Willie Mays: Remembering "The Catch"

Fifty-five years ago today, the legendary Willie Mays made one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history, memorably known to sports' enthusiasts as "The Catch."

"The Catch" occurred at a decisive moment during the top of the eighth inning in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. The New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants) and Cleveland Indians were tied 2-2 before a capacity crowd at the Polo Grounds in New York City. At the time, Cleveland had runners on first and second bases with nobody out. On deck for Cleveland was left-handed batter, Vic Wertz. Playing by the book, Giants manager, Leo Durocher, called on left-handed relief pitcher, Don Liddle, to retire Wertz. After working the pitch count to 2-1, Wertz blasted a moonshot to deep center field that traveled approximately 460 feet-it would have easily been a home run in any stadium other than the cavernous Polo Grounds. NBC commentator Jack Brickhouse called the play: "There's a long drive way back in center field-way, way back, back. It is caught by Willie Mays! Willie Mays just brought this crowd to its feet with a catch that must have been an optical illusion to a lot of people."

Willie Mays' circus catch remains unforgettable for sundry reasons. Willie Mays was playing shallow center field at the time of Wertz's hit thereby requiring Mays to sightlessly sprint nearly 40-yards to the warning track to make a play on the ball. Moreover, Mays did not have time to turn and face the ball-instead, he made "The Catch" both on-the-run and over-the-shoulder. Further, after making this improbable catch, Willie Mays instantly spun around and made a brilliant throw to the infield that prevented the tagging Cleveland runner at second base from advancing any farther than third.

Immediately after "The Catch", Giants reliever Don Liddle reportedly quipped to his replacement, closer Marv Grissom: "I got my man." After taking over for Liddle, Grissom worked out of the 8^th inning jam and the Giants went on to win Game 1, 5-2 in extra-innings. Not to be out-japed by Liddle, Mays later said: "I had it the whole time."

Mays and the New York Giants went on to sweep the Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series. The baseball glove that Willie Mays used to make "The Catch" is on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. After a spectacular 22-year career, Mays was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979--his very first year of eligibility.

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Source(s):

gregusjay, Willie Mays The Catch, Youtube