Detroit Tigers History: Johnny Neun Turns Unassisted Triple Play
By David Hill
There have been 15 unassisted triple plays in the history of baseball. On this day in 1927, for the second consecutive day, that feat was accomplished, as Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun saved the day.
The unassisted triple play may well be the rarest event in baseball. Over the course of MLB history, only 15 unassisted triple plays have been accomplished. For comparison, there have been 23 perfect games and 16 four home run games. It is, truly, a rare accomplishment.
Strangely, two of the unassisted triple plays happened on consecutive days. A day after Jimmy Cooney turned his triple play against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Johnny Neun did the same for the Detroit Tigers. However, his may have saved the game against the Cleveland Indians.
Tigers pitcher Rip Collins had been cruising along until the ninth, allowing just four baserunners while Detroit was clinging to a 1-0 lead. However, he ran into trouble in the top of the ninth. Pinch hitter Glenn Myatt worked a walk, and Charlie Jamieson singled to put runners on first and second. Homer Summa, who would end up having a relatively productive season at the plate, came up to bat.
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Summa did his part at the plate, hitting a line drive. However, Neun caught the ball, and tagged Jamieson for the second out. He then beat Myatt to second to complete the triple play, preserving the Tigers 1-0 victory. This was the seventh triple play in MLB history, and the first to end a game. It took until Eric Bruntlett in 2009 for another unassisted triple play to end a contest.
That would be one of the highlights for Neun that year. A couple of months later, he stole five bases in one game against the Yankees. Four days later, the stole home twice in a doubleheader against the Senators, turning the trick once in each game. He had his greatest season with the bat that year as well, producing a .324/.427/.407 batting line, stealing 22 bases.
Next: Frustration apparent with Brad Ausmus
On this day in 1927, Johnny Neun put himself in the history books. In doing so, he also saved a Detroit Tigers victory.