It was an amazing catch, but to this Cardinals fan it doesn't quite match up to Jimmy Edmonds's catch in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS. They're similar: center fielder running with his back to the plate at an angle, then having to lay out full-length for the grab. Johnson's got the drama of the crash into the wall on his side, but Edmonds has the situation on his: he misses that ball and the Cardinals almost certainly lose that game, and the pennant.

But what a catch nonetheless!

Great catch, but there will be better catches this season. And every other season for that matter. But, yeah, that was a heckuva get.

Yeah, it was an excellent catch, but MLB.com's headline is laying it on a little thick there.

I really don't understand the Jays releasing him in favor of Shannon Stewart.

I don't understand much of what the Jays have done this year...

Yeah, it was an excellent catch, but MLB.com's headline is laying it on a little thick there.

How many people would read the article if it were titled "Reed Johnson makes pretty good catch"?

I really don't understand the Jays releasing him in favor of Shannon Stewart.

They released him for two reasons:
1) They suspected that his back wasn't healed
2) Keeping Stewart saved them about $3M over keeping Johnson.

That being said, I miss having him on the Jays.

It was an amazing catch, but to this Cardinals fan it doesn't quite match up to Jimmy Edmonds's catch in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS.

I don't believe that was the greatest post-season catch I ever saw in my lifetime (Endy Chavez) or the greatest catch Edmonds ever made ('97 against KC). The Edmonds '97 catch is the greatest catch I've ever seen, bar none.

Still, shouldn't take away from Johnson's effort, which was spectacular.

Damn! I forgot the Chavez grab. You're right. That's the best ever. I must have blocked it out because it was so (temporarily) devastating.

Spectacular catch to be sure, but have we all forgotten Aaron Rowand?

For the slightly older, how about "Devon White, World Series, umps screw up the call on what should have been a triple play".

Reed Johnson observation:

I've seen him play a bit this season, and I've noticed a few times that when a flyball is hit that either outfielder could get to, Johnson takes it, which is fine, but then he seems to give the other outfielder some kind of gamer stare, like "Yeah, don't even think about it, punk."

And then in this play, the left fielder (was it DeRosa?) is there after the catch and one would normally see both players at least high five with their gloves or something. But Johnson gets up and runs right past him and DeRosa is left standing there looking like an idiot.

It doesn't mean anything in the scheme of things, but I find it odd. Maybe Johnson is taking his desire to be Ty Cobb a little too seriously.

Maybe Johnson is taking his desire to be Ty Cobb a little too seriously.

I look forward to his attempts to sever opposing pitchers' leg arteries when sliding into first.

He should wait until the Cubs play in Comiskey during interleague play to start beating up opposing fans in the stands, though. If he really wants a challenge, that is.

The "slightly older"? That makes me feel old. Of course, lots of things make me feel old, and I'm only 28 . . . I can only imagine how old I'll feel in 20 years!

That's why I only used "slightly older", rather than "significantly older". Much as I hate to admit it, it's been 16 years since the Jays won back to back World Series, and I'm sure we have at least a few posters on this board who weren't even alive then, and a heck of a lot more who aren't old enough to remember it.

The "slightly older"? That makes me feel old. Of course, lots of things make me feel old, and I'm only 28 . . . I can only imagine how old I'll feel in 20 years!

I'm here to tell you it's going to suck.

And then in this play, the left fielder (was it DeRosa?) is there after the catch and one would normally see both players at least high five with their gloves or something. But Johnson gets up and runs right past him and DeRosa is left standing there looking like an idiot.

I think you are reading a bit too much into this one, although I don't disagree with your other points. DeRosa was staring into the Cubs 'pen with a "did you f'n see that?" look on his face.

Just remember...there's only one alternative to getting old, and it's no fun.

Just remember...there's only one alternative to getting old, and it's no fun.

Drinking the blood of the innocent?

Just remember...there's only one alternative to getting old, and it's no fun.

You don't know that.

it was still one hell of a catch

Growing up in the '70s, I remember hearing about the greatest outfield play of all-time: Willie Mays's grab of Vic Wertz's "long drive waaay back in center field...waaay baaack, baaack" to deep center field in the Polo Grounds, better known as "The Catch." As the story had been told to me, Mays was playing very shallow, about 250 feet deep. The drive Wertz hit off of Liddle was supposedly hit to dead center and into the notch which, because horse polo used to be played at the Polo Grounds, was 483 feet from home plate. As such, Mays had to run back more than 200 feet to make this most spectacular play in baseball history, running fulll speed, reaching out (like a wide receiver) and barely getting the ball in his glove after it passed over his shoulder.

It was thus a shock to me to see actual footage of that play. Mays was playing shallow: maybe 320-325 feet deep. The ball, though, was not hit into the notch. It was hit near the corner of the bleachers' section, where the fence was 425 feet from home plate. Wertz's ball probably was hit 410 feet. So Mays likely ran about 85-90 feet back. He was not running full speed when he got to it, though. He ran under the ball and made a nice over the shoulder catch. And because the baserunner, Larry Doby, stupidly didn't wait on second base, Mays was able to prevent him from scoring by wheeling around and making a good throw to his cut-off man.

I would rate The Catch as a good solid 8.0 on the 10.0 scale. On a typical segment of Web Gems on Baseball Tonight, it would probably be the 3rd best catch of the day. I would guess, given his speed, Mays made many far more spectacular catches in his career. But because this one happened at a crucial time in the World Series, it garnered far too much attention....

I would rate Reed Johnson's catch a 9.5. I've seen a few others which were similarly great. The best one I ever saw, though, was a Dwayne Murphy catch in Anaheim, when he ran pretty far back to the wall, climbed the wall with his cleats sticking in, reached over the wall and slammed back down about 10 feet to the warning track. No one knew for a while if Murphy had caught the ball, so the batter kept circling the bases. Murphy was knocked silly from his landing, so he didn't get up right away. But then after some time, Rickey Henderson ran over to Murphy, helped him up, and Murphy pulled the ball out of his glove, showing the umpires and the crowd that he had in fact made the catch. That was a 10.0.

It doesn't mean anything in the scheme of things, but I find it odd. Maybe Johnson is taking his desire to be Ty Cobb a little too seriously.

I've never noticed any similar problem with Johnson when he was with Toronto. He plays hard and is intense on the field, but he seemed to be very much part of the team. As a fan I can't say anything definitive, but he would always go back to the dugout high-fiving the other players after key plays, joking around and doing everything a 'good teammate' would. With the DeRosa thing, as was said before, I think DeRosa couldn't believe that catch, either. Also, as far as I know there were never any rumours that he was disliked in the clubhouse.

That's why I said it didn't mean anything in the scheme of things. I didn't want to make it out like I was inferring that he is a clubhouse cancer or anything. I've just noticed him acting differently than I would expect, that's all.

The only problem with Johnson is that he just doesn't hit righthanders hard enough. I can't think of any other thing to criticize him about, as a ballplayer.

Best catch I ever saw was by Devon White. Not the one in the World Series, although that one was okay too. There was one where the ball was hit over the left-centerfield wall, and White jumped up and hit the wall so that his lower-left-side rib cage hit the top edge of the wall, and he used this point of impact as a tipping point over the wall. He tipped over the wall, caught the ball, tipped back, and came back down. It was amazing.

Just remember...there's only one alternative to getting old, and it's no fun.

Drinking the blood of the innocent?

That prevents you from dying, but you still grow old.

Also, you become ugly. For example, Voldemort.

Drinking the blood of the innocent?

That prevents you from dying, but you still grow old.

Also, you become ugly. For example, Voldemort.

You're not finding them innocent enough.

25. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: April 27, 2008 at 02:18 AM (#2760374)

Drinking the blood of the innocent?

That prevents you from dying, but you still grow old.

Also, you become ugly. For example, Voldemort.


You're not finding them innocent enough.

smeone should take away his children

You're not finding them innocent enough.

Exactly. Consider Tom Cruise.

Rich:

Mays himself rated other catches to be better. In his estimation his "best" happened when he was late in his career.

I won't list the various catches I have seen that I think are better than Johnson's grab. Suffice to say while a fine effort it has its peers.

Best catch I ever saw was by Devon White. Not the one in the World Series, although that one was okay too. There was one where the ball was hit over the left-centerfield wall, and White jumped up and hit the wall so that his lower-left-side rib cage hit the top edge of the wall, and he used this point of impact as a tipping point over the wall. He tipped over the wall, caught the ball, tipped back, and came back down. It was amazing.

Camden Yards if memory serves. I remember they showed Paul Molitor's reaction to the catch ... a shake of the head and a "WOW!"

Best Regards

John

My favorite Devon White catches are the ones where the ball is smoked into the gap, and you're thinking its at least a double. Then, White comes nonchalantly loping into the picture, and snags it easily. I've never seen anyone who could go so fast without looking like they were going fast.

I still like The Gary Matthews catch better.

Best catch I ever saw in person was the Terrence Long game-ending would've-been-a-grand-slam at Fenway Park into the right field bullpen area thing, complete with Manny stare down.

Actually it wasn't a grand, it was a two run shot, whatever. I wish they still had the http://athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20020808&content_id=99043&vkey=news_oak&fext;=.jsp&c_id=oak.

What about "funniest" catch? I think Rowand is near the top of that one too for the one where the ball was hit to left field, about 25 feet behind Podsednik and in my urban legend memory, about 10-12 feet to his left.

As usual, Pods loses the ball is staggering around panicking and Rowand comes on a dead sprint from Center and makes the catch.

I've always liked Ichiro's Spider-Man catch.

Here you go, E-X. Amidst some clips that Terrence Long should have watched, you'll see one where the Orix left fielder loses the ball in the Tokyo Dome roof, and Ichiro saves the day.

I'd agree with Harvey here. The great thing about baseball is that there is a catch that good almost every week. Kevin Mitchell's is still my favourite.

I miss Reed. Looks like he would have been better than Shannon Stewart (duh). If only it wasn't the A's that Stewart had left.

Kevin Mitchell's is still my favourite.

You mean the catch which guaranteed that Mitchell would win the MVP that year? After all, not only could he hit, but taht catch proved he could play D as well, right?

That being said, I'm still stunned when I see replays of that catch.

Thanks--I hadn't seen the vast majority of those. Did that one say that his throw was 144 KPM (about 87MPH)?

I couldn't get over the fact that a lot of the plays, given the slide, the runner didn't even seem to think there was a play at all.

I've never seen anyone who could go so fast without looking like they were going fast.

I've never seen Devon White play, but Beltran definitely has this quality.

You have to understand - Devon White was on a whole different level when it came to this. He played for the Jays for 5 years, made all sorts of ludicrous catches, and I can't remember a single incident where he actaully had to dive to get anything. He would just glide in, steal a hit from someone, and keep moving along like it was nothing special at all. He's still probably the most graceful looking player that I've ever seen in the field. It almost seemed effortless.

Obligatory Rodney McCray reference.

I love the Otis Nixon catch from 1991 against the Pirates off Andy Van Slyke. If you've seen it, you know it.

How many people would read the article if it were titled "Reed Johnson makes pretty good catch"?

I agee with Ryan's viewpoint here, but it is indicative of the lameness of our MSM's approach to its audience. Instead of "Johnson Makes Amazing Catch!" The Headline has to be "Best Ever?" Silly crap. I'd still read the "Amazing Catch" or even "Best of the Year". Whatever. What I liked was the tag-line of "Reed Johnson's Grab Reverberates." Wow, that's a weird bit of writing there... At first I thought it was going to be an article about how Reed Johnson has the strongest grip in the Majors, maybe ever, a hand-crushing, bone-splintering, grit-oozing grip that could render a tender-palmed reporter left to depend on the old dictaphone to compose his articles. Now that would be the best ever. But then I realized it was only a silly fluff piece about a diving grab, and I was sad.

Devon White is perhaps the best I've ever seen, though Gary Pettis was awfully good too. Who realized that Devon White was born in Kingston, Jamaica?

Its probably a step down from some of the catches mentioned on here, but Jeff Salazar's catch last year was pretty remarkable IMO.

Jim Edmonds v.'97 and Endy Chavez NLCS Style have to be the two greatest catches I've ever witnessed live.

Want to second (third? forth?) the Devon White endorsement. Beltran is pretty sneaky out there, but White was in a class by himself. Don't know what his defensive numbers say, but he remains the best CF I've seen, and alone changed the face of the Jays as I remember it.

Although White did have one stretch with the Jays where, for a couple of weeks, it seemed like he had been reading his own press clippings, and started to dive for stuff that there was no way he'd *ever* get, and a few guys got extra bases out of it. Then either he wised up or someone said something to him, and he went back to his regular amazing self.

I've never seen Devon White play, but Beltran definitely has this quality.

Totally agree. Reminds me of the best catch I've ever seen in person, a just sensational catch by Beltran in 2003 against the Mariners when the Royals really needed a victory. He just glided to the wall, jumped up, effortlessly, it seemed, and caught the ball above the wall. The crowd went insane, and those were the days in which the Royals actually drew crowds. I believe he ended the game with a walk-off homer too. He is good at baseball.

Devon White was poetry on the baseball field. Its a shame he is already disappearing from the radar.

I agree that Endy's playoff catch was one of the greatest I've seen live.

Oh, and with the Endy catch to go with Willie's "the catch", context matters.

If the Mets won the pennant, the Endy catch would be legendary.

Devon White is probably the most graceful player I've ever seen.

"Just remember...there's only one alternative to getting old, and it's no fun."

That anti-aging/HGH clinic in Floida?

Some of the throws on that Ichiro highlight reel are just ridiculous.

Here you go, E-X. Amidst some clips that Terrence Long should have watched, you'll see one where the Orix left fielder loses the ball in the Tokyo Dome roof, and Ichiro saves the day.

That one you mention was fabulous. How far away was that LF from the ball, huh? Then that waterbug Suzuki comes skating in behind.

Just curious--do Japanese leagues players avoid the full contact body slam with the catcher?

Devon White is probably the most graceful player I've ever seen.

Watching him run around the bases was interesting as well.
He had a gazelle-like stride. So quick, graceful and natural. The best comparison I have is watching White run was like watching Olerud swing a bat. It just looked "right".

The home run he stole over the wall in Camden Yards is my second favourite catch I've ever seen (behind Edmonds' diving masterpiece in 1997).