MLB's 20 Greatest Games (2012)
MLB Network counts down its version of the 20 greatest games played since about 1950. The network first came up with 50 games and a "blue ribbon panel" -- aided by fan votes -- whittled that to 20. Hosts Bob Costas and Tom Verducci dissect each game, and given the format, with each episode running at least one hour, there's plenty of time to delve into nuances such as pitch selection, defensive alignment, managerial moves and so on. Also making each episode must-see TV for longtime baseball fans is the ex-players and managers who join Costas and Verducci to provide insight. Bucky Dent, for example, talks about his famous home run in the 1978 American League tiebreak game, and Johnny Bench and Fred Lynn reminisce about Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, the No. 1 game on the list.
Seasons & Episode
No. 20: Phillies at Cubs, May 17, 1979. The Phillies defeated the Cubs by a score of 23–22.
No. 19: Giants at Marlins, October 4, 2003
No. 18: Phillies at Astros, October 12, 1980
No. 17: Yankees at Red Sox, October 17, 2004. The Yankee collapse in the 2004 ALCS begins.
No. 16: Tigers at Twins, October 6, 2009
No. 15: Yankees at Mariners, October 8, 1995 “The Double” – Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. scores from first base on fellow Hall-of-Famer Edgar Martinez’s double in the bottom of the 11th inning that clinched the series for Seattle.
No. 14: Phillies at Blue Jays, October 23, 1993
No. 13: Indians at Marlins, October 26, 1997
No. 12: Diamondbacks at Yankees, October 31, 2001
No. 11: Yankees at Red Sox, October 2, 1978
No. 10: Athletics at Dodgers, October 15, 1988 Kirk Gibson creates one of MLB’s most legendary moments as his pinch-hit walk-off home run gives the Dodgers a Game 1 victory.
No. 9: Yankees at Diamondbacks, November 4, 2001
No. 8: Red Sox at Angels, October 12, 1986
No. 7: Marlins at Cubs, October 14, 2003: "The Bartman Game."
No. 6: Red Sox at Yankees, October 16, 2003: Aaron Boone’s 11th inning walk-off home run sends the Yankees to the World Series while eliminating their rival Red Sox.
No. 5: Mets at Astros, October 15, 1986
No. 4: Pirates at Braves, October 14, 1992
No. 3: Red Sox at Mets, October 25, 1986. Guests Mookie Wilson, Bob Ojeda, and Bill Buckner recount Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, which ended in an improbable tenth-inning rally punctuated by the most famous fielding error of the last 100 years.
The 2nd best game in MLB history based on votes from an expert panel and MLB Network viewers.
No. 1: Reds at Red Sox, October 21, 1975
