These are the 10 most memorable postseason leadoff home runs

This browser does not support the video element.

When people think of important postseason home runs, they tend to think of one of the iconic late-game homers. But sometimes an early-game blast can be just as important.

In 1903, Boston¡¯s Patsy Dougherty slugged the first leadoff home run in postseason history in the form of an inside-the-park home run in Game 2 of the World Series. Including that, there have been 68 leadoff home runs in the postseason. Seven players have done it multiple times, but no one has started a postseason game off with a bang more often than Kyle Schwarber. His leadoff clout in Game 1 of the 2024 NLDS was the fifth of his career. Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins, who each hit three leadoff home runs in the playoffs, are tied for second.

Here are some of the most exciting game-opening dingers in postseason history.

Jorge Soler (Braves): 2021 World Series Game 1

Soler wasted no time making his presence known in the 2021 World Series, as he smashed the third pitch from Astros starter Framber Valdez 382 feet into left field to give the Braves a 1-0 lead in what eventually became a World Series win for the Braves. With the swing, Soler became the first player to homer in the very first plate appearance of a Fall Classic (every other Game 1 leadoff home run had previously come in the bottom of the inning).

This browser does not support the video element.

George Springer (Astros): 2020 ALCS Game 5

While Carlos Correa got all the buzz for hitting the walk-off home run in Game 5 of the ALCS, Springer put Houston in front with a leadoff home run off John Curtiss. Springer, who is among the all-time leaders in both leadoff and postseason homers, jumped on the first pitch from Curtiss, which meant the Astros became the first team in baseball history to homer on the first and last pitch of a playoff game.

This browser does not support the video element.

Chris Taylor (Dodgers): 2017 World Series Game 1

Four years before Soler homered in the first at-bat of the World Series, Taylor hammered the first pitch he saw (in the bottom of the inning) for a home run. The first-inning tater was just another postseason accomplishment that season for Taylor, who went 6-for-19 (.316) with two home runs in the NLCS to win co-MVP honors (along with Justin Turner). It was the Dodgers' first postseason leadoff home run since Davey Lopes' blast leading off Game 6 of the 1978 World Series.

This browser does not support the video element.

Dexter Fowler (Cubs): 2016 World Series Game 7

Fowler set the tone for the Cubs in their curse-breaking win with the first (and only!) leadoff home run in World Series Game 7 history. It was just another day at the office for Fowler, who had a .393 on-base percentage in 2016, which was the best among switch-hitters with 500 plate appearances. It also set off another historic trend, as he and Taylor combined to become the first tandem to hit leadoff home runs in back-to-back World Series games.

This browser does not support the video element.

Alcides Escobar (Royals): 2015 World Series Game 1

Perhaps the most unexpected home run on this list, Escobar hit the first leadoff inside-the-park home run in World Series history since Dougherty¡¯s 112 years prior. The ball only traveled 372 feet, but took a weird bounce off Yoenis C¨¦spedes, which set up Escobar¡¯s wild romp around the bases.

This browser does not support the video element.

Jimmy Rollins (Phillies): 2008 NLCS Game 5

The second of Rollins¡¯ leadoff home runs during the Phillies¡¯ 2008 World Series run, Rollins put his team ahead with a shot off Chad Billingsley. While Rollins' 2008 season wasn¡¯t as good as his MVP campaign the previous season, this home run helped the Phillies' quest for their first World Series title since 1980.

This browser does not support the video element.

Johnny Damon (Red Sox): 2004 World Series Game 4

Damon¡¯s fourth leadoff home run of 2004 was the most important, as it ended up being the run that helped the Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino. Damon became one of seven people with two postseason leadoff home runs when he hit a game-opening home run for the Yankees against Cleveland in the ALDS three years later.

This browser does not support the video element.

Derek Jeter (Yankees): 2000 World Series Game 4

The first of Jeter¡¯s three record-tying postseason leadoff home runs, it helped the Yankees pick up a 3-2 win over the Mets and added to the Captain¡¯s growing legacy. He hit .409 with two home runs in the Subway Series to take home MVP honors.

This browser does not support the video element.

Rickey Henderson (Athletics): 1989 World Series Game 4

While Henderson has hit the most leadoff home runs in MLB history (81), he only tallied one leadoff home run during his postseason career. That said, he made sure to meet the moment, as his homer gave the Athletics a 1-0 lead in the clinching game of their 1989 World Series win.

This browser does not support the video element.

Lenny Dykstra (Mets): 1986 World Series Game 3

If it wasn¡¯t for Dykstra¡¯s leadoff blast, who knows if the Mets would have won the 1986 title. With the Mets down 2-0 in the series, Dykstra snuck a home run around Pesky's Pole off Oil Can Boyd to jump-start a four-run first inning by the Mets. New York won three of the next four games to grab the title.

This browser does not support the video element.

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com