SABR Triple Plays Database
Welcome to the SABR Triple Plays Database, a comprehensive list of all triple plays turned in the major leagues since 1876.
Click the link below to find a list of all known triple plays in major league history, sortable by date, team(s), runners on base, play sequence, fielders, pitchers, opposing batter, unassisted, end of game, and other categories.
Triple Play trivia nuggets: Click here for some fun facts about triple plays courtesy of Chuck Rosciam, including the story of a triple play where the ball changed hands 10 times, the only player to be put out in a triple play twice in one season for two different teams, a reliever who threw only one pitch to get three outs, and the only AL/NL team to turn two triple plays in the same game.
Most triple plays in a season: The all-time record for most triple plays in a season might never be broken. A total of 19(!) triple plays were turned in 1890, but there were three major leagues in action then: the National League, the American Association, and the upstart Players’ League. Since 1901, the season high among AL/NL teams is 11 — done three times, in 1924, 1929, and 1979. With the inclusion of Negro Leagues triple plays, the 1924 season saw a record 15 triple plays turned. The most triple plays turned by one team in a season is three. Here’s the list: 2021 New York Yankees, 2016 Chicago White Sox, 1979 Boston Red Sox, 1979 Oakland A’s, 1965 Chicago Cubs, 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, 1924 Boston Red Sox, 1917 Indianapolis ABCs, 1911 Detroit Tigers. In the 19th century, it was also done four times (1890 Rochester/AA, 1886 Brooklyn/AA, 1885 NY Giants/NL, 1882 Cincinnati/AA).
Negro Leagues triple plays: In 2025, SABR added 60 known triple plays turned by major Negro Leagues teams, thanks to help from the Seamheads Negro League Database. Click here to learn more.
History of the SABR Triple Plays Database: The triple play list was developed by Chuck Rosciam and Frank Hamilton as conceived by David Smith. Over the years, the list has been updated and corrected by many volunteer researchers since and digitized in its current format by members of the Baseball Records Committee, including Sean Lahman, Frank Hamilton, Chuck Rosciam, Frank Vaccaro, and Jacob Pomrenke. A list of known contributors is below.
Minor League Triple Plays: Click here to access a list of all known triple plays in minor league baseball, compiled by SABR member Chuck McGill.
Corrections or updates: SABR members are invited to help fill in any missing or incorrect data. Please contact Jacob Pomrenke with details.
Contributors: David Arcidiacono, Gary Ashwill, Priscilla Astifan, David Ball, Cliff Blau, Sam Clements, John Delahanty, Peter Garver, Raymond Gonzalez, Steve Gietschier, Joe Haardt, Frank Hamilton, Frank Vaccaro, Kevin Harlow, Ed Hartig, Richard Hershberger, Kevin Johnson, Troy Kirk, Sean Lahman, John Lewis, Don Luce, Mike Lynch, Bob McConnell, Wayne McElreavy, Bill Nowlin, Jacob Pomrenke, Bob Richardson, Chuck Rosciam, John Schwartz, Ron Selter, James A. Smith, Stew Thornley, Richard Topp, Frank Vaccaro, Jim Weigand, and Robert Wickwire, among many others.
Photo caption: Bill Wambsganss of the Cleveland Indians turned an unassisted triple play during the 1920 World Series, the only major league player ever to do so. (SABR-Rucker Archive)