Last Updated: October 21st, 2026 by Matthew Brown
The MLB postseason just has a different feel to it than any other sport. I feel like a baseball playoff series can be experienced like a short, explosive battle, a long, epic movie, or anywhere in between. One thing is for sure: legends are made in the postseason, and boy, do we have some legends here.
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Let's start with a guy who didn't play every game and would only appear in a single inning in most games he entered, but was maybe the most impactful on the team he played for.
11. Mariano Rivera: The Postseason’s Greatest Closer
When it comes to the ninth inning, there is no other pitcher that a playoff team would want to enter than Mariano Rivera. The unanimous Hall of Famer recorded an all-time record 652 saves in his career, which does not reflect what he did in the postseason.
He appeared in 96 playoff games and got 42 saves for the Yankees in those games. That number 42 is very significant since it's the number he wore on his back as the last in baseball history to do so.
10. David Ortiz: Boston’s Big Game Hero
It's hard to believe that David Ortiz was just a developing designated hitter who was released by the Minnesota Twins by the time he found a home in Boston. Once he became a part of the Red Sox, his career took off. He quickly became a legend as he was the ALCS MVP in their historic 2004 World Series run.
I think what some may forget is that he was the World Series MVP later in his career when he led the Red Sox to another championship in 2013.
9. Reggie Jackson: Mr. October
I recently heard a story told by former great outfielder Curtis Granderson, and he said that he once got to meet Reggie Jackson. The Hall of Famer asked Granderson for his name and if he had a nickname. Granderson said his nickname was Grandy.
All Reggie Jackson responded with was, "Oh yeah? Well, my nickname is Mr. October."
It certainly is, and it will always remain that way. 18 postseason home runs can do that for you.
8. Derek Jeter: The Captain’s October Excellence
It's only fitting that we go from Mr. October to Mr. November. Derek Jeter had a career filled with postseason moments and World Series championships. He earned the World Series MVP in 2000 as he captained the Yankees to their third straight title.
His .308 batting average and 20 home runs over 158 playoff games in his career basically make it look like he played another full season to add to his other 16.
7. Bob Gibson: Postseason Dominance Personified
Bob Gibson is one of the greatest pitchers of all time. I think many will talk about the fact that his dominance in the 1968 regular season caused a major change in the game of baseball. But it was his postseason performances that were arguably more impressive.
He didn't just lead St. Louis to two World Series championships, he was the World Series MVP both times.
6. Bernie Williams: Yankees’ Clutch Centerfielder
We go back to that Yankees dynasty in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Bernie Williams was as great a center fielder as they could have wished for. He was the steady force that played a key position for 12 years and made big contributions in the playoffs.
He was the ALCS MVP in 1996, which led them to their first World Series title since 1978. I don't think this dynasty would have started if they didn't have Bernie.
5. Sandy Koufax: World Series Brilliance
A two-time World Series MVP, Sandy Koufax is an obvious entry for this list. There's a reason why some will stand by the fact that he was the greatest they'd ever seen, and his postseason performances add to his overall aura.
Yes, this was back in the days when they only had the World Series to play in, so Koufax only had eight playoff games he could contribute to. Even still, he had a phenomenal 0.95 ERA across those eight games.
4. Albert Pujols: The Machine’s October Excellence
There is no doubting Albert Pujols' excellence in the regular season. He is absolutely one of the greatest sluggers of all time. Sometimes, sluggers can slump in the playoffs.
But not Albert. He holds a .319 career batting average in the postseason, winning the NLCS MVP in 2004.
His eight home runs and 22 RBI across his two World Series title runs confirm his huge impact on the Cardinals franchise.
3. Curt Schilling: Blood and Glory
One game is really all this player needs to get onto this list. That legendary ALCS game in 2004 inspired a country. Playing through pain, gritting through adversity, performing at the highest level to bring back a team that is trying to do the impossible.
That's what Curt Schilling did for the Boston Red Sox. Without him, who knows when the curse would have been broken.
2. Mickey Mantle: World Series Record Holder
For many players, 18 home runs, 40 RBI, 42 runs, 43 walks, and 123 total bases are great numbers for a career that has seen many playoff games.
Nowadays, that could include the Wild Card Series, the Division Series, and the Championship Series. For Mickey Mantle, those numbers are just in the World Series. He did all of that on the biggest stage, leading the Yankees to seven World Series championships.
1. Madison Bumgarner: Modern Postseason Legend
Madison Bumgarner was a pretty good pitcher in the regular season. He was never a top-three Cy Young Award candidate, but he had a stretch of seasons where he was in the conversation.
However, when the San Francisco Giants reached the playoffs, he was a completely different pitcher. He earned the NLCS MVP and World Series MVP in the same season, which illustrates how amazing he really was when his team needed him most.
