Greatest Defensive Plays in the History of MLB – by Tim Harrison for Victor Prediction
According to a survey on the peak viewer count in an MLB game, the officials behind Major League Baseball stated that during a particular MLB final in 2022, the peak audience reached 14.7 million viewers throughout the game.
Keeping this in mind, the importance of baseball cannot be understated throughout the United States, home to hundreds of thousands of fans of the sport, especially the major leagues.
In addition to being one of the most-watched sports of all time, Major League Baseball considerably impacted the sports betting scene.
So much so that the United States Online Gambling Market was valued at around $2,178 million in 2020 and is projected to increase throughout the years, the astonishingly high amount is also due to the competition between online betting sites.
Amongst such competition, if you want to look at betting sites with low deposit limits, you should look at websites such as BetZillion.
Even though many spectacular defensive plays have occurred throughout the history of major league baseball, some of them stand out from the rest and are known to be etched within the minds of all passionate baseball fans.
We have a BetZillion expert, Tim Harrison, with us, recalling one of baseball’s most historical defensive plays. As we interview Tim Harrison for some of the best defensive baseball plays in the major leagues, let us look at these.
Best Defensive Baseball Plays
- Sandy’s Catch over the Netting
It is scarce to see a catcher move out of their position, let alone make a sprint in the hopes of making a catch and being daring enough to jump right over the net, and this is precisely why this defensive play is considered to be so iconic.
On August 2nd, 1994, Sandy Alomar Jr. secured one of the most memorable catches in baseball history, which many fans who witnessed it remember.
During the match that was taking place on August 2nd, there was a foul catch that went way out of the hands of the catcher due to its height and trajectory.
Due to the increased height and the trajectory of the ball, which was incredibly off, catching the ball had become a comparatively different ordeal as it went out of bounds.
However, Alomar was determined to secure that catch, so he climbed over and nearly leaped over the fence to stretch his arm to catch the ball.
Due to the lengths and awkward nature of the catch which Alomar made, this is considered one of the most impressive defensive baseballs plays to exist out there.
- Ichiro’s ‘Laser Beam’
A strong throwing arm and precision for the throw to land in the exact position are necessary to improve as an outfielder in the major leagues.
However, some individuals hone their throwing arm to an astonishing degree, creating absolute cannon of an arm, and Ichiro Suzuki was one of these gifted individuals.
Due to the total strength in his arm, Ichiro made one of the most incredible throws in baseball history.
Even though there were several times when Ichiro rose to the occasion and demonstrated great throwing ability, none of them compared to the third base launch he granted his throws the title of ‘laser beams.’
During an MLB game on April 11th, 2001, Ichiro hurdled the ball from the right field, and the sheer force put behind that throw enabled the ball to reach third base.
- Derek Jeter and “The Flip”
Even though extraordinary feats of physical ability are one of the ways to produce iconic plays cemented in baseball’s history, some feats of quick thinking and cunning as well, and Derek Jeter’s ‘flip’ is one of them.
During Game 3 of the ALDS, played in 2001, Derek noticed that the throw made by an outfielder did not have the power to reach the fielder in time so that he could beat the runner before he got the home plate.
When he noticed the lack of energy, Jeter sprinted to the position where he calculated the point of impact for the ball, swiftly intercepting and giving the ball a subtle flip to the fielder to provide it with that extra power needed to reach the fielder. It enables him to beat the runner trying to run toward home.
Not only did this single play result in the catcher securing the tag out, but it also led to the Yankees maintaining the lead, winning the game, and, eventually, the entire series.
- Jim Edmonds Spectacular Catch
Jim Edmonds is regarded in the baseball community as a well-decorated outfield hero due to the catches he has made. One of them was the legendary catch he made where he made a full-extension dive while sprinting toward the outfield wall, exhibiting not only his athleticism but also his drive and dedication, not caring about the damage the collision could lead to.
Edmonds’s catch was a challenge for an iconic outfielder like him, requiring peak precision and speed control to remain careful not to sprint too hard and collide with the wall.
Not only that, but the coordination and peak athletic ability to even attempt such a complex catch is also one of the reasons why this outfield defensive play made by Edmonds is considered one of the most legendary catches he has ever made.
