Looking into the history of the rarest play in baseball

Completed just 15 times in modern MLB history, the unassisted triple play often happens as a result of circumstance and luck – but that doesn’t make it any less thrilling.

In a continuation of exploring rare achievements in baseball, I thought it would be nice to look into another ultra-rare occurrence after examining the history of players who have hit multiple grand slams in a single game.

Yet beyond those incredible individual feats that also include four home runs or five extra-base hits in a game is a singular play that is so exceptionally rare in baseball history it has only occurred 15 times since the advent of the modern league.

While a triple play of any kind is already incredibly rare and not something a fan can expect to see when attending any given game, an unassisted triple play stands alone in its rarity – with there not having been one in MLB action since August 2009.

The play is exactly what it sounds like – a single fielder making all three defensive outs in an inning without the involvement of another player.

Though the previous achievements I’ve written about were incredible feats accomplished by several stars and Hall of Famers, the unassisted triple play is all about getting incredibly lucky in an already uncommon circumstance.

As with any triple play, an unassisted triple play requires for there to be zero outs in the inning and at least two runners on base. Contrary to a conventional triple play, such as a 5-4-3 triple play that could be converted on a ground ball, an unassisted triple play essentially requires a line drive, with all 15 occurrences in MLB history starting with a caught line drive.

Beyond a caught line drive with at least two runners on, the runners also have to be in motion on a planned hit-and-run. After the caught line drive, the infielder, usually a shortstop or second baseman, is then able to tag a runner in motion and step on a base to complete the unassisted triple play.

Of the 15 players to complete an unassisted triple play, just two were first basemen, while eight were shortstops and five were second basemen.

In perhaps the most baseball of baseball things, unassisted triple plays actually occurred on back-to-back days before, with Jimmy Cooney of the Chicago Cubs and Johnny Neun of the Detroit Tigers completing the rare play on May 30 and May 31 of 1927, respectively.

After Neun’s triple play, it took over 41 years for another one to occur – when Ron Hansen of the Washington Senators accomplished the feat on July 30, 1968.

For those that are still a little confused – I don’t blame you. As a diehard baseball fan who only played baseball for a small chunk of my childhood (I was complete dogshit at it) – I’d be lying if I said I was the most versed individual when it comes to obscure baseball plays.

Yet the unassisted triple play is a joy to watch, as it’s almost always a beautiful mix of confusion and history.

In the case of Bruntlett’s unassisted triple play, both the most recent and one of only two to end a game, runners were at 1st and 2nd and taking off at the time of a line drive off the bat of Jeff Francouer, which was caught for the first out. Luis Castillo, the runner initially on second base, was nearly at third base by the time the ball was caught, making him easily doubled off with a force-out at second base. Daniel Murphy, the first base runner who now was approaching Bruntlett at second base, was then tagged out for the third and final out.

As of 2025, just 10 of the 30 MLB franchises have had a player complete an unassisted triple play, with the Cleveland Guardians franchise leading all teams with three different players achieving the feat throughout team history.

An unassisted triple play has occurred in the postseason just once – when Bill Wambsganss of the then-Cleveland Indians completed the play in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 1920 World Series.

Below is a look at each unassisted triple play in modern MLB history in chronological order, with each player listed alongside the date accomplished, opponent and inning:

1. Neal Ball, Cleveland Naps, July 19, 1909 – 2nd inning vs. Boston Red Sox
2. Bill Wambsganss, Cleveland Indians, October 10, 1920 – 5th inning vs. Brooklyn Robins
3. George Burns, Boston Red Sox, September 14, 1923 – 2nd inning vs. Cleveland Indians
4. Ernie Padgett, Boston Braves, October 6, 1923 – 4th inning vs. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Glenn Wright, Pittsburgh Pirates, May 7, 1925 – 9th inning vs. St. Louis Cardinals
6. Jimmy Cooney, Chicago Cubs, May 30, 1927 – 4th inning vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
7. Johnny Neun, Detroit Tigers, May 31, 1927 – 9th inning vs. Cleveland Indians
8. Ron Hansen, Washington Senators, July 30, 1968 – 1st inning vs. Cleveland Indians
9. Mickey Morandini, Philadelphia Phillies, September 20, 1992 – 6th inning vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. John Valentin, Boston Red Sox, July 8, 1994 – 6th inning vs. Seattle Mariners
11. Randy Velarde, Oakland Athletics, May 29, 2000 – 6th inning vs. New York Yankees
12. Rafael Furcal, Atlanta Braves, August 10, 2003 – 5th inning vs. St. Louis Cardinals
13. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies, April 29, 2007 – 7th inning vs. Atlanta Braves
14. Asdrúbal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians, May 12, 2008 – 5th inning vs. Toronto Blue Jays
15. Eric Bruntlett, Philadelphia Phillies, August 23, 2009 – 9th inning vs. New York Mets