Major League Baseball has been around for 121 years, which makes an official “first” an incredible rarity.
Thanks to some rain and a trade, Danny Jansen has a chance to find his name in the history books.
It all began on June 26, when the Blue Jays and Red Sox faced off in Boston on a rainy night. When conditions became unplayable in the second inning, the game was suspended and set to made up at a later date, Aug. 26.
Jansen started the game for the Blue Jays at catcher and was actually at bat when play was called. He was down in count 0-1 against pitcher Kutter Crawford.
When the game resumes next month, Jansen might be at the plate and behind it — for the opposing team.
On July 27, the Jays traded Jansen to the Red Sox in exchange for prospects Cutter Coffey, Eddinson Paulino, and Gilberto Batista. He was activated the next day.
Should Jansen get into the game for Boston when the teams meet for the makeup game – part of a split doubleheader – the catcher will make MLB history as the only player to ever play for both teams in the same game, according to Sportsnet Stats.
In a reply to the tweet, YES Network baseball writer Erica Block pointed out that four players in MLB history have played for two different teams in the same day – which would be technically true for Jansen – but none took part for two teams facing each other.
Deion Sanders also competed in two games for two teams in the same day, but was competing in two different sports – Prime Time suited up for MLB’s Atlanta Braves and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons on Oc.t 11, 1992.
Joel Youngblood holds the unique distinction of being the only player in MLB history to record a hit for two different teams on the same day.
On Aug. 4, 1982, Youngblood started an afternoon game for the New York Mets in Chicago against the Cubs, recording a two-RBI single in the third inning. Before his next at-bat, he was removed from the game and traded to the Montreal Expos, who were shorthanded and insisted that Youngblood make it to Philadelphia that night for their game against the Phillies.
Youngblood quickly packed his things and hopped a flight, arriving at the Philly stadium midway through the game. He was sent in as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and reached base on an infield single, making history.
While Jansen didn’t record a hit for the Jays during the suspended game, he still has a good chance at seeing his name in the history books – he is one of two catchers on Boston’s roster after the team designated another former Jay, Reese McGuire, for assignment.