Greatest Catches

[Diamond Dad]

As rain-soaked as I was last night, I was glad to have been there in person to see Aaron Rowand's catch. Sure, it resulted in a Met loss, but it was the greatest outfield catch I've ever seen in person. Better than Mookie and Lenny doing an aerial do-si-do with locked elbows in '85 (prior winner).

Makes me think about great plays -- both those that had video replay and those before the era. Mays' catch. Swabbota/Agee in the '69 series. Fielder giving up his body to make a catch that saved 3 runs and, as it turned out, the win.

What's the best catch you've ever seen with your own eyes?

Here's the description from last night -- (before replay). This is how I'll describe it to my grandkids:

It was a rainy night. Both teams knew that getting an early lead could mean the ball game (it ended up being called after 4 and a half innings, so they would have been right). Mets had two out and nobody on in the top of the 1st when the Phillies pitcher (Floyd) got wild and walked 3 consecutive batters. Must have been hard to grip the ball in the steady drizzle. He fell behind Xavier Nady 3-1, then got him to 3-2. The runners were off with the pitch. Nady drilled a long drive to deep right center. The Phillies' center fielder -- Aaron Rowand -- was shading Nady to pull, so he was over in left-center. We all thought the ball was gone for a Grand Slam when Nady hit it, but the wind was howling in from right-to-left and started to knock the ball down. I saw Rowand sprinting full out toward the wall. Three runs were going to score for sure, even if the ball didn't leave the yard. I saw the ball disappear over Rowand's head. Rowand didn't dive for the ball, he slammed against the outfield wall and fell backwards onto the warning track. There had been no time between the ball disappearing and Rowand crashing face-first into the chain-link fence that is on the top of the wall at that spot so that the bullpen pitchers can look through and see the game. I started to celebrate the home run! The Mets' runners were jogging around the bases, looking over their shoulders to see what had happened. The left fielder, Pat Burrell, can running up to Rowand on the ground, reached into his glove, and pulled out the ball. Umpire signaled "out" and Nady stopped running somewhere between 2nd and 3rd. I saw the ball in Burrell's hand, but still couldn't believe it. NO way he could have caught that ball. Wow.

[Gwreck]

Diamond Dad wrote: What's the best catch you've ever seen with your own eyes?

Milt Cuyler of the Detroit Tigers against the Twins in July '91. It was the top of the 1st. Back then the Tigers were pretty good and Cecil was putting up MVP-type numbers. Jack Morris was pitching for the Twins. Can't remember the Tiger starter.

Cuyler was a real speedster who couldn't hit much but covered as much ground (and in Tiger Stadium -- that was a lot) as fast as I've seen anyone on that sort of play, then dove with full extension to make a spectacular catch.

To add injury to insult, Cuyler lined a ball off Morris' shin the next inning for a single, knocking Morris out of the game.

[Guest Edgy DC]

"One more thing, you little whippersnapper, Rowand ended up going on the 15-Day Disabled List. Now go get your grandpa his cocaine."

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

From Phillies.com -

]The sad irony of the play that sent Rowand to the hospital is that he had been the one who pointed out the danger of that wall to Phillies management last month. The Phillies immediately ordered padding for that section of the fence, and it arrived at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday. The team planned to install it this weekend, while the Phillies are away in Cincinnati. So Rowand will be the last to suffer an injury like that on the center-field fence. It's only proper for a play that will remain in the collective memory of the Phillies and their fans for a long time.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I was watching the Phillies broadcast. Harry Kalas kept going on and on about what a spectacular catch it was while Rowand was down on the ground and the other outfielder was waving for help. Kalas paid no attention to the fact that the player was hurt for the longest time.

Kalas is beloved in Philadelphia, which is a pretty rare thing, but I've never seen the attraction. He's always come across as a boob to me, and this was another example of that.

[TransMonk]

I love Kalas' voice...it is synonymous with sports.

He is kind of a boob, though.

[Guest cooby]

Phillies broadcasts are like comfort food

[Zvon]

="Diamond Dad"] What's the best catch you've ever seen with your own eyes?

Probly a silly question, but does that include live TV?

If not Id have to really sit and think--- I saw Lance Johnson make a fantastic full extension diving catch (for the White Sox) in a game that resulted in a no- hitter for Wilson Alverez--that might win the award for me. Great catch and very important.

I really enjoyed reading your discription of the catch D-Dad.
Well done.

The catch below was when I realized
that God WAS a Met fan, W.P.:::::::

Rocky!

[A Boy Named Seo]

Mine was the David Wright barehander in San Diego last year. Only bright spot in a crappy blowout game.

[nymr83]

i've seen ichiro, edmonds and several others rob some amazing homers. i'm sure andruw has made some crazy diving catches that i'm forgetting. of course there is wright's play, and earlier this week jeter (ughh) made an over the shoulder catch on his knees (his favorite position according to suzyn waldman.) there are plenty more but i just dont remember them

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

The catch.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I love listening to Harry Kalas.

Aside from his voice, I love the fact that he's not a horrible homer - he will compliment visiting teams and players.