Baseball’s Greatest Double Plays

A list of baseball’s greatest double plays of all time. These are the top 10 double plays in baseball history

The Greatest Double Plays in Baseball History

From the classic pitchers-catchers tandem to the acrobatic feats of middle infielders, a well-executed double play is a thing of beauty. And while there have been some truly remarkable plays over the years, a select few stand out above the rest. Here are the greatest double plays in baseball history

Infield Web Gem:

The classic example of an infield web gem is this play by Mike Mussina of the Baltimore Orioles With runners on first and second and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Mussina fielded a grounder by Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox and threw to second baseman Roberto Alomar to start the 6-4-3 double play

Outfield Assist:

This play by Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners is a great example of an outfielder making a strong throw to complete a Double Play With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Suzuki fielded a fly ball off the bat of Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Rays and threw out Jason Bartlett at second base to complete the 6-4-3 double play

The Most Memorable Double Plays

There have been many great double plays throughout the history of baseball. Some of the most memorable are recounted here.

On June 6, 1920, Cleveland Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss pulled off an unassisted Triple Play against the Boston Red Sox It was the only time this feat had been accomplished in MLB history, and it would not be again until 1968.

On May 31, 1931, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Dick Sisler made two putouts and assisted on a third to help his team turn a rare 5-4-3 double play against the Pittsburgh Pirates This was just the eighth 5-4-3 double play in MLB history.

On July 17, 1950, New York Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto turned an unassisted 5-4-3 double play against the Boston Red Sox It was just the ninth such double play in MLB history, and Rizzuto is still the only Yankee to ever do it.

On September 21, 1959, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Wally Moon hit into an unusual 3-6-3 double play against the San Francisco Giants With runners on first and second and one out, Moon hit a fly ball to Giants right fielder Orlando Cepeda Cepeda caught the ball and threw it to second baseman Chuck Hiller for the out. Hiller then threw back to Cepeda in right field for another out before Cepeda finally threw to first baseman Willie Mccovey to complete the double play.

On August 23, 1963, Houston Colt .45s first baseman Rusty Staub hit into an unassisted 5-4-3 double play against Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers It was just Koufax’s second career complete game and first shutout.

The Most Exciting Double Plays

A double play in baseball is when two players on the same team are involved in putting out two batters consecutively. It’s exciting for both the players and the fans, and it’s one of the most exciting moments in the game. Here are some of the most exciting double plays in baseball history

The Most Outstanding Double Plays

Since baseball was first played in the 1800s, there have been some truly great double plays. A double play happens when two players on the same team work together to get two outs in one play. In order to pull off a great double play, both players need to have exceptional skills.

There have been many memorable double plays throughout the history of baseball. One of the most famous is known as the “Immaculate Reception.” This happened in a 1972 Playoff Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders Pittsburgh’s Franco Harris caught a pass that had been deflected by Raiders’ safety Jack Tatum. Harris then ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, helping his team to victory.

Another great double play happened in a 2001 World Series game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth inning Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez hit a soft fly ball that looked like it was going to fall in for a hit. However, Yankees’ infielder Derek Jeter made a leaping catch and then threw out Gonzalez at first base. This play helped send the game into Extra Innings where Arizona eventually won.

These are just two examples of some of baseball’s greatest double plays. Throughout the years, there have been many other incredible displays of teamwork and skill on the diamond.

The Most Unusual Double Plays

In baseball, a double play happens when two offensive players are put out during the same continuous play. Usually, this occurs when the batter hits the ball to the infield, and the infield then throws out two runners. However, there have been some unusual double plays throughout baseball history

One unusual double play occurred in a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs in 1918. During the game, a fly ball was hit to Cubs’ outfielder Zeb Terry. Terry then caught the ball and threw it to second baseman Clyde Beck, who was tagging out Pittsburgh’s Otto Knabe. While Beck was tagging Knabe, Knabe touched second base, which meant that another Pittsburgh player, Denny Lyons, could advance from first to second base.Suddenly, there were two runners on second base.

To try to get Lyons out, Beck threw the ball to Cubs’ catcher Bill Killefer. However, Lyons saw Killefer catching the ball and ran back to first base. In the process of running back to first base, he knocked over Killefer and prevented Killefer from catching the ball. Because Lyons had interfered with Killefer’s catch, he was called out- but so was Knabe! This resulted in a bizarre 3-2-5 double play.

In another unusual double play that happened in 1950, New York Giants’ player Willie Mays hit a line drive to Philadelphia Phillies’ infielder Granny Hamner. Hamner then threw Mays out at first base and tried to throw out another Giants’ player, Don Mueller, who was running from second to third base. However, Mueller avoided Hamner’s tag by sliding into third base- right into Hamner! Hamner dropped the ball while he was trying to tag Mueller a second time, so both runners were safe. Although this might not seem like much of a double play since both runners were safe, it technically is because it fulfilled all of the requirements for a double play: two putouts during one continuous play with only one pitch being thrown.

These are just two examples of some of the most unusual double plays in baseball history!

The Most Dramatic Double Plays

While there have been some great double plays in baseball history there are a few that stand out above the rest. Here are three of the most dramatic double plays in Baseball History

In 2001, the Oakland Athletics were trailing the Seattle Mariners 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The A’s had runners on first and second with one out when outfielder Terrence Long hit a Line Drive to right field. Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki made a diving catch to record the second out of the inning. As he was getting up, he threw to second base to try to double off A’s runner Randy Velarde. Suzuki’s throw was on target, but Velarde dove back into second base just ahead of the tag to keep the inning alive.

With two outs and runners on first and second, A’s pinch hitter Olmedo Saenz hit a ground ball to Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez Rodriguez fielded the ball cleanly and looked like he would easily be able to throw out Saenz at first base for the third out of the inning. However, as Rodriguez was about to make his throw, he slipped on the wet infield grass and fell to the ground. As he was falling, he managed to flip the ball to Mariners first baseman John Olerud for the final out of the game.

In 2003, with the Chicago Cubs leading 3-2 in the bottom ofthe ninth inning, Houston Astros outfielder Lance Berkman hit a fly ballto center field. Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson made a runningcatch towards centerfield wall and as he was colliding with th ewall,he reached up with his glove hand and caught Berkman’s fly ballforout number two. As Patterson was falling down, he reached up wit hhis bare hand and threw back to second base where Cubs shortstopAlex Gonzalez was able tag out Houston’s Eric Bruntlett who had beenattemptingto advance from first base on Berkman’s fly ball. The catchandthrow completed a dramatic double play that helped preserve ac ubs 3-2win. These threedouble plays showcase athleticism, quick thinkingand luck – demonstratingthat anything can happen in themoment during abaseball game!

The Most Controversial Double Plays

In baseball, a double play is defined as two outs being recorded on the same play. Though this seems like a simple enough feat, there have been many controversial calls throughout the years that have led to arguments and even brawls. Here are some of the most controversial double plays in baseball history

In 2001, with the score tied at 3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Luis Gonzalez hit a walk-off single to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series The play was ruled an error on Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter which meant that both runs scored on the play were unearned. Many people believe that Jeter should have been given an infield hit, which would have only allowed one run to score and extended the game to extra innings

In 2010, Adam Rosales of the Oakland Athletics hit a fly ball to right field with runners on first and second base. The ball was caught by San Francisco Giants right fielder Nate Schierholtz for what should have been the third out of the inning. However, Schierholtz dropped the ball when he tried to throw it back into the infield, and both runners advanced safely. The umpires ruled that because Schierholtz had control of the ball when he dropped it, it was not a catch, and Rosales was given an infield hit. The Oakland A’s went on to score four runs in that inning and won the game 6-5.

In 2012, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and his team down 5-4, Houston Astros pinch hitter Jed Lowrie hit a popup to shallow left field Boston Red Sox shortstop Mike Aviles drifted back but lost track of the ball in the sun and couldn’t make the catch. However, Red Sox Left fielder Daniel Nava did make a catch just before Lowrie reached first base. Lowrie was called out for interference because he ran inside

The Most Influential Double Plays

Baseball is a sport rich in history and tradition. The game has been around for over a century, and in that time, there have been some truly great double plays. These are the most influential double plays in baseball history

The first double play on our list is the “Turning Two.” This double play is so important to the Game of Baseball that it is often referred to as “the pivotal play of baseball.” The Turning Two is when the defense turns two separate runners out at first and second base. This play was first executed in 1877 by Fred Pfeifer of the Cincinnati Reds Pfeifer’s double play changed the game of baseball forever and is still considered one of the most important plays in the Game Today

Another famous double play is known as “The hidden ball trick.” This play was first used in 1898 by Fred Carmichael of the Chicago Cubs Carmichael’s double play fooled the opposing team so badly that they didn’t even realize what had happened until it was too late. The hidden ball trick is still used occasionally today, but it has lost some of its luster over the years.

The most iconic double play in baseball history is probably “The Immaculate Reception.” This play occurred during a playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders in 1972. On 4th down with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game, Raiders’ quarterback Ken Stabler threw a pass toward fullback Jack Tatum. Tatum tipped the ball, but it was caught by Steelers’ running back Franco Harris before it hit the ground. The reception became known as “The Immaculate Reception” and helped lead the Steelers to a 13-7 victory.

These are just a few of the most influential double plays in Baseball History These plays have shaped the game into what it is today and will continue to influence future generations of players.

The Most Memorable Moments in Double Play History

Few things in baseball are more exciting than a well-executed double play. The player’s deft movements, the split-second timing, and the teamwork required make for a thrilling spectacle.

In a sport that has been around for over 150 years, there have been many memorable moments in double play history. Here are some of the most unforgettable:

1. The ” Hidden Ball ” Trick – In 1897, Boston Beaneaters second baseman Fred Tenney pulled off the first successful hidden ball trick in baseball history Tenney successfully hid the ball in his glove while playing second base, and then used the element of surprise to tag out two runners who were trying to steal second base.

2. Tinker to Evers to Chance – One of the most famous double plays in baseball history was turned by the Chicago Cubs’ legendary infield of Joe Tinker,Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance in 1908. The trio was immortalized in a poem by Franklin Pierce Adams, and they were collectively inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.

3. Lou Gehrig’s Record-Setting Play – In 1934, New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig turned an unassisted double play against the Detroit Tigers This was significant because it was Gehrig’s 27th consecutive game with a putout or an assist, which set a new Major League record at the time.

4. Jackie Robinson’s Steal of Home – In 1955, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers pulled off one of the most daring plays in baseball history when he stole home plate against the New York Yankees’ Whitey Ford It was a risky move that paid off, as Robinson safely slid into home without being tagged out.

5 . Mark Buehrle’s perfect game – In 2009, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays This was significant because Buehrle also turned two double plays during the course of his historic pitching performance .

The Future of Double Plays in Baseball

The future of double plays in baseball looks promising. With the advent of new technology, players are now able to execute these plays with greater precision and efficiency. Additionally, new training methods have allowed players to better learn the skills necessary to execute a successful double play. As a result, we can expect to see more double plays in the future.