The annals of baseball history are filled with players whose excellence has extended beyond the regular season into the high-stakes environment of the postseason.
This article highlights some of the greatest postseason performers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. From legendary sluggers who delivered iconic home runs to steadfast team leaders who consistently shone during October, these players have etched their names into the storied tradition of playoff greatness.
15. Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra’s postseason prowess is legendary, with a .274 batting average, 12 home runs, and 39 RBIs in 75 World Series games. He played in a record 14 World Series, winning 10 championships. Berra’s clutch hitting and leadership were instrumental in the Yankees’ dynasty of the 1940s and 1950s.
14. Pete Rose
Pete Rose excelled in postseason play, batting .321 over 67 games. His consistency shone through with 86 hits, including 13 doubles and 5 home runs. Rose’s .388 on-base percentage and .828 OPS in high-pressure situations solidified his reputation as “Charlie Hustle” on baseball’s biggest stage.
13. Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones excelled in postseason play, boasting a .287 batting average, .409 on-base percentage, and .456 slugging percentage across 93 playoff games. His clutch performances included 13 home runs and 47 RBIs, solidifying his reputation as a reliable playoff hitter for the Atlanta Braves.
12. Jose Altuve
Jose Altuve has been a postseason powerhouse for the Houston Astros. With 27 home runs, he’s second all-time in playoff homers and holds the record for most first-inning homers (8). Altuve’s career postseason stats include a .271 batting average, 56 RBIs, and an impressive .842 OPS across 436 at-bats.
11. George Springer
George Springer has established himself as a postseason powerhouse. With 23 home runs in 80 playoff games, he ranks sixth all-time in postseason homers. Springer’s clutch performances include a record-setting five home runs in the 2017 World Series, solidifying his reputation as a big-game player.
10. Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Beltrán was a postseason powerhouse, boasting a .307 batting average with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs in 65 playoff games. His 1.021 OPS ranks among the best in MLB postseason history. Beltrán’s clutch performances included a record-tying eight homers in the 2004 playoffs, cementing his legacy as one of baseball’s greatest October hitters.
9. Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig was a postseason powerhouse, boasting a .361 batting average and .731 slugging percentage in World Series play. His 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in just 34 games rank among the best in Fall Classic history. Gehrig’s clutch performances helped the Yankees win six of seven World Series appearances during his career.
8. David Ortiz
David “Big Papi” Ortiz was a postseason powerhouse, boasting a .289 average with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs in 85 games. His clutch performances include three walk-offs in 11 days during the 2004 playoffs. Ortiz holds the highest World Series batting average (.455) and on-base percentage (.576) among players with at least 50 plate appearances.
7. Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle dominated postseason play, holding several World Series records. He hit 18 home runs, scored 42 runs, and drove in 40 RBIs across 65 World Series games. Mantle’s .374 on-base percentage and .535 slugging percentage in the postseason showcase his exceptional batting prowess on baseball’s biggest stage.
6. Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson earned the nickname “Mr. October” for his clutch postseason performances. In 77 playoff games, he hit .278 with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs. Jackson’s most memorable moment came in the 1977 World Series, where he blasted three homers in Game 6 to clinch the title for the Yankees.
5. Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols dominated postseason play, hitting .319 with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs in 88 games. His clutch performances include a game-winning three-run homer against the Astros in the 2005 NLCS and a three-homer game in the 2011 World Series. Pujols secured two World Series titles during his illustrious career.
4. Bernie Williams
Bernie Williams was a postseason powerhouse for the Yankees. He holds the record for most career postseason RBIs (80) and is second in hits (128) and runs scored (83). Williams boasts a .275 batting average, 22 home runs, and an impressive .850 OPS across 121 playoff games.
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3. Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez dominated postseason play with 29 home runs, the most in MLB history. He played in 11 postseasons, maintaining a .285 batting average and .544 slugging percentage. Ramirez’s clutch performances included being named MVP of the 2004 World Series for the Boston Red Sox.
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2. Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter’s postseason prowess is legendary. The Yankees icon holds MLB playoff records for games played (158), hits (200), and runs scored (111). With a .308 batting average and 20 home runs, Jeter consistently delivered in high-pressure situations, earning him the nickname “Mr. November” for his clutch performances.
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1. Babe Ruth
The Sultan of Swat dominated postseason play, hitting .326 with 15 home runs and 33 RBIs in 41 games. Ruth’s .470 OBP and .744 SLG led to an impressive 1.214 OPS. He set World Series records with 3 homers in a game (twice) and 12 total bases in a single contest.
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