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Everybody knows that in baseball you get three strikes…and then you’re out. Not 1. Not 4. It’s such a universal rule that most parents and teachers (and even bosses) use it in their respective roles. Getting “three” strikes is the last hope a nervous batter has after accumulating two.
Unless that batter is Chris Stewart of the New York Yankees….
Late in the 2013 baseball season, the New York Yankees were slugging it out against the Baltimore Orioles. Victory might mean a bid in the playoffs, and a shot at the World Series, so players from both benches were giving their all.
That is, until Yankees catcher Chris Stewart stepped up to the plate in the 3rd inning.
Facing the talented Taiwanese pitcher, Wei-Yin Chen, the right-handed batter watched the first pitch come screaming down the line just outside the strike zone. The second pitch looked a little better to Stewart so he took a cut at it. Foul ball, high and right.
So, the count is 1-1, right?
On his third pitch, Chen delivered a heater that suckered Stewart into taking another swing. He never even scared the ball and the home plate ump, Jim Wolf, indicated a strike. The instant replay video even showed Jim Wolf holding up two fingers indicating the batter had two strikes.
But Chris Stewart never saw the ump’s hand or heard his call. He was already headed back to the Yankees’ dugout assuming he’d been struck out.
Chris Stewart is probably the only major league batter to be struck out with only two strikes.
Unfortunately for Stewart, it wasn’t the last time he’d be struck out that night. In fact, he’d end up going 0-4 on the night…even though his Bronx Bombers still won the game 6-5 over the Orioles.
But still, you gotta take all your swings. Never quit and never leave the plate until the ump sends you packing.
Click here for the online report.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Athlete
Baseball
Doubt
Failure
Mistake
Misunderstanding
Quit
Rules
Sports
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
