Brett Gardner scales eight-foot wall to retrieve Chris Young’s glove
It’s no wonder New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner won the Good Guy Award at the 2015 BBWAA dinner. If there’s anything a teammate needs, he’ll be there to help, even if it means scaling an eight-foot outfield fence.
In fact, during Saturday’s 3-2 win against the Houston Astros, Gardner pulled that very stunt to help out center fielder Chris Young. Moments earlier, Young lost his glove over the fence at George M. Steinbrenner Field while attempting to rob Chris Carter’s two-run homer. Without hesitation, Gardner was up the wall and over the wall. Seconds later, back came Young’s glove and the baseball, and then a short time later back came Gardner.
That’s the best visual we have of the climb. Unfrotunately, this was one the very few Yankees spring training games that wasn’t covered by YES or one of the major networks, Manager Joe Girardi was there to see it though, and it sounds like he’s one of the few who wasn’t amused.
“We’ve seen guys hit a home run, jump up and land on the plate and break an ankle,” Girardi said. “… I told him, ‘This isn’t Little League. Gardy thought he was in the movie ‘The Sandlot’ or something.”
Freak things do happen, so Girardi’s anxiety is understandable. However, Gardner says he did it with the best interests of baseball in mind.
“We’re working on pace of game in Spring Training, and Chris Young was like, ‘You think I’m going to have to jump over there?'” Gardner said. “I said, ‘If you’re not going to, I am. Otherwise, we’re going to be waiting 10 minutes for someone to go all the way around and get your glove.’ So I just said, all right, I’ll do it, whatever.”
Meanwhile, the Yankees bench was also considering pace of play. As Gardner started his climb, a replacement glove was already being run out to get Young through the inning.
As it turns out, it was Gardner’s decision that nearly delayed the game. Once he got over the fence, he found it more difficult to climb back because there was less room to get some wall-climbing momentum. It was all arm strength as he latched on to the top of the wall and pulled himself up, but he finally made it back in one piece.
Had he not made it back though.
“I would’ve probably walked around back to the players’ lot to my truck and left, maybe,” Gardner said. If he tries it again, we’re guessing that’s exactly what Girardi’s advice would be.
Well, that’s one idea we’re sure Girardi would agree with. Keep your feet on the ground, Brett Gardner.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
