Joba & the Midges

Not sure why they didn't wait for some sort of anniversary date for it, but The Ringer has an article about the infamous Joba Chamberlain midges game:

For everyone involved, the “Bug Game” remains one of the strangest experiences of their sporting lives—an unthinkable ecological conflation of events interfering with a rookie phenom right before the greatest closer in MLB history could take the mound. The ramifications and second guesses from that night have since become part of baseball folklore, bolstered by the indelible, insectified imagery and subsequent fall matchups between the two organizations. Almost 14 years later, those in attendance still talk about the moment less like a playoff classic than an act of god.

Amid this unexpected frenzy, Chamberlain became rattled and lost his command; one walk and two wild pitches later, the rookie had allowed the Indians to tie the game at one. “It was just impossible to focus on throwing strikes,” says Roger Clemens, who had a front-row seat from the visiting dugout. “It should have been treated as a rain delay.”

I remember that game like it was yesterday; today I look back like man, back in 2007 we Yankees fans still assumed we'd at least make it to the World Series every year. Different, headier times indeed.

BONUS: enjoy this 2008 Joba Chamberlain Xmastime classic. You're welcome, people!