Last night in Washington, Mets centerfielder Angel Pagan hit an inside-the-park home run. Later in the game, he started a triple play with a sweet shoestring catch which led to doubling off two runners who thought the ball would drop.
Pagan's heroics would be for naught as the Nats won the game 5-3. The Mets have lost 9 of 11 by the way.
Anyhow, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to hit and inside-the-park homer and participate in a triple play was Phillies shortstop Ted Kazanski, not to be confused with The Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. It was also the last time a team had an inside-the-parker and a triple play in the same game. My question is, how in the world does the Elias Sports Bureau know these things? How are they able to get that information so quickly? Incredible.
Kazanski's feat took place on September 25, 1955 against the New York Giants at The Polo Grounds in the first game of a season-ending doubleheader.
Kazanski's inside-the-park home run off pitcher Jim Hearn went to left field. I'm guessing the 5th inning homer hugged the wall and rolled towards centerfield at the bathtub shaped Polo Grounds.
The Phillies won, 3-1, when Bobby Hofman lined into a triple play to end the game.
As for Ted Kazanski, that home run was his only hit of the season. As a 21-year old, he only had 13 at-bats in the big leagues that season. He hit .214 in his 6-year career, all with the Phillies. I'm sure somewhere, someone will be contacting Ted Kazanski today. Yes, he's still alive. Where does he live? I don't know but I'm guessing the Elias Sports Bureau knows everything about him.
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