Move on over, Kirk Gibson. You’ve got company when it comes to dramatic home run trots.
OK, so Sean Smith’s home run Friday night in a playoff game in the indepedent Atlantic League didn’t mean quite as much as Gibson’s 1988 World Series home run, but there’s no denying it was still pretty cool.
Smith, playing for the York Revolution, hit a game-tying home run in his team’s playoff game with the Sugar Land Skeeters. As Smith rounded first base, he tripped and injured himself. He could barely walk, but Smith was not going to be denied. He refused any sort of help and started to hop around the bases. He ended up hopping all the way around, much to the delight of the home crowd and his York teammates, who waited for him at home plate.
Smith finally made it around and was carried off the field.
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Fittingly, the Revolution ended up winning the game in extra innings.
And after the long, emotional night, Smith still stuck around to sign autographs after the game.
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[tweet https://twitter.com/bx22/status/515683769563774976 align=’center’]
It’s an awesome story and a chance for a guy like Smith to get his name in the headlines. The 32-year-old was a 15th round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000 but never reached the major leagues. Smith has bounced in and out of the minor leagues with 1,209 combined games between the minor and independent leagues.
(H/t to Larry Brown Sports)
