Greg Olson always had a thing for the dramatic.
The former Braves catcher, who didn’t hit the major league scene until he was 29, is shown here in Game 1 of the 1991 World Series in Minnesota after taking a hard hit from Dan Gladden, doing a backwards somersault and still holding on to the ball. Sports Illustrated featured the play on the cover of the magazine and it remains one of the top 100 SI photos of all-time.
“If I’m telling the story, what I like to say is when do you get a chance to get on the cover of SI, you do it … not really,’’ said Olson.
Olson, who played in all but one inning of the seven games in that World Series, was an excellent defensive catcher and, at more than 200 pounds, was tough to knock off the plate. He was also extremely flexible.
The play took place in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, one out and reliever Jim Clancy in for starter Charlie Leibrandt. The Twins led 4-0 and had Brian Harper at the plate, who already had two hits in the game.
On a 2-2 count, Harper drove a ball into left field which Brian Hunter caught on the run. Gladden tagged up, Hunter twirled and threw right to third baseman Terry Pendleton, who turned and riffled a throw to Olson, who had come up the line to catch the ball.
Olson handled the throw and, with both feet planted, prepared himself for the hit. Gladden came in with his spikes up and his left leg went hard into Olson’s right shin guard, the momentum flipping the catcher backwards. Olson, maintaining a hold on the ball, actually landed on his feet to complete the double play.
“The reason the play happened was because the throw was at my shoelaces,’’ said Olson, now 54, and living in Eden Prairie, Minn. “If that ball is thrown to my chest, I just catch it and extend my hands and tag him and get out of the way. I don’t think Gladden did anything dirty. He played hard and I was always very flexible and could do a cartwheel and a roundoff.’’
The Braves would lose the game 5-2 but the play was certainly one of the best in what some believe was the greatest World Series ever played.
