Cody Ross, 2010 NLCS
When the San Francisco Giants picked up outfielder Cody Ross off waivers in August 2010, it was mainly to block their division-rival San Diego Padres from getting him. No one envisioned him becoming the centerpiece of their offense. But facing the heavily
favored Philadelphia Phillies and their staff of aces, Ross transformed. In Game 1, he hit two home runs off the nearly unhittable Roy Halladay. He kept hitting, finishing the series with a .350 average, three doubles, and three homers, earning him NLCS MVP honors. For a journeyman player, it was a stunning, career-defining performance that propelled the Giants to their first World Series title in San Francisco history.
Aaron Boone, 2003 ALCS
Sometimes, one swing is all it takes. Aaron Boone was a solid player, but his tenure with the New York Yankees was only a few months old when he stepped to the plate in the 11th inning of a tied Game 7 against the arch-rival Boston Red Sox. On the very first pitch from knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, Boone launched a solo home run into the left-field seats, instantly ending the series and sending the Yankees to the World Series. It was a singular, electrifying moment that became one of the most iconic walk-off home runs in postseason history, cementing the third baseman's place in Yankees lore forever despite his very brief career in pinstripes.
Daniel Murphy, 2015 NLCS
Before his later-career success, Daniel Murphy was a solid-hitting second baseman for the New York Mets, but not a significant power threat. Then October 2015 happened. After a strong Division Series, Murphy went supernova in the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs. He homered in all four games of the sweep, batting an incredible .529 with four home runs and six RBI. He set a record by homering in six consecutive postseason games, a feat that seemed to come out of nowhere. Murphy was the obvious choice for NLCS MVP, having one of the most dominant and unexpected offensive series in recent memory.
Travis Ishikawa, 2014 NLCS
Every kid who plays baseball dreams of hitting a pennant-winning walk-off home run. Travis Ishikawa lived it. A first baseman and outfielder who had bounced around the league, Ishikawa was not known for his power. Yet in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS, with the San Francisco Giants looking to clinch the pennant against the St. Louis Cardinals, he came to the plate. Ishikawa sent a three-run blast into the right-field arcade, creating an iconic moment known as 'The Shot Heard 'Round the Bay' and sending the Giants to the World Series. It was the first NLCS-ending walk-off homer in history and an unforgettable highlight for an unlikely hero.
Eddie Perez, 1999 NLCS
Backup catchers are the definition of unsung heroes, rarely grabbing the spotlight. That all changed with Eddie Perez in the 1999 NLCS. Serving as Greg Maddux's personal catcher and Javy Lopez's backup for the Atlanta Braves, Perez was thrust into a more prominent role against the New York Mets. He responded with the series of his life. Perez hit .500 (10-for-20) with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI. His offensive explosion was completely unforeseen, and his two homers were both game-winners, earning him the NLCS MVP award. It remains one of the greatest and most surprising performances by a role player in postseason history.
Steve Pearce, 2018 Postseason
While Jackie Bradley Jr. was the official ALCS MVP for the Boston Red Sox, journeyman Steve Pearce was the team's ultimate unlikely October force. Acquired in a minor mid-season trade, the 35-year-old had played for every team in the AL East. He became a critical part of Boston's lineup, but his true heroics came in the World Series, where he was named MVP. His performance across the entire 2018 postseason, however, was what made him a legend. He provided clutch hits throughout the playoffs and hit four crucial home run overall. For a player who was seen as a depth piece, Pearce's incredible run to becoming a World Series MVP stands as a testament to how anyone can seize their moment.
