LETTER from JIM FRANCIS
Brooks Robinson Photo
Recalls Best Play Ever
To the Editor:
Re: Brooks Robinson photo on recent front page:
I watched a lot of baseball on TV around 1970. The single best play I ever saw was in the 1969 All-Star Game.
Johnny Bench hit a rocket down the third-base line. Brooks dove flat out to glove it and threw the ball to first while airborne. It was high and a bit on the second-base side.
Carl Yastrzemski leaped off the bag to catch the throw and swipe-tagged Bench out.
JIM FRANCIS
Oneonta
This description of the Brooks Robinson play cannot be correct – Yastrzemski played left field in the game, and Bench – to the best of my knowledge – didn’t hit it to 3rd base.
Here’s the play-by-play:
https://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/1969_all_star_game_play_by_play.shtml
Perhaps the writer is thinking of the 1970 World Series? Still, that exact play didn’t happen; in 1971, Bench hit a laser to Robinson, who fielded the ball and easily through him out (this is the play where Bench threw up his arms in despair).
Damn, please change “through” to “threw.”
Also, here’s the 1971 AS game play – feel free to add it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqhrVfIuL-4&feature=youtu.be&t=18m6s