Two Guys Always United by a Moment

With Derek Jeter winding through his final major league season, many of his greatest moments are being saluted: the "flip" play against the A's in the 2001 playoffs; the dive into the stands to make an unbelievable catch against the Red Sox; his opening day home run as a rookie against the Indians.

When the Yankees hosted the Nationals in a spring training game on March 3rd, we had a less publicized reunion -- as The Captain gave a warm hug to Tony Tarasco, who was coaching 1st base for Washington.

They will always be connected by game one of the 1996 ALCS. Of course that game is known to many for the spectator who became part of the action -- Jeffrey Maier.

Leaning forward out of the right field stands at Yankee Stadium, Maier snagged the fly ball that appeared to be on its way... to Tarasco's glove. The Orioles right fielder that night, Tarasco went back to the wall preparing to catch the ball that never came down. Despite his protests, the play was ruled a home run, as the Yankees went onto win the game, the series and eventually, the World Series.

Eighteen years later, any bitterness between Tarasco and Jeter had vanished -- as the guys shared a more cordial moment early in this final year of Jeter's remarkable career.

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