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Front Office & Trades2020
Betts to the Dodgers
Boston sent Mookie Betts and David Price to Los Angeles for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong. A three-team version of the deal had already collapsed over a medical file.
Boston Red Sox · Los Angeles Dodgers · Minnesota Twins
No. 2016.11.02
2016
November 2
Pitching Disasters2016
Davis off Chapman
Joe Maddon brought Aroldis Chapman in to protect a three-run lead in the eighth inning of Game 7. Rajai Davis hit a two-run homer that tied it. The Cubs won in the tenth.
Chicago Cubs · Cleveland Indians
Front Office & Trades2016
Alvarez for Fields
On the 2016 trade deadline the Dodgers sent Yordan Alvarez, 19 and still without a professional game in the United States, to Houston for reliever Josh Fields.
Los Angeles Dodgers · Houston Astros
Front Office & Trades2016
Tatis for Shields
The White Sox sent Fernando Tatis Jr., 17 and still without a professional game, and Erik Johnson to San Diego for James Shields and a large share of his contract.
San Diego Padres · Chicago White Sox
No. 2012.10.05
2012
October 5
Umpire Controversies2012
The Infield Fly in Atlanta
With the Braves rallying in a winner-take-all game, Sam Holbrook called the infield fly rule on a ball that fell in short left field. The crowd threw trash for nineteen minutes.
Atlanta Braves · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 2011.10.27
2011
October 27
Fielding Fiascos2011
The Ball over Cruz
With two outs in the ninth of World Series Game 6, David Freese's ball went over Nelson Cruz's head and tied the game. Texas led again in the tenth. St. Louis won in the eleventh.
Texas Rangers · St. Louis Cardinals
Fielding Fiascos2010
Three Errors by Conrad
In Game 3 of the 2010 NLDS, Brooks Conrad made three errors. The last one, on a two-out grounder in the ninth, let the Giants take a lead they did not give back.
Atlanta Braves · San Francisco Giants
Umpire Controversies2010
Galarraga's Imperfect Game
Armando Galarraga was one out from a perfect game when Jim Joyce called Jason Donald safe. Joyce saw the replay, and said he had missed it.
Detroit Tigers · Cleveland Indians
Fielding Fiascos2009
Castillo Drops the Popup
The Mets led by a run with two outs in the ninth when Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez's popup, then threw to the wrong base.
New York Mets · New York Yankees
No. 2008.08.21
2008
August 21
Front Office & Trades2008
Bautista for Diaz
On August 21, 2008, Pittsburgh sent Jose Bautista to Toronto on waivers for a player to be named. Four days later the player was catcher Robinzon Diaz.
Toronto Blue Jays · Pittsburgh Pirates
Front Office & Trades2007
Cabrera to Detroit
At the 2007 winter meetings the Marlins sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for six players, headed by Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller.
Detroit Tigers · Florida Marlins
Umpire Controversies2005
Pierzynski Runs to First
In the ninth inning of the 2005 ALCS, strike three got to Josh Paul and the Angels left the field. Doug Eddings ruled the ball had touched the ground. A.J. Pierzynski ran to first.
Chicago White Sox · Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
No. 2004.10.17
2004
October 17
Baserunning Blunders2004
Roberts Steals Second
Down three games to none and a run in the ninth, the Red Sox sent Dave Roberts in to run. He stole second against Mariano Rivera, and Bill Mueller singled him home.
Boston Red Sox · New York Yankees
No. 2003.10.16
2003
October 16
Managerial Decisions2003
Grady Little Leaves Pedro In
Boston led Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS by three runs. Grady Little visited the mound, left a tiring Pedro Martinez in, and the Yankees tied the game.
Boston Red Sox · New York Yankees
Fan & Crowd Moments2003
The Bartman Game
Five outs from the World Series, a fan deflected a foul ball. The Cubs' shortstop then missed the double-play ball that would have ended the inning anyway.
Chicago Cubs · Florida Marlins
No. 2001.10.31
2001
October 31
Pitching Disasters2001
Byung-Hyun Kim, Two Nights
Byung-Hyun Kim gave up a game-tying homer in the ninth on consecutive nights of the 2001 World Series. Arizona won the series anyway.
Arizona Diamondbacks · New York Yankees
No. 2000.10.03
2000
October 3
Pitching Disasters2000
Rick Ankiel Loses the Plate
Rick Ankiel was twenty-one, a phenom, and ahead 6–0 in his first playoff start. In the third inning he threw five wild pitches and could not find the strike zone.
St. Louis Cardinals · Atlanta Braves
No. 1998.10.07
1998
October 7
Fielding Fiascos1998
Knoblauch Stays on the Bag
In the twelfth inning of the 1998 ALCS, a throw hit Travis Fryman and rolled away. Chuck Knoblauch stayed at first base to argue. Enrique Wilson scored from first.
New York Yankees · Cleveland Indians
No. 1997.10.26
1997
October 26
Pitching Disasters1997
Mesa in the Ninth
The Indians led Game 7 by a run in the ninth. Jose Mesa allowed the tying sacrifice fly. Edgar Renteria's winning single, two innings later, came off Charles Nagy.
Cleveland Indians · Florida Marlins
No. 1996.10.09
1996
October 9
Fan & Crowd Moments1996
Jeffrey Maier Reaches Over the Wall
A twelve-year-old reached over the wall and turned Derek Jeter's fly ball into a home run. The umpire out there never saw the hand.
New York Yankees · Baltimore Orioles
No. 1994.07.15
1994
July 15
Rules & Quirks1994
Albert Belle's Corked Bat
Umpires confiscated Albert Belle's bat in Chicago. A teammate crawled through the ceiling to swap it, and the replacement had the wrong name on it.
Cleveland Indians · Chicago White Sox
No. 1993.11.19
1993
November 19
Front Office & Trades1993
Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields
The Dodgers needed a second baseman and traded Pedro Martinez to Montreal to get one. Pedro became one of the great pitchers of the era.
Los Angeles Dodgers · Montreal Expos
No. 1993.10.23
1993
October 23
Pitching Disasters1993
Carter off Williams
Mitch Williams came in to protect a one-run lead in Game 6. He walked Rickey Henderson, gave up a single to Paul Molitor, and Joe Carter hit the next well-struck pitch over the left-field fence.
Philadelphia Phillies · Toronto Blue Jays
Fielding Fiascos1993
The Ball Comes Off Canseco's Head
Carlos Martinez flew to right at Cleveland Stadium. The ball ticked Jose Canseco's glove, hit him on the head, and bounced over the fence for a home run.
Texas Rangers · Cleveland Indians
Baserunning Blunders1991
Lonnie Smith Stops at Third
In a scoreless Game 7, Lonnie Smith was on first when Terry Pendleton doubled. A decoy at second base held Smith at third. He never scored.
Atlanta Braves · Minnesota Twins
No. 1990.08.30
1990
August 30
Front Office & Trades1990
Bagwell for Larry Andersen
At the 1990 deadline the Red Sox traded a Double-A third baseman for a month of Larry Andersen. The third baseman was Jeff Bagwell.
Boston Red Sox · Houston Astros
Personalities & Off-field1990
Steve Lyons Drops His Pants
Steve Lyons beat out a bunt, slid into first, and unbuckled his pants on live television to shake the dirt out.
Chicago White Sox · Detroit Tigers
No. 1990.07.01
1990
July 1
Pitching Disasters1990
Hawkins Loses a No-Hitter
Andy Hawkins allowed no hits and lost, 4–0, on three errors in the eighth. A year later baseball decided eight innings was not a no-hitter.
New York Yankees · Chicago White Sox
Front Office & Trades1989
Johnson for Langston
Seattle could not sign Mark Langston and sent him to Montreal for three pitchers. One of them was Randy Johnson, 25 years old and 6-foot-10.
Seattle Mariners · Montreal Expos
Front Office & Trades1987
Smoltz for Alexander
On August 12, 1987, Detroit sent a 20-year-old in Double-A to Atlanta for Doyle Alexander. Alexander went 9–0 down the stretch. The prospect was John Smoltz.
Detroit Tigers · Atlanta Braves
Fielding Fiascos1986
The Ball Gets Through Buckner
The Red Sox were one out from a title when a ground ball went through Bill Buckner's legs. By then the lead was already gone.
Boston Red Sox · New York Mets
Umpire Controversies1985
Denkinger Calls Orta Safe
With St. Louis one out from a championship, Don Denkinger called Jorge Orta safe at first. Replays showed he was out. The Cardinals never got the inning back.
Kansas City Royals · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 1985.10.16
1985
October 16
Managerial Decisions1985
Lasorda Pitches to Clark
With first base open in the ninth of the 1985 NLCS, Tommy Lasorda let Tom Niedenfuer pitch to Jack Clark. Clark hit the first pitch into the left-field seats.
Los Angeles Dodgers · St. Louis Cardinals
Pitching Disasters1984
Gossage Pitches to Gibson
In the eighth inning of the 1984 World Series, Dick Williams wanted Goose Gossage to walk Kirk Gibson. Gossage talked him out of it. Gibson hit a three-run homer.
Detroit Tigers · San Diego Padres
No. 1984.10.07
1984
October 7
Fielding Fiascos1984
Durham Lets It Through
One out from a pennant-clinching chance slipping away, Tim Flannery's grounder went through Leon Durham's legs. San Diego scored four and won the National League.
Chicago Cubs · San Diego Padres
Rules & Quirks1983
The Pine Tar Game
George Brett's go-ahead homer was taken off the board because there was too much pine tar on the bat. The league president put the homer back.
Kansas City Royals · New York Yankees
No. 1982.08.23
1982
August 23
Umpire Controversies1982
Perry, Ejected
Dave Phillips ejected Gaylord Perry for a spitball without looking at the ball. Perry said it was a forkball. The league suspended him for ten days anyway.
Seattle Mariners · Boston Red Sox
No. 1981.05.27
1981
May 27
Rules & Quirks1981
Randle Blows It Foul
Lenny Randle dropped to the Kingdome turf and blew a slow roller across the foul line. The umpire called it foul, then changed the call after the Royals protested.
Seattle Mariners · Kansas City Royals
Promotions & Ballpark Events1979
Disco Demolition Night
The White Sox blew up a crate of disco records between games of a doubleheader. Fans took the field, a fire started, and the second game was forfeited.
Chicago White Sox · Detroit Tigers
No. 1978.10.02
1978
October 2
Pitching Disasters1978
Dent over the Monster
In the one-game playoff at Fenway, Bucky Dent, batting ninth, hit a three-run homer over the Green Monster. He had borrowed Mickey Rivers's bat after fouling a pitch off his foot.
New York Yankees · Boston Red Sox
No. 1977.06.15
1977
June 15
Front Office & Trades1977
Seaver to Cincinnati
On the night of the trading deadline, the Mets sent Tom Seaver to Cincinnati for four players, and Dave Kingman to San Diego in a separate deal.
New York Mets · Cincinnati Reds · San Diego Padres
No. 1974.10.13
1974
October 13
Front Office & Trades1974
Herb Washington Is Picked Off
Charlie Finley signed a world-class sprinter who had never played baseball and used him only as a pinch runner. In the World Series, Mike Marshall picked him off.
Oakland Athletics · Los Angeles Dodgers
Promotions & Ballpark Events1974
Ten-Cent Beer Night
Cleveland sold beer for a dime, the limit collapsed, and the crowd stormed the field. The umpires forfeited the game to Texas.
Cleveland Indians · Texas Rangers
No. 1971.12.10
1971
December 10
Front Office & Trades1971
Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi
The Mets traded Nolan Ryan and three others to the Angels for Jim Fregosi. Ryan left with seven no-hitters. Fregosi was gone in a season and a half.
New York Mets · California Angels
No. 1969.09.09
1969
September 9
Fan & Crowd Moments1969
A Black Cat at Shea
A black cat walked in front of the Cubs' dugout at Shea. Chicago lost, 7–1. The standings, not the cat, are what the collapse was.
Chicago Cubs · New York Mets
No. 1966.10.06
1966
October 6
Fielding Fiascos1966
Three Errors in One Inning
In the fifth inning of World Series Game 2, Willie Davis lost two fly balls in the sun and threw one away. Three errors, three unearned runs, and Jim Palmer's shutout.
Los Angeles Dodgers · Baltimore Orioles
No. 1965.12.09
1965
December 9
Front Office & Trades1965
Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas
Cincinnati's Bill DeWitt called Frank Robinson an old thirty and traded him to Baltimore. The next year Robinson won the Triple Crown.
Cincinnati Reds · Baltimore Orioles
No. 1964.09.21
1964
September 21
Managerial Decisions1964
The Phillies' 1964 Collapse
Philadelphia led the league by 6½ games with twelve to play. Gene Mauch kept running his aces out on short rest. The Phillies lost ten in a row.
Philadelphia Phillies · Cincinnati Reds · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 1964.06.15
1964
June 15
Front Office & Trades1964
Brock for Broglio
The Cubs traded Lou Brock to the Cardinals for Ernie Broglio in a six-player deal. Brock finished with 3,023 hits. Broglio won seven games in Chicago.
Chicago Cubs · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 1962.06.17
1962
June 17
Baserunning Blunders1962
Throneberry Misses the Base
Marv Throneberry hit what looked like a two-run triple and was called out for missing first. He later admitted he had missed second, too.
New York Mets · Chicago Cubs
No. 1959.05.26
1959
May 26
Pitching Disasters1959
Twelve Perfect Innings
Harvey Haddix retired 36 batters in a row and lost in the thirteenth. Joe Adcock's ball cleared the fence, and the next day the league president made it a double.
Pittsburgh Pirates · Milwaukee Braves
No. 1951.10.03
1951
October 3
Pitching Disasters1951
The Shot Heard 'Round the World
Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning homer off Ralph Branca is one of the famous swings in the sport. The Giants had stolen the sign.
New York Giants · Brooklyn Dodgers
Promotions & Ballpark Events1951
Eddie Gaedel Walks
Bill Veeck sent 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to the plate in a child's uniform. Gaedel walked on four pitches. The league voided the contract the next day.
St. Louis Browns · Detroit Tigers
No. 1946.10.15
1946
October 15
Baserunning Blunders1946
Slaughter Scores from First
Enos Slaughter scored from first on Harry Walker's double in Game 7. The relay went through Johnny Pesky, who said he hesitated. Later viewings say the run was coming anyway.
St. Louis Cardinals · Boston Red Sox
Fielding Fiascos1941
Owen's Dropped Third Strike
The Dodgers were one strike from tying the World Series. Mickey Owen missed the third strike, and the Yankees scored four runs.
Brooklyn Dodgers · New York Yankees
No. 1934.10.09
1934
October 9
Fan & Crowd Moments1934
Medwick and the Fruit Barrage
After a hard slide in Game 7, Detroit fans threw fruit, bottles, and vegetables at Joe Medwick until the commissioner took him out of the game.
St. Louis Cardinals · Detroit Tigers
No. 1929.10.12
1929
October 12
Fielding Fiascos1929
Hack Wilson Loses the Ball in the Sun
The Cubs led Game 4 of the 1929 World Series by eight runs. In the seventh, Hack Wilson lost a fly ball in the sun, and the Athletics scored ten.
Chicago Cubs · Philadelphia Athletics
No. 1926.10.10
1926
October 10
Baserunning Blunders1926
Ruth Is Out at Second
The 1926 World Series ended with Babe Ruth thrown out at second. He said he was stealing on his own. Other accounts say a hit-and-run was on.
New York Yankees · St. Louis Cardinals
No. 1926.08.15
1926
August 15
Baserunning Blunders1926
Three Men on Third
Babe Herman doubled off the right-field screen at Ebbets Field and arrived at third base to find two teammates already there.
Brooklyn Dodgers · Boston Braves
No. 1925.10.15
1925
October 15
Fielding Fiascos1925
Peckinpaugh's Eight Errors
The American League's Most Valuable Player committed eight errors in the 1925 World Series, two of them in a rainy seventh game the Senators led.
Washington Senators · Pittsburgh Pirates
Front Office & Trades1920
The Sale of Babe Ruth
The Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000, paid in installments. The Broadway story that explains the sale is a myth.
Boston Red Sox · New York Yankees
No. 1917.10.15
1917
October 15
Baserunning Blunders1917
Zimmerman Chases Collins Home
In the sixth game of the 1917 World Series, nobody covered home plate, so Heinie Zimmerman ran Eddie Collins across it himself.
New York Giants · Chicago White Sox
No. 1917.05.02
1917
May 2
Pitching Disasters1917
The Double No-Hitter Breaks
Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney both pitched nine no-hit innings. In the tenth, a single, a dropped fly, and a throw home the catcher was not looking for ended it.
Chicago Cubs · Cincinnati Reds
Fielding Fiascos1912
Snodgrass's Muff
With the Giants one win from a title, Fred Snodgrass dropped a routine fly to open the tenth. He then made a fine catch that the nickname forgot.
New York Giants · Boston Red Sox
No. 1911.08.04
1911
August 4
Rules & Quirks1911
Germany Schaefer Steals First
With the game tied in the ninth, Germany Schaefer stole second, got nothing for it, and stole first base back. The rules eventually made the trick illegal.
Washington Senators · Chicago White Sox
Baserunning Blunders1908
Merkle's Boner
Fred Merkle, nineteen and starting in place of an injured regular, failed to touch second on a game-winning single. The league made the teams replay it, and the Cubs won the pennant.
New York Giants · Chicago Cubs
No. 1904.10.10
1904
October 10
Pitching Disasters1904
Chesbro's Wild Pitch
Jack Chesbro had already won 41 games. In the ninth of the pennant game, a spitball got past his catcher, and Boston scored the run that ended it.
New York Highlanders · Boston Americans