Archives for January 2019

The Ryan Express … The Ryan Nemesis (Nemeses?) … A World Versus Nolan Ryan All Star Lineup

January 27, 2019 by David

On this date (April 8) in, 1986, Will Clark, a 22-year-old rookie, stepped into the batter’s box for his first-ever major league at bat. He was the second batter in the top of the first inning, as his Giants took on the Houston Astros. On the mound was the imposing presence of the Astros’ right-handed flamethrower 38-year-old future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan – who already had 241 MLB wins and more than 4,000 strikeouts to his credit. Clark took the first two pitches and then – with a one-and-one count – took his first MLB regular-season swing. The result was a home run – and it set the tone for future Ryan-Clark confrontations.

Over his career, Clark would face Ryan 39 times and collect 12 hits in 36 at bats – for a .333 average. More impressive, eight of those 12 hits would go for extra bases, six leaving the park. Clark’s six home runs are those most any batter hit off Ryan – despite the fact that 163 hitters had more plate appearances versus Ryan than Clark.

That story, and those statistics, led Baseball Roundtable to look into which batters had found the most success against Ryan – and come up with a “World Against Nolan Ryan” All Star lineup. The nine-man, Nolan-centric squad I uncovered went 136-for-390 against Ryan (.349 average), with 22 home runs and 80 RBI. They range from Hall of Famer (and career .328 hitter) Rod Carew at second base to career .158 hitter Ron Reed on the mound. It’s an experienced squad – each of them played more than a dozen seasons in the major leagues (averaging better than 17 MLB seasons); all but one made at least one All Star squad; three were league MVPs; two were Rookies of the Year and two are in the Hall of Fame. (Only one – Rod Carew – checks all four of those boxes.)

A Brief Semi-Commercial Message

This look at batters who “handled” Nolan Ryan’s outstanding stuff was the first step toward Baseball Roundtable’s ongoing “Who’s Your Daddy?” Series of blog post – looking at some of the best pitchers of all time and presenting position-by-position lineups of hitter who fared the best against these elite arms. The links below will take you to other “edition” of the series.

Sandy Koufax, click here

Pedro Martinez, click her

Bob Gibson, click here.

Randy Johnson, click here.

Greg Maddux, click here.

Justin Verlander, click here.

Bob Feller, click here.

Roger Clemens, click here.

Max Scherzer, click here.

Tom Seaver, click here

Mariano Rivera, click here.

Warren Spahn, click here.

Lefty Grove, click here.

DISCLAIMER

Photo by Mike Overall

I must note that the fact that I chose to pursue this topic is actually a compliment to Nolan Ryan. It is Ryan’s excellence that supports this lineup’s exceptionalism against him. Let’s consider just how difficult it was to put up “good numbers” against Ryan. Among qualifying pitchers, Ryan has the lowest career batting average against – a mere .204. He also led his league in fewest hits per nine innings a dozen times – and has the career record for the lowest H/9 at 6.56. Only five times in MLB history has a qualifying pitcher given up less than 5.5 hits per nine frames in a season. Two of those five campaigns belong to Ryan – and they came 19 years apart (at ages 25 and 44).

Ryan also amassed 324 MLB victories, threw a record seven no-hitters and holds the all-time record for strikeouts (5,715). In his 27 MLB seasons, he led his league in strikeouts 11 times, set the post-1900 record for whiffs in a season at 383 and six times fanned 300+ batters in a season. Over his career, Ryan fanned just over one of every four batters he faced. The eight-time All Star also led the league in shutouts three times, earned run average twice and WHIP twice. It is Ryan’s consistent excellence that makes the success of the batter noted here worth noting.

Longevity – Good News/Bad News

When you pitch for 27 seasons, you sometimes end up on the wrong side of a record. Nolan Ryan, for example, not only holds the MLB record for strikeout (5,714), but also for walks (2,795) . In addition, he is the recognized record holder for MLB Grand Slams allowed (10) and the post-1900 record holder for wild pitches at 277 (leading his league in WP six times).

We’ll soon move on to the “World Versus Nolan Ryan” All Star squad, based solely on success against Ryan – but first a look at some of the “record holders” when it comes to matching up against the Hall of Famer.

THE BIG HURT – OUCH!

Frank Thomas faced Nolan Ryan 15 times in his career and put the ball in play just once.

Photo by rchdj10

On August 17, 1990, 22-year-old White Sox Rookie Frank Thomas (in the early days of a Hall of Fame career that would earn him the nickname “The Big Hurt“) stepped into the batters’ box against another (much more experienced) future Hall of Famer – 43-year old Nolan Ryan. Thomas was in his 14th MLB game – and was hitting .357. Ryan was in his 24th MLB season, pitching in his 732nd game. On the 1990 season, he was 11-6, 4.10 with 150 strikeouts in 134 innings. At that point in his career, Ryan was 300-269, 3.17 with 5,226 whiffs in 4,919 1/3 innings.

Thomas faced Ryan four times that day, saw 18 pitches and struck out swinging in all four plate appearances. (Ryan, by the way, went ten shutout innings, giving up just three hits and fanning 15, as his Rangers topped the White Sox 1-0 in 13 frames.) Notably, that four-whiff day was a sign of things to come. Thomas faced Ryan 15 times in his career (Ryan retired after the 1993 season.) In those fifteen plate appearances he went zero-for-twelve. His results included two walks, one hit by pitch, 11 strikeouts (nine swinging) and an infield pop out. In fairness to Thomas, he did go on to hit .301, with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI over 19 MLB seasons. He was a five-time All Star, a two-time AL MVP and the 1997 AL batting champ. (In the three seasons in which he went 0-12 with 11 whiffs against Ryan, Thomas hit .322-63-255 overall.)

Now that World Versus Nolan Ryan squad.

—–The World Versus Nolan Ryan All Star Team—–

Catcher – Rick Cerone, RHH, 5’11”/192 pounds

In his 18-season MLB career (1975-92), Rick Cerone faced Ryan 33 times (29 at bats). He collected 11 hits, for a .379 average – including one double, one triple and two home runs, producing seven RBI. He also did okay in the walks-to-strikeouts ratio, with four of each.

Cerone’s success against Ryan comes as somewhat of a surprise. Over his 18 seasons, he played in 100 or more games only four times and hit .245, with 59 home runs and 436 RBI. He played in the major leagues from 1975 to 1992 – (Indians… 1975-76; Blue Jays … 1977-79; Yankees…1980-84, 1987 & 1990; Braves … 1985; Brewers …1986; Red Sox 1988-89; Mets 1991; Expos 1992). His best season was 1988, when he hit .277, with 14 home runs and 85 RBI for the Yankees.

Rick Cerone’s two home runs and seven RBI against Nolan Ryan are the second-most he accumulated against any pitcher in his career. (He had three homers and ten RBI against Larry Gura, whom he faced 55 times.)

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First Base – Will Clark, LHH, 6’2”/190 pounds

As noted earlier, six-time All Star Will Clark got his MLB career off to a good start, homering off Nolan Ryan in his first-ever MLB at bat. He went on to prove the first round tripper was no fluke, hitting six home runs off Ryan between 1986 and 1988. Overall, Clark went 12-for-36 versus Ryan (.333), with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBI. In 1988, Clark reached Ryan for a .600 average (six-for-ten), with two doubles, three home runs and five RBI. (That season, the 41-year-old Ryan went 12-11, 3.52, with NL leading 228 strikeouts in 220 innings.)

Over his MLB career (1986-2000), Clark collected 2,176 hits (.303 average), with 284 home runs and 1,205 RBI. He averaged .300 or better in ten of 15 campaigns, topped 20 home runs six times and 100 RBI three times. Clark played for the Giants (1986-93); Rangers 1994-99), Orioles (1999-2000); and Cardinals (2000).

Will Clark’s six home runs versus Nolan Ryan are not only the most home runs any batter hit against Ryan, but also the most home runs Clark hit against any MLB pitcher.

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.300 – .400 – .400 …

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .300 or better average

Rod Carew – 93 at bats, .301 average

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .400 or better average

Gary Sutherland – 24 at bats, .417 average

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .500 or better average

Lonnie Smith – 24 at bats, .500 average

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .600 or better average

Carlos Baerga – 10 at bats, .600 average

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Second Base – Rod Carew, LHH, 6’/170 pounds

Okay, no surprise to see Rod Carew here. He is, after all, a seven-time batting champ, who retired with 3,053 hits and a .328 career average. Carew has more at bats versus Ryan (93) than any other player who hit at least .300 against him. He also had the second-most career hits against Ryan with 28 – trailing only George Brett, who had 29 hits in 101 at bats against Ryan (.287 average). Of course, getting touched for a .300 average versus Carew (.328 career average) is nothing to be ashamed of. The Hall of Famers Carew hit at least .300 against (regular season) include Fergie Jenkins (.362 in 58 at bats); Jim Palmer (.358 in 95 AB); Catfish Hunter (.347 in 101 AB); Dennis Eckersley (.321 in 56 AB); Gaylord Perry (.316 in 76 AB); and, of course, Ryan.

Slow Starter?

In his first MLB game, Rod Carew struck out three times and grounded out pitcher-to-first. Not a sign of things to come.

Carew was an 18-time All Star (in 19 MLB seasons … 1967-85). He hit .300 or better in 15 seasons (a high of .388 in 1977) and reached 200 or more hits in four campaigns. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1987, and league MVP in 1977. Carew played for the Twins (1967-78) and Angels (1979-86)

In 1974, when he won his fourth batting crown with a .364 average, Rod Carew hit .538 (seven-for-thirteen) versus Nolan Ryan – with a home run, four walks and four whiffs.

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Whiff – le Ball

Nobody struck out more times against Nolan Ryan than Claudell Washington, who faced Ryan 102 times and fanned 39. In those appearances (90 at bats), Washington hit .144. Nobody faced Ryan more times without striking out than Julian Javier, who stepped in the batter’s box 18 times against Ryan and never fanned, but hit only .124 (two-for-sixteen).

Here’s list of those who stepped in against Ryan at least a dozen times and never fanned.

Name PA AB H Avg.

Julian Javier 18 16 2 .125

Tommy Helms 13 13 2 .154

Carlos Baerga 12 10 6 .600

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Third Base – Dick Allen, RHH, 5’11”/187 pounds

Thank goodness for Dick Allen’s 652 games at the hot corner, which enable me to keep both Allen and Will Clark in this lineup. Allen hit a robust .364 versus Ryan (16 hits in 44 at bats). He also hit three home runs versus The Ryan Express and drove in 16 tallies. Only Darrell Porter and Rusty Staub had more career RBI (17 each) versus Ryan. In 1968, Allen was perfect in eight plate appearances versus Ryan (then a 21-year-old rookie) collecting three hits (two home runs) and five walks. Allen’s competition for this spot in the lineup came primarily from George Brett, who had the most career hits versus Ryan (29), but trailed Allen in HR (Brett had zero) and RBI (Brett had 8). In addition, Brett hit .287 against Ryan, well below his career .305 mark.

Allen was a seven-time All Star in 15 MLB seasons (1963-77). He collected 1,848 hits (.292 average, reaching .300+ in seven seasons), 351 home runs (topping 30 six times, a high of 40 in 1966) and reaching 100+ RBI three times. He led his league in home runs twice, RBI once, runs scored once and triples once. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1964 and AL MVP in 1972. He played for the Phillies (1963-69 & 1975-76); Cardinals (1970); Dodgers (1971); White Sox (1972-74); and A’s (1977).

Despite striking out nearly twice as many times as he walked in his career (1,556 strikeouts to 894 walks), Dick Allen drew 22 walks versus just 11 strikeouts versus Nolan Ryan. Those were the most walks Allen drew from any MLB pitcher – only one of the free passes was intentional.

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Shortstop Rafael Ramirez, RH, 6’/170-pounds

Rafael Ramirez, a .261 hitter in 13 MLB seasons (1980-92), is a bit of a surprise on this list – but put up a .333 average (18-for 54) versus Ryan, with two home runs and seven RBI.

During his career, Ramirez was an All Star just once (1984, Braves). He reached double digits in home runs just once (10 in 1982) and hit over.270 in three campaigns. He played for the Braves (1980-87) and Astros (1988-92). His best season was with the Braves in 1983, when he hit .297, with seven home runs, 58 RBI, 82 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in 152 games.

Rafael Ramirez hit two or more home runs against only four pitchers in his career. Don Robinson (3); Nolan Ryan (2); Bob Forsch (2); Dave Dravecky (2).

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Outfield – Carl Yastrzemski, LHH, 5’11’/175-pounds

Carl Yastrzemski is no surprise on this list. In 23 MLB seasons (1961-83, all with the Red Sox), he collected 3,419 hits (.285 average), 452 home runs and 1,844 RBI. He touched Nolan Ryan for a .340 average (17-for-50), four home runs and 14 RBI.

Yaz was the AL MVP in 1967 (when he won the AL Triple Crown) and an All Star in 18 seasons. He won three batting titles (and hit .300 or better six times), twice led the AL in hits and three times topped the league in runs scored.

Carl Yastrzemski was awarded a basketball scholarship by Notre Dame University.

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Outfield – Lonnie Smith, RHH, 5’9”/170-pounds

Lonnie Smith was a bit of a journeyman over his 18-season MLB career (Phillies …1978-81; Cardinals … 1982-85; Royals … 1985-87; Braves … 1988-92; Pirates … 1993; Orioles … 1993-94). He was a steady performer throughout, putting up a .288 career average (1,488 hits) with 98 home runs, 909 runs, 553 RBI and 370 stolen bases. He hit over .300 in six seasons. As an All Star in 1982, he led the NL in runs (120) and hit .307 with eight home runs and 68 stolen bases.

Smith did a good job against Nolan Ryan facing him 31 times and going 12-for-24 (.500 average), with one home run and five RBI. He also walked five times (versus five strikeouts) versus Ryan.

Lonnie Smith batted against Nolan Ryan in five different seasons (1980-84) and never hit under .333 against him.

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HALL OF FAMERS WHO DID WELL VERSUS NOLAN RYAN (minimum three at bats)

These Hall of Famers hit .333 or better versus Nolan Ryan:

Catfish Hunter – .667 (2-for-3)

Eddie Murray – .389 (7-for 19)

Harold Baines – .364 (8-for-22)

Barry Larkin – .357 (5-for-14)

Tony Perez – .346 (9-for-26)

Paul Molitor – .341 (14-for-41)

Carl Yastrzemski – .340 (17-for-50)

Phil Niekro – .333 (1-for-3)

Fergie Jenkins- .333 (1-for-3)

Joe Torre – .318 (7-for-22)

Hank Aaron – .308 (12-for-39)

Tony Gwynn – .302 (19-for-63)

Rod Carew – .301 (28-for-93)

Luis AparIcio – .300 (3-for-10)

Al Kaline – .300 (3-for-10)

These Hall of Famers hit .150 or lower against Ryan (minimum three at bats):

Frank Thomas – .000 (0-12); Don Sutton – .000 (0-for-5); Jim Thome – .000 (0-for-4); Willie Mays – .000 (0-for-3); Edgar Martinez – .053 (1-for 19); Willie Stargell – .071 (1-for-14); Steve Carlton – .111 (1 for 9); Dave Winfield – .115 (3-for-26); Rickey Henderson – .118 (2-for-17); Roberto Clemente – .125 (2-for-16); Willie McCovey – .133 (2-for 15); Johnny Bench – .138 (4-for-29); Jim Rice – .150 (6-for-40); Kirby Puckett – .150 (3-for-20).

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Outfield – George Hendrick, RHH, 6’3”/195-pounds

George Hendrick play 18 seasons in the major leagues (1971-88) – collecting 1,980 hits (.278 average), 267 home runs and 1,111 RBI. He was an All Star four times, hit .300 or better four times, reached at least 20 home runs six times and drove in 100 or more runs twice. Hendrick played for the A’s (1971-71); Indians (1973-76); Padres (1977-78); Cardinals (1979-84); Pirates (1985); Angels (1985-88).

Against Nolan Ryan, Hendrick collected 19 hits in 53 at bats (.345), with two homers and six RBI. The 19 hits were his sixth-most against any pitcher in his career.

George Hendrick, a .278 lifetime hitter, collected more hits off Hall of Famer Steve Carlton (38) than against any other pitcher. He hit .345 against Carlton. He collected his third-most hits regular-season hits (22) off another HOFer, Bert Blyleven (.367 average) and his sixth-most (19) off Nolan Ryan.

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Pitcher – Ron Reed, RHH, – 6’6”/215-pounds

In his 19 MLB seasons, Reed went 149-140, with a 3.46 earned run average. He stepped up to the plate seven times versus Nolan Ryan and produced two successful sacrifice bunts, one hit by pitch, three hits in seven at bats (a .429 average), one triple and three RBI. In his career, Reed came to the plate 695 times and produced 98 hits (.158 average). In 1968, when he collected two of his three hits off Nolan Ryan (including the lone triple), he hit just .161 (10-for-62). Reed’s main competition for a spot on this squad came from Catfish Hunter, who faced Ryan three times and produced a pair of singles and a foul ball pop out.

Ron Reed’s triple off Nolan Ryan was the only three-bagger of his career – and his three RBI versus Ryan were the most runs he plated off any opposing pitcher.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com

Additional “Who’s Your Daddy?” looks at top lineups versus top pitchers:

Sandy Koufax, click here.
Bob Gibson, click here.
Pedro Martinez, click here.
Randy Johnson, click here.

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Enter Sandman – BBRT Dives into the 2019 HOF Balloting … including BBWAA vs. Fan Tallies

January 23, 2019 by David

The results are in and congratulations go out to the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame Class – beginning with Mariano Rivera, the first-ever unanimous selection (Let the debates begin.) Well-deserved congratulations also go to 2019 inductees Edgar Martinez, Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina. In addition, BBRT would like to congratulate Today’s Game Era Committee electees Lee Smith and Harold Baines. The bios of these deserving new Hall of Famers can be found at the end of this post. But first, some BBRT observations on both the election (BBWAA and Era Committee) and the differences between the BBWAA official balloting and BBRT’s unofficial fan vote.

BBRT’s BALLOT (If I had one.)

BBRT would have voted for Rivera, Martinez, Halladay and Mussina – as well as Jeff Kent, Todd Helton, Larry Walker, Fred McGriff, Omar Vizquel and Andy Pettitte. For BBRT’s comments on each of those candidates, see my November 19, 2018 post (click here). At that time, I predicted Rivera and Martinez would get in and had Halladay and Mussina as dark horse candidates with a good chance at election. Looking at the Today’s Game Era Committee candidates, BBRT would have voted for Smith and Lou Piniella. Back on November 7, I predicted their election and had Harold Baines and George Steinbrenner as dark horse candidates. For that post, click here.

OBSERVATIONS ON BBWAA BALLOT

Here are just a few thoughts on the BBWAA balloting.

Mariano Rivera’s unanimous election may pave the way for higher vote totals in the future. In the past, we have seen voters making a distinction between first-ballot electees and those elected on subsequent ballots (demanding more of first-timers on the ballot). That distinction may be blurring.
The induction of Mariano Rivera (unanimous and first-ballot) and Lee Smith indicate a past bias related to relief pitchers may behind us.
The induction of Edgar Martinez (with about 70 percent of his MLB starts at DH) and Harold Baines (with about 60 percent of his MLB starts at DH) may indicate the relaxing of a perceived bias against players who were primarily designated hitters (good news for David Ortiz). However, since Martinez got in on his tenth and final year on the ballot and Baines was elected by the Today’s Game ERA Committee, this one observation demands further proof.

Others with 95 percent or higher: Nolan Ryan (98.79%); Tony Gwynn (97.61); Randy Johnson (97.27); Greg Maddux (97.20); Chipper Jones (97.16); Mike Schmidt (96.52); Steve Carlton (95.82); Babe Ruth (95.13); Honus Wagner (95.13).

POST ELECTION QUESTION

On BBRT’s mind is whether Mike Mussina goes into the Hall of Fame as an Oriole or a Yankee. Moose went 147-81, 3.53 in ten seasons for Baltimore and 123-72, 3.88 in eight seasons in New York. I’m rooting for the O’s – with whom Mussina has more wins and a lower earned run average, as well as more complete games (45 to 12) and more shutouts (15 to eight). Then again, his strikeouts per nine innings were better with the Yankees (7.4 to 6.9) and his walks per nine were also better (1.8 to 2.1). Mussina also had more post-season appearances with the Yankees (17 games to six), but his post-season record with Baltimore was 2-1, 2.53 versus 4-7, 3.80 with the New Yorkers.

BIGGEST SURPRISE OF 2019 BBWAA BALLOTING – LANCE BERKMAN

I admit I was surprised by Mariano Rivera’s unanimous election, I anticipated there would be a holdout or two based on a feeling that if Babe Ruth (or Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Cy Young, etc.) weren’t unanimous, no one should be. Credit to the BBWAA for setting aside that thinking. That aside, BBRT was very surprised to see Lance Berkman as a “one and done” on the ballot – with just 1.2 percent of the vote. I didn’t anticipate his election, but I did expect him to get enough support (five percent) to stay on the ballot.

Berkman – one of Houston’s “Killer B’s” – provided dependable power for the Astros (1999-2010). He also played for the Yankees (2010), Cardinals (2011-12) and Rangers (2013). Berkman was a five-time All Star, whose career line was .293-366-1,234. He also hit 422 doubles (leading his league twice) and scored 1,146 runs. Berkman hit 30 or more home runs five times (a high of 42 in 2002); drove in 100+ runs in six seasons; scored 100+ runs in five campaigns; and hit over .300 five times. Berkman is also one of only 21 major leagues to hit 55 or more doubles in a season and put up a .317-9-41 stat line in 52 post-season contests.

THE BBWAA OFFICIAL BALLOT VERSUS BBRT’S UNOFFICIAL FAN BALLOT

Here are a few comparison between the BBWAA Balloting and BBRT’s fan voting.

While the top four players were the same on both sets of ballots, the fan balloting seemed more demanding. In the fan ballot only Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martinez got the necessary 75 percent. Halladay and Mussina were in the 55-60 percent range.
Fans voting in the BBRT ballot were also a tougher sell on Rivera, who got 86.5 percent of the fan vote.
Players selected per ballot were fairly even,with fans casting votes for 7.7 players per ballot and the writers voting for 8.0 per ballot.
Fans seemed less forgiving than the writers when it came to PED suspicions. For example, in the BBWAA balloting, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds got 59.5 and 59.1 percent of the vote, respectively. In the BBRT fan balloting, Clemens got 44.9 percent and Bonds 43.2.
Fans spread their votes around a bit more. In BBRT’s fan balloting only three players received zero votes, while in the BBWAA official ballot eleven players were shutout.
Sixteen players were “one and done” on the BBWAA ballot (less than five percent support), while fifteen received less than five percent on the BBRT fan ballot. The names on the “one and done” lists were identical except that Miguel Tejada received 7.3 on BBRT’s unofficial fan ballot, but only 1.2 percent on the BBWAA ballot.

A half dozen other notable differences between the BBWAA ballot and BBRT’s unofficial fan balloting:

Curt Schilling finished fifth in the BBWAA ballot at 60.9 percent – and 13th in BBRT ballot at 27.6 percent.
Fred McGriff (in his tenth and final year on the ballot) finished tenth on the BBWAA ballot (39.8 percent, up 16.6 points from the previous year). He finished fifth in the fan balloting at 49.5 percent (up 11.6 points).
Jeff Kent got 18.1 percent of the BBWAA vote and 34.9 percent in the fan vote.
Scott Rolen got 17.2 percent support in both tallies.
Todd Helton received 16.5 percent support from the writers, 36.5 percent in the fan balloting.
Andruw Jones got just 7.5 percent in the writers’ balloting, 21.4 percent in the BBRT fan vote.

Here’s the full comparison.

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BIGGEST HOF SNUBS

The BBRT Fan Ballot asked for comments on which players represent the most significant Hall of Fame Snubs. Here are the leaders (in terms of mentions.

Barry Bonds – 11 mentions

Roger Clemens – 8

Jim Kaat – 7

Fred McGriff – 4

Dale Murphy – 4

From BBRT’s perspective: I’d go with Jim Kaat (283 wins/16 Gold Gloves); Jeff Kent (Most HR’s in MLB history/MVP Award/1,500+ RBI); and Larry Walker (.313 career average/three batting titles/MVP Award/seven Gold Gloves).

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2019 BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Now a look at the 2019 inductees.

Mariano Rivera – 100 Percent … (RHP/Closer, 1995-2013) … First year on the ballot.

Photo by Keith Allison

Rivera is at the top of the 2019 HOF class, no matter how you look at it – and we finally have our first unanimous selection. (Although I did always like the speculation.)

Rivera spent nineteen years with the Yankees and racked up an MLB-best 652 career saves. He was an All-star in 13 seasons, led the AL in games saved three times and finished in the top three in Cy Young voting four times. He saved 30 or more games in a season 15 times (including nine seasons of 40 or more saves, two of fifty or more) and put up an overall won-lost record of 80-52, with a 2.21 earned run average in 1,114 games. In 11 of his 19 seasons, Rivera’s earned run average was under 2.00 – which included a four-season span (2003-06), in which he saved 170 games, won 21 (13 losses) and put up a 1.69 ERA in 302 2/3 innings pitched. In his final season – at age 43 – Rivera went 6-2, with a 2.11 ERA and 44 saves. Rivera was the American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in five seasons and the MLB Delivery Man of the Year in three campaigns.

In 96 post-season appearances, Rivera went 8-1, with 42 saves and a minuscule 0.70 ERA. Rivera was named the World Series MVP in 1999 and the ALCS MVP in 2003. In 58 of his 96 post-season appearances, Rivera pitched more than one inning. In the 2003 post-season, he appeared in eight games, pitching 16 innings (more than one frame in seven of the eight appearances), earning a win and five saves, giving up just one earned run (0.56 ERA).

Mariano Rivera’s Best Season: Lots to choose from here – like 43 saves and a 1.38 ERA in 2005; or 44 saves and a 1.91 ERA in 2011 (at age 41). BBRT will go with 2004, when Rivera saved a career-high 53 games, won four (lost two) and posted a 1.94 ERA

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Edgar Martinez – 85.4 Percent … (Designated Hitter/Third Base, 1987-2004) … Tenth/Final year on the ballot, 70.4 percent on the BBWAA ballot in 2018.

Photo by clare_and_ben

We’ve seen some bias against designated hitters in past voting, but Edgar Martinez’ election indicates this may be subsiding. Martinez clearly, and expertly, defined the DH role. In an 18-season MLB career (all with the Mariners), Martinez was named to seven All Star teams; won a pair of batting titles (hitting a high of .356 in 1995); earned five Silver Slugger Awards; topped 100 RBI in six seasons (leading the league with 145 in 2000); and scored 100 or more runs five times (leading the league with 121 in 1995). He finished his career with a .312 average; 2,247 hits; 1,219 runs; 1,261 RBI; 309 home runs; and 514 doubles.

Martinez hit .571 in the 1995 AL Championship Series (12-for-21), with two home runs, six walks and 10 RBI in five games. In 34 post-season games, he hit .266, with eight home runs and 24 RBI.

Edgar Martinez’ Best Season: One of two … In 1995, Martinez led the league in batting average (.356), runs scored (121) and doubles (52), adding 29 home runs and 113 RBI. In 2005, Martinez put up a .324 average, 37 home runs, a league-leading 145 RBI and 100 runs scored.

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Roy Halladay – 85.4 percent …. (RHP/Starter, 1998-2013) … First year on the ballot.

Photo by Keith Allison

Roy Halladay had one of the best-ever ten-year runs on the mound (2002-2011). In those ten seasons, he went 170-75, with a 2.97 earned run average and 1,699 strikeouts in 2,194 2/3 innings. He was an All Star eight times during that span and won a pair of Cy Young Awards (2003 and 2010). Halladay also recorded three seasons of 20 or more wins during those ten seasons, leading his league twice. Between 2002 and 2011, he also led his league in complete games seven times, shutouts four times and innings pitched four times.

And, there is more to support Halladay’s candidacy. On May 10, 2010, he pitched a perfect game – striking out 11 – as his Phillies topped the Marlins 1-0 in Miami. Then, on October 6, 2010, Halladay tossed a no-hitter against the Reds in Game One of the National League Division Series – walking one and fanning eight as the Phillies won 4-0. It was just the second no-hitter in post-season history. Halladay was also one of just six pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues.

Halladay finished his career at 203-105, 3.38 with 2,117 strikeouts in 2,749 1/3 innings pitched. He pitched for the Blue Jays (1998-2009) and Phillies (2010-13).

Roy Halladay’s Best Season: In his 2010 Cy Young Award season – after being traded from the Blue Jays to the Phillies in December of 2009 – Halladay led the NL in wins (21-10); complete games (nine), shutouts (four), and innings pitched (250 2/3), while putting up a 2.35 ERA (third in the league), fanning 219 batters (second in the NL) and walking just 30. His 7.3 strikeouts to walks ratio was the NL’s best.

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Mike Mussina – 76.7 Percent … (RHP/Starter, 1991-2008) – Sixth year on the ballot 63.5 percent on the BBWAA 2018 ballot.

Photo by Willie Zhang

Mussina built a 270-153 record, with a career 3.68 ERA and 2,813 strikeouts over 18 seasons. While only once a 20-game winner (in his final season, at age 39), Mussina won 18 or 19 games five times, leading the AL with 19 wins in 1995. In his first three full seasons in the major leagues (1992-94), Mussina put up a .700 or better winning percentage each year (.783, .700, .762). His record over that span – for the Orioles – was 48-16.

Mussina was a five-time All Star and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. He recorded a .650 or better winning percentage in nine seasons, with a career (and league-leading) high of .783 in 1992. Mussina ranks among the top 25 pitchers all-time in strikeouts (20th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (24^th among pitchers with 1,000 or more innings pitched). He’s also in the top fifty all-time in games started, wins and winning percentage. Mussina pitched for the Orioles (1991-2000) and Yankees (2000-2008). Mussina appeared in 23 post-season games, with a 7-8 record and a 3.42 ERA.

Mike Mussina’s Best Season: Mussina may have saved his best for last. In his final season (as a Yankee), at age 39, he recorded his first twenty-win campaign. That year, Mussina went 20-9, 3.37 – and proved his durability by leading the AL in starts with 34, logging his 11th season of 200 or more innings pitched and earning his seventh Gold Glove

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— Today’s Game Era Committee Electees—-

Lee Smith (RHP) … 1980-97

Photo by terren in Virginia

From Baseball Roundtable’s perspective, Lee Smith should have been in the Hall of Fame years ago. However, in his 15 years on the traditional ballot, he never garnered more than 50.6 percent support – and never less than 29.9 percent.

Why does BBRT feel strongly about Lee Smith spot in the Hall? Smith’s 478 career saves put him third on the all-time list (he was number-one when he retired after the 1997 season). He recorded 13 consecutive seasons (in an 18-year career) of 25 or more saves, a 3.03 lifetime ERA and 1,251 strikeouts in 1,289 innings pitched; led his league in saves four times; made seven All Star teams; and was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in three seasons. Smith also is one of just 16 pitchers to appear in 1,000 or more MLB games. His 1,022 appearances put him at number 13.

Smith pitched for the Chicago Cubs (1980-87); Boston Red Sox (1988-90); St. Louis Cardinals (1990-93); New York Yankees (1993); Baltimore Orioles (1994); California Angels (1995-96); Cincinnati Reds (1996); Montreal Expos (1997).

Lee Smith’s best season: 1991, Cardinals … 6-3, 2.34 ERA, 47 saves, 73 innings pitched, 67 strikeouts.

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Harold Baines (OF/DH) … 1980-2001

Photo by Keith Allison

Harold Baines had a 22-season MLB career. He was a six-time All Star and two-time winner of the Designated Hitter of the Year Award. He is in the top 50 players all-time in hits with 2,866 (46th) and RBI with 1,628 (34th). Baines, with a .289 career average, hit .300 or better in nine seasons. He was a steady source of power with 384 home runs, never reaching 30 in a season, but hitting 20 or more home runs in ten campaigns. He drove in 100+ runs in three seasons and scored 1,299 runs in his career. Baines hit .324, with five home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored in 31 post-season contests. Harold Baines played for the White Sox (1980-1989, 1996-1997, 2000-2001); Rangers (1989-1990); A’s (1990-1992); Orioles (1993-1995, 1997-2000); and Indians (1999).

Harold Baines’ best season: Baines’ best MLB campaign may have been 1999, when – at age 40 – he made his final All Star team and hit .312, with 25 home runs and 103 RBI, playing for the Orioles and Indians. That season, Baines also hit .357 (5-for-16), with one home run and four RBI in four post-season (ALDS) games.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; Society for American Baseball Research.

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BBRT Trivia Teaser … Looking for the Flint Flash

January 19, 2019 by David

Baseball Roundtable Trivia Teaser

Who holds the professional baseball record for the most stolen bases in a single season?

While not a multiple choice question, this query does have multiple acceptable answers – at least in Baseball Roundtable’s view.

If you are going with Major League Baseball post-1900, you would be looking at MLB’s all-time best lead-off hitter – Rickey Henderson – who swiped 130 bases for the Oakland A’s in 1982,

If you would prefer MLB all-time, we are talking about Hugh Nicol, credited with 138 steals for the 1887 American Association (considered a major league) Cincinnati Red Stockings. (At that time, stolen bases were credited on a different standard. A player, for example, was awarded a steal for taking an extra base on a teammate’s hit – say, for going from first to third on a single.)

Side note: Researching this post, I did come across a couple of references to a 140-stolen base season by Tommy McCarthy (St. Louis Browns, American Associating, 1890). However, Baseball-Refeence.com; Baseball-Almanac.com and the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia all credit McCarthy with a league-leading 83 steals that campaign.

If you want to include the minor leagues, Reds’ CF Billy Hamilton (who recently signed with the Royals as a free agent) is your guy. In 2012, Hamilton played in 132 games at High A (Bakersfield Blaze) and Double A (Pensacola Blue Wahoos), pilfering a combined, minor-league record 155 bags.

The answer BBRT is looking for. However, put all of the above to shame. In 1946, Sophie Kurys of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League’s (AAGPBL) Racine Belles stole an all-time professional record of 201 bases (in 113 games) – and she was thrown out only twice. (By comparison, in his 130-steal season, Rickey Henderson was gunned down 42 times.)

Let’s take a look at the players who make up this quartet of acceptable answers, starting with Kurys.

Sophie Kurys … 1946 Racine Bells … 201 Stolen Bases

At just 5’ 5”, 120-pounds, the biggest thing about the Racine Belle’s second baseman was her daring heart. An all-around great player (four-time AAGPBL All Star), Kurys was at her best when she was on the base paths – stealing 1,114 bases in 914 games. Kurys, who earned the nicknames the Flint Flash (she hailed form Flint, Michigan) and Tina Cobb (after the Tigers’ great base stealer), stole 115 or more bases in seven straight seasons – and she did it in a skirt (no sliding pads) on infields that were often as rougher than sandpaper.

Kurys, who signed with the AAGPBL in 1943, was a superb athlete. As a teenager, she was a leading competitor in track, basketball, softball and volleyball. After a successful tryout, she further proved her athletic skills and competitive heart with the AAGPBL Racine Belles.

Kurys holds the AAGPBL single season records for runs scored (117); walks (93); and, of course, steals (201). She also holds the AAGPBL career records for runs scored (688) and stolen bases (1,114). She was a All Star each season from 1946 through 1949 and the AAGPBL Player of the Year in 1946. Kurys led the league in stolen bases seven times, runs scored six times and home runs once.

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Billy Hamilton … 2012 Bakersfield Blaze and Pensacola Blue Wahoos … 155 Stolen Bases

Photo by Keith Allison

The minor league stolen base record belongs to Billy Hamilton, who swiped 155 bases in 1955, while playing in the Reds’ farm system. Hamilton signed with the Reds in 2009, after being selected in the second round of the June MLB Draft. Like the other players that share portions of the professional stolen base record (at least for the purposes of this post), Hamilton was an all-around athlete – a high school all-stater (Mississippi) in baseball, basketball and football.

In his first two minor league campaigns, the 6’, 180-pound switch hitter stole 62 bases in 112 games (caught just 12 times) for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Reds and Pioneer League Billings Mustangs. In 2001, the then 20-year-old turned on the afterburners with the Class A Dayton Dragons, hitting .278 and swiping 103 bases in 123 attempts. Then came 2012, when he took the field for 132 games (at High A and double A), hitting a combined .311, with 155 steals 192 attempts.

Hamilton spent most of 2013 in the minors, swiping another 75 bases – this time for the Triple A Louisville Bats (.256 average in 123 games). He made his MLB debut on September 3 of that season. In his first MLB starting assignment – September 18, 2013, Hamilton (playing CF and batting ninth against the AL Astros) went three-for-four, with two walks, two runs scored, one RBI and four stolen bases. Over the past five MLB campaigns (all with the Reds), Hamilton has averaged .244 and stolen 264 bases – topping 50 four times.

Pretty Appropriate “Namesake”

Before today’s fleet-footed Billy Hamilton, MLB featured “Sliding Billy” Hamilton – who made his MLB debut in 1888 with the American Association Kansas City Cowboys. Hamilton played 11 MLB seasons, during which he topped 100 steals four times (and led his league in steals five times), with a high of 111 (1889 American Association Kansas City Cowboys and 1891 Philadelphia Phillies). Hamilton collected 2,164 MLB hits (.344 average) and stole 914 bases – MLB’s third-most all time. Pretty good (and fast) footsteps for today’s Billy Hamilton to follow in.

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Hugh Nicol … 1887 American Association Cincinnati Red Stockings … 138 Stolen Bases

Photo: Library of Congress

Cincinnati Red Stockings’ outfielder Hugh Nicol was “slight” even by 1880’s standards – standing just 5’4’ and weighing at 145 pounds. While, he wasn’t exactly a potent offensive force with the bat (.235 average over a ten-season MLB career), he could do some damage on the base paths – being credited with an American Association high 138 stolen bases in 1887. (Keep in mind that, at the time, stolen bases were award when a runner took an extra base on a batter’s hit – like moving from first to third on a single.) It was the only season Nicol led his league in steals, although he did top 100 thefts in 1888 and reached 80 in 1889.

In ten LB seasons (1881-90), Nicol played in 88 games, hitting .235 (813 hits), scoring 631 runs and driving in 272. He is credited with 383 stolen bases, but five of his MLB seasons came before stolen base were recorded.

Hugh Nicol was – again like all the players in this post – an all-around gifted athlete; particularly skilled in gymnastics and wrestling. Nicol, in fact, was known to supplement his baseball income as a gymnastics instructor. Nicol put his acrobatic skills to use in the outfield – earning a reputation for his range and dexterity. He twice led his league in outfield assists (also finishing second twice), twice finished second in outfield fielding percentage and twice finished in the top four in outfield putouts and double plays.

Hugh Nicol, in 1906, was selected as the first Athletic Director at Purdue University.

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Rickey Henderson … 1982 Oakland A’s … 130 Stolen Bases

Photo by Gary Soup

What can you say about Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson (off and running in the photo to the left), who swiped an MLB-record 130 bases for the A’s in 1982? What a year that was, as the 5’10/180-pound outfielder hit .267 (149 games), scored 119 runs, hit ten homers, drove in 51 runs and stole a 130 bags in 172 attempts.

It’s getting repetitive, but these all-time base stealers were all all-around athletes. In high school, Henderson starred in baseball, football and basketball. Henderson was, in fact, a high school All-American in football.

Born to be Wild

There can be no double that Henderson ran wild on the base paths. He led his league in stolen bases 12 times – and in caught stealing five times.

Henderson was selected by the A’s right out of high school, in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB Draft. And, he was going full speed right out of the gate. As a 17-year-old with the Low-A (Northwest League) Boise A’s, Henderson hit .336 and stole 29 bases in 46 games. That performance was just the first step in his “fast’ track to the major leagues. Henderson moved up to Class A Modesto in 1977 and hit .345, with 95 steals and 120 runs scored in 134 games; while also popping 11 home runs.

Let’ Get this Party Started

On May 26, 1977, Rickey Henderson stole seven bases in a single game, as his Modesto A’s topped the Fresno Giants 13-12 in a California League contest.

To make a long story short, in 3 ½ minor league seasons, Henderson hit .325 and stole 249 bases in 384 games. On June 24, 1979, the 20-year-old Henderson made his MLB debut and the rest – as they say – is history. In a 25-year MLB career, Henderson (who played for nine teams) was a ten-time All Star and the 1980 American League Most Valuable Player. He led his league in stolen bases 12 times, runs scored five times, walks four times and base hits once. He holds the MLB records for career stolen bases (1,406), run scored (2,295) and lead-off home runs (81). Henderson stole 100 or more bases three times (50 or more 14 times); scored 100 or more runs in a season 13 times; drew 100 or more walks seven times; and hit 20 more more home runs in four seasons.

Talk About Longevity

Rickey Henderson captured his first stolen base crown in 1980 (100 steals) at the age of 21. He won his final stolen base crown in 1998, at the age of 39 (when he swiped 66 bases in 79 attempts).

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; AAGPBL.org; Society for American Baseball Research; The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia.

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BBRT Unofficial 2019 Hall of Fame Fan Ballot – One Tough Crowd

January 14, 2019 by David

Baseball Roundtable’s 2019 unofficial fan Hall of Fame balloting is complete – and, in this post, I’d like to share the results and a few early observations. (I will post a more detailed comparison of the Baseball Writers Association of America – BBWAA – official balloting and the BBRT fan voting once the official results are announced on January 22). Note: This year’s fan ballot results include 192 ballots (218 were cast, but 26 were eliminated, primarily on one of two grounds; they either included more than the allotted ten votes or represented multiple ballots from the same individual.

Here are some early notes. When BBRT ran its first fan ballot last year, I fully expected the fans to be less demanding of candidates than the BBWAA. Oops! A swing and a miss! Last year, the writers voted in Chipper Jones (97.2 percent); Vlad Guerrero (92.9 percent); Jim Thome (81.8 percent); and Trevor Hoffman (79.9 percent). While the BBRT fan vote put the same four players at the top, only two got the required 75 percent – Chipper Jones (90.0 percent and Jim Thome (75.9 percent). Vlad Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman got 71.7 percent and 57.5 percent, respectively.

2019 FAN BALLOT – Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martinez Garner 75 Percent-plus

Only two players got the required 75 percent support in the 2019 BBRT fan ballot: Mariano Rivera (86.5 percent) and Edgar Martinez (75.5 percent). A coincidence of interest to BBRT, both were at positions subject to previous negative bias in HOF voting and both so eloquently (through their performance) defined those positions that Major League Baseball now has awards named after them: The Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award and The Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.

In the publicly announced BBWAA balloting (171 ballots as of January 14/41.5 percent of eligible voters), Rivera and Martinez received even stronger support than in the BBRT fan ballot, with Rivera at 100 percent and Martinez at 90.1 percent. Perhaps even more notable, in the BBWAA ballots made public through January 14, Roy Halladay (94.2 percent) and Mike Mussina (81.3 percent) were also above 75 percent mark. Should those results hold, we would again see four candidate getting the needed 75 percent support from the BBWAA and just two receiving three-fourths of the fan vote. I do anticipate percentages to slip a bit as final BBWAA vote totals are announced – based on an expectation that voters who voted for the fewest candidates at the least likely to have publicly released their ballots. Of considerable interest will be whether Rivera becomes the first unanimous electee.

Note: You can view an update total of BBWAA publicly revealed ballot at bbhoftracker.com

In the Baseball Roundtable 2019 Hall of Fame Fan Ballot, participants voted for an average of 7.7 players per ballot. In the publicly announced BBWAA official balloting (through January 14), voters selected 8.7 players per ballot. Those numbers mirror full 2018 voting, when BBRT ballots showed 7.9 players per voter, while the BBWAA voters selected 8.5 per ballot.

PED FORGIVENESS SLOW IN COMING FROM FANS

Comparing BBWAA balloting (again publicly released ballots through January 14), fans seem less forgiving then the writers when it comes to PED suspicions. For example, in the fan ballot, Roger Clemens came in at 44.8 percent; Barry Bonds at 43.2 percent; and Sammy Sosa at 8.9 percent. Through January 14, the publicly announced BBWAA total for those three were 73.1 percent, 72.5 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively. Also, of note; fan vote percentages were down from 2018 for all three; while BBWAA percentages were up from 2018 finals for all three.

BIGGEST GAINERS AND LOSERS IN BBRT FAN BALLOT

Here’s a look at the biggest gainers and losers in the BBRT 2019 Fan Ballot. BBRT will look at official BBWAA ballot gainers and losers when the final tallies are in.

Largest Gains

Larry Walker … +18.7 (28.7% to 47.4%)

Edgar Martinez … +18 .0 (57.5 to 75.5)

Mike Mussina … +13.0 (44.8 to 57.8)

Fred McGriff … +11.6 (37.9 to 49.5)

Jeff Kent … +10.8 (24.1 to 34.9)

Biggest Losses

Curt Schilling … -8.0 (35.6 to 27.6)

Roger Clemens … -4.2 (49.0 to 44.8)

Sammy Sosa … -4.1 (13.0 to 8.9)

Barry Bonds … -3.5 (46.7 to 43.2)

BIGGEST HOF SNUBS

The BBRT Fan Ballot also asked for comments on which players represent the most significant Hall of Fame Snubs. Here are the leaders (in terms of mentions.

Barry Bonds – 11 mentions

Roger Clemens – 8

Jim Kaat – 7

Fred McGriff – 4

Dale Murphy 4

Three each: Jeff Kent; Edgar Martinez; Mike Mussina; Ted Simmons; Sammy Sosa.

There will be more to come when the official BBWAA results are released. In the meantime, here’s how BBRT would have voted if I had a ballot. (I would select the maximum ten players.)

——IF I HAD A BALLOT – BBRT’S WISHFUL THINKING——

Mariano Rivera – (RHP/Closer, 1995-2013) … First year on the ballot.

The question is not whether Rivera is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, it’s will he be the first-ever unanimous electee. Best guess, there will be at least one BBWAA holdout. He is at the top of the 2019 HOF class, no matter how you look at it.

Nineteen years with the Yankees and an MLB-best 652 career saves. Rivera was an All-star in 13 seasons, led the AL in games saved three times and finished in the top three in Cy Young voting four times. He saved 30 or more games in a season 15 times (including nine seasons of 40 or more saves, two of fifty or more) and put up an overall won-lost record of 80-52, with a 2.21 earned run average in 1,114 games. In 11 of his 19 seasons, Rivera’s earned run average was under 2.00 – which included a four-season span (2003-06), in which he saved 170 games, won 21 (13 losses) and put up a 1.69 ERA in 302 2/3 innings pitched. In his final season – at age 43 – Rivera went 6-2, with a 2.11 ERA and 44 saves. Rivera was the American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in five seasons and the MLB Delivery Man of the Year in three campaigns.

In 2014, MLB established the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award (and the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year recognition) – replacing the MLB Delivery Man of the Year Award.

Rivera was also an elite performer in the clutch. In 96 post-season appearances, he went 8-1, with 42 saves and a minuscule 0.70 ERA. Rivera was named the World Series MVP in 1999 and the ALCS MVP in 2003. In 58 of his 96 post-season appearances, Rivera pitched more than one inning. In the 2003 post-season, he appeared in eight games, pitching 16 innings (more than one frame in seven of the eight appearances), earning a win and five saves, giving up just one earned run (0.56 ERA).

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Edgar Martinez – (Designated Hitter/Third Base, 1987-2004) … Tenth/Final year on the ballot, 70.4 percent on the BBWAA ballot in 2018.

Photo by clare_and_ben

We’ve seen some prejudice against designated hitters in past voting, but Edgar Martinez has made progress against that negative bias – getting 70.4 percent pf the vote last season, a healthy increase from 58.6 percent in 2017. Martinez’ vote percentage has increased every year since 2015. The fact that this is his final year on the ballot should provide that final push. In publicly released BBWAA ballots through January 14, he stands at 90.1 percent. This will be the year. (Side note: Martinez came in at 75.5 percent on the BBRT fan ballot.)

Martinez clearly, and expertly, defined the DH role. In an 18-season MLB career (all with the Mariners), Martinez was named to seven All Star teams; won a pair of batting titles (hitting a high of .356 in 1995); earned five Silver Slugger Awards; topped 100 RBI in six seasons (leading the league with 145 in 2000); and scored 100 or more runs five times (leading the league with 121 in 1995). He finished his career with a .312 average; 2,247 hits; 1,219 runs; 1,261 RBI; 309 home runs; and 514 doubles.

Martinez hit .571 in the 1995 AL Championship Series (12-for-21), with two home runs, six walks and 10 RBI in five games. In 34 post-season games, he hit .266, with eight home runs and 24 RBI.

In 2004, MLB renamed the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award “The Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.” That says a lot, right there.

Edgar Martinez’ Best Season: One of two here, In 1995, Martinez led the league in batting average (.356), runs scored (121) and doubles (52), adding 29 home runs and 113 RBI. In 2005, Martinez put up a .324 average, 37 home runs, a league-leading 145 RBI and 100 runs scored.

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Mike Mussina – (RHP/Starter, 1991-2008) – Sixth year on the ballot 63.5 percent on the BBWAA 2018 ballot.

Photo by Willie Zhang

In 2015, BBRT speculated that the presence newcomers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz on the Hall of Fame ballot would dampen the chances of all other pitchers – including Mike Mussina – for election. This year, I speculated that the addition of Roy Halladay to the ballot would help Mussina. Basically, I anticipated that Halladay would generate considerable support and that, as BBWAA voters considered a ballot for Halladay (who has 203 wins), Mussina’s 270 victories will carry additional weight. That seems to be coming to pass, with Halladay standing at 94.2 percent through January 14 and Mussina at 81.3 percent.

Since his first-ballot percentage of 20.3 percent in 2014, Mussina’s totals have climbed each year – 24.6 percent in 2015; 43.0 percent in 2016; 51.5 percent in 2017; and 63.5 percent in 2018. He would have had BBRT’s vote in each of those years – and in 2019.

Mussina was a five-time All Star and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. He recorded a .650 or better winning percentage in nine seasons, with a career (and league-leading) high of .783 in 1992. Mussina ranks among the top 25 pitchers all-time in strikeouts (20th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (24^th among pitchers with 1,000 or more innings pitched). He’s also in the top fifty all-time in games started, wins and winning percentage. While the lack of a Cy Young Award on his resume may hurt him, he finished his career 117 games over .500 – and history says 100 or more wins than losses should be good for a ticket to the Hall. Mussina pitched for the Orioles (1991-2000) and Yankees (2000-2008).

On September 2, 2001, Mike Mussina – pitching for the Yankees – retired the first 26 Red Sox batters he faced and came with one strike of a perfect game. Mussina had a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Carl Everett before Everett blooped a single to left-center. Mussina ended up with a 1-0, one-hit shutout victory.

Mussina appeared in 23 post-season games, with a 7-8 record and a 3.42 ERA.

Mussina deserves a spot in Cooperstown and I expect it will be a VERY close call – but it looks like he will make it this year.

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Roy Halladay – (RHP/Starter, 1998-2013) … First year on the ballot.

Photo by Keith Allison

Halladay would get BBRT’s vote and (through January 14) is running at just over 90 percent among publicly revealed BBWAA ballots. If there is a negative in his candidacy it’s that, in the six seasons outside his ten-year run of excellence, Halladay was 33-26, 5.03. Halladay finished his career at 203-105, 3.38 with 2,117 strikeouts in 2,749 1/3 innings pitched. That appears to be enough for BBWAA voters. Halladay pitched for the Blue Jays (1998-2009) and Phillies (2010-13).

Roy Halladay is one of just six pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues.

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Larry Walker – (Outfield, 1989-2005) … Ninth year on the ballot, 34.1 percent from the BBWAA last year.

Larry Walker played for the Expos (1989-1994), Rockies (1995-2004) and Cardinals (2004-2005). Given BBRT’s admiration for “lumber AND leather,” Walker’s combination of three batting titles, three Silver Slugger Awards and seven Gold Gloves earns him my vote.

Walker played 17 MLB seasons and retired with 2,160 hits, a .313 average and three batting titles. Between 1997 and 2001, he hit .350 or better in four of five seasons. The five-time All Star (and 1997 NL MVP) hit 383 home runs (a high of 49 in 1997) and stole 230 bases (a high of 33 in 1997). Walker hit just .230 in 28 post-season games, but did rack up seven home runs, 15 RBI and sixteen walks in those contests. Walker’s ten seasons in hitter-friendly Colorado may be hurting his vote totals – he hit .383 for his career in Coors, .271 elsewhere. Still, BBRT believes if you add his Gold Glove defense to his productive bat, you have a Hall of Famer. I’m also not much for punishing a player for taking full advantage of his home-field conditions.

Walker has shown progress this voting cycle, going from 34.1 percent among BBWAA voters in 2018 to 66.5 percent on publicly revealed BBWAA ballots (through January 14). He also made a 19-point leap on the BBRT fan ballot. He has just one more year on the ballot, so a big move this year is crucial.

In 1997, Larry Walker led the NL with 409 total bases – the 18th highest single-season total all-time. (There have been only 29 seasons of 400 or more total bases in MLB history).

Larry Walker’s Best Season: In his 1997 NL MVP year (Rockies), Walker hit .366, with a league-leading 49 home runs. He drove in 130 runs, scored 143, rapped 46 doubles, led the league in total bases at 409, topped the league in slugging percentage at .720 and even threw in 33 stolen bases and a Gold Glove. That’s using all five tools.

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Todd Helton – (First Base, 1997-2013) … First year on the ballot.

Todd Helton would seem to have a good shot at the Hall, but is not likely to be a first-ballot inductee – in part due to the fact that he spent his entire 17-year career with the Rockies (playing half his games in hitter-friendly Coors field). Helton, who put up a .316 career average, hit .345 at home and .287 on the road. Despite that home/road split, Helton’s body of work deserves HOF consideration. He was a five-time All Star, three-time Gold Glover and four-time Silver Slugger. He hit over .300 in 12 seasons – and won the NL batting crown in 2000 with a .372 average. His 59 doubles that season are the sixth-most all-time. Helton drove in 100 or more runs in five seasons and scored in triple figures six times. His 1,335 walks (36^th all-time) indicate the respect he earned at the plate. It looks like he’ll be in the 20-25 percent range on the BBWAA ballot and he finished at 36.5 percent in the BBRT fan balloting. His vote totals should climb over time – and he would continue to get BBRT’s vote.

Todd Helton’s is one of only 18 players to reach 400 or more total bases in a season – and one of only seven players to have multiple 400+ total base campaigns.

Todd Helton’s Best Season: In 2000, Helton won the NL batting crown with a .372 average – and also led the league in base hits (216), doubles (59), RBI (147), on-base percentage (.463), slugging percentage (.698) and total bases (405). He also scored 138 runs and hit 42 home runs.

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Jeff Kent – (Second Base/Third Base/First Base, 1992-2008) … Sixth year on the ballot, 14.5 percent from the BBWAA last year.

BBRT believes Jeff Kent is a deserving candidate, but he has not been getting much support from the writers (14.5 percent a year ago, 12.9 percent in publicly released ballots through January 14). He does better in BBRT’s fan balloting (34.9 percent this year), but still falls far short of 75 percent. Kent holds the all-time MLB record for home runs by a second baseman (351 of his 377 career round trippers were hit while in the lineup at second base). He has a healthy .290 career batting average; his 1,518 RBI are 54th all time; and his 560 doubles 28th.

Jeff Kent has more career runs batted in than such noted Hall of Famers as Mickey Mantle, Billy Williams, Eddie Mathews, Duke Snider and Orlando Cepeda.

Kent was a five-time All Star and the 2000 NL MVP. As primarily a middle infielder, he hit 20 or more home runs in 12 seasons (a high of 37 in 2007) and topped 100 RBI eight times. He hit .276, with nine home runs and 23 RBI in 49 post-season games. A couple of Gold Gloves, at this traditionally defense-oriented position, would have really helped his case. Kent played for the Blue Jays (1992); Mets (1992-1996); Indians (1996); Giants (1997-2002); Astros (2003-2004); and Dodgers (2005-2008).

Jeff Kent’s Best Season: With the Giants in 2000, Kent put up these stats – 159 games; 196 hits; .334 average; 33 home runs; 125 RBI; 114 runs; 12 steals. His performance earned him the NL MVP Award.

Kent would BBRT’s vote – and I believe the BBWAA’s support is overdue (but not forthcoming).

_________________________________

Omar Vizquel – (Shortstop/Third Base, 1989-2012) – Second year on the ballot, 37.0 percent on 2018 ballot.

Omar Vizquel got off to a good start toward an HOF plaque, grabbing 37 percent support on his first-ballot year. Vizquel, who once again earns BBRT’s vote, is standing relatively stable in both BBRT’s fan vote and the official BBWAA balloting. If Vizquel does make it to the HOF, it will be more with his glove (eleven Gold Gloves) than his bat. However, voters should be mindful of the fact that he finished his 24-season MLB career just 123 hits short of that milestone 3,000 safeties. Vizquel delivered premier defense to the Mariners (1989-1993); Indians (1994-2004); Giants (2005-2008); Rangers (2009); White Sox (2010-2011); and Blue Jays (2012). He was a three-time All Star – and put together a string of nine straight Gold Gloves at shortstop (1993-2001).

Omar Vizquel led his league in sacrifice bunts four times.

In the field, Vizquel has the second-highest career fielding percentage (.9847) among shortstops with at least 500 games at the position. The still-active Jose Eglasias is number one at .9853. Vizquel is also the all-time leader among shortstops in double plays, ranks third at the position for career assists and 11th in putouts. He shares the record (with Cal Ripken, Jr.) for the fewest errors by a shortstop in a season of at least 150 games played (three).

On offense, Vizquel put up a serviceable .272 career average, with 80 home runs, 951 RBI and 1,445 runs scored. The 1,445 runs put him in the top 100 players all-time (82nd); while his 2,877 hits puts him in the top 50 (43rd). He also swiped 404 bases – topping twenty steals eight times (a high of 42 in 1999) – putting him at number 72 on the all-time list. Vizquel played in 57 post-season games, hitting .250-0-20.

Omar Vizquel’s Best Season: In 1999, with the Indians, Vizquel hit a surprising .333, with five home runs, 66 RBI, 112 runs scored and 42 stolen bases – and, of course, won a Gold Glove at shortstop.

____________________________________________

Fred McGriff – (First Base, 1986-2004) … Tenth/final year on the ballot, 23.2 percent last year.

Fred McGriff played for the Blue Jays (1986-1990), Padres (1991-1993), Braves (1993-1997), Devil Rays (1998-2001, 2004), Cubs (2001-2002) and Dodgers (2003). McGriff was five-time All Star, who bashed 493 career home runs (led his league twice, hit 30 or more home runs in a season ten times); topped 100 RBI eight times (career total 1,550); and put up a .284 career average over 19 seasons. He ranks among MLB top 50 all-time in home runs, RBI, extra base hits and walks. McGriff was the 1994 All Star Game MVP. McGriff was also a solid post-season performer, going .303-10-37 in 50 post-season games.

Fred McGriff retired with 493 home runs, exactly matching the total of another well-respected first sacker – Lou Gehrig.

Fred McGriff’s Best Season: In 1999. McGriff hit .318, with 34 home runs and 104 RBI for Tampa Bay.

McGriff is getting a bit boost because this is his final year on the ballot, but is still falling far short of the 75 percent needed for induction. (He’s at 35.1 percent on publicly revealed ballots through January 14.) Despite his 493 round trippers (seven more certainly would have helped his case, as would a couple of 40+ HR seasons), McGriff will have to wait for election through the “Era Committees.”.

____________________________________________

Andy Pettitte – (LHP/Starter, 1995-2010, 2012-13) … First year on the ballot.

I had to think for awhile on this one, largely because a major part of Andy Pettitte’s HOF resume was achieved in the post-season. Pettitte holds the MLB post-season marks for most wins (19 … versus 11 losses), innings pitched (276 2/3), games started (44), and is second in strikeouts (183). His post-season accomplishments include a 3.81 career ERA and the 2001 American League Championship Series MVP Award.

Andy Pettitte started 30 or more games in a season 12 times, leading his league three times (1997, 2006, 2007.)

Pettitte was no slouch in the regular season (Yankees – 1995-2003, 2007-2010, 2012-13) and Astros (2004-06). He finished with 256 wins (153 losses) and a 3.85 ERA. Pettitte won 20 games in two seasons and 14 or more games 12 times – leading the AL with 21 wins in 1996. (As noted earlier, 100 more wins than losses seems to be a good standard for serious HOF consideration.) The three-time All Star struck out 2,448 batters (42nd all-time) in 2,316 innings. BBWAA voters aren’t showing much support, despite the 250 wins. Through January 14, Pettitte was names on just 7 percent of the publicly released BBWAA ballots. He did better on the BBRT fan ballot – 27.6 percent.

Andy Pettitte’s Best Season: In 1997, following a 21-8 campaign in 1996, Pettitte went 18-7, with a 2.88 ERA (fourth-best in the AL), leading the league in starts with 35, finishing third in innings pitched (240 1/3) and eighth in strikeouts (166).

_____________________________________________________

Coming Soon: A look at Wally Moon – the player who beat out Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks for the 1954 NL Rookie of the Year Award and earned a Master’s Degree in Moon Shots and more.

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A Rifle Arm … and the Longest Baseball Throw Ever

January 9, 2019 by David

Those of you who have been following Baseball Roundtable are likely familiar with the tale of actor Chuck Connors – who gained fame as Lucas McCain the television series “The Rifleman.” Connors, who won a Golden Globe Award (Best Television Performer) for the part he played in The Rifleman also played first base for the Chicago Cubs, forward and center for the Boston Celtics and was drafted by the NFL Chicago Bears.

This post, however, is not about the multi-talented Chuck Connors (for his full story, click here). It is about a different kind of “rifleman” – former MLB outfielder Glen Edward Gorbous, who has (since 1957) held the record for the longest-ever baseball throw (Guinness Book of World Records).

Canadian-born Gorbous – a 6.-2”, 175-pound outfielder, had neither a long nor spectacular baseball career; but his hardball skills did get him into the Guinness Book of World Records. His record-breaking throw, in fact, took place when he was just 26-years-old – but had already played his final major league game and was just one season away from his last professional campaign. Gorbous began his pro-career as a 19-year old (1950), signed out of a Dodgers’ tryout camp. Over his first five (minor league) seasons, Gorbous played in 593 games, hitting .290 with 39 home runs. In 1953, he collected 204 hits (.336 average) for the Single A Pueblo Dodgers and began to show some power, reaching double digits in home runs (11) for the first time. The following season, promoted to Fort Worth of the Double A Texas League, Gorbous hit .283-16-71 (with ten steals) – punching his ticket to the big leagues (but not with Brooklyn).

The Reds plucked Borbous from the Dodgers in the November 1954 Rule Five Draft. He opened 1955 on the Reds’ MLB roster, but was traded to the Phillies (in a multi-player deal) on the last day of April (after appearing in just eight games for Cincinnati). He spent the remainder of 1955, 1956 and opening days of the 1957 season with the Phillies, but seemed over-matched against major league pitching – putting up a .238-4-29 stat line in 117 games.

Traded by the Phillies to the Cardinals in May of 1957, Gorbous was sent down to the Double A Omaha Cardinals – where he was playing when he set the baseball throw record in a pregame exhibition.

At that time, the record for a baseball throw was 445 feet-one inch, held by a player named Don Grate (more on Grate in a bit). Gorbous was always willing to show off his rifle arm and teammates urged him to make a run (throw) at Grate’s mark. On August 1, 1957 – throwing from the right field corner toward the left field corner – Gorbous launched one (reportedly his fourth throw) 445 feet-ten inches, setting a record that still stands.

Just how remarkable was that throw? Here’s some perspective. If Gorbous was throwing from the goal line of a football field, the ball would have gone through the uprights at the far end, across the 45-50 feet of space between the end zone and the grandstand and landed (on the fly) among the spectators in Row 25.

Photo by PugnoM

From a more baseball-related perspective. If Gorbous had thrown from home plate, down the right field line, in the San Francisco Giants’ AT & T Park, the toss would have cleared the right field fence, the 24-foot high Willie Mays Wall and the walkway behind it – splashing down among the kayaks about 75-80 feet (the length of a semi-truck and trailer) out in McCovey Cove. Looked at another way, Borbous throw, if made from home plate, would easily clear the center field wall in any of MLB’s thirty ballparks.

Gorbous, by the way, played 97 games for the Omaha Cardinals, hitting .243, with just three home runs and 20 RBI and found himself back in the Dodger system (Spokane of the Triple A Pacific Coast League), where he hit .291 in 11-59 in 132 games in his last pro season.

For Minnesota-based readers, especially fellow members of the Halsey Hall Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, the record broken by Glen Gorbous was previously held by former Minneapolis Miller Don Grate. In an August 27, 1953, pregame exhibition at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington (MN), Grate uncorked a throw of 445 feet-one inch (breaking his own record of 443 feet-3.5 inches, set in 1953, while Grate was a member of the Chattanooga Lookouts). Notably, Halsey Hall both officiated the event.

Grate, like “The Rifleman” in the opening of this post, was a multi-sport athlete – playing for both the Phillies of the National League (pitcher, seven appearances, 1945-46) and the Sheboygan Redskins of the National Basketball Association (forward/guard, two games, 1949-50 season). Grate, who lettered in both baseball and basketball at The Ohio State University, is a member of the OSU Varsity O Hall of Fame.

Chuck Connors and Ted Williams

One final story for this post, this one shared on the “Our Chuck Connors” website … ourchuckconnors.com

After a 1946 appearance – reciting Casey at the Bat – representing the Celtics at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner, Connors was approached by Ted Williams (fresh off his 1946 MVP Award) who told him: “Kid, I don’t know what kind of basketball player you are, but you ought to give it up and be an actor.”

Teddy Ballgame always did have a good eye.

While digging into the Gorbous “Guinness” entry, I came across of wonderfully detailed look at the full evolution of the longest-throw record. If interested in knowing even more on this topic, you should visit the J.G. Preston Experience here.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Guinness Book of World Records; Society for American Baseball Research.

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Boyhood Heroes – We Should All Grow Up to be Joey Jays

January 6, 2019 by David

One of the great things about writing a baseball blog is the opportunity to reflect on the careers or some of your boyhood heroes. About a year ago, I wrote about the 1957 Braves’ rookie Bob “Hurricane” Hazle, who played a key role in the Milwaukee Braves’ 1957 NL pennant drive – hitting over .500 in his first month (22 games) as a Brave. (See the box near the end of this post for more on Hazle and a link to that full story.)

In this post, I’m going to take a look at another boyhood favorite (who made his debut with my Milwaukee Braves in 1953). That player is Joey Jay, who never quite reached his potential with the Braves, but later earned his way onto the cover of the October 9, 1961 issue of Sports Illustrated and the cover of the February 1962 Baseball Digest, as well as into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Why was Joey Jay a boyhood fave? First, I was born in Milwaukee and was a six-year-old baseball fan when the Braves moved there – and Jay made his MLB debut. Then there was his name. When you love playing ball and have a name like David Karpinski, you long for a true “big league” moniker like Joey Jay (or Billy Bruton, Mickey Mantle, Minnie Minoso, Robin Roberts, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Wally Moon or even Yogi Berra). “Joey Jay” – it just had a big league ring to it. Then there was the fact that Jay was the first Little League alum to make it to the major leagues (giving all Little Leaguers hope) and took the mound in the majors at the age of 17. He was, in fact, the youngest major league player in each of his first two seasons. (Little did I know his status with the Braves at that age was due to MLB’s “Bonus Baby” rule.) But, I’m getting ahead of the story.

Being a Joey Jay – Seems Like a Pretty Good Idea

Here’s something I came across as I researched this post. If you check the term “Joey Jay” at urbandictionary.com here;s what you will find:

JOEY JAY

A nickname for a male with absolute swag or full of swagger, while still a very genuine person. Also referred to as a “baller” or a “boss.” Only the most handsome, well rounded, down to earth guys are nicknamed “Joey Jay.”

Joey Jay played Little League in Middleton. Connecticut, and went on to play American Legion and High School ball. In high school, the 6’4”, 220-pound righty was a truly dominant force on the mound, with three no-hitters (for Woodrow Wilson High) and a healthy following of big league scouts. After graduating from high school in 1953, Jay signed with the Braves, reportedly for a $40,000 bonus. At the time, MLB’s “Bonus Baby” rule required that any player signed for more than $4,000 could not be optioned to the minors for two years (unless first clearing waivers).

Jay saw his first MLB action on July 21, 1953 – two innings of scoreless relief in a Braves’ 10-0 loss to the Phillies in Philadelphia – becoming the first former Little Leaguer to appear in an MLB game. His next appearance was a start against the Reds (in Milwaukee) on September 20. In that outing, he pitched a seven-inning, complete-game shutout (game shortened due to weather). He appeared once more on the mound that season, a one-inning scoreless relief stint on September 26. Not bad for a teenager forced onto the major league roster: three appearances, one win (no losses), one complete game, one shutout and a 0.00 earned run average in ten innings of work.

Things did no go as well going forward. In 1954 and 1955, Jay appeared in 27 games (one win-no losses) with a 5.59 ERA. In early July of 1955 – with the Bonus Baby restrictions no longer in force for Jay – the Braves sent him down to Triple A Wichita. He spent 1956 and 1957 in the minors and seemed to come into his own in 1957, going 17-10, 3.31 with 199 strikeouts in 223 innings at Triple A – relying more and more on an improving slider. (He got in just 2/3 of an inning with Milwaukee late that season.)

In 1958, Jay was in the bigs to stay. He got off to a slow start, pitching in just seven games (three starts) through June – going 1-2, with a 3.46 earned run average. But he turned it on in July, going 5-2 in seven starts, with five complete games, two shutouts, a 1.39 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. Then, late in the month, he suffered an elbow injury, followed in September by an injury to his glove hand – and pitched just 12 1/3 innings in August/September. In 1959, Jay seemed to regress – going 6-11, 4.09 in 34 games (19 starts). Relegated to relieving and spot starts in 1960, Jay went 9-8, 3.24 in 32 appearances (11 starts). In December, the Braves traded Jay and fellow pitcher Juan Pizzaro (23-years-old and in his fourth MLB season) to the Reds for veteran shortstop Roy McMillan – which proved to be a less than stellar move.

From 1953 through 1960 Joey Jay went 24-24, 3.39 for the Braves, splitting time between starts (45) and relief appearances (70).

In his first season with the Reds (1961), Jay made the All Star team, led the National League with 21 wins (10 losses) and four shutouts (among 14 complete games) and put up a 3.53 ERA. The Reds, who had finished sixth the year before, won the NL pennant. That season Jay was fourth in won-loss percentage (.677), seventh in innings pitched (247 1/3) and eighth in strikeouts (157). He also pitched well against his former team – facing the Braves five times (the Reds won all five), going 4-0, with three complete games, one shutout and a 2.32 earned run average. (In his first season with the Braves, McMillan, a three-time Gold Glover provided the plus defense the Braves sought, but hit just .220, with seven home runs , 48 RBI, 42 runs scored and two stolen bases).

OUCH!

What really hurt was losing the young Braves. I’ve always felt we would have won some more championships if we’d have held onto Pizzaro and Jay.

Hank Aaron

From his 1991 Autobiography “If I Had a Hammer.”

In 1961, Jay also picked up the Reds’ only win in the World Series – throwing a four-hit, two-run, complete game as the Reds took Game Two from the Yankees by a 6-2 score. He followed that up in 1962 with a 21-14, 3.76 stat line, as the Reds finished third – 3 ½ games behind the Giants. (The Braves finished fourth in 1961 at 83-71, 10 games behind the NL-leading Reds and fifth in 1962, 15 ½ games off the pace at 86-76).

Joey Jay was a bit of a slow starter, with a 25-24, 4.13 career record for April/May and a 74-67, 3.64 record for June-September.

Jay pitched for the Reds from 1961 until mid-June 1966, when he was traded back to his original team, by then the Atlanta Braves, where he went 0-4, 7.89 in his final nine MLB appearances.

Oh, for Just One More Game – or One More Whiff

In a 13-season MLB career, Joey Jay won 99 games (91 losses) and struck out 999 batters (in 1546 1/3 innings). He put up a 3.77 career ERA threw 63 complete games (203 starts/107 relief appearances) and 16 shutouts.

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Bob “Hurricane” Hazle and the 1957 National League Pennant

Bob “Hurricane” Hazle … still a treasured autograph.

In July of 1957 (July 11 to be exact), the Milwaukee Braves were in a tight race for the National League pennant. They came into the day’s action (versus the Pirates) in second place with a 44-35 record – trailing the Cardinals by three games and standing ½-game up on the Reds, a game ahead of the Phillies and two games clear of the Dodgers.

In the first inning of that contest against the Pirates, the Braves’ pennant chances were deal a seemingly disastrous blow, as their lead-off hitter and center fielder Billy Bruton suffered season-ending injuries in a collision with shortstop Felix Mantilla. The Braves tried to patch together a lineup and outfield until late July, when they called up a 26-year-old rookie name Bob Hazle (Hazle had a total of 13 MLB at bats, with the Reds, in 1955). That move may have brought the pennant to Milwaukee.

In his first month as a Brave (July 29-August 28), Hazle hit .507 (34-for-67 in 22 games), with five home runs, 22 RBI and 16 runs scored. He finished the season at .403-4-27 in 41 games.

For the full Bob Hazle story, click here.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Society for American Baseball Research; Milwaukee Braves … Heroes and Heartbreak by William Povletich.

_____________________________________

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Archives for January 2019

The Ryan Express … The Ryan Nemesis (Nemeses?) … A World Versus Nolan Ryan All Star Lineup

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Enter Sandman – BBRT Dives into the 2019 HOF Balloting … including BBWAA vs. Fan Tallies

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BBRT Trivia Teaser … Looking for the Flint Flash

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BBRT Unofficial 2019 Hall of Fame Fan Ballot – One Tough Crowd

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A Rifle Arm … and the Longest Baseball Throw Ever

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Boyhood Heroes – We Should All Grow Up to be Joey Jays

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