Best hitters in game 7 in post season.

Today I received an email from stathead.com that included:

That looks like Albert Pujols.

First I looked up Mickey Mantle's post season game log and sorted it on game number. The Mick played in eight game sevens. EIGHT. But I would have had to copy/paste his data into a spreadsheet and compute his totals and averages. That would have been interesting but it would not have gotten me closer to even an educated guess, much less some sort of answer.

Rather than click the stathead link, I ran my own ad hoc query in stathead. My comments are below the table.

For combined games in multiple seasons, up to 2022, in the postseason, in series Game 7, requiring Plate Appearances >= 10 and On-Base Plus Slugging >= .800, sorted by descending On-Base Plus Slugging.

Rk	Player	OPS	PA	OPS	From	To	G	PA	AB	R	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1	Yadier Molina	1.750	12	1.750	2006	2012	3	12	11	1	8	7	0	0	1	4	0	0	1	0	.727	.750	1.000	1.750	11	0	0	0	0	0
2	Dwight Evans	1.611	12	1.611	1975	1986	3	12	9	3	3	0	1	0	2	5	0	0	3	2	.333	.500	1.111	1.611	10	0	0	0	0	0
3	Lou Brock	1.357	13	1.357	1964	1968	3	13	11	2	5	3	1	0	1	1	3	0	2	1	.455	.538	.818	1.357	9	0	0	0	0	0
4	Fred Clarke	1.156	10	1.156	1903	1909	2	10	5	3	1	0	0	1	0	1	2		4	0	.200	.556	.600	1.156	3		0	1		0
5	Cody Bellinger	1.133	12	1.133	2017	2020	3	12	10	3	2	0	0	0	2	3	1	0	2	4	.200	.333	.800	1.133	8	0	0	0	0	0
6	Dan Gladden	1.100	10	1.100	1987	1991	2	10	10	1	4	1	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	.400	.400	.700	1.100	7	0	0	0	0	0
7	Chris Taylor	1.098	13	1.098	2017	2020	3	13	11	0	4	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	.364	.462	.636	1.098	7	0	0	0	0	0
8	Johnny Damon	1.091	11	1.091	2003	2004	2	11	11	2	3	1	0	0	2	6	1	0	0	1	.273	.273	.818	1.091	9	2	0	0	0	0
9	Edgar Rentería	1.071	10	1.071	1997	2004	2	10	7	0	3	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	.429	.500	.571	1.071	4	0	0	2	0	0
10	Phil Rizzuto	1.045	13	1.045	1947	1955	3	13	11	3	5	4	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	.455	.500	.545	1.045	6	0	0	1	0	0
11	Clete Boyer	1.000	12	1.000	1960	1964	3	12	12	1	4	2	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.667	1.000	8	0	0	0	0	0
12	Lonnie Smith	.982	24	.982	1982	1992	6	24	21	5	8	5	3	0	0	3	1	0	3	3	.381	.458	.524	.982	11	0	0	0	0	0
13	Yogi Berra	.973	30	.973	1947	1960	7	30	25	7	5	0	2	0	3	8	0	0	5	1	.200	.333	.640	.973	16	1	0	0	0	3
14	Bill Skowron	.960	25	.960	1955	1962	6	25	25	5	7	3	1	0	3	9	0	0	0	1	.280	.280	.680	.960	17	0	0	0	0	0
15	Rafael Belliard	.944	11	.944	1991	1996	4	11	9	0	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.444	.500	.444	.944	4	0	0	1	0	0
16	Pete Rose	.944	10	.944	1972	1975	2	10	9	1	4	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	.444	.500	.444	.944	4	0	0	0	0	0
17	Bucky Harris	.900	10	.900	1924	1925	2	10	10	1	3	2	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	3	.300	.300	.600	.900	6		0	0		0
18	Mickey Mantle	.897	33	.897	1952	1964	8	33	30	4	9	6	1	0	2	7	0	0	3	7	.300	.364	.533	.897	16	0	0	0	0	0
19	Jason Varitek	.882	17	.882	2003	2008	4	17	17	3	6	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	.353	.353	.529	.882	9	0	0	0	0	0
20	Albert Pujols	.875	12	.875	2004	2011	3	12	8	3	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	1	.250	.500	.375	.875	3	0	1	0	0	2
21	Gil McDougald	.864	22	.864	1952	1960	6	22	22	2	9	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.409	.409	.455	.864	10	0	0	0	0	0
22	Trot Nixon	.856	10	.856	2003	2004	2	10	9	2	2	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	1	4	.222	.300	.556	.856	5	0	0	0	0	0
23	David Ortiz	.851	19	.851	2003	2008	4	19	17	2	3	0	1	0	2	3	0	0	2	5	.176	.263	.588	.851	10	0	0	0	0	0
24	Jay Bell	.844	10	.844	1991	2001	3	10	9	2	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	.333	.400	.444	.844	4	0	0	0	0	0
25	Jose Altuve	.820	17	.820	2017	2020	4	17	15	2	4	3	0	0	1	2	1	0	2	3	.267	.353	.467	.820	7	1	0	0	0	0
26	Barry Bonds	.817	12	.817	1991	2002	3	12	10	0	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.300	.417	.400	.817	4	0	0	0	0

I probably should have made Plate Appearances higher. Several players had 10 and some played in only 2 game sevens. But I left it. The table is not that big.

Mantle had the most games in this table: 8. And the most PA: 33. Mick hit two home runs in a World Series game 7 (division series started in 1969 and Mantle's last WS was in 1964): 1952 and 1964, Mantle's first and last game sevens. But two of his Yankee teammates hit three home runs in fewer games: Berra and Skowron each hit three homers in game sevens.

I reran the query, removing the OPS requirement of .800 to find other stuff.

At least 6 game sevens:

Rk	Player	G	PA	G	From	To	G	PA	AB	R	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1	Mickey Mantle	8	33	8	1952	1964	8	33	30	4	9	6	1	0	2	7	0	0	3	7	.300	.364	.533	.897	16	0	0	0	0	0
2	Yogi Berra	7	30	7	1947	1960	7	30	25	7	5	0	2	0	3	8	0	0	5	1	.200	.333	.640	.973	16	1	0	0	0	3
3	Elston Howard	7	24	7	1955	1967	7	24	23	3	6	4	1	0	1	2	1	0	0	5	.261	.261	.435	.696	10	1	0	1	0	0
4	Gil McDougald	6	22	6	1952	1960	6	22	22	2	9	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.409	.409	.455	.864	10	0	0	0	0	0
5	Terry Pendleton	6	19	6	1985	1996	6	19	19	3	5	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.263	.263	.368	.632	7	0	0	0	0	0
6	Bill Skowron	6	25	6	1955	1962	6	25	25	5	7	3	1	0	3	9	0	0	0	1	.280	.280	.680	.960	17	0	0	0	0	0
7	Lonnie Smith	6	24	6	1982	1992	6	24	21	5	8	5	3	0	0	3	1	0	3	3	.381	.458	.524	.982	11	0	0	0	0

It turns out that Mantle played in the most game sevens, even without division series. He was injured in 1955 and batted only once:

Tuesday, October 4, 1955

Attendance: 62,465

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 2:44

Day Game, on grass

Dodgers 2, Yankees 0

Bottom of the 7th, Yankees Batting, Behind 0-2, Dodgers' Johnny Podres facing 6-7-8
Skowron ground out
Cerv ground out
Howard single
Mickey Mantle pinch hits for Bob Grim (P) batting 9th
Mantle pop out to shortstop

At least two home runs:

Rk	Player	HR	HR	From	To	G	PA	AB	R	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1	Yogi Berra	3	3	1947	1960	7	30	25	7	5	0	2	0	3	8	0	0	5	1	.200	.333	.640	.973	16	1	0	0	0	3
2	Bill Skowron	3	3	1955	1962	6	25	25	5	7	3	1	0	3	9	0	0	0	1	.280	.280	.680	.960	17	0	0	0	0	0
3	Cody Bellinger	2	2	2017	2020	3	12	10	3	2	0	0	0	2	3	1	0	2	4	.200	.333	.800	1.133	8	0	0	0	0	0
4	Del Crandall	2	2	1957	1958	2	8	8	2	3	1	0	0	2	2	0	1	0	1	.375	.375	1.125	1.500	9	0	0	0	0	0
5	Johnny Damon	2	2	2003	2004	2	11	11	2	3	1	0	0	2	6	1	0	0	1	.273	.273	.818	1.091	9	2	0	0	0	0
6	Dwight Evans	2	2	1975	1986	3	12	9	3	3	0	1	0	2	5	0	0	3	2	.333	.500	1.111	1.611	10	0	0	0	0	0
7	Jason Giambi	2	2	2003	2003	1	5	5	2	2	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	1	.400	.400	1.600	2.000	8	0	0	0	0	0
8	Mickey Mantle	2	2	1952	1964	8	33	30	4	9	6	1	0	2	7	0	0	3	7	.300	.364	.533	.897	16	0	0	0	0	0
9	David Ortiz	2	2	2003	2008	4	19	17	2	3	0	1	0	2	3	0	0	2	5	.176	.263	.588	.851	10	0	0	0	0	0
10	Dustin Pedroia	2	2	2007	2008	2	9	7	4	4	1	1	0	2	6	1	1	1	0	.571	.667	1.571	2.238	11	1	1	0	0	0

Berra and Skowron are the only players to hit at least three home runs in game sevens.

Most RBI:

Rk	Player	RBI	RBI	From	To	G	PA	AB	R	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1	Bill Skowron	9	9	1955	1962	6	25	25	5	7	3	1	0	3	9	0	0	0	1	.280	.280	.680	.960	17	0	0	0	0	0
2	Yogi Berra	8	8	1947	1960	7	30	25	7	5	0	2	0	3	8	0	0	5	1	.200	.333	.640	.973	16	1	0	0	0	3
3	Mickey Mantle	7	7	1952	1964	8	33	30	4	9	6	1	0	2	7	0	0	3	7	.300	.364	.533	.897	16	0	0	0	0	0
4	Johnny Damon	6	6	2003	2004	2	11	11	2	3	1	0	0	2	6	1	0	0	1	.273	.273	.818	1.091	9	2	0	0	0	0
5	Dustin Pedroia	6	6	2007	2008	2	9	7	4	4	1	1	0	2	6	1	1	1	0	.571	.667	1.571	2.238	11	1	1	0	0	0
6	Dwight Evans	5	5	1975	1986	3	12	9	3	3	0	1	0	2	5	0	0	3	2	.333	.500	1.111	1.611	10	0	0	0	0	0
7	Keith Hernandez	5	5	1982	1988	3	14	10	1	3	3	0	0	0	5	0	0	3	2	.300	.429	.300	.729	3	1	0	0	1	1
8	Jim Sundberg	5	5	1985	1985	2	9	7	2	3	2	0	1	0	5	0	0	2	0	.429	.556	.714	1.270	5	0	0	0	0	0

Finally, let's double PA from 10 to 20 and sort on OPS:

Rk	Player	OPS	PA	OPS	From	To	G	PA	AB	R	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1	Lonnie Smith	.982	24	.982	1982	1992	6	24	21	5	8	5	3	0	0	3	1	0	3	3	.381	.458	.524	.982	11	0	0	0	0	0
2	Yogi Berra	.973	30	.973	1947	1960	7	30	25	7	5	0	2	0	3	8	0	0	5	1	.200	.333	.640	.973	16	1	0	0	0	3
3	Bill Skowron	.960	25	.960	1955	1962	6	25	25	5	7	3	1	0	3	9	0	0	0	1	.280	.280	.680	.960	17	0	0	0	0	0
4	Mickey Mantle	.897	33	.897	1952	1964	8	33	30	4	9	6	1	0	2	7	0	0	3	7	.300	.364	.533	.897	16	0	0	0	0	0
5	Gil McDougald	.864	22	.864	1952	1960	6	22	22	2	9	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.409	.409	.455	.864	10	0	0	0	0	0
6	Elston Howard	.696	24	.696	1955	1967	7	24	23	3	6	4	1	0	1	2	1	0	0	5	.261	.261	.435	.696	10	1	0	1	0	0
7	Willie McGee	.550	20	.550	1982	1996	5	20	20	3	5	4	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	.250	.250	.300	.550	6	0	0	0	0	0
8	Roger Maris	.348	21	.348	1960	1968	5	21	19	1	3	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	.158	.190	.158	.348	3	1	0	0	1	0
9	Hank Bauer	.308	20	.308	1952	1958	5	20	19	1	2	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	.105	.150	.158	.308	3	0	0	0	0	0

The seven Yankees did it exclusively in the World Series. These Yankees split the number of  World Series they played (not restricted to a 7 game series) as follows:

Howard: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1

Skowron: Yankees 7,  Dodgers 1

Maris: Yankees 5, Cardinals 2

Brooklyn Dodgers: best hitters in game 7 in post season. Where are Robinson, Campanella, Snider, Hodges? Saturday, December 17, 2022