“`html
Top 10 Non-World Series Plays in the NFL: Where Does George Springer’s ALCS Game 7 HR Rank?
George Springer made his mark in Toronto Blue Jays history with a thrilling three-run homer in the seventh inning, leading his team to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. While Springer’s home run may not have had the same legendary status as Joe Carter’s iconic shot that clinched the 1993 World Series for Toronto, or even Dave Winfield’s game-winning double in the 1992 championship, its significance still cannot be overlooked.
A statistic known as Championship Win Probability Added (cWPA)—published by Baseball Reference—evaluates how much a specific play affected a team’s chances of winning that year’s World Series. This is determined by the timing of the play within the game and its relevance within the season’s context. Springer’s homer boosted Toronto’s likelihood of winning the World Series by 19.73%, placing it among the top ten most impactful non-World Series plays since 1903. Here’s the complete list:
10. Chris Chambliss, New York Yankees (1976)
Chris Chambliss delivered a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, clinching a 7-6 victory for the New York Yankees over Kansas City in Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS. (cWPA of 18.77%) The LCS was a best-of-five format prior to 1985, making this walk-off home run a memorable moment as fans stormed the field at Yankee Stadium. Chambliss’ hit outperformed a similar homer by Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the ALCS 27 years later.
9. Cecil Cooper, Milwaukee Brewers (1982)
Cecil Cooper’s two-run single in the seventh inning put the Milwaukee Brewers ahead 4-3 against the California Angels in Game 5 of the 1982 ALCS. (19.66%) That lead secured Milwaukee’s pennant in a series where California had once led 2-0. The Angels also famously squandered a 3-1 lead in the 1986 ALCS.
8. George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays (2025)
Springer’s three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh gave Toronto a 4-3 advantage over Seattle in Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS. (19.73%) Similar to Cooper’s hit, Springer’s drive flipped a deficit into a lead in a do-or-die game bmw55 slot login philippines. Moreover, he deserves extra credit for overcoming a multi-run deficit.
7. jili login Manny Trillo, Philadelphia Phillies (1980)
Manny Trillo ignited the Phillies with a two-run triple, giving them a 7-5 lead over the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS. (19.79%) Although the Astros tied the game later, the Phillies ultimately triumphed 8-7 in extra innings, making those runs critical.
6. Jack Clark, St. Louis Cardinals (1985)
Jack Clark launched a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth, elevating the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the 1985 NLCS. (19.83%) The Dodgers chose to pitch to Clark, and he made them pay. This is the only play on the list not from a winner-take-all situation, yet it secured the Cardinals a World Series berth when they were one out away from a Game 7.
5. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals (2006)
Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, giving St sports betting sites philippines. Louis a 3-1 lead over the New York Mets in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. (20.71%) Molina’s homer came after a spectacular catch by New York’s Endy Chavez earlier in the game, and it proved crucial as the Cardinals held off a Mets rally to win the pennant.
4. Rick Monday, Los Angeles Dodgers (1981)
Rick Monday delivered a solo homer in the top of the ninth, granting the Dodgers a 2-1 lead against the Montreal Expos in Game 5 of the 1981 NLCS. (21.18%) This key home run, hit with two outs, edged out Molina’s homer for its timing, providing the game’s final score.
3. Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (1972)
Johnny Bench launched a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, tying Game 5 of the 1972 NLCS against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 3. (22.52%) The Pirates were just three outs away from the World Series, but the Reds rallied, scoring the pennant-winning run on a wild pitch later in the inning.
2. Bobby Thomson, New York Giants (1951)
Bobby Thomson hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that enabled the New York Giants to secure a 5-4 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1951 National League pennant tiebreaker series. (35. 12356%) Although it was technically considered part of the regular season, this was a do-or-die game for a World Series spot, and Thomson’s legendary shot turned a two-run deficit into a historic win.
1. Francisco Cabrera, Atlanta Braves (1992)
Francisco Cabrera hit a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, clinching a 3-2 win for the Atlanta Braves over Pittsburgh in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS. (36.84%) Cabrera’s dramatic moment makes him one of baseball’s most unlikely heroes, having had only 11 plate appearances throughout the regular season. His hit narrowly outshines Thomson’s in significance.
Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams, and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily jilicc pg slot!
How do you feel about these historic plays shaping baseball as we know it today?
“`