Plays at the plate

[keystone]

I saw Prince Fielder slam into Giovanny Soto yesterday, and thought that Soto was indeed a very brave catcher. Fielder is no small package!

That got me to thinking of other great plays at the plate (not that Soto/Fielder was all that great; it just got my brain in gear -- no small feat), and I was wondering if you guys have any favorites.

[BenHertz]

Brian Harper vs Lonnie Smith in the 1991 World Series. I think it was game 4.

Sid Bream's winning run in the 1992 NLCS against Pittsburgh. Game 7.

[ipitch]

Ditto to Sid Bream vs. Pittsburgh.

Ivan Rodriguez getting plowed over by JT Snow, but holding onto the ball to win the NLDS. It was the first postseason series to end with the tying run being thrown out at the plate.

[west coast orange and black]

pete rose slamming into ray fosse always gets attention...

[west coast orange and black]

but i like j.t. snow's pick-up of little darren baker.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Jackie Robinson stealing home in the 1955 World Series!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUQflfZ3L4&feature=related

[west coast orange and black]

another favorite occurred during the 1970 world series between the reds and orioles.

game 1, sixth inning. 1 out.
reds players tommy helms on first, bernie carbo on third.

ty cline chopped one down onto the artificial surface ( a world series first).
catcher elrod hendricks charged for the ball, then wheeled and made a swipe tag on carbo... except hendricks had the ball in his hand while making the tag with his mitt.
though plate ump ken burkhart was knocked down during the play and had his back to the play he called carbo out.

i recall the papers stating that the ump missed the play, hendricks missed the tag, and carbo missed the plate.
the sports illustrated cover shot was of the play, and the ump clearly never saw the play.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Jackie Robinson stealing home in the 1955 World Series!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUQf...eature=related

This not meant to open up another debate on this one and certainly posting a picture of the play won't solve or change minds on either side. I'm sure most of us have seen that pic over and over.

Only meant to give another angle on the play besides Yogi and Jackie's take. Frank could be right he could be wrong but I think it interesting to hear another opinion of one viewing the play close up.

[Pere]

Didn't Jackie himself say of that play, "the ump said I was safe"?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Didn't Jackie himself say of that play, "the ump said I was safe"?

Could he be expected to say anything contrary.
If he said he was out Yogi would then say, the ump said he was out."

I do get your point, the only guy that matters the ump, said he was safe that settles the issue. It would have really been an issue had the Yanks lost that game since the Dodgers won the series but in that one game the Yanks did win.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

One thats been around for years. World Series 1939, Red's catcher Ernie Lombardi "dazed" by Yankee Charlie Keller and Joe Dimaggio with some daring base running and a brilliant slide scores, "Lombardi's Snooze."

When you look at the actual video you would think Joe to be crazy to make that dash home. In the video the ball is about 5 feet away from Ernie and you can see he's looking that way, at the ball, and at that point Joe is just rounding third. On deck batter Dickey is waving to Joe, telling him to hold up on third.

The slide is a thing of beauty. Lombardi has the ball and Joe has to raise his foot over Lombardi's mitt and then in the next foot or two bring down his foot in order to touch home plate.

Often described as keller colliding with Ernie, keller bowling over Ernie. You can see, never happened, looks like Keller's knee might have struck Ernie dazing him. Excuse the poor quality, the best I could do.

Number's out of sequence.
Look at # 1
Look at picture beneath #1
Look at #2
Look at picture beneath #2 ... Dickey waves
Look at #3

[Victory Faust]

Lombardi wasn't snoozing -- he got kicked in the scrotum! He couldn't move!

Other great plays at the plate:

* Willie Horton throwing out Lou Brock in Game 5 of the 1968 World Series. This is probably the best play at the plate ever.

* Bo Jackson throwing out Harold Reynolds in the Kingdome with a perfect strike on the fly with his back to the outfield wall.

* Dave Parker throwing out Brian Downing at home in the '79 All Star Game.

* Enos Slaughter's "mad dash home" when Pesky held the ball in '46.

* George Foster throws out Denny Doyle at home to prevent the BoSox from winning Game 6 of the 75 Series in the 9th inning.

[EdTarbusz]

but i like j.t. snow's pick-up of little darren baker.

That was the single most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in a Major League game.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Lombardi wasn't snoozing -- he got kicked in the scrotum! He couldn't move!

I take it you speak in jest. If thats the case fine, but if not, your too low, no where near his lower body, the pictures even if not best quality show him being struck near his head, his upper head or chest area.

The "snooze" of course was just a funny name given to the play.

[EdTarbusz]

I take it you speak in jest. If thats the case fine, but if not, your too low, no where near his lower body, the pictures even if not best quality show him being struck near his head, his upper head or chest area.

The "snooze" of course was just a funny name given to the play.

I've read that Lombardi got hit in either the head or the groin, but based on how he is laying, I think he got hit in the head.