My friend sent me a screenshot of the Cespedes throw the other day and it got me thinking about which all-time throws stick out in my mind. Jose Guillen's throw from the warning track came to mind, and once I saw it on the sub today, I decided to compile my personal Mount Rushmore of Throws into a video and post it here. These aren't necessarily what I believe to be the 4 best throws of all time, but just 4 off the top of my head that I could think of without having to look it up. Which throws would make your Mount Rushmore?

46 comments

  1. Ichiro gunning down a guy at third from RF on the fly, no bounce right into the fielder’s glove.

    Paul O’Neill kicking the baseball back into the in-field

  5. This one, jose guillen in Colorado, Bo Jackson throwing out Harold Reynolds, and Acuna’s from last year

  6. Bo Jackson nailing Harold Reynolds, Ichiro laser beam, Jose Guillen gunning down Neifi Perez from the warning track, and that Ramon Laureano throw to double up Chris Young.

  8. Seeing Tony Gwynn throw out a runner at home from deep – very deep ‘ right field. Runner had tagged from second.

    Also, may have been same season, Ken Caminiti throwing a runner out at home from third- sitting flat on his ass.

  9. The Cespedes throw is amazing, but the defensive miscue beforehand will always be a ding for me. Ichiro’s laser beam obviously needs to be on here. But that Acuna throw is just incredible, the nonchalant catch to get the runner to go and then the dime to third base was just beautiful baseball.

  12. Puig to third during his first week in the league sticks out only bc I was sitting behind third and had a clear view

  18. Ichiro
    Ankiel
    Bo
    Clemente

    I can’t find any on YouTube, but I could swear I remember seeing Larry Walker mowing people down on Sportscenter as a kid, especially during his Expos days.

  20. Thought it would be interesting to add the situations for these as well:

    * Cespedes:
    * 8th inning, tie game, 1 out, runner on 1st
    * Without throw: 1 out, runners at 2nd and 3rd*
    * *If he didn’t bobble the bounce, it’s probably 1st and 2nd because everybody knew he had a cannon
    * With throw: 2 outs, runner on 3rd
    * Guillen:
    * 3rd inning, his team up by 4, 2 out, runner on 1st
    * Without throw: 2 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd*
    * *If he made the catch, there’s no play
    * *If he still bobbled the catch but the throw to 3rd is late, I assume the batter advances
    * With throw: inning over
    * Acuña:
    * 3rd inning, tie game, 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd
    * Without throw: 2 out, runners on 1st and 3rd
    * With throw: inning over
    * Machado
    * 6th inning, down by 1 run, 2 outs, nobody on
    * Without throw: 2 outs, runner on 1st
    * With throw: inning over

    With the situation information, I think Cespedes’s throw stands out most to me. Without it, there’s a very good chance his team loses that game right after. While the A’s would eventually lose that one in the 14th inning, they had only just tied it in the top of that 8th inning. That throw gave them momentum to get back into the game. The other throws didn’t happen in clutch situations.

    Also: it’s crazy that Cespedes’s throw might not even be The Throw of the Decade for the A’s – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEqupc0s9DY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEqupc0s9DY)

  24. It’s not the most impressive throw, but Manny high-fiving a fan then doubling up the runner deserves honorable mention.

  26. I like how three of these are guys who flub it at first and then lock in. Then you’ve got acuna , who just kinda causally does it for no reason.

  32. Parker at the All Star game.
    Clemente flat footed throw from the warning track in the 71 World Series
    Bo Jackson/Harold Reynolds.
    Ichiro/Terrance Long.

  34. The casual nature of Acuna’s throw is what gets me every time. Like oh well I guess I’ll just throw this to third on a rope and bam

  37. Cespedes and Puig were both subpar defenders whose cannon arms got them out of jams they themselves created.

  39. Brooks Robinson play down the line. You know the one. In game 1 of the World Series too. Just Google ‘Brooks Robinsons best play.’

  46. Caminiti throwing a perfect strike from his ass along the foul line would be on it for sure. And the Ichiro laser beam.

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