Trading players is as much a part of baseball as pitching, hitting, and running the bases. But there has never been an occasion where a player was faced with playing for the team who traded him and the team he was traded to…until now.
When the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox was stopped due to weather, catcher Danny Jansen was a member of the Blue Jays.
But since that day, Jansen was traded to the Red Sox.
On August 26, the Blue Jays and Red Sox again met to play; but this time it was a double header – the new game and completion of the suspended game.
The situation created an unusual circumstance for Jansen who found himself in both dugouts…in the same inning!
Speaking on the oddity, Jansen said, “I was surprised when I found out I was the first one to do it. It’s cool, leaving a stamp like that on the game. It’s interesting, and it’s strange. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to have that.”
The game was only in the second inning when rains forced the officials to suspend the game. At that time, Jansen was still playing for the Blue Jays and was at bat when the game was called. One month later, Jansen found himself back in Boston…but this time as a member of the Red Sox after being traded for three minor league players. So, when the game resumed, Jansen was at bat for the Blue Jays where a pinch hitter was announced, and then he took his place behind the plate as a member of the Red Sox.
When Red Sox manager Alex Cora learned about the situation, he decided to play Jansen saying, “let’s make history!”
Cora spoke on the game saying, “it was a very cool moment, just to be a part of it. I don’t know if it’s going to happen again. It has to be kind of like the perfect storm for that to happen – starting with the storm. And I’m glad that everybody enjoyed it.”