About this season
MLB Network counts down its version of the 20 greatest games played since about 1950. The network first came up with 50 games and a "blue ribbon panel" -- aided by fan votes -- whittled that to 20. Hosts Bob Costas and Tom Verducci dissect each game, and given the format, with each episode running at least one hour, there's plenty of time to delve into nuances such as pitch selection, defensive alignment, managerial moves and so on. Also making each episode must-see TV for longtime baseball fans is the ex-players and managers who join Costas and Verducci to provide insight. Bucky Dent, for example, talks about his famous home run in the 1978 American League tiebreak game, and Johnny Bench and Fred Lynn reminisce about Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, the No. 1 game on the list.
Episodes (20)
1. #20: May 17, 1979 - Phillies vs. Cubs
Aired 5 April 2012
No. 20: Phillies at Cubs, May 17, 1979. The Phillies defeated the Cubs by a score of 23–22.
2. #19: 2003 NLDS Game 4 - Giants vs Marlins
Aired 4 June 2012
No. 19: Giants at Marlins, October 4, 2003
3. #18: 1980 NLCS Game 5 - Phillies vs Astros
Aired 13 June 2012
No. 18: Phillies at Astros, October 12, 1980
4. #17: 2004 ALCS Game 4 - Yankees vs Red Sox
Aired 19 June 2012
No. 17: Yankees at Red Sox, October 17, 2004. The Yankee collapse in the 2004 ALCS begins.
5. #16: 2009 AL Tiebreaker - Tigers vs Twins
Aired 26 June 2012
No. 16: Tigers at Twins, October 6, 2009
6. #15: 1995 ALDS Game 5 - Yankees vs Mariners
Aired 30 June 2012
No. 15: Yankees at Mariners, October 8, 1995 “The Double” – Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. scores from first base on fellow Hall-of-Famer Edgar Martinez’s double in the bottom of the 11th inning that clinched the series for Seattle.
7. #14: 1993 World Series Game 6 - Phillies vs Blue Jays
Aired 6 July 2012
No. 14: Phillies at Blue Jays, October 23, 1993
8. #13: 1997 World Series Game 7 - Indians vs Marlins
Aired 15 July 2012
No. 13: Indians at Marlins, October 26, 1997
9. #12: 2001 World Series Game 4 - Diamondbacks vs Yankees
Aired 18 July 2012
No. 12: Diamondbacks at Yankees, October 31, 2001
10. #11: 1978 AL Tiebreaker - Yankees vs Red Sox
Aired 28 July 2012
No. 11: Yankees at Red Sox, October 2, 1978
11. #10: 1988 World Series Game 1 - Athletics vs Dodgers
Aired 4 August 2012
No. 10: Athletics at Dodgers, October 15, 1988 Kirk Gibson creates one of MLB’s most legendary moments as his pinch-hit walk-off home run gives the Dodgers a Game 1 victory.
12. #9: 2001 World Series Game 7 - Yankees vs Diamondbacks
Aired 14 August 2012
No. 9: Yankees at Diamondbacks, November 4, 2001
13. #8: 1986 ALCS Game 5 - Red Sox vs Angels
Aired 17 August 2012
No. 8: Red Sox at Angels, October 12, 1986
14. #7: 2003 NLCS Game 6 - Marlins vs Cubs
Aired 24 August 2012
No. 7: Marlins at Cubs, October 14, 2003: "The Bartman Game."
15. #6: 2003 ALCS Game 7 - Red Sox vs Yankees
Aired 31 August 2012
No. 6: Red Sox at Yankees, October 16, 2003: Aaron Boone’s 11th inning walk-off home run sends the Yankees to the World Series while eliminating their rival Red Sox.
16. #5: 1986 NLCS Game 6 - Mets vs Astros
Aired 14 September 2012
No. 5: Mets at Astros, October 15, 1986
17. #4: 1992 NLCS Game 7 - Pirates vs Braves
Aired 23 September 2012
No. 4: Pirates at Braves, October 14, 1992
18. #3: 1986 World Series Game 6 - Red Sox vs Mets
Aired 30 September 2012
No. 3: Red Sox at Mets, October 25, 1986. Guests Mookie Wilson, Bob Ojeda, and Bill Buckner recount Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, which ended in an improbable tenth-inning rally punctuated by the most famous fielding error of the last 100 years.
19. #2: 1991 World Series Game 7 - Braves vs Twins
Aired 4 October 2012
The 2nd best game in MLB history based on votes from an expert panel and MLB Network viewers.
20. #1: 1975 World Series Game 6 - Reds vs Red Sox
Aired 17 October 2012
No. 1: Reds at Red Sox, October 21, 1975