Top 5 Most Devastating Instances of the Yips in Baseball History

Professional athletes are bound to make mistakes occasionally. An air ball, a dropped pass, or a wild pitch is expected. But what occurs when a player seemingly loses their ability almost entirely, suddenly, and without explanation? That’s when you encounter a true case of the yips.

The term "yips" originally described golfers who faltered on short, easy putts under pressure. However, it has since been applied to other sports and signifies more than just a single error. In baseball, one mistake can significantly impact a game. Thus, even a brief case of the yips can harm a team's performance and a player's career.

Let’s examine five of the most severe cases of the yips in baseball—and hope your favorite player isn’t affected the next time they step onto the field!

5: Steve Blass

In 1971, Steve Blass played a pivotal role in leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series victory and narrowly missed out on the World Series MVP award, finishing just behind Roberto Clemente [source: CBS]. The following year, he earned a spot on the MLB All-Star team. However, just one year later, his baseball career came to an abrupt end. What went wrong?

There was no injury, no age-related retirement, and no personal issues affecting his focus. The only change was that Steve Blass suddenly lost his ability to pitch. In 1973, his earned run average (ERA) skyrocketed, and he walked 84 batters in just 88 innings [source: Plautz].

After spending a season in the minor leagues attempting to regain his form, Blass was unable to recover his former prowess. His professional baseball career ended before the 1975 season even started.

In baseball circles, his condition is now famously known as "Steve Blass Disease." This term is used to describe any player who has inexplicably lost their ability to perform on the field. It’s a condition every player hopes to avoid and one no one believes will ever affect them [source: O'Neill].

4: Rick Ankiel

Rick Ankiel, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, was once hailed as High School Player of the Year and Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today. The New York Times Magazine even dubbed him "the most promising young left-handed pitcher in a generation." When he joined the Cardinals, he secured a $2.5 million signing bonus, the fifth-largest ever for an amateur at the time. Manager Tony La Russa selected him to start the first game of the National League division series against the Atlanta Braves, marking his playoff debut at just 21 years old [source: Jordan].

However, during that National League division series, Ankiel delivered 9 wild pitches and walked 11 batters in only 4 innings [source: Jordan]. His wild pitches shattered a record that had stood since 1890, far from the MVP-level performance expected of him. Ankiel had seemingly lost his ability to pitch.

The following year, after his struggles in the National League division series, Ankiel was demoted to the minors. Unfortunately, his performance worsened, as he walked over 30 batters in just 25 innings and recorded more than 20 wild pitches [source: Star]. After failing to revive his pitching career, Ankiel reinvented himself as an outfielder to continue his journey in baseball.

3: Chuck Knoblauch

The yips in baseball aren’t exclusive to pitchers. Chuck Knoblauch, a second baseman for the New York Yankees, was named Rookie of the Year, won multiple World Series titles, and earned four All-Star selections [source: Rayno]. Despite these accolades, Knoblauch began struggling with a basic task for any second baseman: throwing the ball to first base.

In 1999, Knoblauch committed 26 errors. One of his errant throws even struck Keith Olbermann’s mother in the face as she sat in the stands [source: Plautz]. The yips, it seems, spare no one. Like other cases, there was no clear reason for Knoblauch’s sudden inability to throw accurately. After switching positions multiple times, he retired from baseball in 2003. Over his 12-year career, he earned a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and numerous other honors.

2: Steve Sax

Steve Sax is another prominent baseball player who fell victim to the yips. The term "Steve Sax Syndrome" has since been used to describe second basemen who struggle to make accurate throws to first base [source: Star]. Unlike other cases, the onset of Sax’s yips can be traced to a specific moment.

During the 9th inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home opener, Sax attempted to throw the ball to home plate after Andre Dawson of the Montreal Expos hit a triple. However, Dawson was still standing at third base when Sax made the throw. The ball bounced away from the catcher, allowing Dawson to score. Sax later described it as a routine error, but it caused him to overthink his timing and throwing mechanics [source: Demak].

Fortunately for Sax, the yips didn’t last forever. After committing 30 errors in the 1983 season, he rebounded to become one of the top second basemen by 1989 and enjoyed a 13-year career [source: Star].

1: Mackey Sasser

Mackey Sasser, a catcher for the New York Mets, began experiencing the yips early in his career. In 1989, just two years after turning professional, Sasser started struggling to return the ball to the pitcher. For a catcher, this inability rendered him nearly ineffective in his role.

Fans of Sasser offered their opinions on his struggles, calling radio stations to propose potential solutions to his throwing issues [source: Baumbach]. Sadly, none of these suggestions worked. Sasser continued his career with several teams before retiring from baseball in 1995, still battling the yips [source: McCarron]. His condition inspired a new term for catchers unable to return the ball to the pitcher: Sasseritis. Quite creative, don’t you think?

After retiring from the majors, Sasser sought therapy to overcome his yips and later became a baseball coach at Wallace Junior College [source: Inside the Zone]. Not only did he conquer his own struggles after leaving professional play, but he also dedicated himself to helping other players facing similar challenges. Sasser is known for sharing his phone number and responding to weekly emails from players dealing with the yips [source: Baumbach].