Before he began his current job as an employee with the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball, Steve Skrinar played outfield for the Rochester Royals of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
Skrinar earned a reputation as a gritty, hard-working outfielder who was willing to do whatever it took to help his team win.
Sometimes his effort worked opposite of his intentions, and that is where the Skrinar legend originates.
It was a game in the latter half of the 2006 season. The Royals were beginning to show signs of life, and a playoff spot was not out of their reach. Skrinar, the competitive player that he was, wanted to help his team.
On the evening the legend began, an opposing batter stepped to the plate. Skrinar waited in left field. Whether the batter got under the ball, or Skrinar misjudged the contact, we will not know.
Skrinar vehemently called off Royal shortstop, Gary Helmick, as he charged in to make the play. With the wind beneath his feet, Skrinar charged the pop fly, made a leaping stab, but failed to hang on. Helmick retrieved the ball, and time was called.
Skrinar, not one to wallow in self-pity, picked himself to get ready for the next play.
As he returned to his position in left field the E flashed on the scoreboard, and he brushed off his uniform that he had dirtied while diving…into the infield.
Whenever an outfielder gets a little too aggressive and decides to make a play on the infield, think of Skrinar. 🙂
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