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Path: utzoo!watmath!dwtill
From: dwtill@watmath.UUCP (David Till)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: World Series triple play
Message-ID: <5637@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Aug-83 15:13:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.5637
Posted: Fri Aug 12 15:13:43 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Aug-83 03:45:23 EDT
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 28

I was wondering - how can a first baseman make an unassisted triple play?
Does he run to cover second?  Does one of the baserunners become
disoriented?  I can't figure it out!

Anyway, something a little different - Wilfredo Sanchez, one of the
greatest Cuban ballplayers ever, once nearly started a quadruple play
with a great outfield catch!

How?  Well, according to Thomas Boswell's "How Baseball Helps The Harvest":

   "With the bases loaded, none out, tie game, Sanchez made a remarkable
catch in right-center field.  The runners on first and second bases ran on
the line drive up the gap, and were trapped far off their bases as Sanchez
pegged to second and the relay was fired to first.  Triple play:  one
flyball caught, two runners doubled up.
   "Meanwhile, however, the alert runner on third base had tagged up and
crossed home plate before the final (third) out at first base.  Since the
final out was not a force play, the run counted."
   Then:  "The manager of Sanchez' team appealed the runner's tagging up
at third, claiming that he had left the base a split second before the
catch.
   "In the confusion, one umpire signaled that fourth out, while the
others upheld the run.  Finally, the run was upheld, and it cost Sanchez'
team the game, 3-2."

Second opinions, anyone?

-David Till