Scorebook Theme: Jeter’s Iconic Flip Play — October 13, 2001
Some games deserve their own page in baseball history — and in any scorebook. The 2001 ALDS Game 3, forever known as “The Flip Game,” is one of them.
The Yankees trailed the series 0-2, facing elimination on the road in Oakland. In the bottom of the 7th, with New York clinging to a 1-0 lead, Jeremy Giambi of the A’s rounded third on a double down the right-field line. The relay throw from Shane Spencer sailed over two cutoff men, seemingly spelling disaster. But then came The Flip.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Derek Jeter sprinted across the diamond, fielded the off-line throw near the first base line, and with a backhanded shovel toss, flipped the ball to catcher Jorge Posada, who tagged Giambi at the plate. The heads-up, instinctual play stunned everyone — preserving the lead and shifting the momentum back to the Yankees. They would go on to win the game, the series, and eventually reach the World Series.
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