April 09, 2006
Jeff Maier, Part II
Jeffrey Maier made one of the more famous catches at Yankee Stadium, snagging Jeter's flyball in the 1996 playoffs that the umpire called a home run but was really interference. He's been playing at Wesleyan University, and in his senior year is about to set the school's hit record. And he's talking again. A couple of years ago I wanted to talk to the young man, but his coach told me he wasn't doing interviews. Now he's opening up, and hopes to get drafted. It appears some of the things said in the wake of the Jeter home run motivated him as a ballplayer:
In the days following Game 1 of the 1996 AL Championship Series, Maier was pictured on the front pages of newspapers and he appeared on morning talk shows.
His exposure was too much for some media members, particularly those in the Baltimore area. Maier can still recite the words of a column that, at the time, was particularly painful.
"Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post wrote something like, 'This is the pinnacle of this young man's life; it's all nostalgia from this point forward,' " Maier said. "I heard that and I thought, 'Wow, don't people think I'm any better than that?'
"From that point forward, I had to go out and prove I was more than just a black glove and black T-shirt and a fan-interference play at Yankee Stadium. I always used that as motivation to excel."
If he doesn't make it as a player, he'd like to be a GM. In a perfect world, however, he'll be drafted by the Yankees and someday make a catch in right field.
Posted by David Pinto at
10:04 AM
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I played college baseball and I'd like to be a GM too. What are his qualifications over mine? Oh right, that fan interference play at Yankee stadium that wasn't called :)
He should consider himself lucky he has an "in"
I went to Wesleyan, and I'd like to be a GM too.
I was the worst baseball player in my hometown's history (no joke - first person every to "stay back" a year, and play three years in Little League Minors instead of two). Not sure if that has the same "that guy" worldwide recognition, but it's a start...
No, David, in a perfect world, he'd be drafted by the Yankees and drop a game-deciding fly ball in the ALCS versus the Orioles.
If only karma would work so well. Not that we Baltimore fans are still holding a grudge or anything...
I also went to Wesleyan. At this point, however, I know my limitations - I'll just stick to watching baseball obsessively and let someone else make the decisions. :)
Steinbrenner at least owes this kid a token minor league contract.
If Jeremy's vision doesn't pan out, the Yankees can always trade him away as part of a package deal for another superstar a few years down the road, Maier could find himself in the Orioles' organization and have an ALCS-winning hit against the Yankees :-)
Or, Peter Angelos could hire the kid as his next GM and let him build a dynasty of his own. Of course, the best thing Angelos could do for the Orioles would be selling it to someone who has an interest in seeing the team win.