25 Memorable Moments in Baseball since 1984 (25-20)

2038-01-19T03:14:07Z

So much has happened in baseball since I entered the world on October 25, 1984.

End of curses, historic records falling, pennant races, dramatic homers, and so much more has filled the annals of baseball since that October day in 1984 when Ronnie and Joyce Hancock welcomed a healthy baby boy who would become one of the city's most dangerous bloggers as well as a senior writer for a successful sports blog.

This will be part one of a series that will run until Sept. 1st about my favorite moments as a baseball fan, starting with numbers 25-20.

25. "Sammy Sosa Does Milwaukee" (2002 All-Star Home Run Derby): Before the steroids shit started and Sosa became an asshole in the eyes of many Cub fans, Sosa was the happy-go-lucky slugger who had the hop and the smile to make a little dough for ad agencies.

And in the All-Star Home Run Derby, Sosa would hit a towering drive that cleared everything at Miller Park, exiting out of the stadium and into the hands of a Cubs fan who thought that Miller Park was Waveland Avenue. Too bad Sosa didn't win the Derby.

24. "Houston, You Have a Problem" (Game 2, 2005 World Series): Only a week after Brad Lidge got burned by Albert Pujols, a guy by the name of Scott Podsednik, who didn't even hit a fucking homer during the regular season, hits a game-winning shot in the ninth inning to give the White Sox the win, closing it out four days later for their first world championship in 88 years.

23. "J-Rod's Moon Shot" (August 13, 2006): I was acutally in the booth for this game as John Rodriguez hit a towering blast that sailed over everything in right field and onto South Fourth Street. To this very day, I wonder if that ball ever landed.

22. "Grand Slam Single" (1999 NLCS): Although I don't have that much rooting interest in the Braves or the Mets, Robin Ventura's supposed grand slam was something I would never forget as a fan. I just wished that Todd Pratt and Mike Piazza could have saved their celebration for home plate.

21. "The Longest Homerun in Whitehaven History" (August 12, 2003): In the final days of my only year as a resident of the Whitehaven community, I wanted to leave the area with a bang by hitting a moon shot to left field into the Memphis night onto a patio on an apartment complex across the street from our makeshift field. To this day, no one where it exactly landed.

20. "Mr. Pujols, Meet Miss Candy" (May 21, 2006): On the same day that Albert Pujols homered against the Kansas City Royals, I along with the chocolate cutie as well as Melissa and Sharika got in a picture together prior to me heading up to the broadcast booth.

That's it for now. I'm inside, which is a good thing because it's 700 degrees outside and it's going to be even hotter tomorrow. Thankfully I work inside, not outside.

Leftovers From the Bon-Ton

25 Memorable Moments in Baseball since 1984 (25-20)