What is the most important hit in baseball history.

oldjudge · #1 05-28-2012, 06:01 PM

A lot of good answers but I'll go with Gibson's PH HR in the WS (and I'm a Yankee fan)

packs · #2 05-28-2012, 06:08 PM

Mantle hitting the facade at old Yankee Stadium is pretty legendary.

Mark · #3 05-28-2012, 06:27 PM

It is tough to say which particular hit had the biggest impact on baseball or on other, less serious matters. As far as I know, Jackie Robinson didn't get a particular hit that made a big difference, even though his presence and subsequent success in the major leagues made a great difference in our society. But I would say that Ruth's 60th homer allowed fans to associate him with a particular number that set him apart from everybody else for generations. And this helped to elevate baseball's place in American culture. In addition, Mazeroski's homer gave Pittsburgh its first title in 35 years, and this helped to keep baseball alive in Western Pennsylvania for years. I am not sure how many other particular hits helped to change baseball or save a franchise. But I bet there are other examples.

Robextend · #4 05-28-2012, 06:30 PM

I will probably be the only one to choose this one, but Jim Leyritz off Wohlers in 1996 is #1 for me. If I was around in an earlier era it would probably be different, however for a Yankee fan that never experienced any winning, that was life changing.

Peter_Spaeth · #5 05-28-2012, 07:26 PM

715 was huge. For anyone to have broken what was probably the most sacred sports record in the American consciousness would have been enormous. Add to that the fact that it was broken by a black ballplayer playing in the Deep South, in a time that was still racially charged, only 6 years removed from MLK's assasination. Aaron later disclosed that he had received a deluge of hate mail, and death threats which had genuinely worried him, probably for good reason.

David W · #6 05-28-2012, 07:29 PM

715 has to be it....

whitehse · #7 05-29-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David W

715 has to be it....

To me, as a 12 year old when Aaron broke the record, this is what is burned in my mind when one talks about a hit to remember.

And that All Time HR leader card from 1974 Topps......I could not beg, borrow or steal one back in '74 no matter how many packs I busted. This was the one card I really wanted and finally traded for one with one of the neighborhood kids who nearly took me for everything I had because he knew I wanted it so bad.

darwinbulldog · #8 05-29-2012, 10:05 AM

I'd probably go with 715 too. I'd like to add Clemente's 3000th in honorable mention.

E93 · #9 05-29-2012, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

715 was huge. For anyone to have broken what was probably the most sacred sports record in the American consciousness would have been enormous. Add to that the fact that it was broken by a black ballplayer playing in the Deep South, in a time that was still racially charged, only 6 years removed from MLK's assasination. Aaron later disclosed that he had received a deluge of hate mail, and death threats which had genuinely worried him, probably for good reason.

+1

Aaron's 715th has my vote.
JimB

FrankWakefield · #10 05-29-2012, 10:09 PM

I attended 4192, saw it.... but I don't think of that hit as being the hit.

I've been a Cardinals fan since seeing Mr. Musial play in 1963. Saw Gibson pitch in game 7 of the 1964 World Series, which had Mantle's last WS HR. Saw Brock's 3000th hit. And even though I'm a Cardinals fan, I don't think it was McGwire's 62nd or 70th. ( But what a year, everyone stopped and watched McGwire hit during batting practice. Everyone, even the opposing team. )

Maybe, as time goes by, and folks look back with the perspective of time, David Freese's game 6 triple, or game 6 home run, will get there.

And notwithstanding Ruth's legendary presence, the Called Shot isn't the hit, nor is what I consider a close second, Mazeroski's homer. After thinking about this for a couple of days, and reading the thread, I think Thompson's home run, the Shot Heard 'Round the World, with Jackie Robinson watching Thompson touch the bases, I think that hit is the hit. Lots of good answers in this thread, though.

So as much as I enjoyed Mr. Buck's "Go crazy folks" call of Ozzie's shot, it has to be "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"

packs · #11 05-29-2012, 10:54 PM

The Shot Heard Round The World call is played in every sports montage ever, along with the Do You Believe In Miracles? call. Have to say that's got to be the biggest baseball moment. But that depends on how you define moments. Ruth's called shot is the stuff of legends but no one saw it who wasn't there. No one experienced it unless they were there. There's no shared experience.

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