Some people think Rusty Greer’s catch to save Kenny Rogers perfect game was better than Dewayne Wise’s catch today in Mark Buehrle’s perfecto. Video of Greer’s catch is here. Video of Wise’s catch here. In my opinion, Greer’s catch was a standard layout, something you see fairly often. Wise’s catch consisted of a long run, a fence assisted leap, a robbed home run, a juggle, and a bare hand grab. Until he raises his hand with the ball, you don’t know if he’s going to save the perfecto or not. Just a much more interesting play.
Wise’s is better. Preserves the perfect game, no-hitter and shut out.
Even though Granderson’s catch earlier this season turned a win into a loss for Cleveland, I’m ranking this ahead of it as it save a perfecto.
Great job getting the link to Greer’s catch. Wise’s catch was better. Between the run and the climb, it was a pretty sensational play. If it had happened in a simple one-run game, it would’ve been a Top Ten Play on ESPN.
To preserve a perfect game, it was simply off the charts. Oh, and let’s not forget that Wise had just been inserted into the game as a defensive replacement two pitches prior to the catch.
I think Wise’s was much better. As you point out, Greer’s was relatively standard play…above average, but something you pretty much can expect a good CENTERfielder to pull off. He made a great effort to save a gapper from falling in.
But Wise, had to run backwards a half mile just to get to the ball. Anybody who’s played baseball outfield once or twice, knows it’s tougher to run backwards & keep your eye on the ball than to run forward and keep your eye on the ball. It’s also harder to run fast enough to catch up with the ball, when you’re twisted lookin’ over your shoulder than when you’re looking straighter. Wise made it look pretty easy, but really, it wasclearly a tougher play…not just more interesting.
Notice how Wise times his jump–without even looking at the wall OR the warning track for his last set of step!
Wise’s catch is better. ‘Nuff said!
In comparing Rusty Greer’s catch to Dewayne Wise’s, why has everyone forgotten Robin Yount’s lay-out catch to save a no-hitter for Juan Nieves (April 15, 1987)? What made Yount’s catch special is that it was the last out of the game! I have never been able to find a clip of it on the web which is probably why no one else remembers it.