# Unassisted triple play or Inside-the-park homerun **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 30, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366 "2018-04-30T18:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/1 "2018-04-30T18:30:58Z")
Which would you rather see? Let’s assume that either one benefits your team, which will ultimately win in either case. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/2 "2018-04-30T18:39:18Z")
I’ve seen them both. I think the triple play was much more impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/3 "2018-04-30T18:42:45Z")
The unassisted triple play is very rare, [\*\*happening only 15 times in modern baseball history \*\*](https://www.google.com/search?safe=strict&ei=R2LnWtXRCIvYzwL897O4Bg&q=how+many+unassisted+triple+plays+in+baseball+history&oq=how+many+u+in+baseball+history&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i7i30k1.8669.9792.0.12907.3.2.1.0.0.0.173.328.0j2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.199....0.YdJh85wqzuY), whereas [**there were 975 inside the park homeruns hit between 1951 and 2000.**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside-the-park_home_run) Show me the former! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/4 "2018-04-30T18:47:41Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I’ve seen them both. I think the triple play was much more impressive. Either you’ve watched a ton of baseball for many years, or you are incredibly lucky. LOL ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/5 "2018-04-30T18:48:01Z")
I’d take even a regular triple play over the inside the park homer. An inside the park homer is often the result of either a freak incident or a defensive screw up. I’d far rather see the triple play which likely involves an excellent defensive play. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/6 "2018-04-30T18:57:20Z")
Inside the park homerun. Especially the Little League variety. Most entertaining play in baseball. An unassisted triple play is over too fast to enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/7 "2018-04-30T18:59:31Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Either you’ve watched a ton of baseball for many years, or you are incredibly lucky. LOL Watched a lot of baseball. A lot. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/8 "2018-04-30T18:59:32Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > An inside the park homer is often the result of either a freak incident or a defensive screw up. > > I’d far rather see the triple play which likely involves an excellent defensive play. Yes, and that touches on a pet peeve of mine. I think that too often they award hits on the major league level that really should be errors instead. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/9 "2018-04-30T19:03:31Z")
I’ve seen an inside the park homer and it was exciting as hell, I’ll tell you that. An unassisted triple play is rarer and more amazing, but they happen so fast you only register what’s going on affter the fact. I haven’t seen one live, though, so I pick that. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/10 "2018-04-30T19:08:04Z")
I’d like the able to tell people I saw an unassisted triple play after the fact, but I’d much more enjoy the homer in the moment. As said, the triple play is over like that, with no buildup. With a homer, the suspense builds throughout the dash around the bases, and by the end the entire stadium would be on their feet going nuts. You can’t beat that for excitement. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/11 "2018-04-30T19:14:03Z")
I remember an inside-the-parker where the man on base was tagged out at the plate before the hitter was called safe at the plate. It may have involved George Scott, don’t quite recall. I imagine that’s pretty rare. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/12 "2018-04-30T19:20:25Z")
I think an inside the parker due to a very unusual carom is almost as cool. An average one is exciting but kind of brings to mind the Benny Hill theme. Examples: [Chris Taylor Smacks a Leadoff Inside-the-Park Homerun Vs Phillies - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOZzRObYKwY) [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw7OuFJD2fI) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/13 "2018-04-30T19:35:19Z")
The unassisted triple play - most inside-the-park home runs are flukes anyway; usually, somebody falls over or gets hurt running into the outfield fence trying to make the catch, and by the time an adjacent outfielder gets to the ball to throw it back, it’s pretty much too late to make a play at the plate. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/14 "2018-04-30T20:08:53Z")
I’ve been at the ballpark for a few ITPHRs, and for 1 triple play (not an unassisted one). The ITPHR generates a lot more buzz in the park, but the triple play is rarer and more remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/15 "2018-04-30T20:20:57Z")
I’d rather see an inside-the-park home run, since it lasts longer. (And I agree with running coach that a Little League one would be the most fun.) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/16 "2018-04-30T21:12:09Z")
The one game I attended where there was an inside-the-park home run happened at the point where my wife sent me down to the concession stand to get her a beer. Despite this, we’re still married. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/17 "2018-04-30T22:02:41Z")
Since we’re doing inside-the-park homers, here’s a [fun clip](https://cf-e2.streamablevideo.com/video/mp4/sn3sw.mp4?token=1525124247-oey601e6O%2BsARigFX5o5ibRnVo2Ienqoyrn4BCIX%2FTI%3D) (for Yankees fans) of Aaron Hicks hitting one a few weeks ago versus Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/18 "2018-04-30T23:39:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > …Especially the Little League variety… Those are usually singles and multiple errors, technically. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/19 "2018-04-30T23:41:20Z")
I’d much rather see a triple play. It’s always fun to see the crowd when they recognize it’s a triple play. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366/20 "2018-05-01T00:03:50Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Those are usually singles and multiple errors, technically. Sometimes, they’re a bouncer [to the pitcher.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nge3PON8A_g) (first segment) The whole video is Little League homeruns. I know they’re not a real homerun but it’s [a recognized term.](https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2015/08/what-is-the-little-league-home-run/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unassisted-triple-play-or-inside-the-park-homerun/813366.md?page=2)