Few occurrences in baseball are as rare as an unassisted triple play. As of this year, it had occurred only 15 times in the 113-year history of Major League Baseball, making it rarer than a perfect game. This time, a nationwide audience was able to witness it.
August 10, 2003 - St. Louis, MO
Horacio Ramirez was in fifth-inning trouble in a tie ballgame. Mike Matheny had singled leading off the inning; then on Orlando Palmeiro's sacrifice bunt attempt, Ramirez threw the ball to second base in an attempt at a force play, but shortstop Rafael Furcal didn't cover the base in time and everyone was safe. Now Ramirez faced his counterpart Woody Williams, who was no slouch with the bat. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa opted for a hit-and-run.
"For me, this is very exciting," said Furcal after the game, "because you don't get to see that kind of play every day.
"He (Marcus Giles) said, 'Give me the ball, give me the ball.' I said, 'No, I've got a chance to make it myself.'"
The Cardinals ultimately won the game 3-2.