Wise gladly relives ‘Catch’

Every day Dewayne Wise is at the ballpark, someone asks the 51s outfielder about the spectacular catch he made to preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game for the White Sox on July 23, 2009.

Thursday was no different as Las Vegas shortstop Jonathan Diaz inquired about "The Catch" prior to the 51s' 13-9 loss to the Sacramento River Cats in 13 innings at Cashman Field.

"(Diaz) was telling me he watched it live," Wise said. "He was saying, 'How does it feel to have one of the greatest catches of all-time?'

"It's something I don't get tired of hearing. It's a good thing. That's the way I look at it."

With Chicago leading Tampa Bay 5-0, Wise entered Buehrle's perfect game -- one of only 20 in baseball history -- in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement in center field.

Gabe Kapler led off and crushed a ball that appeared headed over the wall in left-center at U.S. Cellular Field.

Wise sprinted back, planted his right foot on the wall, reached up and caught the ball in the webbing of his glove, which now resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. As Wise came down, he bobbled the ball before grabbing it with his bare left hand and tumbling away from the wall.

"I didn't know if it was in my glove," Wise said. "I knew it hit my glove and I hit the wall at the same time, so as I was looking up to see if it was in there, that's when I noticed it rolling out and I was able to bare-hand it as I was rolling."

The catch was named "Play of the Year" by MLB.com and remains the highlight of Wise's 15-year pro career.

"It was crazy," he said. "It was good, but I think if it was the third out of the inning, it would've been a lot better.

"I also felt like if I would've dropped the ball, the fans of Chicago probably would've killed me."

Buehrle presented Wise with a painting of the catch to commemorate the play.

"I got it hanging up in my living room right now. It's real nice," Wise said. "I'm just glad I was able to be a part of history and to help Buehrle be one of the few to have a perfect game."

Ironically, the player Wise replaced in the game was Scott Podsednik, who started in center for the 51s on Thursday next to Wise, who started in right.

Podsednik, a former All-Star, moved to left field in the perfect game -- replacing Carlos Quentin, who was removed -- and had a great view of the catch.

"Just to be a part of a perfect game was something to remember, but to be playing left field and get to see, up close, the catch that he made to preserve the perfect game was incredible," said Podsednik, 35. "The ball probably would've left the ballpark. He brought it back in and kind of juggled it on the way down, but was able to maintain his concentration and ultimately come down with the catch."

Nearly two years after Wise and Podsednik pursued that ball in the gap, the veterans -- whose lockers are next to each other in the 51s clubhouse -- are vying for a spot on the Blue Jays roster.

Wise, a .222 hitter in 722 career at-bats in the majors, has played for seven organizations and is in his third stint with Toronto. On Thursday he hit a three-run homer, added an RBI single, stole a base and went 3-for-5.

"I'm just thankful for the opportunity, at age 33, to keep playing," he said. "I've still got my speed, I still can play defense and I still can hit.

"They're going to have to force me out of this game to get me to retire."

■ NOTES -- Toronto sent outfielder Travis Snider and infielder Chris Woodward to Las Vegas.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.