Baseball Returns: Reflecting on the 2024 Season’s Historic Achievement
As baseball gears up for a new season, with the Cubs and Dodgers set to play at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday, it’s worth revisiting the remarkable events of last season, particularly a record-setting moment that went largely unnoticed.
The Record-Setting Double Plays
The focus here is on the Baltimore Orioles, who recorded just 71 double plays in the 2024 season.
Understanding Double Plays
A double play occurs when a batter grounds the ball weakly and is out, while a teammate on base is also thrown out. This scenario can extinguish a team’s momentum and is thus preferable to minimize. The fewer double plays, the better for any team.
Orioles’ Remarkable Achievement
The Orioles’ 71 double plays marked the lowest total in Major League Baseball history. No team ever recorded such a low number in a 154-game season or while wearing wool uniforms. The previous record, set in 1945 by the St. Louis Cardinals and matched by the 2021 Tampa Bay Rays, was 75. This makes the 2024 Orioles the champions in avoiding double plays.
The Surprise and Its Significance
Surprisingly, this achievement received little attention from major sports outlets or even the Orioles themselves, as many within the organization were not aware of the record until it was brought to their attention. Sig Mejdal, the team’s VP and assistant GM, acknowledged their skill in avoiding double plays but was astonished to learn they set a new record.
Unraveling Their Success
Determining why the Orioles were so adept at avoiding double plays is perplexing. MLB’s historical data includes both successful and unsuccessful teams with varied reasons for their double play totals. Different strategies, such as stolen bases or lack of runners on base, account for low double play rates. However, the 2024 Orioles had a good number of base hits and walks, with minimal steals, yet they excelled in minimizing ground balls without falling into double play scenarios.
A Broader View on Double Plays in MLB
The decline in double plays across the league could be indicative of changing game dynamics, with only 0.66 double plays per team per game in 2024—the lowest rate in decades. This might relate to recent rule changes, like restrictions on defensive shifts or adjustments regarding video review for close plays at second base.
Appreciating the Orioles’ Achievement
Despite the rarity of the spotlight on such a statistic, it is crucial to recognize the significance of avoiding negative outcomes like double plays. As we enter the new season, the Orioles’ extraordinary achievement should be celebrated, even as they may face a reversal in this trend during 2025.
