Journeymen
Rich Hill
Did this iconic Yankees player really compete against plumbers and carpenters? Maybe, but he was still pretty good
Babe Ruth
This Cardinals player was the one who launched a walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series: "We will see you tomorrow night"
David Freese
Sometimes broadcasters sound more like physicists, especially when they constantly talk about these stats that describe the ball's speed and direction after being hit
Launch angle, exit velocity
This player was so famous for his postseason heroics that he earned himself the nickname "Mr. October"
Reggie Jackson
This famous speedster actually played for 9 different teams, but you probably only know him from his time in Oakland, where he broke the all-time steals record
Rickey Henderson
This player, despite having the most career home runs, WAR, and other stats of any player in MLB history, still is not in the Hall of Fame
Barry Bonds
This Blue Jays star hit the home run that preceded the "bat flip heard round the world": "(This player) with a drive! Deep left field! No doubt about it!"
Jose Bautista
These "three true outcomes" get their designation from being the only three events that only a batter and a pitcher can control without defense getting involved
Strikeout, Walk, Home Run
New York Yankees
This pitcher, endearingly known as "Big Sexy," played for 11 teams over his 21-year career, and is the oldest player to ever hit their first career homer
Bartolo Colon
This player, who famously developed ALS in his later years, played in 2,130 consecutive games for the Yankees, a record that stood for 56 years
Lou Gehrig
This outfielder was the one who broke my heart in the 2022 World Series, when Jose Alvarado served him up a 450-foot go-ahead bomb to clinch it for the Astros: "This game is turned upside down!"
Yordan Alvarez
This stat is like ERA, but it takes defense out of the equation
Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP)
This Giants pitcher famously threw a shutout in Game 5 of the 2014 World Series and followed it by pitching 5 scoreless innings of relief 2 days later in Game 7
Madison Bumgarner
Not to be confused with the Dodgers' catcher, this reliever with a familiar name won a World Series during his 3-year stint with the Braves
Will Smith
This Pirates player remains the only one in MLB history to ever hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the World Series, when he did it at Forbes Field in 1960
Bill Mazeroski
Big Papi launched a walk-off homer in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, prompting Joe Buck to make this call
"We'll see you later tonight"
This system uses 12 high-speed Hawk-Eye cameras in each ballpark, along with more traditional radar, to collect tons of data on every aspect of the game
Statcast
Big Papi was a tough out in the 2013 World Series, batting .688 through the series while striking out this many times
Once
This Canadian slugger holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs, and he famously hit one of those for the Phillies in the 8th inning of Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS
Matt Stairs
This legendary outfielder, whose son currently plays for the Padres, is the only player in MLB history to hit two grand slams in the same inning
Fernando Tatis Sr.
Joe Davis: "In their 63rd season, it's happened! (This team) win the World Series!"
Texas Rangers
The pronunciation of this institution's abbreviated name gave Sabermetrics their name
Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
This shortstop is the only player to win the World Series MVP for both an AL and an NL team
Corey Seager