Bo Jackson Guns Down Harold Reynolds

Auburn Twitter stalwart "Jordan Hare" brought one of Bo's great moments to mind this week:

OTD in 1989 Bo Jackson gunned down Harold Reynolds at home plate from the warning track in right field.

— Jordan-Hare (@AU_History) June 5, 2016

The Throw happened on June 5, 1989, in a game between the Mariners and Royals at the old Kingdome.  The Royals jumped out to an early 3-0 lead but the Mariners rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth.  Bo had a quiet day at the plate, getting a hit and a walk in six at bats while swiping his 16th base on the year.

The Mariners looked to end the game in the bottom of the 10th.  Dave Cochrane led off the inning with a walk but was then caught stealing.  Harold Reynolds reached on an infield hit.  That's where we pick up play.

Scott Bradley worked the count full, allowing the speedy Reynolds to get an early lead.  Bradley ripped a line drive to the left field corner.  Reynolds intended to score from first as soon as he saw the ball reach the wall.  Reynolds had excellent speed and had swiped 60 bags in 1987 so he justifiably felt that he had the speed to beat any throw home.

Bo got a favorable carom off the wall, turned and fired flat-footed with no crow hop or running start.  The left field corner near where Bo stood was 316' from home plate.  Bo released the ball from just inside the warning track, 310' away about the time Reynolds rounded third.

Royals catcher Bob Boone was already walking off the field when he realized Bo was going to try to make the throw.  The throw reached Boone in the air, in the strike zone, who tagged out Reynolds with a good 3' to spare.  Bo's throw had traveled 310' in the time it took Reynolds to run 57'.  Recent analysis suggests that Bo's throw left his hand at over 96 mph and reached home in 3.15 seconds.

Reynolds demanded to know who cut the throw off.  Boone replied that no one had cut it off.  Reynolds replied "He's not supposed to be able to do that." Reynolds looked out into the outfield to see Bo pointing at him.

Reynolds later said of the throw that it was the "greatest throw in the world."

Here's another clip on the throw.

The Royals took advantage of the reprieve, going on to win 5-3 in 13 innings.

Bo probably wouldn't be in Cooperstown even if he had stayed healthy and had played baseball exclusively.  But due to his unrivaled athletic talent, Bo had more moments that anyone I can remember where it looked like the laws of the game just didn't apply to him.