Top Sox defensive plays of all-time

[StatManDu]

What were the top 5?

 

 

 

Oh, come on! Neither one of those plays was anything special. The only reason the Griffey throw is even remembered (besides it being the Black Out Game) is that it was the only thing Griffey contributed to the Sox that year. He was pretty damn shallow in the OF and any decent defender should have been able to throw the runner out. Anderson's catch was pretty good, but not incredible. They're talking about the best plays in the history of the sport. Those two probably don't even crack the top 1,000.

 

I was just throwing those two out there ...

 

I wouldn't dismiss that Griffey throw so quickly especially considering the circumstances, the collision and some of the other plays on the list

[LVSoxFan]

I'm gonna go with Wise's catch considering what was at stake and I'm biased because I was there. In fact, we were so many rows up in 161 you couldn't see the catch, just everybody screaming. Then you saw him trotting out and Pods hugging him and we knew.

 

Next they put it on the Jumbotron and everyone went nuts, again. Truly a special day.

 

Next I'd say it's a tie between the Iguchi and Buehrle plays.

 

Although Uribe going into the stands in Houston for the WS has got be up there, considering what was at stake there, too.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I'm probably in the minority, but a top defensive play is a top defensive play. I don't buy all the 'extra credit' certain plays should get because of when they happened [World Series, saving perfect games, ect]. They're obviously going to be more memorable. But I for one wouldn't look at Buehrle's freak of nature play any differently then if it had come in a playoff game. It was just an amazing f***ing play.

[Rowand44]

Actually that play by Iguchi was pretty special

The "specialness" of it was entirely brought on by himself. It was kind of like an outfielder getting a bad jump on a ball only to make up for it with a diving catch. It really should have been a routine play but he made it into something that looked better than it really was because he stumbled over himself.

[Pants Rowland]

I remember that one as I watched that game versus the Yankmees. Fisk stood there like he was daring for a third runner. Dale Berra and some ther Yank flub were the runners

 

Bobby Meachem?

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

The "specialness" of it was entirely brought on by himself. It was kind of like an outfielder getting a bad jump on a ball only to make up for it with a diving catch. It really should have been a routine play but he made it into something that looked better than it really was because he stumbled over himself.

 

Maybe so, but 20 years from now when I think back to that play or any defensive play for that matter, I won't remember that an outfielder made a bad read on a ball initially or an infielder took a bad first step, I'll remember being wowed watching it take place. The Buehrle and Iguchi plays will always be the ones I recall first. Uribe made a play that happened to take place on the highest of stages- thats why that one will be special for me.

 

Greatest Sox pickoff? Gotta be Buehrle against Sosa and the Rangers in 2007. The one hitter standing between Buehrle being the only pitcher to throw two perfect games was Chicago's beloved assclown, Sammy Sosa. Pick off and f*** you have the same number of letters.

Edited January 14, 2011 by Swingandalongonetoleft

[Rowand44]

Maybe so, but 20 years from now when I think back to that play or any defensive play for that matter, I won't remember that an outfielder made a bad read on a ball initially or an infielder took a bad first step, I'll remember being wowed watching it take place. The Buehrle and Iguchi plays will always be the ones I recall first. Uribe made a play that happened to take place on the highest of stages- thats why that one will be special for me.

 

Greatest Sox pickoff? Gotta be Buehrle against Sosa and the Rangers in 2007. The one hitter standing between Buehrle being the only pitcher to throw two perfect games was Chicago's beloved assclown, Sammy Sosa. Pick off and f*** you have the same number of letters.

Obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion and I know I'm in the minority on this one but to me Tad's play is one of the more overrated plays I've ever seen.

 

Anyways, I didn't see the count down but this to me is the best defensive play ever, first play shown after the backflip: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1806999/5964629

[knightni]

Obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion and I know I'm in the minority on this one but to me Tad's play is one of the more overrated plays I've ever seen.

 

Anyways, I didn't see the count down but this to me is the best defensive play ever, first play shown after the backflip: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1806999/5964629

The Ozzie Smith San Diego play was #1 on the list.

[greg775]

As far as greatest Sox defensive plays I ever saw, you may laugh, but Chet Lemon made a diving catch one time that was f***ing unbelievable.

The game was on TV and there was a blast in the gap, more of a deep liner than a fly ball. He went from leftcenter to rightcenter, or vice versa, I forget, and dove full out and made the catch.

He wasn't even in the picture or close to being in the picture and laid full out to make that unreal catch. Our teams weren't all that great back then, but Chet Lemon made some remarkable catches.

 

One time I met him and in a non fanatical way asked him about his favorite defensive plays. I mentioned the one I'm talking about and he described it better than I am now.

 

I remember getting into a near fight in the stands one time with some guy who didn't like Chet for uh, let's say, racial reasons.

[klaus kinski]

Huh? Seaver didn't throw a no-hitter in a Sox uniform.

 

I should have said his 300th win

[klaus kinski]

I was just throwing those two out there ...

 

I wouldn't dismiss that Griffey throw so quickly especially considering the circumstances, the collision and some of the other plays on the list

 

In terms of IMPORTANCE, they are both up there.

[StatManDu]

In terms of IMPORTANCE, they are both up there.

Two others I remember ...

 

Mike Cameron had one in the Metrodome where he just covered an insane amount of ground to make a catch

 

Lance Johnson made a diving catch in the Metrodome in Jack McDowell's 20th win in 1993

 

Darrin Jackson had an over the wall grab in RF in 1994 at the Cell (then New Comiskey Park)

[lord chas]

jim edmonds make the top 5?

[knightni]

jim edmonds make the top 5?

He has one at #2 (the backwards catch vs KC) and another one in the top 15 (Over the fence catch with STL)

[smalls2598]

Jeter's catch in fair ground where he didn't feel like sliding and instead ran into the seats better not have been on that list, but being that it's Jeter, it was probably like #2 on the list. The only great play I've ever seen him make was the flip to Posada, and I'd still put Wise, Buehrle, and Iguchi all better than that. It's just the stage that he did it on that made it so much better.

It was number 67. If ESPN did the list, it would be top 5.

[earthshiner]

I seem to remember Brian Simmons making one hell of a catch. I think he drove towards the wall while on the warning track.

[knightni]

I'm having a tough time remembering Brian Simmons.

[JohnCangelosi]

The "specialness" of it was entirely brought on by himself. It was kind of like an outfielder getting a bad jump on a ball only to make up for it with a diving catch. It really should have been a routine play but he made it into something that looked better than it really was because he stumbled over himself.

Agreed.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

This is going way back but channel 32 or was it 44 used to use a Ken Berry fosberry flop catch where he went completely over the CF fence on a commercial.

[YASNY]

This is going way back but channel 32 or was it 44 used to use a Ken Berry fosberry flop catch where he went completely over the CF fence on a commercial.

 

If this is the play I'm thinking of Berry did not make that catch. I think it was Bobby Knopp of the Angels hit the ball, Berry went up and over and appeared to make the catch. Problem was that he his head on a fencepost, knocking him self cold and the ball rolled out of glove. The umpire ran out to the fence looked over it and signaled home run.

[greg775]

Since it's slow out here, and nobody responded to my Chet Lemon mention, any Chet Lemon takes on here?

Do you guys agree he was a good to great defensive centerfielder? Or do you think he was trash? Or simply ordinary?

I think he had a good glove and was fun to watch.

Also could put the bat on the ball. Had some pop.

[Middle Buffalo]

I seem to remember Brian Simmons making one hell of a catch. I think he drove towards the wall while on the warning track.

Don't remember Brian Simmons, but I remember Steve Lyons playing CF for the Sox and making a similar play. He was running full speed toward the wall and laid out for the ball on the warning track facing the wall. Best catch I ever saw. Unless I'm crazy and am imagining it.

 

Regarding Chet Lemon - I remember him being a good CF, but mostly I remember that he always charged hard in for the ball and would lose his hat in the process. Always suspected that he tipped it off to make the catch look cooler.