Braves-Cardinals NLDS Reminds Fans Of Infamous Infield Fly Rule
Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones (10) prepares to bat during the second inning of the National League wild card playoff baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Oct. 5, 2012, in Atlanta.
John Bazemore / Associated Press
One play still sticks in the mind of Braves fans. It happened on Oct. 5, 2012, at Turner Field.
The Atlanta Braves were hosting the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in the first-ever National League Wild Card Game. The stage was set for prime time. Both teams’ Hall of Fame managers had retire the prior season. Freddie Gonzalez took over for Bobby Cox; Mike Matheny for Tony LaRussa.
Another Hall of Famer would make his final stand that season. Chipper Jones was looking to add one more World Series ring before leaving the game for good.
Going into the eighth inning that night there hadn’t been much drama with St. Louis up, 6-3. The Cardinals answered David Ross’ two-run homer in the second inning with a three-run, fourth inning courtesy of a throwing error from Jones. Matt Holliday added a home run in the sixth. The Cardinals added two more runs in the seventh. Then the Braves would come back with two runs later in the inning.
Then, Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons stepped to the plate with one out and runners on first and second. He pops a flyball into leftfield. Miraculously, it lands between Holliday and shortstop Pete Kouzma. The bases are loaded and the Braves are on the comeback trail.
Then, left field umpire Sam Holbrook made a call that will live in minds of both fans forever. Simmons was called out on a rarely called infield fly rule.
I.J. Rosenberg was the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is now the president and publisher for Score Atlanta. He remembers that night.
“The infield fly rule is a judgement call it’s sort of know where the umpire picks the ball up and feels,” Rosenberg said. “There’s no magic line for the infield fly rule.”
Rosenberg was forgiving, but fans weren’t so much. Fans began throwing cans and bottles onto the field. He thought it was an embarrassing night for Braves fans.
“It was a very sort of surreal moment,” Rosenberg said. “I mean anything people could find they would throw it on the field.”
The Cardinals would go on win the game and move on in the playoffs. They would lose to the eventual World Series Champion San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series in seven games. That one play ended storied career for Jones.
Rosenberg believes that only added fuel to the fire.
“I think that’s what bothered a lot of people more than anything that his career ended on a controversial call,” Rosenberg said.
The Braves and Cardinals meeting in this year’s National League Division Series only reignites talk about that ill-fated night especially in Atlanta. Fans will see two familiar faces at tonight’s Game 1. Yes, Jones will throw out the first pitch. But, the other will be standing near second base. Holbrook will be leading the six-man umpire crew for the series. Rosenberg said MLB chose a good crew for the series despite Holbrook’s presence.
“He made a mistake. He’s overcome it,” Rosenberg said. “I trust the people in charge of baseball that they feel comfortable in sending him back. I don’t think that they’re trying to send a message or anything to Atlanta.”
Maybe this series will be friendlier than seven years ago.
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