Archives for August 2020

Gerrit Cole’s Winning Streak Halted at Twenty … Let’s Look at the 20+ “Streakers”

August 27, 2020 by

Gerrit Cole’s consecutive winning-decision streak stopped a twenty.

coleThe Braves topped the Yankees and Gerrit Cole yesterday (August 26) by a 5-1 score – behind the arm of rookie righty Ian Anderson (making his first MLB appearance) and the bats of Ronald Acuna Jr., Dansby Swanson and Marcell Ozuna (who all homered of Cole).  Anderson went six innings in his MLB debut, giving up just one run on one hit, while walking two and fanning six in the seven-inning contest. Cole gave up five runs on five hits over five innings.  He walked two and fanned nine.

The loss was Cole first after twenty consecutive regular-season winning decisions.  With that in mind, let’s take a look at the pitchers with steaks of twenty of more consecutive  regular-season winning decisions. First a few trivia tidbits and the obligatory Baseball Roundtable chart.

  • Carl Hubbell’s streak included 19 complete games (the most of any of the streakers). He notched 21 wins as a starter and three as a reliever.  So, Hubbell holds the overall record for consecutive winning decisions at 23, as well as the record for pitchers in a starting role at 21.
  • Jake Arrieta’s 20-win streak included a pair of no-hitters. His 0.97 earned run average during his streak is the lowest in-streak earned run average of any of the pitchers on this list.
  • Roy Face is the only reliever to notch 20 consecutive positive decisions, obviously giving him the record for consecutive winning decisions in relief (22). He spread his victory streak over 75 appearances.  Face has 20 saves during his streak.
  • 19 of Rube Marquard’s 20 consecutive winning decision came in 1912, giving him the records for the most connective wining decisions within a single season and to start a season.
  • Gerrit Cole’s streak included only one complete game – and that was a five-inning (weather-shortened) performance on Opening Day (July 23) of this season.
  • Roger Clemens pitched for two teams during his streak – with 15 wins for the Blue Jays in 1998 and five for the Yankees in 1999.
  • After his 20 consecutive winning decisions, Rube Marquard went 0-3, 6.08 in his next three appearances (two starts).
  • In the first 13 wins his streak (August 4, 2015 – April 4, 2016), Jake Arrieta gave up just four earned runs in 95 1/3 innings pitched in 14 starts – a 0.38 earned runs average.
  • Gerrit Cole averaged 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings during his steak – the highest on the list. Next is Roger Clemens at 10.2 whiffs per nine.

Here are the stats put up by these streakers during their streaks – from the first victory to the final win recorded.  Stats from no decisions within the streak are counted, while those from a no decisions just before the first win or after the final win in the streak, but before the first loss, are  NOT counted.

streaks final 20

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

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Hey Mother Nature, Is that All You got? Ray Caldwell’s Electrifying (or electri-denying) Performance.

August 24, 2020 by

CaldwellWe’ve all seen baseball fans reward a player (with a loud round of applause) for getting up, dusting himself off and trotting to first base after getting hit by a pitch.  (Well, maybe not this season.)

But how about a player who gets up, dusts himself off and continues to play – after getting leveled by a lightning bolt.  It happened on this day (August 24) back in 1919, when hard-nosed, hard-living, Cleveland Indians’ hurler Ray Caldwell was knocked out by a lightning strike – only to get to his feet, “shake it off” and complete the game.   (BBRT has commented on thjs event in the past, but it remains one of my favorite hardball stories and deserves revisiting. )

Caldwell

Bain News Service photo.

As a ballplayer, Ray Caldwell was known as someone who played hard – on and off the field.  The 6’2”, 190-pound, right-hander was thought by many to be a potential team “ace” on the mound.  However, his career was derailed by ongoing arm troubles and a penchant for “living large” … with a noted preference for liquor and the ladies.  His days in MLB were marked with multiple fines and suspensions related to alcohol and absenteeism.  As New York Yankees’ manager Miller Huggins described it, “Caldwell was one of the best pitchers that ever lived, but he was one of the characters that kept a manager in constant worry.”

Caldwell, like most pitchers of his day (his MLB career lasted from 1910 though 1921), liked to finish what he started.  He, in fact, finished more than 70 percent of his starts (184 complete games in 259 starts).  Not only was it difficult for opposing hitters to drive him from the mound, even Mother Nature couldn’t get the best of him.

Hey guys, I think we’ve got a keeper.

Ray Caldwell’s electrifying performance came in his first appearance for the Cleveland Indians.

On August 24, 1919, Caldwell made his initial appearance for the Cleveland Indians (after being released by the Red Sox, with a 7-4 record and 3.94 ERA).  Cleveland manager Tris Speaker, with the Indians involved in a tight pennant race with the White Sox, thought he could handle the problematic Caldwell, and it turned out he was right.  Caldwell went 5-1, 1.71 in six starts down the stretch, including a September 10th no-hitter against the Yankees.  (He also hit .348, 8-for-23, with four doubles in his six starts for Cleveland.)  But let’s get back to that August 24 game.

Caldwell started his first game in Cleveland – against the lowly Philadelphia Athletics – and, despite threatening weather, was cruising along with a four-hitter and a 2-1 lead.  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Caldwell faced not only the threat of the  A’s number-five hitter (shortstop Jumpin’ Joe Dugan), but also the ominous presence of Mother Nature – dark skies, rumbling thunder, occasional lightening and intermittent rain.  As witnesses reported, with Dugan at the plate, a lightning bolt blazed from the sky, hit near the press box, traveled down the ball park railings, exited and crossed the infield, dropping Caldwell (some said that it hit him in the top of the cap) as though he had been struck by a line drive.

The fans gasped, some even screamed, and the umpires rushed to the mound, where Caldwell lay face up, arms outstretched.  Various reports have Caldwell prone for three-to-five minutes. He then slowly sat up, got to his feet and shook his head to clear the cobwebs – refusing any suggestion that he leave the mound.   Instead, he demanded the ball and retired Dugan on a grounder to third base on the very next pitch.

Caldwell finished 1919 strong for Cleveland and, in 1920, his 20-10, 3.86 season helped Cleveland capture the AL pennant.  By 1922, at the age of 33, however, Caldwell’s history of arm and disciplinary problems had brought his major-league career to an end.  He kept playing, however, logging a dozen more minor league seasons – and despite two twenty-win minor league campaigns, never again toed a major league pitching rubber.

Ray Caldwell – Some Highlights

In addition to bouncing back to complete a game after being hit by lightning, Ray Caldwell had some other electrifying career moments:

– On June 10 and 11, 1915, Caldwell was used in consecutive games as a pinch hitter for the New York Yankees.  He delivered consecutive home runs – a solo homer and a three-run shot. (This was in a year when the AL leader stroked only seven long balls.) More #WhyIHateThe DH. Then, on June 12, Caldwell’s turn to pitch came up – at home against the Saint Louis Browns. Caldwell went the distance in a 9-5 win and, for the third consecutive day, hit a home run.  Over the three-day, three-game stretch, Caldwell was three-for-six, with three home runs, three runs scored and seven RBI. 

–  On June 23, 1917, Caldwell started both ends of a Yankees/Athletics doubleheader – winning both games.  He pitched six scoreless innings in Game One (leaving with a 9-0 lead in an eventual 10-4 Yankees’ win); then he threw a complete game six-hitter in Game Two (as the Yankees won 2-1). A good day at the office, for sure.

– In 1915, Caldwell started 36 games and completed 31.

– He was a 20-game winner (20-10, 3.86) for the Indians in 1920.

– In 1914, he won 18 games for the Yankees and posted a 1.94 ERA (fourth-best in the league).

– In 1915, he finished fifth in the AL in pitching victories (19), and ninth in home runs HIT (4).

– His career batting average was .248 and in 1918 and 1919, respectively, he hit .291 and .296. 

Caldwell’s final MLB stats (Yankees, Red Sox, Indians) included a 134-120 record and a 3.22 ERA.  In addition to his 20-win season with the Indians, he went 18-4, 1.94 for the 1914 Yankees and 19-16, 2.89 for the 1915 New York AL club.  A versatile athlete, Caldwell was also often used in the outfield, first base or as a pinch hitter. In 1918, he pitched in 24 games (21 starts) for the Yankees and also hit .291 in 169 at bats – playing in 65 games and taking the field at first base and in all three outfield positions (most often center field).  In 1915, his four home runs were ninth in the AL (Braggo Roth got the bragging rights, leading the league with seven dingers), despite Caldwell having 200 at bats fewer than anyone else in the top ten.  (League-leader Roth hit his seven homers in 384 at bats; Caldwell hit his four homers in 155 at bats.)

Ray Caldwell – the hurler who best Mother Nature.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Society for American Baseball Research (article by Steve Steinberg)

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Baseball Roundtable’s Look at a Couple of MLB Streaks

August 22, 2020 by

Yesterday (August 21), the Tigers topped the Indians (in Cleveland) 10-5, despite trailing 5-0 after three innings. A series of five relievers held the Indians scoreless over the final six frames and the Tigers came back powered by home runs by 2B Jonathan Schoop, 3B Isaac Paredes and LF Victor Reyes.   The victory was especially sweet because it was Detroit’s first win over Cleveland since April 10, 2019 – a string of 20 consecutive losses, three short of the longest losing streak (or conversely, winning streak) by one team versus another since 1901 (Orioles over Royals, May 10, 1969-August 2, 1970).  Let’s take a closer look at those two streaks.

Orioles versus Royals – 23 games

Looking at the Orioles-Royals streak, the 1969-expansion Royals squad won it first contest against the Orioles – and then dropped the next 23 (11 games in 1969, 12 in 1970).  Not a total surprise, the Orioles were Division Champions in the two seasons of the streak, winning 217 games and losing just 107.  The Royals didn’t do too badly for an expansion squad – a pair of third-place finishes and a 134-190 record.  While the Orioles did outscore the Royals 131 to 67 during the run of victories, the matchup was not totally one-sided.  Among the 23 wins, eight were decided by one run and another seven by two runs.  The Orioles shut out the Royals twice during the streak – by scores of 5-0 each time.

Streak chart

Indians versus Tigers – 20 games

The bulk of the Indians ;streak versus the Tigers (17 of the 20 wins) came in 2019, when the Tigers went a dismal 47-115 and the Indians went 93-69. In the Indians’ streak, Cleveland outscored Detroit 128-43, shutout the Tigers six times (4-0, 8-0, 2-0, 8-0, 2-0. 7-0) and scored eight or more runs in eight games. There were just two one-run games and six two-run contests.

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

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

A Look at Shane Bieber’s Early-Season Strikeout “Streak” … and Those Who “Struck” Before Him.

August 21, 2020 by

BieberThere has been lots of talk about Shane Bieber’s great start to this unusual season – 5-0, 1.11 with 65 strikeouts.  In the theme of “In baseball, we count everything,” it has been noted that the 65 whiffs ties Bieber for the fourth-most strikeouts in the first six starts of a campaign (Elias Sports Bureau).   In this post, BBRT will take a look at the top five (in strikeouts in a season’s first six starts) – how they got there and what they did in their seventh starting assignment.  First a chart (BBRT loves charts) and then some commentary.

 

First Six

A few notes, on the performance of players on this list over those six starts:

  • Shane Bieber had the lowest ERA (1.11) and also the fewest innings pitched (40 2/3).
  • Nolan Ryan’s gave up the fewest hits (20 in 50 innings), but the most walks (30).
  • Pedro Martinez and Shane Bieber tied for the most wins (5), while Nolan Ryan had the fewest wins (2).

Some other notes:

  • Ryan is the only pitcher to finish his streak season with a losing record (10-13).
  • The only hurler on the list not to lead the league in strikeouts out after his blazing start was Pedro Martinez in 2001 – a season when a rotator cuff injury cost him a month of playing time. (We’ll see what Bieber does.)
  • None of the players on the list had a 20-win season in the year of their quick starts.
  • The three players Bieber is joining on this list are all in the top 15 in career strikeouts – Nolan Ryan (Number One); Pedro Martinez (13); Curt Schilling (15).
  • The most strikeouts in the seventh start for players on this list was Pedro Martinez, with 15 whiffs in his seventh start of 2000.  We, of course, have yet to see what Bieber does.

Now, let’s look at the list.

Nolan Ryan, Angels – 71 strikeouts in his first six starts of 1978

No surprise to find MLB’s career strikeout king at the top of this list.  Ryan is also the career leader in bases on balls – and his 30 walks over his first six 1978 starts also leads this list (more than twice as many as the runner-up).

Ryan had the fewest wins (during his first six starts) among our five leaders – going just 2-1, despite a nifty 1.62 ERA.  With a little help from his friends, he would have fared better.  He gave up zero runs in four of those six starts, yet his only victories came in a pair of complete-game shutouts.  The biggest disappointment probably came in an April 13 start against the Twins (in Minnesota). Ryan got a no-decision, despite pitching ten innings of shutout ball, giving up just four hits (four walks), while fanning 12.  The Angels did win the game 1-0 on a Joe Rudi walk-off home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning.

Ryan finished the season at 10-13, 3.72, leading the league in strikeouts (260) and walks (148) in 234 2/3 innings pitched.  Over  his career, Ryan would lead the league in strikeouts 11 times and walks eight times.

Nolan Ryan fanned just five batters in eight innings in his seventh 1978 start – taking the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits and six walks to the Indians.

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Pedro Martinez, Red Sox – 67 strikeouts in his first six starts of 2000

The only pitcher to appear twice in the top-five list, Martinez picked up five wins in his first six starts of 2000. He made it into the eighth inning in only one of those six starts (a complete-game in start number six). Ironically, the one complete game was his only loss in the streak – a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay in which Martinez gave up just six hits and one walk, while fanning 17.  His mound opponent that day was Steve Trachsel, who pitched a three-hit shutout, walking three and fanning 11.  In the first five games of the season, Martinez went seven innings four times and 7 1/3 once. He never gave up more than two earned runs in any of those contests.

Martinez finished the season at 18-6, with a league-best 1.74 earned run average and a league-leading 284 strikeouts in 217 innings. Winnings his third Cy Young Award.

In his seventh start of the 2000 season, Pedro Martinez continued his whiffing ways, shutting out the Orioles (9-0) on two hits, while walking none and fanning 15.

_____________________________________

Pedro Martinez, Red Sox – 66 strikeouts in his first six starts of 2001

Martinez went 3-0. 1.47 in his first six starts of 2001 (the Red Sox lost all three of his no-decisions). While he had no complete games in his run, he averaged just over seven innings a start. His best start in the string was an April 8 game against Tampa Bay, when he went eight innings, giving up just three hits and three walks, while fanning 16.  In his three no-decisions, Martinez pitched 21 innings and gave up five earned runs (fanning 25). Martinez, who missed a month of the season (rotator cuff), finished the year 7-3, 2.39, with 163 strikeouts in 116 2.3 innings.

In his seventh start of 2001, Martinez picked up a win against the A’s – pitching seven innings and giving up four hits, no walks and one run, while fanning six.

______________________________________________

Curt Schilling, Phillies – 65 strikeouts in his first six starts of 1998

Curt Schilling lost two of the six games in his early-season (1998) strikeout streak – giving up three earned runs in seven innings in each of those contests. He also picked up three wins – and could have had a fourth with just a little support. In his first start (March 31, versus the Mets), Schilling went eight innings, giving up just two hits, walking one and fanning nine. He left the game after the eighth frame, with the score knotted at zero.  The Mets eventually won 1-0 in fourteen innings.

Schilling finished the 1998 season at 15-14, 3.25 – leading the National league in complete games (15), innings pitched (268 2/3) and strikeouts (300).

In his seventh start of the 1998 campaign, Curt Schilling went seven innings versus the Astros, giving up five hits and two runs (one earned), while walking one and fanning 13. While he deserved better, he left the game trailing 2-1 and took the loss, as the Astros topped the Phillies 4-1.

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Shane Bieber, Indians – 65 strikeouts in his first six starts of 2020

Shane Bieber’s first six starts of 2020 earned him five victories (tied for the most among the pitchers on this list) and a 1.11 earned run average (lowest among the players on this list).

Bieber pitched the fewest innings of any player on the list (40 2/3 in is six starts), three times tossing just six frames. His longest outing was an eight-inning stint against the Twins, when he gave up just three hits, walked none and fanned 13.  In four of his six outings, he held his opponents scoreless. Bieber’s only no-decision came against the White Sox on August 9, when he gave up three runs on four hits (two walks, eight whiffs) in six innings.  The big hits were home runs by Jose Abreu and James McCann. The Indians won the game 5-4 in ten innings.

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

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Ju-u-ust A Little Bit Outside (of expectations)

August 20, 2020 by

More short-season musing from Baseball Roundtable – and another example of how, when looking at baseball stats and stories, one thing invariably leads to another.  This one started when I was working on a post related to Mookie Betts’ recent record-tying sixth three-homer game.  Clearly, not an unexpected event, but one that got me thinking of players who unexpectedly wrote their name in the record books.  In the process, I drew a line between Betts and Kirk Nieuwenhuis,  Honus Wagner and Vic Power and Sandy Koufax and Philip Humber.

Trio

 

From Mookie Betts to Kirk Nieuwenhuis

A week ago (August 13), when the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts (“Dodgers” and “Betts” still sound a little weird to me) popped three home runs in a game against the Padres, no one was really surprised.  It wasn’t like hadn’t done it before.  After all, the 27-year-old Betts came into the contest with 146 long balls on his MLB resume. And, he’d gone deep three times in a game five times already.  (For a deeper look at Betts’ MLB record-tying achievement, clicker here). All in all, Betts seemed like a likely candidate (at least more likely than most) to go yard three times in a contest.

But this post isn’t about what might be expected, it’s about the “unexpected.”  And, when it comes to three home-run games, Mets’ outfielder Kirk (“Captain Kirk” Nieuwenhuis is the most unexpected name on the list.  Back on July 12, 2015, Nieuwenhuis had a three-home run, four-RBI game against the Diamondbacks, as New York topped Arizona 5-3 in the Big Apple. Nieuwenhuis, starting in LF and batting fifth, led off the second inning with a home run; hit a two-run shot in the third; and led off the fifth with his third long ball.  He went down swinging on four pitches in his final at bat (seventh inning).

So, why does BBRT see Nieuwenhuis (he should buy a “consonant”) as the most unexpected member of the three-home run club?  As Rod Serling would say, “For your Consideration.” In 2015, Nieuwenhuis played in 74 games (Met & Angels).  That July 12 game was his 43rd of the season and, at that point, he had zero home runs.  Further in his next 31 games he added just one round tripper – making his four home runs the fewest in a season by any player with a three-homer game in that season. Overall, Nieuwenhuis played in 414 games in six MLB seasons (2012-2017 …. Mets, Dodgers, Brewers); hitting .221, with 31 home runs and 117 RBI. He hit at least five home runs in only two seasons – his rookie campaign (2012), when he hit seven for the Mets, and 2016, when he hit 13 for the Brewers.

Like A Rubber Ball I Come Bouncing Back to You

Kirk Nieuwenhuis started the 2015 season in the Mets organization, then (on May 27), his contract was purchased by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. On June 13, the Angels placed Nieuwenhuis on waivers and the Mets snatched him back.

Nieuwenhuis played at Triple A in 2017 and 2018 and for the Atlantic League (Independent) Long Island Duck in 2019.

________________________________________________

From the Honus Wagner to Vic Power

When Honus Wagner stole home twice in one game (on June 20, 1901) it really wasn’t much a surprise.  In his fifth major-league season, the future Hall of Famer already had 144 stolen bases in his career (he would end up with 723 steals, five stolen base titles and 27 steals of home).  At the time of his two-steals-of-home game, Wagner also was one of just two players to steal second, third and home in one inning.  He still shares the career record for stealing second, third and home in an inning at four times (tied with Ty Cobb.)  Wagner becoming the first player to steal home twice in a game?  Not a total surprise.

More of an unexpected surprise was the last (most recent) player to accomplish the feat – the Indians’ Vic Power.  (I’ve written about this before, but it deserves revisit in the context of this post.) On August 14, 1958 Power became just the eleventh player in MLB history to steal home twice in one game – a feat that has not been accomplished since.   This is especially surprising since Power stole a total of three bases all season.  Here’s how it went down.

In a game against the Tigers (in Cleveland), Detroit on top of the Tribe 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning – but the Indians fought back. Cleveland RF Rocky Colavito started the inning with his second home run of the game (his 26th of the season). Then pinch-hitter Gary Geiger (hitting for SS Woodie Held) walked. Next up was another pinch hitter – Vic Wertz. Wertz tied the contest with a two-run long ball.

After a Detroit pitching change, the Indians’ 2B Bobby Avila reached on an error by Tigers’ 1B Gail Harris. Cleveland 1B Mickey Vernon sacrificed Avila to second and Power singled him home – moving to second on an error by Detroit catcher Charlie Lau.  And, the pesky Power was just warming up. He went to third on a wild pitch by Fischer and then stole home (after a short fly out to center by catcher Russ Nixon) to run the lead to 9-7. LF Minnie Minoso was up next and was hit by a pitch and stole second before CF Larry Doby flied out to end the inning.  The Tribe bullpen, however, could not hold the two-run lead – and the Tigers tied it in the top of the ninth. That opened the door for Power’s historic second steal of home – which came in the bottom of the tenth, with the bases loaded, two outs and one of the AL’s most dependable RBI men (Rocky Colavito, with 74 driven in on the season) at the plate. On the fourth pitch to the Indians’ slugger, Power – who had been scampering up and down the third base line – broke for the plate and ended the game on a “run off” steal of home.

Going into that August 14 tilt, Power had exactly one stolen base on the season – and he did not steal a single a bag after the two steals of home that campaign. The fact is, he was much more likely to beat you with his glove (seven Gold Gloves) or his bat (.284 career average) than his legs. In twelve MLB seasons, Power stole just 45 bases (and was caught 35 times).  He was a four-time All Star, who collected 1,716 hits, scored 765 runs and drove in 658.

sTEAL CHARD

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Sandy Koufax to Philip Humber

When Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game on September 9, 1965, very few baseball fans were surprised. After all, Koufax – working his way to the Hall of Fame – had already thrown three no-hitters – one in each of the previous three seasons.  (The perfect game gave him the MLB-record for career no-hitters – later broken.) Then, of course, there were other credentials that seemed to make a perfecto more of a possibility. He was in the process of leading the NL in earned run average for the fourth straight season and had led the league in complete-game shutouts in each of the previous two campaigns. Koufax retired (after 12 seasons, due to arm issues) with a 165-87, 2.76 record having led his league in wins three times, ERA five times, complete games twice, strikeouts four times and shutouts three times, Clearly the potential for a perfect game was there.

The most unexpected perfect game?   Some might go with Don Larsen’s World Series perfect outing, but BBRT is going with the perfect outing notched by the White Sox’ Philip Humber in a 4-0 win over the Mariners April 21, 2012.  Why?  Primarily because it was the only complete game in Humber’s eight-season MLB career (97 games, 51 starts).  Humber finished 2012 at 5-5, 6.44 and his final career stat line was 16-23, 5.31.

Koufax’ Perfect Game – He Pretty Much Needed It

When the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game on September 9, 1965, he pretty much needed it. He was opposed by Cubs’ right-hander Bob Hendley (who went 48-52, 3.97 in a seven-year MLB career), who was on top of his game as well.

After eight innings, Hendley had given up just one hit and one walk (versus three strikeouts). The only hit had been a harmless double by Dodgers’ LF Lou Johnson in the bottom of the seventh. Hendley had allowed just one run in eight frames – and even that wasn’t his fault.  The pesky Johnson had led off the fifth with a walk; moved to second on a sacrifice by RF Ron Fairly; stole third; and then scored as Cubs’ catcher Chris Krug made a wild throw past third baseman Ron Santo.  

Hendley’s efforts, however, weren’t nearly enough that day. Koufax, who came into the game already a 20-game winner (21-7 on the season), threw a perfect game – striking out 14 Cubs.  While his ill-timed one-hitter didn’t even get Hendley a win, he does share the record (with Koufax) for playing/pitching in the MLB game with the fewest combined hits ever.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference; Stathead.com.

 

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Three Long Ball … You Can Bet(ts) On It … A Look at some Three-Homer Game Trivia

August 14, 2020 by
Mookie Betts photo

Photo by apardavila

David Ortiz never did it in his 20-season, 541-home run career.  Hank Aaron (755 career home runs) accomplished the feat just once in 23 seasons, as did Frank Robinson (586 career home runs) in 21 seasons.  Heck, even Babe Ruth (714 career dingers) only did it twice in 22 campaigns.  And, these guys had nicknames like Big Papi, The Hammer, The Judge and The Sultan of Swat.  I’m talking about going deep three times in a game – and, yesterday (lucky August 13), Markus “Mookie” Betts hit three home runs in a game for the sixth time in his career – tying the major -league record for three-blast contests.

Betts had his sixth three-homer night out of the leadoff spot, as his Dodgers topped  the Padres 11-2 … and maybe there was a bit of retribution involved (he was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance of the game). Overall, Betts was four-for-four (he also had an infield single), with four runs scored and five driven in.

As you can see in the chart below, Betts got to his sixth three-homer game much more quickly than either of his predecessors (Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa).  It clearly seems like this is a record likely to fall.

sixf

Through Yesterday, Betts had a career average of .302 (in 813 games), with 146 home runs, 485 RBI, 627 runs scored and 127 stolen bases. He is a four-time All Star, the 2018 AL Most Valuable player (when he won the batting title at .346, hit 32 home runs, drove in 80 and scored a league-topping 129 times).  Overall, he scored 100+ runs in four of his first six seasons, drove in 100+ in two of those campaigns and hit.300+ twice.

Now, let take a look at some additional three-homer game tidbits.

  • While no teenager has recorded an MLB three-homer game, two twenty-year-olds have done it.  The Tigers’ Al Kaline (April 17, 1955) at 20 years-119 days and the Braves’ Eddie Mathews (September 27, 1952) at 20 years-350 days.
  • Stan Musial is the oldest player to go deep three times in a game. He had his second (and final) career three-homer game on July 8, 1962 at 41 years-229 days old. Here’s a chart of those 40 or over to hit three long balls in a single contest.

40+

  • The White Sox’ Merv Conn0rs (three-homer game on September 17, 1938) hit the fewest career home runs of any player with a three-HR contest – eight. Connors played just 52 games for the White Sox in two MLB seasons (1937-38) – going .279 (46-for-165), with eight home runs and 25 RBI. At the time of his three-homer game, he was playing in his 38th MLB game and had hit a total of three home runs in the previous 37.
  • Two father-son combos have each recorded three-homer games – Cecil Fielder (May 6 & June 6, 1990, April 16, 1996) and Prince Fielder (September 27, 2011) and Ken Griffey Sr. (July 22, 1986) and Ken Griffey Jr.  (May 24, 1996, April 25, 1997).
  • One grandfather-grandson combo has each recorded a three-homer game Carl Yastrzemski (May 19, 1976)  and grandson Mike Yastrzemski (August 16, 2019).

Knock Three Times – Three Home Runs on Opening Day

The Opening Day, single-game record of three home runs is shared by four players – the Blue Jays’ George Bell, Cubs’ Tuffy Rhodes, Tigers’ Dmitri Young and White Sox’ Matt Davidson.

On April 4, 1988, George Bell – batting clean-up and serving as the DH – became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in an Opening Day game, as his Blue Jays topped the Royals 5-3 in Kansas City. Bell went three-for-four with three runs scored and four RBI, hitting all three home runs off Royals’ starter Brett Saberhagen.

On a windy April 4, 1994, Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes (leading off and playing CF for the Cubs in Chicago) hit three solo shots off Mets’ starter Dwight Gooden. Rhodes also had a single and a walk in five plate appearances. Despite Rhodes’ record-tying performance, the Cubs lost to the visiting Mets 12-8. At the time, Rhodes had played 107 MLB games in four seasons – hitting a total of five home runs. His MLB career consisted of 225 games in six seasons, with a .224 average and just 13 round trippers (with a high of eight in 1994). 

On April 4, 2005 the Tigers’ Dmitri Young joined Bell and Rhodes on the list of batters with three home runs in an Opening Day game – as the Tigers topped the Royals 11-2 in Detroit. Young started at DH and went four-for-four with four runs and five RBI.  Young, an All Star in 2003 and 2007, hit a total of 21 home runs in 2005 – and 171 in 13 MLB seasons. 

On March 29, 2018, as the White Sox topped the Royals 14-7 in Kansas City, DH and (appropriately) cleanup hitter Matt Davidson opened the season with a three-homer, five-RBI game. He went three-for-four with a walk, four runs scored and five RBI.  Davidson, in his fourth MLB season, went on to a .228-20-62 campaign.  In his 273 MLB games (2013, 1015-18), Davidson has just three multi-homer contests. and a total of 49 round trippers.

  • Babe Ruth is the only player to twice hit three-homers in a World Series game. Ruth accomplished the feat in the 1926 (Game Four) and 1928 (Game Four) Series.  Additional players with a three-HR World Series game include Reggie Jackson in the 1977 Series (Game Six); Albert Pujols in the 2011 Series (Game Three); and Pablo Sandoval in the 2012 Series (Game One).
  • Two pitchers have hit three home runs in a game.  On August 15, 1986, Guy Hecker of the American Association (considered a major league) Louisville Colonels collected three singles and three home runs in a 22-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles. In a May 13, 1942 game against the Cubs, the Boston Braves’ Jim Tobin flied out to deep right field in the third inning; homered to lead off the fifth; homered again to lead off the seventh; and hit a two-run home run with two outs in the eighth (to break a 4-4 tie in a game the Braves won 6-5).

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

 

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

A Little Short-Season Trivia – Hall of Fame Infields

August 13, 2020 by

How about a little trivia as we move through the strange 2020 baseball season?  It recently caught BBRT’s eye that the New York Giants are the only team to field an infield (1B-2B-3B-SS) made up totally of future Hall of Famers.  Not only that, they did it in three consecutive seasons (1925-27).  Now, that is unique in itself, but what really got my attention was that the Giants had a different primary second baseman in each of those seasons … and then a fourth second basemen (who did not make the HOF) in the 1928 campaign.  So, here is your question.

In 1925, 1926 and 1927, the New York Giants infield (1B-2B-3B-SS) was made up entirely of future Hall of Famers.  Notably, each of those squads had a different second baseman.  Can you name the three future Hall of Famers who played the keystone sack on those teams?  Hint:  Hint:  Read carefully one of the three was more highly acclaimed at a different position.  The chart below may (or may not) help.

Giants

Now for the answer(s) …

1925 – George “High Pockets” Kelly (107 starts at 2B)

This is where that hint comes in. Future Hall of Famer 6’4” George “High Pockets” Kelly was more HIGH-ly known as a first baseman (in his 16 MLB seasons, he made 84.8 percent of his starts at first base).  In 1925, the combination of an injury to another future Hall of Famer (2B Frankie Frisch) and the desire to get more lineup time for emerging talent (and another future Hall of Famer) Bill Terry resulted in Kelly moving over to second base, where he started 107 games. (Kelly never started more than 17 games at 2B in any other season of his career.)

For the season, Kelly’s tenth MLB campaign (sixth as a full-time player), he went .309-20-99, with 87 runs scored for the Giants.  He finished second on the squad in RBI and home runs to LF Bob Meusel. Going into the 1925 season, Kelly had a .298-90-583 stat line and had hit .300 or better in each of the previous four campaigns.  The following season (1926), Frisch returned to full-time second base duty and Kelly took back his first base job (starting 114 games there and another 17 at 2B), hitting .303-13-80. Terry served as a backup, appearing in 37 at 1B, 14 in the OF and 47 times as a pinch hitter.  He hit .289-5-43 in 225 at bats.

Before the 1927 season, the Giants – looking for outfield help – decided to install Terry and first base and traded Kelly to the Reds for Of Edd Roush (who went on to play three seasons for the Giants, getting in 301 games and hitting .304).  Kelly played five seasons after the trade – hitting .288-25-258 – but played in 100 or more games only twice in that time.  He retired after 16 MLB seasons with a .297-148-1,020 stat line. He led his league in home runs once (hitting 20 or more three times) and RBI twice (topping 100 in five seasons). He was also one of the leading defensive first basemen of his time – leading NL first sackers in putouts three times, assists three times and double plays twice.

1926 – Frankie “The Fordham Flash” Frisch (126 starts at second base)

Frankie Frisch starred in baseball, football, basketball and track at Fordham University – hence “The Fordham Flash” nickname.  In 1919, he left Fordham and signed with the Giants – going right to the major-league club. By 1921, at age 23, Frisch had established his “star quality.”  That season, Frisch hit .341, with 211 hits (eight home runs), 121 runs scored, 100 RBI and league-leading 49 steals.

By 1926, the switch-hitting Frisch was looking back at five consecutive .300+ seasons.   Injuries on the Giants’ squad in 1925 (including a hand injury to Frisch himself) had both limited his playing time (120 games compared to 145 the season before) and forced him to move about the infield.  (In 1925, Frisch started 41 games at 2B, 43 at 3B and 36 at SS.)  In 1926, he was back in his role as the Giants’ primary keystone sacker. That season, Frisch hit .314-5-44, with 75 runs scored and 23 steals.  By this time, Frisch’s relationship with Giants’ manager John McGraw had – depending on your turn of phrase – either cooled considerable or really heated up. At any rate, it had become contentious enough that Frisch was traded to the Saint Louis Cardinals (along with pitcher Jimmy Ring) for another future Hall of Famer – Rogers Hornsby. In 1926, Hornsby had had hit .317-11-93 and managed the Cardinals to the National League pennant.  (More on Hornsby coming up).

Frisch flourished with the Cardinals. In his first eight seasons with the Redbirds, he hit .300 or better seven times – and he managed the team from 1933-38 (as a player-manager until 1937) – leading Saint Louis to a World Series Championship in 1934.  Frisch played a total of 19 MLB seasons, hitting .316 (2,880 hits), with 105 home runs, 1,244 RBI, 1,532 runs scored and 419 stolen bases. He led the NL in runs scored once (topping 100 runs tallied in seven seasons); hits once (getting 200+ safeties in three seasons); and stolen bases three times (a high of 49 in 1921). He managed in the major leagues in 16 seasons (Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs), totaling 1,138 wins and 1,078 losses.

1927 – Rogers “The Rajah” Hornsby (155 starts at 2B)

Rogers Hornsby may have been the greatest right-handed hitter of all time.  He was, however, not always the easiest person to deal with (understatement there).  By December 1926, when he was traded to the Giants’ for 2B Frankie Frisch and pitcher Jimmy Ring (11-10, 4.57 in the 1926 season), Hornsby had six batting titles and two home runs crowns on his MLB resume.  He had also led the National League in runs scored three times, hits four times, doubles four times, triples once, and RBI four times.  He was also known for a notable ego and angry disputes with ownership and management. Things came to a head after Hornsby, as a player-manager, led the 1926 Cardinals to a World Series Championship.  He asked for a three-year, $150,000 per year contract (he had signed a three-year/$100,000 deal after the 1924 season).   Cardinals’ owner Sam Breadon countered with one year at $50,000.  Hornsby declined and Breadon traded Hornsby to the Giants (as noted in the Frisch paragraphs) for Frankie Frisch and Jimmy Ring.

Hornsby apparently brought his ego and attitude with him to New York.  He was in the Big Apple for just one season (.361-26-125 in 1927) before being traded to the Boston Braves for catcher Shanty Hogan and Outfielder Jimmy Welch – a pair of solid players, but not the return you might have expected for Hornsby. Hornsby’s departure ended the Giants’ string of  “All Future Hall of Famer” infields.   Hornsby also spent just one season in Boston (winning the batting title at .387, with 21 home run and 94 RBI) before being traded to the Cubs for five players and $200,000.

Hornsby played 23 MLB seasons, hitting .358 (2,930 hits), with 301 home runs, 1,584 RBI and 1,579 runs scored. He was a seven-time batting champion (and hit .400+ in three seasons), a two-time league home run leader, a-four time RBI leader (topping 100 RBI in five seasons, led the NL in runs scored four times (with 100+ runs in six seasons), four times led the league in base hits (topping 200 in seven campaigns) and led the league in total bases seven times.

Andy Cohen

The Giants’ string of seasons with four future Hall of Famers in the infield was broken in 1928, when rookie Andy Cohen (who came into the season with 35 MLB at bats) took over at second base. Future Hall of Famers Bill Terry, Freddie Lindstrom and Travis Jackson were still at 1B, 3B and SS, respectively.  At the time, Cohen looked like he had the potential to extend the streak.  Cohen, just 22-years-old, hit .353 for the Buffalo Bison of the International League (Double A) in 1927.   Then he hit .274-9-59 in 129 games for the Giants in 1928 and .294 for New York in 101 games in 1929. He had, however, tailed off a bit in the second half and started the 1930 season with the International League Newark Bears – where it was reported that he suffered (depending on sources) either an shoulder or leg injury.  He never made it back to the major leagues, but played in the minors through 1942 (when he was inducted into the Army) – including (for Minnesota readers) eight seasons with the Minneapolis Millers (American Association – Double A).

Cohen retired as a player with a .281-14-114 line in three MLB seasons and a .288 average with 78 home runs in 16 minor-league campaigns. After military service, he served a number of years as a minor league manager and major league coach.

Cohen also had a 1.000 winning percentage as an MLB manager. In 1960, Cohen was a coach on the Phillies when manager Eddie Sawyer resigned after the first game of the season. Gene Mauch was hired as a replacement, but Cohen filled in for one game until Mauch could join the team.  In that contest, the Phillies won 5-4 over the Braves in ten innings. After leaving professional ball, Cohen coached the University of El Paso baseball team for 17 years.

More #WhyIHateTheDH

Baseball Roundtable recently published a post on solid-hitting pitchers (click here for that post). I thought I’d add another story to the BBRT #WhyIHateTheDH saga.

On August 5, 2001, Livan Hernandez started on the mound for the Giants (versus the Phillies). He got the win with 6 2/3 innings of four-run ball (eighth hits, three walks, three strikeouts), but he was even better at the plate – a three-for-three day, with a double in the third inning, a single n the fourth and a single in the sixth. His next start came on August 11 against the Cubs.  Another win for Hernandez and another perfect day at the plate: run-scoring single in the second, two-run home run in the third, single in the sixth and single in the eighth. Add to that a single in Hernandez’ final at bat in his in his July 31 start against the Cubs and Hernandez hit safety in eight straight plate appearances (not bad for a pitcher). That season, Hernandez hit .296 (24-for-82) with one home run and eight RBI. Further, in four starts, between July 26 and August 11, he went 12 for 13 (.923).  In those four starts, he went 3-0, 4.39 on the mound. Hernandez was a career .221 hitter (215-for-973). with ten homers and 85 RBI. On the bump, he went 178-11, 4.44.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; “Frankie Frisch” bio, by Fred Stein, Society for American Baseball Research; “Rogers Hornsby” bio, Society for American Baseball Research, by C. Paul Rogers III; “Baseball Maniac’s Almanac, Fifth Edition, ” edited by Bert Randolph Sugar (2019).

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, Trivia

Harmon Killebrew’s Much-Anticipated and Long-Awaited 500th Circuit Clout

August 10, 2020 by

KIllerOn this date (August 10) in 1971, Harmon Killebrew hit his much anticipated (and long-awaited) 500th MLB home run. It was a 385-foot smash to left field (off a curve ball from the Orioles’ Mike Cueller) in the first inning of a 4-3, 10-inning Twins’ loss to the Orioles at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium.

Why long-awaited? Killebrew had been sitting on number 499 since July 25th.  He hadn’t gone deep in 14 consecutive Twins games (Killebrew played in 13 of those) before that landmark clout. Killebrew had a total of 59 plate appearance and 43 at bats between home run 499 and 500 (includes Killebrew’s final at bat July 25).  This from an eventual Hall of Famer, who averaged one home run every 4.2 games played, 17.2 plate appearances and 14.2 at bats over his career.

 

abhr

MUgAnother element in the “long-awaited” theme: Killebrew had banged out home run number 498 on June 22 and the Twins, confident the prolific slugger would reach 500 by early July, created commemorative mugs to celebrate the milestone – to be distributed July 6.  Oops!  Killebrew didn’t knock number 499 until July 25 and it wasn’t until August 10 (more than a month after the give-away) that he made the mugs truly relevant.  Harmon expressed the delay (and pressure of the chase) this way, “I didn’t feel the pressure, if that is what you want to call it, until a couple of weeks ago. There was that mug job and people kept asking when I would do it. You try harder in those situations.”(1)

Killebrew, by the way, didn’t make fans wait long for home run 501. It came just two at bats after number 500 – a two run-shot in the bottom of the sixth.  For those who like to know such things, both numbers 500 and 501 came off Mike Cueller, who pitched a complete game seven-hitter (three runs) for his 14th win of the season.  In that game, Killebrew went three-for-four with two home runs and drove in all three Twins’ tallies.

Turn About

Harmon Killebrew, ironically (sad face here), hit his 573rd and final MLB home run against the Minnesota Twins.  It came on September 18, 1975 at Metropolitan Stadium (off Eddie Bane) in a game Killebrew’s Royals won 4-3.

Hall-of-Famer Killebrew played 22 MLB seasons, primarily with the Senators/Twins (1954-74).  He played one season – 1975 – with the Royals.  Killebrew hit .256-573-1,584.  He was an All Star in 11 seasons and the 1969 American League Most Valuable Player. He led the American League in home run six times (topping 40 in eight seasons); had nine seasons of 1oo+ RBI (leading the league three times) and scored 100+ runs twice.  His best season was 1969, when he was an All Star and the AL MVP – hitting .276 and leading the AL in  home runs (49), RBI (140), walks (145), intentional walks (20) and on-base percentage (.427). Heck, he even stole eight bases that seasons (but that’s another story).

Harmon Killebrew was an AL All Star Game starter at three different positions (1B, 3B, LF).

Primary Resources: MLB.com; Stathead.com; (1) “Slow curve gives Killebrew No. 500,” by Mike Lamey, Minneapolis Star, August 11, 1971

 

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Who Says Pitchers Can’t Hit? Don’t Ask This “Guy.” Or These Other Guys.

August 8, 2020 by

With the universal Designated Hitter in effect this season – and some (sadly, from BBRT’s view) predicting it will remain in the National League after 2020, there are some things we are going to miss.  Okay, maybe most fans won’t miss futile swings by pitchers who just can’t handle a bat (although I do get a kick out of that sometimes).  I, for one, will miss good-hitting pitchers that deliver offense, hurlers that know how to lay down a bunt and, even more so, poor-hitting pitchers that surprise us by going on “rampages” at the plate.   This post is intended to explain what I’m talking about here (and is part of BBRT’s ongoing #WhyIHateTheDH” stream of thought.  So, let’s look at some at-the-plate thrills provided by pitches over the years.  The kind of performances we may not see in the future.

In the theme of Don’t Tell this Guy Pitchers Can’t Hit, let start with Guy Hecker.

Guy Hecker, Louisville, Colonels (American Association) … Only pitcher to win a batting title

HeckerOkay, it was a different game back in 1886, but Guy Hecker remains the only pitcher to win a batting title, the only pitcher to collect six hits in a game, the only pitcher to score seven runs in a game, the only hurler to collect 15 total bases in a contest and one of just two MLB pitchers to hit three home runs in a game.  Hecker won the American Association (considered a major league) batting crown in 1886 with a .341 average (117-for 343). Hecker appeared in 84 games that season (of 136 played by Louisville) and took the mound in 49 (57 percent) of them (48 starts/45 complete games).  He also took the field at first base and in the garden.  On August 15 of that season, in contest against the Baltimore Orioles, Hecker collected six hits (three singles and three home runs) and was safe on error once – scoring seven times in the 22-5 victory.  He also tossed a compete game.

Clearly, Guy Hecker earned his spot at the top of this post.

Guy Hecker still holds the overall (any position) major-league record for runs scored in a game at seven.

Hecker had a nine-season MLB career, going 175-146, 2.93 on the mound (four times winning 20+ games, with a high of 52 wins in 1884) and hit .283, with 19 home runs and 278 RBI in 705 games.

Mike Hampton …. Five Silver Slugger Awards

HamptonYou couldn’t do this post without including Mike Hampton, who won five Silver Slugger Awards as the National League’s best-hitting pitcher.  (The Silver Slugger Awards were established in 1980.) Hampton earned his handful of Silver Slugger recognitions in five consecutive seasons – from 1999 through 2003.  Notably, he won them with four different teams: Astros (1999); Mets (2000); Rockies (2001 & 2002); and Braves (2003). Now, we may never see another pitcher hoist a Silver Slugger Award. Note:  In 2003, Hampton was a leather and lumber – or heavy metal – guy, winning both a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. For more on players to win a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the same seasons, click here.

Hampton was two-time All Star during his 16-season (1993-2005, 2008-2010) MLB career. He retired with a 148-115, 4.06 record on the mound and a .246-16-79 batting line (423 games).  He hit over .300 in four seasons (a high of .344 in 2002).  His best campaign as a hitter was 2001, when he went .291-7-16 in 42 games for the Rockies.

Walk It Off, Jim

With pitchers not coming to the plate, we miss out not only on heavy-hitting performances (like Guy Hecker’s), but also on some pitchers’ at-the-plate oddities.  For example, Hall of Famer Jim Palmer is the only player (any position) ever to draw two bases-loaded walks in a single World Series Game. They came in the fourth and fifth innings of an Orioles’ 11-3 win over the Pirates on October 11, 1971. (Palmer walked only three times – versus 41 strikeouts – while hitting .196 during the regular season.)  Palmer was a career .174 hitter in the regular season and hit .086 in 20 post-season games.  Those two bases-loaded free passes were his only walks in 38 post-season plate appearances.   Palmer won 20 or more games in eight of his 19 MLB seasons.

Walter Johnson, Washington Senators … nine-game hitting streak, .433 season average (1925)

You can make a pretty good case for Hall of Famer Walter Johnson being the greatest pitcher of all time: 417 victories; 12 times leading the league in strikeouts; an MLB-record 110 shutouts … and I could go on and on.  But this post is about hitting, and the “Big Train” carried a pretty big bat.

Consider the 1925 season, when the 37-year-old Johnson went 20-7, 3.07 on the mound. At the plate, Johnson started the campaign by collecting at least one base hit in his first nine games (appearing in two of those contests as a pinch hitter). After those nine contests, Johnson was hitting a nice round .500 (13-for-26), with one double, one triple, one home run and nine RBI.  On the hill, he was 6-1, 1.77.  And Johnson didn’t slow down much as the season wore on.  He ended up with a .433 average (42-for-97), with three walks (.455 on-base percentage) and just six strikeouts.  He also had two home runs and 20 RBI in 36 games.   Johnson’s splits were pretty impressive as well. He hit .429 at home and .438 on the road and .529 versus right-handers and .414 versus lefties. He also hit .571 with runners in scoring position (12-for-21) and .500 with runners in scoring position and two out (four-for-eight.  Johnson was a career (21 seasons) .235 hitter, with 24 home runs and 255 RBI.

You’ve been “Catfished”

On May 8, 1968, Jim “Catfish” Hunter threw a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins – a 4-0 win in Oakland.  Not only did he dominate the Twins from the mound (11 whiffs in the perfect outing), he also roughed them up at the plate. Hunter had a double, two singles, and three RBI in the contest.  Note:  There have been 23 perfect games in MLB history, the pitchers twirling those gems have recorded at least one base hit in six of them. Hunter is the only one with more than one safety while pitching “perfecto.”

Don Newcombe. Dodgers … .359 average, seven home runs, 23 RBI (1955)

In 1955, the Dodgers’ Don Newcombe became a 20-game winner (20-5, 3.20) for the second time.  He also hit .300+ for the second of seven times (in ten seasons) he would reach that mark.

In 1956, Don Newcombe went 27-7, 3.06 on the mound – earning Cy Young AND MVP honors.

Newcombe got his 1955 season at the plate off to a good start. On April 14, in his first appearance of the campaign, he went two-for-four, with two runs, three RBI and two home runs – and he needed to succeed at the plate.  Newcombe got the win (10-8 over the Giants), despite giving up eight runs (five earned) in 7 1/3 innings. For the season, Newcombe hit .359 (42-for-117), with seven home runs and 23 RBI. Newk was used 23 times as a pinch-hitter that season, going 8-for-21 (.381) with two walks. For the season, he hit .353 with runners in scoring position.  For his career, Newcombe hit .271 (238-for-878) with 15 home runs and 108 RBI. On the bump, the four-time All Star was 149-90, 3.56.

Another Big Don

Don Newcombe was a solid hitting pitcher for the Dodgers – and so was another Big Don – Drysdale. In 1965, when the Dodgers faced the Twins in the World Series, the LA squad had only one hitter with at least 100 at bats and a .300 or better average.  That was Don Drysdale at an even .300 (39-for-130). In fact, the most at bats for any other Dodger that hit .300 or better that season was 13. Drysdale was seventh on the team in home runs (seven) and tenth in RBI (19).

Micah Owings, Diamondbacks … Four hits, two home runs, six RBI (August 18, 2007)

Micah Owings did not have the pitching stats of some of the hurlers in this post (six MLB seasons, 32-33, 4.86) – but he could rake. As a rookie, in 2007, Owings had quite a mid-August day against the Braves. He threw seven solid innings (three runs on seven hits, with no walks and seven whiffs.  At the plate, his day went like this: two-run double in the second inning; solo home run in the fourth; two-run home run in the sixth; RBI single in the seventh; line out in the eighth.  For the season, the 24-year-old rookie hit .333-4-15 in 60 at bats. For his career, Owings hit .283, with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 205 at bats.

A Wise Man Once Put It All TWOgether

wiseOkay, Rick Wise was not a terror at the plate, sporting just a .195 average over 18 MLB seasons. He did, however, put it all together on June 23, 1971. Facing the Reds in Cincinnati, Wise tossed a no-hitter (one walk, three whiffs) in a Phillies’ 4-0 win. He also became the first (and still only) MLB hurler to hit two home runs while pitching a no-no.  Wise connected in the fifth (two-run) and eighth (solo) to complete a two-for-four day.  1971 was actually a solid year for Wise, who went 17-14, 2.88 and hit .237 with career highs in home runs (6), RBI (15) and runs scored (14) – in 39 games. In his pitching career, Wise went 188-181, 3.69 and won 15 or more games in six seasons.

Homer and No no

Wes Ferrell … 37 home runs as a pitcher, nine in one season

Wes Ferrell was a good (great?) hitting pitcher, holding the record for single-season home runs as pitcher (nine) and career home runs as a pitcher (37 out of 38 career long balls). His career (15 seasons, 1927-41) line was .280-38-208 in 548 games.  In 1931, Ferrell hit .319-9-30 in 48 games for the Indians – hitting .389-9-29 as a pitcher (he was also used as a pinch-hitter).  On the mound, he went 193-128, 4.04 – winning 20 or more games in six seasons.

25+

Two Grand Slams – One Grand Game

Braves’ right-hander Tony Cloninger got the Independence Day fireworks started early in 1966. On July 3 of that season, Cloninger became the first (and still only) pitcher – as well as the first National Leaguer (any position) – to hit two Grand Slam home runs in a game.  In the Braves 17-3 win over the Giants (in San Francisco), Cloninger hit a Grand Slam in the top of the first, added a second Grand Slam in the fourth and poked an RBI single in the eighth. He ended the day three-for-five, with an MLB one-game record (for pitchers) nine RBI. He also pitched a complete-game, seven-hitter.  That season, Cloninger hit .234, with five home runs and 23 RBI in 111 at bats. On the mound, he was 14-11, 4.12.

For his career (1961-72), Cloninger was 113-97, 4.07 on the mound and .292-11-67 at the plate.  Tony Cloninger’s best season on the hill was 1965, when he went 24-11, 3.29 (yet, somehow manage to lead the league in walks and wild pitches.) Side note: After retiring from MLB, Cloninger became a World-Class Slow-Pitch softball player. In 1978, playing for the United States Slow-pitch Softball Association Major Slow Pitch World Series Champion Howard & Carroll team, Cloninger was selected as the third baseman on the Series’ All World Team.  For more on Cloninger, click here.

Jim Tobin, Braves …. Three home runs in a game

The Boston Braves’ Jim Tobin shares the record (with Guy Hecker) for the most home runs in a game by a pitcher at three. In a May 13, 1942 game against the Cubs, Tobin flied out to deep right field in the third inning; homered to lead off the fifth; homered again to lead off the seventh; and hit a two-run home run with two outs in the eighth (to break a 4-4 tie in a game the Braves won 6-5).   On the mound, he earned the victory (a complete game – five runs, three earned, five hits and three walks) – as the Braves topped the Cubs 6-5.  Notably, the day before, Tobin was used as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of a Braves’ 9-8 loss to the Cubs and delivered a two-run homer. So, he had homered four times in the space of five at bats.

Tobin went 105-112, 3.44 in nine MLB seasons (1937-45). As a hitter, he hit .230 (183-for-796, with 17 home runs and 102 RBI. He was used as pinch hitter more than 100 times.

Grandiose Post-Season Visions

Dave McNally – a three-time All Star – racked up a career 184-119, 3.24 record on the mound, winning 20 or more games in four of fourteen MLB seasons. He was also 7-4, 2.49 in 14 post-season appearances.  McNally was less effective at the plate, with a .133-9-43 regular-season stat line and a .148 post-season batting average.

In the 1970 post-season, however, McNally turned his bat into a weapon.  He went two-for-five with a double in an American League Championship start against the Twins – a complete-game 11-3 win.  He then went one-for-four in a World’s Series start against the Reds – his one hit being the first (and still only) World Series Grand Slam hit by a pitcher.

Madison Bumgarner, Giants … Active leading home runs by a pitcher (19), two home runs on Opening Day (2017)

On Opening Day (April 2) 2017, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner shone on the mound and at the plate.  On the mound, he went seven innings (no decision) and gave up three runs on six hits, with no walks and eleven strikeouts.  At the plate, he was (arguably) even more effective – becoming the first (and still only) pitcher to hit two home runs in an Opening Day game.  His day as a hitter went like this:

  • Walk in the second inning (on a 3-2 pitch);
  • Solo home run leading off the fifth;
  • Solo home run with one out in the seventh;

While Madbum has just a. 177 career average (12 seasons), his 19 long balls are number-one among active pitchers.   His career stat line at the plate:  .177-19-62. On the mound, Bumgarner is 119-94, 3.16.  He is a four-time All Star and has four times won 15 or more games in a season.   Bumgarner signed (free agent) with the Diamondbacks before the 2020 season.

Terry Forster … .397 career average

Terry Forster didn’t show much power – no home runs in his 78 regular-season at bats – but he did put the bat on the ball.  In 16 MLB seasons (1971-86 … White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Braves, Angels), Forster went 31-for-78, putting up a nifty.397 average.   Five of his 31 hits went for extra bases – four doubles and a triple.  His best season as a hitter was 1972 (White Sox), when he was 10-for-19 (.526), all singles – with one run and three RBI. His final career line at the plate was .397-0-7.  On the mound, Forster went 54-65, 3.51, with 127 saves – leading the AL in saves with 24 in 1974. Forster saved 20+ games in three seasons and had an earned run average under 2.50 in five campaigns.  In 1978, for the Dodgers, he went 5-4, 1,93, with 22 saves, in 47 appearances. That season he hit .500 (four-for-eight), with a double and two RBI.

Terry Forster made it to the major leagues (White Sox) at the age of 19 – after appearing in just ten games in the minor leagues (Class A). 

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; “August 15, 1886: Guy Hecker: Hitting Pitcher,” Society for American Baseball Research, by Bob Bailey; “Wes Ferrell” bio, Society for American Baseball Research, by Mark Smith.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; NationalPastime.com

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Jaime Garcia … “A Travelin’ Man”

August 4, 2020 by

BarciaJaime Garcia … “A Travelin’ Man”

On this date (August 4) in 2017, southpaw Jaime Garcia (in his ninth MLB season) started on the mound for the New York Yankees (in Cleveland).   It was a bit of a disappointment, as Garcia lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks (four strikeouts). He took the loss.

Still, there was a bit of history made on that day. It was Garcia’s third start in fifteen days (not an unusual schedule). What was unusual was that Garcia had made each of those starts for a different team (and all three on the road).  The starts went like this:

  • July 21, Garcia started for the Atlanta Braves (the team he opened the season with), went seven innings (seven hits, three earned runs, one walk, four whiffs) and picked up a win versus the Dodgers. That was Garcia 18th start for the Braves that season and he had posted a 4-7, 4.30 record.

On July 24, Garcia was traded to the Twins (with Anthony Recker) for Huascar Ynoa.

  • July 28 … Garcia started for the Minnesota Twins (at Oakland) and went 6 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits and three runs (three walks, seven strikeouts) – picking up another win.

On July 30, after just that appearance for the Twins, Garcia is traded to the Yankees for Dietrich Enns and Zack Littell.

  • August 4 … the above noted start (and loss) for the Yankees.

Perhaps Garcia could have packed an overnight bag, instead of a suitcase.

Garcia finished the season with the Yankees – going 0-3, 4.82 in eight starts.  For the season, Garcia went 5-10, 4.41.

Elias Sports Bureau reports that Garcia was the first MLB pitcher with starts for three different teams in 15 days.

Garcia, who retired before the 2019 season, pitched in 10 MLB seasons, going 70-62, 3.85 in 218 appearances (188 starts). He spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Cardinals (2008, 2019-16) and, over his final two campaigns, pitched for the Braves, Twins, Yankees, Blue Jays and Cubs. His best season was 2010, when he went 13-8, 2.70 in 28 starts for the Cardinals and finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; NationalPastime.com

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts
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