This might be the dumbest play in Major League Baseball history

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't won the World Series since 1979, haven't been to the playoffs since 2015, and haven't had a player of note since Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole both departed after the 2017 season. But Pirates first baseman Will Craig made his own dubious history in a game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, with what may be charitably described as one of the worst fielding decisions in professional baseball's 152 years.
In the top of the third inning — with two outs and a runner on second base — the Cubs' Javier Báez hit a routine ground ball to third base. Pirates third baseman Erik Gonzalez threw wide to first, pulling Craig off the base; Craig, instead of merely retreating to the bag to end the inning, made the fateful decision to tag Báez. That tag never came. Watch the full video below, if you dare; calliope music not currently included.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jacob Lambert is the art director of TheWeek.com. He was previously an editor at MAD magazine, and has written and illustrated for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and The Millions.
-
5 costly cartoons about the national debt
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on the USA's financial hole, rare bipartisan agreement, and Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
-
Green goddess salad recipe
The Week Recommends Avocado can be the creamy star of the show in this fresh, sharp salad
-
The Biden cover-up: a 'near-treasonous' conspiracy
Talking Point Using 'Trumpian' tactics, the former president's inner circle maintained a conspiracy of silence around his cognitive and physical decline
-
Have the Rockies reached a breaking point?
the explainer Baseball's most aimless franchise takes aim at a record set just last year
-
MLB lifts ban on Pete Rose, other dead players
speed read 16 deceased players banned for gambling and other scandals can now be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
-
Torpedo bats could revolutionize baseball and players are taking notice
In the Spotlight The new bats have been used by the New York Yankees with tremendous success
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey final
Speed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX
speed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
Dodgers' spending spree renews push for salary cap
The Explainer Spending limits might not be the answer that smaller market teams are looking for
-
Indian teen is youngest world chess champion
Speed Read Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, unseated China's Ding Liren
-
How much is Juan Soto worth?
Today's big question Will the New York Mets regret the record-setting mega-contract signed by the coveted outfielder?