From your perspective, what was the greatest play ever in major league baseball? I started to post my vote but I would rather hear what others believe to be the greatest play before posting my thoughts.
I'm sure many would pick Willie Mays catch off of Vic Wertz in the Polo Grounds as #1 and up until last year so would I. Some guy on the Mets made a catch over the wall that was the best I ever saw. He was in left field and was running full speed and reached way over the wall. I wish I had a video. Rick?
Very interesting question, Tom. The play that immediately comes to mind is the Willy Mays over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz' fly ball in deep CF at the Polo Grounds. There are ballplayers today who probably could make that catch, but there are no ballparks with a CF fence over 480 ft. from home plate. That's what makes the catch so memorable IMO.
Here you go, George. Willie Mays "The Catch" In addition to "The Catch", Enos Slaughter's "Mad Dash" in the '46 WS (I won't call it by the other name) is a great play that comes to mind. Jeter's relay to Posada in the 2001 ALDS against Oakland is another. "Greatest play" is a tough call for baseball in terms of the singular acts of hitting or pitching the ball. Hitting the snot out of the ball at the right time (Bobby Thomson in '51, Maz in '60, Fisk in '75, Bucky ******* Dent in '78, Joe Carter in '93, you pick the Red Sox - Papi, Bellhorn, Johnny - in 2004) can be dramatic and memorable, certainly, but to me that's more of a timing thing. And yes, I understand there's more pressure, but I've never heard of a "walk-off strike-out" being ballyhooed as a "greatest play" and the pitcher is under just as much pressure. Given the way baseball is played, though, I like the idea of "greatest performance". That's more fair to pitchers, and if that were the criteria, I'd vote for Don Larsen's perfecto in the '56 World Series. Sorry for the constant edits. I hate typos.
Ricko.. "Country" Slaughters dash around the bases was crazy. PESKY HELD THE BALL!. I can hear Jim Britt, voice of the Red Sox 61 years ago calling that play like it was yesterday!.. Ill vote for Jeters flying dive into 3rd base box seats to grab a foul ball 3 or 4 years ago as one of best I ever saw. jif
You got it Rick! That will always be my idea of the greatest play. mms://a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/library/open/features/monday_flag_350.wmv?media_type=wms&av_type=video&event_pk=486348&product=gen_video
That is a tough call, sometimes the greatest play is the last great play you saw...that Willie Mays catch is legendary and certainly comes to mind to me as well as the rest of you guys. I'll bet nobody under 40 even heard of it though? That's catch by the Met and a similar one by a Texas Ranger last year were amazing, as was a play Carlos Beltran made in the NLCS with the Cards in 2004 ( I believe). I remember Brooks Robinson making some amazing plays in a world series, I forget which one though. Terry
Mays.. <t>Was always my favorite player growing up and had two sons that always wore #24 through the years in baseball. <br/> I have to tell you though years ago I was sitting on the first base side of the Astrodome and watched the great Robreto Clemente climb the right field wall and rob Rusty Staub of a shot then leaped to his feet and threw a BB to second base on the fly to double off an Astro. To this day I still have a hard time believing what I saw that day.</t>
My personal favorite was Ron Swaboda's diving catch in the '69 World Series. Tommy Agee made two sparkling plays during the same series but Agee was a good fielder. Swaboda usually couldn't catch a cold. That catch last year (was it Kenny Lofton) by a Ranger was the most athletic play in the outfield I've seen.
For you George Brett Fans here is a link to the video of the incident. The Royals really had a coaching staff, Dick Howser, Gaylord Perry, and Rocky Colovito. Pine Tar Incident
i may be alone in this <t>but Ozzie Smith made so many incredible plays that other people simply couldn't make.... And, IMHO, the reason people don't consider his individual plays more highly is that he made them all look so easy. Its as if the only one who truly appreciates how great a play he made countless times was the poor SOB who hit the ball and knows how badly he was robbed.<br/> <br/> With that being said... Jeter's play in 01 and the Mays catch are my runner-up nominees.</t>