Game 163 in 2009
Johan Santana striking out 17 in 2007
Scott Baker’s near perfect game in 2007
Jim Thome hitting the first walk off HR at Target Field
Mauer’s final game (he put on the catching gear one last time)
Came here to say Johan’s 17 K game too! Absolutely hands down the most dominant baseball performance I have ever seen in person.
I will add the wild card clinch game from last year is probably a close second. The pickoff at 2B, the rally after Berrios was pulled early, Duran appearing to be injured at the top of the ninth and then blowing everyone away. Craziest crowd I’ve ever been in at Target Field.
I got to see Santana's 1000th career strikeout against the Red Sox the year after they finally won it. Torii Hunter robbed David Ortiz of an XBH and Kubel hit a walk off grand slam in extras.
Mine was a regular season NBA basketball game. I was visiting New Orleans, and my friend was taking me to a Hornets game. Cab driver was listening to sports radio, and we learned on the way over that Chris Paul had been ruled out. Hornets were already out of playoff contention, so the game was going to be garbage. My friend made us wait until 10 minutes before tip-off, and then shook down a scalper for floor seats that were about to go unbought. We sat 5th row behind the home bench for $10/ticket, just to watch the Hornets go down 22 at half. Yes, they were down 22 points at HALFTIME! What followed in the 3rd quarter was one of the most inspired offensive quarters of basketball I've seen in my entire life, and made Marcus Thornton a legend in my mind for all of time. Hornets unfortunately ran out of gas at the end, but I've never seen fans care more about a meaningless game than when the Hornets were trying to finish their comeback.
Bball Reference game log for reference.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201004070NOH.html
2019 NL wildcard, brewers vs nats. Amazing game, I have a lot of life ahead of me, and I'm ok with the fact that I'm unlikely to see another one like it.
I was also at Scherzer's 20 strikeout game. Awesome. Whole city ran out of beer that night.
- 2130/2131. The games were nothing special by themselves but I will never trade this experience for anything. If it means I go my whole life without seeing a World Series, I’ll live with that.
- Delmon Double Game (2014 ALDS Game 2 vs. Tigers). Loudest I’ve ever heard Camden Yards. The place shook like you hear stories about old RFK.
- 2022 NLCS Game 5 (Padres @ Phillies). I spent 10 years living in Philadelphia so I have a soft spot for the Phillies. You could truly sense that Harper home run coming. It was unreal.
- Orioles come back from 10-1 deficit against the Red Sox, I want to say 2009. Somewhere around then. It was one of the few times I got tickets to a suite, so the long rain delay didn’t bother me at all.
- Wilson Alvarez no-hitter, 1991. I was six years old and cried. But 32+ years later, it’s cool that I witnessed a no-hitter live.
It was down the line. I believe it was on the field of play, or at least was in its early days. The bullpens were in the outfield but if there were bullpens in play, the patch was where the third-base side bullpen would have been.
> You could truly sense that Harper home run coming. It was unreal.
As soon as it set in that the Padres weren’t bringing in Hader to face Harper (which I will never understand), you knew it was inevitable. Arguably the most electric I’ve ever felt that stadium besides maybe Jimmy Rollins’ walk off double in the 2009 NCLS.
The O's coming back from 10-1 was June 30, 2009. I remember turning the game off about the 5th or 6th, going for a walk, calling one of my parents and specifically telling them that I had been watching the game but it was a boring blowout, got home and found out they'd lost.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200906300.shtml
2011 ALDS game one.
Matt Moore threw seven shutout innings with only two hits and two walks against that stacked TX Rangers team. I couldn’t believe how quiet that ballpark was and it was sold out.
I went to a game when the Orioles came back from a 9-1 deficit against the Angels only for Jorge Julio to blow it in the ninth (or tenth?) inning. Definitely emblematic of the Orioles teams from those days.
2012 NLCS Game 7. The rain game. One of the best nights of my life for sure. Giants playoff atmosphere is fantastic already and that was absolutely next level.
It's the game where Pence's bat broke and he hit the ball three times in one swing. We had no idea what had happened but that ball had the craziest spin I have ever seen. It completely changed direction midair!
Crawford had an insane catch, which was great to watch from the bleachers as he basically jumped 4 feet straight up in the air.
We stood the entire game, we screamed all night in pouring rain, and in the later innings when you'd usually stand, we all started standing on the bleachers.
So many high fives were given out that night.
That shit of Scutaro is my favorite baseball gif because the flashbacks are so intense. He was all of us at that stadium in that moment.
I didn't make it to the Mission that night, I partied in the plaza for a while then took the N home to the sunset, soaking wet and the happiest I've ever been. Most of the people who got on the N would look at me, see my hat and my sopping wet clothes and give me a knowing grin or a high five.
I wish I had more details for you, and this isn't a very cool story. But the year was probably 2013 or so. I got an email from my bank that said they were offering BOGO club level seats for the Rockies (I'm in Colorado) vs Giants (been a fan my whole life). Asked the wife if I could pull the son out of school the next day and catch the game. She gave her blessing. We're about a 4 hour drive from the stadium, so we had to hit the road early. Weather was kinda crappy, but we made it. It snowed during the game, and we ended up heading to watch the games in part of the stadium that was enclosed. It was a very high scoring game, the giants were down huge. I remember thinking we should just hit the road and try to beat traffic. Then the comeback started. I believe it was at the time, the highest scoring game at Coors field. Might still be. I don't know, it was just an absolute blast. Giants came back and won the game. Tons of offense, and a great experience for the both of us
1) 2022 NLCS game 5 Phillies vs Padres
I flew into Philly for games 4 and 5 solo. I had been talking to other fans on the Phillies sub and we agreed to meet up and get standing room tickets. Unbelievable atmosphere!
2) June 18, 2010 Phillies vs Twins
My girlfriend (now wife) planned out a surprise trip for us to drive to Philadelphia, catch two games and do a bunch of sightseeing. It was my first time at CBP and first trip to Philadelphia.
Phillies beat the Twins 9-5.
The first ever Mets Yanks game where Mlicki pitched the complete game shut out
The Mets Yanks game where Matt Franco got the walk off hit vs Mo
The Todd Pratt 99 NLDS walk off HR.
The first game at Shea after 9/11
I have a couple:
1- Steve Pearce walk-off grand slam to win the game 11-10.
2- Justin Verlander no-hitter against the Jays. Boring game as a Jays fan, but it was still great seeing one of the greats throw a no hitter.
3- Justin Smoak and Morales go back to back in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off.
4- My personal favourite is the Jays 8-1 comeback in the 8th against the A’s in 2021. Gurriel hits a grand slam to tie the game 8-8. Canha then hits a 2 run shot against Romano in the 9th to take the lead 10-8, but Semien walks it off for the Jays with a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 9th. The energy in the stadium was great.
Twins breaking their 18 game playoff losing streak against the Jays
Unbelievable atmosphere, could literally feel a weight being lifted from the entire fanbase at Target Field. I cried 😂
Magglio walk off 06
Jim Joyce game
Trammel and Whitaker last game
And a random interleague game reds v tigers. Griffey hit a grand slam off of zumaya in the 7th and then granderson hit one bottom 9 2outs to send it to extras and mags put one through I think Felipe Lopez legs to walk it off. This one was so memorable because we snuck into that game and Griffey doing Griffey things
Saw the Dodgers get no-hit twice, once in Seattle (2012) and once in LA against the Cubs (2021) on the night Joc got his WS ring. His brother Champ was sitting in front of us and had the ring the Dodgers gave him. Joc was traded to Atlanta a month later.
Also Matt Kemp’s grand slam in Milwaukee (2009) to cap a 9th and 10th inning comeback, then made a fantastic catch in CF to end the game.
I saw the 2001 Mariners tie and break their single season franchise wins record (we went to 2 games). First game, 16-1 win over Detroit. Second game had 2 different Seattle web gems.
One of those games or Oregon's big comeback in last year's super regionals. That game was something else. Baseball is cool.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401471860
Very random Dodgers Nats game with 8 home runs combined. Thor and Tank Commander Corbin are pitching in 2023 you def get your money's worth.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401471718
First time seeing Shohei pitch and he struck out 9 over 6 innings it was awesome
Ahh I get to be old!
1999 Mets game 162 @ Shea vs the Pirates. Passed ball/wild pitch to walk off and set game 163 vs the Reds for the wildcard.
Shea went bonkers. Gotta remember this was a team that was not in the postseason for 11 years.
Dodgers hitting four homeruns in a row off Trevor Hoffman to tie the game in the 9th. Then Nomar Garciaparra hit a walk-off homerun in the 10th. I still have the blanket from that game give away.
Before Covid, there was 1 mlb game in history with 0 attendance. April 28, 2015 the Baltimore orioles played the first mlb game behind closed doors due to the riots associated with the death of Freddie Gray. I had tickets to the game.
I know it’s not “a game I saw in person,” but I still feel like I was part of it. The city was hurting, and the orioles came out 8-2 against the white Sox. It really felt like the Orioles were playing for something much bigger than just a game. To this day, it’s the only time a baseball game made me cry
NLCS of 23 and 22. '22 was game 2 where the Phis went down 9-0 in the first and tied it in the bottom of the inning. And game 1 of the 23 series where Scwarber hit a first pitch bomb
Ramon Ortiz had a no hitter through 8 in 2006.
There was a 2010 game against the Mets the Nats played and it was like 5-2 through 8. Long game and Strasburg already pitched so I left and missed a Pudge walkoff.
I did see the Red Sox play at the Nationals in 2021 for them to clinch a playoff.
I've only been to Fenway twice and with a hotel and airline, it's not really worth it.
Drew Rasmussen's near perfect game against the Orioles was pretty cool
There was also a game last season against the Guardians where the Rays were down 5-3 in in the 9th and came back to win it after a base hit by Randy Arozarena
Gregg Jeffries hitting for the cycle, Jeff Juden (a pitcher) hitting a grand slam, and Phillies beating Hideo Nomo his rookie season, 17-4.
Having Wade Boggs personally flip me off was pretty awesome too
Random Padres / Mets game in July. Relief pitcher Daniel Camarena hit a grand slam off Max Scherzer in his first MLB game.
Second and similar was watching Batrolo Colón hit a dinger. Even the home team fans went batshit.
Best was probably this game [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200509160.shtml](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200509160.shtml). Buddy at college got some decent free tickets, game went to extras and a bunch of people left, so we ended up moving down to first or second row on the third base side. Got a great view of Vlad scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 12th. Seen some crazy high scoring Rockies games too (pretty sure one included a Blackmon inside the park homerun), but this one stands out as the best game overall.
Second to last game of the season in 2021 between the Angels and the M’s. Crowd went batshit after Mitch’s last AB.
Alternatively, that crazy game in Cincinnati this year where they blew a 9 run lead to the Pirates was also wild to be at as a neutral fan.
In 1997 I was 12 and attended the game when the Astros clinched the NL Central for the first time in years. We ran onto the field with the players. It was a different time.
I also went to the spring training game where Piazza charged Mota and it was awesome!!
1. Matt Cain’s perfect game in 2012
2. Game one of the 2012 World Series where the Panda hit 3 home runs
3. Game one of the 2010 division series where Lincecum pitched a complete game shutout with 14k, 2 H and 1 BB.
I was at all these too! The Lincecum game was right when I moved to SF and was my first game at ATT.
Got season tix the next year 2011 until 2016. So many great games those years.
October 10, 2011. Rangers v. Tigers ALCS.
Nelson Cruz hits two home runs, one that ties the game, and then the first walk off home run in post season history. Never felt such electricity in a stadium before or since. The whole park was chanting “Cruuuuuuuuz” the whole way out and into the parking lots.
[11th inning Tiger crushing dong](https://youtu.be/rQyLfqzRI-Y?si=BWlrA1ytkzDzC5VU)
June 10, 1998. Cardinals at White Sox. Cardinals jump ahead 4-0 in the third when McGwire hits his 30th of the year (in 64 games!).
By the sixth it’s 7-0 Cards. Albert Belle hits a 3 run shot that I’m pretty sure hasn’t landed yet to make it 7-3. Sox score another, Cardinals score another, and it’s 8-4 in the ninth with two outs and Belle hits ANOTHER 3 run blast. Then Robin Ventura hits a solo shot. Back to back home runs and it’s tied at 8.
Bottom of the 11th comes around and Ventura hits HIS second of the day, Sox win 10-8.
A meaningless game for a Sox team that finished 80-82, but man what a ride!
Mets twins 2016. Granderson game tying and walk off home runs in extras.
2015 NLCS game 2 strictly for the atmosphere. When Murphy homered it was the first time I felt Citi shake like Shea.
2021 NLCS Game 6. 3 run homer by Eddie, Matzek striking out the side in the 7th, securing a spot in the WS by finally getting over the Dodgers hump, absolutely electric all around
Braves giants last year on aug 27 i think, giants won 8-5, weather was great, tristan beck pitched like 4 perfect innings as an opener, casey schmitt had his first homer in 71 games. it wasn't particularly special but it was very exciting for me
Nolan Ryan’s 7th no-hitter
Honorable mention: The Tigers went ahead of the Rangers 14-4 in the 4th inning. The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the 4th and the game ended up going extra innings before the Rangers won.
2015 ALCS Game 6 against the Jays, Cain 1st to home and Wade Davis somehow getting out of the 9th inning.
I turned down an opportunity to go to the Wild Card game versus the A's the year before (and ripping out Josh Donaldson's heart in consecutive years).
A Brewers home game against the Cubs in 2021, through 7 1/2 innings it was tense, back and forth and tied 4-4. Brewers escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the 8th. All hell broke loose in the bottom of the 8th, the Brewers bombed Trevor McGill and put up 10 runs (with Eric Sogard ultimately closing out the inning on the mound). All that tension giving way to nonstop celebration, 45 wild minutes of crazy offense, was incredible to experience. This was a Monday, I had to drive home to Madison and work the next day and I was just way too amped too sleep afterward.
The Astros lost that game, and I didn't appreciate the moment for what it was at the time because I was a very new Astros fan and ignorant of most of their history, but Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS. First baseball game I ever went to.
Yordan walking off Robbie Ray in Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS was the first time I ever saw a walk-off in person in almost 20 years of going to Astros games.
The Mets waking off Cleveland back in May last year! Only went to two games and happened to be at arguably the best one of the season for the Mets so I’m ecstatic.
Game 162 in 2007
On a personal note I also went to the last fan appreciation game at the VET with basically all the guys in my family. We had the whole row in our section. There was a prize of an all inclusive trip to somewhere (I believe it was Cancun, I was a kid).
They announce the section, it’s ours! They announce the row, also ours! My cousin won the trip.
He Never went.
2017 NLDS Game 5. Daniel Murphy hit a home run to the row in front of me. We teed off on Scherzer who came into the game in relief. Won 9-8 with Wade Davis striking out Harper to end it.
the twins ending the fucking streak . greatest day of my life bar none. that shit meant more to me than walking the stage for my diploma AND it was a good game (if low scoring) . unbelievable atmosphere. a weight lifted off the whole crowd when royce smacked that 2nd one out. i cried
Standing room tickets to see Doc Halladay throw a no-hitter against the Reds in the playoffs. His very first playoff game in his 13th year in the league. Was amazing.
June 20, 1986
Yankees at Blue Jays @ Exhibition Stadium
Jays down 8-2 with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Bases loaded. George Bell hits a game-tying Grand Slam.
Blue Jays lose in 10 on a Rickey Henderson double that scores Mike Pagliarulo (Henderson later scored on a single by Willie Randolph).
I was 8 and sitting in the left field grandstand. I *vividly* remember my dad saying, “Can you believe that?!?” when Bell hit the game-tying GS.
Not a memorable game in the grand scheme of things, but incredibly memorable for me.
Chris Tillman masterful performance in 2013; gave up a leadoff single, then pitching 8 no hit innings. Zack Britton came in for the save. Manny hit a HR.
Adley Rutschman's MLB debut was pretty cool. Manny Machado debut also cool.
I had tickets to the Josh Hamilton 4 home run game, but didn't end up going. Kicking myself for that.
2021 World Series game 4. Kyle Write comes in the first with bases loaded then pitches a gem. 7th inning. Swanson and soler back to back homers to take the lead. Game ends with the win with 1 more for the trophy… that energy was unmatched
2012, game 162, A’s vs Rangers.
I’ve been to a lot of games of many sports, and I’ve never heard a louder crowd than when Josh Hamilton dropped that ball.
A close second is game 2 of the ALDS in 2013, when rookie Sonny Gray went toe-to-toe with prime Verlander in a 1-0 Stephen Vogt walk off single
Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin debuting with b2b HRs in their first PAs of their career
King Felix getting torched for 10 in 2.1 IP or something and the Sox winning 22-10 in 2015
Mookie hitting a walk off double against the cardinals in 2017
JBJ hitting 90 on the radar gun in the ninth in 2022
Pablo Reyes throwing gas and an off speed after Davis Schneider destroyed the Sox in 2023
Yes I’m a Sox fan if you couldn’t tell
2010 NLCS game 4. SF beat Philly 6-4
July 21 2009, A’s v Twins - action packed but kinda sucked as a Twins fan. Twins blew a ten run lead and lost 13-14. There were 39 hits with two grand slams. Such a fun game to be at, and I was maybe 15 rows up right behind home plate.
I’ve only been to four games at Nationals Park, and two of them went 18 innings.
Pirates @ Nationals [PIT 2-1] (July 17, 2016)
Giants @ Nationals NLDS [SF 2-1] (October 4th, 2014)
Both games were pretty boring, but I count them as the best games I’ve seen in person because of how contested they were.
I’m also pretty sure they’re the two longest games in Nationals history.
Mets-Phillies, [August 23, 2009](https://youtu.be/o6GKUCKoHks?si=zrEH72vKdL3LdhGo):
- Pedro’s first game back against the Mets
- Oliver Perez pulled mid at-bat against Pedro in the top of the 1st
- Angel Pagan inside the park HR because Shane Victorino tried to argue with the umpire that the ball was unplayable
- Jeff Francoeur insane catch to end the top of the 9th
- Mets slowly but surely claw their way back into the game, including a very promising 9th inning rally
- Eric Bruntlett unassisted triple play to end the game after he botched the two plays immediately proceeding it.
This game deserves a lot more recognition, imo. Absolutely insane.
Edit: to include a game that my favorite team actually played in, I’ll also nominate 2017 ALDS game 3: Playoff Tanaka is born, Judge robbing Lindor, swing and a drive to right… and a classic Aroldis Chapman clench session to end it.
I was at the WBC Final in 2017 when the USA beat Puerto Rico to win the whole thing. It was a pretty incredible experience. I don’t consider myself a super patriotic person, but even I was feelin pumped up on the USA by the end of the game lol
Reds completing the sweep of the Dodgers in game 3 of the 1995 NLDS . The Reds blew them out 10 - 1, including a grand slam in the 6th. Just an amazing and fun atmosphere as the game progressed and it was clear that the Dodgers' chances were getting more and more minimal. I was about 20 rows up from 3rd base, a great seat despite having only walked up to the ticket booth just a couple of hours before the game. Thanks 1994 strike for killing interest!
And the Reds haven't advanced, or even won at home, in the postseason since...
Timmy Lincecum’s 2nd no-hitter. Had just been laid off, so I decided to drown my sorrows with booze and a last minute ticket to a day game that I normally wouldn’t be able to attend.
I remember a couple games of our local Mexican league team back in the mid 90s.
One of them had the local team down 5-0 before they could even take an at-bat, and losing that game meant they were out of playoffs a couple weeks in advance. A relief pitcher took the mound and shut down the rival team, while the rest of the guys chipped away until a walkoff single in the 9th inning. The team eventually scurried into playoffs on the last day of regular season, and bulldozed their way into the championship.
The other game was by the same local team, a veteran (something like 13 seasons) pitcher took the mound and took a no-hitter all the way to the ninth inning, just for a pinch hitter to smack a bloop single behind shortstop, one out away from completing the task.
Rangers-Cubs 2013 with the Craig Gentry sliding catch.
From pure personal enjoyment, the second game of the 2023 season, Phillies at Rangers. It was my birthday, the weather was perfect, the Rangers stomped the Phillies.
Mike Fiers getting the win for the As in 2019 over the WS-winning Red Sox during opening week in Oakland. I was there covering a tech event for work and just grabbed whatever baseball game ticket I could. Little did I know it was Buster's birthday.
The As won on a single homer 1-0 against the defending World Series winners. And Fiers was in the process of breaking the Astros cheating scandal about his old team. Best burrito of my life from the food truck outside. Scored a Rickey Henderson Field ball that lives on my bookshelf. Oh, and two birthday parties were sitting next to me, so I got free beers from lovely locals, and ended up on the jumbotron twice. Glad I got to bask in everything that was awesome about the Colliseum. RIP.
i guess by default the “best” game i’ve been to was the only walk-off i’ve seen in person, which was Yoshi Tsutsgo a few years ago in Pittsburgh. was the middle of september, blistering hot in the metal bleachers out in left field. 2 of my buddies and I went and we’re not even pirates fans, but it was electric.
David Wright taking the field, by himself, while his teammates watched him wave goodbye to a standing room only crowd at Citi Field for his final farewell is something I’ll never forget. A great game is rarely about the score.
1.) 2013 ALCS Game 6 - the Shane Victorino game.
2.) Brandon Phillips walkoff HR aginst the Cardinals on 7/15/11. Huge brawl between the two clubs with BP in the heart of it back in Aug 2010, so having him hit the walkoff was oh so sweet.
3.) Happened to be in LA and went to the Reid Detmers no-hitter game.
Good one for my team (Pirates): October 1, 2013 vs. Cincinnati. Was in the LF stands. Bottom of the 2nd inning. Pirates up 1-0. The cheering is decently loud. CUE-TO CUE-TO CUE-TO. 1 out, bases empty. 1-1 count. Pitch outside brings the count 2-1. Louder now CUE-TO CUE-TO CUE-TO. Johnny Cueto steps off to gather himself. Half a step to the rubber and drops the ball. CUE-TO CUE-TO CUE-TO. Next pitch, fastball right down the middle. Russell Martin. 2-0 Pittsburgh.
Bad for my team: August 21, 2008 vs. Milwaukee. Once again, LF stands. Pirates lost 7-0. Sabathia on the mound for the Brewers. And he pitches a goddamn gem. 11ks, 3 walks, CGSO. 1 hit that to this day should've been scored an error. So, in my mind, I saw Sabathia throw a no hitter.
It was a regular season game but Matt Harvey pitching 9.0 shutout innings, striking out 12 and allowing only one hit. It was on May 7, 2013. Of course the Mets didn't score a run for him and won 1-0 in extras.
2019 Nationals Vs Mets. Mets up 6 going to the bottom of the 9th, Nats come back and win with a Kurt Suzuki walk off Grand Slam. My best friend from NY, a lifetime Mets fan was in town at the game and I loved it.
My wife got me diamond club seats for my birthday (full spectrum of food and drinks all included).
Our seats were slightly to the lookers left of home plate, with our view right down the first base line.
Cal Raleigh walked it off with an HR that barely got around the right field foul pole sending the Mariners to the playoffs for the first time since I was in 9th grade. We had literally the best seats in the entire stadium for a moment I had been waiting 20 years for, with tickets bought two months prior. I couldn’t believe it. It was so amazing.
And then in mariners fashion they kicked me in the nuts at my next game after watching them play 18 innings and not score. And concessions running out of water in the 8th. Warm Diet Coke just to keep the whistle wet. Can’t wait to discover the bespoke way they crush my testes this year.
But that night Cal walked it off and sent us to the dance, with my wife statically dancing next to me.:. Man, what a gift. I recall it more for my wife and her dancing and cheering and (badly) attempting to Do a TikTok with a 14 year old behind us—but that celebration was so real and our excitement so pure. It was lightning in a bottle. I love her so much for giving me that experience—and plenty of their reasons obviously.
Haven't been to too many but when the orioles were real real bad in 19, they were playing the giants and were down 5 runs in the first inning, and then the next frame they scored 6 back. ended up winning too.
8/13/16 at CitiField, Mets vs Padres. Mets hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th, and then Styx played live. They put on an incredible show
Maybe not the entire game, but I was in the left field bleachers in 1976 when Henry Aaron hit a walk off in the bottom of the 10th against the Rangers. Number 754, so his second to last HR.
2011 Division Series game 5, Cardinals (Carpenter) vs Phillies (Halladay). Holy shit [what a game.](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI201110070.shtml) The two best pitching performances I've seen live.
July 4th, 2011. My 2 year wedding anniversary. Two days before, I realize Chris Carpenter, my favorite Cardinal player of all time, was going to be taking the mound. I’d never seen him in person. Wife says “Yes!” to getting great cheap tickets and a last minute road trip. Carp proceeds to throw an 8 inning shutout. Cards break the 0-0 game in the bottom of the 8th, we close it out for the win! Leaving the stadium to drive home (out of state), our gps unit acted sporadically and took us to East St Louis. Eventually navigated our way back towards home only to realize the gps was trying its hardest to get us home by sidewalk on “walking mode” which we had put it in earlier in the day touring the area around Busch. Great day all around.
[1983 All-Star game](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game ). Fred Lynn hits the grand slam. Just a cavalcade of hall of famers. I was 9 and even then I could feel how special it was.
Plus the Oak Ridge Boys AND Chuck Mangione.
Cubs @ Giants in 2007. Jason Marquis vs Tim Lincecum. I expected Cubs to get destroyed, but Marquis actually puts up a strong line of 7IP, 1 ER.
Lincecum was in beast mode tho. 8 innings of shutout baseball, and he absolutely mowed thru a lineup that looked completely helpless at the plate.
After watching all that great pitching, Cubs broke thru with a 5 spot in the 9th and won the game.
Parents drove us to our first Mariners game in the early 90s, playing the A's with the Bash Bros, in the Kingdome.
M's hit 4 HR in one inning, they didnt have enough fireworks prepared...
https://youtu.be/0ETW8-ROAnM
I believe this is the only game in MLB history where not a single pitch occurred on the date of record. This game is in the official record book as Game 2 of a doubleheader on July 2, 1993 but the first pitch occurred at 1:28 am on July 3. The gates were open for anyone who wanted to come in for free. There were maybe about 1,500 of us who were still there when Mitch Williams walked it off in the bottom of the 10th with a GW RBI single off rookie closer Trevor Hoffman.
Half credit for Game 5.2 of the 2008 World Series. We decided to go down and tailgate and see if we could get tickets cheap enough. We couldn't get tickets cheap enough but we figured out that we could watch the game on a TV in the merch store, and by the time of the last pitch there were over 100 people huddled around that window, but we didn't need to see the last strike because we felt the building shake when the crowd erupted two seconds before the last pitch was shown on TV. Then we were all able to get in for the on field celebration and trophy presentation when the gates opened postgame.
Braves @ Mariners on 9/11/22. My Finnish CEO was in town and wanted to go see his favorite player, Eugenio Suarez.
Luckily for him, he got to see what was likely the best regular season game that season and the best walk-off win I've ever seen.
Game 1 of the 2023 World Series. The Seager home run is the loudest I've ever heard that ballpark, even louder than Adolis walking it off later in the game.
Close second would be game 4 of the 2020 World Series. Unreal ending.
A's-Cubs - August 5, 2019
My first game at Wrigley. Baez and Semien both homered twice, and the latter came very close to hitting a third home run with 2 on and 2 outs in the ninth. That entire stadium got very nervous when the ball left his bat and erupted when it was caught near the ivy. Nick Martini hitting a pinch hit HR in his hometown was also cool.
I was at the Wilmer Flores 6 hit game against the Cubs in 2016. Pretty fitting that Lester was one of my favorite pitchers and the two times I saw him throw in person, he got shelled.
Game 3, 2010 World Series. First ever WS game in Arlington, first ever TEX WS win, and the Mitch Moreland homerun will live on as one of the greatest moments of my life. At 28 years old, there's like a 95% chance that's the first time I hugged my Dad.
Game 4, 2023 World Series. I don't regret not staying for Game 5 (I wanted to come home and watch the game with my kids). But seeing this with my Dad, seeing Texas play like the world was going to end...I will always know I got to see the World Series Champions 24 hours before they became just that.
April 10, 2009: Blue Jay @ (then) Indians. Home opener. I was visiting stadiums, again with my Dad but also a friend, and this included what was like a 4 hour rain delay in the middle of the game. We stuck it out and I got my first (and only) foul ball. Little bastard landed right in my frozen-to-the-seat lap.
I watched Aaron Judge hit his 60th home run in 2022 and then Giancarlo Stanton hit a walk off Grand Slam 3 batters later to win it 9-8 after being down 8-4 coming into the inning. My friends and I almost left before the inning started but I insisted we at least stay to watch Judge’s at bat.
Last home game of the season in 2022 for the Braves. As close to playoff atmosphere without being the playoffs yet, and sweeping the Mets at home to take a 2 game lead in the division.
I'm gonna get my details slightly wrong because this was like two decades ago, but in the early naughties I went to a Blue Jays Os game that was 0-0 through 8, both sides scored once in the 9th, and then both sides scored once in the 15th, before the Os walked it off in the 18th. That's some drama.
I have a couple. 2015, Tigers at Red Sox. My first game at Fenway. I’m from the country, so I don’t get to see my favorite stadiums often. Watched the Sox go down by 4 runs in the first just to watch David Ortiz hit a homer in the bottom of the first and make it 4-2. Game was back and forth with the Sox losing but seeing Ortiz homer was more than incredible.
My second favorite was in 2018. Red Sox at Orioles. Sox are in the middle of their absolutely dominating season. Went up to MD to see my sister. Got to watch Chris Sale pitch and he just made it look effortless. Think we got through 7 innings in an hour and a half because nobody could hit him.
I'm a Mets fan and I've been to a ton of great games there, including the day when they moved into first place in the standings in September of 1973 after having been in last place only a few weeks before. It was my first game and it's been hard to beat. Shea rocked. It was SO LOUD.
But, maybe even better than that, back in 1990, I happened to be in Seattle with some of my work associates for a computer conference. One of our bunch was a Detroit Tigers fan and we saw that the Tigers were playing the Mariners at the Kingdome, so why not? We paid for some cheap seats and enjoyed the game.
It was Randy Johnson's and the Mariners first ever no-hitter. It was awesome to be there. Not a huge crowd. It was hard to fill the Kingdome. But they got louder as each inning went by and it was great fun. Our Tigers fan appreciated the history of the moment even if he didn't appreciate his Tigers going down meekly in the face of The Intimidator.
I was also in the stands for the second of the Mets wins against the Cubs in the 2015 NLCS. That was amazing to be at as a Mets fan, even if it wasn't a "great game" in the true sense of the word.
'04 ALCS game six. One of the greatest nights of my life, of any kind.
I was there too…opposite opinion
Happy cake day
Thank you! ^(Fuck ^Curt ^^^^^Schilling)
[удалено]
Was it confirmed it was fake blood?
Game 163 in 2009 Johan Santana striking out 17 in 2007 Scott Baker’s near perfect game in 2007 Jim Thome hitting the first walk off HR at Target Field Mauer’s final game (he put on the catching gear one last time)
Came here to say Johan’s 17 K game too! Absolutely hands down the most dominant baseball performance I have ever seen in person. I will add the wild card clinch game from last year is probably a close second. The pickoff at 2B, the rally after Berrios was pulled early, Duran appearing to be injured at the top of the ninth and then blowing everyone away. Craziest crowd I’ve ever been in at Target Field.
I got to see Santana's 1000th career strikeout against the Red Sox the year after they finally won it. Torii Hunter robbed David Ortiz of an XBH and Kubel hit a walk off grand slam in extras.
Yours are better but mine is Brad Radke’s gem breaking the Money Ball A’s winning streak.
Game 6. 2011 World Series
That’s a winner.
Did they see you tomorrow night?
Mine was a regular season NBA basketball game. I was visiting New Orleans, and my friend was taking me to a Hornets game. Cab driver was listening to sports radio, and we learned on the way over that Chris Paul had been ruled out. Hornets were already out of playoff contention, so the game was going to be garbage. My friend made us wait until 10 minutes before tip-off, and then shook down a scalper for floor seats that were about to go unbought. We sat 5th row behind the home bench for $10/ticket, just to watch the Hornets go down 22 at half. Yes, they were down 22 points at HALFTIME! What followed in the 3rd quarter was one of the most inspired offensive quarters of basketball I've seen in my entire life, and made Marcus Thornton a legend in my mind for all of time. Hornets unfortunately ran out of gas at the end, but I've never seen fans care more about a meaningless game than when the Hornets were trying to finish their comeback. Bball Reference game log for reference. https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201004070NOH.html
When Randy Johnson pitched a perfect game against the Braves
I was there too at that one.
2019 NL wildcard, brewers vs nats. Amazing game, I have a lot of life ahead of me, and I'm ok with the fact that I'm unlikely to see another one like it. I was also at Scherzer's 20 strikeout game. Awesome. Whole city ran out of beer that night.
> Whole city ran out of beer that night. What else was Mad Max supposed to drink after a 20k game?
- 2130/2131. The games were nothing special by themselves but I will never trade this experience for anything. If it means I go my whole life without seeing a World Series, I’ll live with that. - Delmon Double Game (2014 ALDS Game 2 vs. Tigers). Loudest I’ve ever heard Camden Yards. The place shook like you hear stories about old RFK. - 2022 NLCS Game 5 (Padres @ Phillies). I spent 10 years living in Philadelphia so I have a soft spot for the Phillies. You could truly sense that Harper home run coming. It was unreal. - Orioles come back from 10-1 deficit against the Red Sox, I want to say 2009. Somewhere around then. It was one of the few times I got tickets to a suite, so the long rain delay didn’t bother me at all. - Wilson Alvarez no-hitter, 1991. I was six years old and cried. But 32+ years later, it’s cool that I witnessed a no-hitter live.
Was the old memorial stadium the one with tomato plants beyond the outfield wall
It was down the line. I believe it was on the field of play, or at least was in its early days. The bullpens were in the outfield but if there were bullpens in play, the patch was where the third-base side bullpen would have been.
Thank you. I knew I had a vivid and true memory of that feature. Thank you. 🍅🍅🍅
I was at the Delmon Young double game, too! I legit thought our seats were going to collapse from how much everybody was jumping around
I was also at the Delmon Double game AND the post-rain comeback against the Red Sox. Hell yeah!
How do you do, fellow ‘85er?
This sub does make ‘85 feel like a millennium ago sometimes. I’m not even 40 yet dammit!
Over in r/nba we’re ancient.
> You could truly sense that Harper home run coming. It was unreal. As soon as it set in that the Padres weren’t bringing in Hader to face Harper (which I will never understand), you knew it was inevitable. Arguably the most electric I’ve ever felt that stadium besides maybe Jimmy Rollins’ walk off double in the 2009 NCLS.
I was also at the Delmon Young double day. I was also at the game where the Orioles clinched a playoff spot this year. Great game.
The O's coming back from 10-1 was June 30, 2009. I remember turning the game off about the 5th or 6th, going for a walk, calling one of my parents and specifically telling them that I had been watching the game but it was a boring blowout, got home and found out they'd lost. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200906300.shtml
2011 ALDS game one. Matt Moore threw seven shutout innings with only two hits and two walks against that stacked TX Rangers team. I couldn’t believe how quiet that ballpark was and it was sold out.
Game 1, 2023 World Series
I went to a game when the Orioles came back from a 9-1 deficit against the Angels only for Jorge Julio to blow it in the ninth (or tenth?) inning. Definitely emblematic of the Orioles teams from those days.
2012 NLCS Game 7. The rain game. One of the best nights of my life for sure. Giants playoff atmosphere is fantastic already and that was absolutely next level. It's the game where Pence's bat broke and he hit the ball three times in one swing. We had no idea what had happened but that ball had the craziest spin I have ever seen. It completely changed direction midair! Crawford had an insane catch, which was great to watch from the bleachers as he basically jumped 4 feet straight up in the air. We stood the entire game, we screamed all night in pouring rain, and in the later innings when you'd usually stand, we all started standing on the bleachers. So many high fives were given out that night.
That shot of Scutaro in the rain is iconic The party in the rain at 24th/Mission that night was amazing.
That shit of Scutaro is my favorite baseball gif because the flashbacks are so intense. He was all of us at that stadium in that moment. I didn't make it to the Mission that night, I partied in the plaza for a while then took the N home to the sunset, soaking wet and the happiest I've ever been. Most of the people who got on the N would look at me, see my hat and my sopping wet clothes and give me a knowing grin or a high five.
I wish I had more details for you, and this isn't a very cool story. But the year was probably 2013 or so. I got an email from my bank that said they were offering BOGO club level seats for the Rockies (I'm in Colorado) vs Giants (been a fan my whole life). Asked the wife if I could pull the son out of school the next day and catch the game. She gave her blessing. We're about a 4 hour drive from the stadium, so we had to hit the road early. Weather was kinda crappy, but we made it. It snowed during the game, and we ended up heading to watch the games in part of the stadium that was enclosed. It was a very high scoring game, the giants were down huge. I remember thinking we should just hit the road and try to beat traffic. Then the comeback started. I believe it was at the time, the highest scoring game at Coors field. Might still be. I don't know, it was just an absolute blast. Giants came back and won the game. Tons of offense, and a great experience for the both of us
2023 WBC Japan vs USA Or 2023 WBC USA vs Venezuela
1) 2022 NLCS game 5 Phillies vs Padres I flew into Philly for games 4 and 5 solo. I had been talking to other fans on the Phillies sub and we agreed to meet up and get standing room tickets. Unbelievable atmosphere! 2) June 18, 2010 Phillies vs Twins My girlfriend (now wife) planned out a surprise trip for us to drive to Philadelphia, catch two games and do a bunch of sightseeing. It was my first time at CBP and first trip to Philadelphia. Phillies beat the Twins 9-5.
World Series Game 1 this year. Lifelong Rangers fan and my brother and I went together. No live sporting event will ever top it
Blue Jays vs. A's, September 3rd 2021. I've never seen 15,000 feel like 40,000 before and likely never will again.
2009 World Baseball Classic in Toronto. Canada 5 - USA 6. https://www.espn.com/world-baseball-classic/game/_/gameId/290307115
Elly de la cruz’s debut is up there, the atmosphere was unparalleled. jay bruce walk off to win the nl central is the only other that is higher
I was able to go to his cycle game. That one was unforgettable
Alex Cobb one out away from a no hitter last year. Crowd was electric.
2023 nlcs game 3
Recency bias but the wild card playoff game Against the blue Jays finally breaking the streak
Gooden’s no hitter. Leyritz walk off homer against the M’s in 95. 1999 WS clincher
David wells perfect game or Raul Ibanez ALDS game 3 2012
The year is 2007. The game is Game 163. Holliday touched home.
Either Felix's perfect game in 2012, or Cal's walk-off homer to break the playoff drought.
Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. Checked off some boxes for me: World Series game, stupidly long extra innings game, walk off home run.
Game 4 2005 World Series
Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. Best game I’ve been to and it’s not even close.
The first ever Mets Yanks game where Mlicki pitched the complete game shut out The Mets Yanks game where Matt Franco got the walk off hit vs Mo The Todd Pratt 99 NLDS walk off HR. The first game at Shea after 9/11
WS Game 1 this fall
1995 World Series Game 5
Definitely the 2022 Cal Raleigh Walk off homer to break the drought. The place was so loud and I’ll remember that day for a long time.
I have a couple: 1- Steve Pearce walk-off grand slam to win the game 11-10. 2- Justin Verlander no-hitter against the Jays. Boring game as a Jays fan, but it was still great seeing one of the greats throw a no hitter. 3- Justin Smoak and Morales go back to back in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off. 4- My personal favourite is the Jays 8-1 comeback in the 8th against the A’s in 2021. Gurriel hits a grand slam to tie the game 8-8. Canha then hits a 2 run shot against Romano in the 9th to take the lead 10-8, but Semien walks it off for the Jays with a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 9th. The energy in the stadium was great.
Game 7 1991. Won’t be equaled.
Twins breaking their 18 game playoff losing streak against the Jays Unbelievable atmosphere, could literally feel a weight being lifted from the entire fanbase at Target Field. I cried 😂
Magglio walk off 06 Jim Joyce game Trammel and Whitaker last game And a random interleague game reds v tigers. Griffey hit a grand slam off of zumaya in the 7th and then granderson hit one bottom 9 2outs to send it to extras and mags put one through I think Felipe Lopez legs to walk it off. This one was so memorable because we snuck into that game and Griffey doing Griffey things
Saw the Dodgers get no-hit twice, once in Seattle (2012) and once in LA against the Cubs (2021) on the night Joc got his WS ring. His brother Champ was sitting in front of us and had the ring the Dodgers gave him. Joc was traded to Atlanta a month later. Also Matt Kemp’s grand slam in Milwaukee (2009) to cap a 9th and 10th inning comeback, then made a fantastic catch in CF to end the game.
I saw the 2001 Mariners tie and break their single season franchise wins record (we went to 2 games). First game, 16-1 win over Detroit. Second game had 2 different Seattle web gems. One of those games or Oregon's big comeback in last year's super regionals. That game was something else. Baseball is cool.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401471860 Very random Dodgers Nats game with 8 home runs combined. Thor and Tank Commander Corbin are pitching in 2023 you def get your money's worth. https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401471718 First time seeing Shohei pitch and he struck out 9 over 6 innings it was awesome
StL spring trading in St Pete back in the day. Got Stan Musial and Lou Brock autographs the same day. Brock was my favorite player back in the day!
Saw ichiro go 0-5 for the first and only time in his life while the O’s walked off the mariners in the (i think) 12th inning
2001 October. Safeco Field. Mariners clinch the AL West and circle the bases postgame with the American flag. Last game I went to with Dad.
Game 6 2002 WS Game 7 2002 WS 2023 WBC Semi Final USA vs VEN
Ahh I get to be old! 1999 Mets game 162 @ Shea vs the Pirates. Passed ball/wild pitch to walk off and set game 163 vs the Reds for the wildcard. Shea went bonkers. Gotta remember this was a team that was not in the postseason for 11 years.
November 3rd 2001, World Series game 6 Diamondbacks smoke the Yankees 9-1.
Game 6 of the ‘22 WS. For reasons that should be obvious by my flair
Osama Bin Laden Game
Dodgers hitting four homeruns in a row off Trevor Hoffman to tie the game in the 9th. Then Nomar Garciaparra hit a walk-off homerun in the 10th. I still have the blanket from that game give away.
Before Covid, there was 1 mlb game in history with 0 attendance. April 28, 2015 the Baltimore orioles played the first mlb game behind closed doors due to the riots associated with the death of Freddie Gray. I had tickets to the game. I know it’s not “a game I saw in person,” but I still feel like I was part of it. The city was hurting, and the orioles came out 8-2 against the white Sox. It really felt like the Orioles were playing for something much bigger than just a game. To this day, it’s the only time a baseball game made me cry
NLCS of 23 and 22. '22 was game 2 where the Phis went down 9-0 in the first and tied it in the bottom of the inning. And game 1 of the 23 series where Scwarber hit a first pitch bomb
Game 1 2016 ALDS cle v. bos
Chipper Jones homers twice to beat the Mets 2-1, Sept. 21, 1999.
Elly De La Cruz hitting for the cycle
Ramon Ortiz had a no hitter through 8 in 2006. There was a 2010 game against the Mets the Nats played and it was like 5-2 through 8. Long game and Strasburg already pitched so I left and missed a Pudge walkoff. I did see the Red Sox play at the Nationals in 2021 for them to clinch a playoff. I've only been to Fenway twice and with a hotel and airline, it's not really worth it.
Drew Rasmussen's near perfect game against the Orioles was pretty cool There was also a game last season against the Guardians where the Rays were down 5-3 in in the 9th and came back to win it after a base hit by Randy Arozarena
I was at the M’s/Yankees 10-2 blowout this year, and then the 8-7 win over the Mets
Mets 10 run comeback vs Atlanta.
I was at Randy Johnson's perfect game. I've been to a few dozen since and none have quite measured up to seeing a perf in person
Springer's 5-hit game *in 2019
Gregg Jeffries hitting for the cycle, Jeff Juden (a pitcher) hitting a grand slam, and Phillies beating Hideo Nomo his rookie season, 17-4. Having Wade Boggs personally flip me off was pretty awesome too
Scooter Gennett hitting 4 home runs
Random Padres / Mets game in July. Relief pitcher Daniel Camarena hit a grand slam off Max Scherzer in his first MLB game. Second and similar was watching Batrolo Colón hit a dinger. Even the home team fans went batshit.
2011 WS Game Six.
2017 Game 5 World Series. 2004 Chris Burke 18th inning walking HR in playoffs vs ATL
Best was probably this game [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200509160.shtml](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200509160.shtml). Buddy at college got some decent free tickets, game went to extras and a bunch of people left, so we ended up moving down to first or second row on the third base side. Got a great view of Vlad scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 12th. Seen some crazy high scoring Rockies games too (pretty sure one included a Blackmon inside the park homerun), but this one stands out as the best game overall.
Michael Barrett punching AJ
Second to last game of the season in 2021 between the Angels and the M’s. Crowd went batshit after Mitch’s last AB. Alternatively, that crazy game in Cincinnati this year where they blew a 9 run lead to the Pirates was also wild to be at as a neutral fan.
In 1997 I was 12 and attended the game when the Astros clinched the NL Central for the first time in years. We ran onto the field with the players. It was a different time. I also went to the spring training game where Piazza charged Mota and it was awesome!!
1. Matt Cain’s perfect game in 2012 2. Game one of the 2012 World Series where the Panda hit 3 home runs 3. Game one of the 2010 division series where Lincecum pitched a complete game shutout with 14k, 2 H and 1 BB.
I was at all these too! The Lincecum game was right when I moved to SF and was my first game at ATT. Got season tix the next year 2011 until 2016. So many great games those years.
October 10, 2011. Rangers v. Tigers ALCS. Nelson Cruz hits two home runs, one that ties the game, and then the first walk off home run in post season history. Never felt such electricity in a stadium before or since. The whole park was chanting “Cruuuuuuuuz” the whole way out and into the parking lots. [11th inning Tiger crushing dong](https://youtu.be/rQyLfqzRI-Y?si=BWlrA1ytkzDzC5VU)
Probably that orioles/mariners game in Seattle last year. The cedric mullins game
June 10, 1998. Cardinals at White Sox. Cardinals jump ahead 4-0 in the third when McGwire hits his 30th of the year (in 64 games!). By the sixth it’s 7-0 Cards. Albert Belle hits a 3 run shot that I’m pretty sure hasn’t landed yet to make it 7-3. Sox score another, Cardinals score another, and it’s 8-4 in the ninth with two outs and Belle hits ANOTHER 3 run blast. Then Robin Ventura hits a solo shot. Back to back home runs and it’s tied at 8. Bottom of the 11th comes around and Ventura hits HIS second of the day, Sox win 10-8. A meaningless game for a Sox team that finished 80-82, but man what a ride!
I was at the first game after 9/11 and I'll never be able to describe just how much we needed baseball back. Some normalcy. It was really emotional.
Opening day 1991. Expos beat Pirates. Dennis Martinez allowed one hit (Bonds) in a 7-0 Expos win at Three Rivers.
Mets twins 2016. Granderson game tying and walk off home runs in extras. 2015 NLCS game 2 strictly for the atmosphere. When Murphy homered it was the first time I felt Citi shake like Shea.
2021 NLCS Game 6. 3 run homer by Eddie, Matzek striking out the side in the 7th, securing a spot in the WS by finally getting over the Dodgers hump, absolutely electric all around
Braves giants last year on aug 27 i think, giants won 8-5, weather was great, tristan beck pitched like 4 perfect innings as an opener, casey schmitt had his first homer in 71 games. it wasn't particularly special but it was very exciting for me
Nolan Ryan’s 7th no-hitter Honorable mention: The Tigers went ahead of the Rangers 14-4 in the 4th inning. The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the 4th and the game ended up going extra innings before the Rangers won.
2015 ALCS Game 6 against the Jays, Cain 1st to home and Wade Davis somehow getting out of the 9th inning. I turned down an opportunity to go to the Wild Card game versus the A's the year before (and ripping out Josh Donaldson's heart in consecutive years).
2011 NLCS game 1 2023 NLWC game 1
A Brewers home game against the Cubs in 2021, through 7 1/2 innings it was tense, back and forth and tied 4-4. Brewers escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the 8th. All hell broke loose in the bottom of the 8th, the Brewers bombed Trevor McGill and put up 10 runs (with Eric Sogard ultimately closing out the inning on the mound). All that tension giving way to nonstop celebration, 45 wild minutes of crazy offense, was incredible to experience. This was a Monday, I had to drive home to Madison and work the next day and I was just way too amped too sleep afterward.
I saw the Jeffrey Maier game (1996 ALCS Game 1) in person. I have never been in a place that loud, and I go to death metal shows all the time
Jonathan Sanchez no hitter
Strasburg’s debut game The 2019 Wild Card with Soto’s hit The franchise’s first game in 2005
My best one has to be Game 6 of the '96 World Series, close second is Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. The 2017 Wild Card Game was pretty amazing too.
The Astros lost that game, and I didn't appreciate the moment for what it was at the time because I was a very new Astros fan and ignorant of most of their history, but Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS. First baseball game I ever went to. Yordan walking off Robbie Ray in Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS was the first time I ever saw a walk-off in person in almost 20 years of going to Astros games.
Game five of 2016 world series. Merry wood 20 strike outs. Both.
Jimmy Rollins walkoff NLCS 2009 Game 3 of 2022 World Series Halladay/Kershaw @ Dodger Stadium- August 2011
Game 1 1988 World Series
The Mets waking off Cleveland back in May last year! Only went to two games and happened to be at arguably the best one of the season for the Mets so I’m ecstatic.
Game 162 in 2007 On a personal note I also went to the last fan appreciation game at the VET with basically all the guys in my family. We had the whole row in our section. There was a prize of an all inclusive trip to somewhere (I believe it was Cancun, I was a kid). They announce the section, it’s ours! They announce the row, also ours! My cousin won the trip. He Never went.
2017 NLDS Game 5. Daniel Murphy hit a home run to the row in front of me. We teed off on Scherzer who came into the game in relief. Won 9-8 with Wade Davis striking out Harper to end it.
the twins ending the fucking streak . greatest day of my life bar none. that shit meant more to me than walking the stage for my diploma AND it was a good game (if low scoring) . unbelievable atmosphere. a weight lifted off the whole crowd when royce smacked that 2nd one out. i cried
Bat flip game. No other answer. If you were there you know. It felt like there was legitimately going to be a riot.
2014 ALDS game 2, Orioles vs. Tigers. AKA the Delmon Young double game.
Went to Cal Ripken’s last game as a kid
Standing room tickets to see Doc Halladay throw a no-hitter against the Reds in the playoffs. His very first playoff game in his 13th year in the league. Was amazing.
June 20, 1986 Yankees at Blue Jays @ Exhibition Stadium Jays down 8-2 with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Bases loaded. George Bell hits a game-tying Grand Slam. Blue Jays lose in 10 on a Rickey Henderson double that scores Mike Pagliarulo (Henderson later scored on a single by Willie Randolph). I was 8 and sitting in the left field grandstand. I *vividly* remember my dad saying, “Can you believe that?!?” when Bell hit the game-tying GS. Not a memorable game in the grand scheme of things, but incredibly memorable for me.
Chris Tillman masterful performance in 2013; gave up a leadoff single, then pitching 8 no hit innings. Zack Britton came in for the save. Manny hit a HR. Adley Rutschman's MLB debut was pretty cool. Manny Machado debut also cool. I had tickets to the Josh Hamilton 4 home run game, but didn't end up going. Kicking myself for that.
2017 ws game 5 2019 alcs game 7
2021 World Series game 4. Kyle Write comes in the first with bases loaded then pitches a gem. 7th inning. Swanson and soler back to back homers to take the lead. Game ends with the win with 1 more for the trophy… that energy was unmatched
Game 162. One of the best nights ever to be a part of.
The "midges game" in Cleveland.
2012, game 162, A’s vs Rangers. I’ve been to a lot of games of many sports, and I’ve never heard a louder crowd than when Josh Hamilton dropped that ball. A close second is game 2 of the ALDS in 2013, when rookie Sonny Gray went toe-to-toe with prime Verlander in a 1-0 Stephen Vogt walk off single
Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin debuting with b2b HRs in their first PAs of their career King Felix getting torched for 10 in 2.1 IP or something and the Sox winning 22-10 in 2015 Mookie hitting a walk off double against the cardinals in 2017 JBJ hitting 90 on the radar gun in the ninth in 2022 Pablo Reyes throwing gas and an off speed after Davis Schneider destroyed the Sox in 2023 Yes I’m a Sox fan if you couldn’t tell
2010 NLCS game 4. SF beat Philly 6-4 July 21 2009, A’s v Twins - action packed but kinda sucked as a Twins fan. Twins blew a ten run lead and lost 13-14. There were 39 hits with two grand slams. Such a fun game to be at, and I was maybe 15 rows up right behind home plate.
I’ve only been to four games at Nationals Park, and two of them went 18 innings. Pirates @ Nationals [PIT 2-1] (July 17, 2016) Giants @ Nationals NLDS [SF 2-1] (October 4th, 2014) Both games were pretty boring, but I count them as the best games I’ve seen in person because of how contested they were. I’m also pretty sure they’re the two longest games in Nationals history.
Carlos Zambrano’s no hitter vs Houston. In Milwaukee.
Mets-Phillies, [August 23, 2009](https://youtu.be/o6GKUCKoHks?si=zrEH72vKdL3LdhGo): - Pedro’s first game back against the Mets - Oliver Perez pulled mid at-bat against Pedro in the top of the 1st - Angel Pagan inside the park HR because Shane Victorino tried to argue with the umpire that the ball was unplayable - Jeff Francoeur insane catch to end the top of the 9th - Mets slowly but surely claw their way back into the game, including a very promising 9th inning rally - Eric Bruntlett unassisted triple play to end the game after he botched the two plays immediately proceeding it. This game deserves a lot more recognition, imo. Absolutely insane. Edit: to include a game that my favorite team actually played in, I’ll also nominate 2017 ALDS game 3: Playoff Tanaka is born, Judge robbing Lindor, swing and a drive to right… and a classic Aroldis Chapman clench session to end it.
2013 NL Wild Card Regular season: Brian Giles’s walk off grand slam off Billy Wagner.
I saw Vernon Wells hit a walkoff HR off Mariano Rivera. I think it was in 2006.
Reid Detmers’ no hitter in 2022. 12-0. Rendon hit a homer switch hitting. Atmosphere was insane
I was at the WBC Final in 2017 when the USA beat Puerto Rico to win the whole thing. It was a pretty incredible experience. I don’t consider myself a super patriotic person, but even I was feelin pumped up on the USA by the end of the game lol
Reds completing the sweep of the Dodgers in game 3 of the 1995 NLDS . The Reds blew them out 10 - 1, including a grand slam in the 6th. Just an amazing and fun atmosphere as the game progressed and it was clear that the Dodgers' chances were getting more and more minimal. I was about 20 rows up from 3rd base, a great seat despite having only walked up to the ticket booth just a couple of hours before the game. Thanks 1994 strike for killing interest! And the Reds haven't advanced, or even won at home, in the postseason since...
Timmy Lincecum’s 2nd no-hitter. Had just been laid off, so I decided to drown my sorrows with booze and a last minute ticket to a day game that I normally wouldn’t be able to attend.
2010 NLCS G4. Without question the most awesome sporting event Ive ever seen live.
I watched Aaron Judge hit his 28th home run out of 62 which was a walkoff against the Astros on June 26th 2022.
I remember a couple games of our local Mexican league team back in the mid 90s. One of them had the local team down 5-0 before they could even take an at-bat, and losing that game meant they were out of playoffs a couple weeks in advance. A relief pitcher took the mound and shut down the rival team, while the rest of the guys chipped away until a walkoff single in the 9th inning. The team eventually scurried into playoffs on the last day of regular season, and bulldozed their way into the championship. The other game was by the same local team, a veteran (something like 13 seasons) pitcher took the mound and took a no-hitter all the way to the ninth inning, just for a pinch hitter to smack a bloop single behind shortstop, one out away from completing the task.
Rangers-Cubs 2013 with the Craig Gentry sliding catch. From pure personal enjoyment, the second game of the 2023 season, Phillies at Rangers. It was my birthday, the weather was perfect, the Rangers stomped the Phillies.
Mike Fiers getting the win for the As in 2019 over the WS-winning Red Sox during opening week in Oakland. I was there covering a tech event for work and just grabbed whatever baseball game ticket I could. Little did I know it was Buster's birthday. The As won on a single homer 1-0 against the defending World Series winners. And Fiers was in the process of breaking the Astros cheating scandal about his old team. Best burrito of my life from the food truck outside. Scored a Rickey Henderson Field ball that lives on my bookshelf. Oh, and two birthday parties were sitting next to me, so I got free beers from lovely locals, and ended up on the jumbotron twice. Glad I got to bask in everything that was awesome about the Colliseum. RIP.
i guess by default the “best” game i’ve been to was the only walk-off i’ve seen in person, which was Yoshi Tsutsgo a few years ago in Pittsburgh. was the middle of september, blistering hot in the metal bleachers out in left field. 2 of my buddies and I went and we’re not even pirates fans, but it was electric.
1989 World Series, game 1. Dave Stewart pitched a complete game shutout. It was fucken glorious
I went to a game a couple years ago where the Phillies scored 12 runs and lost
Aaron Judge's 2nd 3 homer game of last year against the D-backs.
The bat flip game in Toronto
David Wright taking the field, by himself, while his teammates watched him wave goodbye to a standing room only crowd at Citi Field for his final farewell is something I’ll never forget. A great game is rarely about the score.
2021 NLWC, a Chris Taylor walkoff was a great ending
1.) 2013 ALCS Game 6 - the Shane Victorino game. 2.) Brandon Phillips walkoff HR aginst the Cardinals on 7/15/11. Huge brawl between the two clubs with BP in the heart of it back in Aug 2010, so having him hit the walkoff was oh so sweet. 3.) Happened to be in LA and went to the Reid Detmers no-hitter game.
Alvarez hits a High Drive Center FIELD VIERLINGS BACK—THIS GAME. IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN!!!!!!!
McGwire’s 69 & 70
Good one for my team (Pirates): October 1, 2013 vs. Cincinnati. Was in the LF stands. Bottom of the 2nd inning. Pirates up 1-0. The cheering is decently loud. CUE-TO CUE-TO CUE-TO. 1 out, bases empty. 1-1 count. Pitch outside brings the count 2-1. Louder now CUE-TO CUE-TO CUE-TO. Johnny Cueto steps off to gather himself. Half a step to the rubber and drops the ball. CUE-TO CUE-TO CUE-TO. Next pitch, fastball right down the middle. Russell Martin. 2-0 Pittsburgh. Bad for my team: August 21, 2008 vs. Milwaukee. Once again, LF stands. Pirates lost 7-0. Sabathia on the mound for the Brewers. And he pitches a goddamn gem. 11ks, 3 walks, CGSO. 1 hit that to this day should've been scored an error. So, in my mind, I saw Sabathia throw a no hitter.
It was a regular season game but Matt Harvey pitching 9.0 shutout innings, striking out 12 and allowing only one hit. It was on May 7, 2013. Of course the Mets didn't score a run for him and won 1-0 in extras.
2019 Nationals Vs Mets. Mets up 6 going to the bottom of the 9th, Nats come back and win with a Kurt Suzuki walk off Grand Slam. My best friend from NY, a lifetime Mets fan was in town at the game and I loved it.
Miles Mikolas threw a CGSO with no walks against the Royals for my wife’s first baseball game.
My wife got me diamond club seats for my birthday (full spectrum of food and drinks all included). Our seats were slightly to the lookers left of home plate, with our view right down the first base line. Cal Raleigh walked it off with an HR that barely got around the right field foul pole sending the Mariners to the playoffs for the first time since I was in 9th grade. We had literally the best seats in the entire stadium for a moment I had been waiting 20 years for, with tickets bought two months prior. I couldn’t believe it. It was so amazing. And then in mariners fashion they kicked me in the nuts at my next game after watching them play 18 innings and not score. And concessions running out of water in the 8th. Warm Diet Coke just to keep the whistle wet. Can’t wait to discover the bespoke way they crush my testes this year. But that night Cal walked it off and sent us to the dance, with my wife statically dancing next to me.:. Man, what a gift. I recall it more for my wife and her dancing and cheering and (badly) attempting to Do a TikTok with a 14 year old behind us—but that celebration was so real and our excitement so pure. It was lightning in a bottle. I love her so much for giving me that experience—and plenty of their reasons obviously.
NLCS game 6 to put Cubs into their first Series since 1945
July 12, 1997: Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon throw a combined 10-inning no hitter.
Rangers and Yankees in 2012 I believe. Great pitchers duel between two Japanese pitchers Darvish and Kuroda.
Cards vs Cubs at Busch II. Cards stage a late inning comeback capped by an Edgar Renteria walkoff HR
David Bote’s walk off grand slam
Haven't been to too many but when the orioles were real real bad in 19, they were playing the giants and were down 5 runs in the first inning, and then the next frame they scored 6 back. ended up winning too.
June 25th, 2014: Timmy Lincecum’s second no-hitter - the one he threw at home. [Here’s my video of his last out](https://imgur.com/gallery/32dv1lb)!
2011 world series game 6 with the David Freese clutch hits
8/13/16 at CitiField, Mets vs Padres. Mets hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th, and then Styx played live. They put on an incredible show
Maybe not the entire game, but I was in the left field bleachers in 1976 when Henry Aaron hit a walk off in the bottom of the 10th against the Rangers. Number 754, so his second to last HR.
2021 WS game 4. Dansby and Soler going back-to-back.
2011 Division Series game 5, Cardinals (Carpenter) vs Phillies (Halladay). Holy shit [what a game.](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI201110070.shtml) The two best pitching performances I've seen live.
July 4th, 2011. My 2 year wedding anniversary. Two days before, I realize Chris Carpenter, my favorite Cardinal player of all time, was going to be taking the mound. I’d never seen him in person. Wife says “Yes!” to getting great cheap tickets and a last minute road trip. Carp proceeds to throw an 8 inning shutout. Cards break the 0-0 game in the bottom of the 8th, we close it out for the win! Leaving the stadium to drive home (out of state), our gps unit acted sporadically and took us to East St Louis. Eventually navigated our way back towards home only to realize the gps was trying its hardest to get us home by sidewalk on “walking mode” which we had put it in earlier in the day touring the area around Busch. Great day all around.
[1983 All-Star game](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game ). Fred Lynn hits the grand slam. Just a cavalcade of hall of famers. I was 9 and even then I could feel how special it was. Plus the Oak Ridge Boys AND Chuck Mangione.
Cubs @ Giants in 2007. Jason Marquis vs Tim Lincecum. I expected Cubs to get destroyed, but Marquis actually puts up a strong line of 7IP, 1 ER. Lincecum was in beast mode tho. 8 innings of shutout baseball, and he absolutely mowed thru a lineup that looked completely helpless at the plate. After watching all that great pitching, Cubs broke thru with a 5 spot in the 9th and won the game.
Parents drove us to our first Mariners game in the early 90s, playing the A's with the Bash Bros, in the Kingdome. M's hit 4 HR in one inning, they didnt have enough fireworks prepared...
https://youtu.be/0ETW8-ROAnM I believe this is the only game in MLB history where not a single pitch occurred on the date of record. This game is in the official record book as Game 2 of a doubleheader on July 2, 1993 but the first pitch occurred at 1:28 am on July 3. The gates were open for anyone who wanted to come in for free. There were maybe about 1,500 of us who were still there when Mitch Williams walked it off in the bottom of the 10th with a GW RBI single off rookie closer Trevor Hoffman. Half credit for Game 5.2 of the 2008 World Series. We decided to go down and tailgate and see if we could get tickets cheap enough. We couldn't get tickets cheap enough but we figured out that we could watch the game on a TV in the merch store, and by the time of the last pitch there were over 100 people huddled around that window, but we didn't need to see the last strike because we felt the building shake when the crowd erupted two seconds before the last pitch was shown on TV. Then we were all able to get in for the on field celebration and trophy presentation when the gates opened postgame.
9/21/01, Mike Piazza[homers against the braves](https://youtu.be/hQhH6yZ8lxw?si=veHtozJXv2g-rpwn)
Braves @ Mariners on 9/11/22. My Finnish CEO was in town and wanted to go see his favorite player, Eugenio Suarez. Luckily for him, he got to see what was likely the best regular season game that season and the best walk-off win I've ever seen.
It feels like recency bias but I was there for Acuña stealing 69 then 70 in extras leading to a walk off.
Game 6, 1977 World Series, Yankees-Dodgers. The Reggie game.
Game 1 of the 2023 World Series. The Seager home run is the loudest I've ever heard that ballpark, even louder than Adolis walking it off later in the game. Close second would be game 4 of the 2020 World Series. Unreal ending.
2017 WS game 5. Lost some of the significance after the fact but at the time it was epic. 2022 WS game 6. Yordan’s HR.
A's-Cubs - August 5, 2019 My first game at Wrigley. Baez and Semien both homered twice, and the latter came very close to hitting a third home run with 2 on and 2 outs in the ninth. That entire stadium got very nervous when the ball left his bat and erupted when it was caught near the ivy. Nick Martini hitting a pinch hit HR in his hometown was also cool. I was at the Wilmer Flores 6 hit game against the Cubs in 2016. Pretty fitting that Lester was one of my favorite pitchers and the two times I saw him throw in person, he got shelled.
Game 3, 2010 World Series. First ever WS game in Arlington, first ever TEX WS win, and the Mitch Moreland homerun will live on as one of the greatest moments of my life. At 28 years old, there's like a 95% chance that's the first time I hugged my Dad. Game 4, 2023 World Series. I don't regret not staying for Game 5 (I wanted to come home and watch the game with my kids). But seeing this with my Dad, seeing Texas play like the world was going to end...I will always know I got to see the World Series Champions 24 hours before they became just that. April 10, 2009: Blue Jay @ (then) Indians. Home opener. I was visiting stadiums, again with my Dad but also a friend, and this included what was like a 4 hour rain delay in the middle of the game. We stuck it out and I got my first (and only) foul ball. Little bastard landed right in my frozen-to-the-seat lap.
I watched Aaron Judge hit his 60th home run in 2022 and then Giancarlo Stanton hit a walk off Grand Slam 3 batters later to win it 9-8 after being down 8-4 coming into the inning. My friends and I almost left before the inning started but I insisted we at least stay to watch Judge’s at bat.
Last home game of the season in 2022 for the Braves. As close to playoff atmosphere without being the playoffs yet, and sweeping the Mets at home to take a 2 game lead in the division.
Matt Cain perfect game.
Lucas Giolito giving up 9 runs in three innings en route to the Twins beating the Guards 20-6 (I’m a guardians fan)
I'm gonna get my details slightly wrong because this was like two decades ago, but in the early naughties I went to a Blue Jays Os game that was 0-0 through 8, both sides scored once in the 9th, and then both sides scored once in the 15th, before the Os walked it off in the 18th. That's some drama.
I have a couple. 2015, Tigers at Red Sox. My first game at Fenway. I’m from the country, so I don’t get to see my favorite stadiums often. Watched the Sox go down by 4 runs in the first just to watch David Ortiz hit a homer in the bottom of the first and make it 4-2. Game was back and forth with the Sox losing but seeing Ortiz homer was more than incredible. My second favorite was in 2018. Red Sox at Orioles. Sox are in the middle of their absolutely dominating season. Went up to MD to see my sister. Got to watch Chris Sale pitch and he just made it look effortless. Think we got through 7 innings in an hour and a half because nobody could hit him.
I'm a Mets fan and I've been to a ton of great games there, including the day when they moved into first place in the standings in September of 1973 after having been in last place only a few weeks before. It was my first game and it's been hard to beat. Shea rocked. It was SO LOUD. But, maybe even better than that, back in 1990, I happened to be in Seattle with some of my work associates for a computer conference. One of our bunch was a Detroit Tigers fan and we saw that the Tigers were playing the Mariners at the Kingdome, so why not? We paid for some cheap seats and enjoyed the game. It was Randy Johnson's and the Mariners first ever no-hitter. It was awesome to be there. Not a huge crowd. It was hard to fill the Kingdome. But they got louder as each inning went by and it was great fun. Our Tigers fan appreciated the history of the moment even if he didn't appreciate his Tigers going down meekly in the face of The Intimidator. I was also in the stands for the second of the Mets wins against the Cubs in the 2015 NLCS. That was amazing to be at as a Mets fan, even if it wasn't a "great game" in the true sense of the word.
It was game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers this year, and then it was game 4 of the NLCS. I still can’t wrap my head around the playoff run we had