Whether you're into postseason thrillers or incredible individual performances, 2025 has something for every baseball fan.
As the year comes to a close, we asked our MLB experts to pick one game from anywhere in the season that they'll remember forever. Of course, in a year that ended with perhaps the most epic World Series finale in the history of the sport, we had to come up with one rule to distribute picks: Each game could only be picked once.
From the best games of this dramatic fall classic to the stunning regular season accomplishments, here are the highlights of one of the best years in MLB history.
None of the 51 million people who watched Game 7 of the World Series will ever forget it as long as they live. And objectively, we've never seen a championship hang in the balance so many times in one night. Using championship winning probability added (cWPA), nine plays changed the World Series by at least 15%—two more than the previous record of seven during Game 7 in 1924.
By this measure, we have witnessed three of the 12 most important games in baseball history (Alejandro Kirkdouble play to end the game, Will Smithwinning home run, Miguel Rojas' tying a home run). You could watch every game played for the next 100 years and never see another one like it. — Paul Hembekides
1:17
Freeman hits HR in 18-inning marathon game in Game 3
Freddie Freeman sends Los Angeles into a frenzy with a home run in the bottom of the 18th inning.
My game report was a disaster. The game itself, at 18 innings, 609 pitches and 399 minutes, was a beautiful mess that epitomized just how wonderful and unique this sport can be.
It was the night that marked Clayton KershawThe player's final appearance was in the 12th inning, when the sold-out crowd at Dodger Stadium held their breath as he stranded the bases loaded. The night that came so close was decided by Miguel Rojas, the veteran infielder heading to pitch. The night that eventually ended Freddie Freeman Homer is gone, 12 months and three days after he did his best Kirk Gibson impression to open the 2024 World Series. A night that featured many stunning defensive plays that kept this game scoreless for 10 consecutive innings after the Dodgers tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh.
And ultimately, the night is best remembered for the 12 strikeouts recorded by a journeyman, previously unknown pitcher named Will Kleinwho was added to the Dodgers' roster as an emergency replacement for Alex Vecia and constantly forced himself to keep going without anyone remaining behind him. Only baseball could provide a night like this. — Alden Gonzalez
1:09
Blue Jays advance to World Series thanks to Springer's clutch HR
George Springer's home run helped the Blue Jays defeat the Mariners and reach their first World Series since 1993.
In most other years, Game 7 of the American League Championship Series has been at the top of the list of best October games. And while the 2025 World Series confirmed that this was not the case, it would be foolish to overlook the hoopla surrounding the AL pennant selection.
Seattle Mariners had eight outs since their first World Series appearance when manager Dan Wilson decided to stick with the pitcher Eduard Bazardo instead of calling closer Andres Muñoz to avoid a jam in the seventh inning. George Springer hit a mid-mine sinker off Bazardo into the left field bleachers for a three-run home run and turned a 3–1 deficit into a 4–3 lead. And despite earlier home runs from Julio Rodriguez And Cal RaleighThe Mariners were unable to return and were left wondering what might have been. –Jeff Passan
1:28
Shohei Ohtani's three-run game sends Dodgers to World Series
Shohei Ohtani becomes the third player to hit three home runs in a league championship decider; each of his homers in Game 4 were over 400 feet.
How can you go wrong with a historic performance from the best player in the game right now, if not one of the best of all time? Shohei Ohtani became the first player to hit three home runs and also struck out 10 hitters as a pitcher, leading his Dodgers back to what would eventually become their second straight World Series championship.
Fantasy baseball scoring can give us an idea of ​​how great the game was: Ohtani's game would have been worth 44 fantasy points if both his hitting and pitching were taken into account. This is the best record of anyone in a playoff game. This is also 11 more than Nick Kurtza four-homer game or Ohtani's own 6-for-6 performance with three homers and two steals in 2024. The only games worth more were Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game in 1998 (48), Max Scherzernon-striker in 2015 vs. New York Mets (46) and games before 1975 in which pitchers scored runs by pitching extra innings. — Tristan Cockcroft
Yeah, we could go for Cal Raleigh's 60th home run or Eugene SuarezGrand slam in Game 5 of the ALCS, eliminated Detroit Tigersbut the game of the season came a little early for the Mariners: Victor RoblesGame-saving, diving catch and double play in a season-clinching late-season win in Houston.
Situation: The Mariners moved up one game in the standings with eight players remaining and led the Astros 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth, but the Astros loaded the bases with one out. Carlos Correa hit a small gaffe in right-center field. It was clear that Julio Rodriguez wouldn't get there, the score would be tied, the Astros would win, the division would be tied – and the Astros would undoubtedly win the next day and then take the division.
Out of nowhere, Robles swooped in like Superman to make an impressive play and double the number of runners on second base. The next day, the Mariners beat the Astros to win the series, part of an incredible streak of 17 wins in 18 games. The mighty Astros were defeated. Seattle held the AL West title for the first time since 2001. With one catch, everything, including the World Series dream, seemed possible. — David Shenfield
1:10
Kyle Schwarber smashed 4 HR against the Braves.
Kyle Schwarber helps the Phillies with four home runs against the Braves.
What's amazing about Kyle Schwarberfour home runs and nine RBIs against Atlanta BravesAside from the fact that this feat had only been achieved by 20 other players, he entered the day undefeated in his previous 20 at-bats. He was falling, and the Phillies had just swept the rival Mets.
And suddenly Schwarber did not fall, taking Cal Quantrill, Austin Cox (twice) and Traveling Serum deep, and he even had a chance to throw the first MLB five-hour game in the eighth inning against an infielder. Vidal Bruján. He surfaced. The Phillies won 15 of 19 games and easily won the NL East, and Schwarber hit 56 home runs for the season. — Eric Karabell
1:24
Nick Kurtz makes history with a 4-hour game
Nick Kurtz is the first rookie and 20th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game.
Sometimes what remains in the memory is not the game, but the performance. Four words – “Nick Kurtz's Game” – will be understood by baseball fans for a very long time without any additional context. For example, “Mark Whiten's Game” or “Kerry Wood's Game.”
I was watching a different game that night, but switched after Kurtz hit his third homer. I still get goosebumps when I see No. 4 leave the yard. The fact that this moment was created by a 22-year-old player in his 66th career game made it even more amazing. That's why we watch. — Bradford Doolittle
Pull Skubalalet's start against Texas Rangers was typical of his work in recent years: no walks and 11 strikeouts in 6â…” innings, allowing only one run. But what stood out about that Sunday night game was how cheerfully he laughed at his own inability to get out of the game. Corey Seagerwho has 8 out of 12 against him.
Seager hit a double and a single and then lined out, and at one point Skubal raised his hands as if to ask: What do I need to do to get this guy out? There were similar moments in his career with Salvador Perez, Aaron Judge and other great players. I can't think of another example of a star pitcher who so consistently combines total dominance and constant self-deprecation in the same game soup. — Buster Olney
1:03
Schwarber, Netherlands, hits home run against ASG
Kyle Schwarber scores a hat trick as Jonathan Aranda fails to connect and the Netherlands win the All-Star Game.
Leagues across the board have struggled over the years to keep their All-Star Games relevant, with players opting out and the level of effort being questioned. MLB may have the best of the major leagues, but it struck gold this summer in Atlanta with an unprecedented turnaround that created the kind of drama rarely seen in these exhibitions these days.
Kyle Schwarber's performance—three home runs on three hits, capped by a blast in which he landed on one knee to give the National League the win—will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in All-Star Game history.
The fans loved the theater. The players enjoyed the competition. It was great fun and that's what it's all about. — Jorge Castillo
Last serve, Tarik Skubal's 94th goal.th in a full match against the Guardians on May 25, he was the only one you needed to see. He threw 60 feet 6 inches at 102.6 mph, the fastest throw recorded by a starter since they started recording such things in 2008. This was his 13th step.th shutout in a game, the highest in so-called Maddux history: a complete-game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches.
When it was all over, Skubal stood smiling and pounding his fist on his glove. At that moment, his face had the same expression as each of us watching: amazement. — Tim Keown
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had already made a name for himself by hitting 12 home runs and stealing 14 bases in the first 50 games of the season. But on May 23, he cemented the nickname “PCA” across the country, which followed him throughout the All-Star season.
Crowe-Armstrong crushed two home runs that day against Cincinnati Redsincluding the go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning in a convincing 13-6 win. His first start came off Hunter Green with the man coming on in the fourth inning, cutting the 4–0 deficit in half. But that was his last blast off the pitcher. Tony Santillangiving Chicago its first lead and sending Cubs fans into a frenzy. From 6-4 to 8-6 thanks to PCA. The Cubs never looked back – as Crowe-Armstrong went 3-for-5 with six RBIs and cemented his star status in the game. — Jesse Rogers
