Greatest moment of each decade

[Victory Faust]

What's your vote for the greatest moment of each decade? I'm talking about a singular moment, not a season, or a sustained thing like DiMaggio's hit streatk.

Here's my list:

1900s: Lave Cross grounds out, shortstop to first to end the game, and Christy Mathewson has his third World Series shutout.

1910s: Smokey Joe Wood defeats Walter Johnson, 1-0 in the "Pitching Matchup for All Times."

1920s: A bad-hop grounder gives Walter Johnson his due.

1930s: Lou Gehrig's "luckiest man" speech.

1940s: Jackie Robinson trots onto the field.

1950s: "The Giants win the pennant!"

1960s: Mazeroski swings, Yogi's back...to the wall...

1970s: Hank Aaron's 715.

1980s: "I don't believe what I just saw."

1990s: Fifth inning and it's official: 2131.

2000s: The Red Sox dance on Yankee Stadium's hallowed turf, the curse officially reversed.


How does your list compare?

[ElHalo]

I disagree with your 1900's comment; the impressive thing about that was the three shutouts in five days, so it doesn't as much count as a moment.

I'd go with Addie Joss' perfect game over Ed Walsh's 16 K's.

For the 1910's, I'd go with Ruth being sold to the Yankees. 20's have Ray Chapman dying.

30's have the Homer in the Glomain, and that's pretty hard to top... Gehrig's speech was all time, though.

Agree on the 40's through 80's. For the 90's, no. Cal's "streak" of not calling in sick is nothing even worth commenting on, let alone annointing one of the greatest moments in the history of the sport (do you know who holds this record in other sports? NFL (non-kicker) Jim Marshall, 282; NBA, A.C. Green, 1192; NHL, Doug Jarvis, 964). Other than Green (who I only knew about because his streak ended on a DNP-CD; in other words, his coach decided not to put him on the court because he wasn't good enough to help that night), I had to go looking those up because I had NO IDEA who held the records. Why is baseball the one sport where people care about this?

The 90's moment I'd go with would either by McGwire's '62 (if you don't count 'roids) or one of four other postseason events if you do: Jack Morris' ten inning shutout in game 7 of the 1991 WS; Joe Carter's HR in game 6 of the '93 WS; or Jim Leyritz' home run in game 3 of the 1996 WS.

For the 00's... the curse wasn't lifted until Boston beat St. Louis, so that doesn't make sense (they'd gotten to the WS before). I guess you could leave the flip to Mientkeiwicz as the best moment, but I'd personally go with Luis Gonzalez' blooper over the drawn in infield, because there's never been a more exciting WS than that one, and it was a fitting end.

[JamesWest]

1901-1910 The Merkle Play

1911-1920 The sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees

1921-1930 The 7th inning of game 4 of the 1929 World Series

1931-1940 Night baseball in Cincinnati

1941-1950 Jackie Robinson's debut

1951-1960 10/3/51

1961-1970 9th inning of game seven in 1962 (probably 3rd best game 7 in history)

1971-1980 715

1981-1990 Henderson takes Moore deep

1991-2000 Game 7 1991 (2nd best game 7 in history)

2001-2007 (tie) Cleveland's comeback victory over Seattle in 2001 and Game 7 2001-not a good World Series since, the worst period for the World Series since 1987-1990

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Some of these are good fellas. Instead of just plain "greatest" I'll focus more on most "impactful" moments.

1910's - Cork center introduced
1920's - Babe's 60 homers
1930's - Original HOF members inducted
1940's - DiMaggio's streak
1950's - Relocating of teams, especially out west
1960's - Maris' 61 homers
1970's - Aaron's 715th
1980's - Canseco and company
1990's - Smaller stadiums, harder balls, more casual fans, more money
2000's - Red Sox

[rugbyfreak]

1901-1910 The Merkle Play

1911-1920 The sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees

1921-1930 The 7th inning of game 4 of the 1929 World Series

1931-1940 Night baseball in Cincinnati

1941-1950 Jackie Robinson's debut

1951-1960 10/3/51

1961-1970 9th inning of game seven in 1962 (probably 3rd best game 7 in history)

1971-1980 715

1981-1990 Henderson takes Moore deep

1991-2000 Game 7 1991 (2nd best game 7 in history)

2001-2007 (tie) Cleveland's comeback victory over Seattle in 2001 and Game 7 2001-not a good World Series since, the worst period for the World Series since 1987-1990

Not necessarily to disagree or call these better, but here are some other good ones:

1910-19: Final game of the '12 WS (3-2 Bosox over NYG in 10 inn.), with the Snodgrass error. James--did you leave this out because it was actually Game 8? (Just kidding. Seriously, I'm with you on '91--I put that first--and '01, although I hated the result. I do love '62--thank you, Rog, for that throw--but I put it fourth.)

1910-19: Black Sox scandal. Can't believe I'm the first to mention it.

1930-39: The Gehrig speech is iconic--can you imagine addressing 70,000 people who all know you're dying? But how about the first AS game, in '33?

1950-59: Thomson's HR tops all, but how about Brooklyn finally pulling through? Or Larsen's perfecto?

1960-69: Koufax's 2-0 gem in '65 WS Game 7. Can't say enough about this: Two days' rest, shutting out MLB's best-hitting team on their turf, doing it with one pitch (he and Roseboro scrapped the curve after the first, using it only for "show" now and then). Finally, shutting up all the idiot fans who called him selfish for sitting out Game 1.

1970-79: It's only fair that, if we dog the Yanks ('55, '01, the '04 Bosox), we should also give them due props. So I submit Reggie's monster Game 6 in '77. Never has one man been bigger in a bigger game.

1980-89: The strike of '81.

2000s: You Beantowners have '04. I respond with: Aaron Boone!!!

That's what I'm talkin' about.

[AstrosFan]

DiMaggio's streak was more impactful than Robinson in the 1940s, Randy? Really?

[Yankwood]

1930's-Babe's called shot. Even if it didn't happen, who of us in our youth did not at least once, pick up a bat and point to the bleachers.

[redlegsfan21]

1900s-Fred Merkle’s mistake costs Giants
1910s-The Pitching Match-Up of All-Time, Wood v. Johnson
1920s-Grover Alexander defeats Cardinals in '27 Series
1930s-The “Luckiest Man Alive” Speech
1940s-Enos Slaughter’s Mad Dash
1950s-The Shot Heard 'Round the World
1960s-Bill Mazeroski’s Home Run
1970s-Carlton Fisk Waves it Fair
1980s-Kirk Gibson’s Home Run
1990s-Mark McGwire Hits No. 62
2000s-Jack Buck brings back baseball

[RuthMayBond]

Geez, it had to be NY for Thomson's shot. It didn't even happen in a World Series, and they didn't even end up winning the WS that it put them in

[Yankwood]

Geez, it had to be NY for Thomson's shot. It didn't even happen in a World Series, and they didn't even end up winning the WS that it put them in

I guess I don't understand. Are you denying the impact of the "Shot Heard 'Round The World"?

[Sultan_1895-1948]

DiMaggio's streak was more impactful than Robinson in the 1940s, Randy? Really?

DiMaggio's number is one that will still be talked about for decades upon decades, whenever a guy gets to around 30. But you're right. It's not more impactful than Robinson...but that was just a given.

[RuthMayBond]

I guess I don't understand. Are you denying the impact of the "Shot Heard 'Round The World"?

I'm saying that it was way overhyped compared to what it actually did. Earl McNeely (WHO?), Renteria, Tris Speaker, probably Cuyler had much more important hits but they're considered shots heard 'round the corner

[RuthMayBond]

Some of these are good fellas. Instead of just plain "greatest" I'll focus more on most "impactful" moments.

1940's - DiMaggio's streak
1980's - Canseco and company
1990's - Smaller stadiums, harder balls, more casual fans, more money

Not sure how these are "moments"

[RuthMayBond]

The 90's moment I'd go with would either by McGwire's '62 (if you don't count 'roids) or one of four other postseason events if you do: Jack Morris' ten inning shutout in game 7 of the 1991 WS; Joe Carter's HR in game 6 of the '93 WS; or Jim Leyritz' home run in game 3 of the 1996 WS.

One of these things does not belong

<I guess you could leave the flip to Mientkeiwicz as the best moment, but I'd personally go with Luis Gonzalez' blooper over the drawn in infield, because there's never been a more exciting WS than that one, and it was a fitting end.>

The games that were close were exciting, but the others ...

[Yankwood]

I'm saying that it was way overhyped compared to what it actually did. Earl McNeely (WHO?), Renteria, Tris Speaker, probably Cuyler had much more important hits but they're considered shots heard 'round the corner

I can't really debate the "importance" of the hit but as far as sheer baseball history, the "impact" and the "mystique" surrounding the era of baseball and the events leading up to one particular moment can not be questioned. Otherwise why would even the casual fan know about it, whereas the others you mention get lost in the shuffle? Hype or no hype, it is what it is and the story grows and grows. This can not be measured.

[Old Sweater]

I guess I don't understand. Are you denying the impact of the "Shot Heard 'Round The World"?

At least "The Catch" helped get the Giants a ring.

[Yankwood]

Not sure how these are "moments"

I agree. I don't see how the "inevitables"-i.e. Rose's hit, Aaron's home run, Ripken's streak, and even to some degree after the previous consecutive hit streak was broken, DiMaggio's streak, etc. measure up. These are great "accomplishments", but not truly great "moments". Maybe it's the phrasing that's throwing me off, but DiMaggio's streak is the culmination of events over a good portion of the season. In other words, is game 56 any more thrilling than game 40, or even game 1 for that matter? Rose, Aaron, Ripken, these are all HUGE accomplishments but I don't see them as great moments. Not like, say Mazroski's home run or some of the other events we have frozen in our minds.

[Yankwood]

At least "The Catch" helped get the Giants a ring.

Great example. There's no denying that play being one of the most famous plays in baseball history. Even though the Giants were probably going to beat them even without it, although that too can be debated. Sometimes one play can turn a whole series around.

[RuthMayBond]

Great example. There's no denying that play being one of the most famous plays in baseball history. Even though the Giants were probably going to beat them even without it, although that too can be debated. Sometimes one play can turn a whole series around.

I guess that's the argument with Kirk Gibson, and Leyritz

[RuthMayBond]

Otherwise why would even the casual fan know about it, whereas the others you mention get lost in the shuffle?

Start spreadin' the news . . .

[Yankwood]

I guess that's the argument with Kirk Gibson, and Leyritz

Had Leyritz not hit that home run, the Yanks are probably down 3-1. It capped a 6 run comeback and shifted the momentum, (if you believe in such things) of the entire series. This is the kind of moment that will gain momentum with time, I believe.

[Yankwood]

Start spreadin' the news . . .

Dangerous pitfall. Don't try to downplay (be jealous of) the aura of The Big Apple.

[Dodgerfan1]

Originally Posted by Sultan_1895-1948
Some of these are good fellas. Instead of just plain "greatest" I'll focus more on most "impactful" moments.

1940's - DiMaggio's streak
1980's - Canseco and company
1990's - Smaller stadiums, harder balls, more casual fans, more money

Not sure how these are "moments"

The original intent of Victory's thread seems to rule these out as moments. He explicitly said the DiMaggio streak didn't count as a 'moment' because it was something that was sustained, but then he went on to give his moment of the '90s to game 2131 of Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, which is also a sustained thing. So maybe we can say the DiMaggio's 56th game does count, but the streak in general does not...

I agree with various posters as to some of the best moments for each decade, but I'm torn between two events in the '50s. I agree that Thomson's shot was certainly among the top two events of that decade (being a Dodger fan, it's a bit a bitter pill to swallow), however I have mentioned on a previous thread regarding which single event in baseball history I would like to go back in time and attend, that it would be Roy Campanella night in May, 1959. I choose that over Thomson's HR. I know this will get flak from some, but there's no doubt that this night was extremely special for a very special man and player and I believe that, like Lou Gehrig Day, is a worthy entry on this list.

Carlton Fisk willing his HR to stay fair ranks very high with me, but the '70s has to be about Hank and #715.

Some others that I don't necessarily rank above those already mentioned, but certainly were all-time great moments, are Billy Bucks and 'The Error', Haddix's perfect loss, Brett's homer, Chambliss' homer, Dent's homer.

Interesting that I don't see any Barry Bonds on this list.... yet.

[RuthMayBond]

Dangerous pitfall. Don't try to downplay (be jealous of) the aura of The Big Apple.

I'm coming there just so I can yak on it

[RuthMayBond]

[I]Originally Posted by Sultan_1895-1948
He explicitly said the DiMaggio streak didn't count as a 'moment' because it was something that was sustained, but then he went on to give his moment of the '90s to game 2131 of Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, which is also a sustained thing. So maybe we can say the DiMaggio's 56th game does count, but the streak in general does not...

Whenever it was in the fifth inning that the game became official, that IS a moment AND it broke a record. DiMaggio broke the record long before 56, and what did people do differently when he got his hit in his 56th game that they didn't do in his 55th, 54th ...?

<I agree with various posters as to some of the best moments for each decade, but I'm torn between two events in the '50s. I agree that Thomson's shot was certainly among the top two events of that decade (being a Dodger fan, it's a bit a bitter pill to swallow), however I have mentioned on a previous thread regarding which single event in baseball history I would like to go back in time and attend, that it would be Roy Campanella night in May, 1959. I choose that over Thomson's HR. I know this will get flak from some, but there's no doubt that this night was extremely special for a very special man and player and I believe that, like Lou Gehrig Day, is a worthy entry on this list.>

Definitely a case, and we need to define when decades begin and end

<Some others that I don't necessarily rank above those already mentioned, but certainly were all-time great moments, are Brett's homer, Chambliss' homer, Dent's homer.>

See Thomson (at least most of the comments apply)