FanPost

On this Day : Go take a Hike Son!

No, this is not an article about Tony Watson. The least said there, the better.

This is however about a day in infamy for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pirates announcer Jim Rooker, as it was on this date back in 1989 that Rooker, with the Pirates sending 16 batters to the plate in the first inning against Philadelphia and scoring ten runs, announces on the air that if the Pirates lose the game, he would walk back to Pittsburgh.

Final score of the game, Phillie's 15 Pirates 11.

To show how bizarre this game was, "power hitter" Steve Jeltz became the first player in the 106 year history of the Phillie's franchise to hit a home run from each side of the plate in the same game. Jeltz would go on to hit a grand total of 5 HR's over the course of his 8 year career. And the pitcher who started Rooker on his long walk was of course, Bob Walk. And no, Watson didn't blow this save, that honor went to Jeff Robinson.

For the record, Rooker did indeed full fill his pledge and organized a charity walk dubbed "Jim Rooker's Unintentional Walk" that was completed after the season ended.

Box score link http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI198906080.shtml

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