What was an ordinary regular season baseball game exactly four years ago today between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres turned into one of the more memorable moments in recent history. In the top of the second inning with Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon at-bat, most fans probably expected another strikeout. After all, Colon was 0-9 on the year with six strikeouts. His at-bats had already become a spectacle because of his unsuccessfully hard swings causing him to lose his balance and his helmet to fall off. At 42 years old, Colon had never hit a home run in his career that spanned over eight different teams and began when the wheel was invented. But as ridiculous as his hard, off-balance swings were, every fan wondered what would happen if he ever made good contact with the ball.

On May 7, 2016 they wondered no more. Facing Padres’ starter James Shields in Petco Park, the wannabe slugger connected on a fastball and sent it flying fairly deep over the left field wall. Everyone in attendance was absolutely stunned, including the players from both teams. Many could just smile, including Shields. Mets fans in the stadium erupted in stunned jubilation at what they just witnessed. The 42-year old Bartolo Colon slowly trotted around the bases, perhaps soaking in his historic moment or perhaps because that was as fast as his heavy frame allowed him to go. But even if it was because of the former, you can’t blame him because he just became the oldest MLB player ever to hit his first career home run.

What made the moment even better was the call from the broadcast booth. While fans in attendance got to celebrate at the scene, fans at home were treated with tv announcer Gary Cohen’s historic call. “IT’S OUTTTTTA HEEEERE! BARTOLO HAS DONE IT! THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS HAPPENED!” It was the perfect blend of stunned and excitement that made even people with no idea of the situation the sheer magnitude of the moment. A few moments later as Colon was making his way back to the dugout, Cohen followed that line with, “this is one of the great moments in the history of baseball.” And while that is definitely a reach, it was without a doubt one of the more memorable moments in recent and Mets history.

If it was just any ol’ pitcher to hit his first career homer at age 42, it would still be a big deal, but wouldn’t have had the same magnitude as it did with Bartolo Colon. The guy had one of the best personalities in baseball and continued impressing people every week with his athletic feats at such a veteran age with all that weight behind him. He seemed to defy all odds every time he took the mound while in a Mets uniform and in turn, developed a sort of cult following. Every baseball fan loved him, no matter what team they pulled for. So, with all of this considered, it’s safe to say that no one will soon forget the day “the impossible happened” four years ago in San Diego.

Garett

TBT: The Time the Impossible Happened