World Series History: Five Amazing Defensive Plays (With Video)

Joe Panik’s Double Play

San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik made what may prove to be one of the most memorable defensive plays in World Series history to keep his team tied with the Kansas City Royals in the third inning of Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. With a runner already on first base and nobody out, the 23-year-old dove to his right to grab a ball hit up the middle by the Royals’ Eric Hosmer. Before even getting to his feet, Panik flipped the ball from his glove to teammate Brandon Crawford. The shortstop recorded the force out at second base and then threw to first baseman Brandon Belt for a double play.

What makes the play even more interesting, though, was the call at first base in which the umpire ruled the runner safe. Quick thinking by Giants manager Bruce Bochy led to an appeal and the call was negated, completing the double play.

In fact, it was the first overturned call in a World Series since the instant replay rule came into effect.

Here’s the entire play…