The 10 best World Series batting performances of all time — starring David Ortiz

After leading the Boston Red Sox to their eighth championship Wednesday night, slugger David Ortiz stands with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Barry Bonds and Reggie Jackson among the greatest offensive performers in World Series history.

Ortiz went 11 for 16 to bat .688, and he reached base 19 of 25 trips for a .760 clip — the second-highest respective marks in Series history — to go two homers, six RBIs and eight walks. Ortiz's 1.948 on-base plus slugging percentage is the seventh-highest mark ever, though it's not far from second place, Billy Hatcher's 2.050 in 1990, which came in 10 fewer plate appearances.

With the exception of a few key contributions — such as Shane Victorino's three-run double in the clinching game, a big go-ahead double by backup catcher David Ross in Game 5 and a three-run homer by Jonny Gomes in the pivotal moment of the Series in Game 4, it looked like Ortiz was by himself in the batter's box in more ways than one.

Here's a look at the 10 best all-time individual offensive performances in a World Series:

1. Reggie Jackson, 1977: Hit .450/.542/1.250 for 25 total bases in 24 plate appearances for the New York Yankees. He hit a record five home runs (three in Game 6) and scored a record-tying 10 runs. Never was a drink better stirred by its straw.

2. Lou Gehrig, 1928: Hit .545/.706/1.727 in 17 plate appearances for a record 2.433 on-base plus slugging percentage for the Yankees. He hit four home runs, drew six walks and didn't strike out.

3. Babe Ruth, 1928: Hit .625/.647/1.375 for 22 total bases (tied for seventh all time) in only 17 plate appearances for the Yankees. It was like having two Big Papis in the same lineup. The Cardinals never stood a chance.

4. Barry Bonds, 2002: Hit .471/.700/1.294 for 22 total bases in 30 plate appearances for the San Francisco Giants. Bonds had performed poorly in the postseason until that season, but hit four homers and drew a record 13 walks to get the Giants oh-so-close to a championship.

5. Ortiz, 2013: The Cardinals finally got the message in Game 6, walking Ortiz four times — thrice intentionally. At one point against St. Louis, Ortiz reached base in a record-tying nine straight plate appearances.

6. Paul Molitor, 1993: Hit .500/.571/1.000 for 24 total bases in 28 plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays. Molitor added six extra-base hits, three walks and a record-tying 10 runs scored.

7. Lou Brock, 1968: Hit .464/.516/.857 with seven steals for 22 total bases (tied for third all time) in 31 plate appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals.

8. Billy Martin, 1953: Yep, THAT Billy. Hit .500/.520/.958 with two homers, two triples and a double for 23 total bases in 25 plate appearances for the Yankees.

9. Willie Stargell, 1979: Hit .400/.375/.833 for a record 25 total bases in 32 plate appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Had three homers, four doubles and drove in seven runs.

10. Billy Hatcher, 1990: Hit .750/.800/1.250 in 15 plate appearances for the Cincinnati Reds. His 2.050 OPS is second all time, despite not hitting any home runs. All he did was hit four doubles and a triple.

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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him atrdbrown@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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