If any of you are wondering who in the world Jeffrey Maier is, think back to the 1996 ALCS. During that playoff series, the Yankees and the Orioles squared off for the right to go to the World Series. In game one of that series, the Orioles had the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Derek Jeter, a young Yankees shortstop at the time, stepped into the batter's box hoping to make a difference in the game. It turns out that he did... sort of. Jeter sent a towering fly ball to right field, but it looked like it was catchable. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a 12 year-old fan, named Jeffrey Maier, turned into Inspector Gadget and extended his "go-go gadget arms" to snatch the ball from over Tony Tarasco's head. The play was ruled a home run, and Tarasco went crazy understandably. Nonetheless, the call remained a home run, and the game was tied at 4. More importantly, the momentum had shifted to the team in pinstripes, who would win the game later on in 11 innings.

Eventually, the Yankees went on to win the series 4-1, and went on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series for their first of three championships in a four year span. But New Yorkers should not forget the heroics of their greatest fan, Jeffery Maier, who single-handedly propelled the Yankees forward in their time of need. Many people will deny Maier's role in aiding the Yankees championship run, but had they lost game 1 at home in the ALCS, things could have been a lot different. 

One person who definitely recognized the importance of Maier's play was, then Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who awarded the 12 year-old a key to New York City. In addition, there was a railing added to the top of the wall in Yankee Stadium in order to prevent another controversey like this from happening. So although more people might be familiar with the name Steve Bartman, (sorry Chicago fans), just remember, Jeffrey Maier did it first! (And he actually HELPED his team)