Post Season and World Series Heroes that were otherwise mediocre

[frankbmd]

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.

[BobC]

Bill Wambsganss!

[raulus]

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.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by raulus

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.

Scutaro

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

[vansaad]

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

[Shoeless Moe]

Jim Leyritz

[campyfan39]

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!

Originally Posted by vansaad

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

[nineunder71]

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....

Originally Posted by raulus

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.

[Georj]

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

[butchie_t]

Howie Kendrick - Washington Nationals

[Eric72]

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.

[Shoeless Moe]

I think the worst Hall of Famer of All Time deserves a spot here:

Bill Mazeroski

He doesn't have one good hit, he's not in the Hall of Fame, and I'm sure as hell not typing his name into any thread on success.

[bmattioli]

Dave Roberts 2004 ALCS. That steal off Rivera started the comeback to end "the curse" and brought a World Series back to Boston.. Thanks Dave!