Greatest World Series Heroes of All Time

Breaking down the best individual World Series performances of the expansion era.

We’re not fans of too many convoluted metrics — it’s bad for the baseball brain, you know? Yet we believe a few can be trusted, and cWPA is one of them.

What the heck is cWPA, also known as Championship Win Probability Added, you might ask? It’s the measure of change in win probability caused by a player in a game, series or season. A plus-1 rating indicates a win added to the team total, while minus-1 would subtract one. Simple enough, right?

So, to change things up a bit, we called on cWPA out of the bullpen to break down the biggest World Series difference-makers of the expansion era. Except for one notable case (see No. 27), not even we can complain about the results.

Now, you be the judge …

30. Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

Matt York / AP Photo

Year: 2001

World Series outcome: Arizona Diamondbacks 4, New York Yankees 3

cWPA: 31.01

Bottom Line: Randy Johnson

John Bazemore / AP Photo

It’s good to have a 6-foot-10 Johnson to call on in the postseason, ya think? He started and won Games 2 and 6 and saved Game 7 on no days’ rest.

If it weren’t for the numbers, we would have him higher on the list.

29. Jim Bouton, New York Yankees

AP Photo

Year: 1964

World Series outcome: St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 3

cWPA: 31.12

Bottom Line: Jim Bouton

AP Photo

Bob Gibson (25.1 cWPA) was the Most Valuable Player pick, but Bouton was every bit his equal in the series in a losing effort.

In two starts, the man who authored “Ball Four” won Games 3 and 6 on the road. Do poorly in either one, and the series probably lasts no more than five games.

28. Mike Stanton, Atlanta Braves

Bill Waugh / AP Photo

Year: 1991

World Series outcome: Minnesota Twins 4, Atlanta Braves 3

cWPA: 31.15

Bottom Line: Mike Stanton

Ed Reinke / AP Photo

Stanton was kind of like Ray Davies of The Kinks — he wasn’t Mick Jagger, but he was crazy good just the same.

Stanton pitched 7.33 scoreless innings in five games, but because his team lost, the performance went under the radar. The lefty retired the final five batters in the crucial Game 4 when his team evened the series, even though the Braves ended up losing to the Twins.

27. Craig Counsell, Florida Marlins

Kevin Karzin / AP Photo

Year: 1997

World Series outcome: Florida Marlins 4, Cleveland Indians 3

cWPA: 32.48

Bottom Line: Craig Counsell

Chris Urso / AP Photo

OK, here’s the weird one. How does a guy who looked like the Marlins bat boy and hit a buck-eighty make the list? Said person reaches base on an error in the 11th inning of Game 7 — hello, Tony Fernandez, wherever you are — then he scores the World Series winner three batters later.

Yeah, we’re talkin’ win probability here, but this event seems to be more happenstance than anything.

26. Paul Molitor, Toronto Blue Jays

Hans Deryk / AP Photo

Year: 1993

World Series outcome: Toronto Blue Jays 4, Philadelphia Phillies 2

cWPA: 32.78

Bottom Line: Paul Molitor

Rusty Kennedy / AP Photo

OK, which Blue Jay didn’t have a big series? But Molitor didn’t just fatten up on one whacko 15-14 slugfest in the fourth game.

His six hits and six runs scored were pivotal in Game 3 and 6 victories as well.

25. Jim Northrup, Detroit Tigers

AP Photo

Year: 1968

World Series outcome: Detroit Tigers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

cWPA: 32.27

Bottom Line: Jim Northrup

AP Photo

Cardinals ace Bob Gibson had been invincible in the 1964, 1967 and 1968 Fall Classics. Until Northrup fooled everyone — even Curt Flood, who got a late jump on his drive to deep center field that fell for a decisive two-run triple.

He’s one of four players to have as many as two hits off Gibson in a seventh game, but none comes close to this one.

24. Rollie Fingers, Oakland Athletics

AP Photo

Year: 1973

World Series outcome: Oakland Athletics 4, New York Mets 3

cWPA: 32.47

Bottom Line: Rollie Fingers

AP Photo

Fingers was roughed up in a Game 2 loss — one of the four runs was earned — but he didn’t allow an earnie over 11 innings in his other five appearances.

Reggie Jackson (15.0 cWPA) was chosen Most Valuable Player of the series, but this guy deserved it more.

23. Jesse Orosco, New York Mets

John Swart / AP Photo

Year: 1986

World Series outcome: New York Mets 4, Boston Red Sox 3

cWPA: 33.49

Bottom Line: Jesse Orosco

Ray Stubblebine / AP Photo

Orosco is rarely mentioned among the heroes of this wild and wacky series, but he should be near the top of the list. The lefty saved Games 4 and 7 and allowed no runs on two singles in 18 trips to the plate.

He retired the final 13 batters that he faced over three-plus games.

22. Tim McCarver, St. Louis Cardinals

Ray Stubblebine / AP Photo

Year: 1964

World Series outcome: St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 3

cWPA: 33.85

Bottom Line: Tim McCarver

AP Photo

Series Most Valuable PlayerBob Gibson won Games 5 and 7, but if McCarver hadn’t delivered a three-run homer in the 1oth inning of the former, there might not have been a seventh game.

The catcher put up a .478/.552/.739 slash line that deserved serious MVP consideration.

21. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Michael Dwyer / AP Photo

Year: 2013

World Series outcome: Boston Red Sox 4, St.Louis Cardinals 2

cWPA: 33.99

Bottom Line: David Ortiz

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

The Redbirds were so terrified of Big Papi at the plate, they walked him four times in the final game.

He reached base 19 times in six games.

20. Rajai Davis, Cleveland Indians

Nam Y. Huh / AP Photo

Year: 2016

World Series outcome: Chicago Cubs 4, Cleveland Indians 3

cWPA: 34.10

Bottom Line: Rajai Davis

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

What were the odds that Davis would smoke reliever Aroldis Chapman for a three-run home to tie the score in the eighth inning? To that point, the career back-up was 3-of-20 in the series. Or deliver a two-out single to keep the season alive two innings later.

But that’s why we watch postseason baseball, isn’t it?

19. Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds

Brian Horton / AP Photo

Year: 1975

World Series outcome: Cincinnati Reds 4, Boston Red Sox 3

cWPA: 36.88

Bottom Line: Pete Rose

Peter Bregg / AP Photo

Rose didn’t bludgeon opponents to death. Rather, he killed them softly by way of a million cuts.

After the series Most Valuable Player went hitless in a shutout loss, he got on base an insane 16 times the final six games — nine singles, one triple, five walks and one hit by pitch. His two-out hit in the seventh inning of Game 7 tied the score, and the rest would soon be history.

18. Willie Aikens, Kansas City Royals

Richard Sheinwald / AP Photo

Year: 1980

World Series outcome: Philadelphia Phillies 4, Kansas City Royals 2

cWPA: 38.50

Bottom Line: Willie Aikens

AP Photo

After Aikens hit a pair of home runs and drove in seven runs in Games 1 and 4, the Phillies came upon a brilliant thought: “Hey, this Aikens guy could beat us. Let’s try somebody else.”

So, they pitched around him in the next two games (four walks) and won both of them.

17. Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates

AP Photo

Year: 1979

World Series outcome: Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

cWPA: 38.96

Bottom Line: Willie Stargell

AP Photo

The O’s were 11 outs away from a champagne party when Stargell went yard with a man on base. Pops had four hits in the game and a dozen in the series.

Yeah, we would say that’s the kind of clutch that increases your win probability, all right.

16. Tony Womack, Arizona Diamondbacks

Lenny Ignelzi / AP Photo

Year: 2001

World Series outcome: Arizona Diamondbacks 4, New York Yankees 3

cWPA: 39.03

Bottom Line: Tony Womack

John Bazemore / AP Photo

At face value, Womack didn’t light it up. Until you consider when the damage was done.His two-out, game-tying double off supersaver Mario Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 7 was the height of clutchness.

He also had three hits, two runs scored and two RBI in a Game 6 blowout, which set the stage for the grand finale.

15. Dwight Evans, Boston Red Sox

Rusty Kennedy / AP Photo

Year: 1986

World Series outcome: New York Mets 4 Boston Red Sox 3

cWPA: 43.37

Bottom Line: Dwight Evans

Susan Ragan / AP Photo

Evans played under the radar for much of his career. So, it figured that the Red Sox would blow a series in which he deserved to be the Most Valuable Player otherwise.

He contributed four extra-base hits and nine ribbies.

14. Josh Beckett, Florida Marlins

Marlins / Twitter

Year: 2003

World Series outcome: Florida Marlins 4, New York Yankees 2

cWPA: 45.48

Bottom Line: Josh Beckett

MLBNetwork / Twitter

Beckett pitched well enough to win Game 3 before the bullpen blew up.

Four days later, the 23-year-old reduced the mighty Yankees to sawdust in a five-hit gem in the clincher. At Yankee Stadium, no less.

13. Will McEnaney, Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Will McEnaney

Harry Cabluck / AP Photo

Year: 1975

World Series outcome: Cincinnati Reds 4, Boston Red Sox 3

cWPA: 46.76

Bottom Line: Will McEnaney

nut_history / Twitter

After McEnaney wiggled out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in a sixth game that Carlton Fisk would decide later, the lefty pitched a one-two-three ninth inning to protect a one-run lead in the clincher — and got his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a result.

But booze and drugs sent him to the showers only four years later.

12. Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals

AP Photo

Year: 1967

World Series outcome: St. Louis Cardinals 4, Boston Red Sox 3

cWPA: 46.83

Bottom Line: Bob Gibson

AP Photo

Gibson was the ultimate killjoy. Not only did the right-hander win Games 1, 4 and 7, but his team never trailed in any of them.

The series went the distance, but the series was never in doubt, really.

11. Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers

AP Photo

Year: 1968

World Series outcome: Detroit Tigers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

cWPA: 47.36

Bottom Line: Mickey Lolich

AP Photo

Teammate Denny McLain was a 31-game winner in the regular season, but Lolich had the biggest dubyah of all.

That would be Game 7 on the road, where he beat the seemingly invincible Bob Gibson on two days’ rest. Oh, and he won Games 2 and 5 as well.

10. Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals

Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

Year: 2011

World Series outcome: St. Louis Cardinals 4, Texas Rangers 3

cWPA: 51.74

Bottom Line: Lance Berkman

Eric Gay / AP Photo

We know what teammate David Freese did in the sixth game. But how many remember that, after the Rangers regained the lead in the 10th inning, Berkman delivered a two-out, two-run single that tied the score?

He reached base a total of 16 times in the series.

9. Rollie Fingers, Oakland Athletics

AP Photo

Year: 1972

World Series outcome: Oakland Athletics 4, Cincinnati Reds 3

cWPA: 52.23

Bottom Line: Rollie Fingers

sabrbioproject / Twitter

Fingers left so many, uh, fingerprints on the series, the city of Cincinnati issued an all-points bulletin for his capture. The mustachioed one protected the lead in Game 1, won Game 4, lost Game 5, saved Games 2 and 7 and sat out only Game 6.

He’s the only player to appear more than once on this list.

8. Gene Tenace, Oakland Athletics

AP Photo

Year: 1972

World Series outcome: Oakland Athletics 4, Cincinnati Reds 3

cWPA: 52.93

Bottom Line: Gene Tenace

Ray Stubblebine / AP Photo

Has there ever been a more unlikely World Series Most Valuable Player than this one? When the postseason began, Tenace was a relative no-name with 19 career home runs.

Out of nowhere, he went deep three times in Games 1 and 4 and delivered a game-winning double in Game 7, all in 3-2 victories.

7. George Springer, Houston Astros

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Year: 2017

World Series outcome: Houston Astros 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 3

cWPA: 55.36

Bottom Line: George Springer

Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Springer and the Astros claimed they stopped cheating before the series was played, but the evidence screams otherwise.

6. David Freese, St. Louis Cardinals

Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

Year: 2011

World Series outcome: St. Louis Cardinals 4, Texas Rangers 3

cWPA: 68.31

Bottom Line: David Freese

Eric Gay / AP Photo

In a matter of three innings, Freese went from part-time infielder to full-blown postseason legend.

With his team on the brink of elimination in Game 6, he tied the score on a two-run triple in the ninth inning then won it on a walk-off homer two innings later.

5. Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers

AP Photo

Year: 1965

World Series outcome: Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Minnesota Twins 2

cWPA: 70.44

Bottom Line: Sandy Koufax

AP Photo

That Koufax pitched two shutouts in the series doesn’t qualify as a news flash. What does is that Jim Kaat beat him 5-1 in the second game.

One of the greatest pitchers of his generation allowed two runs (one earned) before he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning.

4. Steve Blass, Pittsburgh Pirates

AP Photo

Year: 1971

World Series outcome: Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

cWPA: 73.31

Bottom Line: Steve Blass

AP Photo

Blass allowed one run in each of two starts and went the distance both times. His four-hitter in Game 7 is one of the all-time clutch performances on the road. Truth is, his cWPA score should be a lot higher.

Do you realize how difficult it could be to focus with O’s loudmouth manager Earl Weaver in your ear the entire game?

3. Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Year: 2014

World Series outcome: San Francisco Giants 4, Kansas City Royals 3

cWPA: 92.06

Bottom Line: Madison Bumgarner

Jamie Squire / AP Photo

Know that oversized Little Leaguer who shouldn’t be allowed to play with the small fries? Well,MadBum was that big bully.

He won Games 1 and 5, saved Game 7 on two days’ rest and allowed a total of one run in the process.

2. Jack Morris, Minnesota Twins

Jim Mone / AP Photo

Year: 1991

World Series outcome: Minnesota Twins 4, Atlanta Braves 3

cWPA: 92.33

Bottom Line: Jack Morris

Jim Mone / AP Photo

We’re not the first to say that Morris was one of the all-time jerks of the expansion era. Yet that doesn’t detract from his epic Game 7 performance — a seven-hit, 10-inning shutout that punched his Hall of Fame ticket.

The series Most Valuable Player was very good in his other two starts as well.

1. Ralph Terry, New York Yankees

AP Photo

Year: 1962

World Series outcome: New York Yankees 4, San Francisco Giants 3

cWPA: 99.71

Bottom Line: Ralph Terry

AP Photo

Only two years after Terry threw a fatal final pitch to Bill Mazeroski in Game 7, he was allowed to face Willie McCovey in an even worse situation with the Fall Classic on the line. Ninth inning, two outs, two runners on base, 1-0 lead.

We can’t tell whether Yankees skipper Ralph Houk had big kahunas or a really bad memory, but the decision worked out in the end. The right-hander also went the distance in a Game 5 victory.