“October Baseball” is a popular term among all MLB fans, as it means it’s time for the postseason to get underway. Just in the last five years, the baseball world has seen many thrillers and memorable moments that will be remembered for a long time.
In 2019, the Washington Nationals were at 19-31 in the middle of May, with almost no hope of making the playoffs, let alone winning the World Series. But after they sneaked into the National League Wild Card, the Nats pitching staff went on an incredible run to capture the franchise’s first championship. Nevertheless, the most memorable moment came from designated hitter Howie Kendrick. In Game 7 of the World Series, Kendrick hit the go-ahead homerun to defeat the Houston Astros 6-2, a moment that Washington fans will never forget.
Although the Tampa Bay Rays were in the losing end of the 2020 World Series vs the L.A. Dodgers, people will be talking about Brett Phillips’ walk-off hit in Game 4 for years down the road. Down 7-6 in the 9th inning, the Rays utility player smacked a ball to center field. After a couple of miscues by the Dodgers defense, two runs were able to score, which at the time allowed the Rays to tie the series at two.
The following year saw the Atlanta Braves win the World Series for the first time since 1995. To get there, they needed to rely on unsung hero Eddie Rosario. With superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. out for the season, Rosario was just supposed to be a below average replacement. But don’t tell him that, as Rosario set a record for most hits in a playoff series with 14. The most memorable of them all was undoubtedly the three-run homerun he hit in Game 6 of the NLCS, which propelled the Braves to the World Series.
The 2022 MLB playoffs were all about Bryce Harper. Although he fell short of the title, the two-time MVP had his signature moment when he hit a go-ahead two-run home run to send the San Diego Padres home in five games of the NLCS. As Harper rounded the bases amid a roaring Philadelphia crowd, FOX broadcaster Joe Davis called it “the swing of his life.”