The Coolest Baseball GIF of All Time

Carson Cistulli’s infatuation with specific pitches and Jeff Sullivan’s desire to highlight the bizarre and hilarious have led to some great GIFs on FanGraphs over the last few years. But, today, I think we all have to acknowledge that the art form of the GIF has been perfected. Or, at least, has hit a new high. Because this is simply incredible.

DarvishGIF

A commenter on Lone Star Ball created this image, showing the difference in movement on Yu Darvish’s pitches, and I can’t stop watching this. Mesmerizing is probably the best word I can use.

Thanks to Drew Sheppard — the guy has a webcomic, by the way, which deserves a plug just because of how great this GIF is for making this — for originally posting it to Lone Star Ball. I hope this inspires Drew (or others) to make more of these, though it might be that the Darvish one will never be topped. This feels like the Mona Lisa of GIFs.

Also, good luck to opposing hitters trying to hit Yu Darvish.





Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.

72 Comments
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Jay
10 years ago

Wow!

tylersnotes
10 years ago
Reply to  Jay

yeah, “best gif ever” is high praise in a world where this exists: http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1207006/cc-and-spidey2.gif

but this truly is a new high in gif-dom. The implications are astounding.

jason
10 years ago
Reply to  tylersnotes

That did NOT really happen? Did it…? That’s in true YES-Mo!

Jonathan
10 years ago
Reply to  tylersnotes

I stand by the belief that nothing will ever beat the 2012 Astros GIF. A defining moment in “bad at baseball.”

http://1.media.todaysbigthing.cvcdn.com/90/52/e8d24d935261fd3ab7049864e830768a.gif

taprat
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

I agree with this. This is my favorite GIF ever.

gouis
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

+1

tylersnotes
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

instead of superimposing pitches on top of each other, the best gif would probably superimpose astros fielding errors.

MajorDanby
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

cue the benny hill theme song

MDLmember
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

What is this, Angels in the Outfield?

Balthazar
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Just devilishly awesome; there ought to be a mercy rule for sequences like this. And you know, you KNOW, when the OFer is going for the ball _exactly_ what he’s going to do with it. This has to be all time top 100 worthy.

Straw Man
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

The best part about this GIF, imo, is the third baseman who looks as if he is attempting to block the throw

John Roberts
10 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

That first baseman needs to be arrested for reckless endangerment. Who was that?

sam
10 years ago
Reply to  tylersnotes

This gif is like a permanently open tab in my browser now.