When does 4-6-3=210?

Three brothers make baseball magic

Story Courtesy of Leon Lanier
RH Adaptation by Glenn Miller
Photo Courtesy of Ivan Lanier

Baseball has been around for nearly 200 years.

It was July 27, 2025, when the Lanier Brothers managed a feat, likely rarely been before or since.

They turned a double play, something that happens every day. But how often is the average age of the participants around 70?

Leon, 75, was at first base. His younger brothers formed the DP combination, Ivan, 70, at shortstop and 65-year-old Erwin at second base.

They pulled off the feat in Wilmington, Delaware, near where all three retired law enforcement officers reside.

The brothers recorded the feat for posterity in a written account by Leon.

From Leon’s account:

“It was during a humid July morning in 2025. The location was Brandywine Park, Wilmington, DE. The ‘Rocks’ were playing in the North Atlantic Senior League — a sanctioned league for adults over 65. Normal rules applied, other than the more unreasonable plays elder players shouldn’t muster. I was a late inclusion at first base. The score allowed me some action. I’d become the oldest player on the baseball diamond this early morning! I was ecstatic!

“At the ripe old age of 75, I was actively holding down a base in a sanctioned baseball contest! My thoughts were two-fold. I smiled while standing next to first base. Smiled while memories flooded my mind. Yet, shrieked happily. I shrieked ‘cause I’d not fielded a ground ball in regulation since 1984.”

Although nervous, 75-year-old Leon took his position.

“I was scared to death, because they were throwing that ball so hard,” Leon said recently. “And it had been a while since I played. I hadn’t played in 30, 40 years, 34 years, so I just hoped I could catch that ball, because they both throw pretty hard, right? Right, and I said I can’t mess this up.”

From his written account:

“I shrieked once more! If the baseball was hit towards me slowly, I was gonna throw it to second base for a force out! Doing so would be the highlight to my baseball career. I could retire right then and there. I could do so on a high note. Use that stupendous play to forever leave all baseball diamonds from that point. I could do so without injury. Knees, hips, and rotator cuffs were precious if you still had them.

“It happened! The batter hit a hot shot to the left side of second base. A tall lanky fella with a new knee eagerly scooped up the hot grounder but fell down doin’ so! He turned. Fired the ball at the second base bag.

“An all-star shortstop accepted the throw without breakin’ stride as his front toe touched the edge of the second base bag. His body torqued as great shortstops do. He fired the baseball across the diamond to a nervous outfielder’s glove playing first base! I successfully squeezed the baseball with both hands!

“Hallelujah! I was on the receiving end of a double play!”

Everybody in the park knew they had seen something rare with this 4-6-3 DP.

“I was going to my left,” said the youthful second baseman, Erwin Lanier, 65. “I’m pretty accurate with my throws, and Ivan was there. So, I turned. A long, long throw to second base.”

But he made the throw to Ivan, 70, at second, who then fired to Leon, 75.

Double play!

“The game was halted,” Leon wrote. “The umpire summoned. The baseball used for the double play retrieved. The umpire signed the ball. Then threw the historic 108 stitches to a coach sitting on the bench.”

The combined age of the DP combination was 210 years, nearly as old as the United States.

They have a message for players and non-players alike.

“You’re never too old,” Ivan said.