Top 10 Home Runs in Red Sox History

With the passing of Bobby Thompson earlier this week there has been a lot of debate about the greatest homeruns of all-time. Of course Thompson’s “shot heard around the world” the three-run homer that gave the New York Giants a 5-4 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1951 National League pennant is one of baseball’s most historic and memorable round trippers.  [soxanddawg]

This led me to try to make a list of the 10 most significant homers in Red Sox history. My personal history with the team only goes back to 1973 so I may have “missed” one or two that might be on someone else’s list but I think because the team was, shall we say sucko, for so many years that the list is slanted to those of a more recent and pleasant history.

In descending order my selection for the Top 10:

10. Manny Ramirez, 2007 ALDS Game 2 vs. Los Angeles Angels.

This was the monster walk off he hit off K-Rod in the bottom of the 9th and it basically said to Mike Scoscia’s crew, sorry guy’s but you’re done.

9. Troy O’Leary, 1999 ALDS Game 5 at Cleveland Indians.

O’Leary’s 3 run shot off Paul Shuey into right field broke an 8-8 tie and propelled the Sox to a 12-8 win in the clinching game. This was also Pedro Martinez’s no-hit 6 inning relief effort.

8. David Ortiz, 2004 ALDS Game 3 vs. Anaheim Angels.

Big Papi hit the Volvo sign above the Monster Seats in the bottom of the 10th off K-Rod and it was off to New York to play the Yankees.

7. Johnny Damon, 2004 World Series Game 4 at St. Louis Cardinals.

The caveman led off the game with a shot into the bullpen and the Cardinals just quit and the Sox had broken the curse.

6. J.D. Drew, 2007 ALCS Game 6 vs. Cleveland Indians.

The man I called “Nancy” all year long finally earned a portion of that giant contract with a first inning 2 out grand slam that threw the tide the Red Sox way and helped even the series at 3-3.

5. Bernie Carbo, 1975 World Series Game 6 vs. Cincinnati Reds.

Without Carbo’s pinch hit 3 run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning with two out off of Rawley Eastwick, there would have been no Carlton Fisk.

4. Dave Henderson, 1986 ALCS Game 5 at California Angels.

The Angels were poised for their first ever World Series appearance and Hendu took it away. It was part of a four run 9th inning off of closer Donnie Moore. Moore never got over that, it led to depression and him eventually taking his life.

3. Johnny Damon, 2004 ALCS Game 7 at New York Yankees.

Damon hit two homers in the game but his 2nd inning grand slam off of Javier Vazquez broke the game open and put the icing on the "greatest comeback ever".

2. Carlton Fisk, 1975 World Series Game 6 vs. Cincinnati Reds.

To many this is the greatest homer in Red Sox history and if it had led to a Game 7 win and a championship I would agree. I was 10, Fisk and Yaz were my heroes. I begged my mom to stay up on a school night to watch and the game wore on and she relented. I’ll never forget sitting on living room floor and hearing Dick Stockton say “if it’s fair it’s gone….homerun!”. I went to bed tired but really happy.

1. David Ortiz, 2004 ALCS Game 4 vs. New York Yankees.

Earlier we said without Carbo there’s no Fisk. Well without Big Papi there’s no Damon, no bloody sock, no comeback, no World Series and another miserable New England winter. With him and his 2 run shot off former Sox pitcher Paul Quantrill there was a tomorrow and eventually history. I found out later that my 9 year old son had snuck out of his room that night to watch the end of the game. He then proceeded to wake up his entire house with his screaming. It is without a doubt the most important homerun in Red Sox history.