Most Clutch Hitter in MLB History

Yes, but mainly due to his taking of PED

Brady Anderson

Jim Thome

Jim Leyritz laughs in your general direction!

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Leyritz is best known for hitting numerous postseason home runs that either won, tied, or changed the momentum of several series.

In Game 2 of the 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium, Leyritz hit an opposite field two-run home run to right-center into the rain in the 15th inning to win that game 7–5 for the Yankees and provided them with an ample 2–0 series lead in the best-of-five series. The home run came off Mariners pitcher Tim Belcher, who was famously involved in a profanity-laced and threatening incident with a cameraman covering him walking through the Yankee Stadium tunnel after giving up the home run. The Yankees would eventually squander the series lead by losing the following three games in Seattle's Kingdome, the final two of which were decided in highly dramatic fashion. (The Mariners won Game 5 by a score of 6–5 with two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning.)

The best known of Leyritz's playoff heroics occurred in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Yankees had lost the first two games of the series at home, and narrowly won Game 3 in Atlanta. Game 4 appeared to be going to the Braves, who led 6–0 after 5 innings. The Yankees rallied for 3 runs in the 6th, setting the stage for Leyritz in the 8th inning. Leyritz stepped up with one out and two men on base and hit a three-run home run to left field to tie the game and cap the improbable Yankee comeback. "In the air to left field...back, at the track, at the wall, we are tied!" proclaimed Joe Buck, who was announcing the game on national television. The home run was hit against Atlanta closer Mark Wohlers and the Yankees eventually won the game 8–6 in 10 innings. Leyritz's Game 4 home run remains the most recognizable moment of that series and of his career. He then caught Andy Pettite and John Wetteland for a 1-0 shutout of the Braves in Game 5, with Wetteland eventually being named World Series MVP.

In 1998, Leyritz was on the San Diego Padres. Leyritz hit a number of unlikely playoff home runs and clutch hits that season, the most dramatic of which was an opposite field home run against Billy Wagner to off the right field foul pole in the top of the 9th inning in the Astrodome that tied Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Houston Astros. However, the Astros would later win the game in the bottom of the ninth. In game 3, Leyritz hit the eventually game-winning home run off Randy Johnson in the bottom of the 7th inning that broke a 1–1 tie. Overall, Leyritz batted .400 with three home runs and five RBIs in that Division Series. Ironically, Leyritz's Padres would go up against his former team, the Yankees in the World Series. The Padres were swept in four games and Leyritz did not record a home run or RBI in any game.[3]

In 1999, Leyritz had rejoined the Yankees and hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 8th inning of Game 4 of the World Series. The home run made the score 4–1. NBC commentator Bob Costas remarked incredulously about Leyritz after the home run, "You could send this guy to a resort in the spring and summer, as long as he comes back for October." Including MLB postseason play, this was the last homerun hit in the 20th century[4]

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I was at this game.

George Brett

Pablo Sandoval




For like 1 year

Baseball Prospectus actually did a study about this topic ten years ago and they arrived to the conclusion that Mark Grace was the best clutch hitter since 1972.



Hardball Times also did another study in 2013 and they came to the conclusion that Bobby Murcer was the most clutch hitter since World War II.

Players with most games with WPA > .700 and the sum of WPA in those games



Players with most games with WPA > .750 and the sum of WPA in those games




Players with most games with WPA > .800 and the sum of WPA in those games



Murcer is the only hitter who ranked in the top 3 in all three lists. So if you go WPA and players who appeared on all three lists, the most clutch hitters since World War II would be:

1. Bobby Murcer 16.54
2. Frank Robinson 14.52
3. George Brett 14.27
4. Harmon Killebrew 12.34
5. Barry Bonds 12.08
6. David Ortiz 11.41
7. Dante Bichette 11.37
8. Raul Ibanez 10.72
9. Willie McCovey 10.26

Guess I'm thinking more of big moments. Seems like Ortiz has had more than anybody else.

2003

Facing elimination, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Athletics in Game 4 of the ALDS, Ortiz rips a double that plates two runs and gives the Red Sox a 5-4 lead that stands. They won the series in five games.

2004

Ortiz sends the Red Sox to the ALCS with a walk-off home run against the Angels.

Trailing the Yankees 3-0 in the ALCS, Ortiz hits a walk-off two run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning to keep the Red Sox's playoff hopes alive.

Trailing the Yankees 3-1 in the ALCS, Ortiz notches his second consecutive walk-off hit against the Yankees in the bottom of the 14th inning.

Ortiz crushes a two-run home run in Game 7 of the ALCS to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning en route to a 10-3 victory and a trip to the World Series for the first time since 1986. The Red Sox became the first team in postseason history to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3-0.

2013

In danger of falling behind 2-0 to the Tigers in the ALCS, Ortiz’s eighth-inning grand slam ties the game as the Red Sox rally to win in walk-off fashion in the ninth inning.

In Game 4 of the World Series against the Cardinals, Ortiz has a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a two doubles. The Red Sox would go on to beat the Cardinals to win their third championship in 10 years and Ortiz - who batted .688 (11 for 16) - was named Series MVP.

And this doesn't even include the number of walk offs and go ahead hits in his career.

Ortiz's exploits are well-known, but not even he compares favorably to Beltran's postseason numbers.