Dewayne Wise: Robbin’ Fools, Saving the Day

Jeremy Hawn — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:25:54 +0000

So for the three of you out there who don’t know yet, White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle threw a perfect game yesterday. In the 9th inning Ozzy Guillen decided to put in defensive replacement Dewayne Wise in center field. As if to prove this was the right move, Wise then proceeded to rob Gabe Kapler of a home run. This wasn’t just one of those “robberies” where the guy catches the ball up against the wall. His arm was fully extended up and over the fence. On top of that, there’s the post catch bobble and barehanded grab as he tumbles to the ground. So I have to ask, is this the greatest regular season catch of all time? Hell yeah, it is. I still think that the Gary Matthews 360 off the wall catch was a more athletic play, but given the circumstances involved it’s not even close. As for all-time considerations, I would rank this one below just two other defensive plays: Willy Mays basket catch and spinning throw in the World Series (for the run-saving throw and the title implications) and Endy Chavez’s snow cone robbery followed by doubling a guy up at first in the playoffs against the Cardinals (also due o the throw and the playoff stage). Those are my thoughts. Feel free to discuss.

The Other Fifteen » Willy Mays

Dewayne Wise: Robbin’ Fools, Saving the Day