A chance at making baseball history was lost in the Friday, 6/29 game between the Blue Jays and Cubs. It was a close game with the Jays leading 3-2 and batting when one of those weird innings occured that you can't anticipate. The Jays Mark "Mitch" Mitchell flied out for the first out. Meanwhile, everything the Jays hit after that seemed to find a hole and they proceeded to bat around. Mitch then grounded out for the second out. But the wackiness continued until Mitch found himself at bat again with the chance to make all three batted outs in the same inning. At this point, everyone on both benches was rooting for an out. The umpire was roundly booed for calling a ball on a potential third strike that was clearly outside. Mitch was then able to hit a weak grounder betwen third and short and into the outfield. There was one more chance at history- however, Ray Meandro, who would have been forced at third, failed to fall down between second and third, leaving Mitch with a single and condemning him to a life of continued anonyminity. Apparently no one in the history of professional baseball has made all three outs in an inning.
We often come here to voice our concerns about league problems. This, however is a great story and if I attended the game, I would've been one of the guys booing the umpire as well (in jest, of course).
Stories such as this one are the reasons that baseball is the greatest game on earth.
Hey, I was umpiring the bases on this one. I swear he missed first base as he made the turn.
But more importantly, I was worried that one of our CDMSBL records would go down. At least I think it's a record. no one has challenged it yet. I don't know how many runs the Jays scored in the inning, but it was fast approaching 19. That is how many runs the Knights/Fordians/White Sox scored in one inning back in '02 or '03 I believe. And it was nice to be on the better end of that. Jim Konstantakis
Mitch - I offer my condolences in your unsuccessful attempt at entering the World Record book for recording 3 batted outs in the same inning. You made a valiant effort, my good friend - and I weep for you. However - don't let that failure get you down. I happened to be the one keeping the book for that inning, and in your quest to set one record, you overlooked the fact that you did indeed set another record - one that has not been equaled in the history of the game of baseball. We batted around the order more than 2 times that inning. We had 2 players who needed runners due to injuries. Those 2 players got on base each of the 2 times they batted in that historical inning. Each time they got on base, there were numerous shouts and screams from your teammates in the dugout - "WHO MADE THE LAST BATTED OUT????!!!!!" I was forced to provide the same response each of the 4 times that question was asked. My response, as you know, was "THAT WOULD BE MITCH!!!!!!" Because you had to catch that game, I believe I saw you put on your gear and then take off your gear 4 different times in the same inning. I do believe I also heard some rumblings and complaining from your teammates and your mananger, Dana Hansen, that you need to be ready to run, at all times, as a designated runner. They were disturbed each of the 4 times you had to remove your gear and we had to wait for you to take your spot on base as the designated runner. As I write this posting, it has occurred to me that you actually set TWO World Historical Baseball records during that inning - one for being the designated runner 4 times in one inning and you also set the record for the most times a catcher put his gear on and took it off in one inning - 4 friggin' times!!!!!!!!!!! I do believe that the first record has a chance of being broken some day in the distant future, however the second record may stand for as long as this great game is played. CONGRATULATIONS, MITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
