“Dewayne’s Rise”: Video of the Dewayne Wise Catch That Saved Mark Buehrle’s Perfect Game

After throwing the 18th perfect game in Major League history yesterday, Mark Buehrle has naturally and deservedly been receiving tons of praise, including a phone call from the President himself. But another man’s contribution to Buehrle’s perfect day should not go unnoticed.

That man is reserve outfielder Dewayne Wise, and I have been happy to hear that everyone who has discussed Buehrle’s achievement yesterday has quick to point out the amazing catch by Wise that prevented Gabe Kapler from ending the perfection in the first at-bat of the 9th inning.

If you have no seen it, watch the video below of the Dewayne Wise catch that Hawk Harrelson has called one of the greatest catches he has seen, considering the circumstances, in his 50 years of baseball. From now one, I will simply call it “Dewayne’s Rise” and it will be forever etched in my memory as one of the great feats of athleticism and clutch defensive work in the history of the Chicago White Sox.

Update: Looks like the video below has been removed. Follow the link to watch video of Dewayne Wise’s perfect-game-saving catch .

“Dewayne’s Rise”: Video of Dewayne Wise Catch that Saved Perfect Game by Mark Buehrle

The 2009 season has not gone as Wise had planned. He entered Spring Training in a three-man race for the CF and leadoff slots, and ultimately beat out Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson to begin the year in the starting lineup. But Wise has never found a comfort level at the plate this year and is hitting just .196 through 97 ABs.

Dewayne Wise is a 31-year old journeyman who has played for Toronto, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and the White Sox, never ammassing more than 162 ABs in a season. Many people, including Dewayne himself probably, thought this could be the year in which he finally got 400-500 ABs to prove that he can be an everyday player at the Major League level. It has not happened, and I can only imagine how frustrated he must be.

But very few players have the opportunity to make a play that will forever etch their name and image into the fabric of a franchise. Dewayne Wise may never start consistently for the White Sox, or anyone else for that matter. He may never emerge as more than 4th or 5th outfielder and defensive replacement. He will, however, always be able to pop in a tape of Mark Buehrle’s perfect game and take pride in the fact that he rose to the occasion when his number was called and put a spectacular bow on the 18 most spectacular pitching performances in the history of game.

I’ve been one of many people who have wondered why Ozzie Guillen has stuck with Wise this season. Yesterday, Dewayne proved why he is worthy of a spot on the White Sox roster. It is ironic that one of baseball’s worst defensive teams would have perhaps the most indellible and meaningful defensive play of the season. That it was the unsung and unheralded Dewayne Wise makes it all the most surprising…and rewarding.

But Dewayne Wise will now go down in history right along with Mark Buehrle as the co-authors of yesterday’s perfect game. Congratulations Dewayne on seizing your opportunity to etch your name in White Sox lore.

Related Reading:

• Wise catch deserves to be immortalized — (Ted Keith, SI.com)

* – Dewayne Wise catch photo credit: Phil Velasquez / AP Photo via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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