See It: Rangers Turn Rare Type of Triple Play That Hasn’t Been Seen in a Century

The last time the batter was not retired on a triple play was June 3, 1912. Brooklyn vs. Cincinnati.

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 16:  (L-R) Jurickson Profar #19 and Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers celebrate a triple play against the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 16, 2018 in Arlington, Texas.  (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 16: (L-R) Jurickson Profar #19 and Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers celebrate a triple play against the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 16, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Normally a mid-August baseball game between two teams with no chance of even sniffing the playoffs wouldn’t have any historical ramification.

But normally, something that hasn’t been done on a baseball field in more than 100 years doesn’t occur during the course of play. Last night, something did.

During the Rangers’ 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Texas, the hometown team was able to turn a triple play with the bases loaded thanks to a heads-up play by third baseman Jurickson Profar.

On the play, Profar fielded a liner and stepped on third for the force out before tagging out the runner who had been on the hot corner but had wandered into foul territory. Profar then threw to second baseman Rougned Odor, who tagged out the runner who had been on first between first and second.

The 5-4 triple was executed without retiring the batter, the first time that has happened since June 3, 1912, during a game between Brooklyn and  Cincinnati. (The Dodgers turned it on the Reds.)

After the play was over, players on both sides seemed a little confused about what had happened.

Profar, the man who started it all, was not.

“It was an all-around heads-up play by Profar,” said Texas manager Jeff Banister. “Very slow heartbeat in that moment.”

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