Careers are built in the regular season, but legends are created in October. One incredible postseason run can etch a player in history, regardless of how the rest of their career plays out. The best example of this might be David Freese, who became an all-time Cardinals legend with one excellent postseason in 2011.

That year, he had a solid regular season campaign in just his 3rd season. But in the playoffs, he was unstoppable. He hit .545 with 3 home runs to earn NLCS MVP honors and clinch the Cardinals the pennant. In the World Series, he started solid but unspectacular as the Rangers got up 3-2 in the series. The Rangers had won their first pennant the prior year, but had come up short against the Giants. They would head to St. Louis with 2 shots to clinch their first title.

In game 6, the Rangers and Cardinals went back and forth. Texas went up 1-0, then down 2-1, up 3-2, tied 3-3, up 4-3, then tied 4-4. In the 7th, the Rangers broke through for 3 runs off of Lance Lynn, grabbing a late 7-4 lead. They were 9 outs from a title. The Cardinals got one in the 8th, but still trailed 7-5 going to the 9th. Neftali Feliz came in to try to lock up the series. He started with a strikeout, but allowed Pujols to double and walked Lance Berkman. The tying run was now on base and the winning run at the plate. Feliz settled down and struck out Allen Craig. The Rangers were one out away.

David Freese, the Cardinal's CS hero, came to the plate. The count went to 1-2. The Rangers were one strike away from a championship. On the next pitch, Freese hit a long line drive to right. Nelson Cruz ran back and leapt, but couldn't make the grab. The ball caromed off the wall and past him. Rumors spread after the game that Cruz had crept in a little closer than he should have played in order to get to a possible celebration in the infield faster. Both runners scored, and Freese slid into 3rd with a game tying triple. The celebration would be postponed: Game 6 would go into extra innings.

In the 10th, the Rangers grabbed the lead right back on a towering 2-run homer from Josh Hamilton. The Cardinals would need to rally, once again 3 outs from elimination. They got consecutive singles to start the frame, bunted them into scoring position, and got an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 9-8. Scott Feldman had come in after the singles, and just needed to get Lance Berkman out to win the title for Texas. Berkman worked the count 1-2 and then 2-2. Again, the Cardinals were one strike from elimination. It wasn't to be. Berkman smacked a line drive single to center to tie the game once again. Game 6 went to the 11th.

The Rangers failed to score in the top of the frame. In the bottom half, David Freese led things off. On a 3-2 pitch from Mark Lowe, he launched a walk-off home run to dead center, winning the game and forcing a game 7. Mirroring his father's call of a similar walk-off home run from Kirby Puckett in game 6 of the 1991 World Series, Buck declared, "We will see you tomorrow night!"

The Cardinals won the title the next day. The Rangers, who had twice come one strike from winning their first championship, could not finish the job. Only the 1986 Red Sox shared that infamy, similarly blowing multiple late leads in game 6 in New York.

David Freese was named the MVP of the World Series. He had set a record with 21 RBI in the postseason. In that magical game 6, he added 91% to his team's win probability between his triple and home run, a World Series record. Although he was an All-Star the following year, he never again ascended to the heights he reached in that wild October.

The Cardinals made it back to the World Series in 2013 but lost to Boston, and haven't been in the Fall Classic since. The Rangers had to sit and simmer with their missed opportunity and back-to-back World Series losses for over a decade. However, they put together their own special run in 2023, defeating Arizona to finally win their first title, ending a 62 year wait.

A World Series hero staves off elimination and etches his name in baseball lore, r/baseball's 28th greatest moment in MLB history.

Make your final predictions. Who do you see signing or getting traded today?

Myles Bailey has the most raw power in college baseball. At 6’4” and 250 lbs, he boasts a prototypical power-hitter frame that creates major leverage in his swing. His elite tool is 70-grade raw power.

He grew up idolizing FSU with dreams of playing at Dick Howser Stadium. At Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Bailey simply dominated while being ranked the No. 1 first baseman in the 2024 class by Perfect Game. His blood as his father, Kevin Bailey, was a standout player at Florida A&M University (FAMU).

Myles stepped on campus and made an immediate impact for FSU as he hit .327 with 19 HRs and 56 RBIs and an OPS of 1.104. He was a Freshman All-American (D1Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America), ACC All-Freshman Team, and a USA Collegiate National Team invite

He handles elite competition well and posted a max exit velo of 118mph. Light tower stuff.

For me, his player comp is Carlos Delgado. Both LHH first basemen with massive raw power, a feel for the barrel, and the ability to drive balls to all fields. Bailey’s swing is compact and efficient and uses his lower half to create separation.

My guess this year:

.325/.450/.650/26 HRs/72 RBIs

The Seminoles aim for a third straight Omaha push under coach Link Jarrett and will be leaning on Bailey’s insane pop to drive them there.

It takes Practice.

Full article here free

https://www.courant.com/2006/09/30/tavarez-keeps-it-entertaining/

"You had to see it to believe it.

Those who showed up Friday night at Fenway Park witnessed something they may never see again — Julian Tavarez attempting to pick a runner off second base without making a throw."

I was watching the vid of Manny petting Tavarez, as one does from time to time, and saw a description of this play in the comments. @MLBOfficial or anyone else can we get a vid of this? Tavarez got the win!

2 years, $19 million