POLL: A's Memorable Moments — 2012 AL West Title vs Randy Velarde's Unassisted Triple Play

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PROGRAMMING NOTE: NBC Sports California is looking back at the A's 50 Memorable Moments since the franchise relocated to Oakland in 1968. Below are the next two moments you can vote on. Tune into A's Pregame Live today at 6:30 p.m. to watch highlights of the two moments. After the A's and Blue Jays conclude, tune into A's Postgame Live to see which moment will move on to the next round!

1. A's winning 2012 AL West title on final day of the season (One-time winner -- Defeated 22-time winner Dallas Braden's Perfect Game)

(From A's play-by-play broadcaster Glen Kuiper)

On the morning of Sept. 25, 2012, the A's trailed the first place Texas Rangers by five games with nine to play. My thought, oh well, Wild Card game here we come. 

Six games later, the A's were two back with three to play. And the Rangers were coming to town for a season-ending three-game series. My thought, forget that Wild Card game, lets win this thing. 

The A's win the first two games of the series to catch the Rangers for 1st place. Then on Oct. 1, Game 162, all hell broke lose at the Coliseum. 

Getting ready to do the game that morning, I remember feeling nervousness, tension, but most of all excitement. Be at your best, don't screw anything up, don't start screaming in the 1st inning, and just enjoy the moment. The A's trailed 5-1 going to the bottom of the 4th inning, and I was concerned. I should have known better. That A's team had no intention of losing that day. Forget the Wild Card game, this division is ours. The A's scored six runs in the 4th inning, the final two runs scoring on a dropped fly ball in CF by Josh Hamilton. When something like that happens, you just know it is your teams' day. With the crowd going nuts the rest of the game, the Coliseum turned into a party zone. The A's won the game 12-5, and won the Division. 

It was by far the most fun series I have ever announced, capped of by Game 162. I had a sore throat for two weeks from yelling during our broadcasts, but it was well worth it.

VS.

2. Randy Velarde turns unassisted triple play in 2000 

(From Ben Ross)

On May 29, 2000 at Yankee Stadium, A's second baseman Randy Velarde etched his name in the history books, turning an unassisted triple play.

With Tino Martinez on second base and Jorge Posada on first, and nobody out, the Yankees put both runners in motion. Shane Spencer ripped a line drive to second, which Velarde caught for the first out. Velarde then tagged Posada for out number two, and stepped on second base before Martinez could get back, completing the triple play.

There have only been 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history, making it more rare than a perfect game. Velarde is one of just five second basemen to accomplish the feat.

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