MLB Community, which launched on Jan. 1, 2009, is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in 2024. By Friday, MLB Community will rely down the highest 15 moments it has coated in its historical past, by way of weeknight segments on MLB Tonight (6 p.m. ET), in addition to throughout its social platforms. And don’t neglect to catch MLB Community’s fifteenth Anniversary retrospective present — “MLB Community Legendary Moments” offered by Budweiser, with Greg Amsinger, Sean Casey and Harold Reynolds — scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 22.
The No. 3 second on the countdown: The ultimate day of the 2011 season, which noticed playoff races go proper all the way down to the wire in some of the dramatic “Recreation 162” days in baseball historical past.
(Word: This story initially ran in September 2016. All individuals quoted beneath are recognized by their group/function on the time of the sport.)
Go searching Tropicana Subject, and there is a shrine to the historical past of a franchise with some memorable moments. There’s the 2008 American League Championship Sequence and the Matt Garza no-hitter in ’10. Wade Boggs crushing his 3,000th hit into the right-field seats.
Then there’s the one second in 2011 that nobody may have hoped for, as a result of doing so would have gone past the scope of optimism.
On the final day of the common season, the Rays and Crimson Sox have been tied for the lone AL Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay had closed a 9 1/2-game deficit for the reason that begin of September. However that comeback appeared doomed to fade as Tampa Bay fell behind, 7-0, to the Yankees on the season’s last day, and Boston held onto a lead over last-place Baltimore. Within the Nationwide League, the Cardinals accomplished an 8 1/2-game September comeback with an 8-0 win over the Astros and a 4-3, 13-inning Braves loss to the Phillies.
Within the left-field brief porch is the 162 Touchdown exhibit. Within the group’s elevators is a photograph of Evan Longoria‘s arms raised excessive within the air, solely a visit across the bases away from formally touchdown the Rays within the postseason. Tangible reminders to those that noticed it occur, nothing in need of a miracle.
Here is an oral historical past of probably the most unbelievable comeback in baseball historical past, and probably the most unbelievable evening in baseball historical past, advised by the individuals who lived it.
Half 1: “Effectively, you had an excellent run at it. You gave it your finest.”
Three situations existed coming into the evening. The Rays lose and the Crimson Sox win, thus ending Tampa Bay’s season. They each lose or each win, leading to a one-game tiebreaker. Or the Rays may clinch the playoffs with a win and a Boston loss.
The Rays allowed a first-inning run on a two-out error by second baseman Ben Zobrist. Mark Teixeira adopted that with a grand slam within the second inning and a solo shot within the fourth inning to make it 6-0. The Rays scratched out solely two hits within the first seven innings.
Tampa Bay had its probabilities, although. Two runners on within the first inning. One runner within the second and third. Two extra within the fourth, and 4 whole baserunners within the fifth, sixth and seventh mixed. Nothing to point out for it.
Dan Johnson, Rays pinch-hitter: “All the pieces was actual gentle. [Rays manager] Joe [Maddon] was clear about getting everybody into that perception. ‘So what? It is simply one other baseball sport. Let’s get a win.’ That kind of mentality. I do not assume anybody was urgent that a lot.”
Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Occasions beat reporter: “He relished these moments. I believe Joe relished the prospect to say, ‘All is nice, all is calm,’ to set that tone. Every time Joe Maddon talked to the media, he seen it was having a group assembly. As a result of he knew that feeling, that perspective would perform into the clubhouse. I do not assume he handled it any in another way, and thus I do not assume gamers needed to deal with it any in another way.”
Joe Girardi, Yankees supervisor: “I believe it was an evening that we blended and matched so much. We did not essentially have a starter for that evening. We used loads of our bullpen that day.”
Dellin Betances, Yankees beginning pitcher: “I discovered the identical day that I used to be pitching. Earlier than approaching the sphere, I used to be clearly nervous. It was my first begin on the massive league degree. They advised me I used to be solely going like a few innings. It was extra about getting some guys work. I bear in mind I bought in bother instantly within the first inning and [Derek] Jeter, he got here for a mound go to, and Jeter sort of calmed me down just a little bit. … Attempting to be humorous. It was humorous on the time. It sort of calmed my nerves just a little bit, and I used to be in a position to throw two scoreless.”
David Worth, Rays beginning pitcher: “I simply attempt to deal with it like another sport. We needed to win and for the Crimson Sox to lose in Baltimore. It was a loopy day and a loopy final two innings of baseball, for each groups.”
Longoria, Rays third baseman: “I do know I used to be nervous. I believe all people was. It was a nervous vitality. We knew what we needed to do. We knew what needed to occur.”
Topkin: “The way in which that sport began, the way in which that sport stood midway via the sport, it was over. I used to be writing as in the event that they’d misplaced, it wasn’t even going to matter what occurred within the different sport.”
Teixeira, Yankees first baseman: “I sort of felt good that day. Felt sturdy. Acquired some pitches center in and put good swings on them. You do not anticipate to attain that many runs off David Worth, particularly in a sport this massive. It positively quieted down just a little bit. And within the center innings, the gang was fairly quiet.”
Zobrist, Rays second baseman: “That made it really feel like our season was in all probability over.”
Tom Foley, Rays third-base coach: “Midway via the sport, we seemed like have been just about cooked, prefer it was over.”
Dewayne Staats, Rays play-by-play broadcaster: “Actuality begins to creep in. You begin considering it is completed; there isn’t any probability.”
Kelly Shoppach, Rays beginning catcher: “Now that I am retired, I can truthfully inform you that I used to be making an attempt to hit a three-run homer each time I bought within the field. The sport plan by no means modified for me. We’re simply making an attempt to scratch and claw to get every thing we will.”
Joe West, home-plate umpire: “I bear in mind Joe Maddon strolling off after altering pitchers. I inadvertently mentioned, ‘Effectively, you had an excellent run at it. You gave it your finest.’ I used to be considering it is throughout. Then he mentioned, ‘Thanks,’ and saved strolling.
Half 2: “I’d say 99 occasions out of 100, you hook that ball foul.”
The underside of the eighth began with the Rays down, 7-0. Johnny Damon led off the inning with a single, and Zobrist adopted with a double. Then Casey Kotchman, who had the one two hits within the first seven innings, was hit by a pitch.
Sam Fuld was walked to usher in the primary run. Then Sean Rodríguez was hit to usher in one other. A B.J. Upton sac fly with one out made it 7-3, and Longoria minimize the deficit to at least one with a three-run dwelling run.
Cory Wade had been with Tampa Bay in Spring Coaching and spent most of April and Could with Triple-A Durham. He had a 1.23 ERA in 21 appearances with the Bulls earlier than opting out of his contract and signing with the Yankees.
Wade entered the sport within the ninth inning and was one strike away from closing out the Rays’ playoff hopes that evening. With the Crimson Sox nonetheless main the Orioles, 3-2, there was an opportunity Johnson can be Tampa Bay’s last hope.
Foley: “I assume one of many greatest issues that I can bear in mind was Johnny Damon [blooping a single to left-center to get it started]. … Sean Rodriguez getting hit with a pitch, holding the inning going. Issues simply began to steamroll just a little bit. And we simply saved coming again and coming again. You hear the information, the gang cheering. You need to know why they’re cheering. You search for on the scoreboard, issues are taking place.”
Staats: “Once they made it 7-3, [analyst Brian Anderson] and I sort of checked out one another and mentioned, ‘, they will win this sport.’ After that inning, through the break, each of us began to get that feeling on the similar time.”
Kotchman: “It begins tightening up, and you already know it isn’t over till that out is recorded. One pitch modifications issues.”
Johnson: “It began getting later and later. Then lastly, when one thing did begin taking place within the eighth, it was like, ‘Right here we go.’ Issues saved falling and going the suitable method. When [Longoria] hit the massive dwelling run to place us inside one, that is when everybody was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that is actually taking place. We’re proper again on this factor.’ You hear the gang was getting again into it. You see individuals have been beginning to get on the sting of their seats.”
Longoria: “I believe all people feels that stress. I do not know if one individual bears the load of your complete group. However yeah, I felt like, after I had the chance to, that I ought to be capable to drive in some runs. And in a while, I used to be ready to try this.”
Wade: “From the surface wanting in, you are nearly sort of pulling for them just a little bit. I wasn’t truly scheduled to pitch within the sport. I wasn’t even going throw as a result of we had clinched. Within the sixth inning, they have been like, ‘You would possibly shut the sport if we now have the lead.'”
Johnson: “I used to be speculated to bat fifth in that inning. I used to be up within the cage. I’m taking it simple on the market. First two guys bought out, I used to be watching Sam Fuld come out to the plate. Then a safety man ran over and yelled at me within the cage and mentioned, ‘Hey, they need you to hit now.’ Straight panic, as a result of the cage is midway as much as the tunnel. Needed to run again down the steps to get every thing on and get on the market.”
Foley: “When Dan got here up, there was a somber feeling. There have been two outs, and subsequent factor you already know, there’s two strikes. It is like, ‘Oh man. He’ll in all probability throw the changeup down and away.’ You are considering, it is simply, you already know.”
Zobrist: “I bear in mind being on the bench and seeing Joe make the decision and Dan Johnson going as much as hit and all of us are going, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Sam [Fuld] had been swinging it effectively, and Dan is a good hitter and had all the time been an excellent hitter, however that 12 months was in all probability the worst 12 months of his profession. He hadn’t had successful with our group since like April. He had gotten known as up in September however barely performed in any respect as a result of we have been within the race the entire time. And [he had] barely bought any pinch-hits, and when he did, I do not assume he did something with them. So it is a man sitting on no stay at-bats for about three weeks, and we’ll plug him in with the season on the road and put it on his shoulders. We’re considering, like, ‘What are you doing, Joe? Sam has an excellent probability of getting in scoring place if he will get on base.’ I felt dangerous for Dan.”
Dave Martinez, Rays bench coach: “The one purpose he was with us was to come back off the bench and hit a house run.”
Worth: “[Wade] had like a 1.20 ERA [in May with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate], and everybody was wanting round like, ‘Why aren’t we calling this man up?’ Opts out of his contract, goes to New York and throws the ball very well there. He simply so occurred to be on the mound.”
Wade: “I had thrown him a pair different changeups in that at-bat. I threw that pitch on a regular basis. It was the one pitch that I knew if it got here again over the plate, it was going to beat me. If I saved it away, I used to be going to be wonderful. I by no means have subject throwing that pitch to a lefty. If I miss, I miss it away, however it simply minimize just a little bit. It truthfully did; it minimize just a little bit. And he bought his barrel to it.”
Johnson: “I’d say 99 occasions out of 100, you hook that ball foul. That is a type of balls that is an excellent pitch. It simply so occurred that I knew this man Cory Wade that was on the mound had this changeup that wore lefties out. I sat again on the changeup your complete at-bat. I ended up taking a fastball that was proper there that I ought to have hit early. However I used to be within the mindset that it was a changeup.”
Topkin: “You are preventing a deadline scenario. With a newspaper, we’re on a tough deadline. So that you’re making an attempt to determine, what are you going to do, relying on how the sport ends, and when the sport goes to finish. You hear about gamers speaking concerning the sport rushing up on you. It sped up on me in that scenario.”
Johnson: “Watching it go, I am like, ‘Keep honest. Keep honest.’ Then when it did, it was identical to this second the place I needed to get across the bases and rejoice with the group. The spherical of the bases was nearly a blur. I could not wait to get again. … It looks as if every thing that Joe comes up with turns into gold. Should you watch, it is nearly like he anticipated it. The response from Joe, he simply flips his card over and begins writing. Like, ‘Oh yeah, I knew that was going to occur.'”
Half 3: “You attempt to run that script for a Kevin Costner baseball film, they flip it down, saying no person would consider that.”
Each the Yankees and Rays traded zeros via the primary two further innings. Within the high of the twelfth, the Yanks had runners on first and third with nobody out. Rookie reliever Jake McGee bought out of the jam for the Rays, which arrange a second, much more heroic second for Longoria.
Contained in the clubhouse, gamers congregated to observe the Crimson Sox and Orioles play. Within the NL, the Cardinals have been intently watching the Braves and Phillies — hoping to clinch a playoff spot with an Atlanta loss.
At 12:05 a.m. the Orioles recorded three straight hits within the backside of the ninth after Crimson Sox nearer Jonathan Papelbon had struck out the primary two batters. Nolan Reimold tied the rating, after which Robert Andino received it with a single. At 12:08 a.m., Longoria despatched Tampa Bay to the AL Division Sequence, 28 minutes after St. Louis clinched its spot.
Reimold: “I simply bear in mind everybody was actually into the sport. Followers knew we weren’t going to the playoffs, however they beloved to see us knock the Crimson Sox out of the playoffs. So for them, it meant so much. And for us, it meant so much to complete the 12 months sturdy. All people was very aggressive. We simply battled to the tip.”
Johnson: “There was guys inside watching. Finally the way in which we discovered was simply watching the folks that have been sitting within the bins went nuts. You simply see individuals leaping and screaming like there was nothing happening in our sport. We have been like, ‘That simply occurred.’ Then a few guys ran out from the clubhouse and have been like, ‘You would not consider what simply occurred.'”
Reimold: “It seemed useless. He struck out the primary two guys. Then [Chris Davis] was in a position to hit a double down the road. Then I bought up 2-0, then I swung via two fastballs, 2-2. I do not know what would have occurred if he’d switched it up and threw a unique pitch, however he threw me two fastballs in a row, and I used to be in a position to put it in play and rating that run.”
Zobrist: “I went as much as the clubhouse and I used to be grabbing a [food] bar, and the blokes began going nuts, and I mentioned, ‘What simply occurred?’ They usually mentioned [the Orioles] simply tied it up. Now we’re each tied. It is nuts. I seize a bar and run all the way down to the dugout to inform the blokes there. They hadn’t posted it on the board but.”
Robert Andino, Orioles infielder: “We weren’t going to only mope about it as a result of we weren’t within the playoffs. We had nothing to lose. Actually, all of the stress was on all people else. They only gave us the motivation. I used to be simply in search of one thing out. He has loads of plus pitches to place you out.”
Longoria: “I used to be on deck. We noticed the ultimate rating pop up on the board. It was in all probability a minute or two earlier than I went to the plate. So I used to be effectively conscious. We have been actually targeted on successful the sport. The sport was tied. We knew regardless, if we received the sport, we have been going to play one other day. It wasn’t till that time that we realized if we win, we’ll transfer on.”
Zobrist: “B.J. [Upton] strikes out, and proper earlier than he strikes out, we see some guys in an space within the outfield, and so they’re in fits. They’re front-office guys. They’re leaping up and down, going loopy, and no person else within the stadium knew why. We’re like, ‘Dude, one thing will need to have occurred.’ Then B.J. strikes out, they submit [the Red Sox-Orioles final] on the board, and the gang goes nuts. B.J. is like, ‘What the?’ He is strolling again to the dugout and is like, ‘What is going on on?’ The timing was hilarious.”
Wade: “Once I bought executed pitching within the sport, I went in, we have been sitting within the clubhouse. And I am not going to call names, however I guess you there have been six or seven of us watching the sport. And we’re rooting for, and never even rooting towards Boston, however simply rooting for an excellent sport.”
Worth: “I used to be operating forwards and backwards, simply watching, and it was a loopy quarter-hour or so.”
Zobrist: “I used to be starved at that time. I hadn’t eaten something since method earlier than the sport, and it is a five-hour sport.”
Teixeira: “Pay attention, we tried to win the sport, clearly. However we weren’t dissatisfied that the Crimson Sox did not make it. I am going to put it that method.”
McGee: “That point I used to be nonetheless fairly younger across the massive leagues, so I used to be simply making an attempt to make good pitches to verify I bought outs, as a result of it was a really intense scenario. I do know as soon as I bought [Chris] Dickerson out, I used to be going to offer all I had. I threw a 98 mph fastball on the surface nook, and so they swung and missed. I believe the largest factor was within the dugout after I bought out of that and it was a tied sport. It was simply surreal listening to the followers going loopy, as a result of they’re watching the Baltimore sport. As soon as that occurred, after which I do not know the timing, however it felt like 5 seconds later, Longo hit the house run to left area, and everybody was in shock.”
Foley: “When he hit that ball, I did not assume it was getting out, as a result of he hit it so onerous and so low. But it surely simply cleared the fence. I’ve to return and look and see what I did. I do not bear in mind what I used to be doing. I sort of bear in mind slapping him 5, slapping him on the again, operating in and begin celebrating. Large moments. That was a giant sport.”
Longoria: “Instantly, I did not assume it was going to exit. I needed to verify I bought on second base, as a result of I do know I hit it onerous. I watched it go over the fence. And when it did, clearly I used to be excited.”
Topkin: “I actually was wanting down at my palms considering, ‘You bought to write down this. You simply noticed probably the most unimaginable factor that ever occurred in baseball, and it’s important to write it, since you bought like three minutes.'”
Chris Westmoreland, clubhouse supervisor: “We weren’t actually ready for something, then rapidly every thing got here collectively directly. I bear in mind us having to, proper on the finish of the sport, shifting all of the furnishings out of the clubhouse. We had customized vinyl sheeting for lockers. We had an precise carpet that match inside our clubhouse, to place above our carpet to maintain all of the champagne from getting in. I simply bear in mind the chaos of all of it. Me and the employees have been simply operating loopy.”
Kotchman: “It was one thing like gradual movement. It is no shock that Longy comes up with the hit proper there. It is like, ‘Go determine he would do this.’ It is sort of like Jeter in New York for his 3,000th hit. A few of these guys have a aptitude for the dramatic. That was one thing actually particular.”
West: “The Longoria dwelling run was probably the most unbelievable, most historic factor in that franchise’s historical past.”
Buck Showalter, Orioles supervisor: “You attempt to run that script for a Kevin Costner baseball film, they flip it down, saying no person would consider that. That is why all of us come out right here. Issues occur that are not speculated to occur.”
Tony La Russa, Cardinals supervisor: “The celebration that we had in Houston for getting in that day topped the World Sequence and Championship Sequence and Division Sequence celebrations only for pure pleasure. I imply the truth that, you have to be kidding me, we’re in with out having to play yet one more sport? It was so, we could not consider it. We couldn’t consider it.”
Jon Jay, Cardinals outfielder: “That was one of many funnest moments in my baseball profession, ready in that clubhouse for about three hours. All of the boys, hanging out, watching the Phillies-Braves sport and simply rooting on the Phillies proper there. They got here via. I am going to always remember it. I nonetheless have the house video on my telephone of all of us going nuts contained in the clubhouse in Houston.”
David Freese, Cardinals third baseman: “We waited and waited, and I believe Freddie Freeman hit a floor ball to first, they rolled up the double play, and off we went.”
Wade: “It was a extremely cool time the place you was a baseball fan. Since you weren’t that the entire season. However that second allowed us in that scenario to be a baseball fan. It was enjoyable to be part of it.”
Westmoreland: “I’d say after that, it was three or 4 hours we spent within the clubhouse after every thing was executed. So in all probability from the tip of the sport, 5 or 6 hours. Oh yeah, [the sun is up]. If not, it is beginning to.”
Jay: “I bear in mind watching Longoria hit the house run down the left-field line within the Rays sport. There was simply a lot taking place in baseball. It was such a cool day for baseball followers, and even for gamers ourselves. All of us love this sport. It was simply an unimaginable day with a lot uncertainty happening. Particularly for us, that we went on to win the World Sequence. That was one thing that clearly modified my life endlessly and is one thing I am very grateful for.”
Longoria: “These moments, they sort of go quick. That is why they’ve video, the stuff we will return and have a look at each time it is all mentioned and executed.”
Johnson: “These are like these key moments. A type of, I do not know the right way to clarify it. When Carter hit the walk-off in Recreation 7. These moments of baseball that sort of put a stamp on why individuals watch the sport, why individuals comply with the sport, why individuals cheer for his or her group. It was simply a type of moments sort of put a stamp on baseball.”