World Series Heroes of the 1990s

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 29, 2010

World Series Heroes of the 1990s

Billy Hatcher

During the 1990 World Series, Oakland just couldn't get Billy Hatcher out. The Reds' outfielder compiled seven consecutive hits, the last of which was a back-breaking triple off Jose Canseco's glove to tie Game 2 in the bottom of the eighth. His timely hitting ignited Cincinnati's Game 3 rally as well, and the Reds went on to sweep the defending champion A's. Hatcher finished the series with a staggering .750 average.

Gene Larkin

Kirby Puckett carried the Twins to victory in Game 6 of the World Series against the Braves, including hitting a walk-off home run in the 11th inning. Jack Morris then delivered an unforgettable performance with 10 shutout innings in Game 7. The last hero in a World Series full of them was Gene Larkin, who had just three at-bats in the Series when he came to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th. Larkin hit a fly ball over the drawn-in infield to score Dan Gladden from third with the championship-winning run.

Ed Sprague

Reserve infielder Ed Sprague was not the most dangerous hitter in the 1992 Toronto lineup, but he certainly knew how to come through with the game on the line. He walked to the plate in the top of the ninth of Game 2 with his team trailing 4-3, in danger of falling behind two games to none in the series. That's when he lifted an unlikely two-run home run off Atlanta closer Jeff Reardon, giving the Blue Jays the lead and eventually the win. Toronto won Games 3 and 4 and finished off the Braves in Game 6.

Joe Carter

For only the second time in history, the World Series ended on a walk-off home run. The Phillies were leading the Blue Jays 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth in Game 6, but Toronto's Rickey Henderson walked and Paul Molitor singled. That brought up Joe Carter, who drilled a 2-2 pitch from Mitch Williams over the wall in left field, winning the Series for the Jays. He leaped around the bases ecstatically, a moment that lives on as one of the greatest in baseball history.

Tom Glavine

Atlanta was desperate for a World Series victory after coming up short in 1991 and 1992. In 1995, they would finally become champions behind the arm of Tom Glavine. He delivered six innings of two-run ball in his Game 2 win before completely dazzling Cleveland in the series-clinching Game 6. He hurled eight innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one bloop hit, as the Braves finished off the Indians 1-0. Glavine's ERA for the series was a miniscule 1.29, a mark that helped him win World Series MVP honors.

Jim Leyritz

Jim Leyritz's Game 4 at-bat proved to be the turning point in the 1996 World Series. He faced Mark Wohlers in the top of the eighth, with two men on and the Yankees trailing 6-3. New York had chipped away at 6-0 deficit earlier in the game, but was down to its final five outs as Leyritz settled into the batter's box. He popped a 2-2 offering from Atlanta closer Mark Wohlers over the left-field fence, silencing the Atlanta crowd and tying the game. The Yankees won in extra innings before edging the Braves for one-run victories in Games 5 and 6 to win their first World Series in 18 years.

Edgar Renteria

Edgar Renteria had been clutch for the Marlins all season in 1997, tallying five walk-off hits. He saved his biggest one for Oct. 26. With the score tied, the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th inning of Game 7, Renteria laced a single over Cleveland pitcher Charles Nagy's head to send an elated Craig Counsell sprinting home to give the Marlins their first-ever World Series title. It was especially devastating for Cleveland, a franchise that hasn't won a championship since 1948.

Tino Martinez

The 1998 Yankees are one of the best teams in MLB history, accumulating 114 wins during the regular season. They rolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs as well, knocking off the Rangers 3-0 and the Indians 4-2 to earn a showdown with the streaking Padres. They fell behind 5-2 in Game 1 heading into the seventh, when New York rallied for three runs behind a Chuck Knoblauch blast. Five batters later, Tino Martinez smashed a mammoth grand slam into the Yankee Stadium upper deck, sending the team to a 9-6 win. They'd cruise to victories in the next three contests as well, with Martinez batting .385 over the four-game set.

Mariano Rivera

Widely regarded as the greatest reliever in postseason history, Mariano Rivera may have put on his finest performance during the 1999 World Series. His cutter dominated the Braves' hitters, as he recorded a win and two saves during New York's sweep. His ERA was perfect -- 0.00 -- and the closer won his first and only World Series MVP Award.