The 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee took place Thursday, and its contestants had the tall task of spelling some pretty difficult words (what the heck is a feuilleton?).
After watching fans try to spell the names of Major League Baseball players, though, those 13-year-olds might have gotten off easy.
In honor of the yearly spell-off, MLB.com took to the streets to grill fans on some of the league’s most difficult names. Near the top of the list, obviously, were Boston Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski and former Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who’s now with the Miami Marlins.
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As you can tell, their attempts did not go so well. New York Mets pitcher Josh Edgin was finally able to nail the correct spelling of Pierzynski’s name, but not before some embarrassing fails from other fans, including one who spelled his name with a “g.” Fans fared somewhat better with Saltalamacchia — who owns the longest last name in the majors — but celebrity George Lopez had a pretty brutal attempt.
Also making cameos on the world’s toughest impromptu spelling bee were San Diego Padres infielder Jedd Gyorko, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija and Cleveland Indians pitcher Marc Rzepczynski.
Thank God for Brock Holt.
Hat tip to Cut4
