Baseball's Most Famous Home Runs

Entering the 1974 season just two home runs shy of Babe Ruth's career home run record, Aaron hit the 715th homer of his career on April 8 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following an off-season in which he had received hate mail and death threats mainly targeting his race, when Aaron finally surpassed Ruth's record two white college students sprinted onto the field and jogged alongside Aaron around the bases, temporarily startling him. As the fans cheered wildly, Aaron's mother ran onto the field as well. (AP)

In the 1960 World Series, Bill Mazeroski clinched the title for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7 with a game-winning home run off the heavily favored New York Yankees in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Yankees had rallied with two runs to tie the game, 9-9, in the top of the inning to set up Mazeroski's heroics. (AP)

Entering the final game of the season tied with Babe Ruth for the most home runs hit in a single season, Yankees' Roger Maris sealed his place in baseball history by hitting home run number 61 against the Boston Red Sox in the fourth inning. (AP)

Red Sox's legend Ted Williams went out in style, hitting his 521st and final home run in his last career at-bat against the Baltimore Orioles in 1960. (AP)

In Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, Babe Ruth made a pointing gesture and followed it with a home run. Although neither fully confirmed or denied, legend has it that Ruth pointed to the center field bleachers during the at-bat and on the following pitch, Ruth hit a home run over the center field wall. (Wikipedia)

During Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, Carlton Fisk hit a pitch down the left field line that appeared to be heading into foul territory. The resulting image of Fisk jumping and waving the ball fair as he made his way to first base is considered by many to be one of baseball's greatest moments. The ball struck the foul pole, giving the Red Sox a 7–6 win and forcing a seventh and deciding game. (AP)

With a stomach virus and injuries to both his legs, Kirk Gibson was not expected to play in the 1988 World Series. In Game 1, with the Dodgers trailing by a run with two out in the ninth inning, Gibson was inserted as a pinch hitter. On a 3-2 count, Gibson smacked a 3–2 backdoor slider over the right-field fence, hobbling around the bases and pumping his fist. (AP)

Having hit only 40 home runs in 12 Major League seasons, Bucky Dent is most famous for his three-run homer with the Yankees trailing by two in the 1978 American League East tie-breaker game against the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox had led the American League East Division by as much 14½ games (July 19) that season. (AP)

Reggie Jackson embraced the Mr. October nickname as a member of the New York Yankees with his three-home-run performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Each home run came on the first pitch of the at-bat and off of three different Dodger pitchers. (AP)

In Game 6 of the 1993 World Series with the Blue Jays leading three games to two over the Philadelphia Phillies, Joe Carter came to bat with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Blue Jays trailing 6–5 and two men on base. On a 2–2 count, Carter hit a three-run walk-off home run to win the World Series. Upon hitting the home run, Carter famously jumped up and down many times as he made his way to first base. (AP)

In game one of the 1996 American League Championship Series, the Yankees trailed the Orioles 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when shortstop Derek Jeter hit a deep fly ball to right field. Right fielder Tony Tarasco moved near the fence and was on the verge of catching the ball when  then-12-year-old Jeffrey Maier reached over the fence into the field of play and deflected the ball into the stands. The call on the field was ruled a home run and the Yankees went on to win the World Series. (AP)