NEW YORK, NY – Former Major League outfielder Carl Everett will be celebrating his 54th birthday on June 3rd. This fifteen-year veteran had a storied career that included a World Championship with the Chicago White Sox in 2005 and breaking up a perfect game on national television in 2001.
Everett was one of the most humble big-leaguers I’ve ever been around. It was 2008, when Everett was playing in the independent Atlantic League with the Long Island Ducks, when he told me about his at-bat that broke up future Hall of Famer Mike Mussina’s perfect game.
Mussina’s Yankees were playing the Boston Red Sox on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, when Mussina was mowing down the Red Sox hitters. The score was 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, with Mussina needing one more out to complete a perfect game.
Everett wasn’t in the starting lineup because of a tooth extraction he had earlier that day. He was napping on the trainer’s exam table during Mussina’s masterpiece, when a clubbie informed him he was needed to pinch-hit for the 9th inning.
A groggy Everett got himself together and made his way onto the on-deck circle, getting ready to pinch-hit for Joe Oliver. As Everett checked out the scoreboard, his eyes centered on the runs. He saw that his team was down 1-0, and then he focused on Mussina, who he last faced on May 24th. Everett went 0 for 4, with 4 strikeouts that day.
The first pitch was Ball 1, a checked swing produced a foul ball, and the next pitch was blown by Everett for a 1-2 count. With two outs and two strikes, Mussina delivered a high fastball that Everett drilled towards center field. A solid single that ended any chance of history being made.
Everett said he looked at the scoreboard and noticed only one hit for his team. He kept waiting for his hit to pop up on the hit slot. Everett waited and waited and then asked his first base coach, “Was that the first hit?” The coach responded, “You just broke up a perfect game!” Everett had no clue what was going on, as he was recovering from his tooth extraction.
The former 1990 first round draft pick for the Yankees was telling me this as if it happened the day before. It was still very fresh in his mind.
He continued that if he knew the situation, he probably would’ve made the last out, because his approach would have been more aggressive. Instead, he went up to the plate with a batting practice mentality. He was just up there to hack, and hack he did.
Trot Nixon was the next batter and he grounded out to end the game. After 270 career wins and a HOF induction, the Everett at-bat still bothers Mussina to this day.
Happy Birthday Carl, and wishing your toothache has healed completely.
