The Walk Off Homer: the most exciting play in baseball

A triple play, stealing home, a grand slam, an inside-the-park home run or a walk off home run?  What’s the most exciting play in baseball?  Below are a couple of videos to support the walk off home run option.

A walk off home run is a homer that ends the game. Because of baseball’s rules, the home team bats last, so the hit must come from a home team player. The walk off home run happens in the final inning, usually the 9th inning, but sometimes in extra innings.

The original derivation of the term “walk off” referred to the pitcher having to walk off the mound after losing the game. It’s common meaning nowadays is more associated with the celebration on the field of the hitter and his teammates, while the home crowd cheers.

The most exciting play in baseball? Perhaps. How about a walk off, grand slam home run? As of 2010, it has happened 24 times in Major League Baseball. It’s referred to as the “ultimate grand slam.”

Bobby Thompson and “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”

Twins Jim Thome’s walk off homer against the White Sox

Front page Photo credit:  Information |Description=Scott Hairston rounding the bases after hitting a 3-run walk-off home run for the Padres in 2007. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=270919125) via Wikimedia Commons

Spider-Man Makes the Catch

Hiroshima Carp’s Masato Akamatsu climbed the wall to rob Yokohoma Bay Stars’ Shuichi Murata of a home run. Murata’s shot to centerfield had homerun written all over it until Akamatsu’s heroics. Where does this catch rank with the all-time great catches? Watch the video and you decide.

The Catch

A lesson in sportsmanship — baseball’s defining moment this season

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was just one out away from pitching a perfect game.  In baseball history, only 20 perfect games have been thrown.

The 27th batter Galarraga faced was Cleveland Indians Jason Donald.  Donald hit a grounder between first and second that was fielded by Detroit’s first baseman who threw to Galarraga, who had moved from the mound to cover first.  Although close, it was apparent that Donald had not beaten the throw.  However, first base umpire Jim Joyce saw it differently and called the runner safe.  TV replays showed that the runner was  indeed out.  Joyce had made an error, and it was a big error as a perfect game was on the line.

After Galarraga retired the next batter ending the game, Joyce immediately went to check the video.  He realized immediately that he had made the wrong call.  He quickly admitted his mistake and personally apologize to Galarraga who he had deprived of the perfect game.

Joyce’s honesty mixed well with Galarraga’s grace.  Galarraga didn’t protest on the field, but simply smiled.  After Joyce apologized, Galarraga told reporters,

“He really feel bad. He probably feel more bad than me. Nobody’s perfect, everybody’s human. I understand. I give a lot of credit to the guy saying, “Hey, I need to talk to you because I really say I’m sorry.” That don’t happen. You don’t see an umpire after the game say ‘I’m sorry.’”

Joyce was scheduled to call the following day’s game in Detroit, but given the circumstances was told he could take the day off.  Joyce chose to face what could be a hostile crowd and call the next game.  Joyce, expecting boos, heard applause.

It seemed that the good sportsmanship was contagious as Detroit fans cheered the umpire.

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My nominations for the biggest story lines by sport this year:

NFL:  Saints win Super Bowl

NCAA Basketball:  Butler’s Cinderella run to Championship Game

NBA:  LeBron’s Decision

MLB:  Sportsmanship displayed after Joyce’s missed call

The Play

Sports Illustrated — A Different Kind Of Perfect — Tom Verducci (with special reporting by Melissa Segura)

The Best Pitcher in Little League may be a Girl

In 60 innings of pitching for her Little League baseball team in Plant City, Florida, Chelsea Baker has struck out 127 batters.  With a lively fastball and a knuckler taught to her by knuckleball legend Joe Neikro, Chelsea has led her team with a record of 12 & 0 in her pitching starts this season.  In addition to her dominating pitching skills, she can hit.  Last year her batting average was .604.

Often encouraged to play softball, especially by opposing team’s parents, Chelsea’s first love is baseball.  Her teams have won multiple city championships over the past couple of years along with two District Championships.  Chelsea hopes to one day play professional baseball.

ENJOY THIS ESPN VIDEO

Wiffle Ball: The Backyard Pastime

Summertime is Wiffle Ball season.  With its distinctive plastic ball, featuring 8 holes on one side, and its thin yellow bat; Wiffle Ball is a summer tradition in many neighborhoods.

The bat and ball’s construction seem to make it a perfect fit in backyard fields for several reasons.  It takes a well-hit ball to make it out of your yard, house windows are less likely to break, there are fewer injuries than with traditional baseball, and its hard for bigger players to overpower smaller players with power.

Wiffle Ball was invented in 1953 in Fairfield, Connecticut.  When 12-year-old David A. Mullany and a friend were playing baseball with a plastic golf ball and a broom handle, his dad, David N. Mullany, had an idea after watching his son try to throw a curve ball with the plastic golf ball.  Reasoning that everyone would like to throw a curve ball that really curved, he had the idea to make a plastic ball that would easily curve.  Using plastic ball from a friend’s factory, he started making prototypes of balls with unequal weight on their sides.  He cut out holes on one side of the balls, and learned that in addition to the number of holes, the shape of the holes was important as well.  The ball that curved the best had 8 oval shaped holes on the top half and the bottom was solid.

A former college and semi-pro pitcher, Mullany sat down to write rules for his new game.  He needed a name for the game.  When he asked his son what they call the game they played in the backyard, his son replied, “Wiffle.  When you miss it, it’s a wiff.”  So, “Wiffle Ball” it was.

Taking a second mortgage on his house, Mullany went about marketing the new game.  It quickly caught on.  In the 1960s, it was hard to find a house that didn’t own a Wiffle Ball and bat.  Wiffle Ball’s popularity is apparently here to stay.  Today, there are Wiffle Ball leagues, tournaments and national championships.

The Mullany’s, 3rd generation owners, still run the company.  Stephen A. Mullany, a V.P. with the company and grandson of the founder, notes, “You get people who played as kids, and then play with their kids, and then will play with their grandchildren.  You can play right across the board.  You don’t have to be Nolan Ryan.”

Wiffle Ball is available at Sports Authority, Kmart, Toys R Us and at mom-and-pop sporting goods and toy retailers across the country.  You can read more about the product at their website:  www.wiffle.com.

One Wiffle Ball pitcher you don’t want to face

“Who’s on First”

Abbott and Costello were an American comedy duo who performed on radio, TV and in films predominantly during the 1940s and 1950s. William “Bud” Abbot and Lou Costello are now featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame for their rendition of one of the most famous comedy bits: “Who’s on First.”

Abbot & Costello’s “Who’s on First?” routine from the 1945 movie “The Naughty Nineties

There are many versions of “Who’s on First,” as the comedians sometimes shortened the act to fill various time requests.  Here’s the written transcript to one performance.

——————–

Abbott: Well, Costello, I’m going to New York with you. Bucky Harris the Yankee’s manager gave me a job as coach for as long as you’re on the team.

Costello: Look Abbott, if you’re the coach, you must know all the players.

Abbott: I certainly do.

Costello: Well you know I’ve never met the guys. So you’ll have to tell me their names, and then I’ll know who’s playing on the team.

Abbott: Oh, I’ll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.

Costello: You mean funny names?

Abbott: Strange names, pet names…like Dizzy Dean…

Costello: His brother Daffy

Abbott: Daffy Dean…

Costello: And their French cousin.

Abbott: French?

Costello: Goofe’

Abbott: Goofe’ Dean. Well, let’s see, we have on the bags, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third…

Costello: That’s what I want to find out.

Abbott: I say Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.

Costello: Are you the manager?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: You gonna be the coach too?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names.

Abbott: Well I should.

Costello: Well then who’s on first?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy on first.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The first baseman.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy playing…

Abbott: Who is on first!

Costello: I’m asking you who’s on first.

Abbott: That’s the man’s name.

Costello: That’s who’s name?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: That’s who?

Abbott: Yes. PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: Who’s playing first?

Abbott: That’s right.

Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?

Abbott: Every dollar of it.

Costello: All I’m trying to find out is the fellow’s name on first base.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy that gets…

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: Who gets the money…

Abbott: He does, every dollar of it. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.

Costello: Who’s wife?

Abbott: Yes. PAUSE

Abbott: What’s wrong with that?

Costello: I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: How does he sign…

Abbott: That’s how he signs it.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Yes. PAUSE

Costello: All I’m trying to find out is what’s the guys name on first base.

Abbott: No. What is on second base.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first.

Costello: One base at a time!

Abbott: Well, don’t change the players around.

Costello: I’m not changing nobody!

Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.

Costello: I’m only asking you, who’s the guy on first base?

Abbott: That’s right.

Costello: OK.

Abbott: Alright. PAUSE

Costello: What’s the guy’s name on first base?

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott: He’s on third, we’re not talking about him.

Costello: Now how did I get on third base?

Abbott: Why you mentioned his name.

Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman’s name, who did I say is playing third?

Abbott: No. Who’s playing first.

Costello: What’s on base?

Abbott: What’s on second.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott: He’s on third.

Costello: There I go, back on third again! PAUSE

Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don’t go off it.

Abbott: Alright, what do you want to know?

Costello: Now who’s playing third base?

Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base?

Costello: What am I putting on third.

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: You don’t want who on second?

Abbott: Who is on first.

Costello: I don’t know. Together: Third base! PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta outfield?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: I just thought I’d ask you.

Abbott: Well, I just thought I’d tell ya.

Costello: Then tell me who’s playing left field.

Abbott: Who’s playing first.

Costello: I’m not…stay out of the infield!!! I want to know what’s the guy’s name in left field?

Abbott: No, What is on second.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first!

Costello: I don’t know. Together: Third base! PAUSE

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: Because!

Abbott: Oh, he’s center field. PAUSE

Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The pitcher’s name?

Abbott: Tomorrow.

Costello: You don’t want to tell me today?

Abbott: I’m telling you now.

Costello: Then go ahead.

Abbott: Tomorrow!

Costello: What time?

Abbott: What time what?

Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who’s pitching?

Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching.

Costello: I’ll break you’re arm if you say who’s on first!!! I want to know what’s the pitcher’s name?

Abbott: What’s on second.

Costello: I don’t know. Together: Third base! PAUSE

Costello: Gotta a catcher?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: The catcher’s name?

Abbott: Today.

Costello: Today, and tomorrow’s pitching.

Abbott: Now you’ve got it.

Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team. PAUSE

Costello: You know I’m a catcher too.

Abbott: So they tell me.

Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow’s pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I’m gonna throw the guy out at first. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?

Abbott: Now that’s the first thing you’ve said right.

Costello: I don’t even know what I’m talking about! PAUSE

Abbott: That’s all you have to do.

Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base.

Abbott: Yes!

Costello: Now who’s got it?

Abbott: Naturally. PAUSE

Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody’s gotta get it. Now who has it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Naturally?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

Abbott: No you don’t you throw the ball to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s different.

Costello: That’s what I said.

Abbott: you’re not saying it…

Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You throw it to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: That’s what I said!

Abbott: You ask me.

Costello: I throw the ball to who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Now you ask me.

Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU!!! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don’t Know. I Don’t Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don’t know! He’s on third and I don’t give a darn!

Abbott: What?

Costello: I said I don’t give a darn!

Abbott: Oh, that’s our shortstop.

Costello: (makes screaming sound)

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