What Are the Most Famous Individual Plays by Sport?

The Game Room
1

Not most famous games, series or rivalries but individual in-between-the-whistles plays?

Your criteria is whatever you want it to be whether it is a significant game-winner or a whacky blooper-fest. Mine:

Football NFL: The Immaculate Reception. (I’m thinking there’s no need for a link nor further explanation for these.)

Second might be the Music City Miracle. Or Montana to Clark/The Catch.

Football College: The Stanford Band Takes the Field or Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary.

Basketball College: So many to choose from but I’d go with Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater over Kentucky.

Basketball NBA: Again lots to pick from. I’d have to pick Jordan over Ehlo/Cleveland for the win.

Baseball: Might be too tough to pick just one but I’d say Carlton Fisk’s homer accompanied with body English waving it fair.

Alright I’ll open with these.

For the life of me, as a big tennis fan, I can’t think of one individual stand-out play that would be as universally recognized as the ones above.

2

Even among home runs, The Shot Heard 'Round The World outranks it.

But, to be honest, I suspect the biggest baseball play ever was The Catch.

3

I’d say on balance for soccer Carlos Alberto’s goal in the 1970 World Cup final (often cited as one of the best team goals ever scored, not that I agree) Carlos Alberto 1970 wondergoal - YouTube

Or possibly either of Diego Maradona’s goals against England in the 2nd round of the 1986 World Cup: Diego Maradona's Goal of the Century. - YouTube (‘goal of the century’ - overrated IMO) and - YouTube (‘the hand of God’).

4

Maradona’s ‘Goal of the century’ might be a good contender for soccer.

This goal involving almost the entire Brazilian team is commonly cited as one of the best soccer plays of all time.

And then you’ve got this one, which is just mental! :slight_smile:

Edit: Bah! Scooped by my own pants! :slight_smile:

5

Bobby Orr’s “flying” goal is probably the top NHL play of all time.

6

Track and field
Billy Mills winning the 10,000 meter run in the 1964 Olympics.

Cycling***
Greg Lemond coming back from a 50 second deficit on the last day to win the 1989 Tour De France.

7

That’s easy. Michael Chang’s underhand serveto Ivan Lendl in the 89 French Open. A moment of pure craziness and it worked !

8

Said the Giants fan? I really don’t see why Bobby Thomson’s hit sixty years ago, not even in a World Series game, should continue to be held so high. I’d certainly be willing to bet that Fisk and for that matter Aaron 715 are better-known images, and several hits including Fisk’s can be argued to have been as meaningful in their moment.

9

Right. I think the Shot Heard Round the World is more famous for Red Barber’s call from the booth than from the hit itself.

And for non-game winners, I’d submit George Brett’s pine-tar bat homer and ensuing reaction for consideration. Seems with baseball’s most famous plays, we’d almost have to come up with sub-categories.

10

I think his hand switching layup against the Lakers is more famous.

11

Rugby union will probably depend on which country you’re from, but I think “that try” from the 1973 Barbarians vs. All Blacks game is a contender.

(Compare the size of those players to modern players! They’re tiny.)

12

Nice one. What about Yogi Berra leaping into the arms of Don Larson?

13

In terms of baseball home runs, I’d take Kirk Gibson’s shot off of Dennis Eckersley. It would have been rejected as too far-fetched if someone scripted it for a baseball movie.

14

The Buckner Footage is pretty well known also.

15

Indelible image, but not exactly a play. Likewise, Yogi going nuts after Jackie’s steal of home.

16

Talk about too far-fetched.

Bill Maseroski ends the 1960 World Series with a homer.

1960 World Series. Look at the stats and explain why the Yankees didn’t win. :smiley:

17

NBA
“Havlichek stole the ball! Havlichek stole the ball!”
Jerry West’s half court buzzer beater
Magic Johnson’s “junior junior sky hook”
Dr. J palming the ball, jumping behind the basket, layup off the backboard into the basket
Dr. J cradling the ball, jumping in for a sweeping slam dunk
Vince Carter jumping over a 7ft guy for a slam dunk in the Olympics

And as a Lakers fan, for me personally:
Kobe to Shaq ally-oop in the 2000 Western Conference Finals, game 7
Robert Horry at the buzzer, 3pt shot against the Kings in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, game 4
0.4

18

Kirk Gibson’s homer against Eckersley gets my vote.

19

I’ve heard that a lot but I’m not a baseball fan. Why was it such an upset for the Dodger to win that year and Gibson to hit a HR? He’s not known as someone who could hit?

20

1983, NC State’s last second ally-oop to beat Houston.