ANAHEIM - When someone asked Willie Mays if Jim Edmonds' great catch in center field here last week was as good as his in the 1954 World Series, Mays scrunched his forehead and squealed, "Oh no, it couldn't be the same kind of catch."
Video: Mays' catch in the 1954 World Series against the Indians' Vic Wertz (QT 1.43 MB) Anaylsis: Mays has history on his side, the World Series, the Hall of Fame 660 home runs, and the basket catch. |
Video: Edmond's catch in 1997 against the Royals' David Howard (AVI 1.43 MB) Analysis: Edmonds has the ESPN advantage, color, instant replay, multiple camera angles, and he dove. |
Actually, it wasn't, since the Angels center fielder actually left his feet and caught David Howard's terrific blow while diving toward the center-field fence.
"You sure?" Mays said in wonderment.
We're sure. We watched it on ESPN. We saw Edmonds slide onto the warning track with his glove held high to show everybody 400 feet away that he indeed stole a sure triple, maybe more, from the Kansas City right fielder.
Was it as good as Mays' catch on the drive by Cleveland's Vic Wertz? Let the barroom arguments begin.
"That made Willie Mays' play look routine," umpire Dave Phillips asserted.
"If he misses it," Howard said, "I'm easily on third if not stretching it. That was a huge play."
There's no question Edmonds' catch was one of the greatest ever. That he was playing shallow yet still got to the ball showed how intuitive a defensive player he is. The catch came at a crucial time as well, with the game tied 1-1 in the fifth, two out and two runners on base.
But the best catch ever? Mays partisans would say no, and they'd have a good argument.
For one thing, Mays' famous over-the-shoulder basket catch came in the World Series. It was Game 1, eighth inning, 2-2 tie. Larry Doby had walked and Al Rosen singled him to second. Giants manager Leo Durocher brought left-hander Don Liddle in to face Wertz, who'd already had three hits in the game.
When Wertz hit his long drive to center, everyone in the Polo Grounds figured the Giants were doomed. But Mays not only outraced the ball, he quickly whirled and threw it back in once he gloved it. The force of his heave knocked him off-balance.
What made Mays' catch so amazing, and perhaps better than Edmonds', was that he was playing shallow and caught Wertz's blast 460 feet from home plate at the horseshoe-shaped Polo Grounds. Doby tagged up at second and took third, but Mays' throw prevented him from continuing home to score the go-ahead run. The Giants went on to score three runs in the 10th to win, 5-2, on the way to a four-game sweep of the Indians.
In these parts, Edmonds gets the nod. When he caught Howard's ball, right fielder Tim Salmon shrieked and second baseman Luis Alicea was moved to throw his glove into the air. Edmonds' effort was a great answer to criticism from old-timers that today's athletes are selfish and less committed than those of their generation. In Edmonds' mind, the ball was his, even if he had to sacrifice his body to retrieve it.
"I just looked up and saw the ball over the bill of my cap," he said. "I figured the game was on the line, so I figured I might as well lay out for this."
And start another great baseball argument.