There’s nothing quite like the classic walk-off home run. Bells and whistles aside, it is truly one of the most magical and remarkable moments in the game of baseball. The skill and precision that it takes to put an entire team’s momentum on one’s back is amazing. Nobody simply gets up and hits one out. It takes a copious amount of ability, a tremendous deal of timing, and, let’s be honest, a very strong dash of luck. Those who have hit home runs of this caliber are many…but categorizing them and ranking them as the actual greatest walk-off home runs of all time is something entirely different.
To find the greatest walk-off home runs, this writer went first to the archives of Baseball Reference. There, they have compiled a list of the more notable instances. Then, these particular events were compiled into a list with specific scores assigned to each of a number of categories. These were as follows: historical significance, the impact on the team’s performance, and how much it added to a team’s title hopes. Now, we have arrived at fifteen…a long list, but each story is worthy of its own small spotlight. So, without further ado, let’s jump into the first of the fifteen greatest walk-off home runs.
The 15 Greatest Walk-Off Home Runs: #15
#15: Roger Connor
(September 10, 1881)
(Overall score: 16)
Kicking off our list of the greatest walk-off home runs is someone who is one of the best pure hitters not spoken of in today’s climate. Yes, indeed, in a time where Cap Anson received the lion’s share of baseball press, fellow future Hall of Famer Roger Connor was quietly plugging away. His stat lines are comparable to Nick Markakis, and so is his legacy. Though it may not be the most popular subject among baseball fans, it is still worth talking about. Connor retired with over 2,400 hits, a .316 lifetime average, and over 1,300 RBI. He led the league in triples twice, doubles once, hits once, RBI once, and slugging twice. Furthermore, he won the 1885 NL batting title.
Babe Ruth would also pass 19th century HOF’er Roger Connor’s record with his 139th HR in July 1921 #MLB #baseball pic.twitter.com/Dq3NewJ9cY
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) June 10, 2016
Young and Scrappy
However, what places Connor on the list of the greatest walk-off home runs of all time was his performance at the young age of 23. In just his second year in the league, Connor was already establishing himself as one of the very best. His Troy Trojans were also loaded with talent. In fact, including Connor, they featured four future Hall of Famers (the other three being Buck Ewing, Tim Keefe, and Mickey Welch). Unfortunately, most of this baseball bread and butter would not blossom for some time, as most of them were in their early 20s. For Connor, though, producing in the Major Leagues came almost instantaneously and would continue throughout his career.
That being said, it was still only his second year, and on September 10th, Connor’s Trojans took on the Worcester Ruby Legs. This was a very short-lived franchise that went 90-159 in only three seasons of operation. The Trojans were 32-39 coming into this game, well behind the eventual league champion Chicago White Stockings. Luckily for them, the Ruby Legs were the cellar dwellers that year, entering play on the 10th at 27-42. So, the Trojans would have a chance at not only a win, but a series win in the four-game set against Worcester.
The Game
Obviously, since this game took place in 1881, no recorded play-by-play exists. However, we do know that the Trojans were down 7-4 in the home half of the ninth inning. They also had the bases loaded. The Ruby Legs were leaning on Lee Richmond, an absolute workhorse who completed 50 of his 52 starts that year. He was also, according to his stat line, someone who gave up a lot of hard contact. His 462 1/3 innings saw him allow a whopping 547 hits. Yes, you read that right…547 hits. That’s a number that is simply unheard of in today’s game. (True, pitching over 400 innings is also unheard of, but the facts don’t lie).
So, when Connor stepped to the plate in this situation, he had to have known that he had a good chance at making something of his opportunity. He did more than that by making baseball history and landing himself among the greatest walk-off home runs. Connor’s game-winning home run was not just another walk-off. It also happened to be the first grand slam in major league history. It was also one of only five home runs that the Trojans hit as a team all season. What makes it something special is encapsulated within the aforementioned historical significance. Were it not for it being the first grand slam ever, it wouldn’t sniff this list. However, it is something special and, in this writer’s opinion, it deserves mentioning.
Interesting baseball card back fact on Roger Connor pic.twitter.com/R1VJvn74Bw
— Michael Harvey (@kennewickmike) February 12, 2023
Photo Credit: © Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
