Everybody is aware of you possibly can’t be in two locations on the identical time. These are the principles — the immutable guidelines of physics.
Ah, however who knew you possibly can play for 2 groups in the identical baseball recreation? These are additionally the principles — the wacky suspended-game guidelines of baseball.
So subsequent Monday, if all of the forces within the universe line up proper, Boston Purple Sox catcher Danny Jansen will go the place no baseball-playing human has ever gone earlier than. Not within the massive leagues anyway.
In per week, he may turn out to be the primary participant in major-league historical past to seem in a field rating for each groups in the identical recreation. And right here’s our plea to the forces within the universe: This must occur!
“Oh, man,” Jansen informed The Athletic the opposite day. “It’s going to be nuts.”
For the final 54 days, since June 26, he has been caught within the batter’s field at Fenway Park, frozen in baseball time. Not actually, in fact. However that is baseball. So at the same time as every little thing else round him has swirled in one million totally different instructions, the field rating of that recreation tells us he’s nonetheless batting.
It was the second inning. He was hitting for the Toronto Blue Jays in Boston, with one out and a runner on first. He had simply fouled off a first-pitch cutter. And that was when the climate gods determined it was time to mess with the baseball gods.
UPDATE: We are actually in a rain delay ☔️ pic.twitter.com/M1BNJ2l3xF
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 26, 2024
So these raindrops changed into a rain delay. That rain delay changed into a suspended recreation. The resumption of that recreation was scheduled for Aug. 26. After which …
The commerce deadline occurred. And Jansen received traded, for the primary time in his profession — to the crew the Blue Jays had been enjoying that evening, the Purple Sox. So buddies, historical past beckons. And likewise wackiness. We’re massive followers of each.
So the place may this be main? What does all of it imply? And are you positive this has by no means occurred earlier than? (Spoiler alert: Don’t be!) Let’s have a look.
So what occurs subsequent?
When this recreation resumes, we are able to assure one factor: Danny Jansen won’t get to complete his at-bat. The suspended-game rule could also be a bit zany at occasions, however it isn’t that zany — not sufficient to permit a participant carrying a Purple Sox uniform to bat for the Blue Jays.
However right here is the place this might get enjoyable — and historic. The Purple Sox additionally want to alter catchers. Reese McGuire, who was catching for them on the time, is on their Triple-A roster now, not their big-league roster. So if Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora is as astute as we expect he’s, we’re headed for one of many best P.A. bulletins ever:
“Now catching for the Purple Sox, Danny Jansen. Now pinch-hitting for Danny Jansen … fill within the clean, however who the heck cares!”
“Oh, man,” Jansen mentioned, once we ran that situation by him. “Such an oddity.”
It’s an oddity, all proper. But it surely’s solely doable as a result of …
The suspended-game rule is the reward that retains on giving
Of all of the 14 gazillion guidelines within the baseball rulebook, the suspended-game rule must be essentially the most superior. It makes a lot bizarre and wild nuttiness doable, it’s one of the best rule ever.
It makes time journey doable. Due to this rule, Juan Soto managed to debut earlier than his debut again in 2018. He arrived within the massive leagues, with the Washington Nationals, on Might 20. However he later performed in a recreation that had been suspended on Might 15 — and homered. Which implies he debuted earlier than he debuted and likewise homered earlier than his first homer.
Juan Soto homers within the sixth inning of a resumed recreation on June 18, 2018, that had been suspended 5 days earlier than his MLB debut the month earlier. (2018 Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs)
It makes crew journey doable. Due to this rule, reliever Joel Hanrahan received a recreation for the Nationals whereas he was enjoying for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2009, he pitched a scoreless prime of the eleventh inning for the Nats on Might 5. Then that recreation received a bit slippery, in additional methods than one.
It received delayed, suspended and completed two months later. However he’d been traded to the Pirates by then. So … yep. Whereas he was hanging out within the Pirates’ bullpen in Miami, the Nationals rallied to win in Washington, so their successful pitcher was — who else? — Joel Hanrahan. What a magic trick.
It makes cloning doable. Due to this rule, Adam Duvall and Daniel Hudson as soon as confronted one another with two totally different groups, in two totally different video games, on the identical day. And now that we’re this deep into this part, that doesn’t even appear unusual anymore, does it?
On July 21, 2021, the Miami Marlins had been enjoying the Nationals. Duvall went 1 for 4 for Miami. Hudson pitched a scoreless eighth for Washington. However …
In the meantime, in an alternate universe, the Braves performed the Padres that very same day, in one other recreation that might get suspended. By the point they resumed it in September, guess what had modified?
Duvall was a Courageous … and Hudson was a Padre … and within the sixth inning of that recreation, Adam Duvall, the Courageous, hit a house run off Daniel Hudson, the Padre … on the identical day the field scores inform us they had been additionally enjoying towards one another in Washington. It’s proper there in Duvall’s recreation go surfing Baseball Reference. Basic!
(screenshot from Baseball Reference)
So now that we have now that enjoyable preamble out of the way in which, again to Danny Jansen. It makes no logical sense {that a} participant may get taken out of a recreation, after which, on the identical actual second, get subbed into that recreation for the opposite crew. However have we talked about that the suspended-game rule is creative like that? Right here’s what it says, proper there in Rule 7.02:
A participant who was not with the Membership when the sport was suspended could also be used instead, even when he has taken the place of a participant not with the Membership who wouldn’t have been eligible …
Sure!
Not that Jansen was intricately conversant in any of that when he received traded to Boston on July 27. However all it took was at some point in his new clubhouse earlier than he realized he was going to need to bone up on this factor — as a result of these Boston writers had a whole lot of questions, a few feat he didn’t even know was doable.
“I didn’t know (a lot about this) at first,” he mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘What — am I going to need to go on the opposite crew?’ I didn’t know what was going to occur. It simply type of caught me off guard about the entire state of affairs. As a result of after I received traded, it was only a whirlwind at first, and I didn’t give it some thought. However then, as soon as that stuff settled, I heard about (the suspended-game situation). And I used to be like, ‘Oh, that’s cool. That’s a novel factor that’s going to occur.’”
Ah, however how distinctive is it? Don’t reply too rapidly, as a result of there may be, the truth is …
One other residing human who truly did this
Except you had been an enormous fan of Worldwide League baseball within the Nineteen Eighties, you most likely don’t acknowledge the title Dale Holman. However do you know he has a number of artifacts from his profession which are presently housed contained in the Baseball Corridor of Fame?
True story. And why is that? As a result of in 1986, Holman did one thing that may sound acquainted in case you’ve learn this far:
He performed for each groups in the identical recreation.
He began that recreation in June, enjoying proper area for Syracuse. He completed that recreation on Aug. 16, enjoying left area for Richmond. Sure, we even dug up the field rating.
However not like the saga of Danny Jansen, who merely received traded from one crew to the opposite, a bunch of stars needed to line up for Holman to drag off his feat. He didn’t get traded. He received launched. In order that isn’t often a surefire ticket to creating historical past.
At age 27 and caught in his fifth season in Triple A, he wasn’t even positive he’d get one other job. As a substitute, he hooked on with the Braves’ Double-A crew in Greenville, SC. He was nonetheless there a month later when the Braves’ Triple-A membership in Richmond wanted to seek out an outfielder in a rush. Guess who received known as up?
Naturally, simply two days later, Holman’s new crew was about to renew a suspended recreation together with his previous crew, Syracuse. It’s protected to say there was so much much less buzzing about that momentous occasion than what Danny Jansen is experiencing. Actually, it nearly went unnoticed, besides …
That afternoon, a fortuitous lightning bolt instantly hit Richmond infielder Paul Runge. Wait, he thought. Wasn’t the brand new outfielder on the town enjoying for the opposite crew when this recreation started?
“Till then, no person had remembered it, even myself,” Holman informed The Athletic once we tracked him down at his dwelling in Miramar Seashore, Fla. “However then Paul Runge did. I keep in mind we had been sitting within the clubhouse, and he mentioned one thing about it. He mentioned: ‘You’ve received to get in there!’”
So subsequent factor he knew, Holman was within the lineup — and singled in his subsequent two at-bats … towards a crew he was enjoying for as just lately because the third inning. However that wasn’t even his largest declare to fame.
Within the second inning, when he was nonetheless within the Syracuse lineup, he’d smoked a two-run double … towards Richmond. So not solely had he performed for each groups, he’d gotten successful for each groups in the identical recreation. And even nuttier, he received credit score for driving within the successful run towards the crew he was enjoying for when that recreation ended.
This sounds extra like a Brockmire script than one thing that unfolded in actual life. However almost 40 years later, it’s maintaining the legend of Dale Holman alive. And even he’s amazed that anybody is remotely conscious of any of this.
“It’s simply a kind of loopy issues,” he mentioned. “It may have occurred to anyone, however it occurred to me. I used to be within the incorrect place on the proper time, or no matter.”
If it occurred immediately, he’d most likely have changed into a TikTok people hero just about immediately. However this was 1986 — a time with out Tik-ing, Tok-ing or tweeting. So it’s a miracle that phrase of this unimaginable feat made it past the Richmond metropolis limits.
“I actually don’t suppose something would ever have been identified about that, if not for a lady in our workplace (in Richmond), and he or she despatched one thing in to USA Right this moment,” Holman mentioned. “On the entrance web page of their sports activities, they used to have a bit column that was one thing like ‘Right this moment in Sports activities.’ So that they had a bit paragraph about it.
“Then the following Saturday, considered one of my previous roommates known as me and mentioned: ‘I’m watching the (NBC) Sport of the Week. And I simply heard Joe Garagiola point out your title about enjoying in a recreation for each groups.’”
That was about as viral as Holman’s spectacular feat received on the time. However fortunately, alongside got here Jansen to encourage hard-working media retailers like us to mud off the archives and convey it again to life. So no surprise the primary phrases out of Holman’s mouth, as soon as we linked, had been: “I received your message. I used to be excited to speak to you.”
So right here’s an concept. Let’s strive the first-ever…
Danny Jansen vs. Dale Holman Story of the Tape
For almost 40 years, Holman has had this area all to himself. As greatest as even longtime minor-league historians can inform, the Two Groups within the Similar Sport Membership consisted of just one man — him. So we had been curious: Was he rooting for Jansen to affix him or not?
“Effectively, he can’t be a part of me,” Holman mentioned, cheerfully. “He didn’t get successful (earlier than altering groups). You recognize, that’s the deal. So he can go forward and play for 3 or 4 groups in a day. It doesn’t matter.”
We relayed these phrases to Jansen. He discovered them fairly amusing.
“He’s not incorrect,” Jansen mentioned, laughing. “I imply, I ended my day with the Blue Jays 0 for 1 — no, wait. I’m 0 for 0, and down, 0-1, within the depend. So I didn’t get successful for each side.”
Sure, if that’s the large class — getting successful for each groups in the identical recreation — Holman has that area of interest wrapped up. However now let’s make the case for Jansen, assuming he will get put within the lineup because the catcher when this recreation resumes.
First off, he’s doing it within the massive leagues. In order that’s one huge checkmark on Jansen’s facet.
Second, Jansen began this at-bat because the hitter — and he has an opportunity to complete it because the catcher. So who the heck has ever batted and caught in the identical at-bat in a recreation? No one. Clearly. So what’s the cool consider doing that?
“Ooh,” Jansen mentioned. “That may be very cool.”
Then he had a query for us: If the pinch-hitter goes in for him and strikes out, “does that go on my stats? … As a result of if it did, I used to be pondering we’re going to need to get that man to roll one over to 3rd base.”
However the reply to that’s: Nope. Since there was just one strike, no matter occurs on this at-bat will get credited to the pinch-hitter. Jansen appeared relieved to listen to that.
Besides what if he’d seen yet one more pitch in that recreation earlier than the rain hit? What if there had been two strikes on him as an alternative of 1? Then he would have had an opportunity to do some actually bizarre stuff. He may have caught the third strike of a strikeout of himself.
“Wow,” Jansen mentioned. “That may be wild.”
Or what about this even wilder factor that would have occurred. (Hat tip to loyal reader Frank Mercogliano for this one.) If there have been two strikes as an alternative of 1, after which Danny Jansen the catcher wasn’t capable of maintain onto the pitch that struck out Danny Jansen the hitter, he may have theoretically tagged himself out. Or that’s how the official play-by-play annals of baseball would have described it, anyhow.
“That’s so humorous to consider,” Jansen mentioned, laughing once more. “Good factor it’s all theoretical, proper?”
Wait. There’s extra. In response to the Elias Sports activities Bureau, Jansen would get credit score for taking part in one recreation for the Blue Jays and likewise one recreation for the Purple Sox in the identical recreation. However he would solely get credit score for one whole recreation performed. So when does one plus one equal one? Solely in baseball!
And possibly much more unusual, right here we have now video proof that Jansen set foot within the batter’s field for the Blue Jays on this recreation … and has been caught there for the final seven weeks, technically talking. However he’ll not get credit score for a plate look for the Blue Jays. Don’t imagine your eyes, buddies. It’s baseball!
It’s as unusual however cool because it will get, all proper. However simply once we thought we had Jansen satisfied his feat can be method greater than Holman’s, Jansen truly leapt to the protection of Dale Holman, Mr. 3-for-3 himself (for 2 totally different groups).
“Yeah, however three knocks, although,” Jansen mentioned. “It’s going to be robust to prime that.”
All proper. Props to them each. As a result of what everybody must ponder right here is that …
Moments like this reverberate by way of baseball historical past
Holman is the primary to confess he’s not essentially the most luminant star within the baseball cosmos. However you need to know that he did have his moments. He as soon as hit .344, with a .908 OPS, within the Texas League. He was as soon as on a Syracuse crew that performed a 27-inning recreation and a 23-inning recreation in back-to-back weeks, main shortly thereafter to his professional pitching debut. He’s within the Louisiana Tech Corridor of Fame. But in addition …
“You’re a baseball man,” he informed us. “Analysis this one.”
He then informed a story from his time as a roving teacher within the Braves’ system. He was visiting their South Atlantic League crew when all kinds of weird stuff started to occur. So in a span of 4 video games, he needed to step in as a supervisor, a coach, an umpire and even a participant, thanks to varied ejections, diseases and emergencies.
Has anybody else ever finished that? he requested. Arduous to say. However at the very least Danny Jansen hasn’t.
Nonetheless, Holman understands that nothing about his profession is remembered as vividly as that fabled recreation in Richmond the place he was so blended up within the exploits of each groups that when it was over, “I didn’t know whose hand to shake.” It’s nearly 4 many years later. And right here we’re, nonetheless speaking about this. Wonderful.
So what would Dale Holman like to inform Danny Jansen as his two-team second approaches?
“I don’t know the way his profession will play out. You recognize what I imply?” Holman mentioned. “But it surely saved my title within the information for a couple of many years. And I wouldn’t be identified in any other case. I began out my baseball profession as a prospect with the Dodgers. However then every little thing pale after that. So (this recreation) saved me within the information.
“So with him,” Holman mentioned of Jansen, “with the way in which the web is now, it’ll be all around the world. So even when he doesn’t begin that recreation for Boston, I’m positive they’ll determine a strategy to get him in there for an at-bat or to catch an inning, or no matter. I imply, they’d be loopy to not.”
However is that what’s going to occur? Alex Cora hasn’t tipped his hand. So we could not know till the lineup will get posted.
For many of his time with Boston, Jansen has had much more to deal with than turning into the reply to considered one of baseball’s best future trivia questions: Who’s the one man to play for each groups in the identical recreation? However would he like to wind up as that reply? Who wouldn’t?
“It’s fairly cool,” he mentioned. “It’s a cool factor to be a part of one thing that lives on and is only a rarity, one thing that doesn’t occur fairly often in any respect. That may be superior. You recognize, I attempt to be within the second as a lot as doable. However at some point, if this occurs, it’s going to be a cool factor regardless … however particularly afterward. It’s going to be a cool factor to look again on.”
And the way would he clarify to his grandkids sometime the way it’s even doable to play for each groups in the identical recreation … within the main leagues?
“Baseball is unimaginable,” he mentioned. “It’s all the time unimaginable. You’ll be able to’t count on that something in baseball can’t occur. Something’s doable.
“This recreation,” mentioned Danny Jansen, “is nuts.”
(Picture: Getty Photographs / Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)
