ESPN Web Gems

by Glenn Brummer stole home on Aug 28, 2006 2:03 AM EDT

ESPN did the Cardinals top three web gems "ever". Of course, they were lazy in their research and didn't dig deep at all. It's really a pretty dumb segment - but hey, they're trying to fill out an hour on Baseball Tonight.
Here they were:
3 - Jimmy's catch this year running up that ridiculous hill in Houston.
2 - A Jimmy over-the-wall steal (I forget the game)
1 - Ozzie catching a deep pop fly and diving over Lonnie Smith to do so.

Of course they had to pick one of Ozzie's. That's cool. I'd like to hear from some fans who've followed this team for years. What do you think?

Two great BIG GAME plays that come to mind for me are: (1) Willie's over-the-wall steal in the 1982 WS - back when it was really rare to see such a grab. (2) I think it was the 85 playoffs or WS...Terry Pendleton caught a deep foul pop up with a guy on 3rd, the guy on 3rd tagged and broke for home and Pendleton gunned his ass.

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my 2 cents

I don't even think Jimmy's catch from this year makes his all time top 3. I'd go with his catch in the 2004 NLCS over that one. I agree with the Ozzie play being #1 though. That was an awesome play.

"The right-hander is throwing up in the bullpen." -Mike Shannon

by DJ87 on Aug 28, 2006 3:23 AM EDT reply actions

the pendleton play

thanks for recalling that one --- i'd completely forgotten it. i think the one you're thinking of came in the 8th inning of game 3 in 1985 --- cards down 2 games to 0, but leading 4-2 in game 3. with a man on 3d and two outs, greg brock lifted a foul pop down the left field line, and pendleton raced out there and caught it over the shoulder. similar to the play rolen made on friday night, when the ball bounced off his glove and he snagged the rebound barehanded.

by lboros on Aug 28, 2006 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I tried to find something about it....

on the net somewhere. Am I crazy, or didn't he throw out a guy that was tagging up?

It happened on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1982.

by Glenn Brummer stole home on Aug 28, 2006 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

i have the same memory

but i can't find the play . . . . . .

by lboros on Aug 28, 2006 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Here ya go lboros

Game 1 -- at Kansas City -- Saturday, Oct. 19
John Tudor and Todd Worrell combined on an 8-hitter...the Cardinals turned a leadoff walk and 1-out ground out in the 3rd inning into their 1st run, a Cesar Cedeno run-scoring double in the 4th and then a misplayed line drive by Lonnie Smith into the final run in the 9th...the Royals tried a suicide squeeze (Buddy biancalana failed to connect) and Darryl Motley was out at the plate...they tried scoring Jim Sundberg from 3rd on a Steve Balboni pop up, but Terry Pendleton made an over-the-shoulder catch and a perfect throw to the plate.

St. Louis 001 100 001 -- 3 7 1
Kansas City 010 00 000 -- 1 8 0
TUDOR, Worrell (7) and Porter; JACKSON, Quisenberry (8), Black (9) and Sundberg; HR: none. T-2:48 A-41,650.

It happened on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1982.

by Glenn Brummer stole home on Aug 28, 2006 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

"The Catch" as we all know it... was one of the greatest catches I've ever seen... Jimmy ran so far so fast he looks like he had one of the angels pushing him to get it (Angels in the outfield reference). Id have to say, that discounting IMO the greatest catch of all time that Jimmy made with the Angels in KC, that Jimmy's catch to rob Ausmus was his second best ever. It got snubbed big time.

by BigMac545 on Aug 28, 2006 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

The first play i remember

Was that mcgee's catch in the 82 series. I was seven, my dad was so excited he scared me into peeing my pants. If that is not a web gem...then an embarassing childhood moment is all for not.

by BigJawnMize on Aug 28, 2006 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Part of the problem...

is that ESPN could only select plays for which they had video. In 1967, Card centerfielder Curt Flood ended a game with an unassisted double play!... Playing fairly shallow with the tying run on 2b, Flood came racing in on a liner up the middle... caught it... and continued in to touch second base, where the runner (thinking the ball a sure base hit) had left, trying to score the tying run.

I don't remember the date, but the radio call by Harry Caray was part of the "Cardinals' '67" LP record sold after that season.

For the same reason, they couldn't select any plays by folks like Boyer, Marty Marion, Terry Moore, or Stan Musial (who was also known for making tumbling catches in the outfield. The Cards have had more than their share of GREAT defensive players... Julian Javier turned the DP faster than anyone I've ever seen; Keith Hernandez was an outstanding 1B; and Dal Maxvill was awfully good with the glove, too.

"A man should live forever, or die trying." -- Mike Callahan

by The Ol Goaler on Aug 28, 2006 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

they said

during the segment, that cumulatively, the cards have the most gold gloves out of all the franchises, for what that's worth. it's nice to be the best ever at something, i guess.

by sjoshi on Aug 28, 2006 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

I remember

a play by Kenny Boyer in the '64 WS that was very similar to Rolen's play last night. It was truly amazing. I agree with DJ87 about JEd's catch this year; as great as it was, the one in the 2004 NLCS, and the two he made against the Reds were better.

by cardsrul on Aug 28, 2006 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

Sad, really

No 2004 Edmonds catch.

No REAL ozzie highlight - some tumbling thing where he does his classic pop up off hte ground and gets the out.

McGee. I mean, come on. There's gotta be video of that floating around somewhere.

maybe an Ozzie to Tommie double play turn.

by sdrone on Aug 28, 2006 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

It would be cool...

...if MLB put plays like this on-line youtube style. Heck if they wanted to sell them for a buck a download--I would surely by a few just to keep on my computer.

I think part of the problem ESPN had was that they probally had to buy the video of the Smith catch from MLB. MLB holds its property very close to the vest. Take the whole CDM statistics lawsuit for example.

by BigJawnMize on Aug 28, 2006 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

The Ozzie catch

Everyone says that it's Lonnie Smith diving in -- isn't it Curt Ford?

by tdawg on Aug 28, 2006 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

Number 27: Lonnie Smith

It happened on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1982.

by Glenn Brummer stole home on Aug 28, 2006 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

It was

Curt Ford; this was before Lonnie Smith was on the team. Ozzie verified that himself recently.

by cardsrul on Aug 28, 2006 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess I stand corrected...

I didnt realize Ford wore #27 too. Come to think of it - upon viewing it again - that number 27 does look a bit skinny to have been Lonnie...Lonnie was pretty heavily muscled and Ford was kinda twerpy.

It happened on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1982.

by Glenn Brummer stole home on Aug 28, 2006 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Curt Ford

I remember that game and that play. It was after Lonnie left. And tho Ford was small he had a fair bit of power.

by Zubin on Aug 28, 2006 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it was after Lonnie had left

by tdawg on Aug 28, 2006 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

web gems

are you kidding me,willie makes great catch in 82 ,which we win and when fences were not built for highlight shows.edmonds always likes to run just fast enough to fall down!!! very overated over exposed player, i hear he sells his own highlights on the web. 82,85,87&04 playoff vet.

by ricoaz on Sep 4, 2006 5:04 PM EDT reply actions