Touch 'Em All, Joe

On October 23, 1993, Joe Carter hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Mitch Williams to give the Toronto Blue Jays an 8-6 victory in Game 6 of the World Series. Toronto won its second consecutive championship, and Carter's home run became one of the most celebrated moments in postseason history.

Only one other World Series had ended on a walk-off home run. Bill Mazeroski did it for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. But Mazeroski's Pirates were tied going into the ninth. Carter's Blue Jays were trailing 6-5 when he stepped in against Williams with one out and two runners on base.

Williams, nicknamed "Wild Thing" for his unpredictable control, threw a slider that stayed over the plate. Carter pulled it over the left field fence at SkyDome. Canadian broadcaster Tom Cheek called it: "Touch 'em all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life." Carter leaped around the bases, pumping his fist, and was mobbed at home plate by teammates.

The game itself was a wild affair. Philadelphia had jumped to a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh on Lenny Dykstra's three-run homer. The Blue Jays had already scored five runs of their own. The entire Series had been like that, with high scores and constant swings of momentum. Game 4, a 15-14 Toronto win, set a World Series record for combined runs.

Carter finished his career with 396 home runs and five All-Star selections, but the home run on October 23 defined him. It was the only walk-off home run hit by a player whose team was trailing in a World Series-clinching game, a distinction that has held for more than three decades.