Since it’s 70’s week here on Mets Police, let’s get an early jump on the 35th anniversary of this one with this loaner post originally posted on the great Centerfield Maz (a great blog probably off your radar.)
1975- Joe Torre Grounds Into A Record Four Double Plays
July 21, 1975: On this day in 1975 the Mets lost 6-2 to the Astros at Shea Stadium. Houston knocked out George Stone by the 3rd inning, knocking him around for 5 runs & 8 hits. Stone was coming back from rotator cuff surgery, and after some success was set back after this outing.
On this night Joe Torre would set a record by grounding into four double plays. Each time after Felix Millan had reached base ahead of him. In the 1st inning Millan singled, Torre followed up grounding out to the pitcher Ken Forsch who turned two. In the 3rd inning, Del Unser & Millan both singled, Torre killed that inning by hitting a double play ball to the short stop. In the sixth Millan got his 3rd hit of the night but was erased when Torre grounded out to second baseman Larry Milbourne who turned the double play.
20 other players in history had grounded into three double plays in a game, the Mets own Teddy Martinez was had done it the previous year. In the bottom of the 8th Del Unser singled again & Felix Millan got his fourth hit of the night. Torre came to bat and made MLB history as he grounded to short stop Roger Metzger 6-4-3 becoming the 1st player to hit into four double plays in one game. After the game Torre joked “I’d like to thank Felix Millan for making this all possible, I’ll just tell the kids they were all bulletsâ€.
