October 9 represents two iconic New York Mets playoff moments. In 1999, Todd Pratt hit a walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2024, Francisco Lindor drove in all 4 runs for the Mets with one swing, a grand slam over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets would win and advance to the NLCS.
Both share a date, but which one is more iconic?
Is the Todd Pratt walk-off or Francisco Lindor grand slam more memorable?
The Location: Pratt +1
A game taking place at home should always get some advantage, however, Lindor’s grand slam in Philadelphia isn’t so geographically far away enough for us to completely discount all of the Mets fans in attendance. We still need to give a point to Pratt.
Opponent: Lindor +3
Who really cares all that much about the Diamondbacks? Eliminating them brought no more joy than taking down just about any other team with no history against the Mets. The Phillies, on the other hand, getting sent home felt much better. There’s no contest here.
The Moment: Pratt +2
A walk-off versus a grand slam mid-game…give me the walk-off. It’s so much more dramatic. Even though Lindor’s grand slam felt like a nail in the coffin, it hardly was. Edwin Diaz flirted with disaster in the ninth but managed to escape with the tying run at the plate.
The Final Outcome: None
Both teams were eliminated in the NLCS. No points here.
The Player: Pratt +1
Your star coming up with a clutch hit is expected. Your backup catcher who has replaced your story is so much more memorable. Pratt is remembered for this one swing. Lindor has a few other moments, as he should. Pratt gets the victory.
The Drama in the Moment: Pending Review
Let’s look at how each home run looked and sounded and declare a winner.
It’s close, but the drama of not knowing what was going to happen with Pratt’s ball and Steve Finley almost feeling as if he caught it has lasted the test of time. Will Lindor’s big swing surpass it? Considering the Mets made it to the World Series a year later and missed the playoffs a season after Lindor’s iconic drive, the winner goes to the Pratt dinger.
