Your opinion. What was the greatest defensive play in MLB history and Tigers history?

[Motor City Sonics]

The Willie Mays catch is often cited, but as good as it was, I think it's a little overrated. 

 

For me. 

Dwayne Wise.    

A - Robbed a home run

B - Ran in to the wall

C - Bobbled it, but hung on

D - In the 9th ininning

E - Of a Perfecto

 

For the Tigers it was also in a Perfecto

Austin Jackson's 9th inning catch during the Imperfect Game.    I have no idea how caught up to that ball.    For me this beats out Curtis Granderson's HR theft in the 9th inning of a 1-0 game in Cleveland, where I literally fell out of my chair.  AJ wins out because of the situation.  

 

 

How about your plays..............

[romad1]

Not in the same class as an athletic play but for as important as it was to the trajectory of the season it was Trey Sweeney's catch of the popup on 21/SEP/2024 against the Orioles

 

 

[CMU97]

Bo Jackson throwing out Harold Reynolds out at the plate on a 100mph lazer bb after running 200 ft to catch a line drive at the wall in the left field corner. The end of that play was just as spectacular,  the catcher (I think it was Bob Boone) was walking off the field because he thought the game was over. He had to dive back into the field of play, catch the ball, and tag Reynolds all at the same time. The whole play was absolutely incredible. 

[monkeytargets39]

The Jose Guillen throw from deep right field to third base still amazes me.

 

I can’t find the clip but there was an Iglesias play where the batter hit a tapper between the mound and third base and Iggy ran in, dove at it and bare handed it and threw it across his body as he was in the air aimed towards home plate to get the runner at first.  That was always my favorite infield defensive play.

[VegasTiger]

 

[chasfh]

 

[oblong]

Regarding the Mays catch.... it wasn't the catch itself, it was stopping and the throw back in that made it so great, that prevented Larry Doby from scoring from 2nd base.  If he had scored then Cleveland probably wins game 1.

Willie himself said he had no doubt he'd catch the ball but the deep fence in the Polo Grounds meant runners could take two bases on a tag so he was thinking the whole time about getting the throw in.

 

[Hongbit]

Kevin Mitchell 

[papalawrence]

The Guillen throw was the first to come to my mind. So many of them - they come up in my youtube feed often. First one that came to my mind for the Tigers was a Jacoby Jones catch - I believe it was off Joe Mauer. Too bad Jones couldn't hit. 

Edit - this is the catch I recalled. Great leap, and he never broke stride 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2024 by papalawrence

[lordstanley]

This was a great catch by Chet Lemon. Leaping over the fence to catch it was cool, but what elevates it is Chet having the confidence and presence of mind to pause, look into the camera and call his shot right during the play. 🙂
 

 

Edited December 5, 2024 by lordstanley

[Hongbit]

Both of these catches are better than any made on the field.

 

[romad1]

Evan Longoria saving the reporter 

[1776]

1968 World Series

All things considered, Horton throwing a strike to Freehan and Freehan’s ability to prevent Brock from touching home plate is my Tigers all time choice. 

[chasfh]

Any play involving Willie Horton is aces in my book.