Hitting a walk-off home run is one of the best feelings a player can have in baseball. By hitting the ball into the stands on the last pitch of the game, the walk-off home-run hitter has given his team the victory. Only the home team hitting in its final at bat can be the beneficiary of a walk-off home run. A player from the visiting team can hit a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning that gives his team the lead, but the home team will always have one more chance to tie the game or take the lead.
Definition
The term "walk-off home run" was first coined by Hall of Fame relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley in a postgame interview. Eckersley had given up a game-ending home run while pitching for the Oakland A's and said there was nothing left to do but "walk off" after the blow was hit. A walk-off home run is simply a home run that results in a win for the home team. It can occur in the bottom of the ninth inning or any extra inning. It can occur when the score is tied or the home team is behind by one, two or three runs. A two-run homer (one runner on base) will allow the team to overcome a one-run deficit; a three-run homer (two runners on base) will allow the team to overcome a two-run deficit and a grand slam (three runners on base) will allow the team to overcome a three-run deficit.
Misconceptions
While the walk-off home run gives the home team a win in memorable fashion, there is no proof that a walk-off homer will send the team on a winning streak. Momentum gained from such a hit may be important, but the most important factor when it comes to winning the next day is the starting pitcher. The team victimized by the walk-off winner can blunt that momentum by scoring a run or two in the top of the first inning and then having its pitcher shut down the opponent in the bottom of the first inning.
Considerations
The key to having a walk-off home run is to have a hitter who stays calm in potential game-winning situations. Normally, this type of batter has a lot of experience and has been up in game-winning situations before. Power hitters usually have the best chance of being successful in a walk-off situation, but power hitters who get overwhelmed by the moment will not succeed. It's not a matter of getting pumped up by the at bat, it's about staying calm and producing.
History
There have been some memorable walk-off home runs hit in Major League Baseball. The most famous home run ever hit came off the bat of the New York Giants' Bobby Thomson when he hit a three-run home run off Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951, according to the Major League Baseball Network. The victory came in the bottom of the ninth inning in the final game of a best-of-three playoff for the National League pennant. Bill Mazeroski hit a tie-breaking walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series to give the Pittsburgh Pirates the championship over the heavily favored New York Yankees. Joe Carter hit a series-winning walk-off home run to give the Toronto Blue Jays the 1993 World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Expert Insight
It's hard to plan for a walk-off home run, but the home team manager can give his team a chance to get the walk-off winner by having a power hitter on his bench when the game is on the line. These veteran hitters are very valuable and can often mean the difference between a team being average or a pennant contender.
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