What is the Rarest Play in Baseball?
Baseball is a beloved sport that is filled with unique plays, strategies, and surprises. In baseball, there are a few plays that are extremely rare and exciting to watch. The rarest play in baseball is known as the unassisted triple play.
What is an Unassisted Triple Play?
An unassisted triple play is the rarest play in baseball. It is a play in which one player is responsible for getting three outs, all on their own. It is an incredibly rare play, as it requires one player to make three consecutive plays in a row, without any help from their teammates. The player must field a batted ball, quickly and accurately throw to a base to get the first out, and then tag a base or throw to another base for the remaining two outs.
Unassisted Triple Play History
The unassisted triple play has been a part of baseball for over a century. The first ever unassisted triple play was recorded in 1909, when Philadelphia Phillies player, Jack Tisdale, accomplished the feat. Since then, there have been only 15 unassisted triple plays in Major League Baseball history.
Why is an Unassisted Triple Play So Rare?
An unassisted triple play is an incredibly rare play due to the complexity of the situation. For one player to be responsible for all three outs in an inning, they must be incredibly skilled, mentally aware, and have a good reaction time.
Famous Unassisted Triple Plays
There have been a few famous unassisted triple plays in Major League Baseball history. One of the most well-known unassisted triple plays was performed by the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter in 2003. Jeter was able to field a groundball and throw to first base for the first out, then tag second base for the second out, and then tag the runner from first base for the third out.
Unassisted Triple Play in Minor League Baseball
Unassisted triple plays are not limited to Major League Baseball. In fact, there have been several unassisted triple plays in Minor League Baseball throughout the years. In 2019, the Louisville Bats’ Scott Schebler was able to complete an unassisted triple play in the fourth inning of their game against the Indianapolis Indians.
What is the Odds of an Unassisted Triple Play?
The odds of an unassisted triple play occurring in a Major League Baseball game are incredibly slim. According to Baseball Reference, the odds of an unassisted triple play occurring in a Major League Baseball game are approximately 1 in 100,000.
Unassisted Triple Plays in Other Sports
The unassisted triple play is not limited to baseball. In fact, the unassisted triple play has been witnessed in other sports as well. In hockey, for example, the unassisted triple play is known as a “hat trick”. A “hat trick” is when one player scores three goals in a single game.
Unassisted Triple Play Rules
The rules for an unassisted triple play are quite simple. In order for the play to be considered an unassisted triple play, the player must field a batted ball, and then make three consecutive plays on their own. The three plays can be any combination of fielding, tagging a base, or throwing to a base.
Conclusion
An unassisted triple play is the rarest play in baseball and an incredibly exciting play to witness. It requires one player to make three consecutive plays in a row, without any help from their teammates. The odds of an unassisted triple play occurring in a Major League Baseball game are approximately 1 in 100,000, making it an incredibly rare and special play.
Unassisted Triple Play, Triple Play, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Baseball Reference, Hat Trick