Randy Velarde, 2B

The Setup:

Going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the New York Yankees led the Oakland Athletics 1-0. The starting pitcher for the Athletics, Omar Olivares walked the first batter followed by a triple to make it 2-0. Tino Martinez was hit by a pitch, and then Jorge Posada reached on an error by the second baseman, Randy Velarde, increasing the Yankee lead to three. With Martinez on second and Posada on first, Shane Spencer came to bat.

The Play:

Shane Spencer worked the count full, and manager Joe Torre decided to start the runners. Spencer hit a soft line drive to Randy Velarde, the Oakland second baseman. Velarde tagged Jorge Posada a few steps from second base and then stepped on second to retire Tino Martinez for the third out.

The Rest of the Story:

What sets Randy Velarde apart from all the others who turned an unassisted triple play is that this was actually the second one that he had turned. Five years earlier in a Spring Training game, Velarde, playing for the Yankees turned one against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Another difference is that in all the other unassisted triple plays turned by middle infielders the fielder stepped on second for the second out, and tagged the runner from first for the third out. However, Velarde reversed the order.

Velarde, also became the third player to hit a home run in his next at bat after turning an unassisted triple play. The other two, Neal Ball and John Valentin, both hit theirs leading off the bottom of the inning immediately after their triple play. Velarde’s home run came three innings later in the top of the ninth inning. It was only the second hit of the game for Oakland off of the Yankees pitcher, Andy Pettitte, and broke up a streak of fifteen consecutive hitters Pettitte had retired.

There was a little bit of redemption in Velarde’s play as the previous batter, Jorge Posada, hit a groundball that Velarde misplayed and allowed a runner from third to score. Perhaps that’s why Velarde didn’t have an excessive celebration after the play. He paused and then tossed the ball underhanded to the second base umpire, Rick Reed, as he jogged off the field.

After the game, when Velarde was told that the Hall of Fame would want his glove. He was happy about that but replied that they better wait until he is able to break in a new glove.