Run Billy, run!
Remember Reds infielder Billy Bates?
He raced a cheetah prior to a game at Riverfront Stadium in 1990.
Billy's most famous moment
On June 9, 1990, Billy Bates was part of a trade that also brought Glenn Braggs to the Reds from Milwaukee in exchange for Ron Robinson and Bob Sebra.
Bates appeared in eight games during the 1990 regular season, going 0 for 5.
But his moment came in Game 2 1990 World Series.
With one out in the 10th, Reds manager Lou Piniella called on Bates to pinch-hit. He faced future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and beat out a grounder to reach base. After a Chris Sabo hit moved Bates to second, catcher Joe Oliver hit a hard grounder just fair past third and down the line. Bates raced home to a mob of his Cincinnati teammates.
Bates would not appear in a game the rest of the series as the Reds completed the sweep.
In fact Bates did not ever play another big league game again.
Billy Bates played in only 29 ML games in his career.