Post Season and World Series Heroes that were otherwise mediocre
 

It is not uncommon for an unexpected player with a low WAR or a high ERA to play a pivotal in the World Series and resume his mediocrity thereafter.

Examples to consider would be Dusty Rhodes in 1954, whose heroics defeated the highly favored Indians and earned him the #1 card in the 1955 Topps Set.

Leaving out Don Larsen, who compiled a 3-21 record for Baltimore in 28 starts in 1954 before pitching a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 WS, would be an error.

More recently we cannot ignore Randy Arozarena and his 29 post season hits including 10 homers in the 2020 post season.

In 1978 Bucky Dent would qualify, breaking Beantown's heart in the AL playoff game before getting ten hits in the World Series.

Not looking for HOFers in this thread but the guys who surprised everyone for one play, one game or one series and then returned to obscurity for the remainder of their career.

Have at it. Let's find them all.

Bill Wambsganss!

Being a Giants fan, Cody Ross and Marco Scutaro come to mind. You can probably also add Matt Cain and MadBum, although depending on your views of Cain and Bum, they might be disqualified for being too successful outside of the postseason.

Howie Kendrick - Washington Nationals

Scutaro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wHMI7KdptY

Francisco Cabrera, sending the Braves to the WS in '92.

Jim Leyritz

Never, ever will forget that. Dad (life long Braves fan) was screaming at the tv who in the world was Fransciso Cabrera!?!? Then we both screamed with joy and danced around the house when Bream slid in!

I sent a ball to Sid about 10 years ago and told him my story and he sent back the ball signed and with the inscription with the date of 'the slide."

Also worte a scripture on the ball which resonated with me as I am a Pastor!

https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=34579

https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=34580

Aaron Boone

Brian Doyle. MLB career BA .161...but a god in the 1978 series

Per Wikipedia:

Doyle took the field as a late inning defensive replacement, but for the most part, sat out game one of the World Series with left hander Tommy John pitching. He went 1-for-3 in game two,[8] and hitless in four at bats in game three.

In game five, Doyle went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in the Yankees' 12-2 dismantling of the Dodgers. After which, he was featured on the October 23, 1978 cover of Sports Illustrated.

In game six, Doyle came to bat in the second inning with runners on first and second, and the Yankees trailing 1-0. He doubled to drive in the first Yankee run. It was his first career extra base hit. He drove in a second run in the sixth.

For the 1978 World Series Champion New York Yankees, Doyle batted a team leading .438 with seven hits in sixteen at bats, one double, four runs scored and two RBIs. In the post season overall, he had nine hits in 23 at bats. Compared to the 1978 regular season, in which he only had ten hits (.192 avg.) and six runs scored with no RBIs.

He finished second to Bucky Dent in World Series Most Valuable Player Award balloting. Batting behind Doyle, the number nine hitter batted .417 with seven RBIs. The number eight and nine slots in the Yankees' batting order batted .400 with seven runs scored and nine RBIs.

David Freese in 2011 Playoffs . 396 BA . 794 SLG 5 HRs 21 RBIs (MLB record). In WS game 6 with the Cardinals behind 3 games to 2, he hits a bottom of the 9th 2 out 2 strike 2 run triple to tie the game and a walk off HR in the 11th. Was MVP of both NLCS and WS.

Haha, you stole the guy I was gonna use. -1.2 lifetime WAR. Only playing because Randolph was injured. If you look him up in Baseball Reference, he was barely a serviceable minor league player. Not sure what he was even doing up in the big leagues, let alone starting in the World Series for the Yankees.

Billy Hatcher
 

Billy Hatcher for the 1990 Cincinnati Reds - 9 for 12 in the World Series with 6 runs scored.

Al Weis 1969 New York Mets - 5 for 11 with a homerun in the World Series

Sandy Amoros catch in Game 7 of the 1955 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Brian

Buddy Biancalana, 1985 Royals

That was the first person I thought of. Unbelievable game.

Gene tenace

Scott Brosius




.

If I remember correctly, Hatcher also had some moments in the classic Mets/Astros playoff series in 86, though in a losing effort.

Gene Tenace

Kurt Bevaqua if not mentioned yet.

great story an ball

Good recall
 

Good recall. In game six with the Astros facing elimination and down 4-3 in the bottom of the 14th inning he homered off Jesse Orosco to prolong the season. Then after the Mets scored 3 in the top of the 16th inning he singled in a run in the bottom of the inning to get the Stros to within one in a game they ended up losing 7-6. 86 play-offs and World Series featured 3 incredible series.

Of the three, I liked the Red Sox Angels. :D

Rick Dempsey

Cody Ross is a good one.

Random Trivia: Cody and I were born in the same little Po-Dunk town which I bet Nobody no here has ever even heard of....

Billy Martin (I believe it was the 1952 world series)

As a Royals fan, that’s the first name that popped into my mind!

And maybe we could add Don Denkinger to this list :) (Sorry Cardinals fans):):):)

hero
 

69 Mets - Al Weis

A few unique Dent items from my collection:

https://i.imgur.com/NlleooU.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Wx8ogQI.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/9clNdWt.jpg

I don't think he could hit water if he fell out of a boat!

Marty Barrett
He hit .367 in 1986 ALCS
Then he hit .433 in 1986 WS

Chuck Essegian

Daniel Murphy for the Mets

Interesting that Kurt Bevaqua's last name in Italian means "drink water"...

2018 World Series MVP Steve Pearce

I see Francisco Cabrera & Sid Bream from the early 90's Braves teams are already mentioned but one guy from those teams who fit the thread title's description to a T is second baseman Mark Lemke. Guy always seemed to get a clutch hit in the postseason!

I'd send a limo to pick him up! :D

Jose Vizcaino, won Game 1 of the 2000 Subway series with 4 hits and a 12th inning walk-off single.

Went hitless the rest of the series, but Yanks got all they needed out of him that first game.

He also had several key moments coming in as a fill-in during the ALCS against the Mariners the same year.

Both he and Luis Sojo did an admirable job filling in for Chuck Knoblauch at 2nd base, who by now was in full yips mode.

This Jays fan will forever hold a soft spot for 1992 WS MVP Pat Borders.

Tom Lawless has to be mentioned here. One career home run at the time and a .080 Batting average for the season on his resume, hits a 3 run homer off Frank Viola and did a bat flip that would make Reggie Jackson proud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB-rdG4u_zU

If you're going to channel Tommy Lasorda, then we'd best get the whole thing in here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzjWQF1oP2M

Note: Some strong language is used. Listener discretion is advised.

LOL, never saw that or had forgotten about it. One of the funniest things ever..

"These kids today, no respect" :D;)

"I’ll tell you what I think about it. I think that is very, very bad for that man to make an accusation like that. That is terrible,” he started. “I have never, ever, since I managed, ever told a pitcher to throw at anybody, nor will I ever. And if I ever did, I certainly wouldn’t make him throw at a (expletive) .130 hitter like Lefebvre or (expletive) Bevacqua, who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a (expletive) boat.

“And I guaran-(expletive)-tee you this. When I pitched and I was going to pitch against a (expletive) team that had guys on it like Bevacqua, I sent a (expletive) limousine to get the (expletive) to make sure he was in the (expletive) lineup because I kicked that (expletive’s) (expletive) any day of the week. He’s an (expletive) (expletive) big mouth, I’ll tell you that.”

Gene Tenace was mentioned a couple times, but I don't think he belongs in this thread. He's had people argue for him for the HOF, he's got a lifetime OBP of nearly .400, a lifetime OPS+ of 136 and is ranked by Baseball Reference as the 13th ranked catcher All-Time.

He was no underdog, even if he was under-rated in his day, before modern analytics turned him into a superstar.

Darrell Porter MVP 1982

I think he's another one that doesn't belong. Catchers don't seem to get any respect. :D

4 time All-Star. He's gotten MVP votes. 41 WAR. 23rd ranked catcher All-Time via Baseball Reference.

+1

Yes, Tenace uncharacteristically slugged 4 HRs in the '72 World Series, despite only hitting 5 HRs in the regular season (in 227 at bats).

But I think he is arguably the best catcher not in the Hall of Fame. Steady hitter with a career OBP of .388

And in the 4 years following his breakout World Series ('73 - '76) he averaged over 25 HRs, so he did have some pop.

That's the guy I was thinking of - Al Weis.

Matt Stairs.

Never an All-Star. Career WAR of 14.1 over 19 seasons. Played with 12 different franchises before hanging up the spikes.

In the 2008 NLCS, he got 1 at-bat and made it count. He hit a pinch-hit home run in the 8th inning of Game 4. It was a hit few Phillies fans from the era would ever forget.