Hidden Ball Trick Run To Perfection

[@us-Bahn]

What really sells the trick is the mime show the 2B and SS put on. Masterful!

[@jamesa5720]

I was an assistant coach on a 13-year old TN select summer team many years back, and we made it to the semi-finals of a big three-day tournament and were paired against a team from FL who the night before, used a fake throw into right field to perfection. But our head coach was scouting the game and while we were warming up for our game with them, he warned everyone that they might try it again. They did, but he was the only one fooled and sent our kid from first who was quickly tagged out. His comment still lives with us all to this day: "I blowed that call".

[@anthonyscott4349]

I love this play. This play has been around for a very long time ago. I'm a 49 year old male and we did this exact play when I was 16 years old. It worked perfectly. Great job guys, perfectly executed!! 🤜💪

[@andrewjost6714]

I am 65 years old and we ran this play when I played in little league and it is amazing that it still works, and it likely worked for eons before my time...

[@davidthompson7817]

@@andrewjost6714😂…👏.

[@michaell874]

I love it. As a right handed pitcher, I used to at times, from the stretch, pick off a runner at 3rd base much the way a left handed pitcher often tries to pick off a runner at first. Great play!

[@jackdipasquale8199]

You're absolutely correct when you said always locate the ball first before leaving the base. Fundamentals can win you games or lose you games.

[@timmyt1232]

Super easy to say after the play. He would have been an idiot if it was thrown in the outfield and couldn't spot it when he was the go ahead runner and the third baseman probably yelled GO.

[@Durwood71]

@@timmyt1232 Yep. If the ball was hidden in the grass, and he missed a chance of getting to third because he stood there looking for it, then he would have been a chump. But he really had no chance here because the other team played the ruse to perfection with the second baseman and shortstop both pointing to the outfield and running after the fake ball.

[@dentonyoung4314]

The reason the third base coach isn't saying anything to the runner is that he was himself fooled and is thinking "I should have been yelling at the runner to stay on second."

[@BeckVMH]

Haha yep. But too, he and/or the 1B coach may have yelled, but were never heard in the moment.

[@danielcastiglione5328]

I have been in that coaches position, where I am yelling as loud as I can and the runner doesn’t hear, understand, listen… and then I walk off just like he did.

[@KeLLenDay24]

I dunno about that. Even if the coach had realized what was going on and yelled within that split second, the base runner was determined to run and would have stepped off the bag.

[@keithvanauken4652]

I was at the game and the 3rd base coach was yelling to stay at 2nd Base

[@vanessawagner1929]

😅

[@Bo-hb3eo]

Love that play. Done it many times. When it happens to you… It’s on the coaches, every time.

[@mirrorblue100]

Shortstop and second base really sold it.

[@brianmurphy2757]

2:18 Besides the hidden ball trick zaniness, this was a nice sports synchronization moment, too.

[@FranktheDachshund]

That pitcher's celebratory bellow blew everyone's hat off.

[@alsacrime4806]

Totally agree. Risk-reward says do it. Who cares if it doesn’t work? 2 out pick at second is huge.

[@kevinskogg2179]

3rd.

[@IAm-qf2xb]

@@kevinskogg2179Wtf he never got close to third base The runner was picked off second

[@kevinskogg2179]

@@IAm-qf2xb Actually I meant 3rd out. Maybe he meant trying it with 2 outs, and I meant the 3rd out. Either way I should been clear.

[@IAm-qf2xb]

@@kevinskogg2179 A two-out pickoff IS the third out, yes

[@stevebabiak6997]

With the yellow uniforms in the thumbnail, I thought this was going to be the Savannah Bananas playing ;)

[@Bsnsobscuregames]

Of course

[@AdventureswithSwifty]

Me too!

[@aaronstro7481]

The pitcher stepped off on purpose, it’s more motion to show the runner the throw is coming. 🤷‍♂️ Gonna add this to my list of plays for this season for sure!!. Great reminder for base runners too though!!!

[@howardmcelfresh4248]

I agree. I think the pitcher stepped off on purpose. He wanted to telegraph to the runner he was throwing to 2nd.

[@krisstroda759]

Exactly. Plus you don't want folks that don't know the rules hollering balk.

[@ronpeacock9939]

It's in the same vein as the old Immaculate deception pulled off by NCAA Miami way back in the 80's.. only it's to second rather than first.. love it. I've seen teams try to pull it off... but they have always made a mistake that fooled nobody.. and I had one team pick off a runner who was 4 steps off messing with his batting gloves and totally not paying attention... until they tag him and I rung him up then he looked up and uttered the famous last word... "What?"....

[@secularfoundingperiodhistory]

Life is a learning process. I would never have known about this until now. I think it's really cool that they tried it and it worked and the guy that got tagged out should not be ashamed. He should be rather proud that he was part of a very well staged stunt.

[@SDPBALLCOACH]

This stuff is GREAT!! it's a shame MLB doesn't do more of it.. After all it is just ENTERTAINMENT!!

[@randyjohnson8079]

I coached modified baseball in upstate NY for 3 years and we ran it a few different ways. Over 3 years we were 7 out of 9 times successful. Word got around to where the parents would yell out, "watch the hidden ball trick" every time I would mound visit. 😂 I still crack a smile as I type this😁

[@JetLagRecords]

Antonelli Baseball, This is great! I liked it and subscribed!

[@craiglacount89]

Genius! They ran it exactly as they planned! And it worked.

[@nickgoesvestmode]

The thing I like about the pitcher stepping off the rubber is that it just adds that extra movement to ensure the runner sees it and doesn't get caught flat footed. You aren't throwing the ball anyway so why would you do the fasted move possible? (Sure, if you caught the runner flat footed you might get him out anyway with a traditional throw but that isn't the play here, and the fielders weren't covering the base.)

[@Sterlingkataadem]

My sons team did thus twice at yesterday's game. It worked both times.

[@HistoryOnTheLoose]

Any time you're asked if you have a secret weapon, super, game winning play, always answer "Of couse. Several." Confidently and eyes up. Then spit.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

😂

[@rudykraft5526]

When I paid youth league baseball over 50 years ago I ran the hidden ball trick once as the first baseman and got the guy out. A few games later, I ran it again, but thepitcher, for some reason, stood on the mound and faked the pitch so it was a balk. And yes, everyone got upset at me and not at the pitcher.

[@jpr1845]

Ahhhhh Niiiice. I'm tellin right now, 💯 why this play worked. The Shortshop SOLD the Hell Outta the Ball Sailing into Left Field & the Runner Bought it Hook/Line & Sinker⚾️⚾️⚾️👏👏👏

[@Zappy1210]

Been a while, but in 1987 in an MD high school state semi-finals game we pulled off this play while I was pitching. The step back was the signal for 2B and SS to sell it. I would guess as a team that year we attempted the hidden ball trick 4 times, only worked the one time. But hey, 1 outa 4 isn't bad when you need that out. These guys sold it nicely, the runner will never fall for it again I assure you lol. I would guess even the base coach fell for it too or why wouldn't he have been waving the runner back? Or did the runner just not pay attention... idk.

[@garyhart2689]

The plate meeting is for going over your lineups, setting ground rules, reminding teams of the expectation of good sportsmanship and affirming that your players are legally and properly equipped. Your high school umpire had no business asking if you had a hidden ball trick.

[@RickyJSports]

This is awesome and I cant stop watching it. Respect to the second basemen for diving to help sell it lol amazing

[@cdrum5994]

The New Jersey team here is Delbarton. Few years ago both Jack Leiter and Anthony Volpe were on the same Delbarton team.

[@garydelgaudio5364]

Spectacular play ,,

[@TheBeefSlayer]

First I’ve seen this done this way. Cool.

[@Vincent-ni2zc]

Love the breakdown. Especially the part about the hats

[@jimsannerud6254]

As a referee, we will ask each coach before the game if they have any "special plays", but NEVER in the presence of an opponent. If they want to tell us, it's up to them, but it helps us to be prepared for anything unusual that might happen.

[@larrygarland3728]

I'm torn between understanding why you ask, and it just being your job to make sure the rules are followed by paying absolute attention when the ball is in play. Teams don't have to tell their strategy to officials. So, why ask?

[@bricknmotor]

​@@larrygarland3728 he literally answered your stupid question before you even asked your stupid question. What are you,stupid? 🤣🤣🤣

[@mr.roboto7330]

Referee? Umpire you mean?

[@Runwithme418]

​@larrygarland3728 if the ref/ump knows what craziness might happen, they can avoid making a call that rings it. I think there was an NFL game decided just a couple months ago when the refs called a guy ineligible when he tried tricking the other team about his eligibility. They were even told the trick ahead of time and screwed it up!

[@kevinskogg2179]

​@mr😊.roboto7330

[@madeconomist]

Their version was amazing simple because it required no actual throws. That helps make it so good in my opinion.

[@swordfromthemouth]

I pulled off the hidden ball trick in Pony one year as the CENTERFIELDER. Coach had no idea. My buddy Raphael was the pitcher. Sorry Kenny. You had no chance. Never take a lead when the pitcher isn't on the rubber, kids.

[@randywhitehair5403]

I've never seen this pulled off....I'm a fan!

[@Dcw-rp6ib]

My cousin and I did this back when I was 10 1968 as he was pitching and I was playing 3rd base. The kid kept jumping off the base so my cousin Bill threw the ball to me and I kept the ball in the mitt but acted like I threw the ball back to Bill who popped his mitt like he caught the ball. The kid jumped off the bag and I tagged him as he tried to dive back to the bag and I remember the umpire saying " Now your out".. lol worked great.

[@terkish]

Next time an umpire asks if you have a hidden ball trick just say yes even if you don't. Bet it will keep runners closer to the base.

[@epickett63]

Niiice... Just because you supposedly 'have' one doesn't mean you have to USE it. 🙂

[@fryncyaryorvjink2140]

I enjoyed how much you were laughing while narrating this lol

[@solanosmedia3764]

he made me laugh by him laughing!!!

[@TheBierp]

You can hear the joy in Matt's voice. Made me smile too. 😀

[@stephensaltau6481]

The pitcher didn't fool the 2nd base ump though.He saw the whole thing.

[@oldmaysfan6534]

I kept trying to verify that the pitcher had the ball in the glove when he tagged the poor guy. In the centerfield view, when he runs toward the runner, the pitcher clearly has the ball in his hand. He must have transferred before the tag. Wouldn't that have been rich if, after that great setup, the pitcher tagged the runner with an empty glove.

[@shawnheath3090]

Just after I hit a double as a sophomore in high school against a pitcher headed to an SEC college, I was quickly deflated when they got me on this exact same trick. The video is identical to what I remember of my “scene”. We were in the 3rd base dugout so I had to run towards my coach who had his hands on his hips and shaking his head and said sullenly. This was in the 1980s before cameras were ubiquitous. Still, I’d actually like to see video of that. Don’t worry about it lad. If that’s the worst make you ever make you will have lived a very successful life. I had other bad days in baseball. 3 throwing errors from 3rd in the same inning in college….

[@pauljaworski9386]

Billy martin playing 2nd base for the twins in the late 60ies pulled one on somebody. great stuff

[@toddstohs]

My brother's team ran this play in high school years ago and it worked just like this, but they didn't realize the runner on second was actually deaf and couldn't hear the third base coach yelling for him to stop. The opposing coach was furious at our coach for running that play against him!

[@joireland]

I've seen this done at first. It works similarly, but the pitcher throws the pickoff high (but catchable) to 1st base. The 1st baseman immediately turns and runs as if it were over thrown and similarly the 2nd baseman and right fielder have to sell it, run and yell "get the ball". Right fielder is the eyes for this one and yells "get him" when the 1st baseman should turn and throw to the short covering 2nd base (pitcher covers 1st too).

[@TFeld-nx9io]

Third base coach reaction is classic

[@bobbg9041]

The Royals won a world series doing game tricks like this, its as effective in MLB as it is in high-school and the thing is no one in MLB expects the other team will run a basic trick play. Not only can it work, but it makes the game fun.

[@AlexAlexander-c6c]

I like it as a former high school baseball coach I would incorporate that defensive play

[@ashleyburroughs928]

I believe the spin move to 2B must be thrown. Step back to become a fielder = no balk. Also, good idea to alert the official, if possible, that you know the rules and your P is going to step off first.

[@RyanRobbins007]

The pitcher need not disengage to feint to second.

[@RCfromtheNYC]

Ah, a classic! The most well-known hidden ball trick was from the 1982 College World Series, Miami vs. Wichita State. What a play! 😳

[@Will-nl6il]

Clever. Well done fellas.

[@steveo3831]

Very poor acting. But baserunner was a complete idiot

[@conrad4667]

Loved every second of it.

[@tubes-lut]

As an ump I sometimes catch myself starting to go from B. to C position on plays, the runners see me and realise they should be at third.

[@filmcale]

Great commentary

[@TheElezra]

I think the runner was fooled so much because when he gets up he can see bot the SS and the 2nd Baseman. I would be thinking if they are both in front of me there is no one covering the base. This was executed to perfection!!!

[@T1625-w7d]

That is on the third base coach. He has to make sure the ball is in the outfield before the runner goes to third. The runner can’t see the ball due to the slide. I have seen this play run a ton. I am a coach’s kid and grew up at the ballpark. I will not say what year this happened but it was a loooong time ago. We had a 13-14 year old in our league team that ran it. I as a player told my coach I knew the sign for it. Their coach would give signs to the catcher. When he stood up and put his hand on his hips it was on. My coach told me to shut up and go warm up. Sure enough they called on us and our coach got fooled, but I and the rest of the team were screaming from the dugout for the runner to stay at 2nd. He listen to us and it did not work. The coach turn around looked at me and said a few choice words. 😂 The coach was my buddies dad. He was not made at me. He was mad he didn’t listen to me.

[@jimbrock387]

Reminds me of "the grand illusion" play, u of Miami, cws, maybe 1982?

[@tonyfine4928]

That was most excellent, good stuffffffffff

[@randywhitehair5403]

I think all the baserunner is guilty of is being aggressive on the paths, which I'd never begrudge anybody of. Considering the situation (score, outs, inning), he saw an opportunity to possibly tie the game up, so he had a split second to decide what to do. Yeah, he didn't find the ball, but the defense did a good job of selling the ball being thrown away and making the runner make a snap decision in a rare scenario. This might not have worked in the 2nd inning, but they executed it at the perfect time and caught the kid trying to tie this game in the last inning.

[@levigoldson]

Yes, and if the ball really was out there if he just stood there in this close game doing nothing. He would have been blamed.

[@bjr4567]

@@levigoldson Bingo.

[@timsmith2525]

@1:42 people throw wild at all levels. From several other recent videos of yours, I've learned that players don't pay attention: Of course, you should run the hidden ball trick. Even if it it usually fails, you shake the confidence of the offense.

[@Durwood71]

The dude's victory shout was so powerful, it knocked his teammate's hat off.

[@andrewianni3856]

Pretty cool..One thing I noticed is the position of the infield umpire. I played in probably over a thousand games and I have never seen an umpire positioned that close in the infield before the pitch.

[@alanhess9306]

The base umpire was exactly where he should have been.

[@danthurman9076]

Always keep your eye on the ball, huge sucker play for sure !

[@captnnero]

That's ridiculous that the ump asked the managers if they have a hidden ball trick in front of the opposition. Anyway, you could say no and use it anyway.

[@timeonly1401]

Cute play!

[@danjr080273]

Like when Ryan Goins pulled the 2nd base hidden ball trick on Todd Frazier. Acted like he threw it to the picture but was holding onto it in his glove and tagged him out when he stepped off the base.

[@kt420ish]

Good clip

[@coleprovost4745]

Yea

[@duanewatson9556]

We ran this play in koury league until we got called out on it! Pitcher can't be on or astride the mound when me, the shortstop tagged the runner at 2nd out! Not the same exact play though 😮😊

[@chrisbriano3153]

As a former Player and Coach of Baseball and Softball and Current Umpire, I see ALOT of Good Trick plays and have modified a few as well. But one thing I do know the percentage of it or any 'Trick Plays' is this... The best time to do "An Deception/Trick Play" or Any kind of ''Backdoor Trick Plays''...In Baseball or Softball... IS... ANYTIME a "Sub" or ''Courtesy runner'' is put into a game, try it. There is a reason they are on the bench. Nothing wrong with being on the bench but you tend to lose focus. Then all of a sudden your number is called and you have coaches, players, fans all yelling towards them, they tend to think 'too much' or are overly hyped at wanting to take that extra base and maybe win the game. Also, those late game runners tend to not get to see much game action. That is the best time. Also everyone needs to be loud before the play to try to drown the base coaches voices out as well. Esp. of the type of 'trick' or backdoor play is gonna happen at 3b or 1b.

[@harryfrancis3532]

Third base coach: EPIC.

[@HPBenton1]

As good as the play was executed was this guy's commentary. Nobody wants to wear hats on this team. Except for this guy lol

[@oren000]

Nice play by the pitcher but the 3B coach should be disappointed in himself more than the runner. He needed to see this as it was happening and scream "stay stay stay" to the runner at the top of his lungs.

[@JimYeats]

Lol took place way too fast. That was the whole point. Runner made the decision to run as soon as he dove back and saw them all acting like it was an errant throw.

[@ghostdogzx-1474]

Bro, they were fooled. That’s the whole point. It works because nobody is watching for it. 💀

[@joshuaanderson4090]

Who says he wasn't? In that situation it's up to the runner cause it's not easy to hear and process what's being said from 100 feet away that quickly. And the runner got fooled. And a lot of us probably would too. It was well executed and they chose a great spot, the runners are gonna be super aggressive down, late game, with 2 outs.

[@CharoletteKirschbaum]

Even so the runner wasn't looking at third bass coach

[@scottrose-t5o]

Why would you even make such an accusation without having proof that he wasn't doing so? By the time you see the coach, the play is done. Maybe you should be disappointed in your ignorance.

[@6gatornation]

we seen the hidden sticky stuff trick when Vanderbilt and Florida played Florida coach notice Vanderbilt pitcher kept rubbing his arm and had the umpire go look at it then they threw him out the game they put another picture in that wasn't warmed up enough and he hurt his arm

[@jaystephens4343]

Dope, laughed more than once

[@dominicdahlheimer6861]

ALWAYS know where the ball is! Do it! If it works somehow-- --it a beautiful thing! ALWAYS-ALWAYS know where the ball is and no one gets fooled!

[@daviddejesus5376]

"Great play." ~ Ron Fraser

[@THEMACHINE1755]

When I played baseball and coached it, YOU ALWAYS LOCATE THE BASEBALL FIRST before you run

[@stevemiller8952]

This happened to me as a Coach during a State Tournment. I was coaching 3rd base and hollering to my runner on second to come to third. Then the Picture threw the ball to third and tagged him out

[@jonathanallen9039]

What the short stop and second base men did was called a Deek and made the man on second base believe the ball has been thrown

[@nickgoesvestmode]

@Antonelli, I think you are being a little generous in saying a lot of players would fall for this. I am thinking the south side of 20%. What do you think?

[@mattbrown2645]

This is a metaphor for so many things in life. To the runner: don’t feel bad- literally anyone who comments something negative about you here would have 100% fallen for it too.

[@caddyvandross7352]

Sold it so good, made the announcer second guess himself. 😂

[@majikman7355]

When 2B/SS are closer to the bag it's believable but to me what sells it is when the CF runs in certain direction as base runners head usually turned towards OF. HS team would do this at 1B and it's totally confusing when your base coach is yelling stay on the bag

[@gusty60]

The coach! 😄

[@bingcherry1122]

The next time they face this team the entire team will be on its guard. All the players and coaches will be on he look out for this team trying to pull some sneaky crap!!!! Their attention will be a lot more focused. And they will not take anything for granted!!! They will find it a lot more difficult to pull that trick again!!!! I really would like to see their next game they play them!!!!

[@PanDownTiltLeft]

That was hilarious!

[@danballe]

Aaaand some say that baseball is boring. 2:32 the video definition of: "Man! You played us like a fiddle, well executed... Ball Game OVER!!; GG!"

[@Coco-qz7fn]

Its a good play , the flex after a trick play was a bit over the top lol. Celebrate yeah but only flex when you dominate.

[@Lazyeyed_]

It's always fun to pull off😂

[@therealist6670]

The runner was making a quick decision and went with it. He probably thought he didn't notice if the ball was a bad throw to the base or not

[@spencermackay9020]

I'm laughing at the play, but more at Antonelli still laughing while recording - five hours after he laughed when he first got sent it.

[@ebw_servant_of_GOD]

First .... Great play..... Second.... Why would anyone admit they have a hidden ball tick play? If the Ump is not in the game then he needs to stay home in his recliner....

[@garydelgaudio5364]

Jose Ramirez,, keep eyes on ball,,!!!!!

[@kellyappel3015]

Short stop should've been running out to right field, but it worked.

[@someoneunknown3391]

Does this have any chance of working in the major leagues?

[@fifiwoof1969]

Genius technique by pitcher.

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

plus its been super windy and bitter outside. does the 3td base coach share any blame? Much Respect

[@markn1978]

If the pitcher stepped on the rubber without the ball, that was a balk. Therefore, a base runner should never step off base before they see the pitcher step on the rubber.

[@kls2020]

I remember hearing a funny story years ago involving a minor league catcher using a peeled potato sculpted to resemble a baseball . Runner on 3rd base with a lead towards home . Catcher wildly throws the potato over the 3rd baseman's head into the outfield in an apparent botched attempted pick off of the runner . As the runner was heading for home plate the catcher tags him out with the ball that was in his mitt the whole time . Umpire was not amused with the antic .

[@kevindailey2217]

Played 6 yrs in the Astros organization This is not a hidden ball trick It was a decoy trick. The pitcher had the ball and no one was hiding it The middle infielders simply dove as if the ball got away and it was the pitcher that made the tag A hidden ball trick is when an infielder has the ball and makes the tag The pitcher has to be outside the pitching circle area around the mound The infielder decoys by putting the ball under his arm pit and then shows his throwing hand and empty glove to the pitcher making sure the runner sees he's not holding the ball in his glove The pitcher can grab the rossen bag and walk outside the pitching circle. As soon as the runner steps off the base the infielder tags him This usually happens on a ball that came in from the outfield or when theres a pick off attempt where the runner has to dive back and loses sight of the ball.

[@thebarreiro]

Coach was born in the 80’s, Bad news bears style!