Stanton gave the Yankees a 2-1 series lead in the American League Division Series on Wednesday night by hitting the game-winning home run against the Kansas City Royals.
Alongside the most recognizable player in the club, Stanton has elevated himself into an exclusive postseason hitting category. With just 108 at-bats, Stanton’s solo home run in the eighth inning gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead was his 12th career postseason home run. Stanton now has a lifetime at-bat per home run in the postseason of 9.4. With an 8.6 ratio, it is the second-best in MLB history, only surpassed by Babe Ruth, the legendary player from the Yankees.
The only two players with a ratio less than 10 are Stanton and Ruth.
Stanton discussed how he has hit so effectively in the playoffs after the game. “It’s the biggest moments, you got to be ready for it, you got to want it,” he said. “You’re not always going to be successful, but you can’t be shocked in the big moments.”
But since the World Series was the only postseason series during Ruth’s playing career in the 1920s and 1930s, all of his playoff home runs came in that series. Stanton hasn’t yet helped the Yankees win a World Series, so all of his postseason home runs have come in earlier rounds.
