As long as we're on the topic of takeout slides and the excesses thereof, let's take a moment to relive the Platonic ideal of over-the-line takeout slides. Come with me, won't you?

It's Game 2 of 1977 ALCS, we're in the Bronx, and it's Royals-Yankees -- two teams that pretty much loathed each other at the time. In the road half of the sixth, Freddie Patek is on second, Hal McRae is on first. George Brett hits a grounder to Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles, who attempts to start a 5-4-3 ... 

Takeout slide or Jimmy Snuka finishing move? That the question can be plausibly asked tells the story. 

It "worked" in that Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph was unable to gather his senses in time to prevent Patek from scoring. The Yankees, did, however, come back to win the game and eventually the ALCS and the World Series. 

"Two guys tried that on me when I first came up," said Randolph's manager, Billy Martin, after the game. "I hit the first guy in the mouth with the ball, and I hit the second guy in the face with the ball and broke his nose and his glasses. But my second baseman is a gentleman. I didn't play as a gentleman all the time."

(HT: Former major-league Bob Tufts, who reminded me of this play)

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