In an extraordinary turn of events, Danny Danny Jansen carved out a unique place in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, becoming the first player to play for two different teams in the same game. What began as a typical matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox on June 26 turned into a historic moment that no one could have predicted.
The game between the Blue Jays and Red Sox was initially played on June 26 but had to be halted due to inclement weather, leaving Jansen, who was then a Blue Jay, in an unusual situation. At the time, Jansen had just stepped up to bat, facing Boston’s Kutter Crawford in the second inning when the skies opened up, forcing a postponement.
Fast forward 65 days to August 30, when the game resumed. By then, a significant shift had occurred—Danny Jansen had been traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three minor-league prospects on July 27. This trade set the stage for a truly historic moment.
Boston’s manager, Alex Cora, recognizing the rarity of the situation, decided to play Danny Jansen, making him the first player in MLB history to play for both teams in the same game. The atmosphere was electric as Jansen, now donning a Red Sox jersey, took the field, a stark contrast to his previous appearance for the Blue Jays just a couple of innings earlier—though those innings were separated by more than two months.
The game resumed in a highly anticipated second inning, with Daulton Varsho pinch-hitting to complete Jansen’s interrupted at-bat for the Blue Jays. Moments later, Jansen, now on the other side, stepped up to the plate again, this time representing the Red Sox. The crowd erupted, witnessing history in real-time as Danny Jansen batted for both teams in the same inning—a first in the annals of baseball.
Reflecting on the momentous occasion, Jansen shared his surprise and delight: “I was taken aback when I realized the significance. It’s an honor to leave my mark on the game in such a unique way. It’s a bit surreal, but it’s something I’m grateful to have experienced.”
Despite the Red Sox’s 7-3 loss, the game will be remembered for Danny Jansen’s rare achievement. Alex Cora echoed the sentiment, marveling at the alignment of circumstances that led to this historic event: “It was a very cool moment, just to be part of it. I don’t know if it’s going to happen again. It has to be… the perfect storm for that to happen—starting with the storm. And I’m glad that everybody enjoyed it.”
Danny Jansen revealed that he wore two different jerseys during the game, one of which he plans to donate to the Baseball Hall of Fame in New York, further cementing his place in baseball lore.
