Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley coined the phrase in 1993, but he couldn't have fathomed that nearly 20 years later the "walk-off" would become as common as overpriced ballpark beer.
By Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic
Diamondbacks' Justin Upton heads for home plate after hitting a walk-off home run against the Giants.
By Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic
Diamondbacks' Justin Upton heads for home plate after hitting a walk-off home run against the Giants.
Teams won on the last at-bat in 10% of games this season ? 181 games overall ? entering Tuesday, the highest percentage since 1987, according to research by USA TODAY and Baseball-Reference.com. There had already been 51 walk-off homers this year, compared with 33 in 1993 when Eckersley originated the term, walking off the mound after a defeat.
The Kansas City Royals lead the major leagues with 11 walk-off wins; the Cincinnati Reds have endured 11 walk-off losses, the most in baseball.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton has the most game-ending hits with four, including his first walk-off home run June 16.
"It's the greatest feeling, getting a hit to win a game," Upton says. "There's nothing like it."
One reason for the soaring walk-off total is there have been 180 extra-inning games this year, the most through this date in history, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Baseball is on pace for 241 extra-inning games, which would break the record of 220, accomplished four times.
"Most of these teams have pretty good bullpens," says San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who lost a walk-off game Monday, "so games don't get away like they used to."
Contributing: Scott Boeck
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