Michael T. Mondak speaks: 40 for 40 extra: My 40 Favorite Sports Calls of All Time

This is a special 40 for 40 extra about my 40 favorite sports calls of all time.  (Note:  This list will include some of my church softball podcast calls, but will not include any connected with evil Ohio State unless evil Ohio State lost the game in question.)

40.  January 8, 2000:  2000 AFC Wild Card, Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee Titans v. Buffalo Bills, fourth quarter, Titans trailing 16-15, kickoff

The Titans were trailing by 1 point with 16 seconds left in regulation and needed a miracle to win the game and advance to the divisional round.

The kickoff return play was named "Home Run Throwback" by the Titans and was developed by special teams coordinator Alan Lowry. He had learned the play in 1982 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, watching SMU execute a similar kickoff return to score the winning touchdown in the final seconds of its game at Texas Tech. The Titans had practiced the play once a week during the regular season. The practices usually involved starting kick returner Derrick Mason; however, he had suffered an injury earlier in the playoff game and was unavailable for the final seconds. The second option for the play, Anthony Dorsett, was also unavailable for the play due to cramps. As a result, the Titans put in Isaac Byrd as their main option to retrieve the lateral pass, with Kevin Dyson trailing behind him. As one of the team's leading wide receivers, Dyson rarely practiced with the special teams unit and was unfamiliar with the layout of the play. As a result, head coach Jeff Fisher called him over before the play and gave him a brief summary of what to expect.

After observing Frank Wycheck playing a throwing game during downtime at practice, Titans offensive coordinator Les Steckel had designed an option pass play with Wycheck in mind. The Titans ran that play against the Atlanta Falcons during the 1999 regular season, and Wycheck threw a 61-yard touchdown pass. After the success of this play, Lowry assigned Wycheck to throw the lateral on Home Run Throwback.

Meanwhile, because the Bills defense had accumulated a large number of injuries, their coaches asked for volunteers to cover the kickoff. As a result, numerous defensive starters, who were inexperienced on special teams, were in the game on the play. Initially, the Bills planned on kicking the ball deep, but special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven suggested that the Bills attempt a pooch kick, in which the ball is kicked higher and shorter than a regular kickoff to limit the opportunity for a runback.

Steve Christie executed the pooch, and the kick was fielded by Lorenzo Neal. Neal handed the ball backwards to Wycheck. Bills defenders converged on Wycheck on the right side of the field, breaking their running lanes in the process. As devised, Wycheck threw the ball across the field to Dyson. As Dyson caught the ball, the momentum of the play abruptly shifted to the left, catching every Bills defender except Christie out of position. Dyson thus had an open path in front of him and ran 75 yards into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with three seconds remaining.

Mike Keith made this call for the Titans Radio Network:

Do the Titans have a miracle left in them in what has been a magical season to this point? If they do, they need it now. Christie kicks it high and short. Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25, pitches it back to Wycheck, he throws it across the field to Dyson...(Pat Ryan: "He's got something, he's got something...") 30, 40, 50, 40...(Ryan: "He's got it, he's got it, he's got it!") 20, 10, 5 – end zone! Touchdown Titans! There are no flags on the field! It's a miracle! Tennessee has pulled a miracle! A miracle for the Titans!

Because the play occurred after the two minute warning, the replay review came from the booth.  Referee Phil Luckett had to make the biggest call of the new millennium.  After reviewing the play, Luckett ruled that the pass was indeed a legal lateral and the touchdown stood, giving the Titans the 22-16 victory.

The Titans would lose Super Bowl XXXIV to the St. Louis Rams, but the Bills would endure a streak of futility where they went 17 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs.

39.  January 10, 1982:  1982 NFC Championship, Candlestick Park, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers v. Dallas Cowboys, fourth quarter, third down and 4, ball on the Dallas 6 yard line, San Francisco trailing 27-21

The San Francisco 49ers were trailing by 6 in the NFC championship needing to score a touchdown.  They lined up in a split backs formation, with Joe Montana under center.  Under pressure, Montana had to make a decision, step out of bounds and try again on fourth down, or try to fire a pass to the end zone.  He chose the latter option, and threw the ball to where only Dwight Clark could catch it.  Clark leapt in the air and caught the ball for a touchdown.  Ray Wersching’s extra point gave the 49ers the lead.

Vin Scully described The Catch for CBS in this way:

Montana... looking, looking, throwing in the end zone... Clark caught it! Dwight Clark!... It's a madhouse at Candlestick!

After the game, Montana watched film of The Catch, and remarked:  “Clark must have jumped three feet to catch that!  I don’t know how he caught it!  He can’t even jump that high!”

38.  November 23, 1984:  1984 college football season, Orange Bowl, Miami, Miami Hurricanes v. Boston College Eagles, fourth quarter, third down and 6, ball on the Miami 48 yard line, Boston College trailing 45-41

With six seconds remaining in the game, and Boston College facing a third down from right around midfield, quarterback Doug Flutie heaved a Hail Mary pass toward the end zone.  Wide receiver Gerard Phelan caught the ball between two Miami defensive backs for the winning touchdown.  The Eagles won the game and Flutie won the Heisman Trophy.

Brent Musberger’s call on CBS was my favorite.

Three wide receivers out to the right… Flutie flushed… throws it down… CAUGHT BY BOSTON COLLEGE!  I DON’T BELIEVE IT!  IT’S A TOUCHDOWN!  THE EAGLES WIN IT!  (Ara Parseghian:  Unbelievable!) I DON’T BELIEVE IT!  PHELAN IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PILE!  HERE COMES THE BOSTON COLLEGE TEAM!  HE THREW IT INTO THE END ZONE!  THERE WAS NO TIME LEFT ON THE CLOCK!  THE BALL WENT BETWEEN TWO DEFENSIVE BACKS FROM MIAMI!  JACK BICKNELL IS THE ONLY PERSON OVER THERE ON THE SIDELINES; HE COULDN’T GET THE HEADSET OFF FAST ENOUGH!

Boston College then saw its biggest increase in applicants for the fall of 1985, which was dubbed the Flutie effect, in reference to the Hail Flutie play from the 1984 season.

37.  November 20, 1982:  Rivalry week, 1982 college football season, California Municipal Stadium, Berkeley, California Golden Bears v. Stanford Cardinal, fourth quarter, California trailing 20-19, kickoff

They call it The Play for a reason.  The California Golden Bears squared off against rival Stanford in the 85th edition of The Big Game for the Stanford Axe.  Late in the fourth quarter, and Stanford trailing 19-17, Stanford and its quarterback John Elway had one last chance to win the game.  After overcoming a fourth and long deep in his own territory, kicker Mark Harmon kicked a 35 yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give Stanford a 20-19 lead.  However, the Cardinal celebrated too wildly and were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing them to kick from their own 25 yard line instead of from the 40.

Harmon executed a squib kick fielded by Cal’s Kevin Moen, who lateraled the ball to Richard Rodgers.  Rodgers in turn, lateraled to Dwight Garner.  As Garner was going down, he lateraled back to Rodgers.  At this point, the Stanford players and band members believed the game was over and stormed the field.  One problem:  the play was still in progress, thus the game was not over yet.  Rodgers lateraled to Mariet Ford, who caught it in stride.  Ford threw a lateral over his shoulder to Moen, who scored the winning touchdown to give Cal the 25-20 victory.  Stanford believed that some laterals were illegal and Garner was actually tackled, thus claiming they won the game.  In reality, Stanford was actually flagged for illegal participation because of the excessive number of players and the band members, but it didn’t matter.

Joe Starkey of KGO radio made this call while praying for a miracle:

All right, here we go with the kickoff. Harmon will probably try to squib it, and he does. The ball comes loose and the Bears have to get out of bounds. Rodgers, along the sideline, another one... they're still in deep trouble at midfield, they tried to do a couple of—the ball is still loose, as they get it to Rodgers! They get it back now to the 30, they're down to the 20! Oh, the band is out on the field! He's gonna go into the end zone! He got into the end zone!

Will it count? The Bears have scored, but the bands are out on the field! There were flags all over the place. Wait and see what happens; we don't know who won the game. There are flags on the field. We have to see whether or not the flags are against Stanford or Cal. The Bears may have made some illegal laterals. It could be that it won't count. The Bears, believe it or not, took it all the way into the end zone. If the penalty is against Stanford, California would win the game. If it is not, the game is over and Stanford has won.

We've heard no decision yet. Everybody is milling around on the (conferencing officials now finally signal a touchdown) field! And the Bears! The Bears have won! The Bears have won! Oh, my God! The most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart-rending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of college football! California has won the Big Game over Stanford! Oh, excuse me for my voice, but I have never, never seen anything like it in the history of I have ever seen any game in my life! The Bears have won it! There will be no extra point!

The loss cost John Elway an opportunity to end his career in a bowl game and eventually the Heisman Trophy.  Because of the dispute over the laterals, whenever Stanford has the Axe, the 1982 score is changed to 20-19 Stanford, but whenever Cal has it, the score is officially 25-20 Cal.  But regardless of whoever has the Axe prior to the opening kickoff of the next year’s Big Game, the score has to be changed back to 25-20 Cal.

36.  May 30, 2016:  2016 Stanley Cup Finals, game 1, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. San Jose Sharks, third period, score tied 2 apiece

With less than three minutes remaining in game one, both the Penguins and the Sharks were looking to score the game winning goal.  Kris Letang fed Nick Bonino from Gretzky’s office (hockey jargon for behind the net).  Bonino let go a wrist shot past surprised Sharks goaltender Martin Jones for the eventual game winner.  Harnarayan Singh of Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi Edition made the famous call that would go viral:

BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO BONINO… NICK BONINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Following the game, won by the Penguins, everyone in Pittsburgh would become familiar with Harnarayan Singh and Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi Edition thanks to social media.  The Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup and Singh and his broadcast team were invited to Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup parade the following Wednesday afternoon, where Singh reenacted his famous call for the fans gathered along the Boulevard of the Allies.

35.  October 15, 1988:  1988 World Series, game 1, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers v. Oakland Athletics, bottom 9th inning, Dodgers trailing 4-3, Mike Davis on second, two outs, full count

The Dodgers were trailing the Athletics 4-3 with a runner on first and two outs.  Instead of sending Dave Anderson to the plate, they sent their injured star Kirk Gibson to the plate.  He worked the count full on seven pitches.  Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley’s payoff pitch was a backdoor slider, but Gibson took him deep for a walk-off home run.

My favorite call of this home run was from CBS’ Jack Buck:

Then you would run for Gibson and have Sax batting. But, we have a big 3–2 pitch coming here from Eckersley. Gibson swings, and a fly ball to deep right field! This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, five to four; I don't believe what I just saw!  I don't believe what I just saw! Is this really happening, Bill?  (Bill White:  It is happening, and they've got to help him home! The third base coach, Joey Amalfitano, had to give him a little push, and all the Dodgers are 'round home plate!)  One of the most remarkable finishes to any World Series Game ... a one-handed home run by Kirk Gibson! And the Dodgers have won it ... five to four; and I'm stunned, Bill. I have seen a lot of dramatic finishes in a lot of sports, but this one might top almost every other one.

The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in five games, although Gibson did not make another plate appearance during the series.

34.  April 23, 1997:  1997 Eastern Conference first round game 4, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. Philadelphia Flyers, third period, Penguins leading 3-1

The Penguins were fighting for their playoff lives and had to win game 4 at home to send the series back to Philadelphia for game 5.  With under 70 seconds left in regulation and the Penguins leading 3-1, Mario Lemieux was sprung loose by Ian Moran on a breakaway against Flyers goaltender Garth Snow.  Lemieux beat Snow five-hole and scored.

Gary Thorne had this call for ESPN2:

Lemieux heading up ice… here he comes!  HERE HE COMES!  Mario Lemieux, hang on… HE SCORES!! YOU GOTTA LOVE IT!!

My father and I along with 17,000 other fans at the Igloo that night were brought to our feet with that goal.  The Penguins did indeed win the game 4-1 to send the series back to Philadelphia for game 5.  We knew that this would be his last home game… or would it?

Three years later, just one year after becoming the team’s owner, he came back to play again.

33.  April 23, 1996:  1996 Eastern Conference first round, game 4, US Airways Arena, Landover, Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals, quadruple overtime, score tied 2 apiece

The marathon.  With the Penguins trailing the Capitals 2 games to 1 in the best of seven first round series, the pivotal fourth game dragged through three regulation and three overtime periods with nothing settled.  With 45 seconds separating the two teams from a fifth overtime, the Penguins’ Petr Nedved faked a shot, causing Capitals’ defenseman Mark Tinordi to go down.  Nedved then uncorked a wrist shot that eluded Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig and won the marathon for the Penguins 3-2 and tied the series at 2 games apiece heading back to Pittsburgh.

On Prime Sports Pittsburgh, Mike Lange made this call that is my favorite call of this game:

Faked a shot… Now the man went down.  Nedved, wrist shot.  HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SHOOTS AND SCORES!  THE PENGUINS WIN IN OVERTIME!  THE PENGUINS WIN IN OVERTIME!  AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ELVIS HAS JUST LEFT THE BUILDING!  PETR NEDVED SCORES IN THE GREATEST GAME EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE PENGUINS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!”

The Penguins would win the series in six games to advance to round two where they defeated the New York Rangers in five games before running into the upstart Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games.

32.  June 14, 1994:  1994 Stanley Cup Finals, game 7, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York Rangers v. Vancouver Canucks, third period, Rangers leading 3-2

For the second time since 1971 and the tenth time overall, the Stanley Cup Finals went to seven games. Rangers coach Mike Keenan became the first person to be a head coach in game sevens of the Stanley Cup Final for two different teams. Keenan had coached the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987 when they lost to the Edmonton Oilers.Mike Babcock would join him in this feat in 2009 while with the Detroit Red Wings, having been with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim when they lost to the New Jersey Devils in 2003 (the home team won all seven games of the series).

The game at Madison Square Garden was an "electric affair" with the Rangers jumping to an early 2–0 lead at the 15-minute mark after scoring twice within four minutes on goals by Brian Leetch and Adam Graves. However, Canucks captain Trevor Linden silenced the home crowd with a short-handed goal early in the second period to make it 2-1. Mark Messier restored order for the home crowd with a power play goal, only to have Linden make it close again. After that, it was "hectic, jittery hockey," Nathan LaFayette "frightened all Manhattan wobbling a loose puck" off the post behind Mike Richter with six minutes left. There were three face-offs in the Rangers' zone in the final 37 seconds, the last coming with 1.6 seconds on the clock.

Following a faceoff win by Craig MacTavish, the celebration began with Sam Rosen’s call:

The waiting is over! The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!  No more curses!  This is unbelievable!

The Curse of 1940 was no more.  The fans’ nearly 20,000 day wait was over.

31.  October 17, 2015:  2015 college football season, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan Wolverines v. Michigan State Spartans, fourth quarter, Michigan State trailing 23-21, fourth down and 9, ball on the Michigan 38

The Paul Bunyan Trophy was at stake between rivals Michigan State and Michigan.  Michigan could not get a first down and was forced to punt.  But Michigan punter Blake O’Neil had trouble with the snap and Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped up the loose ball and scored the winning touchdown as time expired.

George Blaha had this call on the Spartan Media Network:

Bad snap, bobbled, scooped up! Here come the Spartans! Down the sideline! Racing into the end zone! Raced on into the end zone is Jalen Watts-Jackson – Touchdown, MSU! Folks, no flags! The Spartans piling on each other in the end zone! It's over! The Spartans win again! The Spartans win again!

Blake O’Neill, the scapegoat for his costly mistake, received numerous death threats from fans.  Athletic director Jim Hackett had to use the media to ask fans to knock it off.  Even governor Rick Snyder had to tell the fans to stop as well.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh received a special message from president Barack Obama, saying:  It was a tough way to lose a football game. (Obama) told the fellas to keep their chin up and him and Michelle were watching the game and likes the way our team played and told our guys to keep it going.

30.  December 31, 1988:  1988-89 NHL regular season, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. New Jersey Devils

It’s the greatest single moment in the history of the National Hockey League, where Pittsburgh Penguins captain Mario Lemieux rang out 1988 and rang in 1989 with a feat that had never been done before, and hasn’t happened again since:  five goals, five different ways.  In order, he scored at even strength, with the Penguins shorthanded, on a 5-on-3 power play, a rare penalty shot, and into an empty net.

I’m including all 5 calls by Gary Thorne in this section.

Even strength:  SCORE!  MARIO LEMIEUX CENTERING PASS!  TIT FOR TAT!

Shorthanded:  SCORE!  THAT’S A MARIO LEMIEUX GOAL! HIS SEVENTH SHORTHANDED GOAL!

Power play:  They’ve got the full two minutes… SCORE!  MARIO LEMIEUX, A PERFECT TRICK!

Penalty shot:  THAT’S IN!  MARIO LEMIEUX HAS TIED HIS CAREER HIGH FOR GOALS IN A SINGLE GAME!  FOUR GOALS!  A PENALTY SHOT!

Empty net:  Gives it to him, two seconds… SCORE!  IT WILL COUNT!

It was Mario Lemieux’ greatest single performance of his career up to that point, and it came during a season where he set career highs in goals with 85, 114 assists for a total of 199 points and easily won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer.  Had the Rocket Richard Trophy existed that season, Lemieux would have won it as the league’s leading goal scorer.

29.  May 17, 1991:  1991 Stanley Cup finals, game 2, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. Minnesota North Stars, second period, Penguins leading 2-1

This was Mario Lemieux’ signature goal.  With the Penguins trailing in the series 1 game to none, they needed to win game 2.  Lemieux split the North Stars defense and after a deke, scored.

Mike Lange had this call for KBL:

Lemieux trying to get the motor going… Recchi is decked again at center ice and knocked off his skates by Berezan… Lemieux’ in on goal… shot… HEEEEEEEEEEE SHOOTS AND SCORES!  MARIO LEMIEUX BEATS CASEY LIKE A RENTED MULE AGAIN!  AND THE PENGUINS LEAD 3 TO 1!  OH, YOU’D HAVE TO BE HERE TO BELIEVE IT!  WHAT A BURST OF SPEED BY MARIO LEMIEUX!  HE LEFT HIM ON THE PARKWAY GOING TO THE AIRPORT!  BRILLIANT GOAL!

Paul Steigerwald commented:

Lemieux just said, gimme that thing.. I’m going coast to coast!  He was flying through center ice… he had the defenseman backing in and he went between his legs, cut in on Casey in a tremendous final play to turn to the backhand as he was falling down… oh, what a goal!

The Penguins tied the series and went on to win their first Stanley Cup.

28.  June 1, 1992:  1992 Stanley Cup Finals, game 4, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, third period, Penguins leading 6-5

It was the first NHL game played during the month of June.  After winning the first three games of the series, the Penguins were challenged by the Blackhawks to a shootout.  Both teams were tied at 3 apiece after the first period, and tied at 4 apiece after two periods.  However, Larry Murphy and Ron Francis scored for the Penguins in the third period, while Jeremy Roenick scored for the Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks were looking for the equalizer to send the game to sudden death overtime, but it was not to be.

Mike Lange had this call for KDKA Pittsburgh as the Penguins retained the Stanley Cup:

Twenty-two seconds left in regulation… Chelios steps up… he’ll pass to Brent Sutter… Penguins lead 6-5… Roenick with the puck, into the Penguins’ end, dances around one man, shoots it… and he missed the net!  Thirteen seconds left… Trottier coughed it up… Lemieux’ got the puck and he can’t get it out… right in front… deflection… oh, what a save by Barrasso!  Right off the play of Goulet… right in front, five seconds to go… loose around to the far corner… two seconds… the Penguins are going to win the Stanley Cup, I believe… Chelios shoots it… blocked!  THE PENGUINS HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP!  OH, LORD STANLEY, LORD STANLEY, GET ME THE BRANDY!

The Penguins had recaptured the Stanley Cup with a four game sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh celebrated again.

27.  March 10, 2001:  2000-2001 NHL season, Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. Calgary Flames, third period, Penguins leading 5-3

My father and I were in attendance at this game.  Trailing 2-1 after 1 period, Kevin Stevens, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr went to work.  Lemieux scored a goal, Janne Laukkanen scored the eventual game winner, and Jagr completed a hat trick with an empty net goal with 15 seconds left.

Mike Lange had this call for FSN Pittsburgh:

Lemieux throws it up the middle of the ice, it comes to Stevens, whips it towards the empty net… just missed.  Stevens is gonna get after the puck and get it himself, back now to Jagr… fires, HE GETS HIS THIRD OF THE NIGHT!  THE HAT TRICK FROM JAROMIR JAGR!  AND HERE COME THE HATS… IT’S HAT NIGHT HERE AT THE MELLON ARENA!

Thousands of hats given to the fans littered the ice.  But little did I know that would be the last time I would see Jagr get a hat trick in person.

26.  September 23, 2013:  2013 MLB season, Wrigley Field, Chicago, Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs, bottom 9th inning, Pirates leading 2-1, Nate Schierholtz on first, two outs, count 2 balls and 2 strikes

The Pirates needed a win over the Chicago Cubs and a loss by the Washington Nationals to clinch a spot in the 2013 MLB playoffs.  Pirates’ pitcher Jason Grilli delivered a 2-2 pitch to Cubs’ outfielder Ryan Sweeney.  Sweeney singled into right field.  Pirates’ right fielder Marlon Byrd bobbled the ball, as Schierholtz was heading for third.  Center fielder Andrew McCutchen had backed up Byrd, and he made an off-line throw that was cut off by first baseman Justin Morneau as Schierholtz broke for the plate.  Morneau caught McCutchen’s throw, then relayed to catcher Russell Martin.  As Martin made the catch, Schierholtz collided with Martin and both fell to the ground.  Martin rose with the ball in hand, the umpire ruled Schierholtz out at the plate, and the Pirates won their 90th regular season game.

Greg Brown made this call for the Root Sports Pittsburgh:

Grilli tries to save it for Melancon. The 2–2 pitch. And a fly ball to right-center field, that's gonna drop for a hit... And bobbled...! McCutchen's throw... The runner breaks for the plate! Here's the throw – he is out! The Buccos win it! Raise the Jolly Roger! They waved home Schierholtz! He's thrown out at the plate; the Buccos win their 90th! What a finish! Unbelievable! How about that finish?!

That night, the Nationals lost and the Pirates were going to the 2013 MLB playoffs, breaking the Curse of Barry Bonds that had dogged the Pirates since 1992.

25.  July 11, 2015:  2015 MLB season, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates v. St. Louis Cardinals, bottom 14th inning, Pirates trailing 5-3, Neil Walker on first

Just prior to the 2015 All-Star Game, the Pirates played a four-game weekend series at home against their division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, whom they trailed by 4.5 games for the lead in the NL Central. After splitting the first two games, the teams prepared to play two nationally televised games on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12. In the second inning of Saturday's game, A. J. Burnett appeared to strike out Cardinals' first baseman Mark Reynolds, who swung at a 1–2 pitch in the dirt; however, home plate umpire Vic Carapazza said Reynolds foul tipped the ball (though several replays clearly showed that he didn't), keeping his at-bat alive. On the very next pitch, Reynolds hit a solo home run to left field, giving the Cardinals a 1–0 lead. Pirates' catcher Francisco Cervelli and manager Clint Hurdle were subsequently ejected for arguing the call. The Cardinals opened up a 3–0 lead before Burnett homered in the 6th to cut the lead to 3–1. The Pirates tied the game in the eighth after consecutive RBI base hits by Jung-ho Kang and Pedro Alvarez; the score remained tied heading into extra innings. In the tenth, the Cardinals took a 4–3 lead on Reynolds' second solo home run of the game, only to see the Pirates score in the bottom of the inning and tie the game again. After the Cardinals took a 5–4 lead in the 14th, Neil Walker led off the bottom of the inning with a base hit and the next batter, Andrew McCutchen, hit a home run to straight away center off reliever Nick Greenwood, giving the Pirates a 6–5 walk-off victory.

Greg Brown made this call for the Pirates’ Baseball Network:

Trailing the Cardinals 5-4… The pitch. High fly ball to center field, it's hit pretty well, toward the wall… GONE! They've won! Andrew McCutchen has won it! They're going crazy! The Pirates have won this game and an incredible game! You can raise the Jolly Roger and call it maybe the best all time in Pittsburgh!

24.  July 12, 2015:  2015 MLB season, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates v. St. Louis Cardinals, bottom 10th inning, game tied 5 apiece, bases loaded, two outs

The next night, the game was once again tied at 3 heading into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk doubled home Pete Kozma and Yadier Molina to give the Cards a 5–3 lead. Jordy Mercer led off the bottom of the 10th with a base hit, before Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen were retired by Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal. With two outs, Starling Marte hit a line drive to right field, scoring Mercer. Jung-ho Kang followed with a base hit, as did Francisco Cervelli, allowing Marte to score from 2nd and tie the game at 5. After Travis Ishikawa walked on 4 pitches, Gregory Polanco lined the first pitch he saw into right field, scoring Kang from 3rd, giving the Pirates their second 6–5 extra innings win in as many nights. By taking 3 of 4 games in the series, the Pirates were able to cut the Cardinals' division lead to 2.5 games heading into the All-Star break. Given the high stakes of the series, combined with an emotional, postseason-like atmosphere and a national audience, some fans consider this to be the best weekend series in the history of PNC Park.

This time, this was Greg Brown’s call:

The stretch by Rosenthal, the pitch… SWING AND A LINE DRIVE! THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN! THE PLACE IS A MOB SCENE…! IT'S CHAOS…! PANDEMONIUM…! THE BUCCOS HAVE COME BACK TO BEAT THE CARDINALS, THEY'RE TWO-AND-A-HALF OUT AT THE ALL-STAR BREAK! RAISE THE JOLLY, JOLLY ROGER!

23.  February 4, 1997:  1996-97 NHL season, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. Vancouver Canucks, third period, Penguins leading 5-4

Mario Lemieux stood only one goal away from his 600th career NHL goal.  He had been robbed earlier in the game by Kirk McLean.  With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, the Canucks appeared to tie the game on a Jyrki Lumme goal.  But referee Kerry Fraser nullified the goal because Trevor Linden’s skate was in the crease when the goal was scored.

With less than one minute remaining, Ron Francis found a streaking Mario Lemieux, who shot the puck into an empty net for his 600th career NHL goal.

Mike Lange made this call for Fox Sports Pittsburgh:

It goes to Francis… they look for Lemieux, he’s wide open.  He might have a chance for number 600… HEEEEEEEEEEEE GETS IT!  Lemieux nails his 600th National Hockey League goal, the Penguins lead 6-4, and it is Mario Magic.  It’s his city, and it’s his moment!

22.  July 28, 2001:  2001 MLB season, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates v. Houston Astros, bottom 9th inning, bases loaded, 2 outs, count 1 ball and no strikes

The Pirates made a major comeback in the day game of a day/night doubleheader against the Houston Astros at PNC Park.  With two outs, the Pirates got within three with Brian Giles up to bat with the bases loaded.  On a 1-0 pitch, Giles ended the game with an ultimate grand slam to win the game.

My mentor Lanny Frattare had this call for the Pirates baseball network:

The Pirates have scored three here in the bottom of the 9th.  The Bucs have the tying run at first base.  And a one ball pitch… Giles swings… DRIVE TO RIGHT FIELD, BUCCOS WIN!  BRIAN GILES, A LINE DRIVE GRAND SLAM INTO THE RIGHT FIELD SEATS!  COUNT ’EM:  SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, GILES MAKES NINE!  BUCS WIN 9-8!  THERE WAS NOOOOOOOOOO DOUBT ABOUT IT!

Yes, the Pirates won the game on an ultimate grand slam yet would endure a losing season, its 9th in a row.

21.  May 27, 1994:  1994 Eastern Conference Finals, game 7, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York Rangers v. New Jersey Devils, double overtime, game tied 1 apiece

The New York Rangers were attempting to exorcise the demons of 1940 when they took the ice for game seven of the Eastern Conference finals against the New Jersey Devils.  In game 6, Mark Messier, who famously guaranteed a win, backed up his guarantee with a natural hat trick to send the series back to Madison Square Garden for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.  Three periods of regulation and one overtime period ended with nothing settled.  The Prince of Wales Trophy was still up for grabs.  But with four minutes gone in the double overtime, Stephane Matteau intercepted a pass by Slava Fetisov.  He intended to attempt a wraparound pass to Esa Tikkanen, but the puck ricocheted off the left side of Devils’ rookie goaltender Martin Brodeur into the net for the series winner.

Howie Rose, who was substituting for a sick Marv Albert, made this iconic call:

Fetisov, for the Devils, plays it cross-ice into the far corner.  Matteau swoops in to intercept.  Matteau behind the net, swings it in front - HE SCORES!  MATTEAU!  MATTEAU!  MATTEAU!  STEPHANE MATTEAU!  And the Rangers have one more hill to climb, baby!  But it’s Mount Vancouver!  The Rangers are headed to the Finals!

The Rangers would defeat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals to break the Curse of 1940.

20.  July 19, 2025:  2025 Lawrence/Mercer County Church Softball League tournament finals, Covenant Speed/Power v. Family Life Falcons, top 7th inning, runner Jim Kalp on first, one out, count one ball and two strikes, Covenant leading 12-3

This finals game was all Covenant.  Family Life needed to score nine runs to tie and ten to take the lead.  Although Jim Kalp reached on a fielder’s choice, Rudy Banick, who was injured in the losers’ bracket final against the New Life Saints, came up to bat.  On a 1-2 pitch, Banick hit a ground ball, but right to second baseman Dillon Fair.  Fair tossed it to shortstop Corey Sternthal to force Kalp out, and Sternthal threw to first baseman Vince Nichols to get the double play to retain the Chet Cameron Memorial Trophy.

This was my call:

One and two on Rudy Banick.  Tanner Powell on deck.  And here’s the 1-2 pitch… ground ball… THERE’S ONE!  MOVE OVER, LEBANON A!  YOU HAVE COMPANY!  COVENANT HAS WON IT!  THAT IS THE NIFTY NINTH!  HOW SWEET IT IS!

The Nifty Ninth phrase came from the term for the nine seeded players in the second round of the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005.  This was Covenant’s 30th win of the 2025 season.

19.  May 25, 1991:  1991 Stanley Cup Finals, game 6, Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota, Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota North Stars, third period, Penguins leading 8-0

Ulf Samuelsson, Mario Lemieux, Joe Mullen, Bob Errey, Ron Francis, Jim Paek and Larry Murphy all scored to help the Penguins finish off the North Stars to win their first Stanley Cup.

Mike Lange called the moment the Penguins won the Stanley Cup for KBL:

Mullen… wrists it toward the Minnesota net… Casey will stop that… seventeen seconds… back again to the Penguins end… and Roberts with ten seconds to go… Roberts on the left wing to Kevin Stevens… Stevens shoots it back to center with five, four, three… time runs out… THE STANLEY CUP HAS COME TO THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH!  THE 1991 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS, THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS!

For the first time since the 1979 Pirates won the World Series, Pittsburgh celebrated a championship.

18.  March 18, 1995:  1994-95 East Coast Hockey League season, Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Hampton Roads Admirals v. Charlotte Checkers, third period, Admirals leading 4-2

My father and I shared season tickets for the Hampton Roads Admirals games for the 1994-95 season.  We would attend the Friday night home games and a couple of Saturday games.  Little did we know that when we settled into our usual seats this particular Saturday night, we would be among the nearly 9000 denizens of the Norfolk Scope to witness East Coast Hockey League history.

The Checkers pulled their goalie Rob Tallas trailing 4-2 late in the third period.  Now, a fast food joint called Rally’s used to give free orders of medium fries in exchange for the ticket stubs if the Admirals scored at least 5 goals in the game, win or lose.  The fry goal this particular night was scored by the most unlikeliest, goaltender Corwin Saurdiff.

On WTAR radio, Pete Michaud made this historic call:

And the puck knocked out in the Admirals end by Halverson.  Empty net down to our left now.  Four, two Admirals lead and goaltender Rob Tallas has been pulled by the Checkers.  Charlotte heads it up to Wheeler by the penalty boxes, he’ll dump it in the Admiral end.  Picked up by Saurdiff… he’s going to try for a goal… he’ll shoot it down ice on the fly, heading for the net… IT IS IN!!  IT’S SCORED BY CORWIN SAURDIFF!! OH MY GOODNESS!!

The goal by Saurdiff was the first goalie goal in East Coast Hockey League history.  We all got free Rally’s fries the next afternoon.  It wasn’t until 2018 when I uploaded the historic call onto YouTube with a personal connection.

17.  January 1, 1983:  1983 Sugar Bowl, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Penn State Nittany Lions v. Georgia Bulldogs, fourth quarter, Penn State leading 20-17, first down and 10, ball on the Georgia 47 yard line

The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions had come into the Sugar Bowl ranked number 2 with a 10-1 record, with their only loss to Alabama.  Georgia was undefeated, ranked number 1, and led by Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

But early in the fourth quarter, with Penn State leading 20-17, quarterback Todd Blackledge took a snap and fired a pass to Gregg Garrity for the touchdown.

Keith Jackson made this call for ABC:

First down, Penn State, Georgia 48.  Lions have got a drive going here, a time-consuming effort, too… but now Blackledge is going to put one up on first down… he’s going for the thunder… Garrity, TOUCHDOWN!

That touchdown would be the difference as Georgia would score a touchdown of their own, but their two point attempt failed.  Penn State held on to win their first national championship.

16.  February 1, 2009:  Super Bowl XLIII, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Pittsburgh Steelers v. Arizona Cardinals, second quarter, Steelers leading 10-7, second down and goal, ball on the Steelers’ 1 yard line

18 seconds remained until halftime in Super Bowl XLIII, and the Cardinals were driving to take a 14-10 lead.  Kurt Warner took the shotgun snap and thought the Steelers were going all out blitz, so he threw a pass intended for Anquan Boldin, but Steelers linebacker James Harrison stepped into the passing lane and intercepted the pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, setting a Super Bowl record for longest play.

Al Michaels made this call for NBC:

From the gun, Steelers show blitz, here they come, he gets it away and it’s picked off at the goal line!  There’s a flag thrown on the runback, James Harrison to run it back, and Harrison is past midfield, Harrison going down the sideline, Harrison still on his feet, Harrison is going to… go all the way, they’re waiting for the official to get there, touchdown is signaled!  A flag is down on the runback, back at the 9 yard line!

Cardinals left guard Reggie Wells was flagged for a personal foul for grasping the face mask of Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton.  

James Harrison laid flat on his back after his 100 yard interception return for a touchdown.  Momentum swung the Steelers’ way going into the locker room.

15.  February 1, 2009:  Super Bowl XLIII, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Pittsburgh Steelers v. Arizona Cardinals, fourth quarter, Steelers trailing 23-20, second down and goal, ball on the Cardinals’ 6 yard line

Following a Larry Fitzgerald touchdown catch that gave the Cardinals their only lead in Super Bowl XLIII, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers came back with a drive of their own.  On second down and goal, with 43 seconds left in regulation, Roethlisberger looked to throw to Mewelde Moore, but he was covered.  He found Santonio Holmes (who I once mistook for a cousin) in the corner of the end zone.  Holmes made the catch and kept his toes in bounds for the winning touchdown.

Bill Hillgrove had this call for the Steelers Football Network:

43 seconds to go… gets the snap… scrambles around, throws it back corner of the end zone… SANTONIO WITH A TOUCHDOWN!  SANTONIO HOLMES!  I DON’T KNOW HOW HE DID IT!  DOMINIQUE ROGERS-CROMARTIE DOESN’T KNOW HOW HE DID IT!  BUT THEY RULE TOUCHDOWN IN THE FAR RIGHT CORNER OF THE END ZONE!  AND THIS STADIUM ERUPTS!

Following a fumble recovery, and one Roethlisberger kneel down, the Steelers were Super Bowl XLIII champions.  Coach Mike Tomlin became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl.

On NBC, this was the last game for legendary coach-turned-broadcaster John Madden, as he retired following the conclusion of the season.

14.  June 12, 2009:  2009 Stanley Cup Finals, game 7, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings, third period, Penguins leading 2-1

With the Stanley Cup finals tied at three games apiece, the Penguins started slowly, but the first period ended with no scoring.  But less than two minutes into the second period, Evgeni Malkin intercepted a clearing attempt by Brad Stuart right to Max Talbot, who fired a one timer past Chris Osgood.  Eight minutes later, Talbot scored again, this time on a two one one break,  Talbot used Tyler Kennedy as a decoy and drilled a wrist shot past Osgood to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.  But the Red Wings would not surrender.  They got on the board with less than 7 minutes left in regulation with a Jonathan Ericsson goal.  With six seconds left, the teams lined up for a faceoff in the Pittsburgh end.  Zetterberg’s initial shot was blocked, but Lidstrom’s desperation shot was stopped by Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with less than two seconds left.

Mike Lange made the call for the Penguins Hockey Network:

They’ll drop it… and they got to the right point, here’s Rafalski shooting, never got through, loose puck, now to the net, save, rebound, oh, big save by Fleury!  AND IT ENDS!  THAT’S IT!! THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS HAVE WON THIS HOCKEY GAME!  THE PENGUINS HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP!  AND LORD STANLEY, SCRATCH THEIR NAMES ON YOUR FABLED CUP!  THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS, 2009!

This Stanley Cup victory, coupled with the Steelers’ Super Bowl XLIII win in February, made the city of Pittsburgh the City of Champions for 2009.  Game 7 was the last live sporting event to air on analog television as the digital transition took effect one hour after NBC’s coverage ended.

13.  June 19, 2016:  2016 NBA Finals, game 7, Oracle Arena, Oakland, Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors, fourth quarter, game tied 89 apiece

The Golden State Warriors were looking to duplicate what the Chicago Bulls did in 1995-96: win 70+ regular season games and then the NBA championship.  But the Cleveland Cavaliers were determined to win the city’s first championship since 1964.  With less than two minutes left in regulation, the Warriors’ Andre Iguodala immediately streaked up the floor as Steph Curry sprinted ahead on the left wing. The only Cavaliers player who appeared to be in position to defend the fast break was J.R. Smith, who quickly began back-pedaling towards his own basket. LeBron James, standing in the corner in front of the Warriors bench, took off after them. Iguodala passed half court, then threw a chest pass to Curry, who immediately gave it back with a bounce pass. Iguodala gathered the ball and took two steps as he powered past Smith toward the hoop before going airborne. Good defense by Smith on the initial layup attempt forced Iguodala to delay the release of his shot by a few tenths of a second, double-pumping before softly floating the ball up toward the glass. James, who had been trailing the play the entire length of the floor, sized up the shot and sprung at the ball from behind, knocking the potential layup off the glass with 1:50 left. The ball was then rebounded by Smith, and brought back up the floor.  The Warriors would not score again, and the Cavaliers scored four more points to win the NBA championship.

ABC’s Mike Breen had this call of what became known as The Block:

Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!

Cleveland could finally celebrate a championship, a promise made by LeBron James in 2014 when he announced in ESPN The Magazine that he was coming home.  On Father’s Day in 2016, James delivered on that promise.

12.  December 3, 2016:  2016 Big Ten Championship, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Penn State Nittany Lions v. Wisconsin Badgers, fourth quarter, Penn State leading 38-31, fourth down and 1, ball on the Penn State 24 yard line

The Nittany Lions needed to make one more stop to win the Big Ten championship, a game I attended in person.  On fourth down and 1, Badgers running back Corey Clement received the handoff, but was stopped by Grant Haley and Marcus Allen short of the line to gain, giving Penn State the ball on downs.

Gus Johnson’s call for Fox:

Fourth down and one for Wisconsin, at the Penn State 24 yard line. Corey Clement in the backfield.  Clement… DID HE GET IT?  NO!  HE DIDN’T GET IT!  WHAT A STOP!  ONE FOR THE AGES!

Penn State would hold on to win the Big Ten championship, and I would count down… 3…2…1…WIN!  The Nittany Lions were headed for Pasadena and the Rose Bowl.

11.  May 25, 2017:  2017 Eastern Conference Finals game 7, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. Ottawa Senators, double overtime, game tied 2 apiece

This was the only game 7 that my longtime bestie Dr. Melissa Eaton attended.  With less than five minutes gone in the second overtime, the Penguins’ Chris Kunitz fired a one timer past Senators’ goaltender Craig Anderson to send the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Mike “Doc” Emrick had this call for NBC:

Taken on by Rust and back to Sheary… darts after that one, Sheary turns away from Clayson, up the boards, able to touch it back, Schultz got it across, here’s Cole, shovels one, fed on in front and that one was tipped up high, was trying to make a pass toward the net or tip it there, and coming to the bench now is Bonino.  Now it’s Sheary, that one came off Stallberg, it’s Schultz working it back in deep.  Fresh from the bench, it’s Crosby.  Crosby on, Kunitz a shot… SCORE!!!!! PENGUINS WIN IT!!!! AND THEY GO TO THE FINALS!!!

Mike Lange had this call for the Penguins Hockey Network presented by S&T Bank:

Just on is Crosby, Sheary waits for it. Goes cross-rink, it goes to Schultz. Now to Crosby... too hard off the boards, but he finds it. Crosby of the Penguins, left wing circle, goes to Kunitz... a shot... SCORE!!! CHRIS KUNITZ WINS IT FOR THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, AS CROSBY SETS HIM UP!!! AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: ELVIS. HAS. JUST. LEFT. THE BUILDING!!! Kunitz with the game winner, his second of the night! And the Penguins are going on to play the Nashville Predators and you know what... you can spit shine your shoes baby! The Penguins are going dancing with Lord Stanley once again.

The Penguins went on to defeat the Nashville Predators in six games to retain the Stanley Cup.

10.  October 13, 1960:  World Series Game 7, Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates v. New York Yankees, bottom 9th inning, score tied 9 apiece, count 1 ball and no strikes

It was the kind of World Series where one team dominated in terms of runs scored… yet it didn’t matter as they lost the series four games to three.  That was the 1960 New York Yankees, who outscored the Pittsburgh Pirates 57-28 in runs, yet lost the series on one pitch by Ralph Terry and a home run hit by Pittsburgh Pirates’ second baseman Bill Mazeroski.  While Mel Allen and Bob Prince handled the call on NBC television, on NBC Radio, Chuck Thompson made the erroneous but endearing call, flubbing the final score and the Yankees pitcher on the mound, but just got caught up in the moment.

Well, a little while ago, when we said that this was going down to the wire, little did we know.  Art Ditmar throws… there’s a high fly ball going deep to left, this may do it!  Back to the wall goes Berra, it is… over the fence, home run!  The Pirates win it!

(long pause for loud cheering)

Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Mazeroski has just hit a one-nothing pitch over the left field fence to win the 1960 World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the New York Yankees by the score of ten to nothing!  Once again, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 1960 world champions 10, the New York Yankees 9!  And Forbes Field is an insane asylum!

Pittsburgh went wild.  Errors made by Thompson:  Ditmar was warming up in the bullpen, Ralph Terry was on the mound.  The Pirates won the game 10-9 and the World Series.

Personal connection:  The home run was hit at 3:36 in the afternoon of October 13, 1960.  My father was among the students standing on the sidewalk on Seventh Avenue in McKeesport outside Holy Trinity School, waiting to board the school bus for the return trip home.  The principal of the school was listening to the game on an old transistor radio.  Students in the classrooms were asking each other what the score was.  The buses were delayed picking up the students to go home, when the principal stormed down the hallway toward the exits screaming:  THE PIRATES WON!  THE PIRATES WON!  BILL MAZEROSKI HIT A HOME RUN!

9.  February 22, 1980:  1980 Winter Olympics ice hockey medal round, Olympic Center, Lake Placid, USA v. Soviet Union, third period, USA leading 4-3

The Miracle on Ice.  The USA, a team of college students, coached by Herb Brooks, faced a team of all-stars from the Soviet Union coached by Viktor Tikoanov.  After a first period where each team scored twice, Tikhonov yanked goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and replaced him with backup goaltender Vladimir Myshkin.  It turned out to be the biggest mistake of Tikhonov’s career.  With the game tied at 3 in the third period, Mark Pavelich fed captain Mike Eruzione, who fired a shot from the high slot past Myshkin to set off bedlam at the Olympic Center.  Ten minutes later, Al Michaels made this famous call for ABC:

“Johnson over to Ramsey.  Bilyaletdinov gets checked by Ramsey.  McClanahan is there, the puck is still loose!  Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now!  Morrow, up to Silk!  Five seconds left in the game!  (Ken Dryden: It’s over!) Do you believe in miracles?  YES!

The USA players sprang from the bench to celebrate while coach Herb Brooks sprinted back to the locker room and wept.  Two days later, the USA defeated Finland to win the gold medal.  This time, Al Michaels shouted:

This impossible dream… COMES TRUE!

A hockey team and a nation celebrated.

In the 2004 film Miracle, while Michaels and Dryden recreated their call of the game, director Gavin O’Connor was able to incorporate Al Michaels’ original call of the final ten seconds of the Miracle on Ice call because he felt that he couldn’t ask him to recreate the emotion experienced at the moment.  It was the greatest moment in sports in the 20th century.

8.  May 26, 1992:  1992 Stanley Cup Finals, game 1, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins v. Chicago Blackhawks, third period, game tied 4 apiece

Despite trailing 4-1 in the second period, the Penguins tied the game on goals from Rick Tocchet, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.  With 15.2 seconds left in regulation, and the Penguins on a power play with Blackhawks’ Mike Hudson sitting in the sin bin, Ron Francis won the face off back to Larry Murphy, who promptly drilled a slap shot off of Ed Belfour’s right pad, but the rebound came right to Mario Lemieux, who fired a wrist shot past Belfour with 12.6 seconds left and gave the Penguins the 5-4 win.

Mike Lange made this call for KDKA:

They’ll drop the puck… Murphy slap shot, save by Belfour, rebound to Lemieux… HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SHOOOOOTS AND SCOOORRRES!  MARIO LEMIEUX AND THE PENGUINS LEAD 5-4 AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE HERE TO BELIEVE IT!  MARIO LEMIEUX HAS GIVEN THE PENGUINS THE LEAD!

The noise from the Pittsburgh Civic Arena could be heard all the way down to Morgantown, West Virginia.  The Penguins went on to sweep the Chicago Blackhawks to retain the Stanley Cup.

7.  July 10, 1999:  FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, USA v. China, penalty kick shootout, shootout tied 4 apiece

On my 14th birthday, having returned home from the Pittsburgh area in time for the game, the finals of the Women's World Cup between the USA and China saw neither team score through 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of golden goal.  So a penalty kick shootout was required.  The USA scored on all four of its attempts, China had gone four of five, but was out of shooters.  That meant the Women’s World Cup fell on the foot of the USA’s Brandi Chastain.  Months earlier against China in the Algarve Cup, she missed a penalty kick that cost her team the game.  But she would not be denied this time, as her penalty kick found the net and sent the 90,000 denizens of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, including president Bill Clinton, into a frenzy.

JP Dellacamera made this call for ABC:

Even again… but it also means the USA could win the World Cup on this next kick!  Chastain will take it.  She missed a penalty kick against China in the Algarve Cup and they lost that game.  GOAL!!!

Chastain celebrated by ripping off her jersey to reveal a sports bra, which made the cover of the following week’s edition of Sports Illustrated magazine.  A book written by Chastain with that moment was titled “It’s Not About the Bra” became a bestseller.

6.  February 6, 2006:  Super Bowl XL, Ford Field, Detroit, Pittsburgh Steelers v. Seattle Seahawks, fourth quarter, Steelers leading 14-10, third down and 8, ball on the Seahawks’ 43 yard line

Following an Ike Taylor interception and a 15 yard personal foul against Matt Hasselbeck for an illegal block below the waist, the Steelers needed only four plays to hit pay dirt.  Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took the snap and handed it off to Antwaan Randle El on a reverse, which turned out to be a pass play when the former college quarterback found a wide open Hines Ward, who caught the ball in stride for the touchdown to make it 21-10 Steelers. 

Bill Hillgrove made this call for the Steelers’ Football Network:

And they pitch it to the left and now here’s the handoff on the reverse to Antwaan Randle El… he’s going to throw it down the field, there’s a man open… TOUCHDOWN PITTSBURGH!  HINES WARD, THE STEELERS SCORE FROM 43 OUT ON A GADGET PLAY THAT THEY WORKED ON IN PRACTICE ON FRIDAY!

The Seahawks would never threaten and the Steelers finally got their long awaited “one for the thumb”.  Hometown hero Jerome Bettis finally got his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy and promptly retired at midfield.  Coach Bill Cowher got a Gatorade shower and his Super Bowl ring that he so desired.

5.  December 23, 1972:  1972 NFL divisional round, Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers v. Oakland Raiders, fourth quarter, fourth down and 10, ball on the Steelers’ 40 yard line, Steelers trailing 7-6

The Immaculate Reception.  There were 22 seconds remaining with the Steelers trailing the Raiders by 1.  Terry Bradshaw, the Steelers quarterback fired a pass intended for Frenchy Fuqua, but was deflected off of Raiders safety Jack Tatum and into the hands of Franco Harris, who was trailing the play.  At 3:29 in the afternoon, Harris crossed the goal line for the winning touchdown.  There were 5 seconds left, but fans stormed the field and a fan named Jim Baker got his hands on the ball.  Baker was attending the game with his young nephew Bobby.  For years afterwards, the game ball had been stored in a guarded bank vault.  Whenever the ball made an appearance, two armed security guards would always accompany it.

The rules at the time forbade two consecutive offensive players from touching the ball, which the Raiders continue to make a point over.  But through replay, Tatum and Fuqua arrived at the ball simultaneously, thus Harris was eligible to make the catch and score.

Jack Fleming made the call for WTAE radio:

Hang onto your hats, here come the Steelers out of the huddle. Terry Bradshaw at the controls. Twenty-two seconds remaining. And this crowd is standing. And Bradshaw, back and looking again Bradshaw....running out of the pocket, looking for somebody to throw to, fires it downfield, and there's a collision! It's caught out of the air! The ball is pulled in by Franco Harris! Harris is going for a touchdown for Pittsburgh! Harris is going...5 seconds left on the clock. Franco Harris pulled in the football, I don't even know where he came from!

The Steelers ultimately lost to the perfect Miami Dolphins in the AFC championship, but the Immaculate Reception began the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s, where they won four Super Bowls in a six year span.

4.  April 13, 1997:  1997 Masters Tournament, 18th hole, final round, Tiger Woods par putt

There was never a moment at Augusta quite like this when a then-21-year-old named Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National for the first time since turning pro in August 1996.  He had already won three tournaments on the PGA Tour coming into Augusta:  the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational in a sudden death playoff over Davis Love III, the 1996 Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic by 2 over Payne Stewart, and the 1997 Mercedes Championships in a sudden death playoff over Tom Lehman.  After an inauspicious 40 on his first nine holes of the first round, Tiger shot 30 on the second nine to finish with a first round of 70.  Tiger took the lead for good in the second round and kept his foot on the gas pedal in the third round with a three round total of 201, 15 under par.  At that point, it would not be a matter of if Tiger would win the Masters, it was a matter of how many strokes will he win by and how many records would fall in the process.  With Lee Elder, the first person of color to participate in the Masters in attendance among the thousands of patrons in person and millions more tuned in on CBS, Tiger shot a final round 69, capped off by a par putt on the final hole to clinch his first major.

Jim Nantz of CBS made this call of the final putt:

”There it is… a win for the ages!”

The moment where a young Tiger Woods won his first major was the inspiration for a whole new generation of young kids begging their parents to purchase them a set of clubs.  Tiger was presented with the green jacket from 1996 champion Sir Nick Faldo.

3.  July 15, 2017:  2017 Lawrence/Mercer County Church Softball League tournament finals, Covenant Speed/Power v. New Life Saints, bottom 7th inning, Covenant trailing 13-12, runner Jeff Newell on first, no outs, count 2 balls and 1 strike

This was the moment fans of Covenant softball had waited six years for since being founded in 2012.  With Jeff Newell aboard after a bloop single in the bottom of the seventh inning of the tournament finale, rookie sensation Corey Sternthal came up to bat with a chance to win the championship.  On a 2-1 count, Corey Sternthal sent a high fly ball deep to right center field that cleared the fence and crowned the Covenant Speed/Power the new Lawrence/Mercer County Church Softball League champions.

This was my call of the moment:

”2-1 offering:  THAT’S A FLY BALL!  IT’S GOING BACK… THEY’VE DONE IT!  COVENANT WON IT!  COVENANT IS THE NEW LAWRENCE/MERCER COUNTY CHURCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!  HOW SWEET IT IS!  COVENANT IS THE NEW CHAMPION!  COVENANT IS THE NEW CHAMPION!”

2.  October 22, 2016:  Week eight 2016 college football season, Beaver Stadium, State College, Penn State Nittany Lions v. Ohio State Buckeyes, fourth quarter, Penn State trailing 21-17, fourth down and 6, ball on the Penn State 37 yard line

A number two ranked team from evil Ohio State was favored by 19.5 over Penn State when kickoff at Beaver Stadium took place.  But it didn’t matter.  With Penn State trailing 21-17 with under five minutes to go in regulation, evil Ohio State lined up for a 45 yard field goal attempt by Tyler Durbin.  But the field goal unit was rushed on too late.  Durbin’s kick was blocked by Penn State safety Marcus Allen and linebacker Grant Haley scooped up the loose ball and ran 70 yards for the winning touchdown, setting Beaver Stadium into bedlam.

Chris Fowler, whose father had been on the faculty at Penn State when he was a kid, made this call for ABC:

Urban [Meyer] thought about it… now they’re going to rush the field goal team out here, because this is a career long attempt for Tyler Durbin, who’s super reliable from inside of 40.  This is from 45, and it’s blocked!  Lions scoop it up!  Grant Haley… will score!  Marcus Allen made the block!  The veteran safety… Haley scooped it up, and Penn State, incredibly, has the lead!

Steve Jones made this call for the Penn State football network:

Kick is up, IT’S BLOCKED!! ON THE TURF, PICKED UP BY HALEY! HALEY THE 50, THE 40, 30, 25, 20, HALEY 10, 5, TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!! MARCUS ALLEN BLOCKED IT!! HALEY TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE!! AND THE NITTANY LIONS ELECTRIFY BEAVER STADIUM AND TAKE THE LEAD WITH 4:27 TO GO!!

Penn State held on to upset heavily favored evil Ohio State, setting off bedlam at Beaver Stadium and on the streets of downtown State College.  The victory secured a signature win and an emotional week for head coach James Franklin, whose brother-in-law had died that Monday.  Penn State would go on to win the Big Ten Championship over Wisconsin and secure a trip to the Rose Bowl, while evil Ohio State was shut out by eventual national champion Clemson 31-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.

1.  January 2, 1987:  1987 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl, Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Penn State Nittany Lions v. Miami Hurricanes, fourth quarter, Penn State leading 14-10, fourth down and goal, ball on the Penn State 13 yard line

Penn State hadn’t done much offensively, but led Miami 14-10 with just 18 seconds remaining and Miami facing a fourth down from the 13 yard line.  Vinny Testaverde and the Hurricanes had to score a touchdown or they would lose the national championship.  Testaverde lined up under center and heaved a pass to the end zone.  But Penn State linebacker Pete Giftopoulos from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada intercepted the pass at the goal line and returned it to the 9 yard line to give Penn State a second national championship in a five year span.  It was the perfect way to cap off the Penn State football program’s centennial season, with a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship.

This call by Charlie Jones for NBC:

Fourth down, national championship.  Intercepted, Giftopolous!

Penn State fans went wild as the Nittany Lions won the national championship.  Immediately after, Giftopoulos handed the ball to an official, who said to him, “Keep it”, to which Giftopoulos replied, “Why should I keep it?  If you keep it, you have to give the NCAA $50.  That’s $75 Canadian.”