Beginning this week, baseball fans can give a former Cincinnati Reds player the boot — just like this man did to a baseball more than 30 years ago.
During his playing days, former Reds right fielder Paul O'Neill was known as a good batter who helped the team win a World Series in 1990. He later was traded to the New York Yankees, where he became "the heart and soul" of the team's dominance in the '90s. These days, he provides color commentary on Yankees games.
But Major League Baseball wants you to forget about all of that.
In a new "Oops Bracket" contest, MLB is asking fans to determine "baseball's biggest blooper," and the Reds have a candidate in O'Neill. In a 1989 game against the Philadelphia Phillies, O'Neill famously bobbled a low shot to right field before kicking it to Reds first baseman Todd Benzinger.
But this error has a happy ending because even though O'Neill's boot to first was unconventional, it prevented a run from scoring. The Phillies' Steve Jeltz had been on second base, waiting to speed around the bases and head for home. But O'Neill's kick actually held Jeltz at third!
Take a look at this:
In the new MLB contest, O'Neill's kick is pitted against the home run that famously bounced off of Jose Canseco's head. Other famous bloopers include St. Louis Cardinals' rally squirrel and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda beating up the Phillie Phanatic.
The biggest vote-getting blooper will advance in the bracket, with voters predicting the full path to baseball's most memorable moment. With the right predictions, fans can win tickets to games, jerseys and gift cards.
Fans can vote for O'Neill and others on MLB's blooper site.
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