"fielder securing possession of a batted ball in flight within their hand or glove before it touches the ground, holding it long enough to prove control, and releasing it voluntarily."
Loved seeing Pettitte in there, wish there was some Mariano though. Guy was great at playing his position in addition to being one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
I’m somewhat surprised that catchers are still the only players on the field with protective headgear besides the batters. Pitchers should probably have some kind of helmet.
I made that catch in a little league game when I was 12. The single most amazing sports thing I ever did in my whole life. Oddly, my teammates acted like it happens everyday and said nothing.
conklin5
Sometimes if's defense, sometimes it's self-defense.
justplainvanilla
mrsdowneyjr
I used to pitch soft ball. Almost made a catch like this but it bounced off my glove and broke my molar
nitemayr
That has to be soul-killing for a heavy slugger if it happens, an amazing, wonderful, soul-crushing experience.
Grapeape2000
Wow, these guys are like trained athletes or something.
BestofUwU
I will never mature. Every time the baseball announcer calls it a "comebacker" it makes me laugh.
TankardHoot
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1Mm9sajdzenpsMGc4anJiNnR6YTc4cWp0aDVpbWpjOTc3emdiM3l2eCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/uPnKU86sFa2fm/200w.webp
fartharder
Get hit by one and see if you're incentivized to move next time.
stronomer
Well, some of them had the options catch or die.
Columbus43219
Great memory of doing this in little league. Dude hit it right into my glove which was just under my face.
pocsaclypse
Squaba13
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1cHIwMDBxcDRwOHFwaHQ3eHhnbjZub29sZDdmZnhrdWdmOXk1a3J0OSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/TyQnr2VDbR63ALjEHk/200w.webp
pocsaclypse
the ball got stuck in his glove
SarcasticComment
I'm shocked the Reds made a play
conklin5
It was really just the one guy and I'm sure they've traded him by now.
rockmanx853000
The backhand catches both confidently and out of reflex are insane.
livurz
Intentionally aiming the ball back at the pitcher is highly frowned upon.
getadogupya
How often do they get beaned?
UnattendedDeviant
Believe it not, rarely. occurring less than 0.001% of the time. But risky when it happens.
TeamRobot
That first one was seriously Neo
Snooj
Highlight reels are the best because I'm not sitting through 9,000 hours of sports to see 20 cool moments.
J3lek
I still don't understand how getting the ball stuck in your shirt doesn't count as a catch.
UnattendedDeviant
"fielder securing possession of a batted ball in flight within their hand or glove before it touches the ground, holding it long enough to prove control, and releasing it voluntarily."
Exyr
Also you cant use your uniform to catch the ball. Like hat or mask or shirt.
LogicDude
The first one for sure reminded me of:
DaSauceSeeker
High School of the Dead?
PTKrieg
Yep.
TheDoctorCrankenstein
The breakdown on how fast those boobs were wobbling is wild.
Literally, they would be breaking the sound barrier.
DYLANLEE79
What was that book about Jewish kids where one is a pitcher and gets a piece of his eyeglasses in his eye from getting beaned in the face with a ball?
DildoMussolini
tkdtkd
Loved seeing Pettitte in there, wish there was some Mariano though. Guy was great at playing his position in addition to being one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
Quizz25S
That first one is fucking scary
Onisa
And not fourth one where he turns around, ducks, and the ball still takes his hat off? That could've been bad.
Aranon1183
This is why you don't hit back to the pitcher. Lol
MadamPuddifoot
As an athletic trainer: every single one of these made the athletic trainer's butt pucker up for a split second. 😂
Starbolt81
Dodged that shit like it was the Matrix
jtxyz
In high school in PE we were playing softball, and I hit our pitcher in the head with the ball.
He tried to stay standing but then he fell over. He was okay after a few minutes though.
Dannyalcatraz
I’m somewhat surprised that catchers are still the only players on the field with protective headgear besides the batters. Pitchers should probably have some kind of helmet.
Sylon
It’s rare but a few pitchers wear a padded cap.
rumandbass
Some even put tar in their hats. So weird
TheDoctorCrankenstein
Honestly, true. It is wild when you think about it.
lonosham
Snezko
well now you know birbs do explode sometimes, dayum
Lugh314159
Imagine being hit by dense ball of rubber, wool, and leather, about twice the width of your body, going at near 100mph.
Yeah, you'd explode too.
MulleH
Fowl ball
philomemo9000
That kills the birb?
lonosham
This kills the birb
ThatQuietlySmirking
Nah, hit by pitch. Takes first.
theduckening
waitwhut
I made that catch in a little league game when I was 12. The single most amazing sports thing I ever did in my whole life. Oddly, my teammates acted like it happens everyday and said nothing.
jtwood
Hunt them down and kick them in the nuts. Act like that’s normal.
jtwood
All time favorite
thecollective01
Did you just catch that 👁👄👁
LinguisticBitch
RIP
rumandbass
He was gonna have a great career..:(
sipeycup
What happened?
jtwood
Died in a boat crash. Drugs and alcohol were involved.