[Yoda]

Last night, May 19, 2008 Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto hit an inside the park homerun against the Houston Astros. The last Cub catcher to do that?
July 17, 1959......Cal Neeman

Just off the phone with Cal Neeman, Sr. (CalSr). As usual, the gifted ones discount their achievements:

"I just did a good job at rounding the bases."



"It's always a fluke when someone hits an 'inside the park' home run", he said. "A funny bounce off the wall, a wrong-side throw to the relay man. That kind of thing."

From 'The Man' himself, here's the story behind Cal's homer:

Chicago Cubs versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bottom of the 8th.

Cal hit a "semi-line-drive" -- -- into left field. Pirate left fielder Bob Skinner had the innings mixed up and thought it was the bottom of the 9th. With the winning run at second base and now faced with his own 'make or break' play, he knew he had either to 'trap' the ball on the fly or field it and throw the runner out at home. He chose to trap it and missed.



Quoting Cal:

"Bob Skinner tried to make a great play, but the ball got by him. There was no error, and in his own mind, no reason to try to get the ball. So, he simply heads for the clubhouse! And the centerfielder, Bill Virdon, who's supposed to back him up, just follows him in."

Finally, shortstop Dick Groat, who did know what was going on, retrieves the ball from the ivy against the fence and relays it in. All of which was too late to nab Our Hero, who crosses home plate with a 3-run homer.

"I could run," Cal said, "but not good enough for an 'inside the park' home run. Like I said, something strange has to happen."

Interestingly, both Virdon and Skinner went on to become sucessful big league managers.

"All on a play," says Cal, "that would have Little League managers across the country pulling their hair out."