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| Major League Baseball added the Wild Card Game, a one-game playoff back in 2012. |
There have been several occasions where it has taken more than 162 games to determine a spot in the playoffs and since 2012 there has been the Wild Card Game in both the American and National Leagues, where the winner clinches a berth in the Division Series.
With that in mind, I have come up with the 10 moments that have occurred in the Wild Card Game or in one-game tiebreakers.
Before we begin, I must tell that you Bobby Thomson's "Shot Round the World" that won the 1951 National League Pennant for the New York Giants against the Brooklyn Dodgers is not on the list because that occurred in a best-of-three series, not in a one-game scenario.
Not that we have clear, here is the list:
10. 2012 Cardinals-Braves(NL Wild Card Game)
Down 6-3 with one out in the bottom of the 8th, the Atlanta Braves appear to have the bases loaded as shortstop Anderlton Simmons' pop fly drops between St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma and left fielder Matt Holliday.
But Simmons is called out but left field umpire Sam Holbrook citing the infield fly rule which calls for fly balls to be outs in the infield even before though they are caught, though Simmons' hit lands clearly in the outfield.
After a nearly 20-minute delay because of debris thrown by Braves fans, the Cardinals go on to win the game 6-3.
9. 2018 Rockies-Cubs (NL Wild Card Game)
Rockies backup catcher Troy Wolters, who had batted .170 during the regular season, hits a single to knocks in Trevor Story in the top of the 13th inning for what turns out to be the winning run as Colorado defeates the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in the longest winner-take-all game in MLB postseason history.
8. 2016 Giants-Mets(NL Wild Card Game)
Giants infielder Conor Gillaspie breaks a scoreless tie with a three-home run in the top of the 9th inning to give San Francisco a 3-0 lead as pitcher Madison Bumgarner retires the Mets in 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to give the Giants the win and a trip to the National League Division Series.
Down 3-1 with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 8th inning, Nationals left fielder Juan Soto gets a ground base hit that goes below the glove of Brewers right fielder Trent Grisham, allowing all three runners to score as the Nationals would go on to win 4-3.
6. 2016 Orioles-Blue Jays(AL Wild Card Game)
Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion becomes the fourth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run in a winner-take-all postseason game as his three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th gives the Blue Jays a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion becomes the fourth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run in a winner-take-all postseason game as his three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th gives the Blue Jays a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
5. 2021 Cardinals-Dodgers(NL Wild Card Game)
The Dodgers' Chris Taylor hits a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th to give Los Angeles a 3-1 win over the St.Louis Cardinals.
4. 2009 Tigers-Twins(AL Central Tiebreaker)
Twins infielder Alexi Casilla knocks in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th to give Minnesota a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers and clinch thier fifth American League Central division title of the 2000s.
Twins infielder Alexi Casilla knocks in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th to give Minnesota a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers and clinch thier fifth American League Central division title of the 2000s.
3. 2014 A's-Royals(AL Wild Card Game)
The Kansas City Royals' first trip to the postseason in 29 years looked to be brief as they trailed the Oakland A's 7-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning.
But the Royals score three in the 8th, then add one more in the 9th to send the game into extra innings, where they enter the bottom of the 12th down 8-7 but tie the game when Christian Colon's infield single scores Eric Hosmer, then win the game on catcher Salvador Perez's single, scoring Colon to give KC a 9-8 win and beginning their unlikely run to the World Series.
The Kansas City Royals' first trip to the postseason in 29 years looked to be brief as they trailed the Oakland A's 7-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning.
But the Royals score three in the 8th, then add one more in the 9th to send the game into extra innings, where they enter the bottom of the 12th down 8-7 but tie the game when Christian Colon's infield single scores Eric Hosmer, then win the game on catcher Salvador Perez's single, scoring Colon to give KC a 9-8 win and beginning their unlikely run to the World Series.
2. 2007 Padres-Rockies(NL Wild Card Tiebreaker)
The San Diego Padres appear to be on their way to the postseason for the third year in a row as they hold a 8-6 lead going into the bottom of the 13th inning and closer Trevor Hoffman on the mound.
But Hoffman gives up back-to-back doubles to Kazuo Matsui and Troy Tulowitzki, then allows a triple to Matt Holliday, allowing the Rockies to tie the game.
Then after an intentional walk to Todd Helton, Hoffman faces Jamey Carroll, who hits a fly ball to right field that is caught by Brian Giles.
Holliday tags up and attempts to score the winning run as Giles throws the ball to catcher Michael Barrett, who blocks home plate as Holliday dives head-first into home plate.
Home plate umpire Tim McClelland rules Holliday safe, though replays prove inconclusive on whether or not Holliday acutally touched home plate.
Nevertheless, the Rockies win the game 9-8 to earn thier first trip to the playoffs since 1995.
The San Diego Padres appear to be on their way to the postseason for the third year in a row as they hold a 8-6 lead going into the bottom of the 13th inning and closer Trevor Hoffman on the mound.
But Hoffman gives up back-to-back doubles to Kazuo Matsui and Troy Tulowitzki, then allows a triple to Matt Holliday, allowing the Rockies to tie the game.
Then after an intentional walk to Todd Helton, Hoffman faces Jamey Carroll, who hits a fly ball to right field that is caught by Brian Giles.
Holliday tags up and attempts to score the winning run as Giles throws the ball to catcher Michael Barrett, who blocks home plate as Holliday dives head-first into home plate.
Home plate umpire Tim McClelland rules Holliday safe, though replays prove inconclusive on whether or not Holliday acutally touched home plate.
Nevertheless, the Rockies win the game 9-8 to earn thier first trip to the playoffs since 1995.
1. 1978 Yankees-Red Sox(AL East Tiebreaker)
Yankees second baseman Bucky Dent earns his nickname Bucky "bleeping" Dent as he hits a three-run home run in the top of the 7th to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
The Yankees would increase the lead to 5-2 thanks to a RBI double by catcher Thurman Munson later in the 7th, followed by a solo home run by Reggie Jackson in the top of the 8th.
The Red Sox fight back to score two runs in the bottom of the 8th to cut the lead to 5-4, then have a chance in the 9th to pull out as Carl Yastrzemeski comes to the plate with runners on 1st and 3rd and two out.
But Yankees closer Goose Goosage gets Yaz to pop out to third baseman Craig Nettles to secure the win for the Yankees and their third straight American League East Division title.
Yankees second baseman Bucky Dent earns his nickname Bucky "bleeping" Dent as he hits a three-run home run in the top of the 7th to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
The Yankees would increase the lead to 5-2 thanks to a RBI double by catcher Thurman Munson later in the 7th, followed by a solo home run by Reggie Jackson in the top of the 8th.
The Red Sox fight back to score two runs in the bottom of the 8th to cut the lead to 5-4, then have a chance in the 9th to pull out as Carl Yastrzemeski comes to the plate with runners on 1st and 3rd and two out.
But Yankees closer Goose Goosage gets Yaz to pop out to third baseman Craig Nettles to secure the win for the Yankees and their third straight American League East Division title.
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