Some players don’t just play the game — they tilt it in their favor. These stars always came out on top when it mattered most, whether with clutch hits, big-game moments, or a relentless competitive fire.
This list concerns the winners, from dynastic legends to quietly dominant grinders. Not necessarily the flashiest or loudest, just the guys who got it done again and again, often when the stakes were highest.
20. Madison Bumgarner
If there were a postseason mountain to climb, Bumgarner would already be at the top waiting. He made October look like a casual bullpen session.
19. Jorge Posada
Posada never needed to be the loudest voice in the room. He was quietly essential to the Yankees’ winning machine. He just kept catching, hitting, and helping them win.
18. Paul Molitor
Molitor made every team better and seemed to have winning in his DNA. Whether it was Milwaukee or Toronto, the guy just arrived and delivered.
17. Justin Turner
Turner became the heart and soul of a perennial Dodgers contender. His playoff bat was always hot when the moment called for it.
16. Orlando “El Duque” Hernández
The guy pitched like he was born for October. No matter the pressure, El Duque delivered wins when the Yankees needed them most.
15. Miguel Tejada
Tejada was a glue guy with pop who helped carry Oakland through its Moneyball years. He wasn’t just stats — he was spark.
14. Jon Lester
Big-game pitcher with ice in his veins, Lester brought championships to both Boston and Chicago. Not many can say that.
13. Kenny Lofton
Everywhere he went, winning seemed to follow. Lofton brought elite speed, defense, and postseason energy to many playoff teams.
12. Jorge Soler
Soler turned into a postseason monster seemingly out of nowhere. When he got hot, he was the X-factor in championship runs.
11. Yadier Molina
Molina wasn’t just a catcher — he was the Cardinals’ on-field GPS. If winning is a habit, he had it in spades.
10. David Justice
Justice came up big in huge moments and always seemed to be on the contending teams. He was the clutch bat that contenders coveted.
9. Manny Ramirez
Manny being Manny meant also being a ridiculous playoff performer. When the spotlight got bright, his bat got even louder.
8. Derek Jeter
Jeter lived for the moment and made winning look effortless. You just expected him to pull something off in crunch time.
7. Albert Pujols
Pujols mashed during the regular season and stepped up when the lights got bright. His early Cardinals years were a masterclass in championship-level baseball.
6. Andy Pettitte
You needed a postseason win? You called Pettitte. He made October look like a second home.
5. Buster Posey
Posey was the calm in the storm for the Giants’ three-title run. A leader behind the plate and a bat you trusted in any moment.
4. Alex Bregman
Say what you want, but Bregman shows up when it matters. He’s been a key cog in Houston’s never-ending playoff runs.
3. Reggie Jackson
They didn’t call him Mr. October for nothing. Reggie hit when it counted and made sure everyone knew it.
Read More: Ranking the All-Time Kings of Clutch in MLB
2. Mariano Rivera
The ultimate closer who locked down more playoff games than some teams even reached. If he entered the game, you already started writing the W.
Read More: The 15 Biggest Playoff Chokers in MLB History
1. David Ortiz
Ortiz didn’t just win games — he dragged teams to victory. If clutch had a face, it would be Big Papi in October.
Read More: 10 MLB Catchers You Did Not Want to Cross
