Archives for January 2020

WORKS BOTH WAYS

Nobody collected more career base hits off Bob Gibson than Ron Fairly (48) – and Fairly also collected more base hits off Gibson than he did against any other pitcher.

 

Who’s Your Daddy?

On September 24, 2004, in the middle of a tight pennant race, the Yankees handed future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox a tough 6-4 loss.  Martinez went 7 1/3 innings giving up nine hits and five earned runs.  The game came just five days after (in his previous start) Martinez had lasted just five frames against the Bronx Bombers (eight hits, eight earned runs) in a 16-7 loss.

After that second loss, Martinez candidly commented, “What can I say? I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.”  Little did he know that his comment – and a Yankee fans’ chant of “Who’s your daddy?” would follow him into future starts in New York (all the way to his final MLB start – against the Yankees for the Phillies – in Game Six of the 2009 World Series.)

The concept of “Who’s your daddy?” became the inspiration for Baseball Roundtable to take a look at the players who “had the number” of some of MLB’s premier pitchers.  I started with Nolan Ryan (see that post by clicking here) and the topic was well enough received I decided to continue the journey. I followed up with Sandy Koufax. Click here for that one.  And today, I’m taking a look at intimidating Hall of Fame righthander Bob Gibson. Note:  I’ve since added Pedro Martinez, click here – and Randy Johnson, click here. 

 

In 1968 … baseball’s Year of the Pitcher – Future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson went 22-9 and gave up just 49 runs in 304 2/3 innings (an MLB-low 1.12 earned run average), with batters hitting just .184 against him.  He also logged a league-leading 268 strikeouts.  Still, Billy Williams managed a .333 average and .412 on base percentage against Gibson that campaign – with a double, two home runs and four RBI – in four games. He went five-for-fifteen with two walks and just one whiff.

Over his 17-season MLB career (1959-75), Gibson went 251-174, with a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts in 3,884 1/3 innings pitched. He was an All Star in eight seasons, a twenty-game winner five times, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, the 1968 NL Most Valuable Player and the MVP in the 1964 and 1967 World Series.   In the 1968 World Series, Bob Gibson set the records for strikeouts in a World Series game (17) and strikeouts in a single World Series (27). In nine World Series starts (1964-67-68), Gibson went 7-2, 1.89 and tossed eight complete games.

Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher in the world. He is always pitching when the other team doesn’t score any runs.

                                                                                                           Tim McCarver

So, let’s take a look at the “Who’s Bob Gibson’s Daddy?” lineup. (at least ten at bats versus Gibson).  Here’s BBRT’s take on the players who fared the best against Gibson over his career.

 

Catcher – Dick Dietz (.389 average in 12 games versus Gibson)

The Giants’ Dick Dietz, who made his MLB debut in June of 1966 (and had just two seasons of 100+ games played … 1970-71), first faced Bob Gibson in the righthander’s spectacular 1968 season – and Dietz was not intimidated. In his first game against Gibson (May 28, 1968), Dietz went one-for-three and hit a game tying (1-1) solo home run in the sixth. (Gibson eventually got the win in a 3-1 Cardinals’ victory on a complete game four-hitter.) Dietz next faced Gibson on July 6 and delivered three walks and a single in four trips to the plate.  In his 12 career games against Gibson, Dietz had a.511 on-base percentage, reaching base via hit or walk in all 12 games.

Dick Dietz played in eight MLB seasons (1966-73 … Giants, Dodgers, Braves), putting up a .261-66-301 line in 646 games.  As noted earlier, he played more than 100 games in only two seasons, earning an All Star nod in 1971, when he hit .300, with 22 home runs, 107 RBI and 82 runs scored (all career highs).

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First Base – Willie McCovey (seven home runs and 20 RBI in 46 games against Gibson)

Willie McCovey had a .290 average in 46 games against Gibson – with seven home runs (third most against Gibson) and 20 RBI (fifth most).

McCovey played 22 MLB seasons (1959-1980 … Giants, Padres, A’s), hitting .271, with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBI. The Hall of Famer was a six-time All Star, three-time league home run leader and the 1969 NL Most Valuable Player.  Willie McCovey won the 1959 NL Rookie of the Year award despite playing only 52 games (called up by the Giants at the end of July). He hit .354 over those 52 games, with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.

4-for-4

In his very first MLB game, McCovey went four-for-four, with two singles and two triples, three runs scored and two RBI (all off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts). He probably got some pretty good pitches to hit, batting between Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda.

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Second Base – Julio Gotay (.500 average vs. Gibson over three seasons)

Astros’ 2B Julio Gotay – a bit of a surprise in this lineup – faced Gibson 17 times (16 at bats) between 1967 and 1969 (when Gibson went 55-29 with a 1.95 ERA) and collected eight hits (.500 average) and a walk.

Gotay was a career .260 hitter (389 games over ten MLB seasons … Cardinals, Pirate, Angels, Astros) and his eight hits against Gibson were the most he had against any MLB pitcher (he also had eight against Bob Shaw).  Gotay played more than 77 games in just one MLB season.  As a Cardinal, in 1962, he played in 127 contests and hit .255, with two home runs and 27 RBI.

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A Mays’ Zing

Willie Mays faced Bob Gibson 108 times (92 at bats) over his career and hit just .196 against him – with three home runs, nine RBI, 16 walks and 30 strikeouts (in 33 games). In 1969, Mays faced Gibson five times and never got the ball out of the infield (four strikeouts, a foul pop up to the catcher and a grounder to short.)

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Third Base – Richie Hebner (.387 average with power vs. Gibson)

In 20 games (over seven seasons), Richie Hebner went 24-for-62 against Gibson (.387 average). He also popped five home runs, drove in seven and drew ten walks (versus eight whiffs). Hebner reached base safety (via walk or hit) in 19 of his 20 games versus Gibson. Note:  I also considered the Giants’ Dave Rader for this spot.  In 31 at bats against Gibson, Rader collected 15 hits (a .484 average), but only one RBI.  Hebner got the nod for doing more damage.

Hebner was a career .276 hitter (203 home runs/890 RBI) over 18 MLB seasons (Pirates, Mets, Tigers, Cubs). His best season was probably 1972, when he hit .300, with 19 home runs and 72 RBI for Pittsburgh.   The most home runs he hit off any pitcher was five (against Gibson and fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins).

Hebner Going Deep

Richie Hebner worked as a (pick and shovel) gravedigger at his family-owned cemetery in the off-season.

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Shortstop – Tie: Tim Foli (.483 average in nine games against Gibson) & Don Kessinger (44 hits and a career .326 average versus Gibson)

In nine games over three seasons, Tim Foli collected 14 hits and two walks in 32 plate appearances against Gibson (.483 average and .516 on-base percentage).  Why does he only tie for this spot? He didn’t do much damage, just two extra-base hits (one double, one triple) and only two RBI.

Don Kessinger has to be mentioned here.  While he didn’t top .400 versus Gibson (like Foli), Kessinger did more damage (eight RBI) and maintained a .326 average versus Gibson over 39 games (135 at bats).  Kessinger had more than ten at bats against Gibson in seven seasons and hit .300 or better against him in five of those. His 44 hits against Gibson trail only Ron Fairly (48) and Billy Williams (45).

Tim Foli had a 16-season MLB career (1970-85), hitting .251, with 25 home runs and 501 RBI (1,696 games … Expos, Mets, Pirates, Angels, Giants, Yankees).

Kessinger also played 16 MLB seasons (Cubs, Cardinals, White Sox), hitting .252, with 14 home runs, 899 runs scored, 527 RBI and 100 stolen bases.  He was a six-time All Star and  two-time Gold Glover.

All American Boy

Don Kessinger was an All American in both baseball and basketball for the University of Mississippi.

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Outfield – Billy Williams (10 home runs in 52 games vs. Gibson)

Nobody took Bob Gibson deep more often than the Cubs’ Billy Williams – who topped the list of home runs off Gibson with ten and RBI with 31. (It was also the most home runs and RBI Williams had against any pitcher.) How much respect did the big righthander show Williams? Williams also drew the most career walks (24) and career intentional passes (10) from Gibson (although surprisingly he was never hit by a Gibson pitch).  (Side note:  Williams’ 201 plate appearances were also the most he had against any hurler.)

Taking One For The Team

Although Gibson was known for pitching inside, he only hit 102 batters in his career and never led his league in hit batsmen (although he did finish in the NL’s top five in HBP six times). Ironically, the two batters he hit most often in his career (six times each) were Ron Hunt and Roy McMillan (who hit .176 and .194 against Gibson, respectively.)

Hall of Famer Billy Williams had an 18-season MLB career (1959-1974 with the Cubs and 1975-76 with the A’s). The six-time All Star hit .290 (2,711 hits), with 426 home runs and 1,475 RBI.  He was the 1961 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1972 NL Batting Champ.

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Outfield – Ron Fairly (48 hits and a .302 average over 52 games against Gibson)

As noted at the top of this post, Ron Fairly’s 48 hits against Gibson are the most of any batter and his 24 RBI off Gibson trail only Billy Williams (31) and Hank Aaron (26).  In addition, Fairly drew 17 walks (versus 14 strikeouts) off Gibson.

Ron Fairly played 21 MLB seasons (1958-1978 … Dodgers, Expos, Cardinals, A’s, Blue Jays, Angels). He had a .266 career average (1,913 hits in 2,442 games), with 215 home runs and 1,044 RBI. He made his first All Star team in his 16^th MLB season (1973), when he hit .298-17-49 for the Expos.  He made his second and final All Star squad in 1977 – this time for the American League Toronto Blue Jays.  That season (his 20^th MLB campaign), the 38-year-old hit .279, with a career high 19 home runs.

Ron Fairly’s best season against Bob Gibson came in 1971, when he faced Gibson 11 times and collected five hits (including one double and one home run) and two walks (.714 average and .727 one-base percentage).

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Outfield – Al Oliver (.342 average in 20 games)

Al Oliver put the ball in play against Gibson.  In 78 plate appearances he fanned just three times, walked once and was hit by a pitch twice.  He collected 25 hits off Gibson (.342 average), with three doubles, one triple, four home runs and 14 RBI – and he didn’t collect his first hit off Gibson until his seventh at bat.

Oliver played 18 MLB seasons (Pirates, Rangers, Expos, Giants, Phillies, Dodgers, Blue Jays) and hit .303, with 2,743 hits, 219 home runs and 1,326 RBI. Oliver hit .300 or better in 12 seasons. He was a seven-time All Star and won the 1982 NL batting title with a .331 average. He led his league in hits once, doubles twice and RBI once.

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Honorable Mention – Willie Davis

Willie Davis deserves an honorable mention here.  In 39 games against Gibson, he hit .320 (40-for-125), with five doubles, three triples, four home runs and 21 RBI. In a game on August 17, 1970, the Dodger outfielder touched Gibson for two triples and a single in five at bats – as his Dodgers lost to the Cardinals 11-8. (Gibson got the win despite giving up 14 hits and eight earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. )

Davis had a 18-season MLB career, primarily with the Dodgers, hitting ..279 (2,561 hits), with 182 home runs, 1,053 RBI and 398 steals.  He was a two-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover (who, ironically, set a World Series record by committing three errors in a single inning – fifth inning, Game Two, 1966 WS). The 1966 WS was a rough one for Davis, he also went just one-for-sixteen (.063 average) as the Dodgers lost four straight to the Orioles scoring just one run. 

A trivia question you can use.  In the 1966 World Series the Dodgers scored just two runs against a tough Orioles’ pitching staff.  Those runs came in the second and third innings of Game One – on a solo home run and a bases-loaded walk.  Which pair of “Jims” collected the Dodgers’ two RBI? Jim Lefebvre on a solo home run leading off the second inning and Jim Gilliam on a bases-loaded free pass  in the second.

Bonus: Who were the three Orioles’ starting pitchers in the Series?  Dave McNally, Jim Palmer and Wally Bunker.  The Orioles used one reliever in the Series – Moe Drabowsky, who threw 6 2/3 scoreless frames to get the win in Game One. Games 2-3-4 were complete game shutouts by Bunker, Palmer and McNally (who started Game One).

 

Del Unser Had a Knack for Getting On

Outfielder Del Unser may have only been a career (1968-1982) .258 hitter (.319 on-base percentage), but he deserves notice for his work against Bob Gibson. In seven career games against Gibson, Under came to the plate 24 times and collected six hits and eight walks (versus just two whiffs) for a .375 average and .583 on base percentage. 

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Pitcher – Bill Henry (Gibson never got him out)

One note here.  I waived the 10-at bat minimum for pitchers hitting against Gibson – which opened the door for the Reds’ Reliever Bill Henry, who faced Gibson in only one game (September 19, 1964) and went two-for-two, with a pair of singles.

Bill Henry had a 16-season MLB career (primarily as a reliever).  He pitched in the majors from 1952 through 1955 and 1958 through 1969 (Reds, Giants, Red Sox, Cubs, Pirates, Astros.)  As a batter he hit .177 (36-for 203) and Gibson was one of only five pitchers that Henry collected more than one hit off of.) On the mound, Henry was 46-50, 3.26 with 90 saves in 527 appearances.

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A few more honorable mentions: The following players not in this lineup hit .350+ for their careers against Gibson: Denny Doyle (.464-1-3 in 28 at bats); Rico Carty (.389-0-10/54 at bats); Ralph Garr (.387-0-1/12 at bats); Dave Cash (.375-0-9/56 at bats); Don Hoak (.375-1-4/24 at bats); Willie Crawford (.370-2-5/46 at bats); Jerry Morales (.364-2-4/22 at bats); Don Blasingame (.357-0-5/28 at bats); Felix Milan (.355-0-9/76 at bats); Joe Adcock (.351-3-7 in 37 at bats).

A few other tidbits:

• Hank Aaron hit only .215 against Gibson (but did knock eight home runs and pick up 26 RBI in 163 at bats);
• Willie Stargell fanned more times against Gibson than any other player (41 whiffs in 131 at bats), but still hit .290-5-15 against him;
• Bill Mazeroski only fanned six times in 99 at bats against Gibson, but collected just 14 hits (.141 average), with one home run and four RBI.
• Darrell Evans had the most plate appearances and at bats (35 and 23) against Gibson without ever striking out, while hitting .261-3-5 with 11 walks.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

Still thinking about this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame voting?  To see how Baseball Roundtable’s fan vote compared to the BBWAA official voting, click here. 

 

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BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA TEASER

Name the Hall of Famer whose first-ever major league home run was an inside-the-parker – and whose first MLB Grand Slam was the major league’s (to this date) only inside-the-park, walk-off, four-run homer?

 

BBRT TRIVIA TEASER ANSWER:

Pirates’ OF Roberto Clemente’s first MLB home run came on April 15, 1955 (the 20-year-old’s third MLB game) – off New York Giants’ southpaw Gene Liddle. The fifth-inning four-bagger was a solo, inside-the park home run to left field – and also resulted in Clemente’s first major league run batted in.

On July 25 of the 1956 season, Clemente hit his first MLB Grand Slam – and it was also an inside-the-parker.  Clemente was batting against the Cubs’ Jim Brosnan in the bottom of the ninth with the Pirates trailing 8-5. There were no outs and Pittsburgh’s Hank Foiles, Bill Virdon and Dick Cole were on base.  Clemente drove a ball to deep left that hit near the light standard and skittered along the warning track to center.  All three runners scored and Clemente ran through the coach’s stop sign at third base, beating the relay (Solly Drake to Ernie Banks to Hobie Landrith) – putting an exciting, exclamation-mark finish on the game.

Over his 18-season MLB career, Clemente collected 3,000 hits (.317 average), 240 home runs and 1,305 RBI. He was an All Star in 12 seasons, a 12-time Gold Glover, four-time batting champion and the 1966 NL MVP.

 

This look at Roberto Clemente’s notable inside-the-park (ITP) round trippers provides a nice segue into a look at some ITP home run trivia.  So, let’s do it!

 

Jesse Burkett

Jesse Burkett holds the record for career ITP home runs with 55.  The left-handed hitting outfielder hit 75 total home runs over sixteen MLB seasons (1890-1905), with 55 of those being ITP.  Hall of Famer Burkett was a three-time batting champ, who topped .400 twice while with the NL Cleveland Spiders (.405 in 1895 and .410 in 1896). The AL career ITP home run record belongs to Ty Cobb (46), while the NL record goes to Tommy Leach (48).

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Sam Crawford

Sam Crawford holds the single-season record for inside-the-park home runs, with 12 ITP home runs (of his NL-leading 16 dingers for the Reds) in 1901. Fifty-one of Crawford’s 97 career home runs stayed in the park.

Tom McCreery

Tom McCreery holds the record for most ITP home runs in a game with three – for the NL Louisville Colonels on July 12, 1897.  The switch-hitting OF/1B hit a total of five home runs that season. In addition to McCreery, forty-five MLB players have hit two ITP home runs in a game, but only four have accomplished that feat more than once (twice each): Dan Brouthers, Jesse Burkett, Ed Delahanty and Roger Bresnahan.

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Roger Bresnahan

Roger Bresnahan is the only player to hit two ITP home runs in a single game in both leagues – May 30, 1902, for the AL Baltimore Orioles and June 6, 1904, for the NL New York Giants. Bresnahan hit a 13 ITP home runs out of 26 dingers in a 17-season (1897-1915) MLB career.

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Greg Gagne

The most recent player to hit two inside-the-park homers in a single game was Minnesota Twins’ shortstop Greg Gagne (October 4, 1986 versus the White Sox). It was one of only three two-homer games in Gagne’s career.

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Ty Cobb

In 1909, the Tigers’ Ty Cobb won the AL Triple Crown with a .377 average, nine home runs and 107 RBI.  (He also led the league with 76 steals, 216 hits and 115 runs scored.) All nine of his league-topping home runs were of the inside-the-park variety. That’s significant on two fronts.  Nine is still the AL record for ITP home runs in a season and it made Cobb the only MLB player (post-1900) to lead his  league in home runs without ever hitting one over the fence.

Toby Harrah and Bump Wills

On August 28, 1977, in the seventh inning of a game against the Yankees in New York, the Rangers’ Toby Harrah and Bump Wills hit back-to-back, inside-the-park home runs off consecutive pitches from Yankees’ reliever Ken Clay. Harrah hit a three-run home run off  Clay and then, on the very next pitch, Bump Wills also circled the bases while his hit was in play. The only other instance of teammates hitting back-to-back ITP homers came on  June 23, 1946 when the Cubs’ Marv Rickert and Eddie Waitkus accomplished the feat off Nate Andrews of the New York Giants.

Toby Harrah is also knowns for being the only MLB shortstop to play all the innings of a doubleheader without ever getting a fielding chance (June 25, 1976 Wills’ ranger versus the White Sox). Apparently well-rested during his inning in the field, Harrah finished the doubleheader six-for-eight, with two home runs, seven RBI and a stolen base.

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Ed Delahanty

Ed Delahanty, playing first base for the Philadelphia Colts (Phillies) on July 13, 1896, earned a place in the record books by blasting a record-tying four home runs in a single game. To date, only 18 players have accomplished that feat. Delahanty’s four-homer day is unique in that two of his round trippers were inside-the-parkers.  He is the only one of the 18 members of the four-homer club to have ITP homers included in their one-game total. Twenty of Delahanty’s 101 MLB home runs (16-season MLB career) were of the inside-the-park variety.

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Luke Stuart and Johnnie LeMaster

Luke Stuart(2B) of the St. Louis Browns and SS Johnie LeMaster of the San Francisco Giants are the only players to hit ITP home runs in their first MLB at bats (August 8, 1921 and September 2, 1975, respectively.)

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Pete Milne

Pete Milne had a brief MLB career (three seasons, 47 games, 65 plate appearances) with the Giants (1948-50). He hit only one home run in the majors, but it was a significant. It was the only pinch hit, inside-the park Grand Slam ever (April 27, 1949).

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Ichiro

Ichiro Suzuki hit the only inside-the-park home run in an All Star Game (2007).

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Kyle Blanks

Padres’ rookie OF Kyle Banks hit an inside the park home run on August 18, 2009. The ball hit off the top of the centerfield wall and ricocheted along the warning path nearly to the RF corner.   What makes this one special?  At 6′ 6” and 285-pounds, Blanks became the heaviest player ever to it an ITP homer – beating the throw home with a head-first slide.

 

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

Coming Soon:  A comparison of the BBWAA Hall of Fame Vote with BBRT’s Fan Hall of Fame Voting – and announcement of  the BBRT balloting prize winner.

 

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

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Baseball Roundtable Trivia Teaser

Your task is to name the two MLB Players who:

• Were born on the same day (May 27, 1968) … approximately 1,200 miles apart;
• Were both were selected in the 1989 MLB draft;
• Each played their first full MLB seasons in 1991 (although one lost his rookie status in a 1990 call up);
• Each recorded nine seasons of 30 or more home runs;
• Made their mark as MLB first basemen;
• Both played their way into the Hall of Fame;
• Were the 11^th and 12^th players to be unanimously selected Most Valuable Players in their league;
• Were the first pair 0f first basemen to be selected as league MVPs in the same season.

Trivia Teaser Answer: The White Sox’ Frank Thomas and the Astros’ Jeff Bagwell.  (You can find their bios among the unanimous MVP’s listed below.)

Bonus Trivia: Who are the only two players to be unanimous selections both as Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player? (Not earning both awards in the same year, of course.)

Bonus Trivia Answer:  Albert Pujols and Mike Trout.

Note: This trivia teaser is intended as a lead-in to BBRT’s latest post – looking at MLB’s unanimous MVPs.

 

—–MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL’S UNANIMOUS MVP’S—–

 

1935 … Hank Greenberg, First Base, Tigers

Nicknames: Hammerin’ Hank and The Hebrew Hammer  (Putting these in because so many of these stars had slid nicknames.)

In 1935, The Tigers’ Hank Greenberg, at age 24, won his first of two AL Most Valuable Player Awards – and was the first unanimous MVP selection. The future Hall of Famer hit .328 and led the AL in home runs (36), RBI (168) and total bases (389). He collected 203 hits, rapped 46 doubles, legged out 16 triples and scored 120 runs.

Greenberg led his Tigers to a 93-58 season and the American League pennant.  That season, the Tigers led MLB in batting average (.290) and runs scored (918) – and were third in home runs (106). The Bengals pitching staff finished sixth in ERA. Greenberg led the Tigers in hits (203), doubles (46), triples (16), home runs (36), RBI (168) and was second on the team to Charlie Gehringer in average (.328 to .300).

MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR SNUB

In his 1935 unanimous MVP season, Hank Greenberg was not selected to the AL All Star team – despite hitting .317 with 25 home runs and 101 RBI at the All Star break (some statistical sources list the RBI figure at 103. In either case, it is a record that still stands – although Juan Gonzalez of the Rangers reached 101 RBI before the 1998 AS break.)  Lou Gehrig (.320-11-51 at the 1935 break) got the nod at 1B on the 21-player AL All Star squad. 

Between 1930 and 1947, Greenberg played 13 MLB seasons (losing three campaigns to World War II military service) – all but his final season with the Tigers. He was a four-time All Star and two-time MVP.  Greenberg, who played 125 or more games in just eight seasons, led his league in home runs four times (a high of 58 in 1938); RBI four-times (topping 100 in seven seasons, with a high of 184 in 1937); doubles twice; and runs scored once. He hit over .300 in eight seasons and his 63 doubles in 1934 are the fourth-most in an MLB season.  Greenberg retired with a .313 average, 331 home runs and 1,274 RBI.

The runner-up to Greenberg in the 1935 AL MVP balloting was Red Sox RHP (and accomplished pinch hitter) Wes Ferrell, who went 25-14, 3.52 – leading the league in wins, complete games (31) and innings pitched (322 1/3).

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1936 … Carl Hubbell, LHP, Giants

Nicknames: King Carl and The Meal Ticket

In 1936, Carl Hubbell won his second of two MVP Awards, leading MLB in wins (26 victories versus 6 losses), winning percentage (.813), and earned run average (2.31).  The future Hall of Famer completed 24 games in 34 starts and threw three shutouts.  The Giants’ finished the season fourth in the league in runs scored, but (thanks primarily to Hubbell) gave up the NL’s second fewest runs.

Hubbell’s 1936 Giants’ squad won the NL pennant with a 92-62 record. On offense, they were led by OF Mel Ott (.328-33-135). No other player on the team reached ten home runs or 70 RBI.   Hubbell was the only pitcher to top 14 wins (Al Smith was next at 14-13, 3.78).

A WIN? YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE BANK!

Between July 17, 1936 and May 27, 1937, Carl Hubbell won a record 24 straight MLB decisions.  During that 24-0 run, he pitched 207 2/3 innings (27 appearances/22 starts), threw 19 complete games, fanned 104 batters and put up a 1.30 earned run average. 

The runner-up to Hubbell for NL MVP in 1936 was another pitcher – The Cardinals’ Dizzy Dean (24-13, 3.17).

Hubbell pitched 16 MLB seasons, going 253-154, with a 2.98 ERA.  He notched 265 complete games and 36 shutouts in 433 starts.  He was a nine-time All Star and led his league in wins three times (and had five consecutive seasons of 20 or more victories – 1933-37).  He also led his league in ERA three times, and in complete games, shutouts, strikeouts and saves once each.  “King Carl was 4-2, 1.79 in six World Series starts (four complete games).

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1953 … Al Rosen, 1B-3B, Indians

Nicknames:  Flip and The Hebrew Hammer (Yep, two “Hammers” on this list.)

Al Rosen hit.336 for the Indians in 1953 – topping MLB in home runs (43), RBI (145), runs scored (115) and total bases 367); numbers all worthy of a unanimous MVP selection. (Note: Rosen also led AL third basemen in assists and double plays that season.)

Rosen’s stellar year did not quite bring a pennant to Cleveland.  His Indians (with a 92-62 record) finished second, a full 8 ½ games behind the Yankees.

The runner-up to Rosen in the 1953 NL MVP voting was the pennant-winnings Yankees’ Yogi Berra (.296-27-108). Ironically, the following year – when the Yankees finished second to the Indians, Berra would be the American League MVP.

NOT A BAD ENDORSEMENT

“The two best clutch hitters in the game are (Yogi) Berra and (Al) Rosen.“

                                                         Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn

 

Rosen played 10 MLB seasons (1947-56), hitting .285, with 192 home runs and 717 RBI. In 1953, he reached career-highs in games played (155), hits (201), runs scored, home runs, RBI and total bases.  He was a four-time All Star, a two-time home run champion and twice led the AL in RBI.

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1956 … Mickey Mantle, CF, Yankees

Nicknames: The Mick and The Commerce Comet

You can probably anticipate a unanimous selection as MVP when your team wins the pennant and you capture the Triple Crown (Avg.-HR-RBI). That’s just what Mickey Mantle did in 1956, leading all of MLB in average (.353). home runs (52) and RBI (130) – as well as in runs scored (132) and total bases (376). It truly was a career year in a Hall of Fame career for the 24-year-old Mantle.  In fact, with the exception of home runs, all the numbers noted above were Mantle’s career highs. (He did pop 54 round trippers in 1961.)

Mantle’s spectacular season helped the Yankees to a 97-57 record – and left the second-place Indians nine games off the pace.

The runner-up to Mantle for 1956 AL MVP was a familiar name, his Yankee teammate Yogi Berra (.298-30-105).

ON THE BIG STAGE IN THE BIG APPLE

Mickey Mantle holds the World Series’ career records for runs scored (42), total bases (123), home runs (188), runs batteD in (40), walks (43) and strikeouts (54).  He played in 65 World Series games, hitting .257.

Mantle played 18 MLB seasons (1951-1968) and was an All Star in 16 of those campaigns. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player and won a Gold Glove in 1962. Mantle led his league in batting average once, home runs four times, triples once, RBI once, runs scored (five times), walks (five times) and total bases three times.  Mantle hit 30 or more home runs in nine seasons, topped 100 RBI in four and scored 100+ runs in nine. He finished his career with a .298 average, 536 home runs, 1,509 RBI, 1,676 runs scored and 153 stolen bases.

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1966 … Frank Robinson, OF, Orioles

Nicknames:  The Judge and Pencils

How do you like me now?  After the 1965 season, the Reds traded Frank Robinson to the Orioles for Jack Baldschun, Milt Pappas and Dick Simpson, with Reds’ General Manager Bill DeWitt reportedly referring to Robinson (who had gone .296-33-113 for the Reds in 1965) as an “old thirty.” What did the 30-year-old do for Baltimore the next season?  The future Hall of Famer won the American League Triple Crown with a .316 average, 49 home runs and 122 RBI.  He also led the AL with 122 runs scored and 367 total bases – and was the unanimous choice for AL Most Valuable Player. Not only that, he went on to eleven more MLB seasons, during which he hit .284, with 262 more home runs and 803 additional BI – making six All Star teams in the process.

Robinson’s 1966 Orioles’ team went 97-63, leading the American League (and winning the World Series). The squad featured four future Hall of Famers – Robinson, Jim Palmer, Luis Aparicio and Brooks Robinson. The Orioles led the AL in runs scored, and were fourth in earned run average (Palmer was the only starter to reach 15 wins).  Frank Robinson led the team in batting average, home runs RBI, and runs scored.

A REWARDING CAREER

What awards did Frank Robinson take home? Might be easier to ask which awards didn’t he capture.  Robinson was a Most Valuable Player in both the AL and NL; the 1956 NL Rookie of the Year; the 1966 World Series MVP; the 1971 All-Star Game MVP; and the 1989 AL Manager of the Year 

The runner-up for AL MVP in 1966 was Frank Robinson’s teammate Brooks Robinson, who went .269-23-100 and earned his seventh (of an eventual 16) Gold Gloves at third base. Finishing third was another Oriole, 1B Boog Powell (.287-34-109).

Frank Robinson played 21 MLB season (1956-76) and was an All Star selection in 12 of them.  He was a two-time MVP and led his league in runs scored three times, doubles once, home runs once, RBI once and batting average once. He also picked up one Gold Glove, topped a.300 batting average in nine seasons, drove in 100 or more runs six times and popped 30 or more round trippers in ten seasons.  He retired with a .294 average (2,943 hits), 586 home runs, 1,812 RBI, 1,829 runs scored and 204 stolen bases.

BEST TO BE FIRST

Frank Robinson was the first Black manager in the AL (Indians – 1974) and the NL (Giants – 1980).

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1967 … Orlando Cepeda, 1B, Cardinals

Nicknames:  Baby Bull and Cha Cha

Traded from the Giants to the Cardinals in May of 1966 (for pitcher Ray Sadeki), Cepeda delivered a unanimous MVP season in 1967.  The 29-year-old first-sacker (and future Hall of Famer) hit a career-high .325, with 25 home runs and a league-topping 111 RBI.

Cepeda helped the Cardinals reach 100 wins (101-60) and capture the World Series – leading the team in home runs and RBI.  Lou Brock led the squad in average (.335), hits (206)and runs scored 113 (and finished seventh in the MVP voting).  Dick Hughes led the pitching staff with 16 wins (six losses) – future Hall of Famers Steve Carlton and Bob Gibson went 14-9 and 13-7, respectively.

FIRST OUTSTANDING DH

Orlando Cepeda was the first winner of the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award (1973) for a season in which he hit .289-20-86 for the Red Sox.

The runner-up to Cepeda in the NL MVP Voting was his Redbirds’ teammate – catcher Tim McCarver, who went .295-14-69.

Cepeda played in 17 MLB seasons (1958-74), finishing with a .297 average (2,351 hits), 379 home runs, 1,365 RBI and 1,131 runs scored.  An All Star selection in seven seasons, he hit over .300 in nine seasons, topped 100 RBI five times (leading the league twice) and hit 30 or more home runs five times (leading his league once). He was also Rookie of the Year in 1958, when he went .312-26-96 for the Giants.

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1968 … Denny McLain, RHP, Tigers

Denny McLain was the unofficial Pitcher of the Year in the Year of the Pitcher – and his performance in 1968 earned him a unanimous AL selection for both the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards.  And, it wasn’t even close.   In 1968, McLain went 31-6, with a 1.96 earned run average – while fanning 280 batters in 336 innings. He led all of MLB in wins, innings pitched, games started (41). He was fifth in ERA, second in strikeouts and complete games (28 – leading the AL).

PLAYING IN SOME RARE AIR

McLain’s historic 31-win season in 1968 was the first 30-win campaign by an MLB pitcher since Dizzy Dean in 1935 (and there have been no 30-win seasons since 1968).  Since 1900, a total of 13 pitchers have won 30 more games in a season (a total of 21 30+-victory seasons among them).

McLain’s Tigers went 103-59, winning the AL crown and the World Series. The keys on offense were Willie Horton (.285-26-85), Jim Northrup (.264-21-90) and Bill Freehan (.263-25-84).  Second to McLain among pitchers was Mickey Lolich (17-9, 3.19).

McLain, a two-time Cy Young Award winner (1968 & 1969), played 10 MLB seasons (1963-72), going 131-91, 3.39 with 1,282 strikeouts in 1,886 innings and 105 complete games in 264 starts.  He was a three-time All Star a three-time winner of 20 or more games in a season (leading the AL twice). He also led the AL in starts twice, complete games once and innings pitched twice.

LONG BALLS – WHAT TO WORRY?

In both of his CYA seasons, Denny McLain led the American League in home runs allowed.

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1973 …. Reggie Jackson, RF, A’s

Nickname: Mr. October

In 1973, Reggie Jackson led the American League in runs scored (99), home runs (32) and RBI (117), while also hitting .293 with 22 stolen bases.  The future Hall of Famer helped the A’s to a 94-68 record (first in the AL West) and a World Series title.  Jackson led the A’s regular lineup in average, home runs, runs scored and RBI.  On the mound that A’s championship squad boasted a trio of 20-game winners: Catfish hunter (21-5); Ken Holtzman (21-13); and Vida Blue (20-9). No other A’s pitcher won more than seven games.

Finishing second to Jackson in the 1973 AL MVP race was Orioles’ pitcher Jim Palmer, who went 22-9, 2.40.

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Reggie Jackson was a multi-sport star in high school (baseball, football, basketball, track) – and was awarded a football scholarship from Arizona State University.

Jackson played 21 MLB seasons (1967-87) hitting .262, with 563 home runs, 1,702 RBI, 1,551 runs scored and 228 stolen bases. He also holds the all-time MLB record for batter’s strikeouts (2,597).  He was an All Star in 14 seasons and the MVP of the World Series in 1973 and 1977. Jackson led his league in home runs four times, hitting 30 or more round trippers in seven seasons. He also led his league in runs scored twice and RBI once, slugging percentage three times and intentional walks twice.  Jackson his .278-18-48 in 77 post-season games.

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1980 … Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies

Nickname: Schmitty

In 1980, Phillies’ third-sacker Mike Schmidt won his first of three Most Valuable Player Awards – and the vote was unanimous. That season, the future Hall of Famer hit .286, leading all of MLB in home runs (48) and total bases (342). He also led the NL in RBI (121) and picked up his fifth consecutive Gold Glove at 3B. To top it off, he scored 104 runs and stole a dozen bases.

Schmidt helped the Phillies achieve a 91-71 record (first in the NL East), as well as the 1980 World Series Championship.

THE OLD COLLEGE TRY

Mike Schmidt was a College All-American shortstop in baseball (Ohio University) in 1970 and 1971.

The runner-up to Schmidt for 1980 NL MVP was Expos’ catcher Gary Carter (.264-29-101; with a Gold Glove).

Schmidt played 18 MLB seasons (all with the Phillies) from 1972 through 1989.  He was an All Star in 12 seasons, a ten-time Gold Glover and a three-time NL MVP; as well as the MVP of the 1980 World Series. Schmidt retired with a .267 career average, 548 home runs, 1,595 RBI and 1,506 runs scored.  He led the NL in home runs eight times (topping 30 home runs in 13 seasons), led the league in RBI four times (nine seasons of 100+) and topped the NL in total bases three times.

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 1988 … Jose Canseco, OF, A’s

IN 1988, the A’s Jose Canseco led all of MLB I home runs (42) and RBI (124). He also tossed in 120 runs scored, 40 stolen bases and a .307 average – leading his Oakland team to 104-58 record (first in the AL West). Also on that squad were Mark McGwire (32 homers and 99 RBI) and Dave Henderson (.304-24-94). The pitching was led by Dave Stewart (21-12); Bob Welch (17-9), Storm Davis (16-7) and Dennis Eckersley (45 saves).

40-40 … ABOUT TIME

In his 1988 unanimous MVP season, Jose Canseco became the first major leaguer to achieve 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same campaign. Today, the 40-40 Club includes Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano.  

Finishing second in the 198 AL MVP balloting was the Red Sox’ Mike Greenwell, who hiT .325-22-119, with 16 steals.

Canseco played 17 MLB seasons (1985-2001). He was a six-time All Star and the 1986 AL Rookie of the Year. Canseco retired with a .266 average, 462 home runs, 1,407 RBI and 1,186 runs scored.  He led his league in home runs twice (topping 30 long balls in eight seasons) and in RBI once. He drove in 100 or more runs in six seasons and scored 100+ twice.

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1993 …. Frank Thomas, 1B, White Sox

Nickname: Big Hurt

While Frank Thomas didn’t lead his league in any offensive categories in his unanimous MVP season, he finished third in home runs (41), second in RBI (128) sixth in the AL in average (.317), tenth in runs scored (106), third in total bases (333).   Thomas would repeat as AL MVP in 1994 (not unanimously).  In 1993, the White Sox finished 94-68, first in the AL West.

The runner-up to Frank Thomas in the 1993 AL MVP balloting was the Blue Jay’s Paul Molitor, who put up a .332-22-111 season, with 121 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

THERE HAS TO BE A FIRST

In his 1993 MVP season, Frank Thomas became the first White Sox player to reach 40 home runs in a campaign.

Frank Thomas slugged his way into the Hall of Fame over 19 MLB seasons (1990-2008). He was a five-time All Star and two-time MVP. He was the 1997 AL batting champ with a .347 average – and hit .301 over his career, topping .300 in ten seasons. While he never led his league in home runs, he tallied 521 round trippers (reaching 30 or more in ten seasons; topping 40 five times). He also  drove in 1,704 runs (again without ever leading his league, but topping 100 RBI in 11 times). Thomas also scored 1,494 runs, leading the league once and surpassing 100 tallies in nine seasons. He also led his league in doubles once, walks four times and intentional walks twice.

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1994 …. Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Astros

Nicknames: Baggy and Bag Pipes

Future Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell put up some truly MVP numbers in 1994.  He logged a .368 average, popped 39 home runs and led MLB with 116 RBI, 104 runs scored, 300 total bases and a .750 slugging percentage.  Oh yes, he also stole 15 bases and brought home a Gold Glove.  The Astros finished second that season, with a 67-48 record.

 

The runner-up to Bagwell in the 1994 NL MVP balloting was the Giants’ Gold Glove third baseman Matt Williams (.267-43-96).

PUT ME IN COACH

Jeff Bagwell was a work horse, leading his league in games played four times (playing all 162 games in each of those campaigns) – and logging 156 or more games played in ten of 15 seasons (two of the five seasons in which he did not play in at least 156 games were strike-shortened.).

Bagwell played in 15 MLB seasons (1991-2005). He was an All Star four times, the 1991 NL Rookie of the Year and a one-time Gold Glover. He led his league in runs scored three times (topping 100 runs in nine seasons); hit 30 or more home runs nine times; led his league in RBI once and drove in 100 or more runs eight times. He also led his league in double once; stole 20 or more bases in three times; and topped 300 total bases six times (leading the league once). He retired with a .297 average, 449 home runs, 1,529 RBI, 1,517 runs scored and 202 stolen bases.

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1996 – Ken Caminiti, 3B, Padres

The Padres’ Ken Caminiti turned in a .326-400130 stat line in 1996, adding 109 runs and earning a Gold Glove.  The switch-hitter’s performance helped the San Diego squad finish atop the NL West with a 91-71 record.

PULLING THE OLD SWITCHEROO

In his 1996 unanimous MVP season, Ken Caminiti set the MLB record for most times hitting a home run from both sides of the plate in a game (four). He accomplished the feat on August 1, August 21, August 28 and September 11. Caminiti also hold the National League career record for games with home runs both left- and right-handed at 10. Nick Swisher holds the AL record at 13 – and Swisher and Mark Teixeira share the MLB mark at 14.

The runner-up to Caminiti in the 1996 NL MVP race was Dodgers’ catcher Mike Piazza (a future Hall of Famer), who went .336-36-105.

Caminiti played in 15 MLB seasons (1987-2001) and was a three-time All Star and three-time Gold Glover.  He had a .272 career average with 239 home runs and 983 RBI. His MVP season was the only campaign in which he reached 100 runs, 100 RBI or 30+ home runs.

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1997, Ken Griffey, Jr., CF Mariners

Nicknames: Junior and The Kid

Future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. really showed his stuff in 1997. He hit .304 and led MLB with 147 RBI. In addition, his 56 home runs and 125 runs scored led the American League.  He also led the AL in total bases (393) and intentional walks (23).  He was a force to be reckoned with. And, by the way, he also picked up a Gold for his play in CF.

Griffey led Seattle to a 90-72 record, good for first in the American League West. He got plenty of support from Of Jay Buhner (.243-40-109), DH Edgar Martinez (.330-28-108), SS Alex Rodriguez (.300-23-84) and Randy Johnson (20-4, 2.28) on the mound.

Finishing second to Griffey in the AL MVP voting was Yankee first baseman Tino Martinez, who put up a .296-44-141 line.

LIKE FATHER-LIKE SON

On September 14, 1990 – with the Mariner visiting the Angels – Ken Griffey, Sr. and Ken Griffey, Jr. started for the Mariners in LF and CF, respectively. In the bottom of the first inning Ken Griffey, Sr. hit a two-run home run to left-center of Kirk McCaskill). Next up was Ken Griffey, Jr., who also homered (solo shot, of course) to left-center.  It’s the only time in MLB history when a father and son have gone deep back-to-back.

Useful for you next trivia dust-up:  What are Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr.’s first names?  The answer “George” –  George Kenneth Griffey, Sr. and Jr. Oh yeah, other famous baseball “Georges” include George Thomas Seaver and George Herman (Babe) Ruth.

Griffey, Jr.  played 22 MB seasons (1989-2010) from age 19 to 40.  He hit .284 (2,781 hits), with 630 home runs, 1,836 RBI and 1,662 runs scored. He was a 13-time All Star and ten-time Gold Glover.  He led his league in:  runs scored once (scoring at least 100 times in six seasons); home runs four times (hitting 30 or more ten times – with a high of 56 in two seasons); RBI once (with eight campaign of 100 or more); total bases twice; and intentional walks twice. In 19 post-season games, Griffey hit .290, with six home runs, 11 RBI and five stolen bases.

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2002 … Barry Bonds, LF. Giants

In 2002, Barry Bonds won his fifth of seven (and second of four consecutive) NL MVP Awards (this one unanimously).  He led all of MB in average (.370), while launching 46 home runs, scoring 117 times and driving in 110 runs. He might have put up even stronger numbers if he hadn’t also led all of MLB in walks (198) and intentional walks (68). That season, the Giants finished second in the NL West, with a 95-86 record.

The runner-up to Bonds in the NL MVP voting was Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols, (.314-34-127).

YOU’RE GONNA GET A FREE RIDE

In 2004, Barry Bonds drew an MLB single-season record 232 walks.   They came in 617 plate appearances – that’s one walk in every 2.66 trips to the dish. A total of 120 of those free passes were intentional (another single-season MLB high mark). Bonds holds MLB’s career record for walks (2,558) and intention walks (688) – not to mention home runs (762).

Bonds played 22 MLB seasons (1986-2007).  He was a 14-time All Star, a record seven-time MVP and an eight-time Gold Glover. His 762 homer runs are the MLB career record, although he only led his league in round trippers twice (he hit 30 or more home runs 14 times – 40 or more seven times – and an MLB record 73 in 2001).  His 1,996 RBI are sixth all time. He led his league in RBI once, but topped 100 12 times.  Bonds’ 2,227 runs scored are second all time, and he led his league once (scoring 100+ time in 12 campaigns). He was also a two-time batting champion (.298 career average) and led his league in walks eleven times and intentional walks 12 times.

HERE’S A COMPLIMENTARY RUN

Barry Bonds is one of only six players to be walked intentionally with the bases loaded.

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2009 … Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals

In 2009, Albert Pujols put up a typical Pujols’ season, and it earned him his third NL Most Valuable Player recognition (this time in a unanimous vote). Pujols hit .327, and led MLB with 47 home runs, 124 runs and 374 total bases.  That campaign, he also drove in 135 runs, swiped 16 bases and drew an MLB-topping 44 intentional passes. This performance helped the Redbirds to a 91-71 record, good for fist place in the NL Central. Pujols was the only player on the Cardinals to reach 100 RBI that campaign, as well as the only Cardinal with more 22 round trippers.

The runner-up to Pujols in the NL MVP race was the Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez (.342-24-106, with 27 steals.

 

CONSISTENCY IS NOT ALWAYS A HOBGOBLIN

In his first ten MLB seasons, Albert Pujols never hit under .312, never launched less than 32 home runs, never drove in fewer than 103 tallies.  His season average from 2001-2010 was .331-41-123,

Pujols, still active, has now played in 19 MLB seasons, hitting .300 (3,202 hits, 15th all-time) with 656 home runs (sixth all-time) and 2,075 RBI (fourth all-time).  He was a unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year (2001), is a ten-time All Star, two-time Gold Glover and three-time National League MVP. He has led his league in runs scored five times (topping 100 ten times), home runs twice (reaching forty or more seven times) and RBI once (exceeding 100 in 14 campaigns) and batting average once (topping .300 in ten seasons). In the post-season, he has hit .323 (77 games), with 19 home runs and 54 RBI.

I’LL BRING HOME FOUR AND PUT DOWN THREE

In his first-ever college baseball game, Albert Pujols hit a Grand Slam and turned an unassisted Triple Play.  He finished that freshman season with a .461 average and 22 home runs and 80 RBI.

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2014 … Mike Trout, CF, Angels

Nickname:  The Millville Meteor

Mike Trout won his first of three (to date) American League MVP Awards (this one in a unanimous vote) in 2014 at the age of 23 (he turned 23 on August 7 of that season). He was already in his fourth MLB season and had finished second in the MVP voting in each of the previous two campaigns. In 2014, Trout hit .287, with 36 home runs, an MLB-leading 115 runs scored and MLB-tops 338 total bases. He also led the AL with 111 RBI. In 2014, Trout’s Angels topped the AL West with a 98-64 record, with Trout leading the team in nearly every offensive category.

The runner-up to Trout for 2014 AL MVP was the Tigers’ Victor Martinez (.335-32-103).

Mike Trout was a unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year in 2012 (although he did see action in 40 MLB games in 2011). In his Rookie of the Year season, Trout became the youngest MLB player ever to have a 30-30 season (30 home runs/30 stolen bases) – accomplishing it at age 20.   He hit 30 home runs, stole a league-leading 49 bags, drove in 83 and scored a league-leading 129 runs.

Still active, over his first nine MLB seasons, Trout has hit .305, with 285 home runs, 752 RBI, 903 runs scored and 200 stolen bases. He is an eight-time All Star and, in addition to winning the AL Most Valuable Player Award three times, has finishing second four times. He’s led the AL in runs scored four times (topping 100 in seven seasons) and RBI once (topping 100 three times). He’s also topped the junior circuit in walks three times, on-base percentage four times and stolen bases once.

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2015 … Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals

In 2015, 22-year-old Bryce Harper became the youngest player to win a league MVP award (and did on a unanimous vote). That season, Harper hit .330, with an NL-leading 42 home runs and 118 runs scored.  He also drove in 99 runs. His Nationals’ squad finished second in the NL East, with an 83-79 record. Harper led the team in average, home runs, runs scored, RBI, hits, doubles, walks, and total bases.

The runner-up to Bryce Harper for 2015 NL Most Valuable Player was the Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt (.331-33-110, with 21 stolen bases).

GOT TO COLLEGE EARLY …. LEFT EARLY

Bryce Harper graduated from High School early and attended the College of Southern Nevada at age 17 (2010). In 66 collegiate games, he hit .443, with 31 home runs and 98 RBI and was named Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was the first overall selection (Nationals) in the 2010 MLB drat.

The still active Harper has eight MLB seasons under his belt. He has put up a .276 average, with 219 home runs, 635 RBI, 708 runs scored and 90 steals., The six-time All Star and 2012 NL Rookie of the Year has led the NL once each in home runs, runs scored, walks and intentional walks. He has topped 30 home runs in three seasons, reached 100 or more RBI in two and scored 100+ ruins in two.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

For a look at unanimous Rookie of the Year choices, click here.  For unanimous Cy Young Award winners, click here.

Coming Soon:  A comparison of the BBWAA Hall of Fame Vote with BBRT’s Fan Hall of Fame Voting – and announcement of BBRT balloting prize winners.

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