Larry Hesterfer

Lawrence Hesterfer

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 5' 8", Weight 145 lb.

• Debut September 5, 1901
• Final Game September 5, 1901
• Born June 9, 1878 in Newark, NJ USA
• Died September 22, 1943 in Bloomfield, NJ USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Larry Hesterfer is the only player to hit into a triple play in his first major league at-bat. He was the starting pitcher for the New York Giants against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a doubleheader on September 5, 1901, in what turned out to be his only game in the majors. In the top of the 2nd inning (the game was at the Polo Grounds, but it was a make-up game in which the Pirates were considered the home team), he batted against Ed Poole with none out and the bases loaded. With the runners going on the pitch, he lined a shot towards center field that SS Honus Wagner snared on the fly; Wagner stepped on second base to retire John Ganzel for the second out then threw to first baseman Kitty Bransfield before Broadway Aleck Smith could return to the bag, ending the inning. Hesterfer lost a 6-inning complete game, 15-7, giving up an astounding 15 runs on 15 hits in those 6 innings. Only 5 of the runs were earned, making his ERA 7.50 instead of 22.50 had all the runs been earned. All in all, it was a pretty awful day for the short-term big leaguer, but he did walk and score a run in one of his three plate appearances.

Before his only major league appearance, Hesterfer was playing semi-pro baseball. He played in the minor leagues after his big league debut, including going 23-16 for the Newark Sailors of the Eastern League in 1904.

101 years later, Ron Wright would repeat his feat of hitting into a triple play in his first and only major league game, although Wright waited until his second plate appearance to do so.

Related Sites

• Larry Hesterfer at the SABR Bio Project