On this date (September 29) in 1986, Indians’ 2B Jay Bell and Twins’ pitcher Bert Blyleven crossed paths for the first time – and the encounter put both players into the MLB record books.
Bell was a 20-year-old rookie, playing his first MLB game and batting ninth. He was a September call up, after a .277-7-74 season at Double-A Waterbury of the Double A Eastern League. Blyleven was in his 17th MLB season, had already won 228 major league games – and was on his way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It clearly looked like “advantage Blyleven.+
Bell’s first trip to the plate came with two outs in the top of the third inning. (Blyleven had retired the first eight Cleveland batters in order, fanning three.) On the future Hall of Famer’s first pitch to the rookie, Bell smacked a home run – tying an unbreakable MLB record (to date a total of 30 MLB players have homered on the first pitch they ever saw, Bell was just the twelfth to do so).
But the long ball had more significance. At the time of the at bat, Blyleven was tied with Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for the most home runs given up in a single season at 46. Bell’s round tripper was the 47th given up the Blyleven that season – giving him sole possession of the all-time record. Blyleven gave up three more home runs (two more in that September 29 game and one in an October 4 contest against the White Sox) to run the record to 50. Given how today’s pitchers are used that record also seems unbreakable.
Blyleven gave up at least one home run in 28 of his 36 1986 starts. In the eight starts in which he did not surrender a long ball, he went 8-0.
Despite all the long balls and a 4.01 earned run average, Blyleven had a respectable season. He led the AL in innings pitched (271 2/3); his 17 wins (versus 14 losses) were the sixth most in the AL; he tossed 16 complete games (second in the AL); gave up the third-fewest walks per nine innings; and finished fourth in strikeouts with 215.
Of the record 50 home runs Blyleven allowed in 1986, 27 were solo shots.
Blyleven, by the way, went on to help the Twins to the World Series Championship in 1987 – going 15-12, 4.01 – and giving up 46 home runs. This gave the Twins’ righty the record for home runs allowed in consecutive seasons (96). What seems a bit surprising is that those two seasons were the only two – in Blyleven’s 22 MLB campaigns – that he gave up more than 24 home runs. He, in fact, had six seasons when he pitched more than 200 innings at gave up less than 20 round trippers. (In 1973, he pitched 325 frames and allowed just 16 home runs.) Blyleven’s career record was 287-250, 3.31 – with 3,701 strikeouts (currently fifth all-time) in 4, 970 innings pitched. He was a one-time 20-game winner, won 15 or more games in ten seasons amd threw 60 complet-game shutouts (ninth all-time).
Jay Bell got in just five MLB games in 1986, going five-for-sixteen (.357) with two doubles, the one home run and four RBI. He went on to play in 18 MLB seasons – and added 194 home runs to that record-tying and record-breaking first-pitch blast. He hit .265 over his career, with 860 RBI, 1,123 runs scored and 91 stolen bases. His best year was 1999 (Diamondbacks), when he hit .289, with 38 home runs 112 RBI and 132 runs scored.
More on Bert Blyleven’s 50-home run season:
- Blyleven gave up at least one home run in 28 of this 36 starts.
- Blyleven gave up one home run in 15 games; two home runs in six contests; three round trippers in six contests; and five long balls in one game.
- Blyleven went 8-0 in starts when he did not give up a home run; 6-7 (two no-decisions) in starts in which he gave up one homer; 2-2 (two no-decisions) in starts in which he surrendered two long balls; 1-4 (one no-decision) in three-homer games; and 0-1 in games in which he gave up five home runs.
- He gave up a season high five home runs (in 5 ½ innings) in a start against Texas (in Minneapolis) on September 13. The long balls went to Pete O’Brien, Pete Incaviglia, Darrell Porter, Ruben Sierra and Steve Buechele. (Blyleven gave up nine runs in the game – eight on home runs.)
- Blylven gave up home runs to 38 different batters in 1986.
- The White Sox’ Ron Kittle hit the most home runs off Blyleven that season – four. The Brewers’ Ben Ogilvie had three and Blyleven gave up two homers each to Reggie Jackson (Angels), Don Mattingly (Yankees), Lance Parrish,(Tigers), Doug DeCinces (Angels) and Johnny Grubb (Tigers).
- The Tigers touched Blyleven for the most home home runs in 1986, with nine (four Blyleven starts against them). Next, at six home runs each were the: Rangers (rwo starts); Brewers (four starts); and White Sox (three starts).
- Blyleven got two wins – and gave up no home runs – in two starts against the Orioles.
Primary Resources. Baseball-Refrence.com; Baseball-Almanac.com
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT.
Follow/Like the Baseball Roundtable Facebook page here.
Member. Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
On this date (September 29), in 1986 Indians’ 2B Jay Bell and Twins’ pitcher Bert Blyleven crossed paths for the first time – and the encounter put both players into the MLB record books.
Bell was a 20-year-old rookie, playing his first MLB game and batting ninth. He was a September call up, after a .277-7=74 season at Double-A Waterbury of the Double A Eastern League.
Blyleven was in his 17th MLB season, had already won 228 major league games – and was on his way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It clearly looked like advantage Blyleven.
Bell’s first trip to the plate came with two outs in the top of the third inning. (Blyleven had retired the first eight Cleveland batters in order, fanning three. On the future Hall of Famer’s first pitch to the rookie, Bell smacked a home run – tying an unbreakable MLB record (to date a total of 30 MLB players have homered on the first pitch they ever saw, Bell was just the twelfth to do so).
But the long ball had more significance. At the time of the at bat, Blyleven was tied with Hall of Famers Robin Roberts for the most home runs given up in a single season at 46. Bell’s round tripper broke that tie – and gave Blyleven the all-time record. Blyleven gave up three more home runs (two more in that September 29 games and one in an October 4 contest against the White Sox). Despite all the long ball and a 4.01 earned run average, Blyleven had a respectable season: he led the AL in innings pitched (271 2/3); his 17 wins (versus 14 losses) were the sixth most in the A; he tossed 16 complete games (second in the AL); gave up the third fewest walks per nine innings; and finished fourth in strikeouts with 215.
Of the record 50 home runs Blyleven allowed in 1986, 27 were solo shots.
Blyleven, by the way, went on to help the Twins to the World Series Championship in 1987 – going 15-12, 4.01 – and giving up 46 home runs. This gave the Twins’ righty the record for home runs allowed in consecutive seasons (96). What seem a bit surprising is that those two seasons were the only two – in Blyleven’s 22MLB campaigns – that he gave up more than 24 home runs. He, in fact, had six seasons when he pitched more than 200 innings at gave up less than 20 round tripped. (In 1973, he pitched 325 frames and allowed just 16 home runs. Blyleven’s career record was 287-250, 3.31 – with 3,701 strikeouts in 4, 970 innings pitched. He was a one-time 20-game winner, won 15 or more games in ten seasons.
Blyleven gave up at least one home run in 28 of his 36 1986 starts. In the eight starts where he did not give up a long ball, he went 8-0.
Jay Bell got in just five MLB games in 1986, going five-for-sixteen (.357) with two doubles, the one home run and four RBI. He went on to play in 18 MLB seasons – and added 194 home runs to that record-tying and record-breaking first-pitch blast. He hit .265 over his career, with 860 RBI, 1,123 runs scored and 91 stolen bases. His bet year was 1999 (Diamondbacks0, when he hit .289, with 38 home runs112 RBT and 132 runs scored.
More on Bert Blyleven’s 50-home run season.
- Blyleven gave up at least one home run in 28 of this 36 starts.
- Blyleven gave up one home run in 15 games; two home runs in six contests; three round trippers in six contests; and five long balls in one game.
- In the eight starts in which he did not give up a home run, Blyleven went 8-0.
- Blyleven was 6-7 (two no decisions) in starts in which he gave up one home; 2-2 (two no decision) in starts in which he surrender two long balls; 1-4 (one no decision in three-homer games; and 0-1 in five home run games.
- He gave up a season high five home runs (in 5 ½ innings) in a start against Texas (in Minneapolis) on September 13. The long balls went to Pete O’Brien, Pete Incaviglia, Darrell Porter, Ruben Sierra and Steve Buechele. (Blyleven gave up nine runs in the game – eight on home runs,
- The White Sox Ron Kittle hit the most home runs off Blyleven that season – four.
Primary Resource. Baseball-Refrence.com; Baseball-Almanac.com
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT.
Follow/Like the Baseball Roundtable Facebook page here.
Member. Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
On this date (September 29), in 1986 Indians’ 2B Jay Bell and Twins’ pitcher Bert Blyleven crossed paths for the first time – and the encounter put both players into the MLB record books.
Bell was a 20-year-old rookie, playing his first MLB game and batting ninth. He was a September call up, after a .277-7=74 season at Double-A Waterbury of the Double A Eastern League.
Blyleven was in his 17th MLB season, had already won 228 major league games – and was on his way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It clearly looked like advantage Blyleven.
Bell’s first trip to the plate came with two outs in the top of the third inning. (Blyleven had retired the first eight Cleveland batters in order, fanning three. On the future Hall of Famer’s first pitch to the rookie, Bell smacked a home run – tying an unbreakable MLB record (to date a total of 30 MLB players have homered on the first pitch they ever saw, Bell was just the twelfth to do so).
But the long ball had more significance. At the time of the at bat, Blyleven was tied with Hall of Famers Robin Roberts for the most home runs given up in a single season at 46. Bell’s round tripper broke that tie – and gave Blyleven the all-time record. Blyleven gave up three more home runs (two more in that September 29 games and one in an October 4 contest against the White Sox). Despite all the long ball and a 4.01 earned run average, Blyleven had a respectable season: he led the AL in innings pitched (271 2/3); his 17 wins (versus 14 losses) were the sixth most in the A; he tossed 16 complete games (second in the AL); gave up the third fewest walks per nine innings; and finished fourth in strikeouts with 215.
Of the record 50 home runs Blyleven allowed in 1986, 27 were solo shots.
Blyleven, by the way, went on to help the Twins to the World Series Championship in 1987 – going 15-12, 4.01 – and giving up 46 home runs. This gave the Twins’ righty the record for home runs allowed in consecutive seasons (96). What seem a bit surprising is that those two seasons were the only two – in Blyleven’s 22MLB campaigns – that he gave up more than 24 home runs. He, in fact, had six seasons when he pitched more than 200 innings at gave up less than 20 round tripped. (In 1973, he pitched 325 frames and allowed just 16 home runs. Blyleven’s career record was 287-250, 3.31 – with 3,701 strikeouts in 4, 970 innings pitched. He was a one-time 20-game winner, won 15 or more games in ten seasons.
Blyleven gave up at least one home run in 28 of his 36 1986 starts. In the eight starts where he did not give up a long ball, he went 8-0.
Jay Bell got in just five MLB games in 1986, going five-for-sixteen (.357) with two doubles, the one home run and four RBI. He went on to play in 18 MLB seasons – and added 194 home runs to that record-tying and record-breaking first-pitch blast. He hit .265 over his career, with 860 RBI, 1,123 runs scored and 91 stolen bases. His bet year was 1999 (Diamondbacks0, when he hit .289, with 38 home runs112 RBT and 132 runs scored.
More on Bert Blyleven’s 50-home run season.
- Blyleven gave up at least one home run in 28 of this 36 starts.
- Blyleven gave up one home run in 15 games; two home runs in six contests; three round trippers in six contests; and five long balls in one game.
- In the eight starts in which he did not give up a home run, Blyleven went 8-0.
- Blyleven was 6-7 (two no decisions) in starts in which he gave up one home; 2-2 (two no decision) in starts in which he surrender two long balls; 1-4 (one no decision in three-homer games; and 0-1 in five home run games.
- He gave up a season high five home runs (in 5 ½ innings) in a start against Texas (in Minneapolis) on September 13. The long balls went to Pete O’Brien, Pete Incaviglia, Darrell Porter, Ruben Sierra and Steve Buechele. (Blyleven gave up nine runs in the game – eight on home runs,
- The White Sox Ron Kittle hit the most home runs off Blyleven that season – four.
Primary Resource. Baseball-Refrence.com; Baseball-Almanac.com
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT.
Follow/Like the Baseball Roundtable Facebook page here.
Member. Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
