Over the 20-season span from 1981-2000, there were 80 triple plays turned. Gary Gaetti was involved in 10% of them.
Yes -- one player, eight triple plays. The odds are astronomical, but it's true. Gaetti, who played for the Twins, Angels, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs and Red Sox from 1981-2000, was part of seven triple plays on defense and he also hit into one himself.
How in the world can one man be part of turning seven triple plays? Well, there’s obviously a major luck factor.
But being prepared every time one is theoretically possible helps.
“I’m gonna try to get out of this inning, whatever it takes,” Gaetti said about his mindset at third base during his career. “Sometimes I’d tell the pitcher, ‘Hey, get me the ball, because I can do anything with it on the field as far as getting outs or stopping runs.'
“The third baseman [has so many options in those situations].”
Gaetti was always thinking about it when the right scenario arose. He was ready when the ball came his way, as proven by the four consecutive Gold Glove Awards he won from 1986-89.
Throw in a heavy dose of “right-place, right-time,” and the result is that Gaetti was involved in more triple plays than anyone in the past 90 years. He’s also the only player to ever begin two triple plays in the same game.
Here’s a look at each of the seven that Gaetti was involved in defensively:
No. 1: May 29, 1982 for the Twins against the Yankees
This was the first -- and most unorthodox (if there’s such a thing as an “orthodox” triple play) -- of the bunch. It took place in the second inning at the brand new Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which the Twins had opened just the month prior. The Yankees had runners at first and second with nobody out and Roy Smalley at the plate.
Both runners -- Graig Nettles at first base and Bobby Murcer at second -- were off on the pitch. Smalley swung and missed for strike three, and Minnesota catcher Sal Butera fired to third. Gaetti received the throw and Murcer was hung up between second and third. Gaetti ran at Murcer, who was able to get back to second safely.
So Gaetti threw to Kent Hrbek at first base, where Nettles was headed back. Hrbek tagged Nettles for the second out. Then, Murcer broke for third again, and Hrbek threw toward third base, where pitcher Terry Helton caught the ball and tagged Murcer to complete the bizarre triple play. For you scorers out there, it went 2-5-3-1.
Little did Gaetti know that this unusual play would be the first of many to come.
“You’re just reacting to what happened with the strikeout, covering third base if they’re running,” Gaetti said. “Then you go into your fundamentals where you’ve got the rundown -- it’s not really a forceout after that part.”
No. 2: Aug. 8, 1983 for the Twins against the Angels
The next year, Gaetti started a more “conventional” triple play. The Halos had runners at first (Bobby Grich) and second (Reggie Jackson) with nobody out in the fourth inning, with Ron Jackson at the plate. Jackson hit a ground ball to third.
Gaetti fielded it and stepped on third before throwing to second baseman John Castino. Castino made the pivot and fired to Hrbek at first to complete the “around-the-horn” triple play.
“I really think it’s because of the third base position -- I really tried to play for [a triple play] and put myself in the position where I could start it,” Gaetti said. “If I can reach and grab the ball to my left without taking a step, I’m gonna try it.
“It’s really the position that enhances the probability of being involved in a triple play.”
No. 3: July 19, 1984 for the Twins against the Yankees
Gaetti extended his triple play streak to three consecutive years, this time against the Yankees again -- but in the Bronx. In the second inning at Yankee Stadium, the Yanks had Bobby Meacham at first base and Don Mattingly at second. Rick Cerone grounded one to Gaetti at third, and from there, it was as “easy” as 5-4-3 (Gaetti to Tim Teufel to Hrbek).
No. 4: April 5, 1988 for the Twins against the Yankees
One player helping to turn three triple plays against the Yankees in his career is improbable enough. But doing that and being involved in turning four others? That's another level of incredible.
Gaetti had to wait a whole four years to be part of his fourth career triple play. But in the bottom of the eighth inning on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, he finally added to his impressive collection after the hiatus. New York had the bases loaded and Rafael Santana at the plate. Santana hit into a 5-4-3 triple play -- it was the only real highlight of the game for Minnesota in an 8-0 loss.
No. 5: July 17, 1990 for the Twins against the Red Sox
This was the first of two -- two! -- triple plays Gaetti began against Boston at Fenway Park on this day. In the fourth inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out for Tom Brunansky.
Brunansky hit a one-hop chopper to Gaetti, who took two quick steps to his right to step on third before unleashing a perfect strike to Al Newman at second. Newman capped the triple play with a throw to Hrbek at first.
Gaetti was getting so proficient at starting triple plays that he actually called this one. Wade Boggs, who was standing on third, can attest.
“I told Wade, ‘Watch this, we’re gonna turn a triple play right here,’” Gaetti said. “It was based on the hitter -- Tom Brunansky was a right-handed pull hitter. [Scott] Erickson was throwing sinkers inside.
“Wade probably didn’t believe me. But I also told Al Newman it was coming.”
No. 6: July 17, 1990 for the Twins against the Red Sox
Fast-forward four innings. In the eighth at Fenway, Tim Naehring doubled to open the frame and Boggs reached on a walk. Up stepped Jody Reed, who hit another one-hop chopper to Gaetti, this time almost directly over the bag at third.
Gaetti gloved it and stepped on the bag all in one motion before turning and throwing to second. A split-second later, the Twins had become the first team in MLB history to turn two triple plays in one game. And Minnesota turned it so quickly that Reed was out by about 20 feet at first.
“Jody Reed was also a pull, right-handed hitter,” Gaetti said. “[John] Candelaria was the same kind of pitcher [as Erickson], just left-handed.”
No. 7: May 14, 1994 for the Royals against the A’s
Now with Kansas City, Gaetti had yet another shot at beginning a triple play at third base. In the top of the third at Kauffman Stadium, the A’s opened with a walk by Stan Javier and a single by Mike Aldrete. Then Geronimo Berroa did what no hitter should do with Gaetti at third base and the potential for a triple play.
Gaetti did what was by this point second nature for him -- he fielded Berroa’s grounder, stepped on third and the rest is history. Literally. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, when the play was completed, Gaetti became the first player to be involved in seven triple plays as a defensive player since Jim Bottomley from 1923-35. He remains tied with Bottomley and George Sisler for being involved defensively in the second-most triple plays in MLB history. The all-time record is nine, by Donie Bush from 1910-21.
It’s all about the fundamentals
Gaetti’s unique place in modern baseball history can obviously be attributed in large part to luck, but there’s definitely skill involved. And he was primed to become involved in turning seven triple plays because of his position and his focus on fundamentals.
“I had been trained in fielding fundamentals and mechanics from my college years,” Gaetti said. “We used to just hammer the short-hop. We worked on the short-hop and fielding drills so much, that the first time I played on astroturf I said, ‘Shoot, I don’t even need a glove out here.’ I felt that good about my hands.
“I took a lot of pride and worked hard on my defense.”
The incredibly rare outcomes confirm.