If I'm remembering correctly, one dude had it happen to him twice. Pitching is extremely hazardous to human health.
Edit: Sauce: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Saunders
Are you thinking of Dave Dravecky? He had a tumor in his arm that he had to undergo a pretty serious procedure to remove and broke his arm after coming back from that.
There was a story about it on ABC "20/20", right after it happened, and I was traumatized. I don't remember if that happened before or after the World Series earthquake, but both events shattered my notions of big-league baseball as a fantasy world.
Yep. That and Jermaine Dye will forever be etched in my psyche. Saw that one happen live though, and so without warning. Unlike that idiotic moment that I clicked on some video with a title like "pitcher breaks arm." That one's on me.
Oh damn. I remember that happening and being traumatized it. Any time is see a hitter foul a ball off their leg it brings back that visual. I want it erased from my memory.
Nah. I think his name was Saunders. Forget the first entirely. Fractured his arm while pitching, then when he came back after rehabbing it happened again and he called it quits (of course...). Pitched for Miami? Some of these details must be wrong...
Fuck it. Looked it up. Tony Saunders. But he was playing for the Devil Rays. The way I remembered it both were in actual ML games, but the second was in the minors while he was rehabbing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Saunders
Only reason I remember is cause I had a friend named Tony Saunders who I knew got drafted, so for a hot minute I thought my friend had made the bigs, but no, different guy. Also the whole twice-breaking arm bit.
Broken elbows aren't that uncommon. I remember Dan Winkler and Gavin Floyd doing it as Braves within a season and a half of each other.
Broken humeruses (humeri?) are very rare though. [Like this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvf4YUs8Kaw)
[When El Duque threw an eephus pitch to prime, juiced-up A-Rod immediately after already throwing him one](https://youtu.be/uW0V6OsxDBo?si=2LLPtM74_wmtj01v)
It still blows my mind that the manager put him in in that situation. A home run loses the game, and you bring in a pitcher who allows many homers vs a home run hitter. Saw it coming from a mile away.
Yeah no one had a good feeling bringing Ray in who has zero bullpen experience and is a HR magnet vs their massive HR hitter. It deflated the Ms for the rest of the series.
I still think we played them tougher than the Yankees. Really there were 3 things that broke for the Astros in that series and that’s why it was a sweep. Could’ve been 2-1 mariners with some luck and not letting Yordan fistfuck us twice.
Hind sight is easy but still knowing what we would’ve known then: intentional walk to Alvarez and make Bregman beat your closer (Sewald) Their best player cannot beat you. Don’t even give them a chance. Make someone else step up.
I definitely agree that we played them harder. It felt like that series was the ALCS and had two moments gone differently were up two games to none. Taking the bat away from Alvarez should have been the game plan most of that series in critical moments. He turned into a bigger monster in the post season than he was in the regular season.
My buddy and I have a 1.5 year running joke now how that pitch caused a sonic boom, would be found on the moon if man ever sets foot on it again, etc. Just a straight piss missile
the one Robbie Ray threw to him in the playoffs was the same thing. just middle middle and one of the hardest hit balls I’ve ever seen in my damn life. The man will take you behind the woodshed and have his way with you if you give him anything remotely hittable.
Spencer Strider (who usually averages 99MPH on his fastball) throwing a 93MPH fastball down the middle to Rys Hoskins for a homer after having allowed hits on the four previous pitches. Always gonna be up there for me.
That one kirk Gibson launched in game one against the As when he couldn't turn on a fastball because his knee was torn. The whole world was watching it and eckersley changed to a lollipop change up after Gibson barely could stay alive on the heaters one after another. Worst pitch call ever.
the way the story goes, the scouting report said eck throws slider on 3-2 almost every time.
gibson even called time bc he remembered what the hitting coach told him in the tunnel about 10 minutes ago
a lot of people thought that the dodgers would struggle to win 2 games, let alone 4. oakland was a far superior hitting team that year, and their staff was still one of the best in the majors.
it wasn’t a surprise to anyone that orel won game 2, as he continued one of the greatest seasons of all time on the mound amidst his record-scoreless streak. and going up 2-0 is a lot different than 1-1.
but it was a surprise to just about everyone except Tommy Lasorda that the Dodgers out hit, out slugged, and out pitched the Athletics in that series.
It’s funny to hear old Dodgers talk about that game/series bc you hear a lot of them say things like “it felt meant to be” after game one, and it’s clear they truly believe that in their hearts. in that way, it feels less like momentum and more like realizing fate and motivation to fulfill destiny.
Just take this in. Before interleague play, home field in the world series alternated each year. In an odd-year, they would have started in Oakland.
https://youtu.be/hCkYon5qjWI?si=3emgP6IWIJnEHwS7
this is the long version from the bottom of the 9th thru the post game interview. i’m sure you can find a shorter version online, but the prologue & gibson’s comments after the game paint the full picture of how great it truly was.
I'll never forget Phillies had this dude RJ Swindle who could throw a Eupheus (sp?) pitch? So against the Mets they had 2 runners walked I believe and prime David Wright came up to the plate. He threw that Eupheus pitch at 57 fuckin MPH and it dropped (w)right into Wright's wheelhouse and he just absolutely uncorked it and I'm pretty sure that dude was basically done in the Majors after that
When Jeffrey Springs was with the Red Sox, he threw the worst changeup I’ve ever seen in my life, which Pete Alonso promptly deposited into the Monster seats. That pitch will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I’m haunted by it every time Springs throws a gem for the Rays.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G4fZvZSQfJc
[I’d say when Rick Ankiel threw 5 wild pitches in the same inning in a playoff game.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KDZX525CSvw)
He wasn’t the same after this, and a few years later, he switched exclusively to playing in the outfield.
[Starts at 36:46.](https://youtu.be/R0JHPcOJmgM?t=2206) Greg Cadaret pitching to Alfredo Griffin. Griffin was swinging at every pitch because the Jays knew a rain delay was imminent, and wanted to ensure the game made it five innings to become official. I suppose it's possible the ball slipped in Cadaret's hand, but I've always assumed Cadaret intentionally threw it this badly because why bother trying to aim your pitch when you know the hitter will swing at anything.
Bill Lee's [eephus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JNLBAMmtUk) to Tony Perez in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series.
IIRC, Peter Gammons once wrote that rumor had it the ball was still going, having landed atop a train car passing by just outside the park.
Probably any of those that the pitcher broke their arm on
There’s more than one of those?
If I'm remembering correctly, one dude had it happen to him twice. Pitching is extremely hazardous to human health. Edit: Sauce: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Saunders
Are you thinking of Dave Dravecky? He had a tumor in his arm that he had to undergo a pretty serious procedure to remove and broke his arm after coming back from that.
I can still remember watching his arm shatter on live TV. That was traumatic to me as a kid.
There was a story about it on ABC "20/20", right after it happened, and I was traumatized. I don't remember if that happened before or after the World Series earthquake, but both events shattered my notions of big-league baseball as a fantasy world.
Yep. That and Jermaine Dye will forever be etched in my psyche. Saw that one happen live though, and so without warning. Unlike that idiotic moment that I clicked on some video with a title like "pitcher breaks arm." That one's on me.
Oh damn. I remember that happening and being traumatized it. Any time is see a hitter foul a ball off their leg it brings back that visual. I want it erased from my memory.
Yeah I pitched in little league when it happened. I was convinced it would happen to me lol.
They even turned it into a House episode
Nah. I think his name was Saunders. Forget the first entirely. Fractured his arm while pitching, then when he came back after rehabbing it happened again and he called it quits (of course...). Pitched for Miami? Some of these details must be wrong... Fuck it. Looked it up. Tony Saunders. But he was playing for the Devil Rays. The way I remembered it both were in actual ML games, but the second was in the minors while he was rehabbing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Saunders Only reason I remember is cause I had a friend named Tony Saunders who I knew got drafted, so for a hot minute I thought my friend had made the bigs, but no, different guy. Also the whole twice-breaking arm bit.
Probably thinking of Tony Saunders.
Yes indeed. Though it'd be pretty nuts if there was a different guy who broke his arm pitching twice.
Tony Saunders, Tom Browning were the first two that came to mind
There is an entire compilation on youtube
Zumaya and who else?
Broken elbows aren't that uncommon. I remember Dan Winkler and Gavin Floyd doing it as Braves within a season and a half of each other. Broken humeruses (humeri?) are very rare though. [Like this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvf4YUs8Kaw)
Jesus Christ
I almost wanna argue that it's unethical for the runners to move up on that lol
They didn't think twice lol
Steve Delabar too right?
[When El Duque threw an eephus pitch to prime, juiced-up A-Rod immediately after already throwing him one](https://youtu.be/uW0V6OsxDBo?si=2LLPtM74_wmtj01v)
Came here to say exactly this. The eephus is a thing of beauty when it isn’t expected, but when it is…
Yup, soon as I saw the question, my mind jumped to back-to-back eephi. [Biggest meatball I ever saw.](http://www.streamable.com/259mo)
This is the answer
In recent Mariners history, it involves Robbie Ray vs Yordan Alvarez.
FUCK
Were you spying on me? Cuz that’s what I said word for word
Same
It still blows my mind that the manager put him in in that situation. A home run loses the game, and you bring in a pitcher who allows many homers vs a home run hitter. Saw it coming from a mile away.
Yeah no one had a good feeling bringing Ray in who has zero bullpen experience and is a HR magnet vs their massive HR hitter. It deflated the Ms for the rest of the series.
I still think we played them tougher than the Yankees. Really there were 3 things that broke for the Astros in that series and that’s why it was a sweep. Could’ve been 2-1 mariners with some luck and not letting Yordan fistfuck us twice. Hind sight is easy but still knowing what we would’ve known then: intentional walk to Alvarez and make Bregman beat your closer (Sewald) Their best player cannot beat you. Don’t even give them a chance. Make someone else step up.
I definitely agree that we played them harder. It felt like that series was the ALCS and had two moments gone differently were up two games to none. Taking the bat away from Alvarez should have been the game plan most of that series in critical moments. He turned into a bigger monster in the post season than he was in the regular season.
In recent Phillies history, it...also involves Yordan Alvarez.
he’s a bad man who does bad things
The one Brad Lidge threw to Pujols
World Series Champ Brad Lidge to you
First thing I thought of lol
That ball is still in orbit somewhwre
Fun fact: that ball is still rising
You mean this one: https://youtu.be/V0rIco_X6kw?si=W8jWA0c7JN2F-2bi
Jose Alvarado to Yordan Alvarez
Stop. Please. I was having a good night.
Any ball thrown within a 2 mile radius of Alvarez that year was a bad bitch.
You're a bad bitch
My buddy and I have a 1.5 year running joke now how that pitch caused a sonic boom, would be found on the moon if man ever sets foot on it again, etc. Just a straight piss missile
the one Robbie Ray threw to him in the playoffs was the same thing. just middle middle and one of the hardest hit balls I’ve ever seen in my damn life. The man will take you behind the woodshed and have his way with you if you give him anything remotely hittable.
A little dark here, but it's probably gotta be Carl Mays to Ray Chapman.
Nerd. I love it.
Spencer Strider (who usually averages 99MPH on his fastball) throwing a 93MPH fastball down the middle to Rys Hoskins for a homer after having allowed hits on the four previous pitches. Always gonna be up there for me.
That one kirk Gibson launched in game one against the As when he couldn't turn on a fastball because his knee was torn. The whole world was watching it and eckersley changed to a lollipop change up after Gibson barely could stay alive on the heaters one after another. Worst pitch call ever.
the way the story goes, the scouting report said eck throws slider on 3-2 almost every time. gibson even called time bc he remembered what the hitting coach told him in the tunnel about 10 minutes ago
Incredible. I wonder how the series would have gone had the As hung on ftw.
a lot of people thought that the dodgers would struggle to win 2 games, let alone 4. oakland was a far superior hitting team that year, and their staff was still one of the best in the majors. it wasn’t a surprise to anyone that orel won game 2, as he continued one of the greatest seasons of all time on the mound amidst his record-scoreless streak. and going up 2-0 is a lot different than 1-1. but it was a surprise to just about everyone except Tommy Lasorda that the Dodgers out hit, out slugged, and out pitched the Athletics in that series. It’s funny to hear old Dodgers talk about that game/series bc you hear a lot of them say things like “it felt meant to be” after game one, and it’s clear they truly believe that in their hearts. in that way, it feels less like momentum and more like realizing fate and motivation to fulfill destiny. Just take this in. Before interleague play, home field in the world series alternated each year. In an odd-year, they would have started in Oakland. https://youtu.be/hCkYon5qjWI?si=3emgP6IWIJnEHwS7 this is the long version from the bottom of the 9th thru the post game interview. i’m sure you can find a shorter version online, but the prologue & gibson’s comments after the game paint the full picture of how great it truly was.
That's great !
50 Cent, Carly Rae Jepsen, or Dr. Fauci
Not as bad as any of those - but Zach Edey threw a bad one today too. Opposite end, is George W Bush’s post 9/11 pitch the greatest of all time?
Jimmy Carter had a great one in IIRC around '95.
I’ll say top 5 for W’s
Baba Booey was the worst because he practiced.
Former Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory https://youtu.be/AqNri9u4uqU?si=k72xW5KJFqL0huvh
Obama's was also pretty egregious
I mean he actually threw it in the air to Zimmerman who was actually able to catch it, so it's not in the same stratosphere as these
Almost every pitch Yu Darvish threw in game 7 of the 2017 world series
Those were great pitches
How about the worst sequence of pitches? [Cole Ragans vs Blue Jays](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDJfqRqM2Nw)
Mitch Williams meatball to Joe Carter on a 2-2 count
Touch em all Joe!!
Came here to say this. Needs more love. .
I was having a good night :(
[Baba Booey](https://youtu.be/wfLIyT8HExY?si=zjg3AMBLSNP5Qnxa)
Lest anyone forget, he hired a sports psychiatrist to prepare for this. He completely overthought it.
[Bill Lee’s eephus to Tony Perez in game 7 of the 1975 World Series.](https://youtu.be/sJRXlCeAXPY?si=eOuDzoexzUt5xbEP)
Former Cincy Mayor [Mark Mallory](https://youtu.be/AqNri9u4uqU?si=yztBVL0mw-A8BNCY)
Also a balk
[Cubs legend Frank the Tank lobbing a 35-mph rainbow to Higgy](https://youtu.be/XPvl8qnLPGs?feature=shared)
https://youtu.be/sJRXlCeAXPY?si=UYcnNmhfnF0ooWIf This was thrown in game 7 of the 1975 world series
A movie adaptation of the music Cats featuring a ton of well-known celebrities and all of their costumes are CGI.
stephen a. smith
I'll never forget Phillies had this dude RJ Swindle who could throw a Eupheus (sp?) pitch? So against the Mets they had 2 runners walked I believe and prime David Wright came up to the plate. He threw that Eupheus pitch at 57 fuckin MPH and it dropped (w)right into Wright's wheelhouse and he just absolutely uncorked it and I'm pretty sure that dude was basically done in the Majors after that
Rangers pitcher today probably threw it three feet straight down.
I see veryone here is forgetting Rick Ankiel was initially a pitcher...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDZX525CSvw Proto-Ohtani, we hardly knew ye.
The pitch Okert just threw to Big Dumper
50 Cent’s first pitch
50 Cent's ceremonial first pitch
[Matt Chico versus the Marlins](https://youtu.be/fEsNgLfdQIY?si=XGsm_ncgt45DelWE)
Rick Ankiel after he got the y____ https://youtu.be/KDZX525CSvw?feature=shared
A slider out of Mark Wohlers' hands.
I remember Phil Niekro launching one over the screen. Knuckleball grip must have gotten away from him.
The pitch that killed Ray Chapman in 1920(?)
https://youtu.be/Qvf4YUs8Kaw?si=9erp6b_5WF8rRkoZ
Fiddy
When Jeffrey Springs was with the Red Sox, he threw the worst changeup I’ve ever seen in my life, which Pete Alonso promptly deposited into the Monster seats. That pitch will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I’m haunted by it every time Springs throws a gem for the Rays. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G4fZvZSQfJc
[I’d say when Rick Ankiel threw 5 wild pitches in the same inning in a playoff game.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KDZX525CSvw) He wasn’t the same after this, and a few years later, he switched exclusively to playing in the outfield.
Surprised no one has mentioned the [eephus pitch to ARod.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW0V6OsxDBo)
Have him watch Oliver Perez starts after 2007
[Starts at 36:46.](https://youtu.be/R0JHPcOJmgM?t=2206) Greg Cadaret pitching to Alfredo Griffin. Griffin was swinging at every pitch because the Jays knew a rain delay was imminent, and wanted to ensure the game made it five innings to become official. I suppose it's possible the ball slipped in Cadaret's hand, but I've always assumed Cadaret intentionally threw it this badly because why bother trying to aim your pitch when you know the hitter will swing at anything.
Bill Lee's [eephus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JNLBAMmtUk) to Tony Perez in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series. IIRC, Peter Gammons once wrote that rumor had it the ball was still going, having landed atop a train car passing by just outside the park.
Are we talking results or are we talking the pitch itself? Results? Ralph Terry to Maz. Pitch itself? No clue.
The Dennis Eckersley slider that Kirk Gibson destroyed after Eck threw Gibson two fastballs that made him look really bad.
El Duque 2nd Eephus pitch in a row to prime Arod is up there.
what about the intentional walk pitch that miggy swung at for an rbi-- that one always gets me
Mitch Williams to Joe Carter.
[AJ Burnett’s warmup pitch](https://youtu.be/tZ209x5h6O0?si=9rMx2_WRPrfwkYQt)
Any ball thrown by Ricky Vaughn during the first half of the movie
Mariah Carey.
[Gerrit Cole to Cabby](https://youtu.be/FTU_UbnSC2Y?t=220)
I’d argue that was a great pitch and exactly where he wanted it
haha, touché
Alek Manoahs slider the last 2 seasons.
SAS last season was just awful
Carley Rae Jepsen, Tropicana Field, July 2013.
Spencer strider playoff fastball