Landry Shamet has really been impressive lately, nailing 17 out of 21 three-point shots over his last six games. But it’s worth noting he’s not the first role player from New York to shine when the stakes are highest. Let’s dive into a few other supporting players who transformed into unexpected stars during the postseason.
david tyree
In the 2007 season, 11 Giants outperformed Tyree, who only managed four catches for 35 yards overall. He had just one more reception in the first three playoff games, but then he hit the spotlight in Super Bowl XLII. Tyree scored his first touchdown that season and made a legendary helmet catch, leading the Giants to a stunning win against the undefeated Patriots. Interestingly, after that, he never caught another pass again.
bucky dent
Dent wasn’t exactly known for his hitting prowess—he batted below .250 during the 1977 championship and throughout the 1978 regular season. Yet, he turned into a Yankees legend by hitting a pivotal three-run homer in the AL East tiebreaker, propelling the team to another championship and earning himself the World Series MVP against the Dodgers.
Stephen Matteau
Rangers fans had barely gotten to know Matteau, acquired just under a month before the 1994 playoffs, yet he quickly became famous for one of the team’s most iconic goals. While he scored that memorable come-from-behind goal in double overtime during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it’s worth mentioning he also netted the game-winner in double overtime of Game 3 against the Devils, contributing six goals and three assists and ending the Rangers’ 54-year drought for the Stanley Cup.
Scott Brocious
After seven memorable years in Oakland, Brosius found his niche in the Bronx. In 1997, he struggled, hitting just .203 with a .576 OPS. But the next year, he turned it around, becoming an All-Star with a .300 average, 19 home runs, and 98 RBIs. During the postseason, he excelled further with a .383 batting average, ultimately earning the World Series MVP on one of history’s greatest teams.
phil mcconkie
The Giants had released McConkie before the start of the 1986 season, only to bring him back a month later, where he recorded 16 receptions. In Super Bowl XXI, the undrafted Navy graduate cemented his place in franchise lore. He made a crucial field goal off a punt return, caught a 44-yard pass at the goal line, and scored a touchdown, helping the Giants win their first Super Bowl against the Broncos with a score of 39-20.
Al Weiss
During his four years with the Mets, Weiss had a batting average of just .191. Still, this infielder from Long Island played a pivotal role in the 1969 Mets’ miracle. In the World Series, he performed spectacularly, going 5-for-11 with three RBIs and four walks, including a crucial hit in Game 2 and the game-tying homer in Game 5 against the Orioles.
Johnny Podres
In 1955, Brooklyn’s long-awaited moment came about, thanks to the then-23-year-old left-hander Podres. He had a 9-10 record in his third major league season, yet he pitched a complete game in Game 3 of the World Series. When it mattered most, he took the mound again in Game 7, throwing a scoreless nine innings at Yankee Stadium and leading the Dodgers to a crucial victory against the Yankees.
