Letter

Three Strikeouts

May 1, 2000 – Letters from readers

This remarkable event occurred during a Del Webb tournament on March 9 in Sun City, Arizona.

Duane Grobman, pitching for the Top Gun 70s, struck out three successive batters in one inning, with two runners on base, against the potent Desert Storm team.

Not three batters at the bottom of the order looking into the sun, but three top hitters from the top of their powerful batting order with no sun in their eyes.

The only mar on this otherwise pristine feat was the pop foul for the third strikeout caught by the Top Gun catcher, allowing any low-life quibbler or overzealous scorekeeper to claim the deed did not count as a third strikeout. Bravo to Duane! Three successive strikeouts rivals the improbability of two triple plays in a single inning in the 1997 World Championships in Salt Lake City between the Anaheim Pirates and the Santa Barbara Stars.

Dick Lowe

Top Gun 70s

Santa Ana, California