Homeruns: Can you Believe it?

[Ltlabner]

The game winning walkoff grandslam Dunn hit reciently was one of the more exciting and thrilling moments in baseball that I've seen in a while. I was at GABP when Javy hit a pitch-hit walkoff 3 run shot and it was pretty cool, but Dunn's was very special.

What is the best homerun you've seen live? Gamewinner or not, important playoff game or not, doesn't matter.


Mine is a homer by Bench at Riverfront in the very early 80's. I was young and forgotten most of the details. I think it was against the Dodgers and wasn't a game winner or anything but I can vividly remember the packed house exploding with excitement when he jacked one over the fence in LF (I think it was LF). I was 10 or so and it was my first real taste of baseball excitement and energy. The crowd cheared until he made a curtian call and still went for a while. I've been going to Reds games since 1977 but this one moment stands out as my first real baseball memory and my favorite baseball homer.

[OnBaseMachine]

The Dunn 535 foot home run against Lima in 2004.

[Red Leader]

Eric Davis' HR in Game 1 of the '90 World Series.

That was awesome. You could just "feel" Riverfront Stadium explode.

[Blue]

Juan Castro's 8th inning 3-run homer to give the Reds the lead (in 2003 just after the fire sale)... I really need to make it to more games.

Dave Ross hit one after a 2 1/2 hour rain delay the first Friday of the season against the Pirates that landed in the upper deck, it was pretty much still going up when it went into the first row.

[Ltlabner]

Dave Ross hit one after a 2 1/2 hour rain delay the first Friday of the season against the Pirates that landed in the upper deck, it was pretty much still going up when it went into the first row.

I was there for that game also. That homerun by Ross was a monster.

[BuckWoody]

I was there with my dad earlier this year when Junior hit the extra inning walk-off homer against the Nats. Washington had taken the lead in the top of the inning and people started to head for the exits. My dad hates to ever leave any sporting event early and he passed that trait on to me...much to my wife's dismay. :) We sat there and poked fun at the folks that were leaving, saying to each other that they'd be sorry. About 15 minutes later, I'm sure that they all were.

That was pretty special considering who hit the homer and who I was there with. It was a very memorable night.

[westofyou]

Reggie Jackson 1971 All Star Game.

[RFS62]

Willie Mays hit one that was still going up when it went over the screen in leftfield at Crosley.

[UKFlounder]

Johnny Bench's shot to left field on Johnny Bench Night. I was 10 years old at the time and he was far and away my favorite player (definitely still is) and I can still remember being (foolish? naive? innocent?) enough to want to go to the 580 Gift Shop to buy it,since they sold home run balls there (I still have one hit by Ron Oester that we bought there), as if they would ever sell that one.

That was just the most wonderful baseball game I've ever seen, though the Reds lost (4-1, IIRC).

[reds1869]

Dunn's grand slam vs. the Tribe is the most special I've seen in person. My dad (who is not a Reds fan) and I both went crazy when he hit that one. The whole city was buzzing the rest of the evening. What a great feeling. It was extra special for me because my dad wasn't suppossed to get into town until midnight but arrived early and got to go to the game with me. Who knew it would be such a great finishe?

Probably the second most exciting I've seen live was Andy Van Slyke's game winner vs. the Expos in the 17th inning when I was a young kid. It was one of my first live games and I'll never forget it. I also enjoyed seeing Jr.'s first homer as a Red.

[Redhook]

Eric Davis' HR in Game 1 of the '90 World Series.

That was awesome. You could just "feel" Riverfront Stadium explode.

I was there too. Without a doubt, the best I've seen live due to the circumstances and to top it off, Davis was my favorite player.

[vaticanplum]

Derek Jeter hit his only career grand slam to date in Yankee Stadium on my birthday. And my friends and I, seated in the bleachers right behind it, totally called it beforehand. It was unbelievable.

Icing?

He hit another homer in the ninth inning.

Frosted rose?

The Yankees were playing the Cubs, and beat them 8-1.

[Handofdeath]

Reggie three homers in 1977 WS.

[ikkirus]

i was there for the 535 foot bomb by Dunn, that was cool. But I can't decide between Dunn's slam or Randa's opening day shot. I went equally nuts for both....but Randa's was on opening day. But then again, what Dunn did has only 5 times in 35 years or more than that...? Either one was spectacular. Being there for both was pretty unbelievable.

[dabvu2498]

Eric Davis' HR in Game 1 of the '90 World Series.

That was awesome. You could just "feel" Riverfront Stadium explode.
Bingo!!!

Best moment I've ever seen live, though was a triple. Name that triple. Yes, you guys know what it was.

Hint: Summer 1984

[vaticanplum]

Bingo!!!

Best moment I've ever seen live, though was a triple. Name that triple. Yes, you guys know what it was.

Griffey!!! (?)

[reds44]

Griffey's 500th.

Need I say more?

[BuckWoody]

Bingo!!!

Best moment I've ever seen live, though was a triple. Name that triple. Yes, you guys know what it was.

Hint: Summer 1984
Pete's first game back. Cool. :thumbup:

[vaticanplum]

Ok I just want to point out that that hint was not there when I guessed. I was not referring to Griffey Sr. :)

[goreds2]

My favorite HR in person was when Dave Concepcion hit a homerun to win a game against the Cards in 1980. I was there with my High School Team. We sat in the Green Seats in Center Field! (Front row)

The Reds coaches gave a clinic to us and other teams before the game.

[westofyou]

My favorite HR in person was when Dave Concepcion hit a homerun to win a game against the Cards in 1980. I was there with my High School Team. We sat in the Green Seats in Center Field! (Front row)

The Reds coaches gave a clinic to us and other teams before the game.
Cincinnati Reds 5, Atlanta Braves 4

Day

Game Played on Saturday, April 12, 1980 (D) at Riverfront Stadium


ATL N 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 - 4 9 2
CIN N 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 - 5 11 1

BATTING

Atlanta Braves AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Miller cf 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 0
Royster 2b 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
Matthews rf 5 0 2 2 0 0 2 0
Horner 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Garber p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Hrabosky p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chambliss 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 8 0
Murphy lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 1
Pocoroba c 3 1 2 1 1 0 7 0
Gomez ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 4
Asselstine ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Blanks ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Matula p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Lum ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Ruiz 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Totals 36 4 9 4 3 5 26 9

FIELDING -
DP: 1. Matula-Gomez-Chambliss.
E: Matthews (2), Horner (4).

BATTING -
2B: Royster (1,off Bonham); Matthews (1,off Bonham); Chambliss (1,off Bonham);
Lum (1,off Bonham); Pocoroba (1,off Hume).
IBB: Blanks (1,by Hume).
Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING -
SB: Miller (1,2nd base off Bair/Werner).

Cincinnati Reds AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Collins cf 4 2 3 0 1 0 4 0
Griffey rf 4 0 1 1 1 2 2 0
Concepcion ss 5 2 3 3 0 0 0 3
Foster lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
Driessen 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 11 0
Bench ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hume p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Knight 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
Kennedy 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 4
Werner c 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 0
Bonham p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Tomlin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bair p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Spilman ph,1b 2 1 1 0 0 1 3 0
Totals 35 5 11 4 4 6 27 11

FIELDING -
E: Bonham (1).

BATTING -
2B: Collins (1,off Matula); Concepcion 2 (2,off Matula,off Garber).
HR: Concepcion (1,9th inning off Hrabosky 1 on 2 out).
IBB: Driessen (1,by Matula); Foster (1,by Garber).
Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING -
SB: Collins (2,2nd base off Hrabosky/Pocoroba).

PITCHING

Atlanta Braves IP H R ER BB SO HR
Matula 6 6 1 0 2 4 0
Garber 0.2 4 2 2 1 1 0
Hrabosky L(0-1) 2 1 2 2 1 1 1
Totals 8.2 11 5 4 4 6 1

Cincinnati Reds IP H R ER BB SO HR
Bonham 6.2 6 3 3 1 4 0
Tomlin 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
Bair 0.1 1 0 0 1 0 0
Hume W(1-0) 2 1 0 0 1 1 0
Totals 9 9 4 4 3 5 0

IBB: Matula (1,Driessen); Garber (1,Foster); Hume (1,Blanks).

Umpires: Ed Montague, Lanny Harris, Harry Wendelstedt, Frank Pulli

Time of Game: 2:35 Attendance: 11839

Starting Lineups:

Atlanta Braves Cincinnati Reds
1. Miller cf Collins cf
2. Royster 2b Griffey rf
3. Matthews rf Concepcion ss
4. Horner 3b Foster lf
5. Chambliss 1b Driessen 1b
6. Murphy lf Knight 3b
7. Pocoroba c Kennedy 2b
8. Gomez ss Werner c
9. Matula p Bonham p

BRAVES 1ST: Miller grounded out (first unassisted); Royster
doubled to left; Matthews grounded out (shortstop to first);
Horner grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 1ST: Collins grounded out (shortstop to first); Griffey was
called out on strikes; Concepcion made an out to center; 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

BRAVES 2ND: Chambliss singled to right; Chambliss was picked off
first but was safe on an error by Bonham [Chambliss to second];
Murphy made an out to center; Pocoroba walked; Gomez made an out
to right; Matula was called out on strikes; 0 R, 1 H, 1 E, 2
LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 2ND: Foster singled to left; Driessen grounded into a
double play (pitcher to shortstop to first) [Foster out at
second]; Knight singled to left; Kennedy singled to left [Knight
to second]; Werner popped to shortstop; 0 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Braves 0, Reds 0.

BRAVES 3RD: Miller grounded out (first unassisted); Royster
popped to second; Matthews grounded out (shortstop to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 3RD: Bonham was called out on strikes; Collins doubled to
right [Collins to third (error by Matthews)]; Griffey was called
out on strikes; Concepcion grounded out (shortstop to first); 0
R, 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

BRAVES 4TH: Horner struck out; Chambliss grounded out (second to
first); Murphy was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 4TH: Foster popped to third in foul territory; Driessen
grounded out (first unassisted); Knight made an out to left; 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

BRAVES 5TH: Pocoroba grounded out (first unassisted); Gomez was
called out on strikes; Matula grounded out (third to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 5TH: Kennedy struck out; Werner made an out to left; Bonham
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves
0, Reds 0.

BRAVES 6TH: Miller grounded out (second to first); Royster
grounded out (shortstop to first); Matthews doubled to center;
Horner popped to catcher in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB. Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 6TH: Collins singled to center; Collins was picked off
first (pitcher to first); Griffey walked; Concepcion doubled to
left [Griffey out at home (left to catcher)]; Foster reached on
an error by Horner [Concepcion scored (unearned), Foster to
second]; Driessen was walked intentionally; Knight lined to
center; 1 R, 2 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Braves 0, Reds 1.

BRAVES 7TH: Chambliss doubled to center; Murphy grounded out
(second to first) [Chambliss to third]; Pocoroba singled to
right [Chambliss scored]; ASSELSTINE BATTED FOR GOMEZ;
Asselstine made an out to center; LUM BATTED FOR MATULA; Lum
doubled to center [Pocoroba scored]; TOMLIN REPLACED BONHAM
(PITCHING); Miller singled to third [Lum to third]; BAIR
REPLACED TOMLIN (PITCHING); Miller stole second; Royster walked;
Matthews singled to left [Lum scored, Miller scored, Royster to
third]; Horner made an out to right; 4 R, 5 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Braves 4, Reds 1.

REDS 7TH: GARBER REPLACED HORNER (PITCHING); BLANKS REPLACED
ASSELSTINE (PLAYING SS); RUIZ REPLACED LUM (PLAYING 3B); On a
bunt Kennedy made an out to pitcher; Werner was called out on
strikes; SPILMAN BATTED FOR BAIR; Spilman singled to right;
Collins singled to center [Spilman to second]; Griffey singled
to right [Spilman scored, Collins to third]; Concepcion doubled
to left [Collins scored, Griffey to third]; Foster was walked
intentionally; HRABOSKY REPLACED GARBER (PITCHING); BENCH BATTED
FOR DRIESSEN; Bench made an out to left; 2 R, 4 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.
Braves 4, Reds 3.

BRAVES 8TH: HUME REPLACED BENCH (PITCHING); SPILMAN STAYED IN
GAME (PLAYING 1B); Chambliss grounded out (pitcher to first);
Murphy made an out to center; Pocoroba doubled to center; Blanks
was walked intentionally; Ruiz grounded out (pitcher to first);
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Braves 4, Reds 3.

REDS 8TH: Knight made an out to right; Kennedy grounded out
(third to first); Werner grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves 4, Reds 3.

BRAVES 9TH: Miller struck out; Royster made an out to center;
Matthews grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Braves 4, Reds 3.

REDS 9TH: Spilman was called out on strikes; Collins walked;
Collins stole second; Griffey made an out to right; Concepcion
homered [Collins scored]; 2 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Braves 4, Reds
5.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Braves 4 9 2 8
Reds 5 11 1 8

[RicFlair]

2005. My first Reds game in fiev years. The Reds were down pretty much all game long. Pena had just come off the DL. He had previously hit a homerun in the game. Two men on, two outs, 9-8 Devil Rays lead. On Willy Mo Pena bobblehead night, he hit a three run homer to win it.

[TOBTTReds]

I've got a 4-way tie:

Larkin walk-off 2-run PH homer when he came off the DL a few years ago, the moment was just magical.

Opening Day '05, Joe Randa and Adam Dunn HR's in the 9th were amazing.

Wily Mo's walk-off BOMB on his bobble-head night

Adam Dunn's walk-off GS a few weeks ago.

I've been to a few more walk-offs like Jaun Castro on Cinco de Mayo IIRC. I've def seen more walk-offs than the percentages would guess, so that is pretty cool.

[Rob Dicken]

I've got a 4-way tie:
Wily Mo's walk-off BOMB on his bobble-head night


THAT WAS A BOMB! It was his second homer of the game too, I believe.

Another one has got to be Austin Kearns hitting his second homer of the game off of Jose Mesa of the Phillies, two years ago (I think), to win the ball game.

One of my first games I ever went to, was at Riverfront Stadium, and it was against Deion Sanders and the Atlanta Braves. I remember Glenn Braggs jacking one in the Red Seats, and the place errupting.