Willie Mays' 'The Catch' Ranks Surprisingly Low on Sporting News' 140 Greatest Moments List

The iconic play by the Giants legend was ranked 105th, behind more recent sports moments.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:35pm

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Despite being one of the most iconic defensive plays in baseball history, Willie Mays' famous "The Catch" during the 1954 World Series only ranked 105th on Sporting News' list of the 140 Greatest Sports Moments. The list, which was released to commemorate the publication's 140-year history, has sparked debate among Giants fans who feel the legendary play deserved a higher ranking.

Why it matters

"The Catch" by Willie Mays is considered one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history, preserving a tie game that the Giants went on to win en route to sweeping the Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series. The fact that it ranked so low on the Sporting News list has surprised and disappointed many baseball fans, especially Giants supporters, who feel the moment deserved a much higher placement.

The details

In the 1954 World Series, with the score tied in the 8th inning, Cleveland's Vic Wertz hit a deep fly ball to center field at the Polo Grounds. Giants center fielder Willie Mays sprinted back, turned his back to the plate, and made an over-the-shoulder catch just in front of the warning track, then quickly fired the ball back to the infield to prevent any runners from advancing. The Giants went on to win that game and sweep the series.

  • The catch occurred during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series on September 29, 1954.
  • Sporting News released its list of the 140 Greatest Sports Moments on March 17, 2026.

The players

Willie Mays

Hall of Fame center fielder for the New York/San Francisco Giants, considered one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Vic Wertz

Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians who hit the deep fly ball that led to Mays' famous catch.

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What they’re saying

“(Vic) Wertz lifted a high fly ball to the almost comically deep center field at the Polo Grounds, the drive prompting Giants center fielder Willie Mays to turn his back to the plate and sprint toward the wall. As he neared the fence, Mays lifted his left arm and caught the ball over his shoulder, then whirled and fired the ball back to the infield.”

— Marc Lancaster, Writer (Sporting News)

What’s next

Sporting News has faced some criticism from baseball fans over the ranking of "The Catch" on their list, and may revisit the order of the top moments in the future.

The takeaway

While the rankings on Sporting News' list are subjective, the fact that one of the most iconic plays in baseball history ranked so low has sparked debate and disappointment among Giants fans and baseball enthusiasts. The legacy and significance of Willie Mays' "The Catch" remains undiminished, even if its placement on this particular list was surprisingly low.