Spin Moves, Slugfests, and a Swing for the Ages 🏟️

What do a reverse hurdle, a phantom home run, and a 580-foot blast have in common?

They all made us yell, “Did that really just happen?”

Let’s dive into three things we’ll be talking about long after today’s games…

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1️⃣ Ask, and You Shall Receive 🎮

On Sunday, Jake, Rowan, and Sam dropped some epic video game-meets-sports ideas in the comments. Monday, Jake asked for more video game stories. And today?

We’ve got one that’s so unreal… it just landed on the actual cover of a video game.

Last November, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley caught a short pass, spun one defender into a tumbleweed, juked another, and then… did a reverse hurdle. That’s not a typo. He turned his back, jumped backwards, and soared over a human being for five more yards.

Saquon’s reverse hurdle; image courtesy The Reporter

🎥 Let’s watch the move that leveled him up…

Now he’s the face of Madden NFL 26, and the newest member of the Madden 99 Club… a video game Hall of Fame for football’s most unstoppable players.

Maybe you’re wondering… what’s Madden? Named after legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden, Madden NFL is the most famous football video game ever. Every year, a new version lets fans control real NFL teams and players… calling plays, breaking tackles, and chasing championships.

Being on the cover? That’s like being a superhero with your own comic books. It means you didn’t just play the game… you changed it.

🎤 Let’s say you made the cover of a video game! What’s your sport… and what’s your unstoppable move?

2️⃣ Comebacks, Curveballs, and... Wait, What? ⚾

We’ve talked baseball stars. We’ve covered big wins. But sometimes, it’s the weird, wacky, and whoa moments that baseball fans remember most.

Here are three recent situations that belong in the “Did That Just Happen?” Hall of Fame:

🎢 The Twins' Epic Comeback

A few days ago, the Minnesota Twins found themselves trailing the Seattle Mariners 6–3 in the ninth (and final) inning. With two outs, the Twins launched a two-run homer, and followed that up with a game-tying single. Extra innings!

In the 10th inning, Carlos Correa hit a two-run homer, igniting a six-run rally that sealed a 12–6 victory.

Want to watch the odds ride like a roller coaster? Here’s the win probability chart from the game…

Image courtesy Aaron Gleeman on X

See if you can find the moment in the 9th inning where the Twins made the comeback!

This remarkable turnaround marked the first time in MLB history that a team was trailing by three or more runs with two outs in the ninth inning… and ended up winning by six.

🫢 The Home Run That Wasn't

The night before the Twins’ comeback, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Weston Wilson crushed a pitch down the left-field line, appearing to hit a home run.

He confidently rounded the bases, only to discover upon reaching home plate that the ball had been ruled foul by the third-base umpire. Despite the stadium's home-run celebration, turns out it was just strike one.

🎥 Celebration canceled!

📏 Trout’s Power, From A to Z

Some home runs barely clear the wall. Others soar into the stratosphere. This season, Mike Trout has done both!

In one game, he hit the shortest home run of the season at just 320 feet. It barely cleared the fence… but hey, they all count the same.

Then came the other end of the spectrum: a 484-foot moonshot that landed deep into the stands. That’s the longest home run anyone’s hit this season… nearly the length of one and a half football fields!

The shortest was sneaky. The longest… well, it might still be traveling.

It’s a perfect snapshot of Trout’s greatness. Even after injuries slowed him down, he’s still one of the only players who can go from flick to firework.

🧠 Math Challenge! 🧠

Mike Trout hit a home run that flew 484 feet from home plate. The outfield wall he cleared is about 390 feet from home. How far past the wall did the ball go?

3️⃣ One Swing, 88 Years Ago Today 💥

So Mike Trout hit a home run 484 feet…

But what about 580 feet?

That’s the number attached to one of the most legendary blasts in baseball history. And it happened on this day: June 3, 1937.

The place? New York’s old Yankee Stadium.

The player? Josh Gibson.

Gibson waits on deck; image courtesy TrentTBTEDI on Reddit

🕰️ So… who was Josh Gibson?

Gibson was one of the greatest power hitters of all time. He played in the Negro Leagues, a group of baseball leagues where Black players competed during a time when Major League Baseball excluded them simply because of the color of their skin.

The leagues were full of talent, heart, and history… and for many years, their stats weren’t counted alongside MLB records. That changed recently. Now, Josh Gibson officially leads all of Major League Baseball in career batting average at .371 (meaning he got a hit nearly 4 out of 10 at bats)!

That’s right… better than Babe Ruth. Better than anyone.

🎥 Want to learn more about Gibson’s greatness? Here’s a short video that brings his story to life.

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Some moments you control with a joystick. Some you witness with wide eyes.

And some, like Josh Gibson’s swing, echo across 88 years.

Keep watching, dreaming, and playing, Smallball-ers! We’ll see you tomorrow!

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