The Worst Moment--10 Years Later

Ten years ago, this very day, was what Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus once described as "one terrible moment in Mariners history."

There have been a lot of terrible moments in Mariner history, but none quite as spectacular as the leaping catch Ken Griffey Jr. made at the Kingdome's right-centerfield wall on May 26th, 1995.

A young, bad-complexioned Seattlest attended the game, and it was the best catch we have ever seen. Our acne has faded away (praise Jesus), but our memory of that catch remains vivid.

Griffey had been shaded into left-center before the pitch against the Orioles' Kevin Bass, a right-handed hitter. So when the ball was hit, Griffey had to run 50 yards while the ball it was in flight, then leap at the last possible moment to make a mid-air backhanded stab with his glove.

We will never forget seeing Randy Johnson, the pitcher that day, lying supine on the mound in disbelief after Griffey made the play.

But after catching the ball, Griffey stayed down, and rightfielder Alex Diaz began frantically waving for the trainer. Manager Lou Piniella also came out, and you could clearly lipread his response when the trainer told him Griffey had a broken wrist. Piniella said, "Oh, f***."

After the Mariners placed a message on the DiamondVision screen that Griffey would miss four months, we thought the season was over...but of course it was only the start of that remarkable year. If this year's Mariners continue to stink, there will be a lot of reminiscing among Seattle fans.