4. New York Yankees vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1960
The 1960 Fall Classic between the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates was a matchup for the ages.
The Yankees had become the very definition of a dynasty during the course of the previous four decades, and had won 14 of the past 24 World Series championships. Meanwhile, the Pirates were 35 years removed from their last World Series title, and had just won their first National League pennant since 1927.
With the exception of Games 4 and 7, the series was not close. On three occasions, the Yankees blew out the Pirates by 10 or more runs, led by the likes of MLB legends such as Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris. Yet somehow, Pittsburgh took a 3-2 series lead, and returned home with two opportunities to close out the Yankees.
The Pirates were shutout 12-0 in Game 6, which led to a Game 7 that remains engrained in MLB postseason lore.
The game featured 19 runs scored and four lead changes. There were no strikeouts, and five total home runs.
New York extended its lead to 7-4 after a two-run top of the eighth inning, only to be answered by a five-run bottom half of the inning by Pittsburgh. The Yankees responded with two runs in the top of the ninth, tying the game at nine.
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski scorched a fly ball to left field that cleared the outfield fence for the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history.
Although his team lost, Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson was named MVP, a true testament to how lopsided the series was. Despite being outscored by 28 runs, however, Pittsburgh still found a way to win its third World Series title.
Next: 3. Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox, 1975