On July 30, 1960, Phillies rookie Art Mahaffey debuted in relief in a 6-3 loss to St. Louis and delivered on a bold prediction—he’d pick off the first man to reach first against him. After retiring the side in the seventh, Mahaffey allowed a leadoff single to Bill White in the eighth, only to promptly nab him with his lightning-quick move. Moments later, Curt Flood singled—and was picked off too. Mahaffey wasn’t done: in his first start four days later, he picked off the first Giant to reach base, making it three straight baserunners erased to start his career.

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