Category: Baseball

There’s no sugarcoating it. Corbin Carroll’s hamate bone injury is a brutal loss for Team USA in next month’s highly anticipated World Baseball Classic. 

The Diamondbacks’ star outfielder broke his right hamate bone during batting practice at the outset of spring training on Tuesday. Carroll underwent surgery for the hand fracture on Wednesday, and he’s expected to be sidelined for several weeks, which sent Team USA scrambling for a replacement. Filling Carroll’s shoes won’t be easy. The 25-year-old is coming off his first-career 30/30 season. Carroll recorded a 140 OPS+ and won the Silver Slugger award last year. 

Team USA, strutting into the WBC with the best all-around roster in the tournament, suddenly needs to find another outfielder to suit up alongside Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstrong. As difficult as it will be to replace Carroll, who has been among the top position players in baseball since he debuted in 2022, if there’s any team that can pivot quickly to an exciting name, it’s the USA.

Let’s dig into possible outfield replacements Team USA could try to recruit:

Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers

Though Tucker might immediately seem like a no-brainer, particularly because he participated in the 2023 WBC for Team USA, there are some concerns worth flagging. Tucker played through a right-hand injury last season, and even though the newest Dodgers star is expected to be fully healthy to begin the year, playing in the WBC might not be worth the risk. The Dodgers also might prefer the outfielder to stick around at spring training and familiarize himself with his new team. Still, Tucker is the most obvious backup to fill in at the last minute. 

Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres

Merrill, entering his third season in the big leagues, is another logical replacement for Carroll. Though the 22-year-old only played in 115 games last season due to injuries, he still hit 16 home runs, collected 67 RBI and posted an OPS+ of 112. By any measure, that’s solid production for a center fielder in his sophomore season, even if it fell short of his incredible rookie campaign. Merrill is an obvious bounce back candidate for 2026 — and he can warm up by bringing his talents to the international stage. 

Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees

After inking his new five-year contract with the Yankees, Bellinger said he preferred to stay with his team in a full spring-training regimen rather than compete in the WBC. But that could change now that Team USA is in need of his services. His Yankees teammates Judge and reliever David Bednar will be suiting up for the USA, and Bellinger has never participated in the WBC. The 30-year-old is coming off a successful year in New York; he hit 29 home runs and posted an .813 OPS in 152 games for the Yankees. In addition to his bat, Bellinger’s defensive versatility would be another huge asset for Team USA.  

James Wood, Washington Nationals

Talk about imposing. This would be a tremendous opportunity for Team USA to roster a pair of 6-foot-7 outfielders in Judge and Wood. Wood is coming off a breakout season for the Nationals; the 23-year-old slugged 31 home runs and recorded an OPS+ of 132 last year despite no real protection in the lineup. The concerns for rostering Wood are his sky-high strikeout rate and limited track record. He might be overmatched in the WBC, especially against Japan’s terrifying pitching staff, should the USA face the Samurais. But Wood’s menacing power is enough for manager Mark DeRosa to give him a call.

Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers

One of the biggest losses stemming from Carroll’s absence is his stolen-base threat — and Langford could be the best option to restore that speed. The 24-year-old swiped 22 bases and hit 22 home runs for the Rangers last year. Langford is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, and though he’s not as impactful at the plate or a brand-name like Carroll, his on-base skills and speed are worth seriously considering.

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Could this really happen? Will the former captain once again wear the Stars and Stripes? It’s unlikely, due to the insurance issues that are preventing a number of MLB stars from participating in the tournament. But we can still dream. 

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We all store important items in different places. These items can include documents, jewelry, family heirlooms and … extracted body parts.

Wait, what???

Indeed, Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler revealed on Wednesday that he stores the partial rib he had removed last summer in his closet, per The Athletic.

So, there’s that.

Wheeler’s 2025 campaign ended in mid-August after it was discovered that he had venous thoracic outlet syndrome, a compression of nerves or blood vessels typically between the first rib and collarbone. So in September, Wheeler had surgery to remove a blood clot and part of a rib.

After surgery, Wheeler received the rib in a bag, and now it sits in a case at home. In his closet. 

“You have to do a bunch of stuff to it, so I guess it doesn’t decay,” Wheeler said.

The three-time All-Star isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day, but he could make his 2026 debut in the first two months of the season. Prior to the health development, Wheeler recorded a 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 195 strikeouts and 5.0 wins above replacement across 24 starts last season for the Phillies (149.2 innings).

In six seasons with Philadelphia, the 35-year-old right-hander has a 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 30.4 wins above replacement. He’s also made 11 postseason starts and was the runner-up for the 2021 National League Cy Young Award.

Wheeler isn’t the only athlete to hold onto a rib. While in college at Notre Dame, current Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman had part of a rib removed to correct Paget-Schroetter syndrome, a type of venous thoracic outlet syndrome. 

Like Wheeler, Hartman kept the rib, but he didn’t store it in a closet. Instead, he had it made into a necklace.

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The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be a star-studded affair, but there will now be at least one less star in the tournament.

Arizona Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll won’t play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic after breaking his right hamate bone in batting practice on Tuesday, ESPN reported on Wednesday morning. Carroll is having surgery for the injury on Wednesday and could begin the 2026 MLB regular season on the injured list.

Carroll, a two-time All-Star who was set to play in his first career World Baseball Classic for Team USA, has led the National League in triples in each of the last three seasons.

Last season, Carroll, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year Award winner, totaled 31 home runs, 84 RBIs, 32 stolen bases and 5.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .259/.343/.541 slash line. In doing so, he earned his first career Silver Slugger honor. Carroll also posted seven defensive runs saved in right field.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins on March 4, with Team USA’s first game coming on March 6 against Brazil. FOX is the primary home of the tournament.

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It’s time to dust off those ball bags — MLB spring training has commenced. 

Pitchers and catchers are starting to report to both Arizona and Florida for all 30 teams with Opening Day on March 25. Rosters are getting finalized and every team’s new offseason additions are getting their reps in – not to mention the much anticipated World Baseball Classic that will see the world’s best players compete on the international stage. 

Here are all the notable news and dealings as teams ramp up to Opening Day:

Feb. 10

Kris Bryant on 60-Day IL; Rockies Sign Tomoyuki Sugano

The Rockies will continue to be without one of their oft-injured big signings through at least two months.

Colorado placed infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list due to a degenerative lumbar disc disease (lower back). The slugger has appeared in just 170 games with the Rockies since agreeing to a $182 million, seven-year contract in March 2022.

In addition to playing Bryant on the IL, the Rockies added Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to their rotation on Tuesday, agreeing to a $5.1 million, one-year contract with the right-hander.

Sugano, 36, went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 30 starts with Baltimore last year. He pitched in Japan before agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with the Orioles in December 2024. Sugano played for the Yomiuri Giants for 12 seasons, winning three MVP awards in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.

Juan Soto changing positions

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Juan Soto will be shifting from right field to left field next season. Soto has extensive experience at both corner outfield positions but has primarily started in right field over the last two years. Last season was Soto’s first with the Mets and saw him total -7 defensive runs saved in right field. At the same time, the six-time Silver Slugger totaled a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, a National League-high 38 stolen bases and 6.2 wins above replacement, while posting a .263/.396/.525 slash line.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns revealed that Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone and could need surgery. If the four-time Silver Slugger indeed needs surgery, it could keep the shortstop off the field for roughly six weeks. The 32-year-old Lindor had elbow surgery in October. Last season, Lindor, a five-time All-Star, totaled 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and 5.9 wins above replacement, while posting a .267/.346/.466 slash line.

It’s come full circle as the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer returns to the club where he became a breakout star. Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young winner, inked a one-year deal for $13 million. Verlander has 266 victories are tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton with 3,574.

Verlander now bolsters an already stacked rotation that includes two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who also signed with Detroit in free agency. Verlander was traded to Houston in August 2017 and helped the Astros win the World Series that same year and again in 2022. Now he gets an opportunity to chase a third championship with the Tigers, who are looking for the franchise’s first title since 1984.

Feb. 9

Phillies desperately trying to trade outfielder

Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the team is “doing everything” it can “to make a move” regarding outfielder Nick Castellanos. The 33-year-old Castellanos is entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract and coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-low -0.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line. 

He also posted -11 defensive runs saved in right field (138 starts/143 appearances).

Ketel Martel: ‘Happy’ to stay with D-Backs 

Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said he remains happy staying with Arizona despite an offseason of speculation that the All-Star could be traded. 

“We talked a lot and hashed some things out, talked it all through and everything is great,” Marte said ahead of reporting to spring training early. “[GM] Mike [Hazen] knows I love the D-backs, I love my teammates. Everyone knows what type of player I am, and I’m just happy it all worked out and [that] I’m here.”

Hazen said that he did listen to offers but that a potential deal “never ended getting that close.”

“I felt like I had to do my job just to listen to what people had to say. He’s a superstar player for us, and has been for a long time, and is going to continue to be,” Hazen said. 

In his nine seasons for the Diamondbacks, Marte has made three All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger Awards, finished third (2024) and fourth (’19) in NL MVP Award voting, as well as being named MVP of the 2023 NL Championship Series. Marte will take part in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. 

Saalfrank to miss 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Andrew Saalfrank will miss the season after shoulder surgery, the team confirmed on Monday.

The 28-year-old was expected to be an important part of the team’s bullpen after compiling a 1.24 ERA over 28 appearances last season. The Diamondbacks did not say how Saalfrank got hurt, adding manager Torey Lovullo will address the injury on Tuesday.

It’s another hit for the pitching staff, which already is without relievers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, along with ace starter Corbin Burnes, for the first few months of the season. All three are recovering from elbow surgery and hope to be back during the summer.

Saalfrank called the surgery a “tough pill to swallow” on social media, adding that “the game of baseball can be a brutal one, but it’s also given me some of the best moments of my life, and I don’t expect that to change moving forward.”

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Topps is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Topps Baseball this year. The first set to be launched in this historic year, Topps Baseball Series 1, is hitting shelves on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

To mark the momentous occasion, this past December, Topps put together a panel of experts made up of league executives, players and historians to vote on the top 75 baseball cards of all time and subsequently break down the top 10 in order. Topps will offer these cards as PSA-graded redemptions throughout 2026 as an insert set called Iconic Topps Buybacks.

Moreover, this list was revealed on Tuesday’s edition of “First Things First.”

10: 2018 Topps Update Baseball Shohei Ohtani

This is the version of him batting, as there’s actually two Ohtani cards in this set: one of him pitching and one of him hitting. Ohtani has five of his cards in the top 75, which is more than any other player.

9: 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson

Henderson’s rookie card, it’s considered one of the most important and valuable base cards from the 1980s — the premier “modern” vintage card, bridging the gap between the 1960s/70s era and the junk-wax era of the 1980s.

8: 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente

Clemente’s rookie has only ever received one PSA 10, which is a perfect grade. It’s a high-numbered card in that 1955 set, which was traditionally produced in lower quantities and released later in the season, making it more scarce than low-numbered cards from the same year.

7: 1986 Topps Barry Bonds

The most famous of his rookie cards, it’s from the Topps Traded set, and there are two versions: the standard base edition and the high-end, limited-edition “Tiffany” version.

6: 1968 Topps Jerry Koosman/Nolan Ryan “Rookie Stars.”

It’s Nolan Ryan’s only official rookie card — and the only card in the top 10 that features multiple players; the following year, the New York Mets won the 1969 World Series. 

5: 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series Baseball Paul Skenes MLB Rookie Debut Patch

This card features the debut patch that Skenes wore in his first MLB game, which was taken off and then inserted into this one-of-one card, which was also autographed. This exact card of the Pittsburgh Pirates star sold in 2025 for $1.1 million on Fanatics Collect.

4: 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson

It’s Robinson’s first Topps-issued rookie card, coming five years after his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The card — like others in the 1952 set — include a facsimile of his signature. It’s part of the legendary high-number series, which was released in late-1952 and is famously difficult to find as many unsold cases were allegedly dumped into the Atlantic Ocean.

3: 1954 Topps Hank Aaron

Aaron’s rookie card, this is a grail card for many collectors — and there are only two PSA 10s in existence, which would likely exceed $1 million if sold today. These cards are slightly larger than modern standard cards.

2: 1952 Topps Willie Mays

This card is from Mays’ rookie season with the Giants and is the second of three 1952 cards in this top 10. The back of the card mentions that Mays joined the U.S. Army in May 1952, a service that caused him to miss most of the 1952 season — the season this card was published — and all of 1953.

The Most Iconic Card: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle

The most iconic card in the history of the hobby, an SGC 9.5-graded version of this card broke all records in 2022, selling for $12.6 million. There are two versions of this card of the New York Yankees legend: Type 1 and Type 2, with differences being in Mantle’s signature, as well as borders and pixels missing.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hand.

Lindor experienced some soreness in the area around his left hand and wrist over the past couple days. David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for New York, said Lindor is going to visit a hand specialist on Wednesday to check his hamate bone.

“It is possible this will result in hamate surgery. If it does, that’s a six-week recovery, which puts us right at opening day,” Stearns said. “So at this point, even if it does require surgery, we would remain optimistic that Francisco would be back for opening day.”

Lindor, 32, hit .267 with 31 homers, 86 RBIs and 31 steals in 160 games with New York last year. The five-time All-Star was left off Puerto Rico’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic over insurance coverage.

Stearns also announced that Juan Soto is going to shift from right to left field. The change was finalized after discussions between the slugger and manager Carlos Mendoza.

Soto also is going to play left for the Dominican Republic in the WBC.

“Over the last month or so, as Mendy and Juan were talking about the season, Juan was working out in left field because he’s going to play left field for the D.R. in the WBC,” Stearns said. “As they had their conversations, he felt really comfortable there.

“It made sense for us from a roster perspective, so we’re going to go forward with it and everyone’s on board with it.”

New York’s pitchers and catchers are scheduled to have their first spring training workout Wednesday. The team’s first full-squad workout is Monday.

Soto, 27, agreed to a record $765 million, 15-year contract with New York in December 2024. The four-time All-Star batted .263 with 43 homers, 105 RBIs and 38 steals in his first season with the Mets.

Soto also played left field at the beginning of his career with the Washington Nationals. Mendoza said the conversations about moving to left started in late December.

“I just asked him, ‘How would you feel to play left field for us?’” Mendoza said Tuesday. “And he was like ‘I’m willing to do whatever, you know. If you want me to pitch, Mendy, I’ll pitch.’ Kind of like with that smile, right? And then I was like, ‘Now seriously speaking here, is that something you will consider, if it makes sense for both?’ He’s like, ‘Absolutely.'”

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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For his 21st season in the majors, Justin Verlander is going back to the very beginning of his career.

All the way back to Motown.

Verlander returned to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with his first big league team. The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner joins an improved rotation fronted by Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who also signed with Detroit in free agency.

Verlander, who turns 43 on Feb. 20, went 183-114 with a 3.49 ERA while spending his first 13 seasons in Detroit. He won his first Cy Young Award and was AL MVP when he had a 24-5 record and a 2.40 ERA in 2011.

Verlander was traded to Houston in August 2017 and helped the Astros win the World Series that same year and again in 2022. Now he gets an opportunity to chase a third championship with the Tigers, who are looking for the franchise’s first title since 1984.

Verlander’s deal with Detroit includes $11 million in deferred payments starting in 2030. The Tigers’ pitchers and catchers are scheduled to have their first spring training workout on Wednesday.

The right-hander is 266-158 with a 3.32 ERA in 555 starts, also playing for the New York Mets and San Francisco. He is tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th in victories on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton’s 3,574.

Verlander is coming off a frustrating year with the Giants, going 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts. But his 2.60 ERA from July 23 through the remainder of the season ranked fourth in the National League with a minimum of 60 innings pitched.

Verlander returned June 18 after being sidelined for a month by a strained right pectoral muscle. He wants to keep pitching after a disappointing season in which he began 0-8 and was winless in his initial 16 outings before a win at Atlanta on July 23.

“First half, quite difficult. Happy I was able to find some mechanical fixes to kind of get back in the right direction and pitch well in the second half,” Verlander said following his final outing on Sept. 27. “I think obviously you’d always rather it go well, but it’s nice to be able to turn it around, especially after a few months it gets really draining and it’s tiresome. You’ve just got to come in every day and have a positive mindset and keep working hard.”

Verlander signed a $15 million, one-year contract with San Francisco last January and had a forgettable home debut for the Giants. The Giants often struggled to provide him with enough run support.

The second-half turnaround mattered to Verlander, who limited opponents to a .228 average over his final 13 appearances. He allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of his last 13 starts.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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Remember when Nolan Ryan had blood gushing all over his jersey after Bo Jackson hit a baseball off his face? Now, you can wear it!

The Texas Rangers announced on Tuesday that they’re giving away blood-stained Ryan jerseys on May 29 when they host the Kansas City Royals. Don’t worry: they are replica jerseys and replica blood.

On Sept 8. 1990, Ryan had a one-hopper bounce off his lip from the bat of Jackson in the top of the sixth inning, but Ryan picked up the ball and still threw Jackson out at first base. As a result, Ryan had blood all over his jersey and later needed six stitches, but he remained in the game.

As for the game, Ryan surrendered just one run and six baserunners (three hits and three walks) and recorded eight strikeouts through seven innings. Kenny Rogers pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Ryan, and the Rangers beat the Royals 2-1 after a walk-off double from Rafael Palmeiro in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The 1990 season was Ryan’s second with the Rangers and saw him post a 3.44 ERA, an American League-best 1.03 WHIP, 232 strikeouts and 3.5 wins above replacement in 30 starts and 204 innings.

Ryan, who posted an MLB-record 5,714 strikeouts over his 27-year career and threw an MLB-record seven no-hitters, pitched the last five seasons of his career with the Rangers (1989-93). The Hall of Famer is fifth in franchise history in ERA (3.43) and strikeouts (939) and seventh in WAR among pitchers (15.2). Ryan was later the president and CEO of the Rangers from 2008-13.

For what it’s worth, Jackson probably delivered stiffer jabs to linebackers and defensive backs that tried to tackle him in his four seasons as an NFL running back for the Los Angeles Raiders (1987-90).

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Third baseman Caleb Durbin was traded to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday after finishing third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting last year.

Milwaukee acquired left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan and infielder David Hamilton from Boston for Durbin and infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler. The Red Sox also are receiving a competitive balance round B pick in July’s amateur draft, about 67th overall.

Durbin, who turns 26 on Feb. 22, could fill Boston’s opening at third base created when Alex Bregman left as a free agent to sign a $175 million, five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

The Red Sox acquired Willson Contreras to play first base, and Durbin can play second or third. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said the team hadn’t decided where Durbin would play but said he expects him to be a regular starter.

“We’re just excited about getting a really good player into the organization, and we’ll figure out where he fits best,” Breslow said. “It just doesn’t feel like it makes sense to commit to anything right now.”

The 5-foot-7 Durbin batted .256 with a .334 on-base percentage, 11 homers and 18 steals in 136 games while helping the Brewers win a third straight NL Central title and reach the NL Championship Series last season.

Milwaukee acquired Durbin and left-hander Nestor Cortes from the New York Yankees for closer Devin Williams.

The Brewers had the third- and fourth-place finishers in the voting for the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year award that went to Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, but neither player remains with the organization. Outfielder Isaac Collins, who finished fourth in the balloting, went to Kansas City along with pitcher Nick Mears in a December trade that brought left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee.

Durbin’s exit from Milwaukee leaves the Brewers with an apparent opening at third. Joey Ortiz was the Brewers’ starting third baseman in 2024 but shifted to shortstop last season. Hamilton, among the players coming over from Boston, played one game at third base last year but primarily has worked at second base and shortstop.

Jett Williams, one of the players Milwaukee acquired in a Jan. 22 trade that sent two-time All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets, also will get some reps at third base this spring training. Williams has played second base, shortstop and the outfield in the Mets organization.

Sal Frelick worked out at third base in spring training in 2024 but won a Gold Glove in right field that year and has remained in the outfield ever since.

Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said the abundance of infield prospects in Milwaukee’s talent-laden farm system made the team feel good enough about their long-term future to make this deal.

“You also start looking at the future here with Jesus Made, Cooper Pratt and Luke Adams, Luis Peña and Andrew Fischer, there are just a lot of these types of guys coming we feel like in our system who could absolutely handle the left side of the diamond that have really high upsides,” Arnold said. “We feel like we have the ingredients now to weather the loss of somebody like Caleb Durbin, who obviously meant a lot to our franchise. But we feel really good about the infield depth both now and in the future as well.”

Monasterio, a 28-year-old with experience at every infield position, hit .270 with a .319 on-base percentage, four homers and 16 RBIs in 68 games for Milwaukee last season. Seigler, 26, batted .194 with a .292 on-base percentage, no homers and five RBIs in 34 games.

Harrison, 24, was a combined 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA in eight appearances for the Red Sox and San Francisco last year. He came to Boston as part of the 2025 trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco.

Drohan, 27, has never pitched in the majors. He went 5-2 with a 3.17 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 54 innings in 15 combined appearances with Triple-A Worcester and High-A Greenville last season.

“Harrison’s not that far removed from being one of the best pitching prospects in the sport,” Arnold said. “Drohan had an outstanding year last year in Triple-A. Both those guys are really exciting for us to add.”

Hamilton, 28, hit .198 with a .257 on-base percentage, six homers, 19 RBIs and 22 steals for Boston last year. That followed a 2024 season in which he batted .248 with a .303 on-base percentage, eight homers, 28 RBIs and 33 steals in 98 games.

Milwaukee selected Hamilton out of Texas in the eighth round of the 2019 draft, then traded him to the Red Sox in 2021.

“Hamilton’s a guy we know very well,” Arnold said. “He’s an elite baserunner. He’s really fast. He’s a really good defender. He’s an exciting player.”

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Second-and-26. Santonio Holmes’ toe tap. Blowing a 3-1 series lead. 28-3. 

Sometimes, you don’t need more than a score or a couple of words to conjure memories of stunning championship-winning games. The pressure, stakes, legacies and dreams of winning it all elevate incredible performances to unforgettable moments etched in sports lore. 

Going back to the beginning of the 21st century, we’re breaking down the top-10 championship games across the NFL, the World Cup, college football and basketball, MLB and NBA, and reexamining what made them so special and memorable. Here are our 10 best title games since 2000.

Honorable mention:

• 2010 World Cup Final: Spain’s Andrés Iniesta scores the winner in the 116th minute vs. Netherlands
• 2008 NCAA Championship: Kansas’ Mario Chalmers hits the game-winner to beat Memphis
• 2005 UEFA Champions League Final: Liverpool overcomes a 3-0 deficit vs. AC Milan
• 2014 World Cup Final: Germany’s Mario Götze scores the winner in the 113th Minute vs. Argentina
• 2013 Stanley Cup Final: Chicago Blackhawks win the Cup in Game 6 vs Bruins

10. 2013 NBA Finals: Ray Allen’s Shot for Heat vs. Spurs in Game 6

Rowan Kavner: The San Antonio Spurs led by five points with less than 30 seconds on the clock and were seven seconds away from celebrating an NBA championship. The trophy presentation was already getting prepared when history was rewritten with one of the most iconic shots in playoff history. After a LeBron James 3-pointer brought the Miami Heat within two with 20 seconds to go, Kawhi Leonard made one of two free throws on the other end. A three would tie it. 

James came off a screen from Chris Bosh and had a good look but couldn’t connect. Bosh crashed to the rim. No one boxed him out. He secured the offensive board as Ray Allen backpedaled toward the corner. Allen barely got his feet behind the 3-point line when he launched the game-tying shot that would send the contest to overtime, where the Heat prevailed before winning their second straight NBA title in Game 7. The Spurs would get their revenge on the Heat a year later, needing only five games in the 2014 NBA Finals to end Miami’s run. 

9. 2009 Super Bowl: Santonio Holmes’ Toe-Tap TD Gives Steelers the Win

Ralph Vacchiano: Kurt Warner was supposed to be the star of this show, in a Super Bowl that would be the perfect capper to his Hall of Fame career. But two players on the Pittsburgh Steelers stole his spotlight and the game.

The first highlight-reel moment came just before halftime with Warner and the Arizona Cardinals at the Steelers’ 1-yard line. That’s when Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison picked Warner’s pass off at the goal line and rumbled 100 yards the other way for a touchdown — the longest interception in Super Bowl history — giving the Steelers a 10-point halftime lead.

Warner led the Cards back and even got them the lead with 2:37 to go, when he hit Larry Fitzgerald with a 64-yard touchdown. But Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Santonio Holmes had one last surprise left in them. They quickly drove back down the field, and, with 35 seconds to go, Roethlisberger hit Holmes in the back of the end zone where he made arguably the greatest catch in Super Bowl history — reaching for the ball way out of bounds while his toes miraculously stayed just inside the white lines.

It was enough to deny Warner his second championship and give the Steelers ring No. 6.

8. 2016 NBA Finals: LeBron’s Iconic Chase-Down Block vs. the Warriors in Game 7

Rowan Kavner: With three NBA championships in four years, the one title that slipped away from the Golden State Warriors was the year in which they won a record 73 games. They were unstoppable during the 2015-16 season and looked on their way to cementing one of the league’s all-time great seasons… until LeBron James and Kyrie Irving authored a different ending. James returned to Cleveland to bring a championship to the city, and he did so by reviving the Cavaliers from the brink in the NBA Finals. 

James scored 41 points in Game 5, another 41 in Game 6 and then produced a triple-double in Game 7 along with an iconic chase-down block on Andre Iguodala that will live on highlight reels in Cleveland forever. In the waning minutes of a tie game, James came out of nowhere to swat the shot. One minute later, Irving buried a step-back three, and the Cavs became the first team ever to rally back from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit to win a championship. 

7. 2016 NCAA Championship: Villanova’s Kris Jenkins Hits Buzzer-Beater to Beat North Carolina

Michael Cohen: How often does the biggest moment of the biggest game on a sport’s grandest stage really and truly come down to a buzzer beater, the outcome only decided when the clock shows all zeroes? It’s exceedingly rare — something fans will remember forever — and that’s why the 2016 national championship game between North Carolina and Villanova claims its rightful place on this list. 

It wasn’t enough for Tar Heels guard Marcus Paige to make a leaning, double-clutch 3-pointer of his own with 4.7 seconds remaining, tying the game at 74-74. No, that incredible bucket would be swiftly upstaged by arguably the greatest shot in NCAA tournament history. Wildcats point guard Ryan Arcidiacono flipped an underhand pass to forward Kris Jenkins for a championship-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired. It’s a moment that has been replayed millions of times since then as the ultimate One Shining Moment in a sport that glorifies such things, and it won’t be forgotten any time soon.

6. 2018 CFP Title: Tua Tagovailoa Leads Alabama to Overtime Win Over Georgia

RJ Young: What I remember — what some Georgia fans loathe — is the play before The Play, resulting in Bulldogs defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter and linebacker Davin Bellamy absolutely planting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a sack and a 16-yard loss. The game was in overtime, and Georgia had a three-point lead. The Bulldogs were just two downs from glory — two downs from the program’s first national championship in 38 years.

But on second-and-26 from Georgia’s 31, Tagovailoa reared back, planted his left foot and uncorked a shot gorgeous in its arc and spiraling as if it would explode like a Roman candle. A beautiful pass that became a title-winning shot when wideout DeVonta Smith caught it in stride as two Georgia players watched him float into the end zone, run along the back of the white line with his right fist high and into a crush of hugs from his Bama teammates. That DeVonta Smith turned out to be the Heisman Trophy winner two years later on an undefeated national title team only adds to the mystique.

5. 2008 Super Bowl: Giants Beat Undefeated Patriots 

Ralph Vacchiano: The New England Patriots were 18-0 and everyone thought they were unbeatable, especially by a New York Giants team that barely made the playoffs and entered with few expectations. The Pats were already a dynasty, led by the consensus greatest coach (Bill Belichick) and quarterback (Tom Brady) in NFL history.

But Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning got in the way.

And they did it in style, sealing the deal with a brilliant, dramatic game-winning drive in the final minutes, which included one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history. Manning saved the drive by pulling himself away from two Patriots defenders and heaving the ball 32 yards downfield to fourth receiver David Tyree, who made a leaping, one-handed catch by pinning the ball against his helmet.

And that wasn’t all. Manning finished the drive by hitting Plaxico Burress for a game-winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining. And when the Giants defense, which had battered Brady all game long, stopped the Patriots’ final, desperation drive, the Giants had capped the most unexpected, improbable and perfect Super Bowl upset of all time.

4. 2006 Rose Bowl: Vince Young and Texas Beat Undefeated USC

RJ Young: The Vince Young Game — that’s how I and many others remember it. That’s because, with 19 seconds left to play, on fourth-and-5, Young took off for the pylon from the 8-yard line to score the touchdown that would earn Texas a 41-38 win against the No. 1 USC Trojans and the 2005 BCS championship. It capped off an improbable win against a seemingly unbeatable opponent. 

When the game ended, Young clutched a rose stem in his teeth. The box score reflected he’d accounted for 467 total yards — including 200 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns — in a win against a program that had not lost a single game in 831 days (Sept. 27, 2003) and had been ranked No. 1 in the country for 735 consecutive days.

3. 2025 World Series: Dodgers Beat the Blue Jays in Game 7

Rowan Kavner: The Blue Jays returned home with two chances to knock out the reigning champs. Instead, the city of Toronto was left heartbroken. After getting doubled off on a line drive to end Game 6, the Blue Jays responded by striking first on a three-run homer by Bo Bichette in Game 7. They were two outs away from celebrating their first championship since 1993 when Miguel Rojas, whose nifty pick at second base ended Game 6, became the Los Angeles Dodgers’ unlikely Game 7 hero. 

The light-hitting infielder lifted the first-ever game-tying home run in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all World Series finale. The Blue Jays still had multiple chances to walk it off in the bottom of the frame, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s slide home was just late on a bases-loaded grounder and a deep drive in the gap by Ernie Clement was tracked down by center fielder Andy Pages, who bulldozed teammate Kiké Hernandez to make the play. 

Two innings later, a home run from Will Smith put the Dodgers ahead for the first time, and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto — one night after throwing 96 pitches in a Game 6 win — recorded the final eight outs of Game 7 to cement a dynasty. The Dodgers became the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000. 

2. 2022 World Cup Final: Argentina Beat France in Penalties

Doug McIntyre: At halftime at jam-packed Lusail Stadium, most of the almost 90,000 souls in attendance were already in a celebratory mood. With Argentina comfortably ahead 2-0, everyone but the relatively small minority of Les Bleus backers in attendance was convinced that Lionel Messi was less than an hour away from lifting his first World Cup and cementing his legacy as the greatest soccer player of all time. 

Then all hell broke loose with 10 minutes left. France got a penalty that Kylian Mbappe converted. Seconds later, in front of a global television audience of 1.5 billion, Mbappe capitalized on a Messi turnover in midfield and evened the score with a ruthless volley. Messi scored his second of the match deep into extra time — the storybook ending every neutral wanted. Yet another French penalty somehow sent Mbappe to the spot again. Of course, he completed his hat trick. France then had a golden chance to win, but Albiceleste keeper Emiliano Martínez’s spectacular kick save on Randal Kolo Muani ensured that the contest would be decided via a tiebreaker.  

Club teammates in Paris turned hated rivals on this night in Qatar. Messi and Mbappe both scored from 12 yards again, but another Martinez stop, combined with a French effort that sailed wide, left Argentina one shot from glory. Gonzalo Montiel stepped up and calmly stroked the ball past Hugo Lloris, giving Messi his moment and ending the greatest World Cup final ever played. 

1. 2017 Super Bowl: Patriots Overcome 28-3 Deficit to Beat Falcons

Henry McKenna: This was a game for the record books with Tom Brady and the Patriots overcoming the — now meme-ified — 28-3 deficit, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Sorry, Falcons fans. The comeback started almost as a joke on the sideline, with Julian Edelman saying to Brady: “Going to be a hell of a story.” Edelman delivered in the fourth quarter with what must be the most improbable catch in Super Bowl history — with the Patriots receiver famously bobbling the ball off a defender’s shoe. 

That helped send the game into the first-ever overtime period in a Super Bowl, where New England finished it off with a touchdown from James White. The Patriots and Falcons scored 62 total points. Brady threw for 466 yards and two touchdowns. To this day, Matt Ryan has to deal with people reminding him of “28-3.”

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