Top-25 Boston Sports "Moments"

Zak Drapeau
Jul 20
15 min read

by Zak Drapeau 7/20/2025 FansOnlySportz

In case you didn't already know... Boston is the GREATEST Sports Town in the World. With 39 Championships from the Big 4 Sports Teams in town alone, this city has seen times of struggle, times of excellence and everything in between.

The city's skill, ambition and work ethic are only matched by it's pride and sense of community. We understand that no one else likes us but guess what, we don't like you either and we wouldn't trade any of us for any of you anyway.

In America, there are several cities that could have a claim to being the #2 best sports towns like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Funny thing is, in doing some research I had to really make an effort to make Top-10 lists for those cities.

So here we go, possibly my most ambitious sports list I've ever done. There will no doubt be points you disagree with, rankings you believe should be higher or lower and possibly moments I've left on entirely. But that's just it! I only have 25 spots on this list. I encourage anyone to give us feedback on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram of their own opinions on what you would change... or how amazingly perfect this ranking is and how brilliant I am.

Sit back, relax and remember as you read the 25 Best Moments in Boston's Legendary History.

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25. Tatum Dunking on Lebron

A prelude to the future of his dynasty, the setting was Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals and Jayson Tatum was in his rookie season. The Celtics young core and Kyrie Irving had posted the 2nd best record in the East and had battled to a Game 7 with the 2-time defending East champions. The game was close and in the fourth quarter with just under 7:00 to go... it happened.

Tatum received a pass at the top of the key from Marcus Smart. He beats Tristan Thompson off the dribble and Lebron's a little late to help. The 19-year old elevates and dunks the ball in front of a Celtics' crowd that turns RABID. This dunk would bring the team within 2 of a game they would subsequently lose but it did much more than that in the moment. Tatum had a good rookie year and the team did well, but this moment was the first inclination of the Superstar and All-Time team that Tatum and this bunch would live up to.

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24. "Bird Steals It!"

In 1987 the Celtics were attempting to get to their 5th NBA Finals of the decade but an up and coming Pistons team was stubbornly in their way. Throughout this ECF series the Pistons had been very physical and drawn the series at 2-2, with a pivotal Game 5 back in the Garden. With 17 seconds left and down 2, the Celtics gave the ball to Larry who drove to the whole but was rejected. In the scrum afterwards, the ball would go out of bounds off of the Celtics and all the aura in the building was lost as the clock read just :05. In an all-time dumb move, Isaiah Thomas inbounded the ball and hastily threw a cross-court pass to Laimbeer.

WHITE LIGHTNING.

Larry Bird's instincts and awareness drove him to shield the pass and throw a dime to Dennis Johnson, who would score the game-winning point with :01 left. This is one of the loudest moments the Garden has ever heard and would carry them on to the Finals where Larry would win his 3rd and final ring.

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23. 2010 Boston Marathon

Marathon Monday has always been a local holiday in Boston and while infamous memories would occur some years later, the 2010 edition was one synonymous with glory and pride. Robert Kiprono was a 22-year old born in Kenya who was making his 2nd run in a Boston Marathon that year. In 2009, he would finish the race in 5th place and his time of 2:10:06 would be a truly amazing feat but only a precursor of what was to come.

On April 19, 2010, the City of Boston was gearing up for the 114th Boston Marathon on a beautiful Monday in the city. After his impressive performance the year before, Kiprono was expected to do well but would shatter all expectations anyway. Finishing with a time of 2:05:52, Kiprono would set an all-time record for the Boston Marathon by over a full minute. Pictured above, his jubilation along with his inspirational roots and beautiful scenery on a perfect day, made this moment one of the most feel good of any event in the city's history.

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22. 2001 NCAA Hockey Championship

A program with a lot of great heritage, Boston College had won it's only Frozen Four trophy in 1949. With Head Coach Jerry York being a perfect leader for this team and Captain Brian Gionta setting program records along the way, the team would make the Hockey Championship for the 2nd year in a row.

In an overtime thriller against North Dakota where BC's 2-0 lead collapsed with just 5 minutes left in regulation, the Eagles would soar in Overtime with a barrage of shots. The final of which would be scored by Krys Kolanos as the team erupted. After 2 championship losses since 1998, this Eagles team had got the monkey off their back as each player skated with the Frozen Four trophy.

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21. 1957 NBA Championship

The first of what would be 18, the Celtics championship in 1957 is historical, but wasn't as big as it should have been at the time. In a well-documented racially charged area, the Celtics had assembled a great team under the great Red Auerbach, everything changed when the Celtics drafted Bill Russell in 1956. As the fan attendance would swindle, the team's play would skyrocket as they finished the year 49-23 with the best record in the league.

The 11th NBA Finals would take place between the Celtics and the St. Louis Hawks and would come down to a Game 7 in Boston. With a final score of 125-123, the city of Boston had it's first championship in 16 years and the very first in Celtics' history. With the city still needing many years before it would be mature enough to appreciate the players, this championship wasn't nearly as impactful as it should have been and thus is #21 on our list.

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20. Patriots Go 16-0

The NFL's greatest team ever assembled for a single season regardless of if they won the Super Bowl or not. In 2007, the Patriots had already won 3 rings with Tom Brady but had not made the championship in 3 seasons. With a stacked defense and pretty good offense, Bill wanted to make a splash.

For a FOURTH-ROUND DRAFT PICK, Randy Moss was traded from the Raiders to the Pats. In his first season paired with Brady, the duo would light the league on fire, with Moss catching 23 of Brady's 50 TDs on the season, both were records. With an average of 36.8 points per game and only allowing 17.1 from the defense, the Patriots would end their season on the road versus the New York Giants (foreshadowing is a b*tch). By a score of 38-25 including 2 TDs from Moss, the Patriots would forever live on as the only team to ever go 16-0.

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19. 2013 World Series

The 3rd of 4 championships in 14 years... Suck it Yankees... The 2013 World Series meant more to this city than just baseball. Just 6 months after the tragedy of the Boston Marathon, the city still reeling from it's loss, they were momentarily brought together in triumph and community behind this championship run.

In 6 games against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Red Sox would expel their opposition and in front of an emotional Fenway Park celebrate in a way they hadn't in their 2 other victories in the past decade. The accomplishment of being the best in the world again came second to the team's ability to power through adversity on the diamond and at home.

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18. 2007 World Series

If you're keeping count we've already counted 4 titles and we're FAR from done. The 2007 World Series didn't have the same emotion as another series we'll cover later but it cemented a dynasty. A bit different from it's older brother, the 2007 Boston Red Sox roster had added stars like Pedroia, Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis.

The 2007 Fall Classic would also end up as the first Championship celebration at Fenway Park since 1918. In a 4-game MASSACRE of the Colorado Rockies, the Red Sox made a statement that they were the new dynasty and best team in the world.... A statement they would make 2 more times but who's counting?

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17. Tuck Rule

In Brady's second year as the Patriots' starting QB, he led his team to the playoffs and in the AFC divisional round would compete in maybe... the most famous NFL game of the 2000's?

With under 2 minutes in the game and down 10-13, the Patriots would have one last chance to advance. With 8 inches of snow at his feet, the 24-year old Brady dropped back to pass. After a pump fake, Hall of Fame Safety Charles Woodson would round the corner and hit Brady's arm causing a fumble.

YOU THOUGHT.

Thanks to NFL rule 3, section 22, article 2, note 2... Raiders fans are still crying. The call was overturned because of Brady's arm being in a throwing motion and would lead to one of Adam Vinatieri's greatest moments as he scored a game-tying field goal in a foot of snow. The Patriots would cruise through Overtime and Vinny would do it again to send the Patriots to the AFC Championship.

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16. Bill Russell's Last Game

In 1969 the Celtics were the greatest dynasty the world had ever seen. In 12 seasons they had won 10 championships and were on their way to #11. With an all-time roster led by Bill Russell and great coaching from Red Auerbach and Russell himself for the final 3 years of the stretch, Russell would run into a burgeoning rival one more time.

The Los Angels Lakers had already lost to the Celtics in the NBA Finals 5 times in the decade and a 6th matchup was set for the title. The series would lead to a Game 7 and Lakers' stars West, Wilt and Baylor would combine for 80, 55 and 22 including 42-13-12 from West alone. Russell only had 6 points but was still miles ahead of the Lakers in intelligence, defense and teamwork. The Celtics would pull out a 108-106 win for their 11th championship and send Bill Russell out the way he should have been; a Champion.

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15. Hail Flutie

So far on this list, this may be the moment with most iconic picture attached to it. In the final seconds of a regular season game between Boston College and the defending National Champion Miami Hurricanes, 5'10" Quarterback Doug Flutie said a prayer and chucked it.

With zero's on the clock of a 45-41 barnburner. Heavy underdogs in the game, the Eagles were credited with being "Lucky to be here" in as tight of a game as it was against a team like the '84 Hurricanes. As the 48-yard bomb soared through the air, the ball would drop right into the arms of Gerard Phelan as he fell just past the goal line in the middle of the field. With the team storming the field, and Flutie pumping his arm in the air while being hoisted by his o-lineman, no extra point was attempted or needed as the greatest win in the program's history was celebrated.

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14. Fisk Waving the Home Run Fair

Okay so now THIS is the most iconic picture so far. In the 1975 World Series, the Boston Red Sox would push the Reds to Game 6 and need a win to continue the series. The all-star cast from Boston would be looking for it's first Championship in 57 years and with Game 6 going all the way to the 13th inning, something magical would need to happen.

Then Pudge stepped to the plate... "There it goes, a long drive. If it stays fair... Home Run!" were the iconic words of Dick Stockton that ring in every Boston fan from the 70's and on. As Fisk was obnoxiously trying to pus the wind to make the ball stay fair, the ball would dead-on hit the foul pole next to the Green Monster and send Fenway to jubilation. A memory that would lead to heartbreak in Game 7, this was still a no-doubt moment that will forever live in Boston's memory.

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13. 1970 Stanley Cup

Another iconic imagery saw Bobby Orr, legendary Bruins defenseman and captain of the 1970 team in his most brilliant moment. With the game only just in overtime, the team would pick off the puck in Blues' territory and pulling up behind the goalie Derek Sanderson would feed the puck to his captain and the rest as they say...

Orr was the best player in Hockey that season and led his Bruins to their first Stanley Cup appearance in over a decade. The Championship win would be their first in just under 3 decades and would set in motion a tradition of excellence that followed this team for decades more. Orr's jumping celebration and celebration with his team is to this day one of Hockey's most famous pictures.

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12. 1984 NBA Finals Game 7

The greatest decade of the NBA was a dual monarchy between Magic's Lakers and Larry's Celtics. This series would be the first Finals meeting of 3 in the decade and their first matchup since the 1969 swan song for Russell.

In the Garden, the atmosphere of this game was unreal. With the raucous Boston crowd hanging on every dribble of this intensely-close game, the Celtics would hold out and win by a score 111-102 and give Larry his 2nd and the team's 13th at the same damn time.

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11. 2019 Super Bowl

In hindsight, we should have all soaked this championship in more as Brady's final with the Patriots. This season was in the light of the first trilogy in the early-2000's when defense was the dominant side of the ball. With Tom slinging the rock to Jules and Gronk, the defense was led by players like Gilmore, Hightower, Van Noy and both McCourty's, they would lead the league in points against.

In the Super Bowl, Brady would have his worst Super Bowl game which is still an elite playoff game to most everybody. Against a Rams offense that was setting the world ablaze with their passing game, the Patriots would only let up 3 points. As the curtain closed, Brady would leave with his 6th ring and the Patriots final Super Bowl appearance..... So Far.

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10. 2011 Stanley Cup Game 7

A special season for a very special team that is probably the most feel good Championship win on this list... well besides... ya know that one still to come.

Just reading off the names will bring some of you to tears; Chara, Bergy, Marchand, Thomas, Rask, Horton, Lindholm, Seguin, Krejci, McQuaid and so many more. The playoff run itself was one of the most captivating in the city's history, with 7 game-series being played in 3 of the 4 series including the Finals. In the final game 7 in Vancouver, Bergeron and Marchand would both score a brace in a dominant 4-0 win to give the Bruins their first tile since 1972.

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9. 2024 NBA Championship

The Most recent championship for the city and our 10th so far... still not done... this one in particular hits even harder for the younger generation. For a team that had finished among the top of the Eastern Conference for 4 years in a row, this one was well-deserved. On a roster that had seen major changes thanks to elite coach turned All-Time great GM Brad Stevens, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would come correct and steal the show in a Finals series-gentlemen sweep of the Dallas Mavericks. After multiple ECF appearances and a heartbreaking NBA Finals loss two years earlier, the team's first championship in 16 years was a huge weight off of their shoulders and an inspirational moment for the new generation of Celtics' fans.

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8. "This Is Our F***ing City"

What can you say about this moment to give it justice? 5 days after the worst tragedy the city of Boston in the last 100 years, Fenway Park opened back up to a sold out ball park. In an emotionally charged pre-game that celebrated the great work by the town and it's police in the manhunt of the Boston Bombers, David Ortiz grabbed a microphone.

Keeping it short and sweet, Ortiz thanked and applauded the Mayor, Governor and it's civil servants. With the camera panning to the police officers in attendance, Ortiz said the line with an American Flag in the background and everyone in attendance in a mix of emotion, "This is our F***ing City! - And nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay Strong."

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7. 2008 NBA Finals

Anything is Possible!!!!!!

The Celtics would again be in an NBA Finals once again against the Los Angels Lakers. With one of the greatest rosters ever assembled to this point in what most people would consider the first 'Super Team' that would change the way NBA and Free Agency would shape the game, the Celtics looked for their first title since 1986. After a commanding 3-1 lead, the Celtics would make sure they won their title in the Garden and dominate Game 6 to the score of 131-92. As the captain Paul Pierce took the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy and celebrated with his team, this moment signaled a changing of the guard and ushered in a new era of Celtics' basketball not seen since Larry himself did it more than 20 years prior.

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6. 2002 Super Bowl

For my younger readers that grew up in New England and have only known excellence and Super Bowl trophies, your father and his father can paint a much different picture for you. In their 3rd Super Bowl appearance in Franchise history, the Patriots were again underdogs to the Greatest Show on Turf and one of the best offenses in NFL history. To make matters worse, the Patriots had to start a backup Quarterback this season after a Drew Bledsoe injury and the kid was taking a nap during pre-game! Some dude named Tom Brady.

In all seriousness, not only was the Vinatieri-winning kick iconic, but the importance of this game and the GREATEST DYNASTY in sports history it kicked off can not be understated. Only in a town like Boston could a game LIKE THIS... not even crack the Top-5.

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5. 2004 World Series

To reverse the Curse, the Red Sox would have to go through a lot of pain and heartbreak but in the end, that's what made the triumph so sweet. Somehow not even being the greatest moment of these playoffs, the 04 Red Sox would meet the St. Louis Cardinals in the Fall Classic. Without a championship in 86 years, the Sox had lost in the final series 4 times since but this year was different. With all of the momentum in the world on their side, the Red Sox would dominate the Cardinals to a tune of a 4-0 series win. As they celebrated in St. Louis, millions of Bostonians and especially the older fans cheered, laughed and cried as the Curse of the Bambino was over and the fans that had deserved a World Series more than any other fan base in the world, finally had it.

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4. Malcolm Butler's INT

Is this the biggest "Holy Sh*t" moment in Sports history? With their backs against the wall in the final minute of the Super Bowl, not even the Patriots thought they were going to win.

The defending champion Seahawks were at the 1-yard line of a 28-24 game they trailed with :24 on the clock. At the end of a great and clutch drive by Russell Wilson, surely they would hand the ball to Beast Mode for the easy, go-ahead touchdown.

THEY DIDN'T RUN THE BALL!

Russell Wilson's image of him clapping his hands, looking down to the ground and walking to his sideline are right there with Tom Brady jumping for joy like a damn 10-year old and Richard Sherman wide-mouthed shrieking in horror. To cap it all off this was the Patriots first Super Bowl victory since 2005 and would start the second dynasty within the dynasty off as well.

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3. 28-to-3

The final championship on this list and the count is officially at 15.

I was told to put Butler here instead of this but I can't do it, this game summed up everything it meant to be as a Patriots fan in the 2010's. The amount of, "You hate us? Well up yours buddy cause we're the f***ing best" that came out of this game is the best part of what being a Pats fan is all about. From Brady diving and missing Dee Alford's shoelace as he returned a pick-6 to Hightower's strip sack and the GREATEST CATCH in NFL history, this game had it all. You had to have been there and for those fans, Patriots fans or otherwise, that turned this game off half way... You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself.

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2. 2004 ALCS

I was 6 years old when this series happened and I still remember it like yesterday. When I originally made this list I had 5 or 6 moments within this one series ranked but I decided to bundle them all together because more than any one moment, this series was everything to Boston.

When I say everything, I mean everything. From the 86-year curse. From losing after 3-1 up to the Yankees last year. From this series' Game 3 loss that was like 47-0 or something.

To the Dave Roberts steal. To Ortiz first walk off. To Ortiz's second walk off. To the bloody sock. To A-Rod slapping Buchholz glove and being publicly humiliated. To Johnny Damon going off. This series is like porn to Boston.

This is my favorite Boston moment and I really wanted it to be #1 for biased reasons, but there's one more moment that beats it.

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1. Boston Marathon 2014

For everything the '04 ALCS did, from the glory days of Bobby Orr, Bill Russell and Larry Bird up to Jayson Tatum finally winning... sometimes the City of Boston is more than just a Sports town.

After the tragedy of the Boston Marathon in 2013, a wave of fright and misery and depression sweeped this town like rarely ever before. I spoke on it a bit in my earlier entry, but not enough can be said about the fine work of the Boston police department in the chaos that followed that event.

Than something magical happened.

Even though the 4 deaths and over 250 injuries shook this city to it's core, it never kept us down. From truly good people going out of their way to help, to a wave of support from neighboring citys, states and even other countries, to public shows of coming together, it all culminated one year later on April 18th.

In the 115th marathon, the first place finishes were Meb Keflezighi and Buzunesh Deba but that didn't really matter. The act of defiance to terror that led over 36,000 runners to compete that day.

This wonderful day of community, skill and pride is everything this great city stands for and why it is the Greatest Moment, in the Greatest Sports Town, Ever.

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