Baseball is a sport with a long and storied history, filled with a variety of unique achievements that have been accomplished throughout the years. From perfect games and hitting for the cycle, to consecutive game hitting streaks and home run records, there are countless accomplishments that have been achieved by some of the greatest players in the game. But among all of these feats, there is one that stands out as the rarest of them all: the unassisted triple play.
What is an Unassisted Triple Play?
An unassisted triple play is a defensive play in which a single fielder is able to make three outs in a single play. This means that the fielder must catch a batted ball, tag a runner, and throw out another runner all without help from a teammate. This is considered to be the rarest of all achievements in baseball as it requires an extraordinary level of skill and awareness.
History of the Unassisted Triple Play
The first unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history was accomplished by Bill Wambsganss of the Cleveland Indians in the 1920 World Series. Wambsganss, who was playing second base, was able to make the three outs by catching a line drive, tagging the runner on first, and then throwing out the runner on second. This is the only unassisted triple play ever to occur in a World Series.
Since then, there have been only 15 other unassisted triple plays in MLB history. The most recent occurred in 2009 when Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks accomplished the feat.
Notable Examples of Unassisted Triple Plays
While all unassisted triple plays are impressive, some have been more memorable than others. Here are some of the most notable examples:
• Bill Wambsganss, 1920 World Series: The first unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history occurred during the 1920 World Series when Bill Wambsganss of the Cleveland Indians made three outs in a single play.
• Johnny Neun, 1927: Johnny Neun of the Detroit Tigers made an unassisted triple play during a regular-season game against the Cleveland Indians in 1927. This is the only unassisted triple play ever to occur in a nine-inning game.
• Jimmy Piersall, 1952: Jimmy Piersall of the Boston Red Sox made an unassisted triple play during a game against the Washington Senators in 1952. This is the only unassisted triple play to occur in a game that went extra innings.
• Davey Lopes, 1975: Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers made an unassisted triple play during a game against the San Diego Padres in 1975. This is the only unassisted triple play to occur in the National League Championship Series.
• Mark Reynolds, 2009: Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks made an unassisted triple play during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. This is the most recent unassisted triple play in MLB history.
Format of an Unassisted Triple Play
An unassisted triple play usually consists of three consecutive outs, in which a fielder is able to catch a batted ball, tag a runner, and throw out another runner without help from a teammate. This requires quick thinking and outstanding reflexes, as the fielder must be able to recognize the situation and react quickly in order to make three outs in a single play.
The Difficulty of an Unassisted Triple Play
An unassisted triple play is considered to be the rarest of all baseball achievements, as it requires an extraordinary level of skill and awareness to accomplish. It is exceedingly difficult for a fielder to recognize the situation and react quickly enough to make three outs in a single play. As a result, there have only been 16 unassisted triple plays in Major League Baseball history.
Conclusion
The unassisted triple play is one of the rarest feats in all of baseball. It requires an extraordinary level of skill and awareness, as a fielder must be able to recognize the situation and react quickly in order to make three outs in a single play. Despite the difficulty of this feat, there have been 16 unassisted triple plays in Major League Baseball history, with the most recent occurring in 2009.