# What Are the Most Famous Individual Plays by Sport? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 15, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981 "2011-05-15T13:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/1 "2011-05-15T13:42:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/2 "2011-05-15T13:47:34Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > **Baseball:** Might be too tough to pick just one but I’d say Carlton Fisk’s homer accompanied with body English waving it fair. 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.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(baseball)) ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/3 "2011-05-15T14:01:20Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZkR5Wb2KQs) 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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-kXwjASEEl) (‘goal of the century’ - overrated IMO) and [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=711BNJZjR4I&feature=related) (‘the hand of God’). ---
**Author:** ![Cort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/77aa72/32.png) [@Cort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cort)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/4 "2011-05-15T14:02:18Z")
Maradona’s [‘Goal of the century’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-kXwjASEE&feature=related) might be a good contender for soccer. [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q712I3KPojA) 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!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxe4r6SjH0) 🙂 Edit: Bah! Scooped by my own pants! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/5 "2011-05-15T14:04:20Z")
[Bobby Orr’s “flying” goal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZR2MGFDTYE) is probably the top NHL play of all time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/6 "2011-05-15T14:05:20Z")
**Track and field** [Billy Mills](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mills) winning the [10,000 meter run](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOj0zjPzg-c) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/7 "2011-05-15T14:24:59Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > 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. That’s easy. Michael Chang’s underhand [serve](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayb8sAihvxU&feature=related)to Ivan Lendl in the 89 French Open. A moment of pure craziness and it worked ! ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/8 "2011-05-15T14:30:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@minlokwat](#): > > > > **Baseball:** Might be too tough to pick just one but I’d say Carlton Fisk’s homer accompanied with body English waving it fair. > > 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.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(baseball)) 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. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/9 "2011-05-15T14:49:16Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/10 "2011-05-15T15:02:18Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > **Basketball NBA:** Again lots to pick from. I’d have to pick Jordan over Ehlo/Cleveland for the win. I think his [hand switching layup](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7vsjOHq5E0) against the Lakers is more famous. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/11 "2011-05-15T15:07:09Z")
Rugby union will probably depend on which country you’re from, but I think [“that try”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwCbG4I0QyA) from the 1973 Barbarians vs. All Blacks game is a contender. (Compare the size of those players to modern players! They’re tiny.) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/12 "2011-05-15T15:23:45Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > 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. Nice one. What about Yogi Berra leaping into the arms of Don Larson? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/13 "2011-05-15T15:42:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/14 "2011-05-15T15:43:04Z")
The Buckner Footage is pretty well known also. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/15 "2011-05-15T15:43:35Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > What about Yogi Berra leaping into the arms of Don Larson? Indelible image, but not exactly a _play_. Likewise, Yogi going nuts after Jackie’s steal of home. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/16 "2011-05-15T15:48:13Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > 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. Talk about too far-fetched. Bill Maseroski ends the 1960 World Series [with a homer.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix848GU0gNo) [1960 World Series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_World_Series). Look at the stats and explain why the Yankees didn’t win. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/17 "2011-05-15T15:52:18Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/18 "2011-05-15T15:58:08Z")
Kirk Gibson’s homer against Eckersley gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/19 "2011-05-15T15:58:23Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > 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. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/20 "2011-05-15T16:00:32Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > **Basketball College:** So many to choose from but I’d go with Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater over Kentucky. 1983, NC State’s last second ally-oop to beat Houston. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981.md?page=2)