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A Baseball Player Hit the Ball Three Times With One Swing During Last Night’s NLCS Game — See How

Oct. 23, 2012 7:54am Jonathon M. Seidl

What may have been lost in the presidential shuffle last night was the incredible story of the San Francisco Giants winning their sixth elimination game of the baseball postseason in order to advance to the World Series. And if you missed that, you likely missed one of the most bizarre baseball plays in a long time.

While swinging at a pitch, Giants outfielder Hunter Pence broke his bat. No big deal — it happens all the time. Until you watch in slow-mo exactly what went down. Because of the shattering bat, Pence actually hit the ball three times with one swing. Deadspin has slowed it down with a gif so you can see:

Hunter Pence Had Three Hits On One Swing

The oddity had such an effect on the ball that it faked out the shortstop, who allowed the ball to get past him and through to the outfield. And it ended up being a big inning for the Giants — they scored five runs.

This YouTuber breaks down the contact and the subsequent hit (with some obnoxious music):

The Giants will now face the Tigers on Wednesday in game one of the World Series.

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Comments (43)

tankyjo
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:27pm
Broken bat, BIG slip on right hand, and still perfect follow through!!! Watching people who seek excellence in their work is always a pleasure.

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Rollo2
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:55pm
Watch the pitch from the mound, the ball breaks to the inside. That’s what puts Pierce in the awkward position. Anybody who ever played baseball knows that that position is not a power swing position.

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- Uranium Wedge
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:14am
  Wow, they slowed the film down a thousand fold and this “sport” is still lame…
  “Who’da thunk it?”
  
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billrow
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 7:30pm
Great balls of fire is obnoxious music?

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thop1960
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 3:56pm
More interesting to me is the shock wave sent through his hands (right hand specifically). Pretty cool. It’s amazing the forces the human body can handle. On the other hand, it’s amazing how easy it is to destroy.

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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 5:09pm
  Nostradamus predicted this in “end times.” First he predicted the “two wounds from one blow” for King Henry. He also predicted “three hits from one swing” as his masterpiece prophecy.
  
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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:12pm
“He didn’t hit that” “somebody built the road that made that possible” – obama 2012….

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- kennycannon
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:40pm
  I absolutely despise baseball and baseball players. The rules are different for the two leagues. Each field is a different size. Every “disagreement” is a bench clearing hug fest. And if they break a nail they’re out for 6 months.
  
  With that said, this video shows how FAST these guys react and swing. You have to create some serious bat speed to hit a ball 3 times.
  
  Now can hockey come back so we can watch a real sport besides football?
  
  Report this comment
- ItsDaPlumber
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 3:41pm
  I was at a fight once and a hockey game broke out! Doh!
  
  Report this comment
dblaess
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:11pm
And I was hoping to see a rematch of the ’68 series. Oh well, go Tigers.

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- chips1
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:21pm
  Obama and the Cardinals both struck out.
  
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Rollo2
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:20am
The whole swing looks weird, the butt end of the bat and his hands are way ahead of the head of the bat, and he doesn’t release his wrists until well after the ball is away.

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- TheRivuh
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:55am
  It’s called “throwing the knob”… As in doing exactly what you are supposed to do in order to build torque at a level plane through the hitting zone, thus keeping the barrel in the zone longer and increasing your chance of contact.
  
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- chips1
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:22pm
  “Throwing the Knob” is sexist.
  
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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:15pm
  I thought it was called “polishing the knob” lol.
  
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- Rollo2
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:38pm
  “therivuh” His elbows are ‘chickenwinged’, the label on the bat is following his right hand, (it’s on the back of the bat, that’s why the bat broke) and you are telling me that this is proper ball strike procedure?………………………..PULEEEZE!
  
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- Rollo2
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:06am
  “Therivuh” of bs…Nobody who ever played baseball (and had a good batting coach) could ever believe that that is an intentional swing. Pierce was trying to save a swing on a pitch that broke to the inside.
  If pierce was intending to “drag” the bat, he would have adjusted the grip to avoid breaking the bat……………..
  
  Face it, a broken bat does not drive the ball like an unbroken bat.
  
  Report this comment
- TreeTrimmerJim
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:35am
  Pence disconnected the power of his torso from the bat with his bent arms. Same situation with the golf swing, with swing a hammer, swinging a sledge or pick.
  
  Then to turn the label so the bat has the most flex, grain parallel to ball contact spot, reduces the energy delivered to the ball.
  
  Babies are born ignorant, someone failed to teach Hunter the physics of wood and leverage.
  
  Report this comment
lfoa
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:51am
St. Louis should appeal the game.
The batter should be OUT for interfering with the ball.
Same as if he bunted… then tapped the ball a 2nd time while running to first base.

:)

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- Shaqfuey
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:07pm
  Tim McCarver explained last night that broken bats are an exception in the rule book and can hit the ball multiple times without penalty in the result of a shattered bat. Of course, I’m completely biased as a lifelong Northern CA resident and SF Giants fan. Huzzah!
  
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- JackBalis
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:16pm
  Are you serious? You must be a serious cardinal fan, that rule does not imply on the swing.
  
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- jeffile
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:37pm
  Tell me who is the person who could possibly see the multiple hits without slowing down a video? If you can find someone then he would be my first pick to be an umpire. A rule book is not necessary but some sugar for sour grapes would probably be appreciated.
  
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- Valezka.Vidra
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:39am
  Shaqfuey:
  
  Hellz yeah! NorCal, forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
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perry1980
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:46am
That is cool

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TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:44am
Proof professional baseball players know nothing about how to hold a bat.

Every 8 year old 50 years ago knew enough to keep the label up so the grain of the wood would be at 90 degrees to the ball contact. OR like this video clearly shows the bat breaks. A child can break a bat when held like in this video.

These guys get paid big bucks for hits and they are too ignorant to hold the bat correctly. Wow!!

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- lfoa
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:07am
  Kids haven’t used wood bats for the past 40 years…. (OK… maybe 35 years)
  Aluminum bats have been around since the late 70′s….
  Now, composite bats made of Aircraft grade materials cost $100 – $300 (on average)
  Just try to find a wood bat in your local sporting goods store!
  
  Report this comment
- Rollo2
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:27am
  The spot of the label may have more to do with the position of his hands and wrists than how he spotted the label before the pitch. It almost looks like he was trying to push the ball toward right field and the pitch broke unexpectedly.
  
  Report this comment
Mandors
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:37am
Pence is going to have a hard enough time hitting Verlander’s pitch once, let alone three times.

Still, very cool.

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KickinBack
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:32am
That was wicked cool. Go Tigers!

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lynskinners
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:38am
I’ve seen Obama throw a baseball (In mom-jeans) but I’d love to see him swing a bat. (Or even know how to hold one) After last night’s debate it’s STRIKE 3 – he’s outta-there!

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- SITDOWNANDSHUTUP
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:34am
  For as much as he plays golf, Obama has a horrendous swing. Any golfer would think he is a rank beginner. I wish I could play 20+ rounds a year. Must be nice to have all that free time.
  
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- chips1
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:25pm
  Obama swings both ways.
  
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kickagrandma
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:35am
Forgot to say, I’d rather watch baseball on any level, including T-ball, than listen to the liar-in-chief blabber and stammer. : )

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kickagrandma
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:33am
I saw the bat splintering into his chest. Thank GOD it didn’t penetrate it.

NICE hit and glad they caught it for us to see.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:59am
  Amen to both of them.
  
  Report this comment
- DimmuBorgir
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:17am
  Almost as good as Todd Fraziers (Reds) home run without holding the bat.
  
  Todd Frazier tends to really hold his hands low on the bat. So when he swung, he lost grip and basically threw the bat at the ball.
  
  Only home run ever hit where the batter wasn’t holding the bat.
  
  Report this comment
- AmazingGrace8
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:56am
  Amen.
  
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- Rick Steele
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:04pm
  “You’ll shoot your eye out!” (or have a chip of wood blind you!)
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:20pm
  DIMMO…
  
  Just looked up that clip..
  pretty cool:
  
  http://mlb.mlb.com/cutfour/article.jsp?content_id=32446002
  
  Report this comment
chickenfried
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:26am
Kewl

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Slipstick
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:15am
I dunno. I saw FOUR hits in the slo-mo. Still, a remarkable achievement,

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Wool-Free Vision
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:11am
Thumbs up for that awesome gif. One of the best animated gifs I have ever seen.

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Coolige
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:00am
Gooo Tigers!
Magnum P I marathon at my house!

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