Archives for January 2022

For the Love of the Game … John Lindsey’s Long Climb to the Majors

January 31, 2022 by

I have often noted in this  blog how  – when I start digging into one baseball event, career or question – “one thing leads to another.”  This post is no exception.  I started with the intention of looking at who the newest, oldest-ever MLB rookie is, now that Satchel Paige has had to relinquish that crown (with the classification of the 1920-48 Negro Leagues as major leagues).  I got a bit sidetracked as my research took me to the player who had the longest minor-league career (16 seasons) before making his MLB debut.  We’ll get to Paige’s successor, but first a look at John Lindsey’s remarkable climb to the majors.

How many of  us – as baseball fans – would  have given anything for even just one at bat in the  leagues? Or, if we were really lucky, one hit (or one strikeout or one mound win)?  Getting our picture on a big-league baseball card – or our name on a page in The Baseball Encyclopedia would have been heaven.

Well, John Lindsey accomplished that dream – and, in doing it, showed more perseverance than any major leaguer before or since.  Lindsey spent 16 seasons and a combination of 1,571 minor-league games, as well as four seasons and 141 games in the Mexican, Dominican and Venezuelan Winter Leagues, before his September 8, 2010 MLB debut with the Dodgers. Lindsey’s was the longest minor-league  “internship” ever before an MLB debut.  In fact, before he put on the Los Angeles uniform, he had he had played in the Rockies, Mariners and Dodgers’ systems, suiting up for the:

  • Arizona Rookie League Rockies;
  • Northwest League Portland Rockies;
  • South Atlantic League Asheville Tourists (two seasons);
  • Carolina League Salem Avalanche (three seasons);
  • California League San Bernardino Stampede;
  • Florida State League Jupiter Hammerheads;
  • Independent Canadian-American Association New Jersey Jackals (two seasons);
  • Pacific Coast League Las Vegas 51s (two seasons);
  • Dominican Winter league Estrellas de Oriente (San Pedro de Macoris);
  • Pacific Coast League New Orleans Zephyrs;
  • Southern League Jacksonville Suns;
  • Mexican Pacific Winter League Hermosillo Naranjeros and Mazatlán Venados; and
  • Pacific Coast League Albuquerque Isotopes.

Let’s take a look at the remarkable perseverance and positive attitude that got Lindsey to the big-leagues as a player and what happened once he got there (and beyond).

Lindsey was a signed as a teenager, right out of Hattiesburg (MS) High School, where he played football and baseball.  He was a 13th round pick of the Rockies in the 1995 MLB Draft. He got off to a bit of a slow start, with averages ranging from .208 to .275 over his first five seasons – although the big first baseman did have a solid season in 1998 at Class-A Asheville (.275-14-73 in 126 games).  Promoted to High-A Salem the next season (1999), he struggled (.208-4-35 in 75 games), but then turned it around and hit .280-16-88 in 155 games over  the next two  seasons (both at Salem).

Lindsey  was granted free agency after the 2001 season and signed with the Mariners – who assigned him to High-A San Bernardino, where he showed a solid bat with power,  hitting .297-22-93 in in 127 games. That earned him a promotion.  In 2003 – now 26 and in his eighth pro season – he moved up to Double-A (San Antonio), where he had two very solid years:  .296-22-93 and .282-19-72.  Despite those  solid campaigns, Lindsey again found himself as a free agent after the 2004 season. He signed with the Cardinals in October of 2004, was released by St.  Louis in March 2005. He ended up starting the 2005 season with the New Jersey Jackals of the Independent  Canadian-American Association – still determined to earn that big-league opportunity. That season, he hit .321-9-62 in 56 games and earned a spot on the Can-Am 2005 All Star Team. His performance also earned him a  contract (signed that July) from the Marlins  – who assigned him to High-A Jupiter, where Lindsey hit just .219 in 30 games.   After the 2005 season, he once again found himself a free agent.

Some might have given up the dream, but Lindsey just kept working.  In 2006, it was back to New Jersey, where he hit .311-10-41 in 69 games and attracted the attention of the Dodgers, who signed him in January 2007.   The Dodgers sent him to Double-A Jacksonville, where a .286-11-33 line (in 56 games)  finally earned him – at age 30 and in his apparently lucky 13th minor-league season – a shot at Triple-A ball.  One step closer to the dream. 

Lindsey continued to improve.  In 2007, he hit .333-19-88 in 77 games at Triple-A Las Vegas.  He followed that up with .316-26-100 in 133 games at Las Vegas in 2008.  He once again displayed average, power and clutch performance – and still no call up. By this time, he was 31-years-old, with 13 minor-league seasons under his belt. The clock was ticking on the dream. In fact, the Dodgers let him get away, as a free-agent signee with the Marlins for a second time. As a Florida farmhand, Lindsey turned in a .251-19-83 season at Triple-A New Orleans in 2009.

The Dodgers must have remembered what they liked about Lindsey, as they resigned him after the 2009 season. In 2010, he found himself at first base for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. At Albuquerque, he continued to impress the Dodgers – and boasted a .353-25-97 line when he was called up in  early September.  Goal one – making it to the bigs – accomplished.  Now,  to get that at bat and hit.  We’ll get to that in a minute, but first more about Lindsey’s path to Dodger blue.

Over this arduous journey, Lindsey earned a reputation for his perseverance, professionalism, positive attitude, relentless work ethic, passion for the game – and seemingly never missing smile.

What Kind of Character It Really Takes … A Great Lesson in Never Giving up

About a week before John Lindsey’s 2010 call up, the Dodgers’s (then) Farm System Director De Jon Watson said this about Lindsey, “He is unbelievable for our young guys. He shows what it takes to persevere in this game. He’s a quality human being with a great work ethic and integrity.  You want those kinds of people around  your young guys that are on their way to the big leagues, so they don’t forget what this game really takes, what kind of character it really takes, what kind of resolve it takes to come in every single day and keep grinding away.” 1

Commenting on Lindsey’s call up, Dodgers’ (then) manager Joe Torre said “ That’s a great lesson in never giving up.  That’s the simple way to put it … he’s got this big smile on his face all the time.  Very polite, very respectful and just worked at getting himself better.” 2

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John Lindsey’s First MLB Appearance (Kind Of)  …. and His Final MLB Appearance (Kind Of)

John Lindsey “kind of” made his first MLB appearance on September 8, 2010 – as the Dodgers faced the Padres in San Diego. It came in the eighth inning, with the Dodgers trailing San Diego 4-0, with runners on first and second and no outs. Lindsey was called in to pinch hit for left-handed hitting LF  Scott Podsednik against southpaw Joe Thatcher – producing that traditionally preferred lefty-right matchup.  Finally, Lindsey was coming to the plate in a major-league game – almost.  Padres’ manager Bud Black pulled Thatcher and brought in right-hander Luke Gregerson.  Dodgers’ skipper Joe Torre quickly countered, calling Lindsey back to the dugout and sending up  lefty-swinging Andre Ethier.  So, while Lindsey is officially credited with his first major-league game that day – he did not appear in the batter’s box, on the basepaths or in the field. To add insult to injury, Ethier grounded into a second-to-first double play on Gregerson’s very first pitch.

Lindsey appeared in ten more games as the season wound down – primarily as a pinch hitter He did start two games at first base).  He got one hit in 12 at bats – a pinch hit single off the Astros’ Nelson Figueroa on  September 12.

On September 25, Lindsey got his second (and final) start of the season at first base. In the seventh inning, he was hit on the right hand by a pitch (on a 1-2 count)  from the Diamondbacks’ Daniel Hudson.  The broken hand ended his season  – again kind of – and required surgery.

Then on the final day of the season (October 3), Dodgers’ manager Joe Torre chose to honor Lindsey’s attitude and perseverance.  He “officially” called on  Lindsey to pinch hit for pitcher Ted Lilly in bottom of the seventh (with the Dodgers leading the Diamondbacks 2-1) – and then immediately removed him for pinch-hitter Trent Oeltjen (who popped up to the pitcher on a bunt attempt).  That would turn out to be the last MLB game of Lindsey’s career.  So, in both his first and late official MLB appearances, he did not “appear” in the batter’s box. on the basepaths or in the field.

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While that October 3, 2010 game was Lindsey’s last in the major leagues, it was not his last as a professional. He continued to play  for five more years – taking the field for  teams in the International League,  Canadian-American Association (yes, back to the New Jersey Jackals), Mexican League and Mexican Pacific Winter League.  While his MLB record is one single and one hit-by-pitch in 13 plate appearances, overall Lindsey is credited with 21 pro seasons, 2,277 games, 2,291 hits, a .284 average, 377 home runs, 1,536 RBI – and a never diminished passion for the national pastime.  We could all learn a lesson about passion, perseverance and a strong work ethic in pursuing our dreams from major-leaguer John Lindsey.

  1. John Lindsey Waits for his chance, by Ramona Shelburne, ESPN, ?August 29, 2010.
  2. Dodgers’ Lindsey finally a big leaguer, by David Wassen, The Press Enterprise, September 7, 2010.

Back to My Original Search

Who holds the title of MLB’s oldest rookie?  For years, of course, that crown has belonged to Satchel Paige … who debuted for the Cleveland Indians on July 9, 1948  (at a reported 42-years and two-days old). But with the recent changes assigning major league status to the Negro Leagues (1920-48), Paige’s major-league debut now came as a 20-year-old with the 1927 Birmingham Black Barons.  Your new oldest MLB rookie would be Dominican-born southpaw Diomedes Olivo – who was 41-years and 227-days of age when he debuted for the Pirates on September 5, 1960.  By the time he reached the major leagues, Olivo had  pitched in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Columbia. As you might expect, his MLB career was short. He was 5-6, 3.10 in 85 games (one start) over three MLB seasons (1960, 62-63). As a 43-year-old in 1960, he went 5-1, 2.77 with seven saves in 62 games for the Pirates.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball, by John Feinstein, Anchor Books, 2014

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Fred “Firpo” Marberry … Front-Line Starter/Premier Closer All-In-One

January 26, 2022 by

Minnesota winters are a good time to sit down and randomly browse through baseball statistics … looking to sources like the Elias Book of Baseball Records, The Baseball Maniac’s Almanac and The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia, supplemented by online resources like Baseball-Reference.com, Baseball-Almanac.com and Retrosheet.org.

Fred Marberry …. Photo: Bain News Service, Public Domain, Wiki Commons

It’s always rewarding to run across a player or stat that makes you think “Why didn’t I already know that?”  Today was one of those days for me, as I came across the record of Fred “Firpo” Marberry, who may very  well have been MLB’s first-ever star relief specialist (perhaps even the first true “closer,”  or at least the first true “finisher”).  And, it’s quite likely that, at the time, very few recognized his status.  A bit of explanation here. The “save” statistic was first offered up in 1959 by  Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter Jerome Holtzman.  The save was officially adopted as an MLB stat in 1969 (and applied retroactively to previous seasons, which is why this post is possible).  Retroactively applied stats can, at times, prove challenging to confirm and, of course, do not always represent the thinking or strategies of the time.  Still, Fred Marberry’s career deserves review and recognition.

Had the save stat been developed during his career, Marberry and his peers would have known that he:

  • was the first MLB pitcher to record 15 saves in a season, becoming the single-season save record holder  (retroactively) as of 1924;
  • was the first MLB pitcher with 20 saves in season (22 saves in 1926);
  • held the single-season saves record for 25 years (1924-1949, when Joe Page saved 27 games);
  • was the first MLB pitcher to make fifty or more relief appearances in a season (1925);
  • was the first MLB pitcher to reach 100 career saves – maybe.

So, why the maybe on that last bullet point?  One of the challenges of digging into early (and especially retroactive) stats is determining their reliability.   I usually look for multiple, respected sources as I develop these posts.  In this case, ESPN.com; Baseball-Alamanc.com credit him with 101 career saves. Baseball-Reference.com and Retrosheet.org,  however, set the figure at 99. Either way, he was the first to get there.

A few other facts from Marberry’s career.  He led his league in saves more times than any other MLB pitcher (six) … maybe.

Why the maybe?  A range of sources agree Marberry led the AL in saves in 1924, 1925, 1926, 1929 and 1932.  That’s five. Baseball-Reference.com and  Retrosheet.org credit Marberry with a sixth league-leading season (tying Wilcy Moore for the AL lead with eight saves) in 1931. Baseball Almanac.com and the Baseball Encyclopedia credit Moore with ten saves in 1931, which would give him the save title (on his own) in that campaign.  Still, depending on which source you prefer, Marberry either holds the record outright of shares it.

 

Marberry  led his league in pitching appearances in more seasons than any other major leaguer except “Iron” Joe McGinnity (with whom Marberry is tied in this category).

As usual, when Baseball Roundtable starts wandering through stats,  “one things leads to another.”

In August of 1903 , the Giants’ Joe McGinnity started both games of doubleheaders three times – and picked up six complete-game victories, surrendering a total of ten runs in the six games.  (The Giants played  eleven doubleheaders that month.) The surprise stat is that on the six days that August when he was called on to pitch just one game, McGinnity was 1-5 and gave up 28 runs.  Gives new meaning to Ernie Banks’ “Let’s Play Two!”

Marberry led the league in games finished four times – third all-time.

Marberry made his major-league debut with the Senators on August 11, 1923 – at the age of 24 – after going 11-10, 3.29 for the Class A Little Rock Travelers (23 starts/14 relief appearance).  After his call up, the big right-hander went  4-0, 2.82 in 11 appearances (four starts/two complete games) for Washington manager Donie Bush (who was leading the Senators to a 75-78-2 finish).  Marberry was primarily a high-kicking, fastball pitcher (he wouldn’t develop a curve util later in his career) with good control.

Bucky Harris took over the Senators’ helm in 1925 and put Marberry “to work” – getting him into a league-leading 50 games (14 starts) and using him to “finish”  31 contests (with Marberry recording – retroactively – a record 15 saves). Marberry went 11-12, 3.09 – with a 3.66 ERA as a starter and 2.82 as a reliever, impressing Harris with his durability, versatility, fearlessness and ability to get big outs in late innings.  Marberry’s  mound work helped the Senators to an AL-best 92-62-2 record, as well as to the World Series victory over the Giants. Note:  Marberry’s ERAs as a starter and a reliever were both well below the American League average of 4.23 that season.

Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky may have been channeling Fred Marberry with his “aggressive” demeanor on the mound. In Marberry’s Society for American Baseball Research bio, writer Mark Armour notes that Marberry had a reputation  for  stomping around the mound, throwing and kicking dirt, glaring angrily at the batter.

In 1925, Harris went all in on Marberry as a reliever. Marberry appeared in a league leading 55 games (all in relief). He finished a league-topping 39 games and recorded nine wins (five losses) and a league-leading 15 (Baseball-Almanac.com) or 16 saves (Baseball-Reference.com).  Much like today’s closers, Marberry pitched one inning or less in 22 of those appearances and averaged 1 2/3 innings (1.70 for those who want to be more exact) per trip to the mound.

In 1926, Marberry put up what was retroactively declared MLB’s first 20-save season, going 12-7, 3.00 with 22 saves. Notably, he still had the stamina to go deep as a starter. He started five games (out of a league-topping 64 appearances) and completed three of them.

From 1927-32, Marberry was both a valued starter and ace reliever for the Senators. During that period, he went 81-45, 3.77, with 41 saves.  He started 109 games (53 complete games and five shutouts) and relieved in 176. His best season was 1929, when he went 19-12, 3.06, with a league-leading nine saves. (O0ps, another maybe. Baseball-Reference and Retrosheet each credit Marberry with a league-leading nine saves that season; Baseball-Almanac and the Baseball the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia each credit him with a league-leading eleven saves.)  That season,  Marberry was 16-8, 2.86 as a starter (with 16 complete games) and 3-4, 4.40 as a reliever, with those nine (or eleven) saves and 21 games finished. He also led the AL in WHIP. The overall  AL earned run average was 4.24 in 1929.  He led the Senators in pitching appearances, wins, complete games, saves, innings pitched, earned run average and strikeouts – and was second in starts.

Between 1929 and 1932, Fred Marberry went 58-25, 3.60, with 31 saves for the Senators –  going 49-16 as a starter, tossing 44 complete games and  picking up 31 saves (leading the AL in saves three times).

In 1929, when he led the American League in saves, Marberry also led the Senators in wins and wins as a starter, complete games, innings pitched, ERA and strikeouts.

Marberry was traded to the Tigers in December of 1932 and pitched four more seasons in MLB (Tigers, Giants, Senators) continuing to start and relieve (54 starts and 32 relief appearances).  He went 31-19, 3.81 over that period, tossing a pair of  shutouts and saving five games. His final MLB stat line was 148-88, 3.63, with 101 (or 99) saves.

S0, how good was Marberry?  Let’s look at some more stats – comparing him with his on-the-field peers.

In twelve of his fourteen seasons, his earned run average was better than the league average – and in five of those it was more than one run better (in three additional seasons it was between 0.92 and 0.99 better.)

Marberry finished in the American League’s best six in ERA four times;  among  the best ten in WHIP six times (notching the league’s lowest WHIP twice);  and among the AL’s top ten in strikeouts per nine innings four times.

While  1936 was Marberry’s final MLB season, he pitched in the minors until 1941 – and had a 13-9, 3.07 season for the Texas League Fort Worth Cats as a 40-years-old in 1939,

There can be little doubt about Marberry’s talent, his durability or his desire to “take the ball.”  One wonders what kind of numbers he might have put up if he had been used solely  as a starter or reliever.  For much of his career, he showed the ability to be – at times in the same season – a front-line starter and top-drawer reliever.  Clearly, he deserves recognition  for his mound mastery.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com, Retrosheet.org.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Baseball Roundtable’s All 2021 MLB Debut Lineup

January 20, 2022 by

From the Cubs’ Corey Abbott to the Royals’ Angel Zerba and from 20-year-old Wander Franco to 33-year-old Mickey Jannis, 265 players made their MLB debuts in 2021.  In this post, I’d like to present a lineup (by position) of what Baseball Roundtable rates as 2021’s  “best” debut games.  But first, a few  2021 trivia tidbits:

  • 2021 debuts included 164 pitchers and 101 position players (including designated hitters).
  • The Orioles saw the most 2021 MLB debuts at 16, followed by the Angels and Cubs at 15.
  • The Braves and Cardinals saw the fewest debuts at three, followed by the White Sox and A’s at four each.
  • April first (Opening Day) was the earliest 2021  debut date – with nine players making their first major-league appearance on that date.
  • Two players made their debuts on October 3 – the season’s final day.
  • National League Rookie of the Year Jonathon India of the Reds made his debut in 2021; American League Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena of the Rays made his MLB debut in 2019 (with the Cardinals) and had played 42 regular-season MLB games and 25 post-season games before the 2021 season opened.
  • Twelve countries were represented among the debut players.

Baseball Roundtable Rates the Top 25 (All-Time) MLB Debuts

For Baseball Roundtable’s rating of the top 25 MLB debuts, click here.  You’ll find players from stars like Willie McCovey (four-for-four with two triples in his debut) to record-setters like Karl Spooner (15 strikeouts in his debut) to lesser-known players like Ray Jansen (with four hits in his only MLB game, which was also his first-ever  professional game at any level).

Now, that All-2021 Debut Lineup.

Kent Emanuel, Astros … April 24, 2021

  • 8 2/3 IP, five hits, two earned runs, zero walks, five strikeouts

There were a handful of pitchers whose 2021 MLB debuts deserved consideration. Pirates’ 23-year-old  righty Max Kranick, for example, made his debut on June 27 (starting against the Cardinals) and pitched five perfect innings (three strikeouts), picking up his first MLB win. Or there’s the Rangers 25-year-old right-hander Glenn Otto, who debuted on August 27  – starting against the powerful Astros – and gave up just two hits (no runs) over five innings, while fanning seven.  But, for Baseball Roundtable, the most striking (pun intended) 2021 pitching debut belonged to the Astros’ 29-year-old southpaw Kent Emanuel.

The rookie, who had already spent seven seasons in the minors, settled into the Astros’ bullpen ready to watch Houston starter Jake Odorizzi go to work,  He didn’t get to watch for long.  Odorizzi retired  leadoff hitter David Fletcher on five pitchers, but then had to  had to leave the game with forearm tightness – and suddenly Emanuel found himself heading to an MLB mound for the first time. Emanuel finished the game, tossing 8 2/3 innings, giving up just five hits and two runs (on home runs by Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani), walking none and fanning five. He threw 90 pitches, 55 for strikes. Emanuel picked up the win, as the Astros triumphed 16-2.

Emanuel pitched in nine more games for the Astros, before an elbow injury (requiring surgery) ended his season in late May. He never pitched more than two innings in any of those appearances and ended the season at 1-0, 2.55, with a total of 17 2/3 MLB innings on his resume.  In November,  the Astros placed Emanuel on waivers and he was claimed by the Phillies.

Emanuel was drafted in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft (out of the University of North Carolina, where he had gone 28-10, 2.52 in three seasons).

Kent Emanuel was name Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the ear in 2013.

In seven minor-league seasons – interrupted by 2015 Tommy John surgery,  Emanuel went 35-25, 4.77. In 2019, he was 8-2, 3.90 with the Triple-A Round Rock Express.

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Catcher – Nick Fortes, Marlins … September 18, 2021

  • Two-for-three, one run, two RBI, HR

Nick Fortes was drafted by the Marlins in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft (out of the University of Mississippi, where he had played 126 games over three seasons, going .308-16-82,with 14 stolen bases). In three minor-league campaigns he hit .232-10-84 in 190 games.

He made his MLB debut on September 18, catching and batting seventh for the Marlins (versus the Pirates in  Miami).  In his first at bat (leading off the bottom of the third against the Pirate starter Bryse Wilson), he hit an 0-1 pitch for a groundball single up the middle. He came up against Wilson again in the fifth, with a runner on first, one out and the Marlins trailing 5-0. In that at bat, he hit Wilson’s first offering for a home run to deep left. In his third at bat, he grounded out to short, The Marlins lost the game 6-3,

Fortes got in 14 games for the Marlins in 2022, hitting .290, with four home runs, seven RBI, six runs scored and one stolen  base.

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First Base –  Alfonso Rivas III, Cubs … August 29, 2021

  • Two-for-three, one double

Rivas was drafted by the Oakland Athletics  in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft (out of the University of Arizona, where he hit .323-15-141, with nine steals in 173 games over three seasons). In two minor-league seasons in the Oakland system (183 games), Rivas hit .289-10-88. Then, in January 2020, he was traded to the Cubs.  When called up in 2021, Rivas was hitting .284-4-32 (58 games) for the Iowa Cubs.

In his first MLB game, he was at first base, batting eighth, as the Cubs faced the White Sox. The White Sox’ Dylan Ceases (10-6, 3.92 at the time) started and went six innings (four hits, one run, 11 strikeouts) for the win. Cease retired the first seven Cubs he faced, before Rivas singled up the middle on the first MLB pitch he saw (top of the third). He came up again in the fifth – again facing Cease –  with the Cubs down 3-1, and doubled down the left field line. (Cease showed his “stuff” by fanning the next three Cubs.) In the seventh, Rivas flied out to  center off reliever Ryan Tepera.

In his next four games, Rivas went zer0-for-ten, but he  then hit safely in 11 of his final 13 2021 games, ending the season at .318-1-3 in 18 contests.

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Second Base – Jonathan India, Reds … April 1, 2001

  • Two-for-four, one double

Jonathan India was a first-round pick (fifth overall) for the Reds in the 2018 MLB Draft (out of the University of Florida, where he it .310-31-126, with 41 steals  in 194 games over three season).

In 2018, Jonathon India was a first-team All American and the SEC Player of the Year. In that season, he went .350-21-52, with 15 steals in 68 games. 

 In two minor- league seasons, India hit.254-17-67, with 17 steals in 165 games.

The 24-year-old made his first start for the Reds on April 1, 2021,  playing second base and batting seventh against the Cardinals in Cincinnati. It was a less than auspicious start, as the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty fanned him looking on a 3-2 pitch to end the second inning. India got the better of Flaherty in the fourth inning (with the Reds already down 11-3), doubling to left. India then led off the sixth with a single to left center off reliever Ryan Hensley, before flying out to right in his final at bat of the day (bottom of the seventh.). India got off to a good start overall, with 10 hits (.476 average) and 10 RBI in his first six MLB games.  He ended the season at .269-21-69, with 12 steals and 98 run scored in 150 games – capturing the Rookie of the Year honors.

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Third Base, Wander Franco, Rays…  June 22, 2021

  • Two-for-four, two runs, three RBI, one double, one home run, one walk

Wander Franco was considered  a top international  prospect when he signed (as a 16-year-old) with the Rays during the 2017 international signing period. He immediately began delivering on his potential with a .351-11-57 season (61 games) at Rookie-Level ball in 2018. In 2019, he hit .327-9-53 at  A and High-A.  In 2021, still just 20-years-old, he was hitting  Triple-A pitching for a .313 average, with seven homers and 35 RBI in 40 games.

The switch-hitting Franco made his first start  for the Rays on June 22, 2021 (batting second and playing third base against the Red Sox) and kept right on raking. In his first MLB plate appearance, he showed great discipline for a 20-year-old, working a six-pitch walk off starter Eduardo Rodriguez (the only walk Rodriguez would surrender in six innings of work). Wander later scored on a single by Francisco Mejia.

Wander worked the count to 3-2 again leading off the third, before flying out to center. Then in the fifth, with the Rays trailing 5-2, he jumped on the first pitch from Rodriguez for a game-tying three-run home run to left. Wander wasn’t done yet, as he doubled to left off reliever Josh Taylor in the seventh. He came up again in the bottom of the ninth needing a triple for the cycle, but grounded out to pitcher Matt Barnes. The Red Sox won in 11 innings by a 9-5 score.

Franco went on to play 70 games for the Rays in 2021 (starting 61 at SS).  He’s at third base here because that was his debut position.  He hit .288, with seven home runs and 39 RBI for the season.  He then went on to hit .368-2-4  in AL Division series (verso Boston).

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MLB Debut Extra – A Long Time A’Comin’

Orioles’ pitcher Mickey Jannis, at 33-years-old, was the oldest player to make his MLB debut in 2021. It came on June 23 – in his eleventh professional season.  He came in in the top of the fifth, with the Astros leading the Orioles 6-0 and the number four-five-six hitters coming up.  The knuckleballer fanned the first MLB hitter he ever faced (DH Yordan Alvarez); got SS Carlos Correa on a flyout to right; and walked RF Kyle Tucker (who was erased trying to steal). Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well after that inning, as Jannis gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.  Still, his perseverance did get him to the major-league mound.

Shortstop, Oneil Cruz, Pirates … October 2, 2021

  • Two-for-five, one run, one RBI

Cruz almost didn’t make this lineup.  First, he didn’t get make his MLB debut until the second-to-last game of the Pirates’ season.  Second, Wander Franco might seem like the logical choice here, but the fact that Franco made his debut at third base,  left the shortstop spot open on in this lineup.

Cruz made his MLB debut for the Pirates, playing Shortstop and batting eighth. It came on October 2, 2021. The late-season call up recognized Cruz’ fine 2021 season at Double-A and Triple-A – .310-17-47, with 19 steals in 68 games.

When Oneil Cruz stepped onto the field  on October 2 in Pittsburgh, he – at 6’-7” – became the tallest shortstop to start an MLB game.

In his first MLB at bat, Cruz grounded out to short to end the bottom of the second. He came up again in the fifth, with the Pirates trailing 5-0, with two runners on and no outs. In that plate appearance, he hit an RBI single through the right side of the infield, helping spark a six-run Pirates’ rally. He batted again the inning, striking out. He later added  single in the seventh inning and a strikeout in the eighth. Cruz was in the lineup again for the season finale, going one-for-four and collecting his first MLB home run.

Cruz was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Dodgers (as a 16-year-old) in July of 2015.   In 2016, he hit .294, with 23 RBI and 11 steals (no home runs) in Rookie-Level ball. Then, in 2017, he was hitting .240-8-36 at A-Level, when the Dodgers traded him to the Pirates (July 31). Cruz has played in five minor-league seasons, hitting .281-49-207, with 60 steals (404 games).

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Left Field, Akil Baddoo, Tigers … April 4, 2021

  • One-for-three, solo home run

Akil Baddoo made his debut playing left field and batting ninth, as the Tigers faced the Indians in Detroit.  His first plate appearance came leading off the bottom of the third inning (Tigers ahead 2-1) and he hit the first MLB pitch he ever saw (from Aaron Civale) for a home run to left field. It was one of only three Tiger hits that afternoon, as Detroit fell 9-2.

“Hitting” the Ground Running

In his first four MLB games, Akil Baddoo went five-for-eleven (.455), with a triple, two home runs and seven RBI.

Badoo finished his rookie MLB season at .259-13-55 in 124 games.  He also had seven triples and was successful on 18 of 22 steal attempts.

Baddoo was signed by the Twins (out of Salem High School in Conyers, GA) in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft. While he struggled as a 17-year old in the Gulf Coast Rookie League (hitting .178 in 38 games), he found his footing the following season, when he hit .323-4-29 in 53 Rookie-Level games. In four minor-league seasons in the Twins’ organization, he hit .249-21-93, with 47 steals (in 233 games).  Baddoo had Tommy John surgery in 2019 (and, of course, did not play in 2020 due to the Corona virus).  The Twins left him available in the Rule Five draft and he went to the Tigers, where a  strong Spring earned him a roster spot.

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MLB Debut Extra … I Get Around

Luke Williams made his MLB debut for the Phillies, as a pinch hitter, on June 8, 29012 – bunting  for a single to lead off the fifth inning and eventually scoring a run.  That’s not what gets him in as an “Extra” in this post.  What gets him here is that, in his debut MLB season, he appeared (and handled fielding chances) at every position except pitcher and catcher.

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Center Field Jarren Duran, Red Sox … July 17, 2021

  • One- for-two, one run, one walk

Jarren Duran debuted for the Rd Sox, manning center field and batting seventh, as they took on the Yankees and Gerrit Cole in New York. On the very first MLB pitch he saw (from Cole), Duran singled  to deep center – eventually coming around to score on a single by Red Sox’ second baseman Christian Arroyo (scoring the only run in a 3-1 Red Sox loss). Duran also drew a five-pitch walk against Cole, who pitched all six innings of the rain shortened game (Cole gave up five hits, two walks and fanned 11).  So, Duran was on base in two of  three plate appearances versus the Yankee “ace.”

Duran was drafted by the Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft (out of Californian State University, Long Beach, where he hit .294-3-66, with 49 steals in 169 games over three seasons). In three minor-league seasons, he hit .307-24-109, with 86 steals in 259 games. In his first MLB season, Duran hit .215-2-10 in 33 games. His MLB season was cut short by an early September positive COVID test. After returning from the COVID list, he was sent down to Triple A.

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Right Field, Kyle Isbel, Royals … April 1, 2021

  • Three-for-five, one run, two RBI

After just two (uneven)  minor-league seasons (.327 average in 2018 & .233 in 2019), Kyle Isbel found himself in the starting lineup (RF, batting seventh) for the Royals (versus Rangers) on Opening Day of the 2021 season. And, he acquitted himself well. In the bottom of the fist inning, he lashed an RBI single to right. He struck out on four pitches leading off the third inning, but came back with a single to left in the fourth. Like his up and down minor-league seasons, he fanned again on four pitches in the fifth, but came back with a run-scoring single in the seventh – giving him a nice three-for-five debut in the Royals’ 14-10 win.

Isbel got in 12 April games for the Royals, hitting .265,with one extra base hit (a triple) and three RBI.  However, he had just two walks versus 15 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances. In late April, Isbel was sent down to the Royals’ alternate training site (and then to Triple-A Omaha, where his .269-15-55 and 22 steals in 105 games earned him another look from the Royals). Called back up in mid-September, he hit .286-1-4 for the Royals in 16 games between September 12 and August 3. His final  line in his first MLB season was .276-1-7 in 28 games.

Isbel was drafted by the Royals in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft (out of the University of Nevada, where he went .322-21-110 in three seasons (170 games).

In 2016, Kyle Isbel was the Mountain West Conference Co-Freshman of the Year. In  2018, he  earned First-Team All Mountain West Conference recognition.  

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Designated Hitter – Yohei Pozo, Rangers … August 13, 2021

  • Two-for-three, one run, three RBI, one home run

A catcher by trade, Yohei Pozo made his debut for the Rangers as a DH, batting eighth. He had quite a day, knocking in three of the Rangers’ runs in an 8-6 win over the Athletics (in Texas).

He started with a single leading off the bottom of the second. Then, a taste of reality in the big leagues, a three-pitch strikeout in the fourth. He followed that with a three-run home run off veteran Sergio Romo in the sixth and finished with a foul pop up in the seventh.

Pozo ended up the MLB season, hitting .284-1-9 in 21 games.

Pozo was signed by the Rangers (out of Venezuela) as a 16-year-old in 2013.  By age 22 he had six minor-league seasons under his belt (.278-25-192 in 444 games).  Then, in November of 2020, he was signed as a minor-league free agent by the Padres.  The Rangers, however, got him back in the fold a month later in the Rule Five Draft.  It proved to be a good move. Assigned to Triple-A to start the season, Pozo hit .337 with 19 home runs in 66 games to earn his call up to the Rangers. Note: Pozo was sent back down to Triple A in late September.

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Debut Post Extra – Show about a Beer?

How can you not include the MLB debut of a ballplayer names “Beer?”  There’s jersey I have to have. Seth Beer made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter for the Diamondbacks on September 10, 2021.  And he did it in style.  Beer, In the eighth inning of that contest, in his first MLB plate appearance, stroked a pinch-hit home run to right field off reliever Diego Castillo to pull the Diamondbacks to within one run of the Mariners (4-5, the eventual final score). Seth Beer played in five 2021 games for Seattle, going four-for-nine with four runs scored, one home run and three RBI.  His season was cut short by a shoulder injury (which required surgery).  When called up by the Mariners, Beer was hitting  .287-16-59 (100 games) for the Triple-A Reno Aces.  Baseball Roundtable first wrote about the player with the perfect baseball name back in 2017.  For that post, click here.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

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

 

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Readers Throw Shutout in Baseball Roundtable (unofficial) Hall of Fame Balloting

January 16, 2022 by

David “Big Papi” Ortiz – top vote getter in Baseball Roundtable’s (unofficial) fan/reader balloting.
Photo by Keith Allison

We’re just nine days away from the official announcement of whom the Baseball Writers Association of American (BBWAA) voted (or did not vote) into the Hall of Fame for 2022.  To help you pass the time (and maybe spur a discussion or two) between now and January 25, I’ll use this post to present the results of Baseball Roundtable’s (unofficial ) Hall of Fame fan/reader voting.

The 140 fans who voted indicated they are not ready to “forgive and forget” when it comes to the PED controversy.  Roundtable readers  tossed a shutout in the unofficial Hall of Fame balloting, with David Ortiz leading all nominees with 65 percent of the votes – well short of the 75 percent needed for induction.  Only four players, in fact, received at least 50 percent of the vote: Ortiz, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Todd Helton. Rounding out the top ten were Jeff Kent, Billy Wagner, Alex Rodriguez, Curt Schilling, Scott Rolen and Gary Sheffield (there is a full chart later in the post).

Players with 50 percent of higher support:

  • David Ortiz… 65.0 percent
  • Barry Bonds …. 60.7
  • Roger Clemens … 59.3
  • Todd Helton … 51.4

By comparison, with 42. 9 percent of the official ballots announced/tracked (as of January 15), the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Vote Tracker also has Ortiz (83.7 percent), Bonds (77.7) and Clemens (76.5) as its top three vote getters on BBWAA ballots.

Baseball Hall of Fame Vote Tracker

To follow the announced ballots, go the www.bbhoftracker.com … The tracker team does a great job.  They provide not only publicly released (by voters) vote totals, but the votes cast on individual ballots (when the voter has released his or her name) and stats on such measures as votes gained or lost to date among returning voters and support among first-time voters.

It would appear that Ortiz has the best chance of election, with a nice cushion (but with close to 60 percent of the ballots untracked). In regard to Bonds and Clemens, past history (and conventional wisdom) shows vote percentages tend  to drop off as more votes become public. While Ortiz has built a nice cushion, Bonds and Clemens seem likely to again end up short.

For a look at Baseball Roundtable’s early predictions for  2022 voting and bios of the candidates, click here.

Overall, Baseball Roundtable readers spread their votes up and down the unofficial fan ballot, with just one candidate – Jonathon Papelbon – failing to receive at least five percent of the vote (the percentage needed  to stay on the ballot for 2023’s official voting). Looking at the BBWAA votes tracked thus far, it appears about a dozen players will drop off the official  ballot.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE (unofficial) 2022 FAN HALL OF FAME BALLOT RESULTS

Roger Clemens was the biggest gainer among returnees, going in from 23.7 percent in last year’s fan ballot to 59.3 percent this year. That, however, is an anomaly – as Clemens’ fn ballot totals have been mirroring Bonds’ (excluding last year’s unexplained drop).  In 2018, Bonds was at 46.7 percent in the fan ballot to Clemens’ 49.0. In 2019, it was Bonds 43.2 and Clemens 44.8. In 2020, the pair was again close 44.6 percent for Bonds and 46.9 percent for  Clemens.

Outside of Clemens, the biggest gainers on the 2022 fan ballot were Bonds (+16.8 percentage points) and Many Ramirez (+14.7). The biggest decline in the fan ballot went to Omar Vizquel, who went from 66.7 percent last year (another anomaly) to 30.0 percent this year) and Bobby Abreu, who dropped from 37.7 percent to 12.9 percent.

A few other observations:

  • Only three of the first-time candidates received more than 10 percent support among readers: David Ortiz …. 65 percent; Alex Rodriguez … 38.6 percent; and Ryan Howard …. 13.6 percent.
  • Jeff Kent (at 47.1 percent among readers) continued to poll better among fans than he has on the BBWAA ballot. In previous BBWAA Ballots Kent’s high-water mark is 32.4 percent. Among the others who have consistently performed better in the Roundtables fan ballot than in BBWAA voting are Billy Wagner and Andy Pettitte.

When asked which players not on the ballot belong in the Hall of Famer readers contributed 38 different names, led by Joe Jackson and Pete Rose with eight mentions each.  Notably, five of the 21 players  with more than one mention were selected for 2022 induction by the Era Committees.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-reference; bbhoftracker.com

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

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

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

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Trivia Heroes – A Few Off the Wall Tidbits to Stump Your Baseball Friends

January 13, 2022 by

In this post, I’d like to share just a few oddball trivia tidbits I’ve come across over time.  It’s kind of a stream of consciousness post, going whatever direction the baseball winds (and my whims) take me.  (My mind does tend to wander in the off season.) The goal is to present a few tidbits that may offer you a chance to stump your baseball friends when you start to throw around trivia questions over an adult beverage or two (or on a Ballpark Tours bus ride).

Many Questions – One Answer

Jimmy Sheckard has become one of my trivia heroes.   Sheckard enjoyed a 17-season MLB career, during which time he became the answer to:

  • Who was the first MLB player to poke a walk-off hit in a World Series game?
  • Who was the first MLB player to lead the league in stolen bases and home runs in the same season?
  • Who was the first – and still only – player to hit inside-the-park Grand Slam home runs in consecutive games?
  • Who was one-half of the only pair of teammates to hit inside-the-park Grand Slams in the same game.?

In addition, Sheckard is the answer to:

  • Who holds the MLB single-season record for double plays started by an outfielder?
  • Who holds the MLB career mark for assists by a left fielder?

Any of these questions would make a pretty good trivial puzzler.  Wrap them altogether and you’ve got the makings of a true “trivia hero.”  I’ll provide a bit more on Sheckard – his career and his firsts – and then touch on a few additional trivia heroes.

Sheckard played in the majors from 1897 through 1913 (Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds). He was known as a speedy, strong-armed outfielder.  During his career, he led the league in stolen bases twice (a high of 77 in 1899), home runs once, triples once (with eight seasons of ten or more), runs scored once (three season of 100+), walks twice, on-base percentage once and slugging percentage once. He also led in assists, putouts and double plays as a LF four times each. He is, as already noted, the career assist leader among left fielders (243)  and number-eight in assists for outfielders overall (307).

Sheckard, at times, showed the talent to be a real star on the diamond.  However, inconsistency, worked against him.   For example, he hit a career-high .354 in 1901, fell to .265 in 1902, jumped back to  .332 in 1903 and dropped to .239 in 1904.  Similarly, his nine home runs led the NL in 1903, but  he hit a total of nine home runs over the next six campaigns.  You get the idea.

So, what about those potential trivia stumpers?

Sheckard’s Chicago Cubs came into Game Four of the 1910 World Series (October 22) trailing the Athletics three games-to-none. To that point, they had been outscored 25-to-9.  Playing in Chicago, the Cubs were tied with the Athletics 3-3 going into the bottom of the tenth inning.of Game Four. With future Hall of Famer Charles “Chief” Bender on the hill for Philadelphia, Cubs’ SS  Joe Tinker led off the bottom of the inning with a pop out to shortstop, catcher Jimmy Archer followed with a double to left, a groundout by pitcher Mordecai Brown moved Archer to third and Sheckard singled to left bringing in Archer with the winning  – and notching the first-ever World Series walk-off hit. (Unfortunately, Sheckard’s heroics only staved off defeat for a day, as the Cubs lost Game Five and the series the next day.  They couldn’t blame Sheckard. In 21 plate appearances he was one base 12 times (seven walks, five hits) and scored five of the tam fifteen runs.

How about being the first to lead the league in home runs and stolen bases in the same season? In 1903, playing for Brooklyn, Sheckard led the NL in home runs with nine and steals with 67 (tied with Frank Chance).  His .332 average was seventh in the league, his 99 runs seventh, his 29 doubles seventh, 75 RBI eighth; and 75 walks fifth.

Those inside-the-park Grand Slams in consecutive days?  They came in a September 23, 1901 in a Brooklyn 25-6 win over Cincinnati and on September 24 in a  16-2 win (again Brooklyn over Cincinnati). In the two games, Sheckard was six-for-twelve, with four runs scored and ten RBI. In 1901, the 22-year-old Sheckard set career highs for average (.354), home runs (11), RBI (104). He also scored 116 runs and had a career-high 196 hits (in 133 games).  Notably, in that September 23 25-run outburst, Sheckard’s teammate Joe Kelly also hit an inside-the-park Grand Slam, marking the only time two teammates hit ITP Grand Slams in the same game. 

Let’s move on now to a few additional Baseball Roundtable Trivia Heroes.

This Yankee Shortstop Brought ‘Em Home

The New York Yankees have had a lot of great shortstops over time: Derek Jeter; Phil Rizzuto; Tom Tresh; Frank Crosetti to name just a few.  So, who is the answer to the question: “Who holds the New York Yankees Franchise record for RBI in a season by a shortstop?”

That would be Lyn Lary, who drove in 107 tallies for the 1931 Yankees – stat line .280-10-107, with 100 runs scored and 13 steals. Lary spent six of his 12 MLB season with the New Yorkers. Notably, 1931 was the only season in his career  in which he drove in more than 77 runs (one of only two in which he reached 60 RBI). In fact, his 107 RBI in 1931 represent just over 20 percent of his career total. In 12 MLB seasons (1929-40 … Yankees, Indians, Browns, Senators, Dodgers, Cardinals, Red Sox), Brown went .269-38-526. Side note: In 1931, the Yankees scored 1,067 runs  and had six player score 100 or more runs.  Want to change up the question? ”

You’ll Have to Earn Your Way On … The Old-Fashioned Way

Here’s another surprise.  How about looking at the question: “What qualifying pitcher has the lowest single-season walks per nine innings mark since the four-ball walk rule was instituted?” (Four balls became a walk in 1888, prior to that walks were – at varying times – nine, eight, six and five balls.)  The answer? Carlos Silva, who – as a Twin in 2005 – walked just nine batters (and one of those was intentional) in 188 1/3 innings – a stingy 0.430 walks per nine frames rate.

You could follow up this question with: “How many right-handed hitters did Carlos Silva walk in 2005?”  The answer is one – the Tigers’ Craig Monroe – and that was Silva’s one intentional walk.  So, not a single righty was able to “work him” for a walk all-season.  Monroe, by the way, drew only 40 walks in 623 plate appearance n 2005.   You might also be interested to know that Silva is the only pitcher – among the 25 best single-season walks per nine rates – whose landmark season came after the four-ball walk rule came into effect.

Silva pitched nine MLB seasons (2002-10 … Phillies, Twins, Mariners, Cubs) and went 70-70, 4.68. He walked 238 batters in 1,241 2/3 innings – 1.5 per nine frames – 2005 was his only season under 1,5 walks per nine.

Rookie Fever

How about this set of questions?

  • Who was the first pitcher to throw a shutout in a deciding seventh game of a World Series?
  • Who was the first rookie to start a deciding Game Seven of a World Series?
  • Who was the fist rookie to win three games in a single World Series?

The answer to all three?  Babe Adams.

Right-hander Charles “Babe” Adams came into the 1909 seasons having had brief  MLB “looks” in 1906-07 — no wins, three losses 7.96 in five games (so, his rookie status was intact.). Pitching in the minors in Louisville in 1908, he went 22-12. In 1909, he stuck with the Pirates, getting in 25 games (12 starts/seven complete games) and putting up a 12-3, 1.11 record.  Adams was far from the star of the Pirate  staff which included Howie Camnitz (25-6, 1.62), Vic Willis (22-11, 2.24) and Lefty Leifield (19-8, 2.37).  But manager Fred Clarke like liked Adam’s composure on  the mound, his strong finish to the season and how Adam’s  stuff  and style matched up against the Tigers.  So, Adams got the Game One start and the rest is history.

Adams earned complete-game wins in Games One and Five, giving up just four earned rust  Then came the deciding Game Seven.  (The World Series’ first-ever deciding seventh game. Adams again went the distance, shutting out the tigers on six hits (one walk and one whiff).  Thus, he pitched and won the first deciding Game Seven (as a rookie) and also became the first rookie to win three games in a best-of-seven World Series.

Adams pitched 19 MLB seasons (1906-07, 1909-16, 1918-26 … all but 1906 with the Pirates). He went 194-140, 2.76, twice was a 20-game winner, five times led the league in WHIP, four times allowed the fewest walks per nine innings (among qualifiers) and four time led   in strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

BONUS TRIVIA TIDBIT

Red Sox rookie Hugh Bedient has the unique distinction of being the  only rookie to start Game Eight of a best-of-seven World Series.  (Game Two of the 1912 Series ended in 6-6 tie after 11 innings due to darkness). Bedient, a 22-yer-old right-hander had gone 20-9, 2.92 in his rookie campaign.  In the World Series against the Giants, he tossed one scoreless inning of relief in Game Two’s 11-inning tie; one scoreless inning in relief in Game Three’s 2-1 Red Sox loss; and threw a complete-game in Boston’s Game Five 2-1 win.  He then started Game Eight (versus Christy Mathewson) and tossed seven scoreless  innings in a 3-2 Boston victory.  Bedient pitched just four MLB seasons, going 60-53, 3.08.

I Get By With a Little Help from My Friend

In 1961, the Orioles’ Jim Gentile tied an MLB record (since broken) for Grand Slams in a season (five). Who were the starting pitchers in the games in which Gentile launched a Grand Slam?  Two-word answer: Chuck Estrada. 

Here’s how it went.  In 1961 – with Yankee sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris dominating headlines in their chase of Babe Ruth’s record 60 home runs in a season – Jim Gentile of the Orioles quietly put up quite a season of his own. Gentile hit .302, with 46 home runs (including those five Grand Slams) and a league-topping 141 RBI.   In addition, he tied an MLB record with two Grand Slams in a game – May 9.

Orioles’ pitcher Chuck Estrada was the main beneficiary of Gentile’s 1961 offensive outburst – every one of Gentile’s record-tying five four-run blasts was hit in a game started by Estrada (who, as you would expect, picked up a victory in all four contests).  Notably, Gentile hit only one other Grand Slam in his career (June 26, 1960) and – you guessed it – the starting and winning pitcher in that contest was Chuck Estrada.

In 1961, Jim Gentile was pretty much an offensive juggernaut when paired with Chuck Estrada.  He played in 29 of Estrada’s 31 starts.  In those 29 games, he hit .356, with 15 home runs and 47 RBI. How potent is that?

For those of you who like a little more – Don’t baseball fans always want that next fact or stat? – here’s some background. Gentile was in the majors with the Dodgers (1957-58), Orioles (1960-63), A’s (1964-65), Astros (1965-66) and Indians (1966). In nine MLB campaigns, he was an All Star in three seasons (1960-61-62) and 1961 was his best year. His career stat line was .260-179-549. That’s 1961 season saw Gentile reach his all-time career highs in nearly every offensive category.  It was the only season in which he reached a .300 batting average, 100 or more RBI and 40 or more home runs (he had a total of five seasons of at least 20 homers – including the 46 in 1961 and 33 in 1962).

Estrada’s best season was his rookie year (1960) with the Orioles, when the 22-year-0ld led the AL with 18 wins (11 losses and a 3.58 ERA). He finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting to his Orioles’ teammate, shortstop Ron Hansen, who hit .255, with 22 home runs and 86 RBI.  Estrada was an All Star in just one season – his rookie campaign –  in a career that saw him win 50 and lose 44, with a 4.04 ERA. He pitched for the Orioles (1960-64), Cubs (1966) and Mets (1967).

How to (Not) Play Your Way into the Record Book

Charles “Cap” Peterson’s name does not come up in a host of baseball discussions.  An outfielder, Peterson played in eight MLB seasons (1962-69 … Giants, Senators, Indians).  His career stat line was .230-19-122 and he played in 100 or more games just once. In 1967 (with the Senators), he set career highs in games (122), hits (97), home runs (8) and RBI (46).  On June 12 of that season, he tied an MLB record (for inactivity) and became part of the answer to the question: Who holds the record for the longest game played in the field without recording a single fielding chance (putout, assist, error)?  It’s a two-player answer.  Billy Bruton and Cap Peterson each managed to play a 22-inning game without recording a fielding chance – Bruton in CF for the Tigers on June 24, 1962 and Peterson in RF for the Senators on June 12, 1967.

Peterson’s “chance-less” game in the outfield came in a 22-inning win over the White Sox in Washington D.C.  Peterson was a bit more active at the plate in the contest going four-for-nine with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBI. It was the only multi-homer game of his career.   Bruton’s came in a 22-inning 9-7 loss to the Yankees (in Detroit). In his game, Bruton was two-for nine (with two walks) in 11 plate appearances, with two runs scored and a stolen base.  Bruton, by the way, played 12 MLB seasons (1953-64 … Braves, Tigers). He hit .273-94-545 in 1,610 games. He also stole 207 bases leading the NL in steals in each of his first three seasons.

 If I Could Pose an Off-the-Wall Trivia Question

If I could write a zany trivia question, it might read like this:  “What is the most times on base in a doubleheader by a shortstop who had zero fielding chances in that doubleheader?  The answer is eight.  On June 25, 1976 the Texas Rangers faced the Chicago White Sox in a doubleheader (in Texas). There was plenty of action in the field, as the Rangers won Game One 8-4 and lost Game Two 14-9.  Surprisingly, Rangers’ shortstop Toby Harrah, who played all 18-innings, did not record a single fielding chance (an MLB doubleheader first for shortstops).  I might add that it’s not like the ball was not being hit around the infield. In the two games, the Rangers’ three other  infielders (we’ll leave the catcher out of it since he get a putout on a strikeout) recorded 26 putouts, 14 assists and three errors.  In response to my question, at the plate, Harrah was six-for-eight, with two walks, two runs, eight RBI, two home runs and a stolen base. 

For those that like to know these things, the Rockies’ Trevor Story holds the record for the longest game without recording a fielding chance as a shortstop. On September 24, 2019 – as the Rockies beat the Giants 8-5 in 16 innings (in San Francisco), Story played all 16 innings without recording a putout, assist or error. 

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; The ELIAS Book of Records, ELIAS Sports Bureau, 2021

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

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

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

 

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, Trivia

“Who’s Your Daddy?” … Robin Roberts Edition

January 7, 2022 by

In 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers won the National League pennant – going  96-57-2 behind a lineup that included such stars as Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese and Carl Furillo. They faced the fourth-place Phillies with Robin Roberts on the hill, six times.  Roberts won all six matchups, threw six complete games, allowing just 16 earned runs (2.67 ERA). In Phillies/Dodgers games Roberts did not pitch that season, Brooklyn went 10-6.  

In this post, the 15th in the Baseball Roundtable “Who’s Your Daddy?” series, we’ll look at a Baseball Roundtable-selected  lineup that performed exceptionally well against Hall of Famer Robin Roberts over their careers. Not surprisingly, the starting nine includes eight Hall of Famers. More on that later, but first a look at what “Who’s Your Daddy?” is all about.

Who’s Your Daddy – A Baseball Roundtable Series

In this series, BBRT presents lineups of players who performed unexpectedly well against baseball’s top pitchers. (An explanation of the inspiration behind the Who’s Your Daddy? series can be found at the end of this post.)  As always, I would stress that the pitchers included in the Who’s Your Daddy? series are among the “best in the business.”  They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because success among hitters when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.  We’ve looked at pitchers from a wide range of eras – from Bob Feller to Nolan Ryan to Max Scherzer.  

Before we get started on this edition,  here are links to the previous editions of this series. Please note: For still active pitchers, the stats are as they stood on the date of the post.

  • Nolan Ryan, click here.
  • Sandy Koufax, click here.
  • Pedro Martinez, click here.
  • Bob Gibson, click here.
  • Randy Johnson, click here.
  • Greg Maddux, click here.
  • Justin Verlander, click here.
  • Bob Feller, click here.
  • Roger Clemens, click here.
  • Max Scherzer, click here.
  • Tom Seaver, click here.
  • Mariano Rivera, click here.
  • Warren Spahn, click here.
  • For Lefty Grove, click here.
  • For Steve Carlton, click here. 

I should note there’s not many surprises in this edition of “Whose Your Daddy?” Nothing like how Will Clark owned Nolan Ryan, Jerry Lynch’s .714 average versus Sandy Koufax or Junior Spivey’s six hits, one walk and one HBP in his first seven plate appearances versus Greg Maddux. This lineup is loaded with Hall of Famers; those you expect might do well against an exceptional moundsman.

Also, in this “Who’s Your Daddy?” post, I will diverge a bit from tradition.   I would like to both look at the lineup whose numbers seem to indicate they had Roberts’ number and also make my case for Roberts being among the game’s  most underrated pitchers (despite being in the Hall of Fame).

Robin Roberts enjoyed a 19-season MLB career (1948-66 … Phillies, Orioles, Astros, Cubs) – with 14 of those campaigns in a Phillies’ uniform. Roberts was a seven-time All Star, who won 20 or more games in six  consecutive seasons (1950-55).

The Fabulous ‘50s

From 1950-59, Robin Roberts went 199-149, 3.32.). During that period, his Phillies went 767-773-8.  In those ten seasons, Roberts threw 3,011 2/3 innings.  Yes, for a decade he averaged over 300 innings pitched per season. He also tossed 237 complete games and 30 shutouts.  From 1950-55 (six seasons), Roberts  led the NL in wins four times, starts six times, complete games four times, innings pitched five times and strikeouts twice.

Roberts wrapped up his career with a 286-245, 3.41 stat line, with 305 complete games and 45 shutouts. He is in MLB’s top 50 all-time in wins  (28th); innings pitched  (4,688 2/3 – 21st); games started (609 – 20th); complete games (38th); and shutouts (29th). Just to be fair on stats, he also led the league in home runs allowed five times and is second all-time in home runs allowed (505).

Robin Roberts won three varsity letters in basketball at Michigan State, serving as captain of the team for two seasons.  

Roberts’ best season was 1952, when he won an MLB-best 28 games (seven losses), put up a 2.59 ERA (third-best in the NL), led MLB in starts (37), complete games (30); and innings pitched (330). In August and September of that season, he appeared in  14 games (13 starts); going 12-1, 2.83 (with one save). Over those two months, he tossed 12 complete games, including a 17-inning outing against the Braves on September 6.

I Like to Finish What I Start

From August 28, 1952 through July 5 1953, Robin Roberts completed 28 consecutive starts.

So, why do I think Roberts is underrated and should be counted among the all-time greats? Let me make my case.

Consider the fact that Roberts won 136 more games than Sandy Koufax.  Of course, Koufax career was cut short (arm issues) – just 12 seasons to Roberts’ 19.  (I would maintain that Roberts 3,000+ inning workload in the 1950s had an impact on his arm and performance in the 1960s.) So, how about the best four seasons for Koufax and Roberts?  For Koufax that would be his final four campaigns (1963-1966).  In that period, Koufax won three Cy Young Awards and one MVP Award and was generally considered baseball’s best pitcher (some say the best ever).  Roberts’ four peak years would be 1952-55.  Let’s compare.

  • Koufax made 150 starts and won 97 games; Roberts made 154 starts and won an identical 97 games (Koufax did have 15 fewer losses).
  • Koufax led the NL in wins in three of those four seasons; Roberts led the NL in victories in all four of his peak seasons.
  • Koufax led the NL in strikeouts in three of the four seasons; Roberts in two of his four. (Koufax did have three 300+ strikeout seasons).
  • Koufax led in complete games twice; Roberts in all four of his peak seasons.
  • Koufax led in innings pitched twice, Roberts four times.
  • Koufax led in shutouts three times; Roberts did not lead in shutouts in any of his top four.
  • Koufax led  in games started once, Roberts in all four.
  • Koufax led in ERA four times; Roberts none.

Now, before anyone goes on the offensive, I am not saying Robin Roberts’ “peak four” matched Koufax, only that when you talk about MLB’s best pitchers, they should be discussed in the same paragraph. Clearly, you have to acknowledge, Koufax’s 1.86 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings over his top four (as compared to 3.18 and 4.7 for Roberts. (But then again, how about Roberts 118 complete games to Koufax’s 89?)

This Kind of Surprised Me

Hall of Famer Greg Maddux was noted for challenging hitters – making them earn their way on base and not wasting a pitch.  Over his career, Maddux walked just 1.80 batters per nine innings. Roberts was even stingier at  1.73.

Let me take my argument in favor of Roberts being underrated a bit further.  How about Bob Gibson? In his 17-season MLB career (1959-75, Gibson won 251 games (174 losses); was a five-time twenty-game winner; led the league in ERA once, wins once, complete games once and strikeouts once. Now, Roberts did play two more seasons than Gibson, so let’s just look at Roberts’ first 17 campaigns. Roberts won 271 games (20 more than Gibson) in his first 17 campaigns (although he did have 54 more losses); won 20 or more games six times to Gibson’s five; led the league wins four times to Gibson’s once; never led the NL in ERA to Gibson’s one ERA title; led in compete games five times to Gibson’s once; and led in strikeouts twice to Gibson’s once.  Gibson did have a notable edge in ERA – 2.91 to 3.40 (again, over 17 seasons) and in strikeouts per nine innings 3,117 (7.2 per 9 innings) to 2,357 (4.5 per 9 innings). Still, I would maintain, Gibson and Roberts belong in the same sentence – particularly when talking about how they  measured up against their peers.

Side note: I received Joe Posnanski’s latest book “The Baseball 100” for Christmas (it was at the top of my list). I was pleased to read that Posnanski also sees Roberts as underrated and suggests he “belongs in every discussion of the greatest pitchers ever.”  By the way, if “The Baseball 100” is not in your library already, I highly recommend you add it.  

A final note:  If I had to vote for the greatest pitcher of all time, I’d most likely go with Walter Johnson.

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He (Robin Roberts) looks like the kind of pitcher you can’t wait to swing at, but you swing and the ball isn’t where you thought it was.

                                                                                    Hall of Famer Willie Stargell

Now, let’s take a look at the Robin Robert’s “Who’s Your Daddy?” lineup.  One bit of explanation here. This is a “weighted” ranking.  Doing well against Roberts in the 1950s is counted more heavily than raking against him in the 1960s.  Why?  Consider:

  • From 1950 through 1959, Roberts went 199-149; averaging 19.9 wins, 23.7 complete games; 301 innings pitched per season.
  • From 1960 through his final season (1966), Roberts went 53-56, 3.49 … averaging 8.8 wins, eight complete games and 177 2/3 inning pitched per year.  (Did all those innings catch up to him?)

I will drop in the occasional “Better Late Than Never” player this post, acknowledging those who performed exceptional well versus Roberts in the latter part of his career,

Better Late Than Never Prime Example – Manny Jimenez

Kansas City Athletics’ outfielder Manny Jimenez (he also played for the Pirates and Cubs) is the perfect example of a “Better Late Than Never” player for this Robin Roberts’ post. Jimenez was a .217 career hitter (1962-64, 1966-69). Jimenez faced Roberts 28 times in his career (all in the 1962-64 time period). He went 13-for-27 against him – and that .481 average is the highest for any player with at least 25 careers at bats versus Roberts. Jimenez also had three home runs and six RBI in 10 games versus Roberts – and struck out just once.

 

Two Sides of the Coin

The Twins’ Sandy Valdespino played just two games against Roberts  – May 6 & 31, 1965. In four plate appearances he recorded three singles and a walk – the most plate appearances and at bats  of any batter never retired by Roberts.  On the other side of the coin. Cubs’ outfielder Jim Bolger faced Roberts nine times  (1955-58) and – although he fanned only once, in his very first plate appearance versus Roberts – he never reached base safely against him  His nine plate appearances are the most of any batter with a .000 batting average and on-base percentage versus Roberts

Finally, that lineup, the best (judged somewhat subjectively) lineup against Robin Roberts.  N0te: Game logs (via Baseball-Reference.com are not complete (particularly pre-1955).  I have noted instances were logs are missing from the records.

Catcher – Roy Campanella … 13 home runs in 56 games

Hall of Famer Roy Campanella – a star in the Negro Leagues (.322 average from 1937-45) – broke into the National League in 1948 (the 21-year-old Roberts rookie season).  Campy handled Roberts pretty well over his first three seasons, touching him up  for  a .341 average, with four home runs and nine RBI in 15 games.  Roberts caught up with Campanella a bit after that – holding him to a .247 career average against him. However, Campanella continued to be a thorn in terms of power and pressure. His 13 career home runs against Roberts are the third-most by any opponent and his 30 RBI are tied for fifth.

In his first at bat against Roberts, Roy Campanella struck out swinging.  In his next 14 plate appearances against him (over two seasons), Campanella went seven for ten, with three doubles, one home run, four walks and one more whiff.

Roy Campanella played 18 MLB seasons (1937-45 – Negro Leagues; 1948-1957 – National League). He was a three-time Negro League All Star and an eight-time National League All Star. He was also a three-time NL MVP. In 1942, while with the Baltimore Elite Giants, he led the Negro National League in batting average, runs scored, doubles, runs batted in and walks. His best season was in 1953 (Brooklyn Dodgers), when he hit  .312, with 41 home runs and a league-topping 142 RBI.  His final major league stat line was .283-260-1,017.

You Can Count on Me

Roy Campanella was on the field for a Robin Roberts’ “big moment.” It was the final day (October 1) of the 1950 season. The Dodgers (89-64) were facing the Phillies (90-63).  A Dodgers’s win would force a playoff for the pennant, a Phillies win gave them the crown.  The Dodgers went with big Don Newcombe, an All Star in 1949 and 1950 and 19-10, 3.71 coming into the game. The Phillies went with Robin Roberts (a 1950 All Star), who was 19-11, 3.06 coming into the contest.  On hitch, however, it was Roberts third start in five days. How did he do under immense pressure and on short rest? Roberts tossed a ten-inning complete game, giving up just five nits and one run, as the Phillies won the game (and the pennant), by a 4-1 score. 

Honorable Mentions: Joe Garagiola (a career .257 hitter) hit .449 versus Roberts (19 games). Five game logs are missing from Garagiola’s totals versus Roberts. Smokey Burgess went .337-5-10, with six walks and just one strikeout in 33 games (90 plate appearances) versus Roberts.   Bill Sarni enjoyed a five-season MLB career (1951-51, 1954-56 …. Cardinals & Giants) right in the midst of Robin Roberts’  prime. A .263 career hitter (in 390 games), Sarni hit .342 (13-for 38), with four home runs and six RBI in 11 games versus Roberts (two games are missing from the game logs).

First Base – Stan Musial  …  .384 average

Over his career, Stan Musial hit .331, with a .417 on-base percentage and a .559 slugging percentage.  Against Roberts, he bettered those number in all categories – .384, .432, .680, respectively.  Musial collected  the most hits and most  doubles against Roberts of any player and was tied for fourth in triples and second in RBI. Note: 10 game logs are missing from Stan Musial’s totals versus Roberts.

In Roberts’ six peak year -1950-55 – when he won 20 or more games every season and led the NL in wins four times (putting up an overall 138-78, 2.93 record) – Musial hit .395 against him, hitting over .400 against him in four of those campaigns.

In 220 plate appearances versus Roberts, Musial struck out only 12 times.  Musial faced Roberts in 13 seasons and hit .400 or better against him seven of them. From Opening Day 1955 through September 8, 1959, Musial faced Roberts 74 times and struck out once.

A Big Day for The Man

On June 22, 1955, Robin Roberts and his Phillies faced the Cardinals in St. Louis.  In that game, Musial hit a two-run home run in his first at bat, a solo home run in his second at bat, ground out in his third at bat and tripled in his fourth and final at bat. Roberts, by the way came into the game with a 9-6, 2.32 record on the season.  Notably, Roberts went the distance in a 9-6 Phillies win (despite giving up three homers and four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Stan Musial played in 22 MLB seasons (1941-44, 1946-63), all for the Cardinals. He was an All Star in 20 seasons, a seven-time batting champ (he hit under .300 in only four seasons). He led the NL in runs scored five times, hits six times, doubles eight times (three times collecting 50 or more), triples five times (twice reaching 20), RBI twice, walks once and total bases six times. He was a three-time MVP. His best season was 1948, when he went .376-39-131 – leading the NL in average, RBI, runs, doubles, triples, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.

Honorable Mentions:  Soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Gil Hodges hit .285-10-31 against Roberts in 73 games. The ten long balls are the sixth-most against Roberts, the 31 RBI tie for second and his 65 hits are third.  Bill White faced Robert 41 times and went .378-4-13. While 12 of White’s 41 plate appearances against Roberts came after 1959, his pre-1960 numbers against him were .393-2-7 in eight games.

Trivia Tidbit: Stan Musial had 1,815 career hits at home and 1,815 career hits on the road.

Better Late Than Never

Willie McCovey hit .452 versus Robin Roberts in 12 games from 1959-1966. In his very first game against Roberts (July 30, 1959), he went four-for -four, with two singles and two triples, three runs scored and two RBI.  Three of McCovey’s 14 career hits against Roberts went for extra bases – and all three were triples. He drove in  total of five runs versus Roberts.   Thanks to Roundtable Reader Jerry Stever for the comment that led to this “Better Late Than Never” addition. 

Second Base (tie) – Bill Mazeroski … .324 average; Jackie Robinson …  nine home runs

Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski was a career .260 hitter with a Golden Glove (eight of them, actually) at second base.  He fared better at the plate against Robin Roberts, compiling a .324 average, with three home runs and seven RBI in 29 games. In eight seasons against Roberts, Mazeroski hit over .300 six times and struck out just four times in 80 plate appearances.

Off to a Good Start

In his first game against Robin Roberts (August 16, 1956), Bill Mazeroski went three-for-three with two singles and a home run – as the Pirates topped the Philllies 4-1 in Philadelphia. Mazeroski was a rookie and Roberts was in ninth season (and had led the NL in wins the four previous campaigns).

Mazeroski played 17 MLB seasons (2,163 games), going .260-138-853. He was an All Star in seven seasons. His best season was 1958, when he hit .275, with 19 home runs and 68 RBI (and won his first Gold Glove). Mazeroski makes this lineup by virtue of hitting 64 points above his career average versus Roberts.

Jackie Robinson hit below his .313 career average versus Roberts, but he made it here on the basis of his power and impact. His nine home runs tied for the seventh-most against Roberts, while his 21 RBI are 12th.

Hall of Famer Robinson played in eleven MLB seasons (1945, Kansas City Monarchs  …. 1947-56 Brooklyn Dodgers). In 1945, he hit .375 and led  the Negro American League in doubles (13), home runs (4) and on-base percentage (.449). With the Dodgers, he led the National League in stolen bases twice and won the NL batting championship with a .342 average in 1949. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1947 and the League MVP in 1949. His best season was clearly 1949, when he hit .342, with 203 hits, 122 runs scored, 38 doubles, 12 triples, 16 home runs, 124 RBI and a league-leading 37 steals.  Robinson’s final stat line was .313-141-761, with 200 stolen bases and 972 runs scored.

Honorable Mention: Jim Gilliam faced Roberts 196 times (between 1953 and 1966). A .266 career hitter, Gilliam hit .311 versus Roberts (in 53 games). Gilliam’s 57 hits are seventh-most against Roberts by any batter.

Third Base – Eddie Mathews … 11 homers and 30 RBI

Eddie Mathews faced Roberts 203 times in his career. The .271 career hitter, hit .323 versus Roberts, with 11 home runs and 30 RBI. Mathew’s 11 round trippers ties for the fourth-most against Roberts; his 30 RBI are fifth; his 13 doubles fourth; and his four triples tie for fourth.

Not a Great Start … Especially for a Power Hitter

In  Eddie Mathews’ first ten plate appearances against Robin Roberts, he tallied a bunt single, six fly outs and two strikeouts.

Mathews fanned 30 times against Roberts, second only to Duke Snider. Three games are missing from Mathew’s game logs versus Roberts.

Eddie, with an Exclamation Point

On June 5, 1955, as the Braves topped Roberts and the Philllies 5-4, Eddie Mathews (in five plate appearances) logged two home runs, a single and walk – with  two runs scored and three RBI. Roberts, as always expected,  went the full nine innings.

Mathews played 17 MLB seasons (1952-68 … Braves, Astros, Tigers). He was an All-Star in nine seasons, led the NL in home runs twice (topping forty long balls four times) and led in walks four times. He retired with a .271-512-1,453 stat line.  His best season was 1953, when he went .302-47-135 for the Braves.  In the nine seasons from 1953 through 1961, Mathews averaged 38 home runs and 104 RBI per year.

I’m a Travelin’ Man

Eddie Mathews is the only player to suit up for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta – although it was a close call.  His stint as a Boston Brave encompassed only their final season in Boston (1952), while his Atlanta playing tenure included only the team’s first season in Georgia (1966). He did come back later to manage the Braves in Atlanta.

Why mention that here?  A segue to the fact that Robin Roberts is the only pitcher to beat the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. 

Honorable Mention: Ken Boyer faced Roberts 109 times  and collected 31 hits (.304) , six home runs and 18 RBI (33 games … one game missing from the game logs). Boyer had a .287-282-1,141 line in 15 MLB seasons, was an All Star in seven seasons, a five-time Gold Glover and the 1964 NL MVP.

I think I’ll Stick Around and See How This Ends

On September 6, 1952, rookie Eddie Mathews and his Boston Braves faced Robin Roberts and the Phillies in Philadelphia.  The Phillies trailed 6-1 going into the bottom of the eighth (with Roberts still on the mound), but tied it up in the bottom of the inning.  Roberts shut the Braves out for nine more frames, getting a 7-6, 17-inning complete game win. 

Shortstop – Ernie Banks … Fifteen home runs in 39 games

Only Duke Snider’s 19 home runs off Roberts outpaced the 15 long balls of Hall of Famer Ernie Banks – and Banks had exactly half as many plate appearances versus Roberts as Snider (Snider 260 – Banks 130).  In addition, Banks 31 RBI versus Roberts are second only to Snider’s 50. Banks, a .274 career hitter, hit .339 against Roberts.

Welcome to the Batter’s Box – I Own It

Hit by Pitches were a rarity for Robin Roberts – just 54 in 4,688 2/3 innings (676 appearances).  He did, however, hit Ernie Banks with a pitch the first time they faced off.

In 1957, Banks drove in ten runs in seven games versus Roberts. He had seven hits in those games – four home runs, two doubles and a single. In ten seasons versus Roberts, Banks hit .333 or better seven times (four times over .400).

Ernie Banks played 19 MLB seasons (1953-71) all for the Cubs. He hit .274, with 512 home runs and 1,636 RBI. He was an All Star in 11 seasons and won back-to-back NL MVP  Awards in 1958-59. Banks led the NL in games played six times, home runs twice (topping forty homers in five seasons), and RBI twice. In the four seasons from 1957 through 1960, Banks averaged .293-44-123, with 196 runs scored and 15 steals per season.

Got a Streak Goin’

Between August 20, 1957 and June 4, 1958, Ernie Banks homered in three consecutive games versus Roberts – going five for seven with three home runs, one double, one single and seven RBI.

Honorable Mention: Dick Groat faced Roberts 101 times between 1952 and 1961 and picked up 31 hits (.320 average), with two home runs and six RBI (32 games … one game log missing).  The five-time All Star and 1960 NL MVP was a career .286 hitter.

Bette Late Than Never

Yankee SS Tom Tresh faced Robin Roberts 38 times (12 games) between 1962-65 and touched him for 14 hits and three walks (.400 average), with four doubles a triple, one home run and four RBI.

Outfield – Duke Snider … 19 home runs and 50 RBI

Hall of Famer Duke Snider has to make this lineup. No one hit more home runs against Roberts than the Duke (19) and no one drove in more runs against him than Snider (50).  Couple that with a .295 average – approximately double it to make up a 500 at bat season and a full  Snider season against all Robin Roberts would be in the neighborhood of .295-40-100.

A Slow Starter

In his first three seasons versus Robin  Roberts (1948-50), Duke Snider went eight-for 45 (.178 average). In his next 11 seasons versus Roberts, he hit .321.

In 1954, when Roberts went 23-15, 2.97 and led the NL in wins, starts, complete games, innings pitched, strikeouts and WHIP, Duke Snider hit .545 (12-for-22 against him), with two homers and seven RBI.

Hall of Famer Duke Snider played 18 seasons (1947-64 … Dodgers, Mets, Giants) and put up a .295-407-1,333 stat line. He led the league in runs scored three times (scoring 100 or more runs six times), led in home runs once (hitting 40 or more in five consecutive seasons … 1953-57), led his league in RBI once (topping 100 six times) and led the NL in total bases three times. He was an eight-time All Star.

Outfield –  Walt Moryn …  .362 average, 16 RBI in 26 games

Wow! The only non-Hall of Fame position player in this starting lineup, Walt Moryn is a bit of a surprise, edging such stars as Hank Aaron and  Willie Mays for this spot.  A .266 career hitter, Moryn (1954-61 … Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals, Pirates) hit .362 against Roberts, with six home runs and 16 RBI.

BOOM!

In 1957-58, Walt Moryn went 16-for-40 (.400) versus Roberts with four home runs and nine RBI in 16 games).

Walt Moryn played eight MLB seasons and put up a .266-101-354 stat line. He hit 20-home runs in two seasons and posted a career high 88 RBI in 1957. He played in 100+ games in five seasons.

Outfield – Ralph Kiner … Eight home runs in 94 plate appearances

Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner’s eight home runs off Robin Roberts are the eleventh-most all time.  However, Kiner accomplished the power feat in just 94 plate appearances. No one ahead of him on the list had fewer 125. In addition, Kiner’s 21 RBI versus Roberts ranked twelfth and, again,  no one ahead of him has fewer than 125 plate appearances.  Notably, in both cases, the player with 125 plate appearances is Hank Sauer – who had 11 homers and 22 RBI versus Roberts, but put up a .198 average against him.  Eight game logs are missing from Ralph Kiner’s totals versus Roberts.

Kiner was a six-time All Star. He led the league in home runs seven times, walks three times, RBI once and runs scored once. In ten MLB seasons (1,472 games), he hit .279, with 369 home runs and 1,015 RBI.  He hit 40 or more home runs in five seasons (50+ twice), drove in 100+ runs in six seasons and drew 100+ walks in six.

I’ll Just Hang on This, Thank You

Ralph Kiner led the NL in home runs as a rookie in 1946 – and repeated as home run champion in each of the next six seasons.

Kiner homered off Robin Roberts in every season he faced him (1948-54) except one – 1948, when he only appeared in one game against Roberts (he did hit a triple in that contest).

Honorable Mentions: Wally Moon, with a career stat line of .289-142-661, hit .344, with nine home runs and 22 RBI in 38 games versus Roberts (two games logs missing).  Another Wally, Wally Post, played in 10 games against Roberts (1952-57 and 1960) and hit .350, with five home runs and 13 RBI.

Better Late than never

Jimmie Hall faced Roberts 34 times (10 games) between 1963 and 1965. He went 15-for-32 (.469) with three walks, four home runs and five RBI.

Pitcher (tie) – Johnny Podres and Warren Spahn

Johnny Podres faced Robin Roberts in nine games (15 plate appearances) and hit an even .400 against him.  For his career, Podres was .190-2-50 at the plate (762 at bats).  In 15 seasons on the mound, he was 148-116, .561. In the eight games he pitched against Roberts (Podres was used once as a pinch hitter against him), Podres went 3-3, 4.28; while Roberts went 2-2, 5.25.  Trivia note:  Podres  finished his MLB playing career the Padres (5-6,4.31 in 1969).

Warren Spahn hit a healthy .286 versus Roberts, with  a home run and three RBI (in 14 games). Spahn was a career .194 hitter (in 2,056 plate appearances) over 21 seasons. His 35 career home runs are the third-most by a pitcher. He also had 57 doubles, six triples and  189 RBI. As pitcher, Spahn went 363-245, 3.09, leading the NL in wins eight times (winning 20 or more games in 13 seasons). In 13 mound matchups against Roberts, Spahn went 11-2, 1.88. In those matchups, Roberts went 3-8, 4.13.  Trivia tidbit: Spahn had 363 wins and 363 base hits.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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Who’s Your Daddy?  The Inspiration.

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.  Again, you can find links to the previous “editions” of “Who’s Your Daddy?” near the top of this post. 

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From Mound Visits to Replays to Banning the Shift … Baseball Roundtable’s Baseball Rules Survey Results

January 1, 2022 by

Baseball Roundtable recently completed a reader survey regarding some of the issues and rules facing major league baseball.  A total of 223 responses were received in the 24 hours the survey (using the Google survey tool) was open – although not all respondents replied to every question.  (Thanks to all of those who responded.  I appreciate your interest, thoughts and participation.)  I’d like to share those responses, as well as a bit of commentary, in this post.  One cautionary note:  The survey group was self-selecting. The fact that the respondents took the time to fill out the somewhat lengthy survey would indicate the group is composed of individuals who follow the game more closely than casual fans.  This is further amplified by the fact that a link to the survey was shared with such online groups as Baseball Fans of America, the Society for American Baseball Research, The Baseball Reliquary and Baseball Fans of America.

NOTE: COMING SOON – RESULTS OF BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S

(UNOFFICIAL) FAN HALL OF FAME BALLOT

LENGTH OF GAMES

Notably, respondents were split  on whether MLB games need to be shortened, with 51.6 percent say “No” and 42.5 percent saying “Yes.”

ONE RESPONDENT’S COMMENT

As a lifelong fan, I believe the rule changes to speed up the game (among other results) are based on television viewership and not for the fans who watch live. I have never heard anyone complain about the length of games at a stadium. The complaints I hear there (at the ballpark) are ones involving delays (pitching changes, multiple mound visits, replays) and never about the pace of the actual game. I think the constant tinkering only creates more holes to fix. 

Respondents’ pegged the ideal length of a game at 2 ½ – 3 hours, with 59.5 percent selecting  a response within that time frame (which seem contrary to more than 50 percent saying games do not need to be shortened).  Notably, 31.1 percent selected “However long it takes to have a winner.”

Ideal Length for an MLB Game – Top Five Responses

2 1/2 hours  … 32.4%

However Long it takes to have a winner … 31.1%

3 hours … 14%

2 3/4 hours … 13.1%

2 1/4 hours … 4.1%

Only 1.4 percent picked a specific time over three hours (6.9% picked times of 1 1/2 – 2 hours).

MLB Average Length of Game (Time)

The average game time in 2021 was three hours and 11 minutes. The last time the average was under 3:00 was a decade ago (2011 – 2:56). The last time, it was 2:30 or less was in 1978 (2:30). 

So, what about efforts, in place or being considered/experimented with, to shorten the game?

Among the most popular rules/proposals among respondents were: requiring batters to keep one foot in the batter’s box through the plate appearance; strict enforcement of a pitch clock; and limiting mound visits.  There has been a 20-second pitch clock at Double-A and Triple-A since 2015, but baseball is looking at a shorter (15-second),  more strictly enforced, limit).  A personal observation: Despite being “old school,” I’d like to see batters required to keep one foot in the batter’s box (and not wander off to adjust their batting gloves, add pine tar or take a swing or two).  I believe it was Bert Blyleven who said a great way to shorten the game would be to “ban Velcro.”   I’d also be on board with requiring pitchers to remain on the mound between pitches – except for “mound visits.”

 

Respondents wanted little to do with seven-inning games; placing a runner at second base at the start of an extra inning; or allowing tie games after a specific number of extra frames. More than 80 percent of respondents disliked each of these.  From Baseball Roundtable’s point of view, shortening games to seven innings would wreak havoc with the game’s history, record book and rule book.  In a seven-inning game, how many innings are needed for a starter’s win? Or, how do you evaluate complete-games pitched records? Is a game “official” after 3 1/2 frames or still 4 1/2?  You get the idea.

The split was more even on waiving a runner to first on an intentional walk, with 48 percent liking that change and 41.2 percent disliking it.  (Are we just getting used to it?)  Looks like we won’t ever again see a batter reach across the plate and poke an intentional “ball” to left for a double. I can live with it, although it seems a little “slow-pitch softball” for me.

RULE CHANGES AIMED AT REDUCING PITCHING CHANGES

The split on the current MLB rule requiring a reliever (unless injured) to pitch to three batters (or to the end of an inning) was fairly even, with 50.2 percent disliking the rule and 42.1 percent liking it.

One respondent presented an idea for a similar approach to starting pitchers.

RESPONDENT’S COMMENT

Starting pitchers should be required to go five innings minimum unless they reach 100 pitches, allow four or more earned runs, or experience some type of injury.

This may seem a bit extreme, but in reality, it’s not much different in philosophy than the requiring a reliever to face three batters.  It would effectively end “bullpen games.”

There has also been some discussion of limiting the number of pitchers on an MLB roster.  This, it is reasoned would reduce mound options and, in turn, pitching changes. The opposition outweighed the support on this one.  I sided with the “nays,” a team should be allowed to set up its own roster within the overall player limit. No, I don’t like those games in which we see an “opener” followed by a parade of bullpen arms. But the game is changing and teams should be able to set up rosters and employ pitching strategies they think can best enable them to compete and win.  Still, it’s a change I could live with.

JUICING UP THE RUNNING GAME

Another rule proposal which has been discussed (and experimented with at the minor-league level) would limit pick off throws during each plate appearance. We’ve all seen those at bats with seven or eight tosses to first base.  Yes, it’s frustrating (although fans only seem to boo the opposing pitcher for such attention to a base runner). I’m for letting the pitcher hold the runner on, which is in line with the 72.5 percent of respondents who disliked this proposal.

There is also some discussion around requiring a pitcher to be completely off the rubber before attempting a pick-off (experimented with in the Atlantic League). The “off the rubber” proposal was liked by 34.2 percent of respondents; disliked by 37.4 percent, with 28.4 percent voicing “no opinion.”  Both of these  proposals are intended to boost the running game – and did seem to have that effect in minor-league trials.

ROBOT UMPIRES/ELECTRONIC STRIKE ZONE

Okay, I’m being really “old school” here.  I like watching a pitcher work to “expand the strike zone.”  I find it an element of the craft of pitching.  So, I’d opposed an electronic strike zone. Just over half of the respondents took that position, but nearly one-third would welcome such a change.  I have a hunch it may be part of MLB’s future … just down the road a bit.

CHALLENGES/REPLAYS

Sticking with umpiring, this one surprised me.  Approximately two-thirds of respondents like the current MLB challenge/replay system.  Notably, they also “disliked” suggestions for limiting replays. For example, 67.1 percent disliked the idea of going back to replays only on fair/foul home run calls and 64.1 percent disliked the idea of allowing replays only at the umpires’ discretion (rather than allowing manager challenges).

RESPONDENT’S COMMENT

Allow only 30 seconds limit for manager to call for a challenge-review. If they are confident it was a bad call, they don’t need to check the replay first to challenge the call.

 

THE ONGOING  DESIGNATED HITTER DEBATE

When will it end? The DH remains an ongoing point of contention … with about equal support for the application of designated hitter in both leagues (Universal DH) or the elimination the DH in both leagues.  The key word is both. Respondents just want one system. Only one in ten respondents like the current AL/NL split on this rule. How close was the call on Universal versus No DH?  42.5 percent “liked” No DH; while 42.1 percent “liked” a Universal DH. It appears the biggest mistake MLB can make is to keep the current split.

After this post was initially published, a reader asked for a bit more clarity on the DH issue. In response, I conducted a brief survey (which went to a smaller, but similar – if perhaps a bit more diverse in the depth of their fandom – group) on the issue.  In that effort, respondents had to selected their preferred treatment of the DH.  (rather than comment on all three).

The results were:

Universal DH – 47.6%

Eliminate DH – 26.2%

NL-only DH – 11.9%

No opinion – 14.7%

 INFIELD SHIFTS

Another surprise here. I expected an overwhelming dislike of the current trend toward infield shifts. Yet, more than half of the respondents did not like the idea of requiring two infielders on each side of second base.  I guess, we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

One respondent offered an interesting alternative – allowing the shift on no more than two batters in an inning,  I kind of like that.  It would require manager’s to make strategic decisions on which hitter(s) could effectively be stymied by a shift or in what game situations a shift would have the most positive potential impact.   That would open the door for fan discussion, debate and second-guessing – and I like that.

LACK OF “ACTION”

We hear talk these days about the growth of the “three true results” – strike outs, home runs and walks – taking action out of the game. The Roundtable did ask respondents about these outcomes.  Here’s what they said they’d like to see less of:

Fewer Strikeouts … 51.6%

Fewer Home Runs … 30.2%

Fewer Walks … 25.1%

No Opinion … 34.4%

 

A FEW MORE RESPONDENTS’ COMMENTS

  • Many problems would be solved (especially too many players grooving swings to hit the ball over everybody, which increases K’s, HR’s and decreases interesting balls in play) by instituting the rule of two infielders, playing on dirt or INFIELD grass on either side of second base.
  • Radical suggestion: revisit the current rule allowing unlimited foul balls. That is a big source of delays.
  • The game does need to be sped up. Maybe less TV and radio commercials time would help. We need more day games during the playoffs. We need more programs that tell the younger generation about the history of the game.
  • Game pace is the problem. Far too many 15-minute innings with too few balls in play. Call strikes so that the batter swings the bat.
  • I love baseball, but to survive, more action is needed to compete with football. There needs to be more steals, more hit-and-run, and more contact.
  • Shorten time between innings to 75 seconds and you’ll save 20 minutes in a 9-inning game. Just saying.
  • What hurts the game most is dead time — pitching changes, replays, conferences, and general dicking around during at-bats. Combine that with all the non-action plays… and it just seems slower. I listened to a game last season when the announcer went nuts because he went 34 minutes without calling a fair ball.

Then there were these conflicting views voiced by a pair of respondents.

  • Baseball is as near a thing to perfect as there can be in a competitive sport. Leave it alone!!! The old rules worked fine for years and don’t need to be tinkered with.
  • The game needs to change and I’m really done with the “purists.” Did “purists” object when fielders started wearing gloves, when the pitcher was moved back to 60’6″.

A Final Observation

Not part of thee survey, but just an observation offered, as Rod Serling used to say, ‘for your consideration.”  In  2021, 36.3 percent of the MLB season’s 181,818 (interesting number) plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). I call this the Baseball Roundtable Trot Index and have been reporting this stat for a number of seasons. We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the 2021 breakout: strikeouts (23.2%); walks (8.7%); home runs (3.3%); HBP (1.2%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Note: Totals 36.4% due to rounding.

Now, to provide a little context. Here are a few selected annual Trot Index scores since I began watching baseball in earnest:  1950  – 22.8 %; 1960 – 25.1%; 1970 – 27.0%; 1980 – 23.1%; 1990 – 31.7%; 2000 – 29.9%; 2010 – 30.3%; 2021 – 36.6%.

 

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