Purgatory Online

Friday, March 26, 2004

As part of his ongoing series to identify the best defensive plays ever, Alan Schwarz cites Jim Edmonds' diving catch in 1997 as the second-greatest defensive play by a center fielder of all time. If you've heard of it, you know which one I mean. If you haven't, it was truly amazing - easily the best play I ever saw that wasn't on videotape, and justifiably mentioned in the same breath as Willie Mays's catch/throw during the 1954 World Series.

Edmonds catches a lot of flak from Angels fans as having been the proverbial cancer in the clubhouse, and for making easy plays look hard. But there's no question that he's an extremely talented ballplayer, and that particular catch was simply incredible. The Angels have been very lucky to have Edmonds and Erstad patrolling center (and Chad Curtis, who was a fine defensive player as well); here's hoping Garret Anderson can continue that tradition.

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