Baseball Roundtable

It’s early June, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s May Wrap up – a look at the stats and stories that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month, as well as The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, Trot Index and more.   (The Roundtable usually publiches the Wrap Up on the first of the month, but a computer clash led to lost files   a delay.) Just a few of May’s ‘highlights that you will find in this post:

• A record-tying ten solo home runs in a game (Royals/Orioles);
• A “Maddux” – shutout of less than 100 pitches – with a Maddux-record 13 strikeouts (Tarik Skubal);
• A 21-0 shutout win (Padres/Rockies);
• A hitter with 100+ May at bats raking at a .400+ pace  (Freddie Freeman);
• A player (a rookie) becoming the first MLBer to achieve a three-homer game, a contest with homers both left- and right-handed, a Grand Slam and a walk-off homer in a single calendar month (Jasson Dominguez);
• 2025’s first Immaculate inning (Cal Quantrill);
• Bryce Harper‘s 1,000th RBI and Kyle Schwarber‘s 300th home run;
• A player tying the record for most times hit by a pitch in an inning and a game (CJ Abrams);
• Chris Sale becoming the quickest MLB hurler to reach 2,500 strikeouts;
• A team scoring nine runs before making the first out of a game (Nationals/Diamondbacks); and
• More

See the Highlights Section for these stories and more.

—-PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH … MAY 2025—-

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of the Month … Shohei Ohtani, DH, Dodgers

While I tend to assign some value to playing a defensive position, you cannot ignore Ohtani’s MLB-leading 15 May home runs.  He also drove in 27 May tallies (fourth in MLB, second in the NL) and scored an MLB-best 31 runs, while averaging .309 for the month. In addition. Ohtani ‘s 21 May extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple and 15 homers) led MLB and his .782 slugging percentage was second only to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (among players with at least 75 May at bats). Ohtani’s month included ten multi-hit games and a thirteen-game span (May 3-16) during which he hit .404-9-19.

Honorable Mentions: Dodgers’ 1B Freddie Freeman hit .410 for the month (highest among players with at least 75 May at bats) and led MLB with 43 May hits. He hit safely in 22 of 27 May games. Cubs’ CF Pete Crow-Armstrong hit .269, with nine home runs and an NL-leading 29 May RBI. He also scored 20 runs and stole five bases in seven attempts. Nationals’ LF James Wood put up a .333-7-23 line for May.

Pitcher of the Month – Robbie Ray, LHP, Giants

I really thought Zack Wheeler would coast in with this one. After four May starts, he was 4-0, 0.68, with 31 strikeouts and only six walks. Then, in his final start of the month (May 29), he gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings (with four walks and six strikeouts) in a 6-2 loss to the Braves and suddenly 4-0, 0.68 became 4-1, 2.24.  That opened the door for a close race between Robbie Ray and the Reds’ Andrew Abbott. Ray tied for the MLB lead in wins for the month at 4-1 (in six starts), while Abbott was 3-0 in six starts. Ray put up a solid 1.38 ERA, but Abbott was even better with an MLB-best (among pitchers with at least 25 May innings) 0.55.  Digging deeper, Ray bested Abbott in WHIP 0.87 to 0.98 and average against (.169 to .190).  Ray also had a slight edge in strikeouts to walks (45 K / 8 BB to Abbott’s 33 K / 10 BB.  Plus Ray went a little deeper in games (39 innings in six starts to Abbott’s 32 2/3 innings in six outings).  Overall, slight edge, for me, to Ray.

Honorable Mentions: Andrew Abbott, LHP, Reds (see paragraph above.) Zack Wheeler, RHP, Phillies (see paragraph above). Matthew Boyd, LHP, Cubs, who went 3-0. 3.54 in May, gets a nod for putting up 34 strikeouts against just two walks – in 28 May innings.

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Rafael Devers, DH, Red Sox

Devers led all major leaguers with 33 May RBI, to go with a .356 average and seven home runs.  He was third in the AL hits with 37 and tied for the MLB lead in walks with 22.  Devers’ .468 on-base percentage was tops among players with at least 75 May at bats. On May 23, he went four-for-six, with two home runs and eight RBI, as the Red Sox topped the Orioles 19-8. It was one of his ten multi-RBI May games.

Honorable Mentions: The Mariners’ Cal Raleigh not only handled the heavy behind-the-plate duties, he led the AL in home runs with 12, while hitting .304 and driving in 26 runs. Yankees’ RF Aaron Judge hit .364 for the month, with eleven home runs (second in the AL), 18 RBI and an AL-leading 25 May runs scored. Guardians’ 3B Jose Ramirez went .386-5-14 for the month, with 22 runs scored and an AL-leading (tied) 39 base hits.

Pitcher of the Month – Tarik Skubal, RHP, Tigers

Skubal racked up an MLB-leading 59 strikeouts in 41 May innings (2-0, 2.20 record), while walking just two batters. His month include one shutout – a 94-pitch, no-walk, 13- strikeout, two-hitter in a 5-0 win over division rival Guardians.

Honorable Mentions: Kris Bubic, LHP, Royals, went 3-0 in five May starts and put up a miniscule 0.56 ERA (the lowest among AL pitchers with at least 25 May innings). He did not give up more than one run in any of his five starts. He fanned 33 batters (eight walks) in 32 1/3 innings. Twins’ reliever righty Jhoan Duran appeared in 15 May games and put up four wins (one loss) and seven saves – as well as a tidy 0.60 ERA (one earned run in 15 innings). Veteran Carlos Rodon, LHP, Yankees went 3-0, 1.47 in five starts and Rangers’ righty Nathan Eovaldi went 2-1, 0.68 in five stats.

 

Surprise of the Month – Carlos Narvaez C, Red Sox

Narvaez signed (Yankees) as a teenager, out of Venezuela, in 2015. In eight minor-league seasons, he hit .250-47-237.  He did have a brief call up to the Yankees in 2024 (.231-0-0 in six games). In December of 2024, Narvaez (noted for his defensive skills) was traded to the Red Sox, and most expected him to compete for the spot as Connor Wong’s backup.  He made the team out of Spring Training and a new door was opened when Wong fractured his left pinkie finger early in the season. In March/April, Narvaez flashed his defensive skills and hit .218-3-8 in 22 games. In May, his bat surprised a lot of people (and earned this spot) – as he went .356-2-9 in 22 games.

Honorable Mention: SS Jacob Wilson of the A’s was a 2023 first-round pick (sixth overall), so his success is less of a surprise.  What is a bit surprising is how quickly he found major-league success.  A little background.  In three seasons at Grand Canyon University, Wilson hit .361-22-155 in 155 games. Then, he hit .401 in two minor-league seasons (79 games) working bis way up from rookie-level to Triple-A. He was called up to the A’s in July of 2024 and hit .250-0-3 in 28 games.  This March/April, he turned it up a notch (.325-3-15) and, in May, he was even better (.366-4-16), with an AL-leading (tied) 39 base hits.  No surprise he’s living up to his promise, just surprising that he got there so fast.

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through May  30,  34.5% of the MLB season’s plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (21.9%); walks (8.6%); home runs (2.9%); HBP (1.0%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

The 35.0% basically mirrors  the 35.1% through April in 2024 (perhaps we’ve plateaued and the Index no longer serves a purpose). I also looked into full-year Trot Index figures for the years I have been a fan: 34.9% in 2024; 30.3% in 2010; 29.9% in 2000; 31.7% in 1990; 23.1% in 1980; 27.0% in 1970; 25.1% in 1960; and 22.8% in 1950.

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A few random observations:

• The Giants and Rangers were the only teams with ERAs under 3.00 – and both had sub-.500 records for the month.
• The Cardinals were the the only team to play .700+ ball – and they did it despite scoring the 11th most runs and giving up the eighth fewest.
• The Twins’ 18 May wins included a 13-game winning streak (longest in the majors this season) in which they outscored their opponents 68-29.
• The Rockies went 4-24 in May (losing all eight series), leaving them 9-49 on the season – the worst start to a season in MLB’s Modern ERA. In May, the Rockies were outscored 192 to 85.
• The AL Central was the only division with four teams over .500 in May. (The AL Central is also the only division to have four teams over .500 through May.)
• Los Angeles was home to the home run kings.  The Dodgers led the NL with 44 long balls, the Angels led the AL with 42.

——-Team Statistical Leaders for May 2025 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League –Dodgers (173); Cubs (150); Phillies (141)

American League – Tigers (150); Rays (137); Blue Jays (136)

The fewest runs in May were scored by the Pirates (84). In the American League, it was the Rangers at 93. 

AVERAGE

National League – Dodgers (.283); Diamondbacks (.269); Phillies (.265)

American League – Astros (.2785); Blue Jays (.268); Royals (.265)

The lowest team average for May belonged to the Rangers at .210.

HOME RUNS

National League – Dodgers (44); Diamondbacks (39); Cubs (37)

American League – Angels (42); Yankees (41); Blue Jays 38

The Pirates had the fewest home runs in May at 18.  

TOTAL BASES

National League –Dodgers (458); Diamondbacks (442); Phillies (419)

American League – Blue Jays (417); Astros (410); Yankees (410)

The Dodgers led MLB in May Slugging Percentage at .482.  The Yankees led the AL (.459)

DOUBLES

National League – Nationals (56); Diamondbacks (53); Reds (52)

American League – Yankees (50); White Sox (50); Athletics (49); Tigers (49)

TRIPLES

National League – Rockies (9); Diamondbacks (6); five with five

American League – Royals (8); Yankees (6); Red Sox (4); Guardians (4)

STOLEN BASES

National League – Brewers (40); Cubs (30); Nationals (26)

American League – Rays (49); Rangers (27); Orioles (25)

The Tigers stole the fewest sacks in May at seven – in ten attempts.  The Giants stole the fewest May bags in the NL – nine in fifteen attempts.  

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Dodgers (107); Mets (102); three with 95

American League – Yankees (109) Blue Jays (108); A’s (96)

The Dodgers led MLB in May on-base percentage at .357. The Blue Jays led the AL at .345. The Rangers had MLB’s lowest May OBP at (.279).  The Rockies anchored the NL at .280.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (262); Rockies (257); Pirates (240)

American League – Angels (283); Red Sox (257); Tigers (247)

Padres’ batters fanned the fewest times in May (184). The Royals fanned the fewest times in the AL at 189.

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Giants (2.64): Mets (3.08); Braves (3.08)

American League – Rangers (2.98); Twins (3.11); Royals (3.12)

The Athletics had the highest May ERA at 6.88.  Also over 5.00 were the Rockies (5.91); Diamondbacks (5.33) and Orioles (5.21).  All these teams were under .500, with a combined 31-80 record.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Phillies (269); Braves (250); Dodgers (238)

American League –Astros (276); Tigers (257); Yankees (254)

The Astros averaged an MLB-best 10.24 strikeouts per nine innings in May. The Phillies averaged an NL-best 9.53.  Six teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better. By comparison, the Mets led MLB in K/9 in 1990 at 7.61; The Indians led in 1970 at 6.67; and the Dodgers led in 1950 at 5.00.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League –   Cubs (63); Cardinals (69); Giants (71)

American League – Royals (60); Twins (60); Mariners (72)

The Royals walked an MLB-lowest 2.15 batters per nine innings in May.  The Angels walked an MLB-worst 4.30 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Phillies (12); Cardinals (11); four with eight

American League – Twins (10); Blue Jays (10); three with eight

The A’s blew the most saves in May– nine 13 opportunities.

Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)

National League – Giants (1.12); Cubs (1.15); Braves (1.18)

American League:  Twins (1.13); Blue Jays (1.15); Royals 1.16; Tigers (1.16)

Bonus Stats:

• The A’s gave up an MLB-high 56 home runs in May. The Giants gave up an MLB-low 17 home runs.
• Rangers’ pitchers held opponents to an MLB-low .218 average in May. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .300 average.
• The Twins’ strikeouts-to-walks ratio for May topped MLB at 3.95. The Rockies had MLB’s worst ratio at 1.81.

—-MAY HIGHLIGHTS—-

Wait for the Big Finish

On May 2, the Tigers came up in the top of the ninth innings in a 1-1 tie with the Angels, but ended the pitchers’ duel with an eight-run top of the final frame. Tigers’ DH Riley Greene scored and drove in the first run of the frame with a solo home run off Kenley Jansen. Nine batters later, Greene scored the final run and drove in the final three runs of the contest with a three-run homer off Jake Eder. It was the first time in AL/NL history a player had hit two ninth-inning homers in a game.

Who Did What?

Astros’ CF Jake Meyers came into the game on May 3 (versus the White Sox) batting ninth and hitting .262, with no home runs and six RBI in 30 games.  Those numbers changed in a hurry.  As the Astros prevailed 8-3, Meyers went four-for-four, with two homers, a triple and a double, collecting (a franchise record-tying) 13 total bases, scoring twice and driving in seven tallies.

Baltimore Flyover (The wall, that is.)

On May 4, as the Royals beat the Orioles 11-6 in an afternoon title at Camden Yards – the ball was flying.  The two teams hit a total of 11 roundtrippers in the game. The Royals launched a franchise-high seven and the Birds went yard four times. Further, ten of the 11 long balls were solo homers which, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, tied an MLB record. Overall, nine players went yard.  The Royals got two homers from 3B Maikel Garcia and one each from LF Jonathan India; SS Bobby Witt, Jr.; 1B Vinnie PasquaNtino; 2B Michael Massey; and C Luke Maile.  The Royals got two homers from 2B Jackson Holliday and one each from CF Cedric Mullins and RF Ryan O’Hearn. Massey’s ninth-inning two-run home run as the only one that wasn’t a solo shot.

Royals’ starter Michael Lorenzen gave up all four Orioles’ homers (over a 4 2/3-inning outing). The Orioles, on the other hand, had five different pitchers surrender long balls.

You Chose Well, Grasshopper

On May 4, the Texas Rangers dismissed Offensive Coordinator Donnie Ecker and on May 6 brought on Brett Boone as hitting coach. Well, on Boone’s first day on the job, the Rangers banged out sixteen hits in a 6-1 win over the Red Sox in Fenway (evening the Rangers’ 2025 record at 18-18). Six Rangers had multi-hit games and only the number-nine hitter in the starting lineup went hitless. An omen? Hard to say.  After all the Rangers did collect 12 hits in the game before Boone came on the scene (an 8-1 win over the Mariners in Texas).  But certainly, a good first day on the job for Boone.

Side note: Through May 4, the Rangers had scored three or fewer runs in 22 of its 35 games (63%). From May 6-31, they scored three or fewer runs in 14 of 23 games (58%).

Extra? Extra? Read All About it.

On May 6, the Cubs and Giants were locked in a tight one – tied at five apiece after ten innings. Then things loosened up a bit, as the Giants tallied nine in the top of the eleventh and eventually won 14-5 – the fifth largest extra-inning margin of victory in the Modern Era (post-1900).  It went like this:

Cubs’ Ryan Pressley pitching

• Giants’ pinch runner Christian Koss started the inning on second base (replacing LaMonte Wade, Jr.);
• LF Heliot Ramos doubled, Koss going to third;
• C Patrick Bailey singled to drive home Koss, with Ramos going to third;
• 2B Brett Wisely bunted, Ramos scored, Bailey went to second, and Wisely reached first;
• RF Mike Yastrzemski walked, loading the bases;
• SS Willy Adames was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run;
• CF Jung Hoo Lee hit an RBI single to right, bases remained loaded;
• 3B Matt Chapman singled to left, driving in two runs – runners now on first and second;
• DH Wilmer Flores hit an RBI single to left, runners now on first and third;

Caleb Thielbar replaces Pressley on the mound.

• Koss struck out;
• Ramos hit an RBI double to left, runners now on first and third;
• Bailey hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center;
• David Villar pinch hit for Wisley and struck out to end the carnage.

The inning: Nine runs on six hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

For the who like to know such things, the most runs scored in any extra-inning was 12 – by the Rangers in a July 3, 1983, 14-inning, 16-4 win over the Athletics.   Notably, like the Giants (above), they accomplished the feat without the benefit of a home run … eight hits (three doubles), four walks, a wild pitch and an Athletics’ error.

200 for Bregman

On May 7, as the Red Sox topped the Rangers 6-4 in Boston, BoSox’ 3B Alex Bregman went three-for-four, with two runs scored and three RBI. One of his hits was a fourth-inning solo home run off Tyler Mahle – the 200^th roundtripper of Bregman’s 10-season MLB career. Bregman finished May at .299-11-35 on the season.

The Bronx Bomber Tradition

On May 9, 22-year-old (rookie-qualified) Yankee left fielder Jasson Dominguez went deep three times in a Yankees 10-2 win over the Athletics in Sacramento. It was his first MLB multi-homer game and included a first-inning solo homer (hit left-handed off Osvaldo Bido). He also drove in a run with a sac fly off Bido in the fifth; hit a solo homer, batting right-handed, off Hogan Harris in the seventh; and capped off his day with a Grand Slam (back to the port side) off Elvis Alvarado in the eighth.  Dominguez hit only one other home run in May – a walk-off game winner off Luke Jackson of the Rangers in a 4-3 Yankees win on May 21.

Dominguez is now the youngest Yankee with a three-homer game (22 years-91 days), edging out Joe DiMaggio (22 years-200 days). #InBaseballWeCountEverything. It was also reported that Dominguez became the first player to hit three home runs in a game, hit homers both right- and left-handed in a game, hit a Grand slam and hit a walk-off homer all in the same month.

Fedde Shutout – A Rare Bird

On May 10, Erick Fedde of the Cardinals tossed his first MLB shutout and first MLB complete game in eight MLB seasons. It came in his 137^th start.  Fedde gave up six hits and no walks (with eight strikeouts) in a 10-0 win over the Nationals in Washington. It was just the third single-pitcher shutout of the season. It was also the Cardinals’ first single-pitcher shutout since August 22, 2022. Fedde threw 109 pitches (68 strikes) in his outing.

Now that’s Embarrassing

The Rockies had a tough May, going 4-24, leaving them 9-49 on the season. The most embarrassing moment may have come on May 10, when the Rox lost to the Padres 21-0 in Colorado. Rockies’ batters tallied just five hits, while Rockies’ pitchers gave up 24 hits, including five home runs (RF Fernando Tatis, Jr.; SS Xander Bogaerts; 2B Jake Cronenworth; 1B Gavin Sheets; LF Jason Heyward.  The Padres missed the Modern Era (post-1900) record for runs scored when shutting out an opponent by just one run.  There have been two 22-0 whitewashings.  On September 16, 1975, the Pirates beat the Cubs (at Wrigley) by that score.  On August 31, 2004, the Indians trounced the Yankees 22-0 in New York. Pre-1900, the Providence Grays beat the Philadelphia Quakers (now Phillies) 28-0 on August 21, 1883.

Oh, and by the way, Padres’ pitcher Stephen Kolek threw a nine-inning shutout (don’t see those too often any more), giving up five hits, walking two and fanning seven.  It was Kolek’s first career complete game and first shutout (in just his fourth MLB start). Kolek made his MLB debut in 2024, getting in 42 games for San Diego (all in relief) and going 3-0, 5.21.  Through May of this season he was 3-1, 4.11 in five starts.

Let’s Change Things Up a Little

The Reds came into their May 10 game at Houston with a 20-21 record, having won only one of their last seven games and having scored a total of ten runs in their last six games. Then BOOM, the Reds matched their offensive output of the previous six games by plating ten runs versus Houston in the top of the very first inning. The Reds sent 14 batters to the plate that inning and scored tens runs on five hits (three singles, a double and a home run), while also benefiting from five walks and a hit batsman. They ultimately won the game 13-9. They then went on to lose their next three games, tallying a total of three runs. But in a see-saw month, after those three losses, they went on a five-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents 26-8.

1,000 for Freddy

On May 12, as the Brewers lost to the Guardians 5-0 in Cleveland, Brewer starter Freddy Peralta lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and taking the loss.  He did, however, fan four batters and the third of those strikeouts – 2B Daniel Schneemann to end the fifth inning was Peralta’s 1,000^th career strikeout- making him the fastest pitcher to reach 1,000 Ks as a Brewer (187 games/804 2/3 innings).  Peralta is in his eighth season (all as a Brewer).

They Call Him The Streak

On May 14, as the Phillies won the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals by a 2-1 score, Phillies’ DH Kyle Schwarber took a zero-for-four collar. Hardly seems worth a highlight, unless you consider that it was the first time in 48 games that Schwarber failed to get on base. It was the fourth-longest such streak in Phillies Modern-Era (post-1900) history. The Phillies’ record belongs to Mike Schmidt at 56 games. The all-time record is 84 games by Ted Williams). Schwarber’s 46-game on-base streak went back to September 23, 2024.  During the streak, he went .262-16-37, with 33 walks.

One For the Money … Two for the Sho(hei)

Timing isn’t everything, but it is something.  On May 15, 51,272 fans packed Dodger Stadium for Shohei Ohtani Bobblehead Night … a bobblehead commemorating his “unicorn” 2024 fifty+ homer/50+ steal season). As usual, Ohtani did not disappoint, going two-for-six, with two home runs and six RBI in a 19-2 win over the Athletics.  Side Note: On April 2, the Dodgers handed out Ohtani bobbleheads commemorating his third unanimous NL MVP Award (2021-23-24). In that game, Ohtani went three-for-five and won the game with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth (Dodgers 5 – Braves 5). Nice timing.

A Nice Round Number

On May 16, as the Phillies topped the Pirates 8-4 in Philadelphia, Phillies’ 1B Bryce Harper went three-for-four (all singles) with two runs scored and two RBI. His first RBI of the game, coming in the fifth inning, was Harper’s 1,000^th career run driven in (coming in his 14^th season/1,697^th career game. More #InBaseballWeCountEverything – In an MLB.com report, Todd Zolecki noted that made Harper just the 14th MLB player to rack up 1,000 runs scored, 1,000 walks and 1,000 RBI before his 33^rd birthday.

Immaculately Done, Mr. Quantrill

On May 18, as the Marlins topped the Rays 5-1 in Miami, Marlins’ starter Cal Quantrill tossed five innings of one-run ball for the win (two hits, one run, two walks, six strikeouts). He carved out a little spot in MLB history in the top of the fourth – tossing 2025’s first Immaculate Inning (nine pitches, three outs, three strikeouts). The victims were the 5-6-7 hitters: 1B Jonathan Aranda, LF Christopher Morel and CF Kameron Misner.  For those who like to know such things, there have been more than 100 Immaculate Innings.  Dipping a toe into the research, I found that Baseball-Almanac.com reports 115 such occurrences; The Sporting News 116 and an article on MLB.com 118. One thing that is agreed upon is that Immaculate frames are becoming more common, with more nine-pitch, three-strikeout innings reported between 2000 and 2025 than from 1889 through 1999,

Not as Complete a Day as Hoped For

On May 18, in his 33rd MLB start, Pirates “phenom” Paul Skenes pitched his first MLB complete game – giving up just three hits and one rum (walking one and fanning nine) in eight innings. Unfortunately, all he got for that sharp outing was a loss, as four Phillies’ pitchers held the Pirates scoreless.  The loss put Skenes at 3-5, 2.44 (after ten starts) on the season.

Rolling a 300

On May 19, as the Phillies topped the Rockies 9-3 (in Colorado), Kyle Schwarber led off the top of the ninth inning with a 466-foor home run to right field (off Scott Alexander). It was his 16^th of the season and, perhaps more important statistically, his 300^th career dinger.  Schwarber finished May with a .232-19-43 stat line on the season.  Sidenote: Schwarber seems to have found a “home” in Philly. In seven seasons before coming to Philadelphia (2015-2021 … Cubs, Nationals, Red Sox), Schwarber hit a total of 153 long balls in 664 games.  In three seasons and change with the Phillies 2022-2025) he has hit 150 home runs in 523 games.

Breaking Out in the Eighth

On May 23, in a 19-5 win over the Orioles in Boston, the Red Sox dropped a “Baker’s Dozen” runs on the Birds in the eighth inning. (For you youngsters a “Baker’s Dozen” is 13.)  The Red Sox sent 18 batters to the plate in the frame – collecting 12 hits (five singles, five doubles, two home runs) and two walks.  Every player in the lineup scored at least once (four scored twice). DH Rafael Devers had a single and a Grand Slam (two runs, five RBI in the inning), while RF Rob Refsnyder had a three-run homer and a single (four RBI, two runs scored). Orioles’ pitchers Cionel Perez and Emmanuel Rivera (a corner infielder by trade) threw a combined 67 pitches in the inning.  For those who like know such things, the most runs ever scored by a team in the eighth inning of an MLB game is 16 – by the Rangers (also against the Orioles) in a 26-7 win on April 19, 1996. In that inning, the Rangers recorded eight hits, but benefited from eight walks and a wild pitch. The Orioles’ pitcher in that frame were Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco and (infielder) Manny Alexander.

Out-Madduxing the Professor

On May 25, Tigers’ lefty Tarik Skubal threw a rare “Maddux” – a nine-inning shutout using less than 100 pitches (named such in honor of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux). In running his season record to 5-2, 2.49, Skubal shutout the Guardians in a 5-0 Tiger win.  Skubal fanned 13 batters in his 94-pitch outing (the most strikeouts ever in a “Maddux.”)  Maddux himself never fanned more than nine batters in a “Maddux.”

Don’t Be in Such a Hurry

On May 25, Braves’ starter Chris Sale pitched six scoreless frames (two hits, three walks, eight strikeouts), as the Braves topped the Phillies 9-3. His final strikeout – 3B Edmundo Sosa to end the sixth inning, was the 2,500^th of Sale’s 15-season MLB career. It made him the 40^th MLB pitcher to reach that milestone and he got there faster (in innings) than any other pitcher (2,026 innings). The previous pace-holder was Randy Johnson, who reached 2,500 strikeouts in 2,107 2/3 innings (in his 12^th MLB season).

How Things have Changed – A Complete Game is a Highlight

On May 31, The Rays’ Zack Littell – making his 59^th career start and 214^th mound appearance in eight MLB seasons, tossed his first MLB career complete game. He gave up three runs on ten hits and one walk (six strikeouts) in the 117-pitch outing (a 16-3 Rays win over the Astros in Houston).

Not A Great Day for the Home Crowd

On May 31, the Diamondbacks were in a deep hole even before many of the 29,434 fans at Chase Field were in their seats.  In the top of the first inning, the Nationals scored nine runs off pair of Diamondbacks’ hurlers before an out was even recorded.

It went like this.

Brandon Pfaadt on the mound.

• CF CJ Abrams hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count;
• LF James Wood singled to right, Abrams going to third;
• 1B Nathaniel Lowe hit an RBI double to left;
• 2B Luis Garcia Jr. hit a two-run double to right;

Hits to all three fields already.

• DH Josh Bell hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count;
• CF Robert Hassell III singled to center, loading the bases;
• C Kiebert Ruiz hit a two-run double to CF;
• 3B Jose Tena hit a two-run double to right;

With seven runs in, a runner on second and just 36 pitches thrown, Pfaadt was replaced on the bump by Scott McGough.

• RF Daylen Lile laced McGough’s second pitch for an RBI double to CF;
• Abrams hit by a pitch for the second time in the inning;

Side Note: Abrams tied the MLB record for most time hit by a pitch in an inning and was hit again in the sixth frame to tie the record for most times hit by a pitch in a game.

• Wood hit a ground ball, RBI single to CF;
• Lowe struck out swinging for the first out (nine runs already in).

The Nationals eventually went on to score one more run in the first inning and then hang on for a 11-7 win. According to the Elias Sports Bureau it was the second most runs ever scored by an MLB team before making its first out of a game. The Red Sox scored ten runs before the first out in the first inning of a 25-8 win over the Marlins (in Boston) on June 27, 2003.  The Nationals did tie the NL record for runs scored before making a first out.

200 and Counting

On May 31, as the Dodgers topped the Yankees 18-3, LA third baseman Max Muncy went three-for -six, with three runs scored, seven RBI and two home runs.  The first of the two long balls – a three-run shot in the second inning –  was Muncy’s 200^th career MLB roundtripper.

 

––INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS FOR MAY—

BATTING AVERAGE (at least 75 at bats)

American League: Jose Ramirez, Guardians (.386) Jacob Wilson. Athletics (.368); Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles (.365)

National League: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (.410); Heliot Ramos, Giants (.347); TJ Friedle, Reds (.344)

The lowest May average among players with at least 75 at bats belonged to the Red Sox’ infielder Kristian Campbell at .134 (11-for-82).

HITS

American League: Jose Ramirez, Guardians (39); Jacob Wilson, A’s (39); three with 37

National League: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (43); Trea Turner, Phillies (38); James Wood, Nationals (35)

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani led all MLBers in May extra-base hits with 21 – five doubles, one triple and 15 home runs.  

HOME RUNS

American League: Cal Raleigh, Mariners (12); Aaron Judge, Yankees (11); Taylor Ward, Angels (10)

National League:  Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (15); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (10); Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (9)

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge all hitters with at least 75 at bats in May slugging percentage at .798. The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani the NL at .782

RUNS BATTED IN

American League: Rafael Devers, Red Sox (33); Taylor Ward, Angels (28); Cal Raleigh, Mariners (26)

National League: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (29); Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (27); Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (27)

RUNS SCORED

American League:  Aaron Judge, Yankees (25); Zach Neto, Angels (23); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (22)

National League: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (31); CJ Abrams, Nationals (24); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (23); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (23)

DOUBLES

American League: Lawrence Butler, A’s (10); Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles (9); Miguel Vargas, White Sox (9); Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (9)

National League: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (12); Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (10); Nico Hoerner, Cubs (10)

TRIPLES

American League:  Jarren Duran, Red Sox (3); Bobby Wit, Jr., Royals (3); four with two

National League: Jordan Beck, Rockies (3); Austin Hayes, Reds (3); nine with two

STOLEN BASES

American League:  Chandler Simpson, Rays (16); Jose Caballero, Rays (12); Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (11)

National League: Jackson Chourio, Brewers (9); Francisco Lindor, Mets (8); Trea Turner, Phillies (8); Kyle Tucker, Cubs (8)

The White Sox’ Luis Robert, Jr.  and Jorge Mateo of the Orioles tied for the most May bases stolen without getting caught (9).

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

American League:  Zach Neto, Angels (39); Tyler Soderstrom, A’s (37); Taylor Ward, Angels (37)

National League: Michael Toglia, Rockies (40); Oneill Cruz, Pirates (38); Tyler Stephenson, Reds (37)

WALKS

American League:  Rafael Devers, Red Sox (22); Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays (21); Gleyber Torres, Tigers (21)

National League: Marcell Ozuna, Braves (22); Juan Soto, Mets (20); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (19)

The Highest on-base percentage among players with at least 75 May at bats was .468, by the Red Sox’ Rafael Devers. The NL leader was the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman at .462.

PITCHING VICTORIES

American League:  Zack Littell, Rays (4-0); Framber Valdez, Astros (4-1); Jhoan Duran, Twins (4-1)

National League:  Ranger Suarez, Phillies (4-0); Robbie Ray, Giants (4-1); Zack Wheeler, Phillies (4-1)

The Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela led MLB in May losses (0-6, 9.10) in six starts.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 20 May innings)

American League: Kris Bubic, Royals (0.56); Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers (0.68); Carlos Rodon, Yankees (1.47)

National League: Andrew Abbott, Reds (0.55); Bailey Falter, Pirates (0.76); Chris Sale, Braves (1.11)

The highest ERA among pitchers with at least 25 May innings or four May starts was 9.10 by the Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela (0-6, 9.10 in six starts, 28 2/3 innings).

STRIKEOUTS

American League: Tarik Skubal, Tigers (59 K / 41 IP); Will Warren, Yankees (43K / 28 IP); Framber Valdez, Astros (42 K / 42 IP)

National League: Robbie Ray, Giants A (45 K / 39 IP); Sonny Gray, Cardinals (43 K / 34 IP); Dylan Cease, Padres (42 K / 34 IP); MacKenzie Gore, Nationals (42 K / 27 1/3 IP)

WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 25 May innings)

American League: Tarik Skubal, Tigers (0.59); Joe Ryan, Twins (0.72); Kevin Gausman Blue Jays (0.84)

National League: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (0.80); Zack Wheeler, Phillies (0.81); Bailey Falter, Pirates (0.84)

Among pitches with at least 25 Mays innings, the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto held batters to the lowest average at .146.

SAVES

American League:  Jhoan Duran, Twins (7); Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (70; Carlos Estevez, Royals (7); Jeff Hoffman Blue Jays (7)

National League:  Ryan Helsley, Cardinals (9); Trevor Megill, Brewers (7); Kyle Finnegan, Nationals (7)

Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals saved the most games without a blown save in May (nine).  

Bonus:

Among pitchers who faced at least 75 batters in May:

• The Nationals MacKenzie Gore fanned the most batters per nine innings at 13.83;
• The Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman had the best strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 33.0. (He walked one batter and fanned 33 in 32 innings.)

 

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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P 1118

Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishments or statistics.  This week, we’re looking at pitchers who started at least 700 MLB games.

Eight hurlers have reached that lofty number of starts – led, of course, by Cy Young with 815 starts over 22 seasons.  The others are Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens and Tommy John.

As, I looked over the stats for this “Great Eight,” I was surprised to find (as the chart shows) that among those on the list, Maddux threw the fewest complete games (109), had the lowest percentage of his starts result in a complete game (14.7%) and tossed the fewest shutouts (35).   On the other side of the coin, of course the times and the game were different, Young threw the most complete games (740) among the pitchers on the list, completed the highest percentage of his starts (91.9%) and threw the most shutouts (76).

A few additional notes:

• Among the pitchers in the 700-start club, Roger Clemens came in out of the bullpen the fewest times (just two) and those relief stints were, in a way, career bookends. The first came in his rookie season (1984) – a two-inning, scoreless appearance in his 13^th career MLB game.  The second came in his final season (2007) – a one-inning scoreless appearance in his 695^th career MLB game.
• Phil Niekro made the most relief appearances among pitchers with 700 MLB starts, coming out of the pen 148 times. (In his first three MLB seasons, Niekro made just one start in 79 appearances.)
• Tommy John and Steve Carlton pitched for the most teams during their quest for 700 MLB starts – six each. None of the hurlers on the list pitched for fewer than four teams.

Bonus Tidbit.

The pitcher with the most career starts without ever pitching in relief is Tom Glavine, who started 682 games over 22 MLB seasons (1987-2008… Braves, Mets). He went 305-203, 3.54, with 56 complete games and 25 shutouts.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1117

Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishments or statistics.  This week, we’re looking at players who were exceptionally busy in the “garden.”

Here are the usual disclaimers: Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am restricting myself to the Modern Era (post-1900) and not all Negro League game stats have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books. (In 2020, the Negro leagues from 1920-48 were designated major leagues.)

You’re putting me on! No, I’m putting you out.

On this date (May 20) in 2009, Red Sox’ CF Jacoby Ellsbury tied the MLB record for putouts by an outfielder in a nine-inning game, gloving an even dozen flyball outs in the center of the garden (in an 8-3 Red Sox win over the Blue Jays in Boston). Ellsbury’s glove provided a home for two Blue Jays’ fly balls in the top of the first inning, two in the second frame, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the ninth.   Eight of the nine players in the Blue Jays’ starting lineup were put out on flyballs to Ellsbury at least once. Only number-nine hitter LF Travis Lind managed to avoid Ellsbury’s glove.

Here are a few tidbits that caught my eye:

• Ellsbury’s record-tying twelfth putout came in just under the wire – on the final pitch/final out of the game;
• Only three outfielders have recorded 12 putouts in an MLB game and all three were CF (Ellsbury, the Twins’ Lyman Bostock and the Boston Braves’ Earl Clark);
• All three 12-putout games occurred in the city of Boston; and
• In Ellsbury’s 12-putout game, the opposing CF (Vernon Wells) did not record a single putout.

Bostock’s 12-putout game came in a 9-4 Twins win over the Red Sox (in Boston) on May 25, 1977 (second game of a twin bill). Bostock recorded one putout in the second inning, two in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, one in the sixth, one in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth.  Like Ellsbury, Bostock’s record-tying putout came on the final pitch/final out of the game.  Eight of the nine Boston starters were victims of Bostock’s glove, only the number-eight hitter, 3B Butch Hobson, escaped that fate. CF Fred Lynn flied out to Bostock three times in five plate appearances (four at bats). Bostock, by the way, had five putouts in Game One of the twin bill.  He finished one shy of Lloyd Waner’s record of 18 putouts by an outfielder (also CF) in a doubleheader (June 26, 1935).

Clark recorded his 12-putout game on May 10, 1929 – as his Braves lost to the Reds 5-3 in Boston. Clark recorded two flyball putouts (and an outfield assist) in the first inning, one flyball putout in the third, two in the fourth, three in the fifth, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth. All nine members of the Reds’ starting lineup flied out to Clark at least once.

For those who like to know such things; The record for outfield putouts in a season is held by Taylor Douthit (also a centerfielder) with 547 for the Cardinals in 1928. Side note:  The kind of thing I notice. Taylor had the words out and hit in his last name.

Speaking of the Words Out and Hit

There have been ten seasons of 495 or more putouts in MLB since 1900. Six of them belong to Phillies’ Hall of Fame centerfielder Richie Ashburn.  In the ten seasons from 1949 through 1958, Ashburn lead the NL in outfield putouts nine times. In six of those seasons, he led MLB in outfield putouts. Over that same ten-season span, Ashburn also led all major leaguers in base hits with 1,913 (winning the NL batting title in 1955 and 1958). Stan Musial was second in hits over that span, with 1,891 (batting titles in 1949, ‘50, ‘51,’52 and ‘57).

 

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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P 1116

Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishments or statistics.

Here are the  usual disclaimers: Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am restricting myself to the Modern Era (post-1900) and not all Negro League game stats have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books. (In 2020, the Negro leagues from 1920-48 were designated major leagues.)

This Tuesday, we start with what seems like a straightforward trivia question:  Who is the only player to collect four hits in both his first and last MLB game?

The answer: Ray Jansen. Jansen’s place as an MLB unicorn, however, is not as straightforward as it may seem. That’s because Jansen’s first MLB game was also his last MLB game. (There was a slight hint in the question, it did say “first and last MLB “game,” not “games.”  Jansen’s game came on September 30, 1910 – as Jansen found himself playing third base and batting second for the St. Louis Browns, facing the White Sox in St. Louis.  In a contest that produced an unusual line score, Jansen produced four singles in five at bats. Despite his output, the Browns (who had sixteen hits) fell to the White Sox (who had just nine safeties) by a lopsided score of 9-1. (The Browns’ seven errors, three by Jansen, didn’t help their cause.)

Still, four-for-five? You’d think Jansen would have found himself in another MLB game at some time, but this proved to be his first and last time on a regular-season MLB field.

Perhaps a little background is in order. The Browns came into the game with a 45-102 record – 54 ½ games out of first place (with a fan-interest level to match). Jansen was a 21-year-old local boy (St. Louis native) who played that season with the Class-D Paragould Scouts. In a lost season, why not give a St. Louis fellow a chance? Who knows, it might even sell some tickets. Long story short, Jansen got his chance and his four-hit game and, in 1911, was back at Class-D (Keokuk Indians).   He played in the minors through 1918, rising as high as Class-A, but never saw the major leagues again.

Now, about that four-hit day. It gives Jansen a share of the NL record for hits in a debut MLB game and a share of the overall MLB record for a final MLB game.

Only one player has ever collected more safeties in his MLB debut and that was Cecil Travis of the 1933 White Sox – and that was in a 12-inning contest.  Travis poked five singles in seven at bats – the last hit coming in the tenth frame. Overall, just 18 players have collected four hits in their debut MLB games (nine innings) – two more, if you include extra-inning contests. A few notables include: Casey Stengel, Willie McCovey and Kirby Puckett. Travis, by the way, played in 12 MLB seasons (1933-41, 1945-47 … Nationals), hitting .314-27-657.

Moving on to final-MLB-game four-hit performances. Six players (including Jansen) have delivered four hits  in their final (nine-inning) MLB game – and one in a final MLB game that went extra-innings.

While I have you here, let’s look at another MLB debut-game record holder.  You’ll see why I include this here in the next paragraph. In the search that uncovered Ray Jansen, I also came across the sterling debut game of J.P Arencibia, who had one of the best batter’s box debuts in MLB history. Arencibia not only tied the record for hits (in a nine-inning MLB-debut game) with four, he also tied the record for home runs in an MLB-debut game (two) and took sole possession of the record for total bases in a debut game with 11.  He made his debut with the Blue Jays on May 7, 2010 and delivered four hits in five at bats, including a double and two home runs, three runs scored, three RBI and 11 total bases. (The Blue Jays won 17-11.)

What caught my eye was that Arencibia appeared in 10 more games for the Blue Jays that season and collected just one more hit (a single) in 30 at bats (he did draw two walks). Arencibia played in six MLB seasons (2010-2015 … Blue Jays, Rangers, Rays) and hit .212-80-245.  Arencibia was a first-round pick in the 2007 MLB draft – out of the University of Tennessee, where he hit .333-33-165 in three seasons (174 games). The year he was called up to the Blue Jays, he hit .301-32-85 at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Others with two homers in a debut game are: Trevor Story, Mark Quinn, Bert Campaneris and Bob Nieman.

Finally, what about RBI?  The record for RBI in both a first and final MLB games is six. Cubs’ 20-year-old SS Starlin Castro made his MLB debut on May 7, 2010, batting in the eight-hole. He went two-for-five (one home run), with six RBI in a Cubs’ 14-7 win. Castro went on to twelve-season MLB career (2010-2021 … Cubs, Yankees, Marlins, Nationals).  The four-time All Star went .280-138-678 over 1,573 games.

The Rays’ Joey Butler holds the final-MLB-game records for both home runs (two) and RBI (six). On October 4, 2015, in a game against the Blue Jays, Butler (at DH and in the eight-hole) went three-for-four, with two home runs and six RBI in a 12-3 Rays’ win.  Butler played in just three MLB seasons (2013-15 … Rangers, Cardinals, Rays), hitting .276-8-31 in 102 MLB games.  Butler was a 15^th round draft pick (2008) out of the University of New Orleans. He made his MLB debut in his sixth professional season. His final professional season was 2017, with the Triple-A Syracuse chiefs.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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P 1115

Most of us, as baseball fans, have shared a dream – a dream of what it would be like to get that one game, that one at bat or that one trip to the mound in the major leagues – and to see our name and “stats” on the back of a baseball card.   Did you ever wonder what a player who actually lived that MLB dream would move on to dream about?  Well, John Paciorek, who had that day in the sun we all dream about, has answered that question for us – in the final chapter of his soon to be released book “Simplicity: The Principle of Perfection – in Science the Universe and World of Baseball”- which explores that idea that simplicity –  identified, understood, visualized and harnessed through practice and meticulous repetition –  is the key to success across all fields (from  the most complicated science to the hitting, throwing and catching of a baseball.

That chapter details Paciorek’s dream about another memorable day in the big-league sun, told in a way that only a former major leaguer with an ongoing passion for the national pastime could (dream it or) tell it.  Paciorek, who has shared his experiences and expertise with Baseball Roundtable readers in the past, has agreed to share his major-league dream with us.

First, by way of background, Paciorek made his major-league debut with the Houston Colt .45’s, as an 18-year-old on September 29, 1963.  And, it was like a dream come true. Starting in right field and batting seventh, he came to the plate five times and delivered three singles and two walks, scored four runs and drove in three. Paciorek’s MLB career was cut short by a back injury (that, ultimately, required surgery) and he lived his MLB dream for just that one 1963 game.

For more on the life, times and literary works of John Paciorek, see the bio at the end of this post.

Now here for your enjoyment is “An Imaginative ‘Real Life”’ Dream” … John Paciorek’s pitch-by-pitch and play-by-play dream of a perfect MLB Game Number Two.

_____________________________________________

An Imaginative “Real-Life” Dream

By John Paciorek

When I am at my “best,” I must be consciously aware I AM within a “high vibration,” as well as being stimulated at a “high frequency.” It would take “highest aspiration,” as well as “consistent focus,” to perform at a level I have desired. How else would it be possible to hit a home run every time I swung my bat?

 As I realized the extent of Batting Imperfection, I knew and felt a humbling sense of simplified perfection. “The Home Run Principle” now offers the ultimate satisfaction of Batting Excellence.

The Dream

The starting lineups for both teams were basically the same in the spring of 1964, with the exception of a few players missing from last year’s Mets team (Sept 29, 1963) or at different positions on the field or in the batting order.

“How perfect will this day and game be?” I asked myself as I raced over to my defensive position in centerfield. A perfect first inning was pitched by Chris Zachary and we were coming up to bat.

With my bat and helmet in hand, I walked to the front end of the dugout, thinking about that scorching Sunday afternoon in Houston, September 29, 1963. I batted five times, walked twice, and got three hits. (That would have been considered, by any casual observer, as an impressive show of batsmanship, unless put into the context of ultimate efficiency – although the results were admirable: three RBI and four runs scored proceeded from those five at bats. Not bad for an 18-year-old Prospect!)

I was genuinely excited to be playing in this “rematch,” but for reasons that far exceeded my original purpose. I was/am appreciative for all that has happened and is happening. But now, I am eagerly anticipating even greater things to occur. I already knew that my first at-bat today was going to be a little different than my first at-bat last fall, six-and-a- half months earlier.

Sonny jumped on Bearnarth’s first pitch and roped it to center field. Joe walked on six pitches, and I came to the plate with two runners on base. It was a good opportunity to drive in a run or two (or three). I didn’t want to walk again (like last year), so if he tries to pitch me in the same manner as last time, I’d better jump on the first “good strike” he throws me.

The first pitch he threw last time was a fastball, over the middle of the plate. I was late on it and fouled it back and to the right. If he throws that pitch again, I’ll be ready and considerably more capable of handling it. As I assumed my new stance, new catcher Hawk Taylor said, “Hmmm, that’s not what I was told. We might have to make an adjustment.” I didn’t know if he was referencing my former “high, open stance,” or what? But after Bearnarth shook off two signs from Taylor, I figured he already knew what he wanted to throw.

 From my lower, stable, crouched position, I could see the ball leave his hand as the fingers snapped downward. It was definitively a fastball, and its trajectory was leading it over the middle-outside part of the strike zone. It may have been identical to his first pitch last time, but in my lower stance, the pitch appeared higher and more within my “wheelhouse.”  With my front foot pointed at 45 degrees to the pitcher, I merely had to press down while driving my back bent-knee forward with all the power of my backside and let my front leg straighten, without fear of twisting my ankle or knee and allowing for maximum and precise contact.

I fouled off that same pitch last time because my high stance and high bat swung down to the ball, slicing too much under the front of it. This time, I intended for my bat to be in a position under the ball as my swing would commence. This time, I could see and feel my bat hit the ball solidly in the direction of center field, on a high ascending line drive. After my “follow-through,” I began sprinting because I didn’t know for sure if it would carry over the fence.

 When I reached first base, Jimmy (Adair) was applauding my “blast,” and I could see it sail over the 410-foot mark. It quickly occurred to me that I was now one-for-one and already had three RBI. As I was stepping onto home plate, the Mets’ catcher smiled and said, “I told Pete that pitch wasn’t a good idea.”

 After Rusty and Jimmy flew out consecutively, John Bateman and Aspro hit consecutive singles, but Ivan struck out to end the inning. In the bottom of the second inning, Bearnarth struck out Zachary and Jackson. Joe got a base hit, and I was coming up for the second time in two innings.

 His first pitch to me was a fastball, about six inches outside. He was intent on not throwing me another strike over the outside part of the plate.  My first major-league hit, last September, was a bloop single that drove in two runs, when Bearnarth “jammed” me on an inside fastball. He had me set up for another one, right now. What he probably didn’t know was that today I knew how to hit that pitch more effectively.

 As I saw his second pitch being released, I knew it was another fastball, this time burrowing onto the inside part of the plate and waist-high. After “gathering,” I waited for the precise instant, then as my front shoulder shrugged, my back bent knee drove forward. I could feel my front foot plant as my front leg began to straighten.

 My vertical axis was intact as my hips turned quickly on stable vertical and horizontal planes. My shoulders followed in rapid succession. As my belly button reached its ultimate frontal position, the muscles of my front leg contracted vigorously to straighten at the knee. The oblique muscles of my abdomen did the same to complete the action of the hips.

Then, in perfect synergy, the coordinated action of the shoulders, arms, and hands propelled my bat into the ball with absolute synchronization and maximum centrifugal force. The point of contact occurred as my arms drew my hands and bat across my body, and the bat head struck the ball as my arms were extending in the direction of its flight.

 My wrists remained intact until well after contact. Then they rolled over with the action of the shoulders at “follow-through.” The ball’s flight pattern had already been determined. An ascending, non-hooking line drive was the resultant effect that eventually sailed over the left field fence, for a “two-run bomb.”

 An indescribable sense of elation blanketed the core of my being as I again circled the bases. I seemed “half stupefied” by what seemed a phenomenal mortal accomplishment. But a clearer perception graciously accepted the entire situation and circumstance as a natural consequence of a high-vibrational frequency applied attentively to the maximum intent of conscientious desire/prayer.

 As this seemed like only the beginning, what would I tell the “press corps” at the end of this day? I feel so good, was my thought as I reached the dugout. As hands and voices applauded the feat(s), I recalled my angel saying, “The better you feel, the better you get; the better you get, the better it gets!”  Oh, boy! How much better can it get?” I asked myself. I was two-for-two, had two home runs, five RBI, two runs scored, and it’s only the bottom of the second inning! Oops! It’s now the top of the third; Rusty just flew out to center field.

 Chris Zachary was still on the mound for us. We’re winning 5–0, so it looked like he’d go for a while. I wondered how long Bearnarth would go.   I saw Ed Bauta loosening up in the bullpen. Zachary gave up four hits in row, to begin the inning, but only gave up one run before getting three outs.

 In the bottom of the inning, Jimmy, Bateman, and Aspromonte would be facing a new pitcher since John Stephenson pinch-hit for Bearnarth and struck out.

 The new pitcher was Ed Bauta. I faced him once in my “debut game.” I got a cheap single, off the handle of the bat, that drove in my third run. He was a tall right-hander, whose fastball had a good “tailing” action in on right-hand batters.

 Jimmy got a base hit to left. Bateman hit a grounder in the “hole,” on which shortstop, Al Moran, made a good backhand play. He fired to second for one, but they couldn’t double up on Bateman.

 Aspro lined a single to right, moving Bateman to second. Ivan then singled to left, but the “slow-footed” Bateman had to stop at third. With bases loaded, Al Spangler pinch-hit for Zachary and immediately sliced a hard-liner toward third base. Third baseman Ron Hunt made a nice backhand play and instantly stepped on third to double off Bateman, who didn’t have time to get back to the bag.

 Larry Dierker then took the mound for the top of the fourth inning. He’d be facing the Mets’ second, third, and fourth batters in the lineup. Second baseman Amado Samuel was Larry’s first batter.

 Samuel tried to push a bunt past the gangly right-hander. As the ball was speeding toward Morgan at second, Dierker’s quick and graceful movement to his left stabbed it with his mitt and easily underhanded the ball to first baseman, Staub. Second batter Ron Hunt laced a low-liner into the gap in right-center. Because I got another “great jump” on the ball, I prevented his initial intent of getting to second base.

 With one out, a runner on first, hard-hitting left fielder Frank Thomas came to the plate. Larry proceeded with two fastballs on the outside part of the plate, which Thomas “fouled back” for two quick strikes. A fastball inside made the count one ball and two strikes. A slider off the outside part of the plate made the count two-and-two. Larry’s next pitch was a fastball on the inside corner—a good pitch—but Thomas must have been looking for it!

 I could see the pitch and his swing synchronize, and I took off immediately in the direction of its flight. Jimmy and I were both racing toward deep left-center field. The grass I threw up before the pitch told me the wind was blowing in slightly. I figured I might have a chance for it. I could see the ball descending on a gradual arc, but could still make it to the fence. As my right foot hit the warning track, I leaped diagonally, extended my left arm, and felt the ball imbed into the pocket of my glove.

 After the catch, I immediately turned to see where Hunt was. Jimmy was already yelling for me to hit the cutoff man. Hunt had rounded second but had to scamper back. He was making his way back to first as my relay reached Sonny. He quickly turned and fired to first. His throw was just in time to nail the sliding Hunt for a “double play.”

 Larry had been backing up both home and third, until he saw me make the catch. Then with his arms held high, waiting for the results at first base, he jumped ecstatically with the realization of the third out of the inning.

 Everyone raced jubilantly back to the dugout, where the rest of players enjoined with a chorus of congratulatory affection and a clear sense of “teamwork” and “team spirit.” In that moment, I couldn’t help but feel that Houston was formulating a team that was destined to make its mark, not only in this spring training’s undefeated “mini season,” but in the upcoming “regular season,” as well as in the unforeseeable future. Sonny, Joe, and I were coming up in the bottom of fourth, and Bauta was still on the mound. Chris Cannizzaro was the new catcher. (Choo- Choo Coleman was no longer on the team—from last season.)

 Sonny grounded out to second baseman Samuel, and Joe lined out to shortstop Moran. I was coming up with two outs, nobody on, with us ahead five to one. As I was approaching the batter’s box, Cannizzaro, glancing to his left, looked in my eyes and emphatically stated, “You’re not getting three today (referring to the 3 homers I hit in our previous game with the Dodgers)!”

 I smiled and asked, “What if the ‘handwriting is’ already ‘on the Wall?’” His expression seemed puzzling, but umpire Nestor Chylak chuckled with amusement.

 Regaining his composure, Mr. Chylak reasserted his official decorum and shouted, “Play ball!” I readied myself to the rhythm of Bauta’s “wind-up,” half-expecting, but not fully attentive to any deliberate prospect of disturbing my “comfort zone.” I was just looking for a pitch in my “wheelhouse” so I could get my best swing. It was still just spring training, so I didn’t think any pitcher or team would be fully engaged in “ultimate strategic deployment.”

 But after Bauta’s first pitch, “all bets were off.”

 In our first ever meeting, he started me with a slider, low and away. Then a fastball, low. A curveball over the plate caught me off guard since I was looking for a fastball to drive, off a 2–0 count. Then I blooped a single off a tailing, inside-corner fastball.  It must have pissed him off since it drove in a run (my third)!

This time, when he released his pitch, I immediately detected the ball’s inside trajectory. I waited briefly for any noticeable change of direction, then quickly realized there would be none. The pitch was slightly above my shoulder, starting inside the plate. Its tailing action meant it would soon be burrowing in on me. If I straightened my legs and turned inwardly, I would either be hit or somehow evade contact.

 Recently, because of my still head and eyes, I would simply lean forward to the plate when a pitch was behind my head, and backward if the pitched ball was on the “face side” of my head. With a “tailing” fastball, I would run the risk of my head running into the ball, whichever way I decided.  So, I simply ducked under it—quickly! Our dugout erupted in protest but quieted quickly because of seemingly little effect on my demeanor. His second pitch was a hard slider, low and away, for another ball and a 2–0 count.

 Could I expect a fastball, like I did last time? Or would he come back with another curve? I watched carefully for the release point. The ball came out of his hand slightly higher than previously. As I waited, I could detect the gradual change of direction. It looked to be proceeding into the outside part of the strike zone.

 After “gathering,” I waited for the precise moment to explode to the “outside.” Even though the pitch was “away,” it was in a perfect position to be hit to right-center field if I waited long enough. My “mechanical advantage” was the same as usual. At the last second, I drove my body, arms, and bat toward right field. Contact was made with perfect synergy, and the ball exploded off the bat on an ascending line drive, toward the right-center field fence.

 Again, after my follow-through, I sprinted out of the box, not knowing if the ball would carry over the fence. Rounding first base at full speed, I only slowed down as I observed Kranepool and Hickman curtail their trek and helplessly watch the ball disappear over the embankment.

 “The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on.”

 Bauta completed the inning by getting Rusty to fly out to Kranepool in right field. Larry completed two more innings while giving up three hits, but no runs. The Mets had Lefty Ron Locke pitch the bottom of the fifth, giving up only a single to Jimmy (Wynn).

 Tom Parsons, Mets’ six-foot-seven-inch right-hander, came in to pitch the sixth. Steve (Hertz) pinch-hit for Larry and laced a single to center. Nellie batted for Sonny and hit a grounder between first and second, putting two runners on base. Joe scorched a line drive off the first base bag that bounced high into the air, and no one could make a play. Bases were now loaded, and I was coming up for my fourth at bat of the day.

 I thought they might bring in another pitcher, but Casey decided to leave Parsons in. I didn’t know what anyone else was thinking, but I didn’t think they would walk me. Another thought that came to mind was, A grand slam here, and I will have hit for the cycle—the big cycle! Why not?

 Cannizzaro was still behind the plate and, in what appeared to be a more pleasant mood, offered a modest question, “What kind of dream world are you living in?” I chuckled, along with Nestor, and replied, “One in which I desire not to awaken too soon!”

 He retorted, “Well, let’s see if you can keep it alive with this offering.” As I watched Parson’s hand deliver the pitch, I could see it was a fastball descending from his seven-foot frame, right over the heart of the plate. I thought at first it was too good to be true.

 As I intuitively calculated its trajectory, I propelled my bat to an approximate 180-degree angle. My body’s torquing action supplied the power for its ultimate force to contact the ball just as I intended, most efficiently.

 As the ball ascended high into left-center field on a trajectory that left no doubt as to its final destination, at least fifty feet beyond the 380-foot sign, I circled the bases, thinking, did he (Cannizzaro) think I wouldn’t get all of that perfect pitch? Or was he simply wondering if I would?  He just stared at me as I was approaching home plate. As I was stepping on it, Casey was walking toward the mound, giving a signal to “bring in the lefty.”

 “What a wonderful day!” I thought as I made my way to the dugout. At least one more at-bat—maybe I’ll go five-for-five?

 Left-hander Steve Dillon finished his warm-ups then proceeded to get the next three outs. Gordon Jones came in to pitch the seventh inning for us.

 Steve stayed in the game, replacing Aspro, and Walt went to left field to replace Jimmy. Grote batted for Bateman earlier and stayed in to catch. Jones gave up one run, on three hits, and a walk while facing seven batters. The score was 10–2, and Galen Cisco was coming in for the Mets to pitch the bottom of the seventh.

 Since a “double switch” was made in the sixth inning, Steve would be batting in the ninth position, while Jones would have batted in Aspromonte’s seventh position in the order. Pete Runnels came up to bat for Jones and would play first base. Then Walt Bond would bat for Ivan and play right field. Rusty and Ivan were out of the game.

 The seventh inning ended as Cisco retired all three batters he faced: Runnels, Bond, and Steve. And Don Larsen (former Yankee “No-Hit Perfect Game” hero in Game Five of the 1956 World Series) came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning for the Colts. After Nellie entered the game in the sixth, he then replaced Joe at second base, and Eddie (Kasko) replaced Sonny at shortstop.

 After getting the first two batters out, Larsen walked Ron Hunt. He immediately gave up a two-run homer to George Altman, who had previously replaced Frank Thomas in left field. Don then struck out Dick Smith, who had replaced Harkness earlier at first base.

 In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tracy Stallard came in to face the top of our batting order. Stallard pitched briefly in our game last September, but I didn’t get to face him. He was most prominently known as the pitcher who, in the last regular game of 1961 season, threw the ball that Roger Maris hit to beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. It was Tracy’s pitch that set the new record for home runs at 61. Was it a coincidence, or fate, that he would be facing me in the bottom of the eighth inning, in our last Spring Training game of 1964?

 With the score 10–4, Nellie stepped-in to bat against Stallard. He worked the count to two -and-two, then hit a sharp ground ball past the diving Larry Burright (earlier replacement for Samuel at second base) into right field. Eddie walked on five pitches, setting the stage for my last at-bat of the day (and spring).

 As I was approaching the batter’s box, I could imagine the contrasting thoughts of players from both teams, as well as the spectators witnessing what could be a memorable occurrence. I knew of a few players who had hit four home runs in a single game, but I wasn’t sure if anyone ever hit five.

 Willie Mays hit four a few years ago. I knew that Rocky Colavito had hit four, with the Cleveland Indians in 1959, before he was traded to the Tigers. And I thought Gil Hodges and Joe Adcock had hit four homers in the early ’fifties. Of course, “they all” did it during the “regular season.” But this is where I am now! So, I am just appreciating the present opportunity to do the “best that I am capable of doing.” Even if I don’t hit a home run, I will be satisfied with whatever I do — it will be my best effort! But my intent is to wait for “my home run pitch” and “nail it” when I get it.

 Tracy’s first pitch was a fastball, way outside, for ball one. The fans booed when they may have sensed the prospect of an unintentional “intentional pass.”

 I stepped out and pondered my options. Let’s see what they do next, I conferred with myself. The next pitch was identical with the first, so my only option was “of necessity.”

 Stallard’s third pitch was directed in the same area as the first two, so I swung at it, even without any intent to hit it. The count was two balls and one strike. The next pitch was the same, so I swung again, putting me in my most “unenviable position” of a “two-strike” count.

 With a two-strike count, everyone knew I wouldn’t swing at another “outside pitch” and deliberately strike out. But could I induce the two “battery mates” to think they had a chance to get me out? Jesse Gonder, catching replacement for Cannizzaro, called “time-out” to confer with Stallard.

 “Casey” decided to bring his “ancient wisdom” into the fray, and the three seemed to concur on a course of action. Throwing his hands in the air, Stengel shuffled back to his lair. I had hoped that I would convince them to pitch to me, but Stallard’s next pitch proffered only doubt. The pitch was a hard slider—that, if it were meant to induce me to swing, failed miserably, since it was at least six inches outside.

 With the count now three-and-two, Gonder stood up and extended his right arm perpendicular to his body, indicating that an “intentional pass” was the order of business. The fans booed, with unrelenting passion, and I momentarily relegated my high ambitions to the lower aspirations of an inevitable “base-on-balls.”

 Then I listened to a familiar voice beckoning me to step “outside of the box.” An inspired thought suddenly recalibrated the masterful intent of “Stengelesean Wizardry.”

 I reentered that “rarefied cubicle” with a heightened alertness to the prospect of “duplicity.” Stallard again went through his motions on the mound, and Gonder again was standing, right arm extended out to his right. This time, instead of flaccid futility, my body “gathered” all forceful energy in eager anticipation of an abrupt change of strategy. Gonder stepped briefly to his right, as he synchronized his choreography to the rhythm of his “battery mate.”

 As Stallard lifted his front leg and turned his left hip toward home plate, Gonder abruptly repositioned himself down into the “catcher’s box” while Tracy redirected his momentum flow toward the “strike zone.”

 While in my normal “gathering mode,” I could see clearly the “release point” at which Tracy’s fingers snapped through the ball. His altered intention was obviously to blaze a fast one past me before I could recognize the subtlety of its strategic deployment. The plan was one of incomparable genius and should have enjoined itself to the effects of a successful conclusion.

 But my attentive ear heard the “clarion call,” and Wisdom proceeded to avert the entangled web of conspiracy with a “masterful stroke” of its own. The pitch was fast-approaching the strike zone, and the entire Met bench would consider it a moral victory to record a strikeout, or any out for that matter—anything other than a home run!

However, even with “The Mighty Casey” at the helm to administer a credible stratagem, the “gods” of highest vibrational essence were not to be denied. From my body’s low, balanced position, my eyes followed the ball’s flight path as if the ninety-two-mile-per-hour fastball were moving in slow motion.

 When it got to within the “swinging zone,” my back bent knee drove forward as the front shoulder “shrug” ignited the simultaneous circular actions of the elbows, hands, and bat. My front leg began straightening, after its foot planted, to counterbalance the forward momentum produced by the synergistic action of both hips and back bent knee.

 The integrity of both the “vertical axis” and horizontal plane was thus maintained. As the hips brought my belly button to a full-frontal turn, the oblique muscles of the abdomen concluded their contracting force by pulling my torso and shoulders to a position of optimum readiness. My arms kept my hands and bat just behind my right shoulder. My right elbow was riding the circular wave of the centripetal force produced by the body’s rapid turn, around an intact “vertical axis.”

 The shoulder turn sped up to catch up to the rotating hips. The front leg straightened while my back muscles contracted viciously to pull the left side of my upper body across and backward, to further facilitate the forward momentum of the right side of the body  While the shoulders were turning, the front and back elbows began their synchronized extensions to bring the hands, wrists, and flattened bat to the contact point. The entire body was rotating perfectly within the parameters of an intact “vertical axis.”

 Around and under a stationary head, a “tsunami effect” of incrementally induced centrifugal force provided an explosive impact of bat to ball. I watched as the flat bat struck the high-velocity projectile at the angle that facilitated an ascending line drive.

 My hands and wrists had locked their grip tightly an inch above the bat’s handle as the ball contacted the “sweet spot” of its head. When the bat proceeded through the point of contact, my arms extended while the shoulders rolled. This allowed my hands and wrists to follow suit as the arms, hands, and bat ended up over and across my left shoulder, in its naturally efficient “follow-through.”

 At the instant of contact, the ball’s trajectory was marked by an ascending line drive in the direction of deep left-center field. Almost mesmerized by an awareness of what I had just done, I circled the bases with a feeling of “otherworldliness.” I seemed to be floating with each elongated stride.

 The spectators seemed jubilant, but quietness saturated the atmosphere with their silent mutterings. Opposing players watched in solemn reverence (admiration) as I passed their faces of uncommitted smiles.

 My circular trek persisted in sustained, inestimable glory, as I remembered a passage from the “Belated Farewell” to a “master batsman”: Hitting a baseball most effectively would have to be construed as both an Art and a Science. And that is why it would be easy to remember this “Master of the Bat” for his scientific artistry in hitting a baseball. When a pitched ball approached the area of home plate that coincided with the coordinates determining the flight pattern of Ted’s bat, the poetic beauty of rhythm and timing of his majestic swing reflected an incomparable synergy that resounded with an impact of solid communication. Bat united with ball for a brief-instant to echo a glorified exuberance that resonated throughout the ballpark to sustain an illustrious piece of bats-man-ship. From the beginning of “gathering” body momentum, to the point where hickory and leather ignited a hint of scorching scent, the culmination of which transpired to a distinctively magnificent follow-through, the subjugated projectile took flight most often on a trajectory close to 180 degrees (and climbing). (To hit the ball in any other manner would be to mishit it and therefore denigrate any true artistic and scientific confluence.)

 After stepping onto home plate, I could hear Gonder mutter, “I guarantee that won’t happen during the season.” I turned right and proceeded to a dugout of applauding teammates. But while their hands were clapping loudly, their faces indicated sheer disbelief.

 “I can’t believe you swung and missed at two pitches,” Joe joked in sardonic tone. Casey, with arms folded while sitting stoically at the end of his dugout bench, nodded to Stallard that he would finish the inning. Tracy retired the final three batters, and Hal Woodeshick came in for us, to finish the game.

 The final score was 13–4. Joe was quick to mention that it was the same score as after the last time we played against the Mets. It would have been hard not to notice that I had five at-bats. I was five-for-five. I hit five home runs, scored five runs, and produced thirteen RBI. If anyone thought I had a “good game” in 1963, what would they think of today’s performance? If they weren’t at the game, they wouldn’t believe it! Who would? Who could? Only in One’s Dream????

_______________________________________________

John Paciorek Bio

John Francis Paciorek (born February 11, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan) is an American baseball player who made it to the major leagues with the Houston Colt .45’s on September 29, 1963 (as an 18-year-old) – and (in what world prove to be his only major league game – back injury) proceeded to deliver three singles, two walks, four runs scored and three RBI.  It was day so perfect, it inspired Steve Wagner’s book “Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder.”  Perfect was the perfect title, as Paciorek has spent considerable time since then considering, theorizing and writing about perfection on and off the ball field.

Side note: There is no doubt that baseball is a seriously approached Paciorek family  passion. John is one of three Paciorek brothers (along with Jim and Tom) who made it to the major leagues. 

After leaving the professional baseball ranks, John was a teacher and coach for forty-one years at Clairbourn School in San Gabriel, California, until his retirement in 2017.

In the past sixty-plus years since his “big league” debut, he has devoted himself to understanding the principle(s) through which the most efficient means to applying the proper mechanics for hitting and throwing a baseball can be taught and implemented.

While teaching, he began studying the lives and careers of prominent and brilliant minds whose exploits forged ways of improvement in all walks of life. The works of Albert Einstein, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, and other prominent Historical figures saturated his time and effort until he was able to utilize their expertise in endeavors of his own, usually in applying their brilliance to an area of life most interesting to him, notably sports and especially baseball.

Among his books are: Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans; The Principle of Baseball and All There Is to Know About Hitting; and If I Knew Then What I Know Now.

His soon-to-be-released book (Simplicity) illustrates in detail that only with artistic and scientific confluence can the display of masterful throwing, fielding, pitching and batsmanship be found in the likes of any aspiring prospects to big-league success.

Scientific understanding and application of the Simple principles for batting and throwing will most certainly provide a competency that would supersede the level of proficiency of most batsmen and throwers of the ball. But without the supplementary metaphysical prerequisite to absolute application, maximum productivity will not be forthcoming, even in the best of good hitters and throwers.

This simplicity-minded former baseball player, rather than continuing to apply himself to playing the game, preferred to learn and teach the fundamentals of the game to aspiring youth by pursuing the secret but simple components to batting and throwing a baseball Perfectly by eliciting help from works of the brilliant minds of Einstein and others.

Final Notes:

Here are Links to Paciorek’s past contributions to The Baseball Roundtable:

John Paciorek Looks at Kirk Gibson’s Iconic World Series Home Run, click here.

John Paciorek on the Art and Science of Perfect Batsmanship, click here.

If I only Knew Then What I Know Now … A Look at John Paciorek’s New Book and an Interview with the Author, click here.

You can also find Paciorek’s thoughts on baseball on his blog – at johnpaciorek.com.

Paciorek was the inspiration for Baseball Roundtable’s Annual John Paciorek Award, recognizing players with brief, but in some way significant, MLB careers. This link (here) will take you to a post on the most recent JPA (that post includes links to bios of previous award winners.

 

 

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P 1114

Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishments or statistics.  Today, we are looking relief pitchers – in particular the Dodgers’ Eric Gagne, who holds the record for the longest streak of converted save opportunities (84). That gives him unicorn status and, as for coincidence, read on.

On August 26, 2002, Gagne came on (in relief of Paul Quantrill) in the top of the eighth inning of a Diamondbacks/Dodgers tilt in Dodger Stadium. There was a runner on first, one out and the Dodgers were up 3-2. Gagne quickly fanned LF (cleanup hitter) Luis Gonzalez and 1B Erubiel Durazo to preserve the lead. In the ninth frame, however, he gave up a run (single by CF Steve Finley/double by PH David Deluccia – both on 3-2 pitches), allowing the Diamondbacks to tie the game and earning Gagne a blown save. (Guillermo Moto took over for Gagne in the tenth and the Dodgers eventually lost 6-2 in 12 innings.)

Gagne did not suffer another blown save until July 5, 2004 – 123 appearances and 85 save opportunities later. The coincidence?  The Diamondbacks delivered the blown save “bookends” for Gagne’s 84-save streak.  Just as with his previous blown save two seasons previously, the game featured the Dodgers and Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium and once again the game went extra innings. (The Dodgers won in ten innings by a 6-5 score.) This time, Gagne came on in the top of the ninth, with LA holding a 5-3 lead. Gagne gave up the tying runs on three one-out nits – a single by 1B Shea Hillenbrand, a double by PH Luis Gonzalez and a single by 3B Chad Tracy.

Sidenote: Luck of the draw – or a statistical definition. Gagne did take three losses during his streak (each, of course, occurring in a non-save situations).  For example, on May 12, 2003, he came into a 4-4 tie game in the top of the ninth (Braves at Dodgers) and gave up seven runs on five hits to take a loss. However, since he was not protecting a lead, it was not a save opportunity and not a blown save.

During his 84-save streak, Gagne recorded saves against 21 different teams. The most saves he recorded against any one team was ten (against the Padres).  He recorded nine saves each against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. He had two 11-save months – May and August of 2003. He recorded 51 saves at home and 33 on the road. Thirty-seven of his saves came in one-run ball games.

Perhaps the most unusual save in the streak came on May 6, 2004 when Gagne came into a game against the Marlins with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Dodger up 9-4.  He retired one batter, preserving the five-run lead and got the save.  Explanation: When Gagne came in the bases were loaded and the save rule allows for a save in situations in which the pitcher:

• Enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches at least one inning;
• Enters the game with the tying run on base, at the plate or in the on-deck circle;
• Pitches at least three innings.

By way of background, Gagne started his professional career (in 1996) as starter.  And, he showed promise.  In 1999, for the Double-A San Antonio Mission, he went 12-4, 2.63 in 26 starts and was the Texas League Pitcher of the Year. From 1996 through 2001, Gagne went 36-18, 3.35 in 87 minor-league appearances (85 starts), but 11-14, 4.61 in 58 appearances (48 starts) with the Dodgers. In 2002, the Dodgers converted Gagne to a reliever and, as they say, the rest is history.  For three seasons, he was arguably the best closer in the game. From 2002-04, Gagne: made three straight All Star teams; won a Cy Young Award (2003, NL); notched 152 saves (leading the NL with 55 in 2003); put up a 1.79 earned run average; and fanned 365 batters in 247 innings. Gagne’s career was dampened and cut short by elbow surgery in 2005 and back surgery in 2006, and his final stat line (1999-2008 … Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox, Brewers) was 33-26, 3.47, with 187 saves.

I always Liked the Fifties

A few other saves records for considerations. We all know that Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera holds the record for career saves at 652. Only slightly less well known is the record for saves in a season – Francisco Rodriguez’ 62 saves (in 69 opportunities) for the Angels in 2008.  That season, Rodriguez was 2-3, 2.24 in 76 appearances.    Rodriguez, by the way, is sixth all-time in saves, with 437 over sixteen seasons.

For those who like to know such things, there have been 17 player-seasons of fifty or more saves and only three players have recorded two such seasons:

• Eric Gagne, Dodgers (2002 – 52 & 2003 – 55);
• Jim Johnson, Orioles, 2012 – 51 & 2013 – 50);
• Mariano Rivera, Yankees (2001 – 50 & 2004 – 53)

No June Swoon Here

Three players share the record for saves in a calendar month at 15 – “More of #InBaseballWeCountEveryting.”  By way of coincidence, they all did it in the month of June.

Lee Smith, 1993 Cardinals

In June of 1993, Lee Smith appeared in 15 games for the Cardinals and finished them all – picking up 15 saves. Over that span, he pitched 14 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs (4.30 ERA). At one point in the month (June 25-28), Smith saved four games in four days. Notably, Smith did not finish the season with the Cardinals. He was traded to the Yankees on August 31 for a pitcher Rich Batchelor , who went on to play in three MLB seasons (Cardinals, Padres), going 5-1, 5.03.  At the time of the trade, Smith was 2-4, 4.50 with 43 saves in 50 opportunities for the Cardinals. Hall of Famer Smith pitched in 18 MLB seasons (1980-97 … Cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Reds, Expos), going 71-92, 3.03, with 478 career saves (third all-time). The seven-time All Star led the league in saves four times and ten times recorded 30 or more saves in a season (four times topping forty).

A second-round draft pick right out of high school, Smith – like Gagne (above) – began his pro career as a starter. In his first four pro seasons (1975-78 – Class-A and Double -A), he went 25-27, 5.22 in 92 appearances/71 starts). A move to the bullpen in 1979 paid off and he made his major-league debut with the Cubs on September 1, 1980.

John Wetteland, 1996 Yankees

In June of 1996, John Wetteland appeared in 15 games for the Yankees and closed them all – 15 saves (15 1/3) IP, a 3.52 ERA and three walks versus 15 strikeouts. Wetteland finished the 1996 season with a 2-3, 2.93 record and AL-leading 43 saves (tying is career high, achieved in 1993, 1996 and 1999).

Wetteland was a second-round (secondary phase) draft pick (out of the College of San Mateo) in 1985. He worked primarily as a starter until his 1989 call up to the Dodges. In the minors, from 1985-89, he went 32-29, 4.60 in 100 games (88 starts). After his call up, in 1989, he went 2-6, 4.97 as a starter (12 games) and 3-2, 1.83, with one save in 19 relief appearances. Wetteland split 1990 between Triple-A and the Dodgers, again finding more success coming in from the bullpen. (With the Dodgers, he was 0-3, 7.23 as a starter and 2-1, 2.96 as a reliever).  To make a long story (maybe too long already) short, Wetteland went on to a 12-season MLB career (1989-2000 … Dodgers, Expos, Yankees, Rangers), going 48-45, 2.93, with 330 saves (618 appearances, 17 starts).  The three-time All Star saved forty-plus more games in four seasons and thirty-plus in three more.

Chad Cordero, 2005 Nationals

In June 2005, Chad Cordero appeared in 16 games, and picked up 15 saves. He pitched 16 1/3 innings and did not give up a single earned run (one unearned). He walked two and fanned 14.   On the season, Cordero went 2-4, 1.82 with a league-leading 47 saves.  Cordero pitched in seven MLB seasons (2003-08, 2010), going 20-15, 2.89, with 128 saves. From 2005-2007 he averaged 73 appearances and 38 saves per season for the Nationals.

One of these is not like the others.  Cordero was an Epos first-round draft pick – out of California State (Fullerton) in 2003. Unlike the other pitchers on this list, Cordero did not start out as a starter.  At Cal State, he went 12-8, 2.09, with 34 saves in 111 games – all in relief – over three seasons.  In 2003, he was fast-tracked to the majors. Cordero went 1-1. 2.05 with 13 saves in 19 games (all in relief) at High-A before an August call up to the Expos (where he went 1-0, 1.64 with one save in 12 appearances – all in relief).

Cordero pitched in seven MLB seasons (2003-08, 2010 … Expos/Nationals, Mariners), going 20-15, 2.89 with 128 saves in 314 appearances (all in relief). He led the NL in saves win 2005, when he went 2-4, 1.82, with 47 saves in 74 appearances. His career was shortened by a torn labrum (2008).  After 2008 shoulder surgery  Cordero had a brief stint with the Mariners (2010), going 0-1, 6.52 in nine relief appearances. He pitched in the minor- and independent- leagues in 2009-11 and 2013). (He got his first professional start  with Mariners rookie-league squad in 2009.

Primary resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com.

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishments or statistics.

Once again, the usual pair of declaimers: Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am restricting myself to the Modern Era (post-1900) and not all Negro League game stats have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books. (In 2020, the Negro Leagues from 1920-48 were designated major league.)

Today we’re focusing on nine-inning games in which a starting pitcher fanned a record 20 batters – largely because today is the 39^th anniversary of the first such contest.  On April 29, 1986, the Red Sox’ Roger Clemens fanned 20 batters in a nine-inning, three-hit, 1-0 win over the Mariners (in Boston). Since that time, we have seen three more nine-inning contests that featured 20 strikeouts by the winning pitcher/starter. We’ll get to this in a bit, but I should note here that there was also one 11-inning game in which the starter went nine and fanned 20 batters.

What has always struck me about these 20-whiff games is a unique common denominator. As the chart shows, there was not a single free pass issued by the record-tying hurler in any of the games.

 

Now, you know how The Roundtable likes “unicorns,” so before we go any further, I’d like to drop one into this post.  There has been only one occasion when an MLB pitcher fanned more than 20 batters in a game. On September 12, 1962, Senators’ righty Tom Cheney started on the mound versus the Orioles (in Baltimore). Sixteen innings later, he was still on the mound – striking out Orioles’ pinch-hitter Dick Williams (yes, that Dick Williams) for the final out and his 21^st strikeout (on Cheney’s 228^th pitch) in a 2-1 victory. Sixteen innings and 228 pitches!  Shows how times have changed. Also, a sign of the times, reports are that Cheney chain-smoked cigarettes between innings. In his Society for American Baseball Research article “September 12, 1962: Tom Cheney strikes out a record 21 batters,” Andrew Sharp related a quote from Cheney teammate Chuck Hinton: “That game, he (Cheney) must have gone through three packs of cigarettes.”

The victory ran Cheney’s record on the season to 6-8, 3.01 and he would finish the season at 7-9, 3.17. Cheney  pitched in eight MLB seasons (1957, 1959-64, 1966 … Cardinals, Pirates, Senators), going 19-29, 3.77, with 13 complete games and eight shutouts in 71 starts (155 total appearances). His career was interrupted and cut short by a 1963 elbow injury.  (There has been speculation about the impact on Cheney’s arm of the 228-pitch outing the previous season.)

Now, back to our scheduled programming. Clemens, whose August 29, 1962 accomplishment triggered this post, is a bit of a unicorn himself – the only pitcher with two 20-strikeout, nine-inning games. Oh, and that starter who went nine-innings and fanned 20 in an extra-inning game?  That was Randy Johnson. On May 9, 2001, Johnson started for the Diamondbacks (versus the Reds) in Arizona. After nine innings, he had recorded 20 strikeouts, while giving up one run on three hits.  And, like the other 20-whiff pitchers, he had walked no one. Sadly, for Johnson, the score was knotted at 1-1 and he was relieved in the tenth by Byung-Hyun Kim.  (The Diamondbacks eventually won 4-3 in 11 innings.)

A couple of other tidbits.

• Before Clemens’ record-breaking performance, the mark for strikeouts in a nine-inning game was 19 – shared by Steve Carlton (1969 Cardinals); Tom Seaver (1970 Mets); and Nolan Ryan (1974 Angels).
• Ryan threw four 19-strikeout games in his career – going more than nine innings in three of them (10, 11 and 13 innings). Three of his 19-strikeout games came in 1974.
• The list of players with 19-strikeout games is an impressive one: Nolan Ryan; Randy Johnson; Tom Seaver; Luis Tiant; Steve Carlton; and David Cone.
• Carlton, Ryan and Johnson are the only pitchers to fan 19 batters in a game and take a loss.

Side Note:  Of the ten nineteen-strikeout outings (games of any length) only two have been walk-free.

Primary Resource:  Stathead.com

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

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Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishments or statistics.

On March 25, The Roundtable’s Trivial(l) Tidbit Tuesday focused on batters’ accomplishments over their first ten MLB games … most hits, most HRs, most runs, etc. (For that post, click here.)  This week, we’re going to move from the batter’s box to the mound and look at some hurlers’ “mosts” over their first ten MLB starts. I’ll give you the stats on these leaderboards and some background on players on the lists.

Once again, the usual pair of declaimers: Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am restricting myself to the Modern Era (post-1900) and not all Negro League game stats have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books. (In 2020, the Negro leagues form 1920-48 were designated major leagues.)

Before I get into individual statistical lists, let me just declare Harry Krause the “king” of this post. Krause appears among the top five in nearly all of the categories covered: number-one in shutouts over the first ten MLB starts; number-two in wins; number-two in fewest runs allowed; number-four in innings pitched; and, if they had tracked earned runs in his day, he would be in the top five in earned run average as well.  More on King Krause later, let’s get into the charts, stats and stories.

LOWEST ERA OVER FIRST TEN MLB STARTS

Let’s start with an MLB unicorn and a pretty good trivia question. Which MLB pitcher recorded the lowest earned run average over his first ten starts?  It’s kind of a trick question.  The answer is John Brebbia of the 2022 Giants, who made 76 appearances that season – 65 in relief and eleven as the “designated opener.” Remember when those were really popular? (Still around, but not seen as often.) Brebbia, in fact, made 201 relief appearances before his first “opening/game-starting” assignment. In his ten “starts,” Brebbia pitched ten innings gave up zero runs – for an easily computed 0.00 ERA.

Brebbia remains active (Tigers).  Through 2024, he had played in seven MLB seasons (2017-19, 2021-24), going 15-21, 3.80, with four saves in 354 appearances (21 starts). In those 21 starts, he pitched 22 2/3 innings. This season (as I key this post), the 34-year-old righty has made eight appearances (all in relief), with a 1-0, 1.00 record.

Three other “openers” made this list:

Erik Miller (still active, Giants), who made ten starts and 63 relief appearances as a Giants’ rookie in 2024 – while putting up a 4-5, 3.88 record, with 87 strikeouts over 67 1/3 innings. As I write this, Miller has appeared in nine 2025 games in relief, giving up one run in seven innings.

Shawn Armstrong (still active, Rangers), who made his first “start” in 2022 – in his eighth MLB season and after 192 career relief appearances. Armstrong’s first ten MLB starts were stretched over three seasons.  Through 2024, Armstrong had pitched in 11 MLB seasons (Indians, Mariners, Orioles, Rays, Marlins, Cardinals, Cubs, Rangers), going 11-8, 4.15, with eight saves in 299 games (16 starts). As I key this post, he is 1-0, 3.38 in eight 2025 relief appearances.

Ryne Stanek (still active, Mets) made 29 starts as an opener for the Marlins in 2028 (pitching a total of 40 innings in those starts). Stanek is now in his ninth MLB season (Rays, Marlins, Astros, Mariners, Mets).  Through 2024, his record was 17-17, 3.64, with 11 saves in 402 appearances (56 starts). In those 56 starts, he pitched a total of 83 innings. As I write this, he had made nine relief appearances in 2025, with a 1.08 EERA in 8 1/3 innings.

The Expos’ Steve Rogers is the first traditi0nal starter on this chart. Rogers made it to the big leagues as a 23-year-old in the middle of his third professional season – and got right down to business, giving up just two runs in his first three starts (26 innings, two shutouts). Over his first ten starts, he gave up just 11 earned runs (13 total) in 83 innings for a 1.19 ERA. Rogers went 6-3 over those ten first starts, with his three losses coming by scores of 2-1, 3-1 and 4-2). He finished his rookie campaign at 10-5, 1.54 in 17 starts (seven complete games, three shutouts), finishing second to Gary Matthews (.300-12-58, 17 steals) in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.  Rogers went on to a 13-season MLB career (1973-85 … Expos), going 158-152, 3.17. He was a five-time All Star and won 15 or more games in five seasons.

Cisco Carlos is a bit of a surprise here, after a 3-2, 1.21 record in his first ten MLB starts (1967-68) for the White Sox, he went on to an 11-18 3.72 record (73 games, 36 starts) over four MLB seasons (1967-70 … White Sox, Senators).

Cy Blanton was in his fifth professional season when he got a September call up to the Pirates (1934). He got one start (eight innings, five hits, three runs and a loss). His next MLB appearance would be in April 19, 1935 – and he would twirl a one-hit shutout, as the Pirates beat the Cardinals 3-0 in Pittsburgh. Over his first ten starts, Blanton would go 7-3, 1.23, with nine complete games and two shutouts.  He finished his first full MLB season at 18-13 leading the NL in ERA (2.58) and shutouts (4). The two-time All Star would pitch in the majors for nine years, going 68-71, 3.55.

Fernando Valenzuela. Okay, I would find it hard to believe that anyone reading this post does not know about Fernando-mania which took Los Angeles and MLB by storm in 1981 – when Valenzuela was both Rookie of the Year and the NL Cy Young Award winner (in his age-20 season).  After 10 relief appearances in a 1980 call up to the Dodgers, Valenzuela won a starting role out of Spring Training in 1981.  His very first MLB start was five-hit shutout (a 2-0 win over the Astros) – and he was just getting started. In his first seven starts, he went 7-0, with a 0.29 ERA – six complete games and five shutouts. After ten starts, he was 8-1, 1.24 and he finished the (strike-shortened) season at 13-7, 2.48,  leading the league in starts (25), CG (11), shutouts (8), strikeouts (180) and admirers (countless).  Valenzuela went on to a 17-season MLB career (1980-91, 1993-97 … Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres, Cardinals). Note: He played with the Dodgers his first 11 seasons. Valenzuela was a six-time All Star (1981-86) and his final stat line was 173-153, 3.54.

Since MLB didn’t tracks earned versus unearned runs before 1912, I thought it would be fair to include a chart of total runs allowed in a pitchers first ten MLB starts.

Only one new name appears in the top three.

Harry Krause started his streak as 19-year-old rookie – making two starts, among five appearances in 1908.  (Krause was 1-1, in four 1908 appearances, giving up 11 runs in 21 innings pitched, nine in his two starts).  He completed his first-ten-starts streak in 1909 with eight starts in his first 11 appearances. In his first ten MLB starts, he tossed six shutouts and ten complete games. In 94 innings, he gave up just 60 hits and 15 walks (61 strikeouts). As an aside, had the distinction between earned versus unearned runs been made in 1908-09 – and even if all 12 of Krause’s runs over his first ten starts were earned – he would have made the lowest earned run average list with a 1.14 ERA.  In his first full MLB season (1909), the 20-year-old Krause went 18-8, with 16 complete games and seven shutouts. Despite the fast break out of the gate, Krause pitched in just five MLB seasons (1908-1912 … Athletics, Indians), going 36-26 in 85 games (57 starts). Krause did develop a sore arm in 1912 and was sent down to the Double-A Toledo Mud Hens. A native-Californian (San Francisco-born), who began his professional career in the California State League, Krause returned to his home state in 1913 and pitched in the Pacific Coast League until 1929 (winning more than 200 games and earning a spot in the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.)

AT LEAST NINE WINS IN FIRST TEN STARTS

White Sox’ southpaw George “Hooks” Wiltse is the only MLB pitcher to win all ten of his first ten MLB starts, going 10-0, giving up 22 runs in 82 innings.  His ten-start run included eight complete games (two shutouts). The 24-year-old’s streak began after he opened his MLB career with three relief appearances. Wiltse went 13-3, 2.85 in 1904 (24 games/16 starts) and 139-90, 2.47 over a 12-season MLB career (1904-15 … all with Giants except 1915, when he played with Brooklyn of the Federal League). Wiltse was a two-time 20 game winner (23-14 in 1908 and 20-11 in 1909).

“Hooks” Wiltse earned his nickname with an effective, hard-breaking curveball.  Notably, in the realm of nicknames, Hooks’ brother Lewis (also a major leaguer) was known as “Snake” Wiltse for is contorted pitching motion.

 

Here’s a brief look at the pitchers who recorded nine wins in their first ten MLB starting assignments.

Lefty Joe Boehling got an MLB “look-see” with the Nationals in 1912, at gave up four runs over five innings of relief in three games.  He got his first start in June of 1013, after 10 relief appearances (2-0, 4.44). In his first ten starts, he put up a 1.48 ERA.  Boehling pitched in seven MLB seasons (1912-17, 1920 … Nationals, Indians), going 56-50, 2.97. 1913 was his best season (17-7, 2.14).

Paul “Daffy” Dean broke into the major leagues with a bang, recording nine wins in his first ten starts (9-0, 3.61). He finished his debut season at 19-11, 3.43 in 39 appearances, (26 starts) and followed up with a 19-12, 3.37 season in 1935.   Dean suffered a shoulder injury in 1936 and never regained his early form, winning just 12 more MLB games after his first two seasons. He pitched in nine MLB seasons (1934-41, 1943 … Cardinals, Giants), going 50-34, 3.75 in 159 games (87 starts).

Dave “Boo” Ferris played for the Mississippi State University varsity in 1941 and 42 (pitcher/first base) and was signed by the Red Sox in 1942. He played at Class B Greensboro in 1943 (7-7, 2.22), before missing two seasons while in the Army (where he served as a physical training instructor and played military-league baseball). He returned to professional baseball in 1945 and was an instant success, pitching a five-hit shutout in his MLB debut (a 2-0 win over the Athletics), four shutouts in his first six games and going the distance in each of his first ten starts. The 23-year-old finished his inaugural MLB season at 21-10, 2.96, with 26 complete games in 31 starts.  He followed that up with a 25-6, 3.25 season in 1946. Ferriss suffered a serious shoulder injury during the 1947 seasons and pitched just three more seasons.  His final MLB stat line (1945-50 … Red Sox) was 65-30, 3.64.

Mark “The Bird” Fidrych burst on the scene as an energetic and eccentric 21-year-old in 1976 – after just two minor-league campaigns. After two brief relief appearances, he made his first start on May 15 and went the distance in a 2-1 win over the Indians (two-hits, one walk, five strikeouts). In his first ten starts, he went 9-1, 1.87, with nine complete games. (He went eight innings in his only non-complete start.) Fidrych finished his rookie season at 19-9, 2.34, with 24 complete games in 29 starts. During Spring Training 1977, Fidrych suffered a knee injury (that required surgery) while shagging flies. He was back on the mound by late May and pitched well (6-2, 1.83 with seven complete gams in eight starts) until arm issues surfaced early July. He pitched in just three more games that season (going 0-2 and giving up 13 runs in 12 innings). To keep a short story short, Fidrych won just four more MLB games (going 4-6, 5.67 in 1978-80) and finished his MLB career (1976-80 … Tigers) at 29-19, 3.10. His mound antics and early brilliance, however, have assured “The Bird” a sport in baseball lore.

 

MOST SHUTOUtS  SHUTOUT IN FIRST TEN MLB STARTS

Harry Krause leads the way here (see MORE bio information under the Fewest Runs Given Up In First Ten MLB Starts chart. In his first two MLB starts (May 27 and June 12, 1908), Krause was touched up for nine runs in 17 innings.  But he came back with a vengeance in 1909. In his first eight starts of that season, he picked up eight wins, tossed eight complete games, threw six shutouts and gave up a total of three runs over 78 innings. As noted earlier, he finished the 1909 season at 18-6, surrendering just 49 runs in 213 innings. Remember, earned versus unearned runs weren’t officially tracked until 1912.

Russ Ford made his MLB debut with the New York Highlanders (Yankees) on April 28, 1909 – a three-inning relief stint in which he gave up six runs to the Red Sox (part of 12-2 Highlander loss) on four hits, four walks and three hit batsmen.  Not an auspicious beginning. In fact, it got him sent down to the Jersey City Skeeters of the Class A Eastern League, where he went 13-13 in 32 starts. Ford, however, was working on a new pitch that would turn the tide.  He came back   came to the Highlanders with an “emery ball.”  Using a piece of emery board (hidden in his glove), he would scuff the ball on one side which enabled to create a range of baffling breaking pitches. Ford disguised the new offering as a, then legal, spitball.  (The scuffed ball pitch, by the way, was banned in 1915.)

On April 21, 1909, four days before his 27^th birthday, Ford (using his new pitch) threw a shutout for the New York Squad in his first MLB start – a tight 1-0 win over the Athletics in Philadelphia.  He gave up five hits, walked none and fanned nine (a high total for the time).  He went on to throw nine complete games and five shutouts over his first ten games – giving up a total of just 15 runs. Ford picked up eight wins, one loss and one no decision.  Over his first full MLB season, Ford went 26-6, recorded eight shutouts and 29 complete games in 33 starts (36 appearances), fanned 209 batters and gave up only 69 runs in 299 2/3 frames. His 26 wins remain the rookie record (post-1900). Ford pitched in seven MLB seasons (1909-1915 … Yankees and Buffalo of the Federal League), going 100-71 and winning 20 or more games in three seasons.

Fernando Valenzuela (check out is bio info in the Lowest ERA In First Ten MLB Starts section). Suffice it to say, Valenzuela tossed five shutouts (and gave up just two total runs) in his first seven MLB starts (Dodgers, 1981). Included in that run were four games of ten or more strikeouts.  Again, lots more on Fernando in the ERA section.

MOST STRIKEOUTS FIRST TEN STARTS

Kerry Wood made his MLB debut (at age 20) on April 12, 1996 – and he took a loss (lasting 4 2/3 innings giving up four bits, three walks and four runs). He did, however, fan seven batters in his stint – the first step on his way to the top of this list. Over his first ten starts, Wood would go 6-2, 2.79, and would fan 94 batters in just 61 1/3 innings.

Wood went 13-6, 3.40, with 233 strikeouts in 166 2/3 innings in his rookie season (winning the Rookie of the Year award). Wood missed the 1999 season (Tommy John surgery).  He came back and from 2000 through 2005 went 57-48, 3.72 … in 159 games (148 starts), although he was beset by series of injuries (triceps, rotator cuff, knee).  After shoulder surgery in 2005, he returned as a relief pitcher (257 relief appearances and four starts from 2006-2012), saving a career-high 34 games for the Cubs in 2008. Wood pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1998-99, 2000-2012 … Cubs, Indians, Yankees), going 86-75, 3.67, with 63 saves (178 starts/268 relief appearances).

Twenty at Age Twenty

On May 6, 1998, the Cubs Kerry Wood (at age 20 and in just his fifth MLB appearance) threw a one-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over the Astros. In the game, he did not walk a batter and tied the record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game with 20. It would be the only game that season when he did not walk a single batter.

Herb Score made his MLB debut, in his fourth professional season, as a 21-year-old in 1955 – when he won the Rookie of The Year award with a 16-10, 2.85 season (leading the AL in strikeouts with 245). In his first ten starts, he went 6-3, 2.89, with five complete games and 92 strikeouts in 81 innings. He followed that up with a 20-9, 2.53 season in 1956, again leading the AL in whiffs with 263.  He started his 1957 season in same form (2-1, 2.04, with 39 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings after four starts).  Then, on May 7, disaster struck.  In the top of the first inning of a start against the Yankees, New York SS Gil McDougald lined a fastball back at Score (that struck him between the nose and right eye) ending Score’s season and, at the time, many thought his career.

Score returned in 1958 and went 2-3, 3.95 with 48 strikeouts in 41 innings over 12 starts before an elbow injury curtailed his season and eventually did end his career.   Some speculated that Score altered his delivery after the line-drive injury, but Score rejected that theory. Whatever the cause, Score was not the same. In 1955-57, he had gone 38-20, 2.64 in 73 games. From 1958 through 1962, he went 17-26, 4.43.  The two-time All Star’s final stat line (1955-62 … Indians, White Sox) was 55-46, 3.36.

Gary Nolan made his debut with the Reds on April 15, 1967 at the age of 18 and picked up a win (against the Astros) with 7 1/3 innings of three-run, six-hit ball (two walks and eight strikeouts). In his first ten starts, he went 3-1, 2.64 with two complete games and one shutout. Nolan pitched in ten MB seasons (1967-73, 1975-77 … all for the Reds, except part of his final season with the Angels). He went 110-70, 3.08, with 45 complete games and 14 shutouts. He was an All Star in 1972, when he went 15-5, 1.99.

Jose DeLeon debuted with the Pirates on July 23, 1983 – picking up a win over the Giants with eight innings of two-run ball (four hits, four walks, nine strikeouts).  When called up, he was 11-6, 3.04 at Triple-A.  In his first ten MLB starts, he went 6-2, 2.37, with 85 strikeouts in 76 innings. He finished the season at 7-3, 2.83 in 15 starts, with 118 strikeouts in 108 innings. DeLeon pitched in 13 MLB seasons (1983-95 … Pirates, White Sox, Cardinals, Phillies, Expos), going 86-119, 3.76 in 415 games (264 starts).

Bob Feller deserves special recognition, he made his MLB debut, as a 17-year-old, on July 19, 1936 (one inning of relief for the Indians versus the Nationals).  He made five more relief appearances before his first MLB start – August 23, versus the St. Louis Browns. It was a pretty good game for a 17-year-old (who would return home to finish high school after the season). Feller threw a complete game, giving up one run on six hits, while walking four and fanning 15. In his first ten starts, Feller went 5-5, 3.38, with 85 strikeouts in just 64 innings.

One for the Books

On September 13, 1936, 17-year-old Bob Feller fanned 17 batters (two hits, two runs, nine walks) in a 5-2 win over the Athletics. The 17 strikeouts tied the MLB record (since broken).

Feller spent his entire MLB career with the Indians – 18 MLB seasons (1936-41, 1945-56, with 3+ years lost to military service). He went 266-162, 3.25 and fanned 2,581 batters in 3,837 innings pitched. The Hall of Famer was an eight-time All Star, six times won 20 or more games in a season (leading the AL in wins each time) and seven times led the AL in strikeouts (348 in 1946).

 

A LITTLE BONUS – THE BIG SIX’S FIRST TEN

Christy “The Big Six” Mathewson – but for one start in 1900 – would have had his name written all over these lists.  September 26, 1900, Mathewson made his first MLB start – and gave up eight runs in an 8-7 Giant’s loss to the Braves. (That season, the 19-year-old Mathewson would go 0-3 and give up 32 runs in 33 2/3 innings over six appearances (one start) with the Giants. Then in 1901, Mathewson went 20-17 for the New York club.  In his fist ten starts that season (career starts 2-11), Mathewson went 8-2, pitched nine complete games, tossed four shutouts and gave up nine total runs in 85 innings.

 

MOST INNINGS PITCHED OVER FIRST TEN MLB STARTS

Ed Reulbach opened his MLB career with an eight-inning, complete game Cubs’ loss to the Giants on May 18, 1950.  He followed up with another complete-game loss. This time, pitching 8 1/3 innings as his Cubs lost to the Superbas 4-3 in Brooklyn. He then won nine straight before his next loss. In his first ten starts, Reulbach pitched eight complete games (three shutouts), but the one that put him at the top of this chart came in his tenth start – on June 24, 1905 (versus the Cardinals). In that one Reulbach, went the distance as his Cubs beat the Cardinals 2-1 in 18 innings (in St. Louis). Surprisingly, that was not the rookie’s best (or even longest) performance of the season. On August 24, 1905, Reulbach went the distance in a 20 innings 2-1 win over the Phillies (in Philadelphia). His mound opponent (Tully Sparks) also went 20 innings that day (and got a loss to show for his body of work). Surprisingly (again), that 20-inning masterpiece also was not Reulbach best day on a major-league mound. (See the highlight below.)

Oh-For-Two, The Hard Way

On September 26, 1908, Ed Reulbach – with his Cubs clinging a slim ½ game lead in the NL Pennant race – became the first (and still only) MLB pitcher to record shutout victories in both ends of a doubleheader. In a twin bill in Brooklyn, he shutout the Superbas 5-0 in Game One (a five-hitter) and came back to shut them down 3-0 in Game Two (a four-hitter).    

Reulbach finished his rookie (age-22) season at 18-14, 1.42, with 28 complete games in 29 starts. Over the next three seasons, he went 19-4, 17-4 and 24-4 – leading the NL in winning percentage each time. He pitched in 13 MLB seasons (1905-17 … Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Newark of the Federal League), going 182-106, 2.28 with 200 complete games (300 starts) and 40 shutouts. He won 16 or more games in seven seasons (20+ twice).

 

Jim “Hippo” Vaughn’s MLB Cup-O-Coffee came in the form of two mid-season relief appearances with the 1908 Highlanders (Yankees), as a 20-year-old, in 1908, giving up one run in 2 1/3 innings. It was back to the minors until Opening Day (April 14) 1910, when he started for the Highlanders and pitched 14 innings in a 4-4 tie with the Red Sox.  Over his first ten MLB starts, Vaughn went 5-1 and gave up just 20 runs (nine complete games, four shutouts). Notably, his nine complete games saw three ending in ties – including one of 14 innings and one of 12.

Vaughn pitched in 13 MLB seasons (1908, 1910-21 … Highlanders, Nationals, Cubs), going 178-137 with 214 complete games and 41 shutouts in 332 starts (390 total appearances).   He won 20 or more games in five seasons. In 1919, he led the NL with 22 wins, a 1.74 ERA, 33 complete games, eight shutouts, 290 1/3 innings pitches and 148 strikeouts

Nate Andrews made his MLB debut with the Cardinals on May 1, 1937 (four innings of relief). He did not make his first MLB start until August 28, 1939 (his eighth career MLB appearance) – going just four innings and giving up seven runs, as his Cardinals lost to the Braves 10-5.  He got his next start on April 25, 1943 (his 24^th MLB appearance) and things went quite a bit better ( a complete games 8-3 win for his Braves over the Giants) .  In his first nine 1943 starts, he tossed seven complete games and went ten or more innings in four. Andrews, bouncing from the majors to the minors and back (He spent only three full campaigns in the majors … 1943-45), pitched in eight MLB seasons (1937, 1939-41, 1943-46 … Cardinals, Indians, Braves, Reds Giants). He went 41-54, 3.46 with 97 starts in 127 appearances. He was an All Star in 1944, when he went 16015, 3.22.

Dave “Boo”  Ferriss … See detail on Ferriss the section on Pitchers With At Least Nine Wins in Their First Ten MLB Starts. Suffice to say here that Ferriss threw ten complete games (one of 14 innings) and four shutouts in his first ten starts.

Harry Krause …  Details on Krause are included in the section on Pitchers With At Least Nine Wins in Their First Ten MLB Starts.  Just to repeat a relevant stat here, his first ten starts included ten complete games and six shutouts

Primary Resources:  Statehead.com; Dave Ferriss SABR Bio by Bill Nowlin; Kerry Wood SABR Bio by Steve Dunn; Russ Ford SABR Bio by T. Kent Morgan and David Jones. 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

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Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying these weekly presentations of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) I’ve noted in the past that these won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishment or statistics.

Here are usual pair of declaimers: Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am restricting myself to the Modern Era (post-1900) and not all Negro League game stats have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books. (In 2020, the Negro leagues form 1920-48 were designated major leagues.)

This is one of those “With Baseball Roundtable, one thing always seems to lead to another” tidbits.  What first caught my attention was the fact that, on this date (April 15) in 1959, 23-year-old Bob Gibson made his first-ever MLB mound appearance and gave up a home run to the first MLB batter he ever faced.

Turns out that’s not exactly a rarity.  Since 1900, seventy-nine pitchers have given up a home run to the first MLB batter they faced (18 of those on the first pitch to the first MLB batter they ever faced).  Not rare enough to be a Trivia(l) Tidbit. In rarer air, we find that only two pitchers have given up a home run on to the first MLB batter they faced and gone on to earn a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame – Bob Gibson and Bert Blyleven.  Not quite a unicorn status, but getting close.  We’ll get to Gibson and Blyleven later in the post, but first a look at this Tuesday’s unicorn.

Right-hander Dave Eiland was the first, and is still the only, MLB player, to give up a home run to the first batter he ever faced AND hit a home run in his first MLB plate appearance. Now, there’s a unicorn that likely to last. Eiland made his MLB mound debut with the Yankees, as a 21-year old, on August 3, 1988. He started a game against the Brewers in Milwaukee, and – in the bottom of the first inning – Brewers’ 3B and leadoff hitter Paul Molitor welcomed Eiland to “The Show” with a home run to center on a 1-2 pitch. Eiland was unfazed and went on to pitch seven strong innings (three hits, two walks, three strikeouts and just the one run). He left with a 5-1 lead, but Yankee reliever Dave Righetti gave up five runs in the eighth to give Eiland a no-decision.

Eiland went 5-9, 5.16 over four seasons for the Yankees (bouncing between the minors and majors), before being released by New York and signing with the Padres in January of 1992. During his Yankee tenure, thanks to the Designated Hitter rule (adopted by the AL in 1973), he did not come to the plate.

In 1992, Eiland made his first appearance as a Padre (remember, the NL didn’t adopt the DH rule until 2022), starting against the Dodgers (in San Diego). He got his first MLB plate appearance in the bottom of the second inning, with one on and two out, and took a Bob Ojeda 2-2 pitch to left-center for a two-run home run. It would be the only home run and one of only two career hits for Eiland. (He went 2-for-22 as a hitter over his MLB career.)

Eiland pitched in 10 MLB seasons (1988-93, 1995, 1998-2000 … Yankees, Padres, Devil Rays), going 12-27, 5.74. In 14 minor-league seasons (he spent part of each of his MLB campaigns in the minors), Eiland went 109-58, 3.42.  After retiring from the playing field, Eiland served a pitching coach (at the major-league level for the Yankees, Royals and Mets).

Now back to Gibson and Blyleven.

Bob Gibson

April 15, 1959 was a bit of a taxing day for Gibson. In his first MLB appearance, he came on in the top of the seventh with his Cardinals trailing the Dodgers 3-0. The first batter he faced was Dodgers’ 3B and number-eight hitter, 30-year-old rookie Jim Baxes. Gibson fell behind 2-0 and then – on the first MLB pitch he threw for a strike – Baxes homered to left-center. (Baxes would record just one MLB season – coming after 10 minor-league campaigns – and he would end up .246-17-39 for the Dodges and Indians.) Gibson pitched two innings in the contest (two runs on two hits, no strikeouts). He made two more appearances in April before returning to Triple-A and then was back with the Cardinals in late July – ending the season with a 3-5, 3.33 record for the Redbirds. Gibson split the 1960 season between Omaha and St. Louis, before having his first full season in St. Louis in 1961. And the rest is history.

Gibson went on pitch his way into the Hall of Fame – a two-time Cy Young Award winner, one time NL Most Valuable Player, two-time World Series MVP, nine-time All Star and nine-time Gold Glover.  He pitched in 17 MLB seasons (1959-75 … Cardinals), going 251-174, 2.91 and winning 20 or more games in five campaigns. He threw 255 complete games in 482 starts and his 56 shutouts are 13th all-time. His 3,117 strikeouts rank 16th.

A Different Kind of Ball

A superb all-around athlete, Bob Gibson starred in basketball and baseball at Creighton University and was the first member of the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame (1968). Over the winter of 1957-58, Bob Gibson played for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Bert Blyleven

On June 5, 1970, 19-year-old Blyleven made his first MLB appearance – a start for the Twins, against the Senators, in Washington D.C. He had been called up from Triple-A Evansville after an injury to Twins’ starter Luis Tiant. At the time, Blyleven had just 21 minor-league appearances (Rookie-, A- and Triple-A), with an 11-4, 2.27 record).

The first MLB batter Blyleven faced was RF Lee Maye (a veteran in his 12th MLB season).  Maye worked a 3-2 count and then smacked a homer to right. The teenage rookie took the blast in stride, and did not give up another run in his seven innings of work (five hits, one walk, seven strikeouts). He would end the season with a 10-9, 3.18 record for the Twins – and would not appear in a minor-league game again until his final professional season (1992). Blyleven “enjoyed” (he had a reputation as a prankster) a 22-season MLB career (1970-1990, 1992 … Twins, Rangers, Pirates, Indians, Angels), going 287-250, 3.31, with 242 complete games and 60 shutouts in 685 starts. Blyleven was a two-time All Star and ten times won 15 or more games in a season. His 3,701 strikeouts are fifth all-time, his 60 shutouts ninth, his 287 wins 27th and his 4,970 innings pitched 14th. (His 430 home runs surrendered are ninth, his 250 losses tenth).

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

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