AboutTom Schott Expertise I will deal with the major leagues only from 19th century to present. I`m good on baseball history, records, statistics, ballparks. Try to stick to on-the-field stuff. I`m not interested in personal off-the-field stuff like spouses, girl friends, drug habits, salaries, mascots, etc. If you already know the answer to the question, please don't ask it. I don't want to play "stump the expert."
Experience I've written on the subject, and I have substantial library of resources.
Publications Numerous encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine articles. One book, several book chapters.
Question What is rarer, a triple play or a three pitch inning? I don't think I've ever seen a three pitch inning.
Answer Jerry,
Three-pitch innings would be more rare. I cannot get precise figures for the triple plays, but I can offer a reasonable response. Since 1901, there have been 131 three-pitch innings on record. I have been able to determine that from 2000-2006, there were 24 triple plays in the major leagues. Extrapolating from that, you would have about 392 triple plays from 1901-1999. So that would be 416 triple plays from 1901 to 2006. Even allowing for such things as better equipment, better fielders, faster infields and so forth, you are still going to have far fewer three-pitch innings.
