Jiggs Donahue, Billy Gilbert, and Bill Friel (left to right) of the Milwaukee Brewers recorded the first triple play in American League history on July 14, 1901, against the Chicago White Stockings.[1]

In baseball, a triple play (denoted as TP in baseball statistics) is the act of making three outs during the same play. There have only been 735 triple plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1876,[1] an average of just over five per season.

They depend on a combination of two factors, which are themselves uncommon:

  • First, there must be at least two baserunners, and no outs. From analysis of all MLB games from 2011 to 2013, only 1.51% of at bats occur in such a scenario.[2] By comparison, 27.06% of at bats occur with at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs,[2] the scenario where a double play is possible.
  • Second, activity must occur during the play that enables the defense to make three outs. Common plays, such as the batter striking out or hitting a fly ball, do not normally provide an opportunity for a triple play. A ball hit sharply and directly to an infielder, who then takes very quick or unanticipated action, as well as confusion or mistakes by the baserunners is usually needed.

In baseball scorekeeping, the abbreviation GITP can be used if the batter grounded into a triple play.[3]

Examples

The most likely scenario for a triple play is no outs with runners on first base and second base, which has been the case for the majority of MLB triple plays.[1] In that context, two examples of triple plays are:

  • The batter hits a ground ball to the third baseman, who steps on third base to force out the runner coming from second (first out). The third baseman throws to the second baseman, who steps on second base to force out the runner coming from first (second out). The second baseman throws to the first baseman, with the throw arriving in time to force out the batter (third out). This is an example of grounding into a 5-4-3 triple play, also known as an "around the horn" triple play, per standard baseball positions.
  • The baserunners start running in an attempt to steal or execute a hit and run play, and the batter hits a line drive to the second baseman, who catches it (first out). The second baseman throws to the shortstop, who steps on second base before the runner who started there can tag up (second out). The shortstop throws to the first baseman, who steps on first base before the runner who started there can tag up (third out). This is an example of lining out into a 4-6-3 triple play.

Most recent MLB triple play

The most recent triple play in MLB was turned by the Los Angeles Angels on August 18, 2023, against the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the ninth inning. With Yandy Díaz at third base and Randy Arozarena at first base, Harold Ramírez hit a ground ball that began a typical double play, with shortstop Luis Rengifo throwing the ball to second baseman Brandon Drury to retire Arozarena (first out); Drury then relayed the ball to first baseman Nolan Schanuel to retire Ramírez (second out). However, Díaz attempted to score from third base, and Schanuel threw the ball to catcher Logan O'Hoppe who tagged out Díaz as he slid into home (third out).[10] It was the Angels' first triple play since the 1997 season.[11] The Angels went on to lose the game.

Unassisted triple plays

Bill Wambsganss executed an unassisted triple play in the 1920 World Series.

The rarest type of triple play, and one of the rarest events of any kind in baseball, is for a single fielder to complete all three outs in one play. There have only been 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history,[12] making this feat rarer than a perfect game.[13]

Typically, an unassisted triple play is achieved when a middle infielder catches a line drive near second base (first out), steps on the base before the runner who started there can tag up (second out), and then tags the runner advancing from first before he can return there (third out). Of the 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history, 12 have been completed in this manner by a middle infielder.

Most recent MLB unassisted triple play

The most recent MLB unassisted triple play is consistent with the above – it occurred on August 23, 2009, by second baseman Eric Bruntlett of the Philadelphia Phillies, in a game against the New York Mets. In the bottom of the ninth inning with men on first and second base, the base runners were both running when Jeff Francoeur hit a line drive very close to second base, which Bruntlett was covering. Bruntlett caught the ball (first out), stepped on second base before Luis Castillo could tag up (second out), and then tagged Daniel Murphy who was approaching from first base (third out).[14][15] This was only the second game-ending unassisted triple play in MLB history, the first one having occurred in 1927.[16]

Unfielded triple play

Political columnist and baseball enthusiast George Will posed one hypothetical way that a triple play could occur with no fielder touching the ball. With runners on first and second and no outs, the batter hits an infield fly, and is automatically out: one out. The runner from first passes the runner from second and is called out for that infraction: two outs. Just after that, the falling ball hits the runner from second, who is called out for interference: three outs.[17]

Whenever a batter or runner is out without a fielder touching the ball, MLB rule book section 10.09 provides for automatic putouts to be assigned by the official scorer. In this case, the first out would be credited to whoever the official scorer believes would have had the best chance of catching the infield fly. The second and third outs would be credited to the fielder(s) closest to the points the runners were, when their respective outs occurred. Under the scenario described above, the same fielder (the shortstop, for example) could be credited with all three putouts, thus attaining an unassisted triple play without having touched the ball.

While this has never occurred in a Major League game, Texas League Hall of Famer Keith Bodie tells Sporting News that this event occurred in a 1986 spring training game.[18]

Odd and notable triple plays

Joe Pignatano hit into a triple play in the final at bat of his career.
  • On September 30, 1962, in the eighth inning of the last game of the 1962 Mets' 40–120 season, facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Joe Pignatano popped into a 4-3-6 triple play in his last MLB appearance. It was also the last game for Sammy Drake and Richie Ashburn, the two runners who were tagged out. Pignatano is the only player to end his career by hitting into a triple play.[19][20][21]
  • The New York Yankees got caught in a bizarre 2-5-3-1 triple play while facing the Minnesota Twins on May 29, 1982. Roy Smalley struck out (first out), while both Yankees baserunners had taken off in an attempted double steal. The ball was thrown to third baseman Gary Gaetti, who chased baserunner Bobby Murcer back to second, where Murcer was safe. Gaetti then threw the ball to first baseman Kent Hrbek to tag baserunner Graig Nettles who was caught between first and second (second out). Meanwhile, Murcer attempted to advance from second to third again. The ball was thrown from Hrbek to third base, where pitcher Terry Felton was covering, and Felton tagged Murcer (third out).[22][23][24]
  • On April 14, 2002, designated hitter Ron Wright of the Seattle Mariners grounded into a triple-play in the fourth inning of the only MLB game of Wright's career (against the Texas Rangers). With runners on first (John Olerud) and third (Ruben Sierra), Wright grounded to pitcher Kenny Rogers who threw to shortstop Alex Rodriguez to force Olerud at second (first out). Sierra, meanwhile, had broken late for home, and Rodriguez fired to catcher Bill Haselman. Haselman threw to third baseman Hank Blalock who threw to Rogers in the rundown; with Rogers tagging out Sierra (second out). Rogers then threw to second baseman Michael Young, who tagged out Wright trying to reach second (third out). The play was scored 1-6-2-5-1-4. (Wright's other plate appearances were a strikeout and grounding into a double play, thus accounted for six outs in three MLB at-bats.)[25]
  • In a rare case of a triple play without the batter hitting the ball, a September 6, 2006 game between the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays resulted in three outs instigated from an attempt by the Mariners' Adrián Beltré to steal second base after cleanup hitter Raúl Ibañez struck out. The Devil Rays' catcher Dioner Navarro saw the attempt and threw the ball to shortstop Ben Zobrist, who tagged Beltré for the second out. Mariners' runner José López, who had been at third base during this play, tried to take advantage of the situation and steal home plate only for Zobrist to throw the ball back to Navarro who tagged López out. At the time, the Society for American Baseball Research believed this to be the only 2-6-2 triple play in Major League history.[26][27]
  • On May 19, 2010, in a game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets, with runners on first and second for the Nationals in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cristian Guzmán hit a blooper that was caught by Ángel Pagán just before it hit the ground (first out), before throwing the ball into the infield, where catcher Henry Blanco picked it up and threw it to shortstop José Reyes covering second base to force out Liván Hernández, who had advanced to third base (second out), before the ball was thrown to first baseman Ike Davis to force out Nyjer Morgan, who had advanced to second base. The play was scored 8-2-6-3. Had Pagán run with the ball in to second base, he could have completed the first unassisted triple play by an outfielder by stepping on the base to force out Hernández and tagging Morgan out.[28]
  • The Yankees also turned one of the more complicated triple plays in MLB history. On April 12, 2013, with runners on first and second in the top of the 8th inning, Baltimore batter Manny Machado hit a sharp one-hopper to Yankees second baseman Robinson Canó. Canó fielded the ball and threw to shortstop Jayson Nix, forcing baserunner Nick Markakis for the first out. Instead of going to first for a routine double play, Nix opted to throw to third baseman Kevin Youkilis, catching baserunner Alexi Casilla between second and third. Youkilis chased Casilla back towards second and threw to Nix, who returned the throw to Youkilis, who tagged Casilla for the second out. Youkilis then threw to first baseman Lyle Overbay, catching Machado in a rundown between first and second. Overbay threw back to Canó, who tagged Machado sliding into second base for the third out. The play was scored 4-6-5-6-5-3-4.[29]
  • On May 9, 2015, with runners on second and third in the top of the 2nd inning, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina hit a line drive that was caught by Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker for the first out. Walker then threw to third baseman Jung Ho Kang who stepped on third before Jhonny Peralta could tag up, for the second out. Kang, after a moment's hesitation, then threw back to Walker who stepped on second before Jason Heyward could tag up, for the third out. It was the first 4-5-4 triple play in MLB history.[30][31]
  • On April 22, 2016, in a game between the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, with the bases loaded in the top of the 7th inning, Mitch Moreland of the Rangers hit a line drive to right field that was caught by Adam Eaton for the first out. Eaton threw the ball to first baseman José Abreu, who tagged baserunner Ian Desmond after he overran first base into foul territory while attempting to tag up, for the second out. Abreu then threw the ball to catcher Dioner Navarro at home. Adrián Beltré, the runner on second base, had tagged up earlier in the play and had started advancing to third; however, Prince Fielder, the runner on third base, was still at third. Navarro threw to shortstop Tyler Saladino, making Beltré continue his run towards third, which in turn made Fielder start to run towards home. Fielder was then caught in a rundown; Saladino threw to Navarro, who then threw to third baseman Todd Frazier, who tagged Fielder for the third out. The play was scored 9-3-2-6-2-5.[32][33]
  • On July 29, 2016, in a game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants, the Giants loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 8th inning. Brandon Crawford hit a line drive that was caught by Nationals' first baseman Ryan Zimmerman for the first out. Zimmerman then touched first base before Buster Posey could tag up, for the second out. Zimmerman then threw to third baseman Anthony Rendon, who stepped on third before Denard Span could tag up, for the third out. It was the first 3-3-5 triple play in MLB history.[34]
  • On August 16, 2018, in a game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers, the Angels loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the 4th inning. David Fletcher hit a grounder that was fielded by Rangers' third baseman Jurickson Profar, who had knocked down the ball with his body prior to picking it up. Profar stepped on third base to force out Eric Young Jr. for the first out, then tagged out Taylor Ward at third base (who remained at third believing Profar had caught a line drive) once Ward fell off the bag for the second out, before throwing to second baseman Rougned Odor, who stepped on second to force out Kole Calhoun for the third out, leaving Fletcher stranded at first. The play, scored a 5-5-4 fielder's choice, was the first 5-5-4 triple play of any kind since St. Louis Browns third baseman Owen Friend and second baseman Snuffy Stirnweiss turned the feat in 1950, and the first triple play fielder's choice (to not retire the batter) in the live-ball era of MLB (the most recent previous such triple play was in 1912, when the Brooklyn Dodgers turned the feat against the Cincinnati Reds).[35][27]
  • On June 17, 2021, the New York Yankees turned the first 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play in major league history, against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York.[36] In the bottom of the first inning with first base open, Bo Bichette on second, Marcus Semien on third, and Yankees starter Michael King pitching and facing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the plate, Guerrero hit a ground ball to the third base side that was fielded by King. King threw the ball to first baseman DJ LeMahieu for the first out. During that fielding, Bichette had begun to run to third, forcing Semien to proceed to home plate. LeMahieu noticed that both Semien and Bichette were near the third base bag and threw the ball to shortstop Gleyber Torres, who promptly threw the ball to catcher Gary Sanchez, catching Semien in a rundown between third and home. Sanchez chased Semien back to third and threw the ball to third baseman Gio Urshela, who applied the tag to Semien for the second out. Urshela turned around and threw to Torres to tag out Bichette sliding into third for the final out of the inning.[36]
  • On July 4, 2022, the Minnesota Twins turned the first known 8-5 triple play in MLB history, in a game against the Chicago White Sox. In the bottom of the seventh inning, with Yoán Moncada on first and Adam Engel on second, A. J. Pollock hit a deep fly ball to center, in what apparently would be an extra-base hit. However, center fielder Byron Buxton caught the ball, making Pollock the first out, while both Moncada and Engel attempted to advance without tagging up. Buxton threw the ball in to third basemen Gio Urshela between second and third. Urshela tagged out Moncada, who had already advanced past second and was attempting to return, for the second out, then stepped on second base to make Engel, who had advanced to third base, the final out.[37]

Historical totals

The statistics below reflect historical totals through August 18, 2023.

Baserunners

Position of baserunners when the triple play started.

Men on base Occurrences[1] Percentage Most recent
1 2 - 496 67.48  25-Jul-2023
1 2 3 130 17.69  29-Jul-2020
1 - 3 71 9.66  18-Aug-2023
- 2 3 37 5.03  17-Jun-2021
1 2 ? 1 0.14  11-Jun-1885†
Total 735 100  

† This triple play, by the New York Giants against the Providence Grays during the 1885 season, was scored as 4*-4*-3*,[1] with a newspaper account the next day naming the fielders, batter, and runners at first and second;[38] however, it is unknown if there was a runner at third base.

Outs

Asterisks (*) denote which players recorded outs, per standard baseball positions.
Combinations that have occurred at least 10 times are listed individually.

Fielders Occurrences Percentage Most recent
5*-4*-3* 105 14.29  20-Sep-2022
6*-4*-3* 58 7.89  18-Sep-2022
4*-6*-3* 44 5.99  06-Jun-2014
3*-3*-6* 41 5.58  22-Aug-2022
6*-6*-3* 28 3.81  08-Jul-2016
4*-4*-3* 22 2.99  02-May-2017
4*-3*-6* 18 2.45  03-May-1985
1*-6*-3* 16 2.18  19-May-1997
6-4*-3*-2* 14 1.90  18-Aug-2023
5*-5*-3* 11 1.50  29-Jul-2020
5-4*-3*-2* 10 1.36  24-Aug-2014
all others 368 50.07  —
Total 735 100  

Source:[1]

Cultural references

On June 27, 1967, the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates staged a triple play before their game at Shea Stadium for the film The Odd Couple.[39] The scene depicts Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates grounding into a game-ending 5-4-3 triple play.[40][41] Mazeroski, who played 17 major league seasons, was involved in only one actual MLB triple play; he was the runner on second base when the Chicago Cubs turned a 3-3-6 triple play on October 3, 1965.[1][42]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "SABR Triple Plays database". SABR. September 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Dolinar, Sean (August 9, 2014). "MLB — Bases Loaded. No Outs. No Runs". stats.seandolinar.com. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ Noble, Marty (June 2, 2015). "Triple-play threat: Robinson holds infamous mark". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Oakland Athletics at Baltimore Orioles Play by Play and Boxscore". Baseball Reference. July 7, 1973. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Boxscore". Baseball Reference. July 20, 1973. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Brooks Robinson Quotes". Baseball Almanac.
  7. ↑ Ahrens, Mark (July 29, 2010). "Brooks Robinson — Master of the Triple Play". Books on Baseball. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ "SABR Triple Plays: Trivia nuggets". SABR. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Boston Red Sox 1, Minnesota Twins 0". Retrosheet. July 17, 1990.
  10. ↑ "Rays vs. Angels Play-by-Play". ESPN.com. August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Angels turn first triple play in 26 years during 9th inning against Rays". The Washington Post. AP. August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ Ginsburg, Steve (August 23, 2009). "Bruntlett turns game-ending unassisted triple play". Reuters. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  13. ↑ DiComo, Anthony (December 30, 2009). "Mets bear the Brunt of unassisted triple play". MLB.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Bruntlett's triple play". YouTube. April 19, 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets Play by Play and Boxscore". Baseball Reference. August 23, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  16. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (August 23, 2009). "Bruntlett joins rare company". MLB.com.
  17. ↑ Will, George (March 28, 2009). "Spring Brain Training". Newsweek.
  18. ↑ Hagerty, Tim (July 26, 2016). "That time a team turned a triple play without touching the ball". Sporting News.
  19. ↑ Effrat, Louis (October 1, 1962). "The Mets' Long Season Ends With Their 120th Defeat, 5 to 1". New York Times. p. 43. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Chicago Cubs 5, New York Mets 1". Retrosheet. September 30, 1962.
  21. ↑ "Triple Play Tidbits". baseballroundtable.com. Baseball Round Table. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  22. ↑ "New York Yankees 6, Minnesota Twins 4". Retrosheet. May 29, 1982.
  23. ↑ Nash, Bruce; Zullo, Allan (May 1991). The Baseball Hall of Shame 4. Pocket Books. pp. s 35–36. ISBN 0-671-74609-X.
  24. ↑ "NYY@MIN: Twins turn triple play". YouTube. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers Box Score, April 14, 2002". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  26. ↑ Nash, Bruce; Zullo, Allan (2012). The Baseball Hall of Shame: The Best of Blooperstown. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 46–47. ISBN 9780762784004.
  27. 1 2 "Triple Plays in Major League Baseball". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  28. ↑ Mets turn a triple play starting with Angel Pagan's shoestring catch, retrieved January 13, 2024
  29. ↑ Casella, Paul (April 12, 2013). "Like no other: Yanks' triple play first of its kind". MLB.com.
  30. ↑ "Pirates turn second triple play in two seasons". ESPN. May 10, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Pirates turn an spectacular 4-5-4 triple play". YouTube. May 9, 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  32. ↑ "White Sox turn first 9-3-2-6-2-5 triple play in major league history". ESPN. April 23, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Rangers at White Sox - Triple Play". YouTube. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  34. ↑ Collier, Jamal (July 30, 2016). "Nats slay Giant threat with historic triple play". MLB.com.
  35. ↑ Fraley, Gerry (August 16, 2018). "Score that a 5-4 triple play by the Rangers". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  36. 1 2 "A 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play? Yes, it was a first". MLB.com. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Twins OF Byron Buxton's highlight catch starts first 8-5 triple play in recorded MLB history". yahoo.com. July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  38. ↑ "New Yorks, 4; Providences, 3". Fall River Globe. Fall River, Massachusetts. June 12, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved July 29, 2020. Gerhardt and Connor made a beautiful triple play in the sixth, retiring Start and Daily at second and first on a liner from Irwin's bat.
  39. ↑ 50 Years Ago Today: Classic Shea Stadium Scene In Odd Couple, 27 June 2017, MetsMerizedOnline.com
  40. ↑ "Triple Play - The Odd Couple". Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via YouTube.
  41. ↑ "Bizarre Act Goes Into Game, This Time It Costs Pirates". Spokane Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. AP. June 28, 1967. p. 22. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Chicago Cubs 3". Retrosheet. October 3, 1965. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
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