Colin Sheridan: Innovation not imitation needs to become the name of GAA game

GAMECHANGER: Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton kicks the point that birthed a dynasty — and made the idea of keepers loping forward to take frees de rigeur. The upcoming GAA championship is in desperate need of some new innovations, says Colin Sheridan. Picture: Brian Lawless, Sportsfile

On August 18, 1951, Eddie Gaedel took to the plate for the St Louis Browns in baseball’s Major League. His arrival was met with cheers, jeers and no little bemusement from both the bleachers and the opposition dugout. 

As Gaedel faced down Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Bob Cain, he put his bat on his shoulder, adopting a crouched stance. Cain threw four pitches at Gaedel, each one missing his strike zone, an area defined as the volume of space above home plate and between the batter’s knees and the midpoint of their torso.