NYC – Jazz Chisholm Jr. made baseball history Sunday without his shoes on.
The New York Yankees second baseman lost both cleats during a wild 4-2 comeback victory over the Baltimore Orioles. His barefoot dash home in the second inning drew comparisons to legendary figure Shoeless Joe Jackson from over a century ago.
Chisholm didn’t stop there. He delivered the game-winning two-run double in the eighth inning while wearing fresh spikes. The performance capped one of the most memorable individual games at Yankee Stadium this season.
The victory snapped a troubling skid for New York. The Yankees had dropped seven of their previous eight games before Sunday’s dramatic turnaround.
“Wow. Is that how ‘Shoeless Joe’ got his name?” Chisholm asked when informed of the century-old parallel. “Oh, so he wasn’t wearing shoes.”
Wild collision launches viral moment
AP Photo/Pamela Smith
The bizarre sequence began during the second inning after Chisholm doubled off Dean Kremer. DJ LeMahieu followed with a single to left field, sending Jazz racing toward home plate.
His first cleat came loose while rounding third base. The second shoe flew off during a violent collision with Orioles catcher Maverick Handley at the plate. The impact sent dirt flying and caused Handley to drop the ball.
Chisholm crawled to home plate on his hands and knees to complete the scoring play. The barefoot runner slapped the plate with his hand as teammates erupted from the dugout.
“I was so sweaty. My socks were wet. Everything had just slipped straight out,” Chisholm said of his size 10½ Jordan 1 spikes.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone couldn’t contain his amusement after witnessing the play.
“He had dirt all over his face when I walked out there. Looked like glitter on his face. We were all kind of screaming,” Boone said.
Handley required attention from trainers and left the game. Chisholm remained in the contest despite the jarring collision.
Century-old baseball legend gets modern update
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Shoeless Joe Jackson earned his famous nickname in 1908 after blistered feet forced him to play without shoes. Jackson homered in that barefoot performance over 115 years ago.
Chisholm’s shoeless sprint created an unexpected link to baseball’s earliest era. The Yankees haven’t witnessed anything comparable in their storied franchise history.
Even team captain Aaron Judge was impressed by the unique display.
“I saw a lot of firsts,” Judge said. “11:30 game to a guy losing both his shoes. I’ve seen one cleat kind of running but not both like that. That was awesome.”
The comparison to Jackson adds another layer to Chisholm’s growing legend in pinstripes. His aggressive style continues to generate memorable moments for Yankees fans.
Clutch eighth-inning rally by Chisholm secures Yankees’ win
Chisholm saved his best work for the decisive eighth inning. The Yankees trailed 2-1 when Ben Rice opened with a single. Giancarlo Stanton added another base hit to put runners on the corners.
Paul Goldschmidt entered as a pinch-runner for Stanton. The veteran was making his first career appearance in that role according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Chisholm worked the count to 3-0 before attacking a fastball from Bryan Baker. He crushed a 384-foot double off the right-center field wall, scoring both runners to give New York its first lead.
“I wasn’t going to swing if it wasn’t a fastball,” Jazz said. “That’s what I live for. That’s how I grew up playing baseball.”
The drama continued when LeMahieu hit a grounder to short with Chisholm on third. Another collision occurred at home plate as Gary Sánchez couldn’t handle the throw cleanly.
Chisholm was initially called out but teammates shouted for him to touch the plate. A replay review overturned the call, giving the Yankees crucial insurance.
“I was like, ‘OK,’ and I touched the plate,” Chisholm said with a grin.
Hot streak continues after injury break
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The 27-year-old has been New York’s most consistent offensive weapon since returning from a right oblique strain. He missed 28 games with the injury before returning on June 3.
Chisholm has posted a .350 batting average since his comeback. His OPS approaches 1.000 over that span, demonstrating remarkable improvement at the plate.
Sunday’s 2-for-4 performance raised his season average to .242. More importantly, it showcased his ability to deliver in clutch situations.
“Quietly doing a really good job having quality at-bats,” Boone said. “He’s taking a little bit of what the game’s giving him.”
Teammates have embraced Chisholm’s passionate approach despite its unconventional moments. His energy has become contagious throughout the Yankees clubhouse.
Before returning to the field after his collision, Chisholm changed into dry socks and new cleats. He asked rookie Jasson Domínguez to tie his shoes.
“They say he’s the best shoe tier,” Chisholm laughed. “I didn’t understand it until he actually did. It took me like a minute to take off my shoes just now.”
Goldschmidt makes history with pinch-running debut
While Chisholm dominated headlines, Paul Goldschmidt quietly achieved a career milestone. The 37-year-old first baseman made his debut as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning.
The future Hall of Famer executed perfectly on Chisholm’s double. His veteran presence and baseball IQ proved valuable in the pressure situation.
Chisholm expressed admiration for Goldschmidt’s willingness to take on an unfamiliar role.
“He was the guy that everybody really watched doing baserunning,” Chisholm said of Goldschmidt, who was a star in Arizona’s system when Jazz was still coming up. “Even when I got to Miami, he was still the blueprint.”
Victory could signal season-changing momentum
Sunday’s comeback represented more than just one win in the standings. The gritty performance demonstrated character that had been missing during the recent losing streak.
New York entered the game struggling in late-inning situations all season. The dramatic rally showed this Yankees team possesses the clutch gene necessary for success.
Chisholm’s fearless style epitomized the energy needed to turn around a disappointing campaign. His willingness to sacrifice his body for victories has inspired his teammates.
Giancarlo Stanton delivered the perfect message to Chisholm after the game.
“Go out there. Keep playing like that,” Stanton told Jazz. “You don’t need them.”
The veteran’s endorsement of Chisholm’s shoeless style speaks to the impact he’s making in the clubhouse. Sometimes the most memorable victories come from the most unexpected moments.
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