2007-09-08 13:15:25 · 15 answers · asked by Jeannie B 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
A walk-off home run is a term coined by famous relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley to signify a home run that immediately ends the game, so named because after the run is scored, the players can "walk off" the field. In order for this to happen, a member of the home team must hit a home run in the bottom of the last inning to either come from behind or break a tie.
I believe Eckersley first used the phrase 'walk off' after giving up the home run to Kirk Gibson in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series that gave the Dodgers a 5-4 victory over the Athletics.
2007-09-08 22:11:44 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a game winning homer that ends the game. There's no more play after that home run. It can only happen in the 9th inning or later (in extra innings). So the players basically "walk off" the field because the game is over.
2007-09-08 20:24:49 · answer #2 · answered by Two quarters & a heart down 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a team is tied or losing in the bottom of an inning whether it is 9th inning or above and a player hits a homerun that is more runs than they needed i.e if the score is 4-2 and a person hits a 3-run homerun it would back it 5-4 and you would win
2007-09-08 13:34:06 · answer #3 · answered by Sam D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Late 1990s early 2000's. The first known usage was April, 21 1998 in the San Francisco Chronicle Section D Page 1. "I go in search of Eckersley. I also want to know why he calls short home runs 'street pieces,' and home runs that come in the last at-bat of a game 'walkoff pieces'. . . ." -Chronicle Writer Laurel Cohn As of 2006, on 23 occasions in major league history, all during the regular season, a player has hit a walk-off grand slam for a 1-run victory; 14 of those occasions came with two outs.
2016-05-19 23:02:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that when the homer is hit, the game is won. Obviously can only happen in the bottom of the ninth inning. The term means when the homer is hit the runner crosses home plate the teams walk off the field - the game is over.
2007-09-08 13:20:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is when the team hitting is either winning or tied with the other team only a home team can hit a walkoff homer. the batter hits a homerun and the run total is more than the other team.
2007-09-08 13:18:49 · answer #6 · answered by P M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means when the home team hits a homerun to win the game in the last inning or in extra innings
2007-09-08 13:19:42 · answer #7 · answered by KJR14 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a homerun in the bottom half inning that causes the home team to win the game.
2007-09-08 13:18:38 · answer #8 · answered by Rick R , Super Duper Samurai 侍 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when the home team hits a HR in the last inning of that game that wins the game and it also ends the game
example- game tied at 3 and bottom ninth, arod's up and hits a hr, therefore the game is over and the yankees win
2007-09-08 13:19:43 · answer #9 · answered by BaSeBaLlKiD721 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A home run that wins the game in the bottom of the 9th or more innings.
2007-09-08 13:18:56 · answer #10 · answered by JG 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋