Neal Ball Does It Alone

Neal Ball Does It Alone (1909)

Cleveland's shortstop was a utility man nobody praised for his glove. Second inning at League Park, two Boston runners moving on a hit-and-run: Amby McConnell lined one up the middle, Ball leaped, caught it, stepped on second, and tagged Jake Stahl stumbling toward him. Three outs, one man, the first unassisted triple play the majors recognize. The crowd went quiet before it went loud. Then Ball batted in the same inning and drove one over Tris Speaker's head for an inside-the-park homer, his first. Cy Young won it 6 to 1. Ball's glove is in Cooperstown.

The Ferrell Boys Settle It (1933)

Seven brothers grew up on a North Carolina dairy farm, all pitchers except Rick, who got handed the mitt. At Fenway, Wes pitched for Cleveland and Rick caught for Boston. Top of the fourth, Wes hit a two-run homer. Bottom of the fourth, Rick hit a three-run homer off his little brother. Rick had nine career homers at the time. Wes finished with 38, more than any pitcher ever. Rick finished in the Hall of Fame. Three thousand people saw it. They never faced each other again.

Marichal, Four Outs Short (1960)

The Giants handed the ball at Candlestick to a 22-year-old from Laguna Verde. Juan Marichal retired the first 19 Phillies he faced, striking out 12 with a leg kick that nearly touched the sky. With two outs in the eighth of his debut, pinch-hitter Clay Dalrymple lined a curveball into center for the only hit. His catcher jogged out to calm him. Marichal said he wasn't worried, retired the next four, and won 2 to 0.

The Roof Gives Up (1994)

At 4:35 in the afternoon, with the Mariners stretching before a game against Baltimore, ceiling tiles fell 180 feet into the empty seats. Nobody was hurt. The game was called before the gates opened. Rather than replace four tiles, officials replaced all 40,000, and Seattle finished the season on the road. The Kingdome lasted five more years.