Swoboda Catch Recalled in Classic Photo
“The last miracle I did was the 1969 Mets. Before that, I think you have to go back to the Red Sea.”
George Burns, playing God in the 1977 classic movie Oh, God!, may have never been able to utter that famous line had it not been for Ron Swoboda‘s famous and miraculous diving grab of Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson’s ninth-inning liner in Game 4 of that year’s World Series.
Many baseball fans are familiar with the play, if not the exact circumstances. With the Mets clinging to a tenuous 1-0 lead in the game and a 2-1 Series advantage, and Orioles on first and third with none out, Robinson laced a pitch by fellow future inductee Tom Seaver into right center field that appeared to be headed into the gap, at minimum tying the game and putting runners on second and third with none out. Instead, out of nowhere, Swoboda, known more for his bat than his glove, made “The Catch,” forever immortalized by World Series game films and historic photos.
The Mets went on to win the game in the 10th inning for the decisive 3-1 Series lead, and took the title the next day at Shea Stadium.
“After 40 years, I’m still thanking Brooksie for not hitting the ball right at me,” joked Swoboda as he arrived in New York Thursday.
With the Mets celebrating the 40th anniversary of the “Amazin’” 1969 squad with a reunion of most of its members this weekend, the New York Daily News, Swoboda and Robinson have teamed to make an autographed, framed print of the famous photo by legendary photographer Frank Hurley available to fans and collectors.
Next to their respective autographs, Swoboda inscribes “The Catch” and Robinson writes “Nice Catch.”
“People are always asking me about it.” addes Swoboda. “I still have the glove. Did the play change my life? You bet it did.”
The limited-edition (only 1,000 signed copies will be available) photos are priced at $209.99 plus shipping, handling and taxes each. For more information, fans can call Cirillo World at (212) 972-5337, email NiceCatchRon@gmail.com or visit NYDailyNews.com/catch. It’s part of a collectibles project entitled “The Catch of A Lifetime: Swoboda Saves the Day,” in which veteran New York public relations man John Cirillo is teaming with his boyhood hero.
“I remember racing down the stairs at St. Mark’s School in Brooklyn, and sprinting the three blocks home to watch the end of the game,” says Cirillo, the former Knicks and Madison Square Garden executive. “Like millions of Mets fans from that generation, the Catch has been indelibly etched in my mind’s eye for four decades.”
The joint effort of Swoboda and Robinson is reminiscent of other famously connected duos in baseball who years later worked together to market their shared places in history. Notably, Ralph Branca with Bobby Thompson on “The Shot Heard Round the World” and Mike Torres with Bucky Dent on the latter’s 1978 A.L. East Division playoff home run come to mind.
Part of the proceeds of each sale of “The Catch” will benefit the New York Mets Foundation, which funds and promotes a variety of educational, social and athletic programs and other charitable causes.
Latest Headlines
- Possible La Russa Replacements
- Rodriguez Proves To Be Valuable For Rays
- Welcome To The Team Cut Your Hair
- Inside the Hobby – Online Trading
- BD Fantasy: The Buck Stops Here
- Retro Box Breaks – 2005 Topps Total
- BD Fantasy: Highlighting September Call-Ups
- Baseball Digest Classic Discussion: Higher Standards – Part IV
- Francouer And Mets Agree To Just Be Friends
- Burnett Joins The Race
- Former Met, Royal Hearn To Be Honored At Nephcure Foundation Night At Citi Field
- A Look At The Reds Pitchers-Part 2 The Bull Pen
- I-70 Baseball Radio And WWPM MediaNet Reach Agreement
- Javy In, Andy Waits
- Gotham Baseball LIVE: Adam Worthington Interview
In The News
BD Fantasy: Can Aroldis Chapman Help You?
After a lights-out debut by
Pinstripe Recap: Yankees & Rays Set For Battle To The Wire
A five-hundred week allowed the Rays to catch the Yankees and set up a race to the AL East finish.
Rushing Niemann Was Not Smart
The Rays activated Jeff Niemann from the disabled list couple of weeks ago, but it has not been smooth sailing for him so far.
Baseball Digest Classic Discussion: Higher Standards – Part III
Kirk Verner provides Part III of our series on players as role models, an ideal he has a hard time accepting.
Oh God, what a catch
Get it?
“Marla Hooch, what a hitter!”
[...] pal Jerry Milani has a cool article at Baseball Digest about a famous Ron Swoboda catch that some of you might be familiar [...]
Quien es mas macho: Ron Swoboda, o Brooks Robinson?
That catch was as improbable as Bret Favre wearing a Vikings jersey.
Going to be at the game tomorrow night, looking forward to the pre-game ceremony with the ’69 Mets. Will be wearing my Seaver Cooperstown throwback jersey. Don’t think there’s a Ron Swoboda one, I’d be REALLY impressed if there’s an Art Shamsky one out there.