We were putting the final touches on this piece about baseball’s biggest postseason goats when, providently, our attention was distracted by the shout of an adjacent television set. Something of great, terrible importance had just occurred. We moved in to investigate and were stunned by what we saw.

Matt Holliday tried to catch a ball with his groin. No, really, he did. His less-than-balletic effort opened the door for the Dodgers, who promptly marched through it en route to a come-from-behind 3-2 win in the ninth inning.

Welcome to the postseason goat hall of fame, Matty. Its other members, listed below, welcome you warmly.

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees: Do you know how game 7 of the 1926 World Series ended? With Ruth’s bloated carcass splayed at second base after inexplicably attempting a steal, that’s how. Even the great ones occasionally don the goat horns.

 

 

Bill Buckner, Boston Red Sox: It’s incredibly unfair that Buckner has been scapegoated for Boston’s nigh-unbearable loss in game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Calvin Schiraldi couldn’t get a third out with the Sox up by two in the 10th inning, Bob Stanley uncorked a game-tying wild pitch and manager John McNamara removed Roger Clemens from the game prematurely. Alas, none of those screw-ups proved as cinematic as the Mookie Wilson ground ball that somehow trickled between Buckner’s legs. The guy notched 2,715 hits in the majors, yet this is what he’s remembered for. Life’s a bitch.

 

 

Donnie Moore, California Angels: The Angels were a single strike away—one, uno, einer, один, etc.—from advancing to their first-ever World Series in 1986 when Moore left the ball up for Boston’s Dave Henderson, who promptly deposited it behind the left-field fence. The Red Sox won the game and the next two; ironically, they similarly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory several days later (see under: Buckner, Bill). Moore never recovered from the failure and took his own life years later.

 

 

Herb Washington, Oakland A’s: The guy’s sole role on the A’s was as a pinch-runner. Seriously: he was an All-American sprinter who’d never played organized baseball at any level. So what does he do upon entering game 2 of the 1974 World Series? Get picked off in the ninth inning of a one-run game the A’s lost. Lucky for him, they eventually won the title.

 

 

Fred Snodgrass, New York Giants: In game 8 (really!) of the 1912 World Series, he dropped a popup in the 10th inning, which fueled a Red Sox rally that won the game. Of course, it’s not like anyone you know was around to see this. You’re just going to have to take our word for it.

 

 

Steve Bartman, superfan: Of course, it wasn’t his fault that the Cubs lost game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series, even though his (perfectly within the rules) interference with Moises Alou cost the team a certain out. But it’s easier to blame Bartman, with his low-brimmed cap and dorky headphones, than it is Dusty Baker (who left Mark Prior in the game too long) or Alex Gonzalez (who punted a sure-fire double-play grounder). We sure love us some nerdnick scapegoats here in the U.S. of f’in A. Whoo!

 

 

Mickey Owen, Brooklyn Dodgers: The Dodgers were poised to even the 1941 World Series at two games apiece. They were up by a run in the ninth with two outs and nobody on… or at least they were until Owen committed that most heinous of catcher atrocities, a passed ball on a swinging third strike. Given that lifeline, the Yankees did what they tend to do: namely, win the game and the series.

 

 

Willie Davis, Los Angeles Dodgers: What is it with the Dodgers and the goats? Davis, never renowned for his fielding prowess, destroyed game 2 of the 1966 World Series by committing three errors on back-to-back plays. First he lost a fly ball in the sun, then he dropped the next hitter’s fly ball and capped off his reign of error—a pun! a delicious pun!—by chucking the ball past the third baseman. To make matters worse, this game proved to be Sandy Koufax’s last. He deserved better.

 

Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals: And so we arrive back at our most recent gaffe hall of fame inductee. St. Louis fans are famously yay-for-everything-and-everybody! when it comes to their Cardinals, but there was a boo or three when they returned home to be finished off by the Dodgers. Sad. Shame on you, Matt Holliday, for souring the game’s least surly, most supportive fans.