Major League Baseball is almost ready to crown a new champion as the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals get set to face off in the 2013 World Series beginning Wednesday night (10/23) at Fenway Park.

The best things about the Fall Classic are the historic moments that each year's crowning leaves us. Whether you agree or disagree with our rankings, count along with us some of the most memorable moments in World Series history.

  • 10

    Buckner'd

    1986 World Series - Mets vs Red Sox

    Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner became persona non grata in Beantown thanks to this play that has gone down in history.

  • 9

    FINALLY!

    2004 - Red Sox vs Cardinals

    The Curse of the Bambino was officially lifted when the Red Sox finally won the World Series after an 86-year drought. This was the final out.

  • 8

    Mother Nature Intervenes

    1989 - Giants vs A's

    The San Francisco Giants were about to play the Oakland A’s in Game 3 of the Fall Classic when an earthquake struck while viewers watched live. It takes a lot to divert attention away from the WS, but this tragedy usurped the game.

  • 7

    Mr. October Arrives

    1977 - Yankees vs Dodgers

    Reggie Jackson hits three home runs and cemented his status as Mr. October with this performance in Game 6, elevating him among the game’s elite. The Yankees won the series with this game and Jackson took home MVP honors.

  • 6

    Bats Aren't Balls

    2000 - Yankees vs Mets

    Roger Clemens throws a bat at Mike Piazza. Clemens claimed he thought the bat was the ball. The Yankees easily won the series, but this play certainly made Clemens an enemy among the Mets faithful.

  • 5

    Two Chances For Texas

    2011 - Rangers vs Cardinals

    This epic battle in Game 6 saw the Rangers one strike away from winning the game -- and the World Series -- not once, but twice. In the 9th inning, David Freese hit a game-tying triple and then in the 11th he returned for more theatrics with a walk-off home run. The Cardinals would go on to win the decisive seventh game. I'm still wondering what exactly Nelson Cruz was thinking in the outfield.

  • 4

    Snakebit

    2001 - Diamondbacks vs Yankees

    Luis Gonzalez hit a walk-off single in the 9th inning in Game 7 off future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a series win.

  • 3

    The Catch

    1954 - NY Giants vs Cleveland INdians

    In game 1 of the '54 World Series, Willie Mays made arguably the most iconic catch in baseball history. His over-the-shoulder grab of Vic Wertz's hit set the tone of the series, and the Say Hey Kid's Giants swept Cleveland in 4 games.

  • 2

    The Impossible Happened

    1988 - Dodgers vs A's

    A hobbling Kirk Gibson stepped up to the plate and hit a game-winning home run in the Game 1 over the heavily-favored Oakland A’s. It set the tone for the Dodgers World Series victory – the franchise’s most recent one.

  • 1

    Touch 'Em All, Joe

    1993 - Blue Jays vs Phillies

    Joe Carter hit a walk-off game-winning, World Series-clinching home run for the Blue Jays victory over the Phillies. The hit also sealed the Blue Jay's second straight WS title. This moment is number one on my list, only because it was the first full series that my father and I watched together while he helped me sort my baseball cards. Good times!

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