It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye. (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.
Now, last night’s 18-inning World Series battle, as you might expect, offered up some unicorn-qualifying occurrences (although not the game itself, since it was the second-ever 18-frame World Series Game. And, as he does so often, Shohei Ohtani did some unicorn-qualifying and unicorn-like things. We’ll get to the Amazing Mr. Ohtani in a few paragraphs, but let’s start with a few obvious and not-so-obvious unicorns from Monday night.
The obvious: the Dodgers became the only team to play in two 18-inning World Series games and the only team to win two-18 inning World Series games with a walk-off home run. Dodger Stadium became the first/only ballpark to host two 18-inning World Series contests and a Game Three the only WS Game to go 18-innings. Less obvious: Brad Paisley became the only professional singer to lead the crowd in the National Anthem before two World Series 18-inning games.
Here’s another Monday unicorn., one that at least borders on obvious. In Monday’s game, Mookie Betts became the first player to start in 18-inning World Series games for two different teams. He started in RF for the Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series and at SS for the Dodgers Monday night. (As you will see, if you read on, he is not the only player to start 18-inning World Series games at two different positions.)
Less obvious is the fact that Clayton Kershaw is now the only player (unicorn) to participate in one 18-inning World Series game solely as an offensive player and another solely as a pitcher. Kershaw made a brief appearance in both games and each time he was responsible for exactly one out. Kershaw lined out as a pinch hitter in the 17th inning of the 2018 game (and did not pitch) and retired one batter in a relief role in the 12th inning of the 2025 game (and did not come to the plate).
Now back to some almost-unicorns. Two players were in the starting lineups for both games, each starting at two different positions. We’ve already looked at Betts. The other two-time starter was Max Muncy, who started at 1B for the Dodgers in 2018 and at 3B for LA in 2025. Then there is Enrique Hernandez, who played in both 18-inning World Series games (for the Dodgers, coming in at 2B in the 11th inning of the 2018 game – later moving to LF – and starting in LF in the 2025 Game).
A Unicorn Extra
Last night’s game saw 19 pitchers take the mound, a new post-season record and 37 stranded runners (another post-season record).
Photo: All-Pro Reels on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop), CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Now, let’s move on to the king of MLB unicorns, Shohei Ohtani, who just keeps etching his name into the National Pastime’s history.
Ohtani had quite a night, making nine plate appearances and getting on base nine times (two homers, two doubles, five walks).
- In almost-unicorn fashion, he tied the record for plate appearances in a World Series game (or any post-season game for that matter) with nine.
For those Who Like To Know Such Things
The record for plate appearances in single MLB regular-season game is 12, shared by Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk and Rudy Law (all for the White Sox in a 25-inning, 7-6 win over the Brewers on May 8, 1984) and the Mets’ Felix Millan and John Milner (in a September 11, 1974, 25-inning, 3-4 loss to the Cardinals).
- Ohtani also achieved unicorn status as the only player with a 1.000 on-base percentage in a post-season game with nine plate appearances.
- In a unicorn-worthy move, Ohtani set a new record for walks in a World Series game (five). He also tied the record for walks in a post-season game of any kind. (The Rangers’ Corey Seager drew five walks in Game Two of the 2023 AL Division Series).
For Those Who Like To Know Such Things
The record for walks in a single regular-season MLB game is six, shared by Jeff Bagwell, Jimmie Foxx, Bryce Harper and Andre Thornton. Foxx is the only one of those to collect six walks in a nine-inning contest.
- Ohtani also tied the record for extra-base hits in a World Series game at four. (In Game 5 of the 1906 World Series, the White Sox’ Frank Isbell had four doubles in a ChiSox’ w8-6 win over the Cubs.)
- Ohtani set a new record for Intentional Walks in a World Series (or any post-season) game at four. Previously six players shared the post-season single game record for IBB at three. Now a unicorn holds it.
For Those Who Like To Know Such Things
The record for Intentional Walks in a single MLB game is five, by the Cubs’ Andre Thornton in a 16-inning, 2-1 win over the Reds on May 22, 1990.
So, there are some observations from Monday night’s WS Game. I can’t wait to see what happens tonight (especially with Ohtani on the mound). I have a hunch more unicorn-worthy occurrences lie ahead.
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