20 classic baseball games to watch in MLB's vault
With no baseball for the foreseeable future, Major League Baseball decided to open up its treasure trove of a vault on YouTube and help cure our quarantine blues.
The list of available games stretches from the black-and-white era through the end of last season, including the regular season, playoffs, and All-Star Games. In short, if you want to watch it, odds are it's there. But with hundreds of games to sift through, finding what you're looking for might be difficult.
Here are our picks for the best classic games now available to watch. Don't see your favorite or want to suggest a deep cut? Check out the vault and let us know in the comments.
2010-2019
Oct. 6, 2010: Reds @ Phillies, NLDS Game 1
Making his first career postseason start, Roy Halladay threw only the second no-hitter in playoff history. The lone blemish was a fifth-inning walk issued to Jay Bruce, and "Doc" even helped his own cause with an RBI single. Listen closely during the final out, as Citizens Bank Park goes completely silent while Carlos Ruiz fields the ground ball in front of home plate.
Oct. 26, 2011: Rangers @ Cardinals, World Series Game 6
This four-and-a-half-hour marathon is in the discussion for the best World Series game ever. Its back-and-forth action featured plenty of offense from both sides, with the Cardinals rallying back from the brink of elimination twice. We hope your heart monitors are ready. You'll need them while reliving this one.
Oct. 1, 2014: Athletics @ Royals, AL wild-card game
This was the moment the wild-card game truly arrived. The Royals were making their first postseason appearance in 29 years, while the Athletics were finally hoping to break through in the Billy Beane era. The result was a 12-inning classic. At the time, the game marked baseball's longest winner-take-all contest since 1924, complete with a comeback for the ages to kick-start an improbable pennant run.
Oct. 14, 2015: Rangers @ Blue Jays, ALDS Game 5
You remember Jose Bautista's bat flip, but do you remember all the utter chaos leading up to - and following - the climactic moment of that now-famous 53-minute seventh inning? This modern classic features one of the most bizarre controversial plays you'll ever see, along with plenty of raw emotion - often a rarity in baseball - and a loud, venomous crowd that made a 50,000-seat stadium literally shake for nine innings.
Nov. 3, 2016: Cubs @ Indians, World Series Game 7
It's easy to forget the Cubs weren't the only ones with something on the line here. This thriller featured baseball's two longest active championship droughts, extra innings for all the marbles amid tense rain delays, hordes of unlikely heroes, and both sides celebrating iconic moments. It was an instant classic, and one of the greatest Game 7s ever played.
2000-2009
Nov. 4, 2001: Yankees @ Diamondbacks, World Series Game 7
The 2001 World Series, played against the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks, featured plenty of memorable games, but the D-Backs and Yankees saved the best for last. An epic starting pitching matchup pitting Roger Clemens against Curt Schilling gave way to a tense struggle featuring Randy Johnson's standout relief appearance on zero days' rest and a rare dark spot on Mariano Rivera's resume.
Oct. 16, 2003: Red Sox @ Yankees, ALCS Game 7
A series between bitter rivals finished in style following a Game 3 brawl - unless you're a Boston fan. The Red Sox looked poised to finally get past the Yankees until Grady Little left Pedro Martinez in and Aaron Boone became an unlikely hero in the Bronx. Old Yankee Stadium might never have been louder.
May 18, 2004: Diamondbacks @ Braves, Randy Johnson's perfect game
Johnson had already cemented himself as one of the greatest pitchers in history long before this impressive showing. The 40-year-old left-hander mowed through a powerful Braves lineup with ease to throw baseball's 17th perfect game. He became the oldest to post a flawless outing, passing Cy Young.
Oct. 9, 2005: Braves @ Astros, NLDS Game 4
An 18-inning marathon gave the Astros their first-ever playoff series win after Chris Burke's walk-off homer. This wild one also featured a five-run Houston comeback, with Lance Berkman's grand slam and Roger Clemens' first relief appearance in 21 years highlighting the effort. The latter came only after Clemens entered as a pinch hitter.
Oct. 6, 2009: Tigers @ Twins, AL Central tiebreaker
This Game 163 gave the Metrodome one last classic and deafening moment before the Twins moved outdoors. In a tight affair, Detroit blew a 10th-inning lead while Minnesota survived an egregious baserunning blunder from Alexi Casilla to eventually win it in 12. Sports Illustrated later named this contest the regular-season game of the decade.
1990 - 1999
Oct. 27, 1991: Braves @ Twins, World Series Game 7
Perhaps the greatest World Series ever played finished with arguably the greatest pitcher's duel ever contested. Future Hall of Famers Jack Morris and John Smoltz put up zeroes for the first nine innings, with Morris adding a scoreless 10th before the Twins finally broke through in the bottom half to win the series.
Oct. 23, 1993: Phillies @ Blue Jays, World Series Game 6
This Game 6 is known for an iconic baseball moment, but it also stands out as the best game during a very weird World Series. For Joe Carter to touch 'em all, the defending champion Blue Jays needed to withstand a pesky Phillies team that simply refused to quit, resulting in a nail-biter from start to finish.
Sept. 2, 1995: Angels @ Orioles, Cal passes Lou
With Lou Gehrig's former teammate Joe DiMaggio and President Bill Clinton in attendance, Cal Ripken Jr. passed the "Iron Horse," becoming baseball's ironman by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game. Ripken's impromptu mid-game lap around Camden Yards and incredible home run can still bring a tear to your eye. Many people credit this game with revitalizing their interest in baseball following the 1994 strike.
Oct. 8, 1995: Yankees @ Mariners, ALDS Game 5
Making their first-ever playoff appearance amid the threat of relocation, the Mariners bested the Yankees in an 11-inning marathon featuring a long Ken Griffey Jr. homer, a stellar relief appearance from Randy Johnson, and Edgar Martinez plating Junior in the 11th with what's known in Seattle as "The Double." It might be the best Division Series game ever.
May 6, 1998: Astros @ Cubs, Kerry Wood strikes out 20
Wood's fifth career start was one for the ages. Facing a dominant Astros lineup that included two future Hall of Famers, the 20-year-old tied a major-league record with 20 strikeouts while allowing just one hit (that probably should have been scored an error) in a brilliant shutout performance. Wood's game score of 105 is the highest in baseball history for a nine-inning start.
Pre-1990
Oct. 14, 1965: Dodgers @ Twins, World Series Game 7
In the best playoff performance of his career, Sandy Koufax clinched the title for L.A. with a brilliant 10-strikeout, three-hit shutout on the road in Minnesota. Not only did Koufax do that just two days after spinning another 10-strikeout shutout, but he pitched through intense pain from the arthritic left elbow that would end his career one year later. Bonus points for Vin Scully on the mic.
Oct. 17, 1971: Pirates @ Orioles, World Series Game 7
The Pirates upset the defending champion Orioles to claim their first title in 11 years on the back of starter Steve Blass, who pitched the game of his life - a four-hit, one-run gem. Roberto Clemente clinched World Series MVP honors with a fourth-inning homer.
Oct. 21, 1975: Reds @ Red Sox, World Series Game 6
For many, this is the greatest baseball game ever played. A narrow, 12-inning affair at Fenway Park culminating in Carlton Fisk waving his long shot fair, resulting in one of the first iconic images of baseball's television age. It never gets old.
July 24, 1983: Royals @ Yankees, the 'Pine Tar Game'
George Brett hit a two-out, go-ahead homer off Goose Gossage in the top of the ninth, but umpires called him out after ruling there was too much pine tar on his bat, leading to Brett storming the field in one of the most memorable meltdowns in sports. The Royals protested the ruling and won, allowing Brett's homer to stand. When the game resumed 25 days later, Kansas City held a one-run lead, Brett played cards at the airport because he was ejected, and the Yankees put pitcher Ron Guidry in center field to protest the resumption. The entire game - including its strange finish - can be watched together in one video.
Oct. 25, 1986: Red Sox @ Mets, World Series Game 6
Buckner's boot. A young Roger Clemens turning in a brilliant start for the Red Sox that relievers Calvin Schiraldi and Bob Stanley wasted. Dave Henderson's 10th-inning homer. The Sox being one strike away. This game had it all, and as a bonus, check out two other classics from the 1986 playoffs during the ALCS and NLCS.