Let’s remember when a bird collided with a Randy Johnson fastball, on this day in 2001 (March 24)
As Deadspin put it a few years back, “For all of [Randy] Johnson’s great Hall of Fame career, he’ll never not be thought of first in connection with the bird, no matter how little he likes talking about it.”
Randy Johnson, the star pitcher that had most of his greatest years in a Mariners jersey, was pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks (the team whose hat he wore when inducted into the Hall of Fame) eighteen years ago today. Johnson threw a fastball that intersected with a bird that had the serious misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s one of those freak accidents in sports that no one really prepares for. Or literally prepares for, as there was no plan for such an occurrence.
When someone wrote in to Major League Baseball’s “Ask the Umpire” column, Ralph Nelson, then VP of Umpiring said:
Can you tell me what was called when Randy Johnson hit the dove with the ball (i.e. ball, dead ball, no pitch, or foul)?
— L. CrowderThat bizarre play is not covered in the Official Rules. When a situation is not covered, Rule 9.01(c) comes into play. That rule gives the umpire authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in the Rules. In such instances the umpire is instructed to use “common sense and fair play.” In this game, the umpires called it no pitch, as this was the fairest thing to do.
As a side-note, MLB Regulations do cover a batted or thrown ball (but not a pitched ball) touching an animal: “If a batted or thrown ball strikes a bird or other animal on the playing field, consider the ball alive and in play, the same as if it had not touched the bird or animal.”
On the fifteenth anniversary of this weird incident, Newsweek asked actual bird experts about the play:
Jerry Jackson, emeritus researcher at Florida Gulf Coast University: I vaguely remember when it happened. Sad, to say the least.
Jonathan Hagstrum, research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey: [Regarding being asked to reply: “Just for the record, I’m not an ornithologist, but a research geophysicist interested in the geophysical underpinnings of avian navigation.”] Not being much of a baseball fan, this is the first time I’ve heard of or seen the event. It’s absolutely amazing! The odds against such a thing happening must be astronomical.
Justin Lehman, ornithology graduate student at the University of Tennessee: I was 11 at the time, so I’m sure I found this event incredibly funny. Looking back, I am just in awe of the incredibly poor luck that bird had.
In certain corners of the internet (where I can sometimes be found), it’s still funny:
You can watch it here:
Johnson was one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the game, getting a velocity of 100 or more MPH. There are very few places I’d rather not be than in the way of a Randy Johnson fastball. That poor, poor, poor bird.
For further reading:
