AP Photo
"Oh man. Did I forget to add fabric softener to my wash?"


September 29, 1954: Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. At the Polo Grounds. The score is tied, 2-2, when Cleveland hitter Don Wertz steps to the the plate with two on and nobody out. He hits a shot to deep center, and that's when it happens. Willie Mays makes The Catch.

The ball is way over Mays' head, but the Say Hey Kid, as he was known, speeds back to the wall and catches it (which traveled an estimated 450 feet from home plate) with his back to the infield. Mays' hat tumbles off his head (he intentionally wore it a size too small so it would fall off) as he turns back to the infield and fires the ball back in to second base to hold the Cleveland runner at third (some consider the throw to be more impressive than the catch). Later, Mays would say, "I had it all the way."

The Giants would go on to win the game, 5-2, and sweep the series. For more on the Say Hey Kid, who went on to win two MVPs, hit 660 homers, score 2,062 runs and tally 1,903 RBI in his 22-year career, take a look at this.