being as it's a subjective question, first person who names one of them w/ a convincing arguement gets the ten spot
2006-07-31 23:40:06 · 11 answers · asked by GreyGHost29 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
You're absolutely right about this being a subjective question. Ortiz certainly does seem to hit a tremendous number of immense, game reversing or game winning blows.
I remember in 1982, around the time they first started making 'Game Winning HIts' an official statistic, Jack Clark hit TEN game winning Home Runs...not just hits...but Home Runs. That year, he tied Keith Hernandez for the most GW Hits with 21...but only 2 of Hernandez' GW hits came in the 7th-9th innings, while Clark had 4 in innings 7 thru 9, and then another 4 in extra innings.
Of course, GW Hits really meant, 'any hit which gives your team the lead for good'. So it could be a lead off HR in the first inning of a 10-0 game.
Another way to look at clutch performance is to look at World Series play.
In the first half of the 20th Century, most World Series records were held by Eddie Collins and Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig was also an incredible clutch player. If you check out their World Series stats at baseball-reference.com, you'll see what I mean.
Yogi Berra was a great, great World Series performer as well, as was Mickey Mantle. They were the reasons for the Yankees winning 15 pennants and 10 World Series from 1947 through 1964.
Since the end of the Yankee dynasty, perhaps the three best World Serie performers have been Reggie Jackson, Roberto Clemente and Lou Brock.
Clemente hit .362 in 14 World Series games, hitting safely in all 14 WS games in which he played (Pirates beat the Yankees in 7 in 1960 and the Orioles in 1971).
Clemente's performance in the 1971 World Series remains the single greatest World Series performance I've ever seen. Particulary considering that the Pirates were facing a staff of four twenty game winners, and the fact that the Orioles totally crushed the Pirates during the first two games of that series.
Clemente hit a 'game winning' HR in game seven after Mike Cuellar retired the first 11 men in order. Gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead, and they won 2-1.
In 3 World Series (64, 67 and 68, won in 64 and 67), 21 games, Brock hit .391 and stole 14 bases (in 16 attempts). also scoring 16 runs.
Reggie's teams won 4 out of 5 series in which he played (losing to the Dodgers in the strike season '81 series). In 27 World Series games, Reggie hit .357 with 10 home runs... He also drew 15 walks (OBP .457) and slugged .755. His lifetime regular season batting average was only .262, with a .356 OBP and a .490 slugging pct.
He also drove in 24 runs in 27 W.S. games and scored 16.
Reg Season / World Series
BA .262 / .357
OBP .356 / .457
Slug .490 / .755
That's why he was called "Mr. October".
2006-08-01 00:26:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ortiz has definately proven himself to be the best clutch hitter today, maybe ever.
Jack Clark during his prime was very similar to what Ortiz is now (clutch performances) but didn't carry the same presence that Ortiz does. When Ortiz got up last night in that situation, did anybody doubt what would happen?
Other "Clutch" hitters who should be noted:
Kirby Puckett
Derek Jeter (He's clutch, just not to Ortiz' stature)
Michael Young
2006-08-01 09:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by GPC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
David Ortiz is the most clutch hitter ever. 15 walk off hits in less than 3 years. 2of them also helped the Red Sox to win the World Series in 2004. There's no doubt in my mind that Ortiz is the most clutch player ever.
2006-08-01 08:11:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Die hard Yankee Fan here... saying this... in my opinion, David Ortiz is the best clutch hitter in baseball, forget about today, best clutch hitter in history... my opinion.
2006-08-01 08:20:08 · answer #4 · answered by -- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that most won't know who he is but I would have to vote for Pat Tabler. Although only a fair to good player most of the time, with bases loaded his lifetime batting average was around .500. Imagine someone who would get a hit half the time with bases loaded.
He was so good that I believe he was actually intentionally walked with bases loaded. The manager felt it was better to give up one sure run rather than a good chance of giving up two or more.
2006-08-01 08:22:43 · answer #5 · answered by ifearall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its got to be Big Papi
5 walk off hits this year alone
like 13 or 14 since 2003 Please that is more clutch than Jeter
I cant even think of a player who has ever done it better than Papi.
2006-08-01 06:58:31 · answer #6 · answered by Red Sawx ® 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
David Ortiz for one reason - 2004 playoffs
2006-08-01 09:10:26 · answer #7 · answered by anonymous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all Red Sox would be dead without him. They stink without him. I dont know about all of baseball but I think Jeter is most clutch on Yankees. .354 average and always seems to get that big hit
2006-08-01 06:53:48 · answer #8 · answered by Fabio 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ortiz! think that last night is a pretty good argument to add to his growing resume!
2006-08-01 10:29:37 · answer #9 · answered by AnswerMan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big Papi and babaabarry...no explination needed.....
2006-08-01 10:25:25 · answer #10 · answered by Chocolate_Bunny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋