Happy Accidents #080 - The MLB First That Could Change History

On August 26, history may be made in Major League Baseball.

How? By way of a Happy Accident of course!

The Happy Accidents newsletter is brought to you by:

Let's dig in, shall we?

SETTING THE STAGE

This is the part of every Happy Accident story where we see every successful outcome starts with the person putting themselves in a favorable position. They work hard, they try new things, they meet new people. They're not just sitting around 'hoping' to be successful some day.

On August 26, 2024, history might be made in Major League Baseball.

Danny Jansen could become the first player ever to play for two teams in the same game.

How is this even possible? Let’s dive in!

Up until a July 27, 2024, Danny Jansen, a talented catcher, had spent his entire career with the Toronto Blue Jays, debuting with them back in 2018.

But in a twist that no one saw coming, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox during the 2024 trade deadline.

And here’s where things get interesting...

Back on June 26, 2024, a game between the Blue Jays and Red Sox was suspended due to rain in the top of the second inning.

And it just so happened that Jansen was at bat, facing a 0-1 count when the game was paused.

THE HAPPY ACCIDENT

This is the part of every success story where there's a chance encounter, a serendipitous moment, an unintentional discovery (or Happy Accident) that paves the way for the next steps. In some cases, a Happy Accident can even be disguised as something bad in the moment.

Now, months later, the game is set to resume on August 26, but this time, with Jansen now playing for the Red Sox.

This could be the first time ever a player has played for two teams in the same game.

Can you imagine? The first pitch after the game resumes could mark an unprecedented moment in MLB history.

But what will happen when Jansen steps up to bat for the Red Sox? Could this really happen?

To understand just how rare this moment could be, let’s look back at some historic trades.

On Aug. 4, 1982, Youngblood got a hit playing for the New York Mets against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The historic ballpark didn’t have lights and only hosted day games.

Before his next at-bat, Youngblood was pulled from the lineup because he had been traded to the Montreal Expos.

Youngblood got on a plane, flew to Philadelphia where the Expos were playing the Phillies at Veterans Stadium for a night game and was put in the lineup in the sixth inning to pinch hit and reached base with a single.

Thus, he was the first to get two hits, with two teams in two different cities on the same day.

And it doesn’t stop there.

In 1922, Cliff Heathcote and Max Flack were traded between the Cardinals and Cubs during a doubleheader.

They switched uniforms between games, each playing for their new team in the second game.

But even that pales in comparison to what’s about to happen with Jansen.

MLB rules are clear: once a player is traded, they’re removed from their current game and sent to their new team.

But because of the suspended game and the trade deadline, this rule is about to be tested like never before.

CAPITALIZING

Just like Happy Accidents don't just fall into your lap (you need to set the stage first), they also don't turn into anything if you don't recognize them and take action. This is the part of every success story where we see people capitalizing on their Happy Accident.

When the game resumes on August 26, if Jansen is in the lineup for Boston, he would take over the ninth spot from catcher Reese McGuire.

The first pitch will not just resume a game, but it could make Danny Jansen a part of baseball lore. A moment that would redefine how we think about trades, games, and MLB history.

Danny Jansen’s potential moment with history is a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of baseball.

One player, two teams, one game—history in the making.

What a ‘Happy Accident’ indeed!

TOO LONG; DIDN’T READ (TL;DR)

On August 26, 2024, Danny Jansen could make Major League Baseball history by becoming the first player to play for two teams in the same game.

Initially a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, Jansen was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the 2024 trade deadline. A game between the Blue Jays and Red Sox, which was suspended due to rain in June, is set to resume in August, with Jansen potentially in the lineup for Boston.

If Jansen steps up to bat for the Red Sox, this unprecedented situation will challenge MLB rules and create a unique moment in baseball history.

Happy Accidents Podcast

Imagine being forced into the military at a young age and spending years going down a certain path only to find out.....you hate it!

But then, years later you stumble across something that you think you might actually be good at....and love! In this episode of the Happy Accidents podcast you get to meet Yuval Ackerman, the ethical email strategist, and her amazing Happy Accident story.

Find me on X, LinkedIn, Threads, or Book a 1:1 Call

Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you: