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Never before has the MLB reached a broader audience than it has today. The highest tier of America's favorite pastime has become globalized. Most of baseball's big markets outside the states are in the Spanish-speaking parts of the Americas and in East Asia with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
The MLB's worldwide appeal flexed its muscle once again in Game 3 of the ALCS between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees on Thursday. On the Spanish commentary desk for the game were Rafa Hernandez-Brito and Carlos Baerga, a member of the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame.
In the bottom of the ninth inning with one runner in scoring position and two outs, Dominican outfielder Jhonkensy Noel smacked a game-tying home run to level the score at 5-5 and give the Guardians an extra innings. What would not be forgotten though, is the call that both Hernandez-Brito and Baerga made.
"Spanish call of Jhonkensy Noel’s Game 3 home run is a classic “Feliz Navidad!”" - @ BIGPLAY
The duo's excitement were evident, with Hernandez-Brito suddenly breaking into a song of Feliz Navidad. The Spanish-lyric song literally translates to "Merry Christmas." That correlates to the Dominican rookie's nickname of "Big Christmas," which was derived from his surname Noel meaning Christmas in Latin.
MLB fans couldn't lauded what was perhaps one of the most memorable calls in MLB postseason history. Here are some of the reactions on X/Twitter:
"I am now fluent in Spanish," one fan claimed.
"Feliz Navidad is such an awesome call lmfao," one fan exclaimed.
"If I had to listen to the announcer singing Feliz Navidad after the opposing team hit a game tying 2 out home run in the 9th inning AND we lost, I’d never recover," a fan humorously claimed.
Fans not only found the funny side to the call. Some felt that it could be one of the greatest calls ever and praised both Hernandez-Brito and Baerga.
"This is so good. Just listen. Even if you don't speak Spanish. I promise you'll love it," a fan wrote.
"God, I am so happy that we have @ElalcaldeRafa and Carlos Baerga calling these games en Español," a fan praised the duo.
"I love Hammy but this might be the best call of them all," a fan noted.
"Welp, I’ve heard the most perfect call in sports history," a fan added.
The game proved once again that sometimes, emotions and delivery transcend even high stakes moments in sporting events.
Historic MLB moment in ALCS Game 3
History was made in Game 3 of the MLB ALCS between the Guardians and the Yankees. According to OptaStats, it was the first game in history to have a four separate 2-out game-tying or go-ahead HR in the eighth inning or later in the same game, regular season or postseason.
Aaron Judge tied the game at 3-3 late in the eighth inning with his two-run home run, with Giancarlo Stanton following it up with a solo shot. With the Yankees leading 5-3, Jhonkensy Noel tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. David Fry ended the game in extra innings after a two-run blast in the 10th inning.
