Monday, June 27, 2011

Waiting For the Ruling...

This is a great game-action shot. Darrell Chaney has slid into third home, with the ball arriving at the same time and the tag applied. As the umpire prepares to make his call (and since his hand looks like it's making a fist, I'm willing to bet Chaney isn't going to like it), you can see the hopeful look that he's giving, hoping the umpire didn't see the tag applied:

Card #507 -- Darrel Chaney, Cincinnati Reds

Chaney had come up with the Reds in 1969 and was mostly used as a backup for Dave Concepcion at short. He stayed around long enough to get a World Series ring in 1975, and then was traded to Atlanta. Since Concepcion wasn't going anywhere, Chaney was given a chance to become an everyday player with the Braves, and he responded by posting the best year of his career.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to hold on to the job for long. Another one of the many prototypical good-glove/no-bat middle infielders of his era, he eventually lost out among competition from two younger players and was released in 1979. After his playing days, he was an announcer on TV and radio for the Braves.

3 comments:

  1. I don't believe he's sliding into third here...it looks like home plate, with the pitcher applying the tag, which happened June 28, 1972. Chaney doubled leading off the 8th. Ross Grimsley bunted but couldn;t get him to third. Pete Rose grounded out to first, sending Chaney to third, and Chaney is listed as out stealing home, catcher to pitcher while Joe Morgan was at bat. The pitcher is Randy Moffitt.

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  2. Another look at the picture shows the chalk from the batter's box. For some reason, I assumed that the tagger wasn't wearing any catcher's gear, which ruled out home plate.

    A play at the plate it is...thanks again, ecloy!

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  3. The fielder has a first base glove on and the fielder looks like Dave Kingman.

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