The Allure of Home Run-Robbing Catches
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The home run-robbing catch, where an outfielder jumps at the fence to catch a ball that is far enough away to be a home run and make an out, is a truly fascinating play for fans. It may even be said that this is the play in outfield defense that delights fans the most.
Unfortunately, however, home run-robbing catches are extremely rare in Japanese professional baseball. Because the outfield fences are so high in Japan, outfielders often can’t make home run-robbing catches simply by jumping. To pull it off, they have to climb the fence or even stand at the top of it.
Here, I’d like to introduce a spectacular example of a home run-robbing catch made by actually climbing the fence and placing one foot on top of the fence.
This home run-robbing catch was made by Hankyu Braves outfielder Masafumi Yamamori during a game between the Hankyu Braves (now the Orix Buffaloes) and the Lotte Orions (now the Chiba Lotte Marines) at Nishinomiya Stadium on September 16, 1981. This home run-robbing catch apparently stunned baseball figures in the United States, and the video of this play is now being shown at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. I was delighted to see the video playing when I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Below is the YouTube link for this home run-robbing catch, so please take a look.
On the other hand, at Major League Baseball stadiums, the outfield fences are often low, so it’s not that uncommon to see a home run-robbing catch. In the United States, children undoubtedly often watch these home run-robbing catch scenes on television, and it seems that it’s not uncommon for children to dream of one day becoming a Major League outfielder who can make a masterful home run-robbing catch.
Here, I’d like to introduce a scene from the American film ““It Could Happen to You” (1994). The protagonist invites a group of young boys to Yankee Stadium, which he has rented out, and the boys want to make home run-robbing catches. However, because the boys are short, they can’t make home run-robbing catches by simply jumping. So what do they do? They grab the ball in their gloves, jump onto a trampoline placed in front of the fence, and have their photo taken as they jump over the fence. They want to go to such lengths to feel like they’ve made home run-robbing catches.
When I was a child, I used to dream of becoming a professional baseball player and hitting a walk-off grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. But, in today’s Japan, where Major League Baseball games can be watched on television almost every day, children may dream of becoming a Major League outfielder and making a home run-robbing catch.
(If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)