M0ckduck gave us a poser in the Ortiz-slam thread (remembering 2013), and then fleshed out a scenario:
1975 WS Game 6 (Fisk) is obviously up there, probably leading the list.
2013 ALCS Game 2 was a snoozer up until Ortiz, but Game 6 (Victorino) was certainly exciting.
I think any list has to have 1986 ALCS Game 5 high up on it, Hendu's homer. That game might be one of the greatest playoff games in baseball history - it's not quite 1960 Game 7 or 2016 WS Game 7 but it's in the top tier.
What else makes the list? Let's get some nominations and then we'll do a poll.
We had some early nominations:Was this the most exciting play in Red Sox history from a casual fan's perspective?
I mean, if you'd been suffering for 86 years with this team, then the Roberts steal (or one of many other moments from 2004 ALCS) was more important, for sure. But the excitement of those moments is largely dependent on the context of having been drenched in miserable Sox-Yanks rivalry for decades. If you brought an alien back to earth, gave them a rudimentary understanding of baseball and had them watch games with you, this seems like the play where they'd be jumping around the living room and waving their tentacles. Bases loaded... two outs... Benoit... BOOM... Hunter... Officer Whatshisface.... Pandemonium.
I would pick the Victorino slam over this one to be honest. It basically clinched the penant.
Obligatory mention of Fisk in 1975. Higher stakes, larger stage (being a World Series elimination game), longer title drought, walk-off.
...so now, let's get the rest of 'em in and vote.And Bernie Carbo in the same game a few innings earlier.
1975 WS Game 6 (Fisk) is obviously up there, probably leading the list.
2013 ALCS Game 2 was a snoozer up until Ortiz, but Game 6 (Victorino) was certainly exciting.
I think any list has to have 1986 ALCS Game 5 high up on it, Hendu's homer. That game might be one of the greatest playoff games in baseball history - it's not quite 1960 Game 7 or 2016 WS Game 7 but it's in the top tier.
What else makes the list? Let's get some nominations and then we'll do a poll.
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