On
Sunday at PNC Park, one Pittsburgh Pirates fan performed a public
service for everyone watching. He made a barehanded grab of a foul ball
that was so perfect that it demonstrated to everyone exactly how it
should be done.
So
let’s look at how exactly he got it done. It happened in the bottom of
the eighth inning of the Pirates’ game against the Philadelphia
Phillies. On the 3-2 pitch, catcher Elias Diaz hit the ball foul, and it
careened toward the stands on the first base side. It sailed over the
Phillies’ dugout, and it was headed right for a Pirates fan sitting with
his son.
The
man reacted quickly, rising from his seat part way, both hands up in
front of him protecting his face. His hands ended up forming a little
basket that the ball zoomed right into. The force of the ball falling
into his hands caused him to lean back and to the side somewhat, but he
didn’t have to jump to make the catch, and he didn’t fall over when it
was done. His son reacted smartly as well, getting out of the way of the
screaming projectile instead of trying to help his dad catch it. (I
can’t imagine that would have ended well.)
It
was a fantastic barehanded grab, and everyone around him was rightly
impressed. Once he handed the ball to his son (after some well-deserved
celebration), the camera showed him pointing to one of his fingers.
Considering how fast the ball was traveling, it’s amazing that dude’s
fingers were still attached at all. Hopefully he escaped unharmed and
his only souvenir from that catch is that baseball and not a broken
finger and a cast.
Regardless,
we all owe him thanks for showing us how it’s done. The next time
you’re faced with a catch in the stands, remember: two hands, protect
your face, don’t fall down.
sports.yahoo.com
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