# 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:** 3
**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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/41 "2011-05-15T21:34:56Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > That was not part of the thread. Hell it took place in Hershey Pa. šŸ˜• You mentioned it 2 posts above mine - how it not a part of the thread? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/42 "2011-05-15T22:25:45Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > \*\*Hockey: \*\* > > For Canada, [Hendersonā€™s winning goal in the last second in the last game of the 1972 Summit Series](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMf2fAXPS1Q), in which for the first time Canadian NHL players were pitted against the best the USSR had to offer. Canada ā€“ USSR dĆ©tente through hockey. > > For Quebec, [Rocket Richardā€™s 1955 attack on a player and a linesman](http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=37832), which led at the next game to NHL President Campbell being punched by a fan and the crowd pelting Campbell with refuse, a smoke bomb going off in the Forum followed by an evacuation, and a major street riot which went on until four in the morning. Richard was brought out in front of the microphones the next day in an attempt to calm things down. It was a seminal precursor of la RĆ©volution tranquille / the Quiet Revolution. When Richard attended at the closing of the Forum 1996, he received a sixteen minute standing ovation from the crowd, and when he died in 2000, Quebec gave him a state funeral. ā€œRichard 5, Toronto 1ā€ indeed. I agree with both of these. Runner up for Canada, particularly for the younger hockey fans is ā€œ[Sidney Crosby, the Golden Goal!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yeiWaXkJSo)ā€ CFL: Iā€™m not familiar enough with the history of the game to nominate anything older than a couple of years, but does the [Thirteenth Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77L3gNDCUnw) count as an individual (mis) play? Whoever it wasā€¦heā€™s famous for it! ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/43 "2011-05-15T22:30:50Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 1983, NC Stateā€™s last second ally-oop to beat Houston. While it was an exciting play, it was more a rescued airball than it was an ally-oop. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/44 "2011-05-15T22:36:44Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > I came into the thread to post about that try - it is certainly the classic, although I think Jonah Lomuā€™s efforts against [England in the 1995 World Cup Semifinal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAY_Mi5spxA) are worthy of an honorable mention, for their skill in a variety of areas. And [Gio Aplonā€™s try](http://www.superxv.com/video/super-rugby-video-highlights-2011-gio-aplons-try-against-the-chiefs-rd13/gio-aplons-try-against-the-chiefs-rd13-super-rugby-video-highlights-2011-video_f24f26594.html) in yesterdayā€™s Super 15 loss isnā€™t too bad either. > > For cricket - it would have to be the fantastic [ā€œBall of the Centuryā€](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOVei8iTyM8) - Shane Warne to Mike Gatting > > Grim I agree with Warneā€™s ball of the century for cricket. The thing which sets the Barbarianā€™s try ahead of all others for me is the nature of the Barbarians team. Here you have a festival team put together for this one match combining to create one of the most classic tries against perhaps the most legendary opponents in rugby. Itā€™s like a cliched ā€˜plucky underdogs defeat the feared championsā€™ movie. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/45 "2011-05-15T22:37:01Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I think his [hand switching layup](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7vsjOHq5E0) against the Lakers is more famous. I STILL donā€™t know how he did that! šŸ†’ ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/46 "2011-05-15T22:41:48Z")
minlokwat: > [@](#): > > And for non-game winners, Iā€™d submit George Brettā€™s pine-tar bat homer The Pine Tar Homer was in fact the game-winner. And Iā€™d say the most famous play in baseball history was Babe Ruthā€™s ā€œcalled shot.ā€ Whether or not you believe he really called it, he sure did hit it, and the legend of the call - true or false - made it famous. In ice hockey, Iā€™d have to say Stephane Matteauā€™s goal in 2nd overtime to put the Rangers past the Devils into the 1994 Stanley Cup. I will never forget Howie Roseā€™s call ā€œMATTEAU! MATTEAU! MATTEAU!ā€ ---
**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, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/47 "2011-05-15T22:42:48Z")
To clarify, **Gonzo** , I was equating ā€œfamousā€ with how many people have seen a particular event. In retrospect, probably an incorrect approach. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/48 "2011-05-15T22:43:19Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Baseball - Kirby Puckettā€™s catch in 6th game of the 1991 World Series. (Og, I canā€™t believe that was 20 years ago now.) [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07yoanmGq4A) > > Professional basketball - Julius Ervingā€™s underhand scoop against the Lakers in the 1980 finals. [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0mLvG9KFsw) 1.ā€œWeā€™ll see you tomorrow night!ā€ 2.Another one I canā€™t figure out HOW he did it! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/49 "2011-05-15T22:46:46Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > Jonah Lomuā€™s efforts against [England in the 1995 World Cup Semifinal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAY_Mi5spxA) are worthy of an honorable mention, for their skill in a variety of areas. Itā€™s a testament to Lomu that even though he retired sick, like, how many years ago, people still talk about him with awe. If I could mention a single standout play of his I would post it here, but pretty much everything he did in that World Cup was amazing. 'Cept in the final of course. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/50 "2011-05-15T22:48:25Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 1983, NC Stateā€™s last second ally-oop to beat Houston. Yep. Phi Slamma Jamma denied. Not rectified in Houston B-Ball fans eyes until Hakeem beat Patrick in the NBA finals. ---
**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 16, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/51 "2011-05-16T00:21:22Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Professional basketball - Julius Ervingā€™s underhand scoop against the Lakers in the 1980 finals. [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0mLvG9KFsw) Wow. I watched the video three times and Iā€™m still not sure how he did that. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/52 "2011-05-16T00:39:46Z")
[This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7rsqsNf4SE&feature=related) play by Ralph Sampson was very well known for a while. NBA, Rockets vs Lakers ---
**Author:** ![The\_Walking\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@The\_Walking\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Walking_Dude)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/53 "2011-05-16T02:05:48Z")
Most of the ones I can think of have already been mentioned. As someone that doesnā€™t really follow golf very much, I can only think of one golf ā€œplayā€. That is probably a decent endorsement for it being one of the most famous plays in history. Tiger Woods - Augusta National 2005 - 16th Hole [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZcpbsoeDZ0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZcpbsoeDZ0) ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/54 "2011-05-16T04:41:34Z")
In case you havenā€™t seen it, in 1999 ESPN put together a collection of clips called ā€œ[Images of the Century](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0sZ_oPBFr8).ā€ Pretty awesome. The only sports I feel qualified to talk about are college BB and baseball. For the NCAA Iā€™d have to go with Laettner. Baseball is a bit more difficult, but Iā€™d have to vote for Bobby Thomson. All the others are probably as well known, but there is something about _The Shot Heard Round The World_ that brings me unbridled joy. The Giants were a preseason favorite, but falter early and find themselves 13.5 games out of first place. Then they go an astounding 37-7 in the final 44 games to tie the Dodgers on the final day of the season, forcing a 3 game play-off to decide who will go on to face the Yankees in the World Series. They split the first two games, and all hope seems lost for the Giants when they enter the bottom of the 9th trailing 4-1. But they get back to back singles, a double, and ultimately a game ending, series ending Home Run that sends everyone at the Polo Grounds into a [frenzy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrI7dVj90zs). There was nothing special about the play itself. It was just a home run. But the phenomenal outburst of emotion surrounding the play is why we watch sports. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/55 "2011-05-16T05:45:11Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > [Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Gibson_1988_World_Series_home_run) > > Gibson was barely standing up, both of his knees were injured. He spent most of the game in the clubhouse, and near the end told his coach he could pinch hit if needed. Also, his legs were so bad that he might not have been able to hobble to first on any ball that stayed in the park. It was a homer or nothing. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/56 "2011-05-16T10:43:26Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > 'Cept in the final of course. šŸ˜‰ Ja, but thatā€™s because he was poisoned, along with the rest of the team. šŸ˜‰ ---
**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 16, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/57 "2011-05-16T12:03:05Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > I came into the thread to post about that try - it is certainly the classic, although I think Jonah Lomuā€™s efforts against [England in the 1995 World Cup Semifinal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAY_Mi5spxA) are worthy of an honorable mention, for their skill in a variety of areas. And [Gio Aplonā€™s try](http://www.superxv.com/video/super-rugby-video-highlights-2011-gio-aplons-try-against-the-chiefs-rd13/gio-aplons-try-against-the-chiefs-rd13-super-rugby-video-highlights-2011-video_f24f26594.html) in yesterdayā€™s Super 15 loss isnā€™t too bad either. I actually nearly linked to that Lomu video as well but thought his demolition of England would only be well known in the UK and New Zealand. For Rugby League, perhaps Martin Offiah [running the full length](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBtoUy5cHYU) of the Wembley pitch against Leeds in 1994 is a contender (though, again, I donā€™t know how well this try is known outside the UK). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/58 "2011-05-16T13:26:14Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I STILL donā€™t know how he did that! šŸ†’ And I still wonder if he switched hands to avoid a potential block (which is what Jordan says he was doing) or if he was just showing off. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/59 "2011-05-18T00:56:47Z")
late to the thread, so most of mine have already been mentioned (the Kirk Gibson homerun, the Tiger Woods chip-in at the 2005 Masters) But as a converted Yankees fan (dating back to the drama of the 2001 World Series), here are my contributions: [Tino Martinez homerun in Game 4](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=2946720) [Derek Jeter homerun to win Game 4 (as the clock ticked to November)](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=7105163) [Scott Brosius homerun to tie Game 5](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=2685717) How they didnā€™t finish off the D-Backs in that World Series, Iā€™ll never know. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981/60 "2011-05-18T07:35:16Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > I think the Shot Heard Round the World is more famous for Red Barberā€™s call from the booth than from the hit itself. Russ Hodges had the famous call, not Red Barber (although Barber did cover the game). Apart from Hodgesā€™ call, what made Thomsonā€™s home run so memorable was the context. The Giants and Dodgers had the fiercest rivalry in American sports. The Giants had fallen thirteen and a half games behind the Dodgers by August 11. From that point forward the Giants outplayed the Dodgers, and the teams ended up tied at the end of the regular season. They played a three-game series to determine the National League championship (there were no divisions in those days - the team with the best record in the regular season won the pennant). The Giants won the first game and the Dodgers won the second. In the final game the Dodgers were leading in the bottom of the ninth inning when Thomson hit his famous home run. Itā€™s not just that Thomson hit a homer to win a playoff series. Itā€™s that the homer capped a comeback by the Giants that took almost three months. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-famous-individual-plays-by-sport/581981.md?page=4)