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MLB | Oddities | Part 4

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Oddities

These are clips of some of the most unconventional and odd plays.

What surprising move did Seattle’s Joey Cora make during a May 17th, 1998 game against the New York Yankees that resulted in him stealing second base without a throw?

Major League Baseball has long been known for its rich history and exciting moments on the field. From record-breaking performances to unexpected plays, the sport has a way of keeping fans on the edge of their seats. In this fourth installment of our Oddities series, we delve into some of the more peculiar moments in MLB history.

One of the most bizarre moments in baseball occurred during a game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers on June 4th, 1974. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the Rangers leading 5-3, Cleveland’s Leron Lee hit a double to left field that scored two runs, tying the game. But as he rounded first base, he was hit in the head by a thrown ball from the outfield. The ball had been hit by the Rangers’ Toby Harrah and was intended for second baseman Mike Hargrove. The umpires awarded first base to Lee, but after much debate, they ruled that the ball had hit Lee while he was off the bag, resulting in him being called out and the game ending in a 5-3 win for the Rangers.

Another strange moment in MLB history occurred during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs on August 22nd, 1989. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Pirates catcher Francisco Cabrera hit a two-out, pinch-hit single that drove in two runs and secured a 3-2 win for Pittsburgh. The odd part? The winning run was driven in by the slowest runner on the team, Sid Bream, who had been dealing with a knee injury and could barely make it to first base.

Baseball fans know that anything can happen in the game, and that was certainly the case during a game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners on May 17th, 1998. With the Yankees leading 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Seattle’s Joey Cora hit a ground ball to Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch. Knoblauch threw the ball to first base, but it was off-target and appeared to be headed for the dugout. However, first baseman Tino Martinez made a diving catch to save the ball and prevent any Seattle runners from advancing. But as the teams prepared for the next pitch, Cora snuck off first base and headed for second. The Yankees didn’t notice, and Cora stole second base without a throw. The play was so unexpected that it took the umpire a few moments to figure out what had happened.

Finally, in one of the most unusual plays in baseball history, the Toronto Blue Jays turned an unassisted triple play during a game against the Cleveland Indians on September 2nd, 1992. With runners on first and second base, Cleveland’s Carlos Baerga hit a line drive to Blue Jays second baseman Roberto Alomar. Alomar caught the ball, stepped on second base to force out the runner from first, and then tagged the oncoming runner from second base, resulting in three outs on one play.

These odd moments may seem like flukes, but they remind us of the unpredictable nature of baseball. As the saying goes, “You never know what you’ll see at the ballpark.”