The Catch

September 29, 1954, might have started out as a normal game day, but it would end up as anything but normal. The game was being played was between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. It was a special game in that it was Game 1 of the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. By the eighth inning, the game was tied at 2-2. Vic Wertz of the Cleveland Indians crushed a deep fly ball to center field, looking like it was sure to drive in runs. Then…the “impossible” happened. New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch while sprinting, and his quick throwback to the infield stopped a runner from advancing. Forever known as The Catch, the play was iconic. I’m sure that the Indians figured they were sure to win the game, but their hopes were dashed with that one catch. In the end, the Giants won the game 5–2 in extra innings and went on to claim the World Series. “The Catch” remains one of baseball’s greatest moments.

In the top of the 8th inning, with the score tied 2–2, the game was going along normally. Giants’ pitcher Sal Maglie walked Indians leadoff hitter Larry Doby. Al Rosen followed with a single, putting runners on first and second. Giants’ manager Leo Durocher brought in left-handed reliever Don Liddle to face Cleveland’s left-handed batter Vic Wertz. Wertz worked the count to two balls and one strike before crushing Liddle’s fourth pitch about 420 feet to deep center field. In most ballparks, it would’ve been a home run, giving the Indians a 5–2 lead. But the Polo Grounds’ isn’t most ballparks. At Polo Grounds, the center field is the deepest in the league at 483 feet. That kept the ball in play just long enough. Willie Mays, playing shallow center, sprinted back and made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch near the warning track. After the catch, Mays spun and fired a throw to second base. Doby, who had run on contact, had to scramble back to tag up and couldn’t advance. Mays’ throw held Cleveland to runners on first and third with one out.

Right-hander Marv Grissom then replaced Liddle, who reportedly told coach Freddie Fitzsimmons, “Well, I got my man.” Grissom walked pinch hitter Dale Mitchell to load the bases, struck out pinch hitter Dave Pope, and got catcher Jim Hegan to fly out, ending the inning without allowing any runs. That one play stopped the Indians from taking the lead. The game wasn’t over, but it might as well have been. In the bottom of the 10th inning, the Giants secured the win and went on to sweep the Series. “The Catch” is widely regarded as one of baseball’s greatest and most memorable plays due to its difficulty, its impact on the game, and the significance of the game itself. As for Willie Mays, he didn’t consider “The Catch” his best defensive play at all. I suppose it all happened so fast that he couldn’t even be positive how he had done it. In fact, many other factors could have been at play that day. In 2007, a physicist determined that if the temperature had been 77° F instead of 76° F, the ball would have traveled two inches farther, and “The Catch” might not have been made. Could one degree have really made that much difference. I guess we will never know for sure.