Archives for May 2016

Book Review – Under One Roof – The Integration of Spring Training

May 25, 2016 by

roofUnder One Roof – The Yankees, The Cardinals

and a Doctor’s Battle to Integrate

Spring Training

 

By Adam Henig

 Wise Ink Creative Publishing – 2016

$9.95

 

 

 

Under One Roof – The Yankees, The Cardinals and a Doctor’s Battle to Integrate Spring Training is more than a baseball book.  It is also a biography and a history book – with an important story to tell about perseverance, courage and the battle for civil rights in the Jim Crow south; specifically in St.  Petersburg, Florida.

It is the story of African American physician Ralph Wimbish in particular, but also of his family, and their impact on the city of Saint Petersburg, the pursuit of civil rights and Major League Baseball’s Spring Training. While Wimbish’s fight to change the treatment of black ballplayers in Spring Training provides the central hook for the book, readers also learn about the work of Ralph Wimbish and his wife Bette to help integrate public facilities from hospitals to restaurants to golf courses and beaches.  For the Wimbishes, civil rights were truly a family affair. Here are just a few highlights:

  • Ralph Wimbish organized St. Petersburg’s Ambassadors’ Club – comprised of the city’s African American leaders in business, education, law and medicine – to help finance and spur St. Petersburg’s civil right movement. Wimbish also later served as President of the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP.
  • Wimbish’s wife Bette, a teacher and later an attorney, also was an active civil rights crusader and  the first person of color to serve on the St. Petersburg City Council;
  • Wimbish’s daughter Barbara was the first African American student to attend St. Paul’s Catholic High school in St. Petersburg.
  • Wimbish’s son Ralph Jr., integrated the city’s all-white Little League.

As Henig accurately portrays, the Jim Crow South was no easy place for African Americans – particularly those who were willing to step forward in the cause of civil rights.  Henig shares the story of how the Ralph and Bette Wimbish came to live in St. Petersburg, despite finding what seemed to be the perfect house in Tampa.  In Henig’s words:

It was located in a predominantly white neighborhood, but since the previous owner was an African American, Bette felt comfortable that her neighbors would be agreeable or at least tolerant. She signed the papers.

The day before she was scheduled to move, the house was torched and burned down. The suspected arsonist was a nearby store owner and active member of the Ku Klux Klan.  He was never charged. Distraught, Bette began looking elsewhere for her family to settle. Tampa was out, so the couple decided to start looking across the bay to Ralph’s hometown of St. Petersburg.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The level of Wimbish’s commitment and the depth of his influence are perhaps illustrated by the opposition’s response – more than one cross burning in the Wimbish’s front yard, a fire bomb thrown at their home and numerous death threats. Even without the baseball ties, this book tells an important story about an important (and risky) struggle.

Still, at the center of Henig’s book are Ralph Wimbish’s efforts to ensure that black baseball players who came to St. Petersburg for spring training were allowed to live and eat in the same places as their white teammates. Here’s Cardinals’ black first baseman Bill White (who would go on to become President of the National League) describing the situation in 1961:

I can’t stay at the same hotel as the white players. These players are my friends, yet I can’t go swimming with them.  I can’t even go to the movies with them. Driving on the highways, I’ve got to be on the lookout for a Negro restaurant to eat because they won’t let me eat where the white folks eat.

The fact is, Black players for years had been forced to live in the homes of Black families and often take their meals with them, while the white players enjoyed St. Petersburg’s best (and segregated) hotels and restaurants.

In early 1961, Wimbish decided the unequal treatment of Black ballplayers taking part in Spring Training in St. Petersburg had gone on long enough. No longer would he tolerate separate housing for Black players in St. Petersburg (hence the title Under One Roof).  It became a personal crusade.  As Henig notes in the book:

If Major League Baseball had not heard of Dr. Ralph Wimbish. it soon would.  He was about to turn its world upside down. 

Henig does a great job of telling and documenting the tale of Wimbush’s fight to bring all ballplayers under one roof in St. Petersburg; as well as introducing us to his allies (and opposition) and the ultimate impact of his efforts.

Hall of Famer Bob Gibson’s recollection of the Cardinals’ 1961 move to the integrated Doctors’ Motel in St. Petersburg:

It was such a novelty in St. Petersburg to have an integrated hotel that the team’s residence soon became a “local tourist attraction,” as recalled by African American pitcher Bob Gibson. “People would drive by to see the white and black families swimming together.”

Ultimately, Under One Roof is a story well-worth telling (and reading) – well told. To order Under One Roof from Amazon.com, click here.

BBRT Note: Having lived in the pre-integration South in my youth (military family) – and witnessed first-hand such inequities as theaters that restricted black movie-goers to the balcony, restaurants that served white customers out front and black customers at tables in the kitchen, segregated restrooms and even separate water fountains – I took a special interest in Henig’s book (and would recommend it to anyone not familiar with the culture of segregation at the time).

Adam Henig is the author of Alex Haley’s Roots:  An Author’s Odyssey. His writings have appeared in the San Francisco Book Review, Tulsa Book Review, Medium, The Biographer’s Craft and Blogcritics. He’s also been featured on the podcast, New Books Network: African American Studies. Adam is an active member of the Biographers International Group (BIO).

 

For more baseball book reviews, click here.

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Filed Under: Reviews

Dotel, Bautista, Youngblood – Kings of MLB “Journey-men”

May 22, 2016 by

Trades, Free Agency, Waiver Wire – There are lots of ways to move from team to team on a player’s major league journey.  In this post, BBRT will take a look at a handful of players who could be considered the kings of that journey.  I’m talking about the MLB record holders for teams played for in a career, a season and a single day.

Octavio Dotel – 13 MLB Teams Played For in His MLB Career

Photo by" Jon Dawson

Photo by: Jon Dawson

Dominican-born Octavio Dotel traveled a long way to get to the major leagues.  And, after spending four of his first five MLB seasons with the Houston Astros, his travels were just beginning. The 6-foot, 230-pound right-handed pitcher would take the mound for 11 more teams over the next ten seasons – and holds the record for the most MLB franchises played for in a career at 13. Dotel, who retired at the age of 40, appeared in 758 games; put up a 59-50 record, with 109 saves; and struck out 10.8 batters per nine innings (1,143 whiffs in 951 innings pitched).

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s look at the career of major league baseball’s “King of the Road.”

Dotel signed with the Mets in 1995 (at the age of 21). Between 1995 and 1999, he worked his way through the Mets’ minor league system, pitching in 102 games (92 starts), with a 44-23 record, a 3.27 ERA and 613 strikeouts in 560 2/3 innings.

Dotel’s work earned him a promotion to the Mets in June of 1999 and he appeared in 19 games for New York (14 starts). He managed an 8-3 record, despite a 5.38 ERA – helped no doubt by his 85 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings pitched. In December of 1999, Dotel was traded (along with minor league pitcher Kyle Kessel) to the Astros for OF Roger Cedeno and LHP Mike Hampton. It would be the first of many moves for Dotel. It was also probably the most fortuitous, because it ultimately led to another  move – from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

In 2000, Dotel began the season in the Astros’ rotation and, in 16 starts, went 1-5 with a 5.84 ERA. An injury to Astros’ closer Billy Wagner, however, sent Dotel to the bullpen, where he notched two wins and 16 saves in 34 appearances (4.24 ERA). Dotel’s days as a starter were basically over.  (During the next 13 seasons, Dotel would make only four starts in 689 appearances.) Over the next three-and-a-half seasons, Dotel was a fixture in a solid Astros’ pen – going 19-17, with 26 saves, a 2.42 ERA and 410 strikeouts in 324 innings.

Then, on June 24, 2004, Dotel began his “MLB Journey” in earnest. On that day, as part of a three-team trade, Dotel moved from the Astros to the A’s (where he added six wins and  22 more saves in 45 appearances)  Over the next eight seasons, Dotel (as a result of four trades and six signings as a free agent) would pitch for the Yankees, Royals, Braves, White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Tigers. In 2010 alone, he would take the mound for three MLB teams – the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies.

Dotel also pitched in the post season for the Mets (1999), Astros (2001), White Sox (2008), Cardinals (2011) and Tigers (2012). In 26 post-season appearances, he went 3-1, with a 3.86 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. Dotel – traveling MLB’s “Long and Winding Road” was a valuable addition to a dozen bullpens – as he racked up innings and strikeouts for a record 13 MLB teams.

MOST MLB FRANCHISES PLAYED FOR IN A CAREER

Octavio Dotel (RHP) – 13 franchises in 15 seasons (1999-2013)

Mike Morgan (RHP) – 12 franchises in 22 seasons (1978-2002)

Matt Stairs (OF/1B) – 12 franchises in 19 seasons (1992-2011)

Ron Villone (LHP) – 12 franchises in 15 seasons (1995-2009)

____________________

Jose Bautista – Four MLB Teams Played for in a Single Season

Photo by: Keith Allison

Photo by: Keith Allison

 

While Octavio Dotel currently holds sole possession of the record for most franchise played for in a career, the record for MLB teams played for in a season (four) is shared by thirteen players. I’ll provide the whole list, but let’s look in more detail at the most recent (and, arguably, best known) player to accomplish this feat. In 2000, 19-year-old Jose Baustista was drafted by the Pirates in the 20th round of the MLB draft. He played in the Pirates’ minor league system until 2003. In those three seasons, Bautista took the field in 349 games, hitting .287, with 24 home runs and 100 RBI – never rising above High A ball. The Pirates left Bautista unprotected in the 2003 Rule Five Draft – and thus began his record-tying odyssey.

Picked up by the Orioles, Bautista started the 2003 season on the Baltimore roster, but seldom left the bench. In fact, by early June, he had only 11 at bats – and the Orioles placed him on waivers.  Bautista was claimed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on June 3, but got only 12 at bats with the Rays between then and June 28, when his contract was purchased by the Kansas City Royals. Within a month (and 25 at bats), the Royals traded Bautista to the Mets, who put him on their major league roster and then (on the same day) included him in a trade with the Pirates (Remember them – Bautista’s original team).  The Pirates kept him on the major league roster for the remainder of the season (40 more at bats). So, Bautista took the field that season for the Orioles, Devil Rays, Royals and Pirates.

Remember that brief stint with the Mets (no games played, traded on the same day he was acquired)?  While he didn’t play for the Mets, his brief time on the Mets’ roster means Bautista was on a record five different major league rosters in one season. (There may be a second player to appear on five MLB rosters in a season; although he only played on three teams.  BBRT is working to confirm this. See the statistical note at the end of this post. )

How did Joey Bats do in his four-team/five-roster season?  He played in 64 games, had 88 at bats, a .205 average, zero home runs and two RBI.  From that highly traveled and inauspicious start, Bautista HAS gone on to make a name for himself as a Toronto Blue Jay and one of the AL’s most feared power hitters.

MOST MLB TEAMS PLAYED FOR IN A SINGLE SEASON … FOUR

Jose Bautista (OF/3B) – 2004 (Orioles, Devil Rays, Royals, Pirates)

Dan Miceli (RHP) – 2003 (Rockies, Indians, Yankees, Astros)

Dave Martinez (OF/1B)  – 2000 (Devil Rays, Cubs, Rangers, Blue Jays)

Dave Kingman (1B/OF/3B) – 1977 (Mets, Padres, Angels, Yankees)

Mike Kilkenny (LHP) – 1972 (Tigers, A’s, Padres, Indians)

Wes Covington (OF) – 1961 (Braves, White Sox, Athletics, Phillies)

Ted Gray (LHP) – 1955 (White Sox, Indians, Yankees, Orioles)

Paul Lehner (OF/1B) – 1951 (Athletics, White Sox, Browns, Indians)

Willis Hudlin (RHP) – 1940 (Indians, Senators, Browns, Giants)

Frank Huelsman (OF) – 1904 (White Sox, Tigers, Browns, Senators)

Tom Dowse (C) – 1892 (Louisville Colonels, Senators, Reds, Phillies)

Harry Wheeler (OF/RHP) – 1884 (Browns, Kansas City Cowboys, Chicago/Pittsburgh, Baltimore Monumentals)

George Strief (2B/SS/3B/OF) – 1884 (Browns, Chicago/Pittsburgh, Cleveland Blues, Athletics)

__________________________________________________

A Triple Play – Taking the Field for Two Teams in a Single Day

YoungbloodThree players share the record for the most franchises played for in a single day at two. The first two to accomplish this feat were Max Flack and Cliff Heathcote, who were traded for each other between games of a Memorial Day 1922 Cubs/Cardinals doubleheader. The two outfielders each suited up against their previous team for Game Two. Both went hitless in game one of the doubleheader and both collected hits for their new teams in the second game (Flack a single in four at bats, Heathcote a pair of singles in four trips to the plate).

Joel Youngblood tied the record for teams played for in a single day in 1982, adding a twist – he played for and recorded hits for two different teams in two different cities on the same day.  Let’s look at Youngblood’s unique achievement.

On August 4, 1982, Youngblood started his day as a member of the New York Mets, who were playing an afternoon game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Youngblood opened the game in center field, batting third.   After striking out in the first inning, Youngblood drove in two runs with a single in the top of the third. Youngblood was unexpectedly replaced in center field by Mookie Wilson in the bottom of the fourth – and told by Mets’ manager George Bamberger that he had been traded to the Expos (for a player to be named later).

The Expos were scheduled to play in Philadelphia in Philadelphia that night, and Youngblood immediately set out to join his new team. He managed to catch a 6:05 p.m. flight to Philadelphia – eventually arriving at Veterans Stadium with the game in progress. To his surprise, there was an Expos uniform, with his name already sewn on the back, waiting for him.  The Expos wasted no time getting there newest player into the game. Manager Jim Fanning sent Youngblood into right field and the number-two spot in the batting order (replacing Jerry White) in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Youngblood singled in his first Expos’ at bat.  Thus, Youngblood collected base hits for two different teams in two different cities in one day.

Youngblood’s feat is even more startling when you consider the pitchers he touched for his two safeties. In Chicago, it was future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins; while in Philadelphia, it was future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.

MOST MLB TEAMS PLAYED FOR IN A SINGLE DAY

Max Flack – May 30, 1922: Cubs (RF); Cardinals (RF).

Cliff Heathcote – May 30, 1922: Cardinals (CF); Cubs (RF).

Joel Youngblood – August 4, 1982: Mets (CF); Expos (RF).

BBRT STATISTICAL NOTE: There may be a second player (besides Jose Bautista) to appear on a record five MLB rosters in a single season (although he played for just three teams).  I am still working to confirm this one.  Casper Wells finished the 2012 season with the Mariners. Wells was designated for assignment on March 31, 2013 by the Mariners. He was picked up by the Blue Jays (off waivers) on August 10. On August 22, the A’s purchased his contract from the Blue Jays.  Then, on August 29, the White Sox purchased Wells from the A’s. Finally, on August 8, the Phillies picked him up (off waivers from the White Sox.). During the season, Well actually played for only three teams – the A’s, White Sox and Phillies.  But depending on timing, he could have been on a record-tying five MLB rosters during the course of the season. When a player is designated to assignment, they are dropped from the team‘s 40-man MLB roster.  Now, the Mariners designate Wells for assignment on March 31 (opening day of the 2013 season). The question is:  Was he dropped from the roster before the season officially opened? I have a query into the Mariners to find out the specifics and determine if Wells matches Bautista’s five-roster, single-season record.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Book Review: Beyond Baseball – Rounding First … A Good Read – A Good Cause

May 18, 2016 by

Beyond BaseballBeyond Baseball – Rounding First

By Daniel Venn

World Beyond Publishing, 2016

$12.00

 

A bat, a ball, a glove.  For most of us these are symbols of the national pastime. For those involved with the charitable organization Helping Kids Round First, they are symbols – and tools – of hope, motivation and empowerment.

Each year, Helping Kids Round First travels to Nicaragua, the second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and delivers hope and empowerment to hundreds of youngsters in the form of baseball equipment. For more information on Helping Kids Round First, click here.

Helping Kids Round First delivers baseball equipment, hope and empowerment across Nicaragua. Photo courtesy of Daniel Venn.

Helping Kids Round First delivers baseball equipment, hope and empowerment across Nicaragua.  Photo courtesy of Daniel Venn.

 

Daniel Venn joined the Helping Kids Round First team on its January-February 2016 trip to Nicaragua and found himself in a nation of breathtaking scenic beauty and equally breathtaking poverty – all wrapped up with a national passion for baseball that ranks second only to religion.  Venn, a former college pitcher, took part in the delivery of baseball and softball equipment to youngsters in more than 25 communities – many of them in the very poorest regions of the country. The final tally for Helping Kids Round First in Nicaragua this year was an estimated 6,000 baseballs and softballs, 800 gloves, 1,400 bats, 700 helmets, more than 1,000 uniforms distributed – and countless hearts raised and smiles generated.

Fortunately, for readers, Venn (also an author and educator) has chronicled his experiences in the soon-to-be released book Beyond Baseball – Rounding First.

It’s a good read – and serves a good cause (part of the proceeds will be donated to Helping Kids Round First). Venn does a great job of presenting the importance of baseball to Nicaraguans, bringing the impact of all that donated equipment to life and providing some entertaining glimpses into the trials and tribulations presented by Nicaragua’s culture, politics and infrastructure. The book is available for pre-order now for $12 at www.danvenn.com and will be on Amazon/Barnes & Noble next month.

Most of all, Venn’s book presents a story of hope and empowerment.  As former major league outfielder Marvin Bernard (a native of Nicaragua who played nine seasons for the San Francisco Giants) describes it in the Foreword, “Baseball gives children hope in Nicaragua, and hope is motivating. Baseball has the potential to change the lives of young players here, and equipment donations from charities like Helping Kids Round First help make that possible.”

Venn’s book makes it clear that we are not just talking just about having a chance to make the big leagues, we are talking about the hope, motivation and empowerment that comes with the combination of knowing someone cares and being given the opportunity to participate and compete.

Let me use just a couple of stories from the book to illustrate that point.

Helping Kids Round First was scheduled to visit the island of Omatepe this year. The plan was to get the vehicles (a pickup truck and a taxi) filled with equipment to the island early in the day (via ferry crossing).  However, weather conditions, an erratic ferry schedule and a (fake) ticket scam put them on an alternative ferry that not only got them to the island in the late evening, but also delivered them to a port on the opposite side of Omatepe – far from the waiting youth baseball team. The Helping Kids Round First team managed, despite spotty cell service, to notify the local baseball coach – Effrain – of the delay and new docking location.  The coach walked more than seven miles to meet the group (and guide them to the ball field) and had waited a good portion of the day by the side of the road to welcome them. When they finally met up, Effrain was apologetic “I was going to walk all the way (about 15 miles), but I needed to take a break.  I’m sorry I didn’t make it.”

In Venn’s words, here’s what happened when they arrived at the field.

Every one of Effrain’s players was waiting when we arrived. Their parents had given up and gone home hours ago, but the youngsters’ faith had not wavered.

 As Craig gave his customary introductory speech to the players, a high pitched electrical shriek cut through the air, and the streetlight we were standing under went dark. All of the lights in the community followed immediately after, and we were left in pitch darkness.

 “Happens all the time,” Effrain told us. “The electricity here isn’t very reliable.”

 He sent his players home to get flashlights. They scampered off, each returning in minutes with a light. By the glow of their small flashlights alone, we unloaded the gear and presented it to the children. It didn’t take much light to see their smiles.

 Note: Venn added that when he touched base with Effrain after returning to the U.S., he learned the coach had used the equipment not only to outfit his team, but also to start two new leagues for kids of different ages on the island.

Helpng Kids Round First gave a boost to

Helpng Kids Round First gave a boost to the young women and girls of the Academia Mimadas Rubilena Rojac. Photo courtesy of Daniel Venn.

Venn also shares the story of a meeting he found especially rewarding – the delivery team’s visit with the young women of Academia Mimadas Rubilena (Ruby) Rojas – Nicaragua’s only softball academy. Their field was dry, uneven dirt. A piece of board dropped in place served as the pitcher’s rubber. There were no fences, bases or dugouts.  The academy had little equipment and much of what they had was homemade. For example, the “weight room” was just a pile of rocks of different sizes.  As Venn said in an interview for this review, “Still, the girls were working so hard because they simply love softball and because the sport is a path to a possible college scholarship they wouldn’t have the opportunity to pursue otherwise.”

In his book, Venn recounts his conversation with Denis Martinez, who operates the academy.

“This is a very dangerous neighborhood,” he told me. “There is a lot of crime, a lot of drugs, and a lot of abuse here. Without softball, many of these girls would be on the streets. Some were homeless, some were addicted to drugs, most were in broken homes when they came here. Some already have children of their own.” He gestured towards a small toddler running back and forth between the girls, a batting helmet bouncing up and down as she ran, a glove on each of her hands.

“Here, they can have different lives. They have food here. They have a place to sleep here. For many, this is their home, and this is their family. Scholarships are available through sports, so softball gives them an opportunity for an education and a career they could not afford otherwise. We are able to meet their basic needs here and give them the chance to do more with their lives.

“We train the girls physically here to be better athletes and better softball players. But we also focus on training them mentally. Women are not respected here, especially in this neighborhood. Abuse against women is common. We work hard to improve their self-esteem and their confidence. We want to…” Sergio, who had been translating the conversation for me, paused.

“I’m not sure how to say that word in English.” He pulled out his phone to translate the word. “Empower. They want to empower women in this neighborhood.”

“Girls can turn to softball to give them a reprieve from what they are facing away from the field. The relationships they make, the lessons they learn, and the importance of teamwork and unity they experience will carry over to help them in many facets of their life. It gives them hope, which you can’t put a price tag on.”

                               Ruby Rojas, Olympic Softball Player

                                From Beyond Baseball – Rounding First

These are just two of the heart-warming and eye-opening stories that make up Beyond Baseball – Rounding First.  The book also looks at the delivery of children’s books to a day care center, the organization’s efforts to help improve agricultural yields and incomes, efforts to leverage softball equipment into an opportunity to deliver hospital equipment to the country, and even the challenges Nicaraguans face getting to (and surviving in) the major leagues.

And, there is a personal side to Venn’s story. He not only shares the satisfaction he found in his work in Nicaragua, he talks about finding baseball in its most pure form there (played solely for the love of the game), and even shares a tale of another kind of  love, a lost relationship. (Every song about love or heart break brought her to my mind. It got so bad that songs that didn’t remind me of her reminded me of her, simply because they didn’t remind me of her.)

“Baseball was everywhere I looked. Fathers and sons played catch in front of their homes. Pickup games far short of full teams played in pastures next to cows. Kids hit rocks they picked up off the street with sticks. In many ways, northern Nicaragua was hell. But for baseball at its purest, it was heaven.”

                              Daniel Venn

                             From Beyond Baseball – Rounding First

So, what did Venn take away from his experience?

He told BBRT, “The biggest takeaway for me was simply the amount of good any one of us can do if we decide to.  Helping Kids Round First was started by one man with a suitcase of baseball gear – just looking to help a few kids find more opportunity. Now, the non-profit is shipping ocean containers full of baseball and softball equipment, entire hospitals, helping catalyze legitimate social change and empower women, and helping put food on the table for over a hundred farming families. It all started with one person just trying to help a few kids. It has evolved into such an impactful organization – any one of us could do that, whether internationally or right here at home.”

Oh, and by the way, Venn intends to stay involved with Helping Kids Round First.

BBRT recommends both the book – an entertaining and inspiring read – and the cause.  Just as one person can make a difference, so can one contribution. Again, to preorder Beyond Baseball – Rounding First, click here.

 

Daniel Venn – Ballplayer, Teacher, Humanitarian, Author

Daniel Venn was born and raised in Cannon Falls, Minnesota – but his baseball life has taken him far beyond his home town and home state.  As a pitcher/outfielder in high school, he earned All-Conference and Academic All-Star honors. In college (Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN), Venn majored in Social Studies Secondary Education and was a three-year letter winner (pitcher) on the Golden Gusties baseball team.  While in college, Venn spent the summer of 2012 playing baseball in Central America with Beyond Study Abroad. The team of college ballplayers barnstormed across Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama playing anyone who would show up – from top talent like Costa Rica’s 18U national team and the pro prospects at Dennis Martinez’s baseball academy in Nicaragua to cobbled together teams made up of the fathers of youngsters who attended clinics put on by the college players. In 2014, Venn published his first book – Beyond Baseball – about his experiences playing baseball (from exhilaration to embarrassment) in Central America.  The following year, Venn’s summer trip to visit a foreign exchange student in Ecuador turned into a year teaching English in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and Peru.  After his graduation from Gustavus Adolphus in 2015, Venn completed a stint with the Peace Corps in Western Samoa before heading to Nicaragua with Helping Kids Round First.

Note: Venn’s first book is available at Amazon.com (paperback – $7.00) or at $0.99 for the Kindle.

 

Looking for more baseball book reviews? Click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Filed Under: News, Reviews

Twenty Strikeouts in an Outing – and Then Some

May 12, 2016 by
Max Scherzer photo

Photo by Keith Allison

On May 11, 2016 Max Scherzer tied an MLB record by fanning twenty batters in nine innings – joining Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to accomplish that feat.  The topic has been “trending “ all over the traditional and social media.  BBRT would like to add what is, hopefully, a little unique perspective to that “conversation” – followed by a brief look at each 20-strikeout outing, as well as a couple of hurlers who have done that accomplishment at least one better.  A few factoids.

  • Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to reach 20 strikeouts in nine-innings twice – and he did it ten seasons apart.
  • Despite the ten-year span between Roger Clemens’ nine-inning 20-whiff performances, he is neither the oldest, nor the youngest, pitcher to accomplish the feat. The youngest is the Cubs’ Kerry Wood (who did it in his rookie season at age 20). The oldest is the Diamondbacks’ Randy Johnson, who fanned 20 in nine-innings at age 37.
  • The most pitches in a 20-strikeout performance is 151 (by Clemens in 1996), the fewest is 119 by Scherzer.
  • Scherzer is the first pitcher to fan 20 hitters in nine innings without fanning every member of the opposing starting lineup at least once.
  • Randy Johnson is the only pitcher to notch 20 strikeouts in an MLB game – and not throw a complete game.
  • No pitcher to notch twenty strikeouts in nine-innings has ever given up a walk in the contest. That’s right: 45 innings, 100 strikeouts, zero walks.
  • Scherzer gave up the most hits (6), most runs (2) and most home runs (2) ever in a nine-inning, 20-strikeout performance.

Here’s a bit of detail on MLB’s nine-inning, twenty-strikeout performances.

April 29, 1986 – Roger Clemens, Red Sox, topped the Mariners 3-1 in Boston.  Clemens gave up three, hits, zero walks, while fanning twenty.  The only run for Seattle scored on a home run by Mariners’ DH Gorman Thomas in the seventh inning.  Clemens threw 138 pitches, 97 for strikes. He struck out all nine members of the Mariners’ starting lineup at least once; LF Phil Bradley four times.  Clemens was 23-years-old at the time.  He went on to win 24 games (leading the AL), the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP.  Clemens finished the season second in the AL in strikeouts with 238 in 254 innings.

September 18, 1996, Roger Clemens, Red Sox, topped the Tigers 4-0 in Detroit. He gave up five hits, zero walks, no runs. Clemens struck out all the members of the Tigers’ starting lineup at least once; SS Travis Fryman four times. Clemens threw 151 pitches, 101 strikes. That season, Clemens finished 10-13, 3.63, but led the AL in strikeouts with 257 in 242 2/3 innings. Clemens was 34-years-old.

May 6, 1998, Kerry Wood, Cubs, beat the Astros 2-0 in Chicago. Wood gave up just one hit, zero walks. He threw 122 pitches, 84 strikes. Wood struck out every member of the starting lineup at least once; 1B Jeff Bagwell, 3B Jake Howell and CF Moises Alou three times each. Wood was a 20-year-old rookie at the time.  He went on to a 13-6 season, with 233 strikeouts in 166 2/3 innings. Wood was the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year.

May 6, 2001. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks, whiffed 20 in nine innings as the D-backs topped the Reds 4-3 in eleven innings (in Arizona). Johnson was relieved in the 10th (by Byung-Hyun-Kim) with the score tied 1-1.  Johnson gave up three hits, one run, zero walks. The lone run off Johnson scored in the fifth inning on a single by 3B Aaron Boone, a stolen base and a single by CF Ruben Rivera. Johnson threw 124 pitches, 92 for strikes, in his nine innings. Johnson struck out every member of the starting lineup at least once; SS Barry Larkin and RF Alex Ochoa three times each. He went on to a 21-6 season, leading the league with 372 strikeouts in 249 2/3 innings and won the NL Cy Young Award. He was 37-years-old at the time.

May 11, 2016, Max Scherzer of the Nationals topped the Tigers 3-2 in Washington. He gave up six hits and two runs, with zero walks.  Both runs scored on home runs – by SS Jose Iglesias in the third inning and RF J.D. Martinez in the ninth. Scherzer struck out everyone in the Detroit starting line up at least once EXCEPT DH Victor Martinez, who collected three hits (all singles) in four at bats. Scherzer threw 119 pitches, 96 strikes. Scherzer is 31-years-old.

 

DOING ONE OR MORE BETTER.

Tom Cheney struck out a record 21 hitters in a single (extra inning) major league game – a 16-inning contest between the Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles (in Baltimore) on September 12, 1962.  For the full story, click here.

 

The record for strikeouts in a professional game at any level stands at 27  – Ron Necciai (netch-eye). For that story, click here. 

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member:  Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Land of the Lost – Home Runs that Got Away

May 10, 2016 by

Yesterday (May 9), as the Marlins topped the Brewers 4-1 in Miami, Marlins’ catcher J.T. Realmuto had what would have been his third home run of the season turned into an out on the base paths and an RBI single. It came in the second inning, after Realmuto hit what appeared to be a two-run homer (Marlins’ CF Marcell Ozuna was on first base). Ozuna, however, thought Brewers’ CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis had a chance to track the ball down at the wall. So, Ozuna was returning to first base, in case he had to tag up – just as Realmuto was rounding the bag.  For a brief couple of seconds, Realmuto passed Ozuna on the base paths and, in accordance with the rules, was called out – resulting in a 409-foot, RBI single.

Land of the Lost – Let’s Look at Some “Lost” Long Balls

BBRT brings this play up not because it is so rare (there have been dozens of “lost’ home runs) or even because it had an impact on the outcome of the game (the Marlins still won 4-1).   Rather, I am using it as a segue into a look at my own very subjective list of the five most significant or interesting lost round trippers.

Now, for purposes of this post, I am eliminating unavoidably lost (from the players’ and coaches’ points of view) home runs.  This includes those lost under such circumstances as rain outs, bad calls by umpires, forfeited games, unusual ground rules (catwalks, speaker wires, etc.). I’ll focus on those home runs lost due to what I would consider avoidable circumstances –  such as players’ base running errors, coaches’ mistakes, batting out of order, etc.   So, here are BBRT’s five most significant or interesting lost home runs.

  1. Number-one on the list is pretty easy. It was not only a lost home run, but a lost “extra-inning, walk-off Grand Slam – IN THE POST SEASON. In fact, had it not been lost, it would have been the first walk-off, Grand Slam in MLB post-season history.
Robin Ventura - hit the true GRAND-daddy of lost home runs.

Robin Ventura – hit the true GRAND-daddy of lost home runs.

It came on October 17, 1999, in the fifteenth inning of Game Five of the National League Championship Series between the Braves and Mets (in New York). The Braves had a three games-to-one lead in the NLCS, and Game Five had been tied at 2-2 since the fourth inning. In the top of the fifteenth, Atlanta had taken a 3-2 lead on a single by SS Walt Weiss and a triple by 2B Keith Lockhart. The Mets, however, came right back in the bottom of the inning. It started with a single and stolen base by CF Shawon Dunston, followed by a walk to pinch hitter Matt Franco, a successful sacrifice by 2B Edgardo Alfonzo and an intentional walk to 1B John Olerud.  Catcher Todd Pratt then drew a walk to force in the tying run.  This brought 3B Robin Ventura to the plate with the game tied and the bases loaded – and that’s when the fun began.

 

Ventura launched a ball over the right field fence (off right-hander Kevin McGlinchy) for what appeared to be a game-winning, walk-off Grand Slam.  However, once the winning run crossed the plate, Pratt turned and ran back to Ventura to give him a celebratory hug. At about the same time, a cadre of Mets poured out of the dugout and onto the field to celebrate the victory. Since, in the chaos, each runner advanced only one base before Ventura passed Pratt on the base paths, the Mets’ 3B was credited not with a Grand Slam, but with an RBI-single.

The lost home run would have been the first game-ending, walk-off Grand Slam in MLB post-season history. Instead, that honor went to the Rangers’ Nelson Cruz, in Game Two of the 2011 American League Championship Series.

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2.   Number-two on my list of lost long balls, is significant for putting a dismal exclamation point on one of the best games ever pitched. Like number-one, it put an end to an extra-inning contest – this time in the thirteenth inning.  More significant, it put an end to a game in which the starting, and losing, pitcher had been perfect for 12 innings.  That’s right 36 up and 36 down going into the unlucky 13th.

Joe Adcock - spoiled Harvey Haddix' day.

Joe Adcock – spoiled Harvey Haddix’ day.

On May 26, 1959, the Pirates’ Harvey Haddix took the mound against the powerhouse Milwaukee Braves (who had won the National League pennant the previous two seasons and came into the game again leading the league).  Haddix retired the first 36 hitters in order (eight strikeouts), carrying a perfect game into the bottom of the 13th.  Unfortunately, the Braves’ Lew Burdette, despite giving up 12 hits and fanning only two, had held the Pirates scoreless. Braves 2B Felix Mantilla led off the Braves’ half off the 13th by reaching on error by Pirates’ 3B Don Hoak. Slugging Milwaukee 3B Eddie Mathews bunted Mantilla over to second, which led to an intentional walk to RF Hank Aaron, bringing up 1B Joe Adcock.  Adcock rapped a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence for what appeared to be a three-run home run.  However, the Braves, in celebrating the tension-filled victory, forgot how to run the bases. Adcock passed Aaron between second and third and, after some deliberation, Adcock was called out – changing his three-run homer to a one-run double. So, despite 12 perfect innings, Haddix lost the no-hitter, the shutout and the game itself.  Consolation for Adcock – all he lost was a home run and a couple RBI.

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  1. Third place on this list goes to a lost home run that would have been the only home run in a player’s career.

On April 17, 1914, the Federal League Buffalo Blues were facing off against the Baltimore Terrapins in Baltimore. In that contest, Blues’ RF and cleanup hitter Luther Bonin bashed what he thought was his first major league home run.  As Bonin rounded third base, Blues’ manager Larry Schlafy, coaching third, patted him on the back. Now, the rules prohibit such contact (touching or holding a runner) if, in the judgment of the umpire, the contact “assists” the runner.  The umpire made that judgment and Bonin was called out on coach’s interference and credited with a triple.  The faux pas did not affect the outcome of the game– the Blues topped the Terrapins 4-3. It did affect Bonin’s line in the record books; robbing him of the only home run he hit in his 21-game MLB career.  On the bright side, it did earn him his only career three-bagger.

Honorable Mention. A lost home run that escaped Tigers’ SS Frank Sigafoos (had to get the name in here) on April 21, 1929 gets an honorable mention here. In a game in which the Tigers topped the Saint Louis Browns 16-9, Sigafoos hit what he thought was his first MLB home run. However, the umpire had called a balk on the pitch (which is why it doesn’t exactly fit the criteria for a spot on the list)– negating Sigafoos’ long ball.  While it didn’t affect the outcomes of the game, it did cost Sigafoos the only round tripper in his three-year, 55-game MLB career.

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4. Number four on this list is significant in that it gave Babe Ruth a share of the 1931 home run title – which sets the record for HR titles in a career at 12, rather than 11.

It happened on April 26, 1931, with the Yankees facing the Senators in Washington. In the top of the first, with Yankee SS Lyn Lary on first base and two out, New York 1B Lou Gehrig hit a home run to center field (off Senators’ starter Firpo Marberry – not significant, just like the name).  The hard hit ball however, bounced back out of the bleachers to Senators’ CF Harry Rice.  Lary thinking the ball was caught, headed to the dugout – without touching the plate. Gehrig was declared out for passing Lary and credited with a triple.  This one did affect the game – which the Yankees lost 9-7 (after losing Gehrig’s two-run blast). Further, it cost Gehrig the outright AL home run crown, he ended the season tied with Ruth at 46. Gehrig also set the AL single-season RBI record at 185 in 1931, Had he not lost that home run, the record would be 187.

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5. No one likes to “lose” a home run – particularly a Grand Slam and, even more particularly, a pinch-hit Grand Slam.  And that combination takes the five-spot on the list.

It happened on July 9, 1970, with the Red Sox facing the Tigers in Detroit. In the bottom of the seventh inning of a 3-3 game – with two outs and the bases loaded – the Tigers called on Dalton Jones (who had been traded from the Red Sox to the Tigers in the off season) to pinch hit for catcher Jim Price.  Jones launched a long ball into the right field upper deck for an apparent Grand Slam. For some reason (Remember, this ball was in the upper deck.), the base runner at first (Don Wert) decided to tag up – and was passed on the base paths by Jones. Jones was called out and credited with a three-run single. Dalton’s three RBI did help the Tigers win the contest by a 7-3 score. Note: It would have Jones first MLB Grand Slam.

Honorable Mention:  As I’ve noted, no one likes to lose a Grand slam – especially a pitcher. On September 20, 1972, Steve Busby started on the mound for the Royals against the Angels (in Anaheim). Rudy May started for California – and it was a rocky beginning. In fact, Busby – hitting in the nine-spot – came to bat in the top of the first with the bases loaded, four runs in (thanks to a Grand Slam by 1B John Mayberry) and just one out. Busby hit a Grand Slam off reliever Lloyd Allen – at least he thought he did. However, first base umpire had called time out before the pitch – negating the blast – which would have made Busby part of a record-tying two Grand slam inning. Busby did eventually touch Allen for a two-run single to center in his extended at bat, but I’m sure he would rather have had the Grand Slam.  (By the way, the Royals won 9-2, Busby pitched a complete-game seven-hitter – and collected three hits and three RBI of his own.

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Old Guys Rule – Bartolo Colon, with a Nod to Julio Franco

May 8, 2016 by

Yesterday (May  7), 42-year-old Bartolo Colon picked up his third win of the season – going 6 2/3 innings (three earned runs, six hits, one walk, five strikeouts), as his Mets topped the Padres 6-3 in San Diego.   Colon also made a bit of history – at age 42 and 348 days, in his 19th MLB season, Colon connected for his first MLB home run. It came in the top of the second inning (off Padres’ starter James Shields) and made Colon the oldest major leaguer ever to collect his first round tripper – breaking Hall of Famer Hurler Randy Johnson’s record (40 years and nine days).

BBRT would note. however, that when it comes to age-related home run records – Julio Franco remains the king.  Franco is the oldest player to homer in an MLB game, the oldest to hit a Grand Slam, the oldest to hit a pinch-hit home run and the oldest to record a multi-home game.  For details on these – and more of Franco’s career accomplishments, click here.

Haven’t tried BBRT’s Trivia Quizzes yet?  Quiz One, click here.  Quiz Two, click here.

 

Looking for a great summer baseball tour – Independent, A, AA, AAA and major league stops, click here. 

I tweet baseball@DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Baseball Reliquary – 2016 Shrine of the Eternals Electees Announced

May 5, 2016 by

reliquaryWhat do the following have in common – a one-armed major league outfielder, a pitcher who once threw a no-hitter while high on LSD, a team owner who sent a midget to the plate, a man in a chicken suit, a member of Major League Baseball’s 3,000-hit club, an MLB manager who won eight World Championships, a baseball card designer, a surgeon, a labor leader, a statistical wizard and more than one best-selling author?

Stumped?  These diverse individuals are all past electees to The Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals – an honor intended to recognize individuals who have had impact on our national pastime that goes beyond statistics and touches upon the culture and character of the game – with a particular focus on the fans’ point of view.

The Baseball Reliquary this week announced its 2016 Shrine of the Eternals electees:

  • a former Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award Winner, MVP and first African American 20-game winner;
  • an MLB All Star outfielder, NFL Pro Bowl running back and media/marketing icon;
  • a sportswriter who “wrote the book” on first-person accounting of baseball games, penned hundreds of articles and more than two dozen books, and was named Magazine Sportswriter of the Year.

Before we take a detailed look at this year’s electees (and BBRT’s ballot), I’d like to provide readers with a brief overview of both the Baseball Reliquary and its Shrine of the Eternals.

The Baseball Reliquary (BBRT is a proud member) is a free-spirited organization dedicated to celebrating the human side of baseball’s history and heritage.  The Reliquary is truly a fan-focused organization, committed to recognizing baseball’s place in American culture and to honoring the character and characters of the national pastime. The Reliquary pursues that mission through its collection of artifacts, traveling exhibitions, ties to the Whittier College Institute for Baseball Studies and (perhaps, most visibly) through its own version of the Baseball Hall of Fame – the Baseball Reliquary Shrine of the Eternals.  For more on the Baseball Reliquary, and why you should become a member, click here.

Now, to the Shrine of the Eternals. Here’s what the Reliquary has to say about this honor.

Similar in concept to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Shrine of the Eternals differs philosophically in that statistical accomplishment is not the principal criterion for election. The Baseball Reliquary believes that the election of individuals on merits other than statistics and playing ability will offer the opportunity for a deeper understanding and appreciation of baseball than has heretofore been provided by “Halls of Fame” in the more traditional and conservative institutions.

Criteria for election shall be: the distinctiveness of play (good or bad); the uniqueness of character and personality; and the imprint that the individual has made on the baseball landscape. Electees, both on and off the diamond, shall have been responsible for developing baseball in one or more of the following ways: through athletic and/or business achievements; in terms of its larger cultural and sociological impact as a mass entertainment; and as an arena for the human imagination.

Each year, the Baseball Reliquary submits a list of candidates to its members and the top three vote-getters are honored.  Note: The induction ceremony for this 18th Shrine “class” will take place Sunday, July 17, 2016 at the Donald R. Wright Auditorium in the Pasadena (California) Central Library.

So, let’s take a look the 2016 electees – Don Newcombe, Bo Jackson and Arnold Hano. Voting percentage for all the candidates can be found at the end of this post.

DON “NEWK”  NEWCOMBE

Photo: Courtesy of Baseball Reliquary.

Photo: Courtesy of Baseball Reliquary.

Elected to the Shrine of the Eternals in his first year on the ballot, Don Newcombe began his baseball career in 1944, as an 18-year-old pitcher with the Negro National League Newark Eagles. By 1946, he was a Brooklyn Dodger farmhand (Thank you, Mr. Rickey) and, by 1949, he was a starting pitcher for the Dodgers – going 17-8, 3.12 and winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award.  Remember, this was 1949 and “Newk” was facing many of the same racial pressures and prejudices as Jackie Robinson. Newcombe answered those considerable challenges with his arm and his competitiveness – becoming one of those most feared and respected pitchers in the game. His success helped pave the way for future Black major leaguers – particularly pitchers. Newcombe won 19 games (11 losses) in 1950 and, in 1951, became MLB’s first African American 20-game winner (20-9, 3.28). Then, after losing two prime years to military service, Newcombe returned for seven more MLB seasons.  Ultimately, he was a 20-game winner three times – including 1956, when he went 27-7, 3.06, won the first-ever Cy Young Award and was selected the NL MVP.  Notably, Newcombe was also no slouch at the plate. He hit .271, with 15 homers in his MLB career, and was, at times, used as a pinch hitter.  (After his MLB career ended, Newcombe played one year in Japan – as an outfielder/first baseman). Note: Newcombe is credited as the first former major leaguer to play in the Japanese League.

Newcombe not only found himself facing off against opponents in the batter’s box, he also faced (an admitted) fight with alcohol.  He eventually won that battle – and is credited with using his success to help others meet the challenge of substance abuse.  Newcombe ended his career a four-time All Star – with a 149-90, 3.56 record. In 1970, Newcombe was picked by the Dodgers to run baseball’s first Community Relations program. Newcombe also has received the “Beacon of Hope” award, presented at the Annual MLB Civil Rights Game. He remains in baseball and with the Dodgers as a Special Advisor to the Chairman. Congrats to this deserving new member of the Shrine of the Eternals.

VINCENT EDWARD “BO” JACKSON

Photo" Courtesy Baseball Reliquary

Photo” Courtesy Baseball Reliquary

Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson remains one of the most recognizable names in American sport – more than 20 years after he left the playing field, or more accurately playing fields.  Jackson was a multi-sport star – an MLB All Star outfielder (1989) and an NFL Pro Bowl Selection (1990) at running back (an injury kept him out of the game). He was also a Heisman Trophy winner (recognizing the year’s most outstanding collegiate football player) for Auburn University in 1985.  At Auburn, Jackson lettered in football, baseball and track.

After college, Jackson would go on to play four seasons at running back with the Los Angeles Raiders (1987-90), averaging 5.6 yards per carry and scoring 16 rushing and two receiving touchdowns.  Jackson’s football and baseball careers overlapped – as Jackson patrolled the outfield (and DH-ed) for the  Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox and California Angels from 1986-94 – becoming known for spectacular outfield play, long home runs and speed on the bases. It was Jackson’s versatile athleticism, in fact, that led to his gaining status as a marketing icon.

In 1989, the Nike athletic shoe company began one of the most successful ad campaigns in history with a series of “Bo Knows” television spots. These featured Jackson being lauded for his athletic versatility by stars from other sports – “Bo Knows Baseball,” “Bo Knows Tennis,” “Bo Knows Cycling,” etc.  Jackson was acknowledged as knowing a range of sports including (but not limited to) baseball, football, basketball, tennis, running, cycling, weight lifting. There was even a shot of Jackson playing guitar – and doing it rather badly – with Bo Diddley commenting ”Bo, you don’t know Diddley!”  The spots proved extremely popular – and made Jackson one of the most recognized individuals in all of sports.

It clearly appeared that “Bo Knew” the sky was the limit.   He was a MLB All-Star, NFL All Pro, college football legend, and a media and advertising icon.  In 1991, however, things (including Jackson’s hip) took a turn for the worse. In a 1991 playoff game between the NFL Bengals and the LA Raiders, Jackson sustained a career-threatening (eventually career-ending) hip injury on what appeared to be a routine tackle at the end of a 34-yard run.  After surgery and rehab, Jackson made a baseball comeback with the White Sox.   In his first at bat back in the majors (1993), he belted a home run against the Yankees. He would go on to hit 16 home runs in 85 games and win the 1993 Comeback Player of the Year Award.  However, the hip injury has blunted a couple of key weapon in his arsenal – his electrifying speed and spring. Before his injury, Jackson had stolen 81 bases in 534 games. In 160 games after his return to MLB, he stole just one. Jackson retired as a member of the Angels during the 1994 baseball strike.  Is final season, Jackson his .273, with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 75 games. In his eight MLB season (694) games, Jackson hit .250 with 141 home runs 416 RBI and 82 steals – and a penchant for the dramatic. Now, Bo Knows The Shrine of the Eternals. And, we still don’t know what might have been.

For more on Bo Jackson, you might try the book “Bo Knows Bo” by Bo Jackson.

ARNOLD HANO

Photo: Courtesy Baseball Reliquary

Photo: Courtesy Baseball Reliquary

Perhaps no individual play has been more “immortalized” in baseball history than Willie Mays’ over the shoulder catch of a deep drive off the bat of the Indians’ Vic Wertz in Game One of the 1954 World Series.  And, one of the best – actually the description most often credited as being “the” best – accountings came from the pen of Arnold Hano. It’s included in Hano’s book A Day in the Bleachers – an eyewitness report of that game that is said to have changed the face of first-person sports writing/reporting. Hano’s prose is as classic as the play itself. If you haven’t already read this one, you might want to give it a try.

And, there was no one better to undertake that task than Arnold Hano – a nearly life-long Giants fan (after a brief affection for the Yankees), whose infatuation with writing and editing came almost as early as  his love of the national pastime.  Hano’s literary career began as an eight-year-old, when he and his older brother began a mimeographed neighborhood newspaper. Hano followed that passion for wordsmithing into an early career as an editor in the book publishing world –  a career path that changed after that September 29, 1954 World Series contest. (Much to the benefit of baseball fans.)

BleachersIn fact, the critical success of Hano’s A Day In the Bleachers – with new editions published in 1982, 2004, 2006 – catapulted Hano to the top echelon of sport writers. Over the years, Hano’s work has appeared in the likes of Sport, Sports Illustrated, True’s Baseball Yearbook, the Saturday Evening Post and major news media like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He’s written more than 500 articles and more than two dozen books (more than one million copies sold) – including biographies of such stars as Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax and Roberto Clemente. He was also a regular contributor to the annual Baseball Stars series of biographies and, in 1967, published his own volume of baseball bios – The Greatest Giants of Them All. In 1964, Hano was named the Magazine Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Hano’s career is documented in the recently released film – Hano! A Century in the Bleachers.

Notably, Hano was more than a sportswriter. He was instrumental in civil rights and environmental protection efforts and, in 1953, he won the Sidney Hillman prize for a piece on the plight of California’s immigrant population. A writer who changed the face of sports writing – and worked to change our culture as well – Hano got my vote.

INTERESTED IN BASEBALL BOOK REVIEWS?  CLICK HERE.

So there’s the 2015 Shrine of the Eternals inductees.  Now here’s a look in alphabetical order) at those who got BBRT’s vote, but didn’t make the final three. (I did cast a vote for Hano.)

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Reuben Berman (1890-1977)

On May 16, 1921, during a game between the Giants and Reds played at New York City’s Polo Grounds, Reuben Berman captured a foul ball that was hit into the stands. The custom at the time was to return the ball to the playing field. In fact, some teams even employed security guards to retrieve balls if the fans declined to return them. In some extreme cases, arrests were made and charges (larceny) filed.  On that day in May of 1921, Berman, refused to return a foul ball – and, when confronted, tossed the ball deeper into the stands. After what some reported as an exchange of profanities and a minor scuffle, Berman was ejected from the Polo Grounds.  Berman, however, was not done with the Giants.  He filed a lawsuit against the club asserting he was illegally detained and had suffered mental anguish and a loss of reputation because of the incident.  The case went all the way to the New York Supreme Court, which found in Berman’s favor, granting him the sum of $100 (he had asked for $20,000). The $100 victory is not what got Berman my vote for the Shrine of the Eternals, it was the impact on fans of his stubbornness – and what became known as “Reuben’s Rule” or “Berman’s Law.” Berman’s case was the most important step in establishing the fans’ right to that precious souvenir – an official, game-used baseball. Every time we see a scrum (for a baseball) in the stands, or a one-handed (beer or baby in the other hand) catch of a foul ball, or a smiling youngster showing off his white, red-stitched prize, we can than Reuben Berman.

Ted Kluszewski (1924-1988)

I love to recognize players who do something we are not likely to see again (last year, I cast a ballot for Denny McLain, MLB’s last 30-game winner).  This year, I voted for Ted “Big Klu” Kluszewski – perhaps the last of the true power hitters who also practiced exceptional plate discipline.  In 1954, for example, Big Klu hit .326, with 49 home runs and 141 RBI – a season made even more remarkable by the fact the Kluszewski struck out only 35 times (versus 78 walks). I doubt if we’ll ever see another player top 40 home runs, without reaching 40 whiffs.  Kluszewski, in fact, had a streak of four seasons (1953-56) when he hit over .300, drove in 100+ runs, bashed 35+ home runs – and struck out no more than 40 times in any season.  In those four season, Kluszewski hit 171 home runs – and fanned 140 times (average 43 HR’s and 35 whiffs a season). It should also be noted that Kluszewski led NL first baseman in fielding percentage every year from 1951 through 1955. Unfortunately, a back injury in 1956 hampered his performance (he played until 1961).

Kluszewski is also noted for adding a bit of flair to the game, making his own intimidating fashion statement. Klu complained that his uniform jersey was too tight for his large and powerful biceps. He went on to have the sleeves cut from his jersey – exposing his bare arms from the shoulder.  (This was considered a bold move at that very conforming time in the game’s history.)

Kluszewski only appeared in one post-season – hitting  .391, with three homers and ten RBI in the 1958 World Series (for the White Sox).  True to his form – Big Klu did not strike out even once (25 plate appearance) in the Series.  For trivia buffs, left unprotected in the  1960 expansion draft, Kluszewski hit the first-ever home run for the expansion Angels (a two-run shot in the first inning of the Angels’ first game –  April 11 versus the Orioles). He added a punctuation mark, by hitting the Angels second–ever home run (a three-run shot) the very next inning. The Angels won 7-2, and Kluszewski did not strikeout. It was the first game of his last MLB season. Ultimately, however, what we all remember is those sleeveless jerseys and muscular arms.  This four-time All Star – whose last name also ends with “ski” – got my vote for the Shrine.

Mamie “Peanut” Johnson (1935 – *)

Mamie Johnson was one of three females to play for the Indianapolis Clowns during the declining days of the Negro Leagues (and the only woman ever to pitch in the Negro Leagues).  Johnson took the mound to the Clowns for three seasons (1953-55), running up a 33-8 record.  Her exploits are chronicled in the children’s book A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, by Michelle Y. Green.

Effa Manley (1900-81)

The first woman enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, during the 1930s and 1940s, Effa Manley ran the day-to-day operations of the Negro National League Newark Eagles (owned by her husband Abe Manley) – at a time when baseball, on the field and in the executive offices, was considered a “man’s domain.”  Effa, often thought of as a light-skinned black, was actually white.  She, however, grew up with a black stepfather and mixed-race siblings and was active in the New Jersey branch of the NAACP and Citizen’s League for Fair Play.  Effa Manley deserves recognition for overcoming both racial and sexual barriers as she exercised leadership in the national pastime. Multiple books have been written about Manley’s accomplishments. BBRT recommends:” Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, by James Overmyer;

David Mullany (1908-90)

David Mullany was the inventor of the Wiffle® Ball (1953), which ultimately changed backyard baseball for millions of young (and old) players and fans. I know I loved my white perforated plastic ball and yellow plastic bat – and played more than one backyard World Series opener with them (without shattering a single window).  Today, there are Wiffle Ball fields, leagues and tournaments.  The company is still operated by the Mullany family and you can learn more by visiting their website (www.wiffle.com)  You might also be interested in Wiffle Ball: The Ultimate Guide by Michael Herman.

Pete Reiser (1919-81)

Combine Willie Mays’ skill set (younger folks, think Mike Trout) with Pete Rose’s hustle and Yasiel Puig’s on-field abandon and you have Pete Reiser. In his first full MLB season (CF, Dodgers), a 22-year-old Reiser dazzled defensively and led the NL in runs scored (117), doubles (39), triples (17), batting average (.343), total bases (299) and hit by pitch (11) – tossing in 14 home runs and 76 RBI for good measure. Unfortunately, unpadded outfield walls, helmet-less at bats (the fiery Reiser was a frequent target) and aggressiveness on the base paths (Reiser twice led the NL in stolen bases) took their toll.

In his ten-season career, Reiser endured five skull fractures, a brain injury, a dislocated shoulder and a damaged knee.  He was carted off the field 11 times during his career (six times unconscious) and once actually given last rites at the stadium – and he played on. The three-time All Star retired as a player with a .295 career average, playing in 861 games over ten seasons. No telling what he might have done with padded outfield walls and batting helmets.  Pete Reiser was a true – and talented – gamer. For more on Reiser, try Pete Reiser: The Rough and Tumble Career of the Perfect Ballplayer, by Sidney Jacobson.

I

Rube Waddell (1876-1914)

Rube Waddell is pretty much granted the title of the zaniest player in MLB history – but he also was one of the best (at least when he was focused on the game). Waddell was known to wrestle alligators, leave a ball game to chase a fire engine, miss a game he was scheduled to start because he was fishing or playing marbles with neighborhood kids, bring his outfielders in to sit on the grass and then proceed to fan the side – and frequently do battle with owners and managers.  Waddell was more interested in the freedom to enjoy life and do things his way than money.  But, when Waddell was on his game, he was arguably the best pitcher of his time. The 6’1”, 195-lb. lefty led the AL in strikeouts six consecutive seasons (1902-1907) – by a wide margin.

How good was Waddell?  In 1902, he joined the Philadelphia Athletics in June – making his first start on June 26 (with just 86 games left in the season). Waddell proceeded to win 24 games (the league’s second-highest total) against seven losses, with a 2.05 ERA.  Despite his shortened season, he led the AL with 210 strikeouts, fifty more than the runner-up (none other than Cy Young).

In 1904, Waddell set a modern (post-1900) MLB record with 349 strikeouts that stood until 1965.  Waddell, elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, finished with a 193-143, 2.16 stat line – leading the AL in strikeouts six times, ERA twice, wins once and complete games once. For more on Waddell, BBRT suggests: Rube Waddell: The Zany, Brilliant Life of a Strikeout Artist, by Allan Howard Levy and Just a Big Kid: The Life and Times of Rube Waddell, by Paul Proia.

John Young (1949-*)

A 6’3”, 210-pound, left-handed first baseman, John Young hit .325, with four home runs, 60 RBI and 26 stolen bases (in 29 attempts) in 99 games at Single A Lakeland (Tigers’ farm team) as a twenty-year-old (in 1969). The first-round draft choice (16th overall in the 1969 draft)  truly looked like a player with promise – and, in fact, enjoyed a big league cup of coffee with the Tigers in 1971 (two games, four at bats, two hits, one run, one RBI, one double). A wrist injury derailed his playing career, but didn’t dampen his love for the game and he went on to a long career as a scout. It was during his scouting days that Young developed a concern for the decline of baseball among young people – particularly in the inner cities.  In response, Young came up with the concept for the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. Officially launched in 1989, the RBI program is now supported by all thirty MLB clubs and is active in approximately 200 communities – with more than 250,000 participants annually.  Overall, MLB teams have donated more than $30 million to the program. (The program also includes educational and life skills components.) A few RBI alumni in the major leagues include: Carl Crawford, Justin Upton, CC Sabathia, James Loney, Manny Machado and Yovani Gallardo.

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THE SHRINE OF THE ETERNALS:  2016 VOTING PERCENTAGES

Don Newcombe – 42.0%

Bo Jackson – 38.0%

Arnold Hano – 26.0%

Chet Brewer – 25.3%

Charlie Brown – 24.7%

Charlie Finley – 24.7%

Bob Costas – 24.0%

Rocky Colavito – 23.3%

Luke Easter – 22.7%

Charles M. Conlon – 21.3%

J.R. Richard – 21.3%

Effa Manley – 20.7%

Nancy Faust – 19.3%

Ernie Harwell – 19.3%

Hideo Nomo – 19.3%

Pete Reiser – 19.3%

Jose Canseco – 18.7%

Lisa Fernandez – 18.7%

Mamie Johnson – 18.7%

Dr. Mike Marshall – 18.7%

Bert Campaneris – 18.0%

Denny McLain – 17.3%

Rube Foster – 16.0%

Fred Merkle – 16.0%

Annie Savoy – 16.0%

Ted Kluszewski – 15.3%

Tug McGraw – 14.7%

Bing Russell – 14.7%

Rube Waddell – 14.7%

Reuben Berman – 14.0%

Joe Pepitone – 14.0%

Rusty Staub – 14.0%

Margaret Donahue – 13.3%

Phil Pote – 13.3%

Vic Power – 13.3%

Charley Pride – 13.3%

John Young – 13.3%

Octavius V. Catto – 12.0%

Daniel Okrent – 12.0%

Steve Wilstein – 12.0%

Dave Parker – 11.3%

Chris Von der Ahe – 11.3%

Mike Hessman – 10.7%

Dan Quisenberry – 10.7%

John Montgomery Ward – 10.0%

Wayne Doba – 7.3%

Isabel Alvarez – 6.7%

Emilio Cordova – 6.7%

Billy Scripture – 4.0%

Dr. David Tracy – 0.7%

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For a full list of past Shrine of Eternals honorees, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

April Showers – and MLB Highlights

May 1, 2016 by

AprilDaysWell, April is behind us and – if you are from Minnesota, you are banking on the old “April showers bring May flowers” adage, because it’s been plenty wet here.  April not only brought showers to Minnesota, but also plenty of action to major league baseball – from the Dodgers opening the season with three straight shutouts to a no-hitter by the Cubs’ Jake Arietta (his second) to Rockies’ rookie Trevor Story’s ten April home runs (tying the MLB rookie record) to A.J. Pierzynski becoming just the ninth catcher to reach 2,000 hits.  It was an eventful month – and it’s time for BBRT’s traditional look at the past month of the MLB season. I hope you enjoy this look back at April – and come across a highlight or two you may have missed.  (Note:  April is always the easiest month to “wrap,” since monthly and year-to-date leaders are the same.) Before we get into detailed highlights and statistics, here are a few quick observations.

First a few quick observations:

  • MLB had only one qualifying .400 hitter through April 30 – the Cardinals’ 25-year-old rookie SS Aledmys Diaz at .423. (with four home runs and 13 RBI).
  • The NL West finished April with zero – yes, zero – teams playing .500 ball. The Dodgers, Giants and Rockies share the Division lead – all with losing records (one game under.500).
  • Two players were tied for the MLB lead in home runs at 10 – and they both played for the Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado (Last season’s NL home run leader) and 23-year-old rookie SS Trevor Story. For those who track such things, the most HR’s ever hit in April is 14 – a record shared by Albert Pujols (Cardinals 2006) and Alex Rodriguez (Yankees, 2007). The most home runs in any month goes to Sammy Sosa, who hit 20 for the Cubs in June of 1998.
  • The Cubs’ Jake Arietta tied for the MLB lead in wins this April (5-0, 1.00 ERA) – and threw the season’s first no-hitter.
  • Jordan Zimmermann moved smoothly from the NL (Nationals) to the AL (Tigers), putting up MLB’s lowest ERA for the month (among qualifiers), going 5-0, with a 0.55 ERA. The Cubs’ Jason Hammel was the only other pitcher to finish the month with an ERA under 1.00 (3-0, 0.75).
  • Despite the presence of the DH in the AL, the top three scoring teams (and six of the top seven) in April were from the NL.
  • Cubs’ pitchers held batters to a .199 average, while the opposition hit over .300 (.301) against the Brewers’ staff.
  • Twenty-three individual players out-homered the Braves, who had just five long balls for the month.
  • In the “How the Game has Changed” department, April saw only seven complete games in MLB – and no team had more than one.
  • We saw two triple plays: one of the traditional third-to second-to first (5-4-3) variety and another which started in right field and ended up involving the first baseman, catcher, shortstop and third baseman. (More on that later).
  • As noted earlier, we saw one April no-hitter – and we also witnessed 17 Grand Slams.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS – BEFORE THE STATISTICS

A Two-Edged Sword.

The Dodgers and Padres tied and broke a couple records in their opening series.  The Dodgers tied a record by opening a season with three straight shutouts, while the Padres set a record by failing to score in their first three games of the season.

  • On Opening Day (April 4) in San Diego, the Dodgers (behind Clayton Kershaw and two relievers) trounced the Padres 15-0, in the worst opening day shutout lost in MLB history.
  • The April 5 game, started by Dodger Scott Kazmir, was more competitive, as LA sTopped San Diego 3-0. Kazmir and a trio of relievers gave up just two hits, no walks and recorded 11 strikeouts.
  • Then, on April 6, LA’S Kenta Maeda and three relievers topped the Padres 7-0.

The only other team to open a season with three shutouts was the 1963 Cardinals (April 9, 10 and 13) – whose three-game opening shutouts stretch included two games on the road against the Mets (7-0, 4-0) and the home opener against the Phillies (7-0). Another illustration of “How the Game Has Changed” – The Cardinals string of three shutouts to open the season included three complete games (a two-hitter by Ernie Broglio; a four-hitter by Ray Washburn; and a 5-hitter by Curt Simmons).

Chicago – the WIN-dy City.

hChris Sale led the White Sox with five April Wins. Photo by: Keith Allison

hChris Sale led the White Sox with five April Wins.
Photo by: Keith Allison

No teams won more games this April than the Cubs (17-5) and White Sox (17-8) – and so Chicago stands atop both the AL and NL Central Divisions. (The Cubs were the only team with a .700+ winning percentage at .773.) The White Sox did it with pitching.  At the end of April, they ranked seventh in the AL in runs scored, but had given up the fewest run in the junior circuit (76 runs allowed, tied with the Mariners) and had the AL’s lowest ERA at 2.72 ERA. Over in the NL, the young Cubs did it all – posting the NL’s second-lowest ERA (2.39) and second-most runs scored (136).

Leading the way on the mound for the White Sox?  Pretty much everyone.  The ChiSox closed April with nine pitchers (three starters) with ERA’s under 2.00. Particular Kudos to starters Chris Sale (5-0, 1.66), Mat Latos ( 4-0, 1.84) and Jose Quintana (3-1, 1.47), as well as closer Dave Robertson (eight saves in nine opportunities and a 0.87 ERA).

The Cubs had things going on the mound and in the batter’s box. CF Derek Fowler surprised with a .347-3-15 line; 1B Anthony Rizzo may have hit only .218, but he chipped in eight home runs and 24 RBI; and 3B Kris Bryant went .289-4-15.  On the mound, as expected (on even better), Jake Arietta went 5-0, 1.00 – and he was joined by starters Jon Lester (2-1, 1.83) and Jason Hammel (3-0, 0.75) with ERA’s under 2.00. The Cubs’ starters were so good, closer Hector Rondon got only four saves opportunities, but he converted them all without giving up an earned run.

Windy City World Series anyone?

Braves Powerless to Turn Things Around?

The worst record in MLB through April? That belonged to the Atlanta Braves (5-18, .217 – already 11 games out.)  The Braves were last in the NL in runs scored (75 – only the Yankees scored few April runs at 74); second-to-last in the NL in average (.229); and dead last in MLB in home runs. The Braves closed April with just five home runs. The second-lowest home run total belonged to the Dodgers with 17; and the home run leaders were the Diamondbacks and Rockies with 37 each. On the mound, the Braves were one of only four teams with an ERA over 5.00 (at 5.05). Other teams in that unenviable position were the Brewers (5.64); Rockies (5.50); and Reds (5.42).

Over in the AL, the worst record belonged to the Twins and Astros (7-17, .292). The Twins were 11th in the AL in runs scored (80), while the Astros were ninth (90). The Astros, however, gave up the most April runs in the AL (123) and had the league’s highest ERA at 4.97. The Twins weren’t far behind (ahead?), giving up the AL’s second-most runs at 110, with the fifth-highest ERA at 3.97.

9-3-2-6-2-5 … Not it’s not a phone number.

On April 22, the White Sox turned a unique triple play against the Rangers. It came in the seventh inning and all started after the Rangers (trailing 5-0) loaded the bases with no outs. Texas’ 1B Mitch Moreland hit a liner into the corner that was caught by White Sox RF Adam Eaton.  Rangers’ LF Ian Desmond (the runner on first) had ventured too far off the bag, then overran the base coming back and was tagged out (in foul territory) by 1B Jose Abreu. Abreu, wanting to ensure no run scored, fired the ball to C Dioner Navarro, who saw that Rangers’ 3B Adrian Beltre (the runner at second) had decided to advance to third base on the play at first. There was one small (well, not so small) problem, DH Prince Fielder (the runner at third) was solidly anchored there.  Seeing Beltre hung up, Navarro threw to shortstop Tyler Saladino and Fielder decided to try to score on the expected rundown. Saladino threw back to Navarro, who threw to 3B Todd Frazier (who tagged Fielder) to complete MLB’s first-ever 9-3-2-6-2-5 triple play,

One Hit – One Win.

The Rangers managed to win their April 4 Opener (in Texas) by a score of 3-2 over Seattle – despite collecting only one hit.  All three Texas tallies came in the fifth inning off Mariners’ starter Felix Hernandez. 2B Rougned Odor led off with a walk; SS Elvis Andrus reached on an error by Seattle 3B Kyle Seager; C Robinson Chirinos sacrificed the runners to second and third; CF Delino DeShields drew a walk, loading the bases; RF Shin-Soo Choo walked, forcing in a run; DH Prince Fielder blooped a single (the Rangers only hit of the day) that fell between the left fielder and shortstop, scoring Andrus; 3B Adrian Beltre was safe on a error by SS Ketel Marte, scoring Deshields; finally, 1B Mitch Moreland and LF Ian Desmond went down swinging to end the brutal half-inning. Seattle outhit the Rangers 4-1 and punched two home runs, but still lost the contest.

Still teams, have won with fewer hits.  See the  box at the end of this post for a look at teams that have managed a victory without the benefit of a single base hit.

Your April Division Leaders

AL Central:  White Sox (17-8), followed by the Tigers, three games back.

AL East:  Orioles (14-9), just ½ game up on the Red Sox.

AL West: Rangers (14-10) in first, with just a ½ game lead on the Mariners.

 

NL East: A good race brewing with the Nationals (16-7), just a 1/2 up on the Mets.

NL Central:  Cubs (17-5), three games ahead of the second- place Pirates.

NL West: The Dodgers, Giants and Rockies tied for the lead – all one game under .500 – and the Diamondbacks just ½ game back.

If the season ended April 30, your post-season teams:

AL- Orioles, White Sox, Rangers. Wild Cards: Red Sox, with the Tigers and Mariners tied for the final spot.

NL – Nationals, Cubs, with the Dodgers, Giants and D-backs tied for the West title. Wild Cards: Mets, Pirates.

Full Standings can be found at the end of this post.

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BEST AND WORST TEAM STATS FOR APRIL

BEST TEAM OFFENSIVE STATS

Batting average: Pirates (.293); Red Sox (.281).

Home Runs: D-backs and Rockies (37); Orioles and Cardinals (34).

Runs: Cardinals (142); Cubs (136); Pirates (128); Red Sox and Rockies (126).

SB: Red Sox (21); Indians (19); D-backs, Astros and Royals (18).

Walks Drawn: Cubs (121); Pirates (105); Giants (102); Note: AL Leader – Blue Jays (90).

Fewest Strikeouts: Angels (123); Giants (155).

WORST TEAM OFFENSIVE STATS

Batting Average: Brewers (.223); Rays (.225); Mariners (.227); Braves (.229).

Fewest HR’s: Braves (5); Dodgers (17); Red Sox, Reds and Padres (19).

Fewest Runs: Yankees (74( Braves (75); Rays (76); Royals (77).

Fewest SB’s: Angels (4); Orioles (4); Mets (5).

Fewest Walks Drawn: Reds (56); Rays and Royals (60).

Most Strikeouts: Astros (238); Blue Jays (232); Padres (230).

BEST TEAM PITCHING STATS

ERA: Nationals (2.36); Cubs (2.39); White Sox (2.72).

Strikeouts: Phillies (245); Red Sox (236)..

Fewest Walks: Yankees (51); Rays and Cubs (54)..

Batting Average Against: Cubs (.199); Nationals (.214); Mariners and Rays (.223).

WORST TEAM PITCHING STATS

ERA: Brewers (5.64); Rockies (5.50); Reds (5.42); Braves (5.05). Worrt in AL: Astros (4.97).

Fewest Strikeouts: Rangers (157); Brewers (158).

Most Walks: Reds (110); Pirates (104); Brewers (103); D-backs (101). Worst in AL: Royals (95).

Batting Average Against: Brewers (.301); Astros (.284).

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Now let’s take a look at individual performances in April.

When looking for a Player and Pitcher of the Month in each league,  BBRT found the choice relatively easy when looking at the mound, less so when considering accomplishments in the batter’s box.

BBRT AL Pitcher of the Month: Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers. Made the transition to the American League look easy, going 5-0, with MLB’s lowest April ERA (0.55). Gave up just two earned runs in 33 innings.

BBRT NL Pitcher of the Month: Jake Arietta, Cubs. Won all five starts; averaged just over seven innings per outing; recorded a 1.00 ERA; tossed 2016’s first no-hitter.

BBRT AL Position Player of the Month:Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays.  Hit .292, with eight home runs (tied for AL lead) and 20 RBI (second in AL).

BBRT NL Position Player of the Month: Bryce Harper, Nationals: Put up a .286 average with nine homers (third in NL) and 24 RBI (tied for tops in MLB).  Added five stolen bases (fourth in NL) and drew 17 walks (versus just 13 strikeouts).

 

A FEW INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS THAT CAUGHT BBRT’S EYE IN APRIL

Home Cooking.

On April 15, Astros’ starter Dallas Keuchel went eight scoreless innings in beating the Tigers 1-0.  It was Keuchel’s 17th consecutive home victory (20 starts, three no-decisions).  In this continuing home streak, Keuchel’s home ERA is 1.36 (145 1/3 innings).

On April 28, with two outs in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 7-2 Wrigley Field win over the Brewers, Jake Arrieta gave up a run-scoring double to Alex Presley. Why is that significant? It was the first run Arietta had given up at Wrigley Field since the sixth inning of a 3-1 win over the White Sox on July 12, 2015.   That gave Arietta a streak of 52 2/3 scoreless innings at home – longest-ever home scoreless streak in the NL and second only to White Sox’ Ray Herbert’s 54-inning home scoreless streak in 1962-63.

Double Your Pleasure. Double Your Fun.

On April 15, as the orioles topped the Rangers 11-5 in Texas, Mark Trumbo collected two home runs and five RBI – in the seventh inning.  Trumbo became one of 58 players in MLB history to collect two round trippers in an inning.  A more elite group – those  who have accomplished the feat twice  – includes The Giants’ Willie McCovey (1973 & 1977); Cubs’ Andre Dawson (1978 & 1985); Pirates’ Jeff King (1995 & 1996); and Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez (2007 & 2009).

Off to a Good Start.

On April 4, Rockies’ rookie SS Trevor Story let his bat tell the story – becoming the first rookie to hit two home runs, while making his MLB debut on Opening Day – as the Rockies topped the Diamondbacks 10-5 in Arizona. Story ended his MLB debut two-for-six, with two runs scored and four RBI.  And, the rookie just kept hitting.  As April closed, Story had become:

  • just the second rookie to hit 10 HR’s in April (Jose Abreu, White Sox, 2014);
  • the first player whose first four MLB hits were home runs;
  • the first player to homer in his first four MLB games;
  • the first player to hit seven HR’s in his team’s first six games of a season (and the first rookie to hit seven homers in his first six games).

Story also tied an MLB mark by homering (the fifth player to do so) in the first four games of a season; and tied the mark for the fewest games ever to reach 10 career home runs (21, George Scott, Red Sox, 1966).

Arietta – a Smashing No-Hitter.

On April 21st, the Cubs’ Jake Arietta threw 2016’s first no-hitter, as Chicago topped the Reds 16-0 in Cincinnati.  There was plenty to distinguish the no-no. For example, the 16-0 win was the second-worst drubbing ever in a no-hitter – trailing only the August 4, 1884 Pud Galvin no-hitter – when his NL Buffalo Bisons topped the Detroit Wolverines 18-0. (In a “How the Game has Changed” moment, future Hall of Famer Galvin’s record that year was 46-22, with a 1.99 ERA, 636 1/3 innings pitched,  71 complete games in 72 starts and 12 CG shutouts.)

Arietta’s no-hitter also made him the 29th pitcher to throw multiple no-hit games (he threw one on August 30th last season.)

What caught BBRT’s eye, however, was the fact that Arietta also collected two hits and a walk (five plate appearances) in the game. Arietta had a single in the second inning, a single in the fourth, a swinging strikeout in the sixth, a walk in the seventh and a ground out in the ninth.  Just another reason I am not fond of the DH. (In fact, the pitcher has collected a hit in each of the last eight no-hitters thrown under NL rules.)

A Grand Way to get to the Century Mark.

Bryce - BBRT Player of the Month hit a Grand Slam for his 100th career homer. Photo by: Matthew Straubmuller.

Bryce – BBRT Player of the Month hit a Grand Slam for his 100th career homer.
Photo by: Matthew Straubmuller.

On April 14, last year’s NL MVP Bryce Harper hit his 100th MLB home run – a third-inning Grand Slam off the Braves’ Julio Teheran, as Bryce’s Nationals topped Atlanta 6-2 (in Atlanta).  In the process, Harper became the eighth youngest player to reach 100 home runs. (BBRT reports this so that I can mention my all-time favorite player – Eddie Mathews.) Here are the ten youngest players to reach 100 HR’s:

  1. Mel Ott (22 years, 132 days), 1931 Giants
  2. Tony Conigliaro (22 years, 197 days), 1967 Red Sox
  3. Eddie Mathews (22 years, 293 days), 1954 Braves
  4. Alex Rodriguez (23 years, 16 days), 1998 Mariners
  5. Andruw Jones (23 years, 62 days), 2000 Braves
  6. Miguel Cabrera (23 years, 127 days), 2006 Marlins
  7. Johnny Bench (23 years, 161 days), 1971 Reds
  8. Bryce Harper (23 years, 181 days), 2016 Nationals
  9. Albert Pujols (23 years, 185 days), 2003 Cardinals
  10. Hank Aaron (23 years, 191 days), 1957 Braves

A New Name for the Leaderboard.

On April 27, as the Braves lost to the Red Sox 9-4 (at Fenway), Braves’ catcher A.J. Pierzynski made history. In the second inning, Pierzynski (in his 19th MLB season) lined a single to left (off Steven Wright) for his 2,000th MLB hit.  The safety made the 39-year-old Pierzynski one of just nine catchers to achieve 2,000 hits. While Ivan Rodriguez leads the group with 2,844 hits (out of A.J.’s reach), such backstops as Johnny Bench (2,048) and Gary Carter (2,092) seem within reach – and, perhaps, even Mike Piazza (2, 127) and Yogi Berra (2,150) could be considered future targets. Pretty heady company, I’d say.

INDIVIDUAL STATS LEADERS THROUGH APRIL

Batting Average: Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals (.423); Martin Prado, Marlins (.397); Daniel Murphy Nationals (.370).  AL Leader:  Nick Costellanos (.363).

Home Runs: Nolan Arenado, Rockies (10); Trevor Story, Rockies (10); Bryce Harper, Nationals (9); Neil Walker, Mets (9).  AL Leaders: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (8); Robinson Cano, Mariners (8).

Base Hits: Jean Segura, D-backs (37 with a .333 average); Manny Machado, Orioles (33, with a .344 average).

RBI: Robinson Cano, Mariners (24); Bryce Harper, Nationals (24); Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (24). .

Stolen Bases: Jose Altuve, Astros (9); Starling Marte, Pirates (7). Billy Burns, A’s (7); Rajai Davis, Indians (7).

On the negative side of the coin, the Tigers Justin Upton led all hitters with 38 April strikeouts (in 95 at bats), while carrying a .221 average with two home runs and eight RBI.

ERA (among qualifiers): Jordan Zimmerman, Tigers (0.55); Jason Hammel, Cubs (0.75).

Wins: Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers (5-0, 0.55); Jake Arietta, Cubs (5-0, 1.00); Chris Sale, White Sox (5-0, 1.66); Rick Porcello, Red Sox (5-0, 2.76).

Saves: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers (9); David Robertson, White Sox (8); Jeurys Familia, Mets (8); Jeanmar Gomez, Phillies (8); Ryan Madson, A’s (8); Jonathan Papelbon, Nationals (8); Sean Tolleson, Rangers (8).

Strikeouts: David Price, Red Sox (46); Chris Archer, Rays (43); Drew Smyly, Rays (41); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (40); Jose Fernandez, Marlins (40); Stephen Strasburg Nationals (40). Note: David Price led in strikeouts per nine innings (13.96), followed by the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard at 12.83.

Batting Average Against: Danny Salazar, Indians (.139); Jake Arietta, Cubs (.151); Drew Smyly, Rays (.151).

On the negative side: Among pitchers with at least four April starts, the Reds Alfredo Simon had the highest April ERA at 13.50 – (20 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings).

Now, a bonus bit of trivia.

Teams Earning A Victory Without the Benefit of a Base Hit

In MLB history, five teams have managed victory without the benefit of a base hit. Twice these winnings teams were victims (or victors) of an officially recognized MLB no-hitter.  In the other three, since the home team didn’t bat in the bottom of the ninth, the games are not recognized as no-hitters (MLB rules require a pitcher – or pitchers – throw at least nine innings to be credited with a no hitter.) Here are the teams that earned a win without a hit.

First, the official no-hitters – in both cases, the winning run scored in the top of the ninth.

  • On April 23, 1964, the Houston Colt .45’s Ken Johnson pitched nine innings of no-hit ball against the Reds – and lost 1-0. The winning run scored in the top of the ninth in an inning that went: ground out by Reds’ P Joe Nuxhall; 2B Pete Rose reaching (and going to second) on an error by Johnson, then advancing to third on a ground out by 3B Chico Ruiz; Rose scoring as Vada Pinson is safe on an error by 2B Nellie Fox. Johnson’s mound opponent (Nuxhall) pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout.
  • On April 30, 1967, the Orioles’ Steve Barber (8 2/3 innings) and Stu Miller (1/3 inning) combined to no-hit the Tigers in a 2-1 loss. The Orioles had just two hits in the game and actually scored first in the bottom of the eighth – in an inning in which they did not collect a hit. Detroit starter Earl Wilson was still in the game, having thrown seven innings of two-hit ball, when Orioles’ LF Curt Belfry led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by 2B Woody Held; an intentional walk to PH Charlie Lau and a non-intentional pass to pitcher Steve Barber followed, before SS Luis Aparicio brought Blefary home with a sacrifice fly. End of eight, Orioles up 1-0, Barber three outs from a no-hit victory.  Then came the fateful top of the ninth. Barber walked 1B Norm Cash and weak-hitting SS Ray Oyler to open the inning; the pair were  bunted  to second and third by Tiger P Earl Wilson; pinch-hitter Willie Horton popped out (leaving Barber now just one out from a complete game, no-hitter victory).  With CF Mickey Stanley at the plate, Barber uncorked a wild pitch, with Dick Tracewski (running for Cash) scoring the tying run.  After Barber walked Stanley, Stu Milleer was brought in and a second run scored on a fielder’s choice..The Orioles went down in order in the bottom of the inning – and lost to the Tigers 2-1, despite a combined official no-hitter. .

Now the games not officially recognized as no-hitters, but in which the winning team did not collect a single safety.

  • July 1, 1990, the White Sox topped the Yankees (in Chicago, of course) 4-0, without collecting a single hit. All four runs scored in the bottom of the eighth – which began with Yankee starter Andy Hawkins getting the first two hitters on pop-up, putting him just four out away from a no-hit victory (provided the Yankees could score).  Then the wheels came off.  White Sox RF Sammy Sosa reached on an error by 3B Mike Bowers, and promptly stole second; SS Ozzie Guillen and CF Lance Johnson walked (loading the bases). Then, Robin Ventura was safe on a bases-clearing error by Yankee LF Jim Leyritz. The final run came  in on another error – with DH Ivan Calderon benefiting from the Yankees’ third error of the inning (this one by RF Jesse Barfield). Hawkins went eight hitless innings, giving up four unearned runs, while three White Sox hurlers combined for a four-hit shutout. Since the White Sox did not have to bat in the bottom of the ninth, Hawkins not only lost the game, but was denied an “official” nine-inning no-hitter.
  • On April 12, 1992, the Indians managed to beat the Reds Sox (in Cleveland) despite being outhit by Boston nine-to-zero. The Indians scored in the bottom of the first, as CF Kenny Lofton led off with a walk and stole second and third while DH Glenallen Hill was striking out. Lofton then scored on a throwing error by Red Sox SS Luis Rivera (on a ground ball by Indians’ 2B Carlos Baerga). The Tribe added a second run in the bottom of the third as SS Mark Lewis and Lofton led off with walks. Then, on a ground ball to shortstop, Lewis went to third, Lofton was forced at second and Hill was safe at first. Lewis went on to score on a fielder’s choice.  Boston scored their only run in on a two-out single by Rivera (after a single and walk). Matt Young pitched eight hitless innings for Boston, but was hurt by seven walks and, of course, that Rivera error. Three Cleveland pitchers gave up nine hits and six walks, but managed to hold the Red Sox to one  run.
  • On June 28, 2008, the Dodgers (at home) snuck by the Angels 1-0,without notching a single base hit. As usual, errors played the role in a hitless victory. Dodger s’ CF Matt Kemp led off the fifth inning and was safe on an error by Angels’ pitcher Jered Weaver. Kemp then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Mike Napoli. He then scored on a sacrifice by 3B Blake Dewitt.  And that was the scoring for the day. The Angels’ Jered Weaver (six innings) and Jose Arredondo (two innings) pitched eight innings of no-hit ball (one unearned run), while three Dodgers’ pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout.

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APRIL 30, 2016 (end of day) STANDINGS

AL EAST

Orioles             14-9     .609     …

Red Sox           14-10    .583     0.5

Rays                10-12   .478     3.0

Blue Jays         11-14   .440     4.0

Yankees            8-14    .364     5.5

AL CENTRAL

White Sox       17-8     .680     …

Tigers             13-10     .565     3.0

Royals            12-11     .522     4.0

Indians             10-11   .476     5.0

Twins                7-17   .292     9.5

AL WEST

Rangers           14-10   .583     …

Mariners          13-10   .524     0.5

A’s                   13-12   .520     1.5

Angels             11-13   .458     3.0

Astros               7-17   .292     7.0

 

NL EAST

Nationals         16-7     .696     …

Mets               15-7     .682     0.5

Phillies            14-10   .583     2.5

Marlins             12-11  .522      5.0

Braves             5-18   .217     10.5

NL CENTRAL          

Cubs                17-5     .773     …

Pirates             15-9     .625     3.0

Cardinals          12-12    .500     6.0

Reds                 9-15    .375     9.0

Brewers            8 -15    .348     9.5

NL WEST
Dodgers         12-13   .480     …

Giants            12-13   .480     …

Rockies          11-12   .478     …

D-backs          12-14   .462     0.5

Padres             9-15    .375     2.5

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

 

 

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