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DeWayne Wise, a catch for the ages

Mark Buehrle pitched the 18th perfect game all-time earlier this week. The Chicago White Sox hurler had already thrown a no-hitter in 2007 against the Texas Rangers. He narrowly missed perfection in that game, walking a single batter, only to pick him off two pitches later.

Beyond Buehrle, the only active pitcher with two no-hitters is future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. In fact, in the history of the game only twenty-six pitchers have pitched multiple no-hitters. Buehrle commented afterward that he, "bought everyone watches after the last one," he then noted wryly that this one might be more expensive.

The most dramatic element in Buehrle's perfect afternoon was authored by a little known, late inning, defensive replacement named DeWayne Wise. Wise who had just entered the game in the ninth inning made spectacular catch in left-centerfield. He leaped at the eight foot fence, extended his arm into the crowd, just snagging the ball in the webbing of his glove, then as he toppled back onto the warning track he bobbled it briefly, before he grabbed it again, barehanded, and held it aloft for the crowd to see. It was a terrific catch at the biggest moment of the game.

Congratulations to Buehrle and Wise on their highlight for the ages.

Labels: baseball, sports