Gibson's HR off of Eck has to be up there.

Buck's doubleplay.

http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
Alomar's HR off Eckersley in the '92 ALCS. Eckersley seemed unstoppable that year until then.

To me it is Gibson's HR in 88 easily. I mean, geez, Eck was unstoppable and Gibson had two legs that were injured so bad that a ball in the gap might have been a single...if he was lucky. Oakland was 'unstoppable' and LA was viewed to be lucky to beat the 'unstoppable' Mets. There was no way that should've happened, but it did.

Alomar's HR in '92 was great and told us the Jays were going all the way but I remember feeling like he was about to do it, unlike Gibson. Alomar was healthy and a top performer in his prime. Gibson, despite the MVP which he shouldn't have won imo, was late in his injury filled career (hadn't cracked 80 for RBI's since two years earlier... odd for a middle of the order outfielder, would have just one OPS+ of over 110 left in him too, 500+ plate appearances just one more time).

Trying to think of anything outside of 'The Giants win the pennant' that matches, but that ended a series thus didn't shift momentum so much as ended everything.

Tony Kubek taking that normally routine double play ball in the throat which lead Hal Smith's 3-run homer which eventually lead to Maz's walk-off homer in the '60 Series. It almost killed me and I was depressed for weeks. On the elation producing side, Don Larson's perfect game and Devo's catch in the '92 Series are the most memorable.

I'm not sure what the most miraculous of all time is, but to confine it to games I actually saw (either attended or else watched live broadcast of)...I would have to say the Cleveland Indians' 2001 comeback against the seattle Mariners from a deficit of (if I remember correctly) 14-2 in the 7th innning. Seattle never scored again in that game, while Cleveland tied it in the 9th and won in the 10th, equalling the biggest comeback in MLB history. I hold this game in a particular regard because I have been a huge Indians fan (as well as Jays fan) since the early '80s, when the Indians were terrible, and this was one of the last great games in the Indians' run of success with that tremendous offense of the mid '90s to early '00s.

I can't think of anything more gut wrenching than the Billy Buckner play, well at least for Red Sox fans.

I can't think of anything more gut wrenching than the Billy Buckner play, well at least for Red Sox fans.

True, but they deserved it. There is no team in all of sports that I despise like the Red Sox.

Well, just like the Flutie game was achingly close, for Miami fans, anwyay, to being "the Testaverde game," I imagine there are those NY Mets fans who think of the "Buckner game" as the "Mookie Wilson game." It's all about perspective.

In my memory, it has to be Bob Stanley, Bill Buckner, and the cast of thousands.

http://www.cfl.ca/CFLHistoryCFLLegends/gabriel.html
I think I may have posted this in another thread, so please excuse the repetition.

The day Rick Monday hit the pinch hit HR off Steve Rogers in the 1981 NL LCS. In fact I think there may have even been 2 outs, and the score tied at 2-2.

That day and image will forver be etched in my mind.

And, to pay homage to my Saskatchewan Roughriders, there is "The Catch" made by Tony Gabriel of the then Ottawa Rough Riders. COMN for a brief description.

The most miraculous thing I've ever seen in sports was the "Immaculate Reception"- the famous hail mary pass that bounces perhaps 20 yards back off a defender's shoulder pad to Franco Harris who runs it in for a game-winning touchdown.

There is no real baseball equivalent. Now, if Willie Mays Aikens or Cecil Fielder had hit an inside the park home run to win a ballgame...

There is no real baseball equivalent.

Kind of what I was thinking, Mike. Closest "pure athletic" moment (non-home run category) I can think of is the Jeter Option Pass to Posada to nip Little G at the plate.

Even Enos Slaughter's mad dash is remembered mostly as "Pesky Held the Ball." Maybe in 25 years it will be "Giambi's Failure to Slide," but it sure seems in baseball we tend to remember the goat rather than the hero. Not in all cases, of course, but even with the Greatest Homer Ever, Thomson's Miracle at Coogan's Bluff, many fans know the pitcher was Ralph Branca. Everyone remembers (and in Philadelphia, reviles) Mitch Williams

On the flip side, most fans probably DON'T remember Pat Darcy or Ralph Terry and Eckersley managing to give up TWO legendary bombs doesn't seem to have tarnished his rep. So maybe I have no point to make.

Off topic... Carlos Tosca has been added as the third base coach for the Diamondbacks.

John McDonald was also waived by the Indians after they resigned Bob Wickman. He might be a good glove pickup to replace Gomez, although Alfaro would still be cheaper with more bat but less glove.

Not a baseball play, but I've got three words:

Steve Freakin' Smith

Actually, remembering Willie Mays Aikens made me ask: what were his parents thinking? I mean, the doctor brings back baby Aikens to his parents. He's swaddled up good, and he's roughly the size of a barrel. And the parents decide to name him after the Say Hey Kid? The one with all the stolen bases?

Sure, it's not a boy named Sue, but these kinds of things give kids complexes.:)

The Pacers/Pistons debacle makes me think of Disco Demolition and how that must have been to watch. I was physically nauseous watching the basketball melee, so I can only imagine Disco Demolition was an equally "gut-wrenching, sucker-punching event."

I can think of only two moments that left me speechless and stunned.

One, of course, is the Carter home run (especially because he looked extra-feeble on the previous pitch and I was sure he was going to strike out).

The other was in the playoffs last year (or the year before?) when Dusty Baker's kid wandered into the play and the baserunner grabbed him on the way by. Its sad that I can't remember the player who grabbed him - because that guy deserves recognition.

If we are talking all sports, the 'Music City Miracle' still brings me joy. I really don't know why I get pleasure from the suffering of Bills fans?

Wasn't it JT Snow?

I would disqualify the MCM because it looked like a forward pass to me.

How about 'The Catch' Willie Mays Edition?

Probably the Devon White catch for me.
When the ball left the bat I groaned because I thought it was gone or at the very least trouble.
I was then blown away by the catch, and in a frenzy watching the confused Braves run the bases and the Jays throw the ball around the diamond.
Then, sheer rage at the blown call.

How about 'The Catch' Willie Mays Edition?

Maybe it's because the footage is old and I haven't watched any games at the Polo Grounds, however in my opinion, I see catches all the time that are more impressive that this one. Jim Edmonds makes about 10 a year that I like better, and Devon Whites catch in the World Series was definitely more impressive.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04270TOR2003.htm
It wasn't the biggest miracle, but it sure sticks out in my mind.

Versus Kansas City, April 27, 2003 in the 'Dome. Down 8-1 after 6 1/2 innings, and then 9-4 coming into the bottom of the 9th inning, the Jays did the improbable by coming back and winning the game, witout hitting a homer and only one walk, as well as getting some lucky help with Berroa's sticky fingers and a hit batter.

Up until that point KC was on fire and (I believe) was on top of the MLB standings, while the Jays were setting up shop in the basement. The Jays pen was a stinky mess, and Mike MacDougal was 'unstoppable' to that point, but that one game set up the course of both team's seasons - the Jays (who were 9-16 at the time) went on to win 86, three games ahead of the 'miracle rookies' KC (who were then 17-4) after beating the tar out of them the rest of the season.

Incidentally, Doug Creek had 4 Ks in 2.2 innings of mop up work that game. Patchwork staff Pete Walker, Doug Creek, Jason Kershner and Cliff Politte struck out 11. Go figure.

COMN for the boxscore. Man, that was a wild one.

I'd also put the Jays' 15-14 '93 victory over the Phillies up there, but that was more of "a gut-wrenching, sucker-punching event" that was in response a kick to the crotch; a pitcher's duel that was not.

What's the single most "miraculous" thing to occur on a MLB diamond?

Greg Myers, inside the park home run.

The sheer physics of it is mind boggling.

In 1986? - The Jays coming back to beat the Red Sox when they were down 10-0 going into the 7th inning is something I will never forget.

Oh, and I forgot to add. MacDougal hadn't blown a save before that game against the Jays. He was a perfect 10-for-10 until that point; after that he blew 4-of-6, and eventually went on to blow 8-of-35 for the year.

Greg Myers, inside the park home run.

The Rance Mulliniks inside the park home run was even more incomprehensible in my mind, if only because Myers looks like he could be a professional athlete. Mulliniks? I'd trust him to do my taxes, but he doesn't bring to mind competence on the ball field with his looks.

Maybe it's because the footage is old and I haven't watched any games at the Polo Grounds, however in my opinion, I see catches all the time that are more impressive that this one. Jim Edmonds makes about 10 a year that I like better, and Devon Whites catch in the World Series was definitely more impressive.

I don't think anyone can make a catch more impressive than Willie's. Parks today won't allow it.

What a lot of people don't realize is how far Mays had to run to make that catch. He was playing very, very shallow at the time of the hit and Wertz hit the ball about 450 feet. (Source: ESPN). Imagine Orlando Hudson playing 2B making a catch at the warning track of Skydome. That's about as far as Mays ran.

I didn't see it happen, and I'm not sure I even remember the players involved. But about 10-15 years ago, the Angels were playing at Minnesota. They were up 2-0 in the top of the second, they had runners on first and second, and there was nobody out.

Three pitches later, the score was tied 2-2. Read that again to make sure you've got it right.

First pitch: the Angels batter hit into a triple play, ending the inning. Second pitch, leading off the bottom of the 2nd: Kent Hrbek homers. Third pitch, Gary Gaetti (I think) homers. I don't know what the odds against that would be.

Steve Freakin' Smith

Argh.

I don't think anyone can make a catch more impressive than Willie's. Parks today won't allow it.

I'm just saying the footage of this catch doesn't look all that impressive to me. I'm sure it would be differen't if I were watching it live and hadn't seen it already 100 times.

I still find Whites catch more impressive, could be the way the ball was hit, the fact that a wall was involved or my own personal biases?

Gut Wrench: It was the 1985 ALCS and Dave Stieb (my hero at the time) decided to challenge George Brett and paid for it.

A quick perusal of baseball-reference.com shows Brett didn't hit a homer against Stieb, so I guess it must have been an RBI double or something because I can still remember jumping up and screaming at the TV.

Joy Inducing: Ed Sprague's bomb off Jeff Reardon (I think it was) in the '92 World Series.

I still find Whites catch more impressive, could be the way the ball was hit, the fact that a wall was involved or my own personal biases?

Devo's catch was pretty cool.

I should restate what I said. What I meant was I don't think anyone can make a Mays type catch more impressive than Willie's.

Sliding and diving and crashing into a wall type catches are different, so I can easily see how someone could prefer Devo's. Unlike Devo, Mays didn't have a wall to contend with.

I have a feeling the black and white footage doesn't do Willie's catch justice. You don't get to see where he was positioned and the type of run he had to the catch. You only get to see the last dozen or so steps.

That's why I also believe you can't judge an infielder's defense by watching him on TV. You have to see him live, as you miss his first couple steps and how quickly he breaks.

I'd second (or third, or fourth) Gibson's shot. It reads like something out of a hackneyed movie script, yet it really happened.

Another was Francisco Cabrera's ninth-inning, two-out single to score Sid "Lightning Foot" Bream from second, completing a three-run rally in Game 7 of the NLCS.

Personally gut-wrenching: Dwight Clark / The Catch, 1981. I never need to see the reply again because it's etched in my brain.

Personally joy-inducing: The original "Hail Mary" Staubach to Pearson, 1975. Even though it looks like Pearson pushed off the defender.

Scott ... "looks like"? You're being kind!

If you're going to regale with Cowboy miracles, how no mention of Clint Longley?

As a Buffalo sports fan, I've got 3: Wide Right, No Goal, Music City Miracle. Whether Brett Hull's goal in the '99 Finals really should have counted or whether Frank Wycheck's pass was really a lateral are besides the point. In both cases, my team's season was over in an instant and I never saw it coming either time. Norwood's kick in Super Bowl XXV did not blindside me like those, obviously, but the fate of the entire season came down to 1 play and was dependent on 1 player who participates in about 5 plays per game. There was no possibility of a tie and go on to OT like with Viantieri's kicks. It was win or lose. We lost. Brutal.

http://www.freddie.ca/audio/rickjeanneret/mayday.wav
As a Buffalo sports fan....

"Here's May going in on goal, he shoots, he scoooores!! MAY DAY! MAY DAY! MAY DAY!"

...

*cough* I don't have anything else to add.

I always felt a little sorry for Scott Norwood.

If you asked 100 people the distance of Norwood's missed field goal, I'd bet 95 of them would guess on the low side. It was a 47-yeard attempt, hardly a gimme.

Scott ... "looks like"? You're being kind!

Well, yeah.

Ummm, any chance "yeard" is a Canadian variant of "yard?"

Yep, most people have no idea that Norwood's miss was hardly a chip shot. There was a great article on him in Sports Illustrated this summer.

Music City Miracle = forward pass. But hey, rules are unimportant when it comes to screwing the Bills.

I'll echo the sentiments mentioned earlier: Jays comeback from 10-0 deficit in Fenway, June 1989. It eventually goes extras and Junior Felix and Ernie Whitt were heroes that day.

Pat Darcy = Carlton Fisk, Game 6, 1975
Ralph Terry = Bill Mazeroski, Game 7, 1960

Just showing off...

Imagine Orlando Hudson playing 2B making a catch at the warning track of Skydome.

Or Devo running through the wall up to around the 20th row. We'll never see anything like it because no one will ever build a baseball park like the Polo Grounds again.

One other point: Wertz did not hit a big fly ball to deep CF - he hit a long, long liner. With Mays playing shallow CF to try to cut off the run at the plate.

Its not the catch that was so great (although it was pretty darn good itself) - its the whole package: the tremendous amount of distance covered just to catch up to the ball, the catch itself, and then the mighty mighty heave that sent the runners scurrying back to their bases like frightened mice.

Anyway - Alomar off Eck gets my vote. Ahead of the Gibson HR mainly because Eck in 1988 wasn't yet Eck - it was his first full year as a closer, and he'd been outstanding, but the MVP and the CY Young, and the three BB in a season were still to come.

By 1992, he was Eck The Untouchable. But Alomar touched him up anyway.

As a disgruntled Detroit Lions fan waiting for Peyton Manning to decide how much he wants the Colts to win by tomorrow, here was a miracle. In 1998, the Lions rallied from a 10 point deficit against Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving (miracle #1) to force the game into overtime. On the coin toss, the Steelers Jerome Bettis called tails but referee Phil Luckett thought he called heads, and awarded the Lions the ball. That allowed Jason Hanson to boot the winning field goal (miracle #2). I was shocked because that's usually the way the Lions lose, not win! Then on the following Sunday, Atlanta's Ray Buchanan brought out a big sign saying "Heads" for the referee before the coin toss. It was pretty funny to see.

For me, it HAS to be Sprague's HR. Coming home down two games to none wouldn't have been insurmountable, but it certainly would've made it tough. Right up to that point, Atlanta's pitching had looked unstoppable... heading into the ninth with the bottom of the order up, I really was tempted to go to bed, just to not see the last outs.

It was after Sprague's HR that, for the first time, I really believed that a World Series win was possible...

For me, it was Alomar's amazing backwards diving catch in the 93 WS vs the Phillies. Many thought it would be a base hit for sure, but he came outta no where to get it.

I know that this is a Canadian baseball site, and I'm a Canadian baseball fan but when you think of miricles in sports there's one answer and the movie was called "miricle". Nobody thought the states could beat the Russians and in the one game they pulled it off with the miricle upset. For a moment it would be Eruzeone's goal.
In baseball I'd say Kirk Gibson when he couldn't walk and hit the homerun.

For me, it HAS to be Sprague's HR.

Preach it, G.T.

It wasn't the biggest miracle, but it sure sticks out in my mind.

Versus Kansas City, April 27, 2003 in the 'Dome. Down 8-1 after 6 1/2 innings, and then 9-4 coming into the bottom of the 9th inning, the Jays did the improbable by coming back and winning the game, witout hitting a homer and only one walk, as well as getting some lucky help with Berroa's sticky fingers and a hit batter.

My sons and I were at that game too - we were still hoarse the next day from all the cheering!

Greg Myers, inside the park home run.

The sheer physics of it is mind boggling.

And the best part was his team mates putting oxygen masks and other medical equipment around his locker afterwards.

My sons and I will always remember the Father's Day game in 2003 against the Cubs when Sparky had the lead-off and walk-off home runs.

Hey, Batter's Box crew - why not select a top 10 from all of the entries and then have an online vote (like the MVP vote, by order of preference). I'm late for this thread but still lots of one game wonders out there for your consideration. In approximate order of historical importance/significance, how about:

(1) the Mazeroski HR - 1960 WS
(2) the "Catch" (and double play throw)- no, not by Franco Harris but by Sandy Amoros, saving the 1955 WS for Brooklyn (eery similarities with the Moises Alou near catch in the 2003 playoffs). This play doesn't seem to be well remembered but I think it ranks ahead of the Mays' catch (and certainly Devon White !), not only because of the quality of the play (phenomenal catch and double play throw) but its enormous significance to the outcome of the 55 WS. It literally saved the 7th game and series for Brooklyn.

Those were 2 for the all-time list. Now, three others:

(3) the Jesse Orosco fiasco, April 19, 1996, Baltimore vs Texas. Orosco entered the game in the 8th inning, bases loaded, then left one out later with the same three men on base. And what's so strange about that, you ask ? Because it was NINE BATTERS LATER !! Orosco proceeded to give up 5 hits, one HR, 2 walks and got one out. He was mercifully pulled at that point with the bases not only loaded but with exactly the same three baserunners as when he entered the game. Texas scored 16 runs in the inning, setting all kinds of MLB records (winning the game 26-7).
(4)How about the Molina backflip throw to KRod guarding the plate this past season - surely better than the Jeter to Posada toss.
(5) Reggie Jackson WS high and low. High - the 3 HR game. Low - the marathon AB against a rookie Bob Welch ending with Reggie striking out.

Tippy Martinez picking off three consecutive Blue Jays in a single inning.

Last night ESPN Classic ran the Cal-Stanford game with the game-ending 5-lateral kickoff return touchdown through the band.

I had heard vague details about the play, but never actually seen it... hadn't realized that Elway had just driven the Cardinal 60 yards downfield, facing a 4th-and ~20 right off the bat.

The magnitude of the game probably doesn't compare to Flutie's game, or certainly to the Music City Miracle, but I think it's hard to argue against a play involving the flattening of a trombone player!

As for a baseball-related play, I can't believe it didn't occur to me earlier, but I don't think I've ever seen a single player's emotions change so markedly in an instant as they did for George Brett on a certain day in 1983...

Tippy Martinez picking off three consecutive Blue Jays in a single inning.

Another unpleasant memory rekindled.

Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS - Aaron Boones Home Run to win

I live in New Zealand and thanks to the time difference the game was on during school hours - 12 ... I remember checking my cell phone in my maths class to see what the score was and the redsox were leading , and i would keep checking every 10 minutes with the score getting progressivly worse for my Yankees. Catching the bus home I checked and the scores were tied, I got off the bus and ran home and was able to see the start of the 10th inning.

I had never been sold on Aaron boone, and then he goes and hits what for me was the most beautiful homerun of Tim Wakefield ...

And then he goes and gets himself injured and allows us to get A-rod

brilliant

And , now that i think of it , for a truely NZ feel - the last minute try by the great Jonah Lomu against australia at Homebush Stadium infront of the largest crowd for a rugby game.