Starting Nine: Touch 'Em All, Joe!
The Hall of Fame's Starting Nine includes must-see artifacts from every big league team. Check out the Blue Jays Starting Nine online.
For two straight World Series, Joe Carter was at the epicenter of the game’s most special moment.
For Blue Jays fans, each holds its own unique memories.
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Toronto made its first World Series appearance in 1992, facing the Braves in a tightly contested matchup that featured four one-run games.
In Game 6, the Blue Jays entered the bottom of the 11th with a two-run lead before Atlanta rallied for one run – with the tying run on third base with two outs. Braves speedster Otis Nixon dropped a bunt to try to push pinch-runner John Smoltz across the plate, but Toronto pitcher Mike Timlin pounced on the ball and threw to Carter – playing first base that day. Carter stepped on the bag just ahead of Nixon, squeezing the final out of a World Series that saw an international champion crowned for the first time.
Three-hundred sixty-four days later, the Blue Jays were hosting another Game 6 – this time against the Philadelphia Phillies. Mitch Williams was on the mound for Philadelphia, which led 6-5 going to the bottom of the ninth inning at SkyDome.
Once again, there would be no Game 7.
Rickey Henderson drew a walk to start the ninth, and Paul Molitor’s one-out single put runners on first and second. Up stepped Carter, who worked the count to 2-2 before turning on an inside fastball and lining the ball over the left field fence just inside the foul line.
The three-run homer – hit with a bat that now resides in Cooperstown – gave the Blue Jays an 8-6 victory and their second straight World Series title.
“Touch ’em all Joe!” gushed Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek. “You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life!”
Carter became the second player to hit a walk-off, World Series-winning home run – joining the Pirates Bill Mazeroski, who ended the 1960 Fall Classic with a Game 7 home run against the Yankees.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Starting Nine
The Hall of Fame's Starting Nine is a lineup of must-see artifacts from our vast collection containing tens of thousands of pieces that preserve the magical moments and memorable stories of our National Pastime. Our curators have spent countless hours hand-picking special objects from every major league team to create a lineup of pieces you simply won’t believe we have!
