MLB – All-Time Playoff Performers

Performing in the regular season is one thing, but being able to come through in the stress and spotlight of the postseason is another thing altogether. In the playoffs the pitching gets stronger and the defense tightens up, yet these batters found a way to make things happen. Here are some of the greatest playoff hitters of all-time.

Phil Garner – Phil Garner was a journeyman infielder in the 1970s and ’80s who never won a silver slugger and was only selected three times to the All-Star game in 16 seasons of professional ball. His career batting average was .260 and he never once came close to batting .300 in a season, yet Garner was able to put together several brilliant postseason performances. In 1979, when his Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series, Phil Garner played like a man possessed. In 36 at-bats Garner managed to record 17 hits, including four doubles, a triple and a home run, resulting in a slugging percentage well in the .700s. His lifetime postseason batting average is .309.

Amos Otis – Kansas City Royals outfielder Amos Otis was a good player in the regular season, a constant All-Star, sometimes in the running for league MVP and a two-time Gold Glove winner. But in the playoffs he really came alive. In two postseasons in 1978 and 1980 Otis hit .428, a huge improvement on his career regular season batting average of .277. While he never won the big one, he’ll be remembered by fans who purchased MLB tickets to those games as one of the most clutch hitters ever.

Barry Bonds – While Barry Bonds gets plenty of criticism for one thing or another, one thing nobody will ever accuse him of is choking under pressure. Unlike average players who came alive in the postseason, Barry was an athlete who dominated the whole season through, but seemed to get even better once October came around. Even though pitchers gave him hardly anything to work with, during the 2002 playoffs Bonds managed to hit .355 and slug .978. Everything that was thrown his way was sent to the bleachers.

Lou Gehrig – Like Bonds, Gehrig was considered to be one of the greatest hitters of his day, so improving upon his regular season averages was really something special. Gehrig has a lifetime batting average of .340, which ranks No. 17 all-time, but in postseason play he improved his average to .361. What’s more impressive is his increase in power in October. While a decent .632 lifetime slugger, Gehrig slugged .731 in the postseason, on his way to helping the Yankees win 6 World Series titles. 1928 was perhaps his most impressive postseason performance. Lou Gehrig had 11 at-bats which resulted in four home runs and nine RBI. Wouldn’t it be something to see Gehrig play by getting tickets online?

Reggie Jackson – They didn’t call him “Mr. October” for no reason. Reggie Jackson was famous for coming alive in the postseason, but his career postseason batting average (.278) and slugging percentage (.527) don’t tell the whole story. Jackson put together no fewer than nine seasons where he slugged over .500 in October. While there were instances where he didn’t perform (such as his last two playoff seasons with the Angels), with the Yankees, where he won 6 World Series titles, he always came through. One time in particular, the 1977 World Series, Jackson astounded fans with five home runs in a series.

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