Moonlight in New Bedford

Courtesy of Dick Thompson and Tom Simon

On August 23, 1904, Moonlight Graham played center field for the
Manchester club in a New England League game played in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

New Bedford had runners on second and third with no outs in the home second.

A ground ball to the shortstop set off a chain of events that eventually led to a triple play by Manchester.  What was unusual about it was that all  nine defensive players touched the ball!

The shortstop threw home in an attempt to ca

Courtesy of Dick Thompson and Tom Simon

On August 23, 1904, Moonlight Graham played center field for the
Manchester club in a New England League game played in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

New Bedford had runners on second and third with no outs in the home second.

A ground ball to the shortstop set off a chain of events that eventually led to a triple play by Manchester.  What was unusual about it was that all  nine defensive players touched the ball!

The shortstop threw home in an attempt to catch the runner going from
third.  He was caught in a rundown that went 6-5-2-1-5.

While this was going on the outfielders all moved in, the center fielder and left fielder moving toward second base and the right fielder toward first.

The runner who was originally on second when the play started got hung up between second and third as the first out was recorded.  The play then went 5-7-4-8-5 with the runner being tagged trying for third.

The runner who hit the ball that started the play was then caught trying to advance from first to second.  The play went 5-3-9 for the putout.