Fansided

MLB: The Flip, Derek Jeter’s iconic play, turns 13 (GIF)

By Ed Carroll

Jun 20, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) takes the field against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) takes the field against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

October 13, 2014 marks the 13-year anniversary of “The Flip,” an iconic, game-saving defense play made by the New York Yankees Derek Jeter against the Oakland Athletics in the 2001 American League division series.

One of the greatest defensive plays in the past 20 years of MLB baseball turns into a teenager today: It’s the 13th anniversary of “The Flip,” where New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter effectively saved the New York Yankees 2001 postseason run in one amazing defensive play.

More from MLB

To set it up, the Yankees were down in the 2001 ALDS, 2-0, to the Oakland Athletics, and despite a fifth-inning solo home run by Jorge Posada, both Oakland’s Barry Zito and New York’s Mike Mussina were locked in a pitching duel. With two out in the seventh inning, Jeremy Giambi singled, and then-A’s manager Art Howe opted to leave his slow-footed DH in at first base instead of replacing the potential tying run with a pinch-runner. Terence Long then doubled to right field, and outfielder Shane Spencer then overthrew the cutoff man and the backup cutoff man on the play. Insert Jeter here:

Jeter’s defense is often (rightfully) criticized, but there’s no criticism of this amazing play. Jeter appears out of nowhere, running from his shortstop position, to intercept the errant throw and used a shovel pass (the flip) to get the ball to catcher Posada for the tag of Giambi, who decided not to slide. New York ended up winning that game, 1-0, and the next two games to knock Oakland out of the playoffs.

Interestingly enough, three Athletics from that team ended up joining Jeter 0n the Yankees at some point in their careers (Johnny Damon, Eric Chavez and Jeremy’s brother, Jason Giambi), and all were shocked to discover the Yankees practice “The Flip” in spring training every year.

Happy birthday, awesome baseball.

More from FanSided

Home/MLB