[net.sport.baseball] Strange Play From Last Year

ewf@ihu1m.UUCP (Gene Foster) (08/21/85)

I recall from last season a play similar to the White Sox - Yankees
two men out at home fiasco.  Kirk Gibson of the Tigers who is one of
the fastest men in baseball hit a long drive to the deeps in Tiger
Stadium.  There was a man on base.  Gibson hustled around the bases
and went for an inside the parker.  The through came in and the runner
ahead of Gibson was out but Gibson made it safely for an inside the
park home run.
Do any of you recall more details about this?

gene foster
ihu1m!ewf

wiso@ihnss.UUCP (Jack Wisowaty) (08/22/85)

I don't remember that play, but under the circumstances described Gibson
could not be credited with a home run.  At best he would receive a triple
and advance on the throw to the plate. 

-- Jack

wbs@cybvax0.UUCP (William B. Solomon) (08/26/85)

> I recall from last season a play similar to the White Sox - Yankees
> two men out at home fiasco.  Kirk Gibson of the Tigers who is one of
> the fastest men in baseball hit a long drive to the deeps in Tiger
> Stadium.  There was a man on base.  Gibson hustled around the bases
> and went for an inside the parker.  The through came in and the runner
> ahead of Gibson was out but Gibson made it safely for an inside the
> park home run.
> Do any of you recall more details about this?
> 
> gene foster
> ihu1m!ewf

This play happened against Boston in a night game at Detroit.  With a runner
on first (Whitiker i think) Gibson hit a ball off the center field fence.
The ball was almost caught so Whitiker played it halfway.  The relay came
to the plate and Gedmen tagged Whitiker out. The worst umpire in baseball,
Larry Barnett emphatically called the out. As he did this he crossed in
front of the plate at the third base line. At the very same moment Gibson
came barrelling into Barnett and knocked him out cold.  Gedmen put the tag
on Gibson.  When Barnett fell, a ball fell out of his pocket and the first
base umpire, thinking that the loose ball was the game ball, called Gibson safe.
A big argument ensude and I believe the play cost Boston the game.

I live in Boston, but was born in Detroit and have been a Tiger fan for
many years. Thus I don't want you to think that this is a biased account of
the play, (Which makes the one from the Yankee game look routine).

Thank you,
William B. Solomon
Brighton Ma.


a 

stuart@ada-uts.UUCP (08/27/85)

He would be credited with a double, not a triple or a home run.
A similar question was answered in a recent issue of THE SPORTING
NEWS.