Great (?) Moments In San Francisco Giants History: Ruben Rivera

If you saw this play, either in person or on television, it is highly unlikely that it will ever leave your memory. If you didn't, you can see it on Youtube by clicking this link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ94rkwdTvQ. It happened on May 27, 2003. According to Giants announcer Jon Miller, it was, "The worst base running in the history of the game!" I can't disagree. It even inspired me to write a poem about it. I hope you like it.

THE BALLAD OF RUBEN RIVERA

He sprang up from his seat on the bench,

Always ready to run in a pinch.

Checking to see how his hamstring feels,

He wanted to be ready for the highlight reels.

The ball was hit into the night,

Towards the power alley in right.

As he started to round second base,

He saw the look in the right fielder’s face.

He’s going to catch that ball for sure,

So I’ll retouch second on my way back to first.

Wait a minute, he dropped the ball,

And now it’s rolling towards the wall.

On his way to third, across the grass, 

He asked, “Do I have to retouch second on my second pass?”

That he did, then as he raced toward third,

The hissing sound of the ball he heard.

He would’ve been out from here to there,

But the ball bounced off the glove for an error.

Then Felipe Alou learned, there still was more

That a 67 year old man had not seen before.

As he looked at his lineup card to see,

What his strategy, his next move might be.

The noise of the crowd became so great,

He thought a fan had slid into home plate.

Then he learned from his dugout seat,

That Ruben Rivera was out by 20 feet.

And he saw the look of a man who knows,

That he’s just made all the highlight shows.