in gm. 3 & walk w/bases loaded!!! In Gms. 1-3, Rhodes had but 6 At bats, 4 hits, 7 RBI's. what a series for Rhodes. And was not even use in game 4's clincher. There 'should of been' MVP of a Series, one year prior to the Series having a MVP award. Rhodes deserves an honorary MVP for his never to be seen again pinch hit Series, records. No other pinch hitter in the game, has swayed the course of any Series, with only 6 at bats. Even tho' 3 of those don't count as At Bats, since he was walked, So 3 of 3, and Rhodes destroys the Indians. Never to be seen again in MLB history to that extent. Thus Gibson's 1st inning heroic in the 88 series is minor on comparison. Thomson's HR was but 1 HR. Sure Epic Folklore both players. But Rhodes out did them all, IMO.
Re: The Greatest Pinch Hitting Performance in the History of MLB & World Series play, Rhodes performance was twenty flight, there were comments made about the "Chinese Home Runs" hit in the Polo Grounds but the Indians had the same opportunities to do so. And Rhodes delivered those hits against a group that included Wynn, Garcia, and Lemon.
Re: The Greatest Pinch Hitting Performance in the History of MLB & World Series play, ...good stuff, matt.
