I’m not just being a cranky old bag with this post
One of the most amazing games I’ve watched (on T.V.) was in 2001. The Yankees against the Oakland A’s. It was Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.
You all know the play by two simple words: The Flip.
Derek Jeter flipped the ball to Jorge Posada in the seventh inning to save the tying run from scoring. To read more about it click on this link. I don’t need to get too in depth about it.
2010 Topps is leaking on to eBay over the last 24 hours and one of the inserts is called Tales of the Game. The Flip is one of the scenes depicted in this set. Here’s the card:
Before I get further, I am saying now, I want this card.
However, here is my complaint with the card:
You can’t see the tag. That’s half of the play.
The title bar at the bottom of the card is blocking Jorge “I never block the plate” Posada’s tag. Part of the thrill of the play is just how close it was.
I love this card. I love the idea of it, but that’s going to bother me.
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Just like ESPN foaming at the mouth about some top 10 play- and then having all their dumb graphics covering "the moment". Drives me crazy.
There had to be more than one photo of the play out there. It would have been better not to put the card out than screw it up that badly.
Yeah the card could have been executed better, but I am really loving these Topps inserts.
This game was so memorable, that I have two close friends who aren't even baseball fans that happened to see the game that day. They still talk about it like people talk about a classic movie. That's the beauty of baseball.
Darn, I knew there was something weird about that card! It's one of the only ones that I want from 2010 Topps. I have no interest in the set otherwise. I don't even like the inserts; they all seem very similar, like "tales of the game" and "history of the game" are just too much alike. Also sets like"cards your mom threw out" have no continuity cause they all look so different. Like I understand that the idea behind it is to have them be reprints of those cards but it reminds me of the days where I would get insert cards and have no clue what the heck they were supposed to be.
The reason you can't see the tag is because Posada never tagged him…until he was on the plate, that is.
I always hated that play. Jeter grabs a ball that is on target bouncing right down the line. runs it three steps in the wrong direction and finally flips to to Posada. He actually makes the play much tougher for Posada, which is why the tag was late. The Yanees rightfielder (I try to forget Yankees names) said he thought the original throw would have gotten Giambi. So, Jeter makes a play more difficult, but because of a bad call he's glorified everywhere for all time? Only Jeter.
Whether or not the tag was made, the play happened and Jeter is God.
That's all that matters.
I went into Google images yesterday and looked photos, but this is the best picture that shows the play, which is fine, but they are still blocking the tag.
Perhaps making the photo smaller so that the title bar was below the tag would have been better.
If someone makes that play other than Jeter, the whole world would STILL be talking about it. It was a great play, no matter how you want to look at it. Of course the outfielder thought the ball would've made it all the way… he probably thought he could throw the ball through the backstop, too. They all think their arms are amazing.
I actually don't really care for the look of this insert (but can picture it in something like Masterpieces ), but I like most of what 2010 Topps offers this year!
I was at that game, and I hate that card. SLIDE Jesus. Sooz did you get me email or are you just ignoring me?
I think that the hardest part about a card like this is when thet keep going back to the well and recycling the exact same and/or famous image over-n-over-n-over-n-over-n-over. N-over.
This image of the flip is easily the most reproduced.
I understand that there may be image copyrights, and that the card maker only has rights to a few particular images (or less).
However, it can't be that hard to acquire rights to some less often released images, maybe from better angles. At least then the card is adding something to the lore of the play, rather than just parroting what's already been done.
As for the play, I think it worked out perfectly. And this is coming from an A's fan.
The only mistake made was not sliding by that bloated truck driver of a utility man, Jeremy Giambi. Even at the time, I didn't like the guy. I always thought he was a mediocre talent only hanging on because his brother was a stud. At least Ozzie Canseco only lasted 9 games with the A's before they came to their senses.
Both Ozzie and Jeremy are sad examples of a job being stolen from some other guy not only because of fraternal coattails, but also better mediocrity through chemistry.
I watched and re-watched that play enough that it's clear that Jeter did the right thing. Even if it was on target, there wasn't enough energy in the ball to get it there on time. It's not like Ichiro or The Hawk was making the throw from RF–not even Tino Martinez.
It was already dying when it hit the ground, and Jeter merely played the role of cutoff man, just much closer to the plate. He was like a repeater station for power or signals–he gave the ball an energy boost, with the added certainty of being on target.
I still think the ball got to the plate sooner than if it were merely allowed to bounce on it limply. It remains a remarkably intelligent baseball play, glory hound or not.