MLB Playoffs: The Biggest Heroes of the Last 20 Years

Livan Hernandez

It has been 17 years since Livan Hernandez earned his “playoff hero” title, but his performance in helping to carry the Marlins to the 1997 World Series was impressive enough to earn both NLCS and World Series MVP honors.

Unlike many of the other players on this list, Hernandez is likely best known for a showing in the League Championship Series, rather than the Fall Classic, and his dominant effort in Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS still leaves many Atlanta Braves supporters shaking their heads. With an assist to home plate umpire Eric Gregg (who presented a legendary strike zone on this particular occasion), Hernandez struck out 15 batters over a complete game while allowing only 3 hits and 1 run, and that performance came against a Braves team that won 101 games during that campaign.

Hernandez was not nearly as dominant in the World Series, but at 22 years old, he made 5 appearances (3 starts) in the 1997 playoffs with a 3.18 ERA, and the Marlins needed everything that he provided. The remainder of Hernandez’s postseason track record is somewhat spotty, but 68 total innings with a sub-4.00 ERA puts him above many other hurlers in this respect, and everyone will remember 1997.