10 unsung moments in ALCS and NLCS history

The League Championship Series has produced dozens of memorable and historic moments in both leagues since the first editions in 1969: Rick Monday's big ninth-inning homer in Montreal to clinch the pennant for the Dodgers in 1981. Francisco Cabrera's two-run walk-off hit to send the Braves to the World Series in 1992. Aaron Boone's walk-off Game 7 homer to beat the Red Sox in 2003.

Those are just a few of the big ones. But what about some smaller moments that proved almost as valuable? These are the unsung moments that, though perhaps not forgotten, don't get their due because they were overshadowed by the more iconic plays that came later.

Throughout LCS history, many of the big moments you remember most wouldn't have happened without a critical assist from a play or performance that's since taken a back seat in the ol' memory bank.

As the 2024 NLCS and ALCS get underway Sunday and Monday, respectively, the stage is set for more clutch moments, big and small.

Here's a look at 10 unsung or under-discussed moments in LCS history that paved the way for a pennant.

2020 NLCS Game 5 (Braves-Dodgers): Smith vs. Smith

A Will Smith-on-Will Smith confrontation turns the series around. With the Braves up 3-1 in the series and up 2-1 in the sixth inning, Smith the catcher hits a two-out, three-run homer off Smith the pitcher, which sparks the Dodgers to three straight wins, including another comeback in Game 7, and an eventual World Series title.

2018 ALCS Game 4 (Red Sox-Astros): Altuve out on fan interference

With Red Sox up 2-1 in the series and up 2-0 in the first inning, Jose Altuve has a potential two-run homer taken away when umpires rule that a fan interfered with Mookie Betts' attempted catch over the right-field wall. The Astros don't score and Boston wins the game 8-6, with Andrew Benintendi making a great diving catch to secure the win with the tying runs in scoring position.

2014 NLCS Game 5 (Cardinals-Giants): Morse's pinch-hit homer

The Giants are up 3-1 in the series but down 3-2 in the game when Mike Morse hits a pinch-hit game-tying homer in the eighth inning. Morse's big fly sets up Travis Ishikawa's pennant-winning homer in the ninth that sends the Giants to their third World Series -- and, eventually, their third championship -- in five seasons.

2003 ALCS Game 7 (Red Sox-Yankees): Rivera goes three

Mariano Rivera, long established as an elite closer, pitches three scoreless innings to set up Boone's pennant-winning walk-off homer. Rivera's outing is tied for the longest of his career, regular season or postseason, since becoming a reliever. As Boone rounds the bases, Rivera, overcome with emotion, and perhaps exhaustion, collapses in relief atop the mound.

1992 NLCS Game 7 (Pirates-Braves): Justice nabs Merced at home

With the Braves down 2-0 in the eighth inning, right fielder David Justice throws out Pittsburgh's Orlando Merced at the plate as he tries to score from first on a one-out double by Jeff King, denying the Pirates a crucial insurance run. The Braves then score three in the ninth to win on Cabrera's two-out, two-run walk-off single.

1986 ALCS Game 5 (Red Sox-Angels): Crawford snuffs Angels rally

After the Red Sox take a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth on Dave Henderson's clutch two-out, two-run homer, the Angels tie it up in the bottom half and have the pennant-winning run at third with one out. But Boston reliever Steve Crawford puts out the fire with the bases loaded and sends the game to extras, where the Sox win 7-6 in 11 innings to stay alive on their way to wins at home in Games 6 and 7.

1984 NLCS Game 3 (Cubs-Padres): Templeton provides spark

The Padres are down 1-0 in the fifth inning and facing elimination when shortstop Garry Templeton hits a two-run double off Dennis Eckersley to give them a lead that would eventually grow to six runs on the way to a 7-1 win to keep their season alive. San Diego would go on to win Games 4 and 5 in comeback fashion to capture its first pennant.

1981 NLCS Game 5 (Dodgers-Expos): Fernandomania ... with the bat

With the series tied 2-2 and the Dodgers down 1-0 to Montreal in the fifth, rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela records a two-strike broken-bat RBI groundout to tie the game. It's hardly an exciting moment, but without that RBI, Monday's solo only ties the game. Instead, it sends the Dodgers to the World Series en route to a championship.

1980 NLCS Game 4 (Phillies-Astros): The Bull is clutch

With the Phillies down 2-1 in the series, pinch-hitter Greg Luzinski breaks a 3-3 tie in the top of the 10th with a run-scoring double (which includes a Pete Rose-Bruce Bochy collision at home) that sparks Philadelphia to a win to stave off elimination and force Game 5, which they also win in extras to take the pennant.

1972 NLCS Game 5 (Pirates-Reds): Bench's blast ties it up

The Reds are down 3-2 in the ninth and facing elimination when Johnny Bench hits a game-tying homer to lead off the inning, keeping the Reds alive and helping set up the pennant-clinching wild pitch five batters later.