As if leading the leagues in hitting into double plays wasn’t enough, the Toronto Blue Jays now lead in another category: hitting into triple plays. The Jays now lead the American League in this category with 1, after first baseman Lyle Overbay lined a pitch at Indians 2nd baseman Cabrera. They were trying to execute a hit-and-run play with nobody out. Ironically, manager John Gibbons probably called for the hit-and-run to prevent Overbay from grounding into a double play.
Don’t believe me? Click here and click “Watch” to see the travesty caught on video.
The unassisted triple play is probably the rarest play in baseball, as it has been done only 14 times in history. I have to congratulate Asdrubal Cabrera for the heads-up play, but honestly, completing a triple play yourself is more about luck than it is about skill. For my money, I’d have to say the most difficult feats to accomplish in baseball are: for pitchers, pitching a perfect game (17 times), and for hitters, hitting 4 home runs in one game (15 times). Equally peculiar is striking out 4 batters in one inning; for this to happen, the catcher has to miss a third strike pitch bad enough that the batter can run to first base.