RetroSimba

When Albert Pujols grounded into three double plays on Opening Day in 2011, it put the spotlight back on Joe Torre.

Torre established a National League record by hitting into four double plays while with the Mets in a game against the Astros on July 21, 1975.

“It’s the first record I’ve ever set in baseball,” Torre told The Sporting News at the time. “But I’m not nearly as embarrassed by it as I am by my RBI total.”

Torre, traded after six seasons with the Cardinals to the Mets on Oct. 13, 1974, for pitchers Ray Sadecki and Tommy Moore, had 21 RBI in New York’s first 73 games in 1975.

Torre became the first player in the 100-year history of the NL to hit into four double plays in a game. He tied the major league record held by American League players Goose Goslin of the 1934 Tigers and Mike Kreevich of the 1939 White Sox.

Second baseman Felix Millan, batting No. 2 in the order for the Mets, had four singles but never reached second base. Torre, batting No. 3 in the order, followed each of Millan’s singles by grounding into double plays against pitcher Ken Forsch, brother of Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch.

“I couldn’t have set a record without Millan,” Torre said, tongue in cheek, to the Associated Press after the game. “He ought to get an assist.”

Torre grounded into a 1-4-3 double play in the first, a 6-4-3 double play in the third, a 4-6-3 double play in the sixth and another 6-4-3 double play in the eighth. Boxscore

Asked whether he was trying to avoid hitting into a double play when he came to bat in the eighth with runners on first and second and none out, Torre replied, “I wasn’t worried. I wasn’t anxious. I made up my mind to be aggressive.”

Showing a sense of humor, Torre told reporters, “When I retire, I’m going to buy a shortstop and put him in my den. At night, when I’m lonely, I’m going to go down there and hit grounders to him.”