Archives for October 2022

We now know the 2022 Fall Classic will feature the Astros and the upstart Phillies. As we contemplate that matchup, it’s time for Chapter Two of Baseball Roundtable’s “Octoberfest” – a look at some World Series targets that players from these two squads will look to match, surpass or avoid. My last post looked a single-game World Series records and you can find those stories by clicking here.  (I’ll include the link again at the end of this post.)

This post will move from single-game Fall Classic records to single-season World Series marks. Next up will be a post on a handful of World Series Baseball Roundtable remembers fondly: three I attended, one i followed on the radio, one I watched on TV.

—–WORLD SERIES BATTING RECORDS—–

Single World Series Highs – Batting Average ( .750) & On-Base Percentage (.800.)

Billy Hatcher, Reds, 1990 (9-for-12).

In the 1990 World Series, as the Reds swept the heavily favored  A’s, Cincinnati CF  Billy Hatcher touched up Oakland A’s pitching for a .750 average (nine hits in 12 at bats). Overall, Hatcher made 15 plate appearance in the Series and got on base 12 times (.800 on-base percentage).

In Game One …  Hatcher walked in his first plate appearance and then added two doubles and a single.

In Game Two … He tacked on a single, two doubles, a triple and an intentional walk.

In Game Three … In the first inning,  A’s starter Mike Moore retired Hatcher on a ground out  (double play) – stopping Hatcher’s streak of getting on base at nine consecutive World Series plate appearances. He finished the contest two-for-five.

In Game Four … Hatcher was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance (on an 0-2 pitch from Dave Stewart). Hatcher  was caught attempting to steal second and then was pulled from the game (taken for x-rays related to the HBP).

As noted, the Reds swept the series, outscoring the A’s 22-8, with Hatcher scoring six runs and driving in two. Hatcher, by the way, was not selected as MVP of the Series.  That honor went to Reds’ RHP Jose Rijo, who picked up two wins in two starts, going 15 1/3 innings and giving up just one run – on nine hits and five walks, while fanning 14.

Billy Hatcher, a career (12-seasons … 1984-95) .264 hitter, was pretty darn good in the post season. In 14 post-season games, he hit .404.

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Most Hits in a Single World Series – 15

William “Judy” Johnson 1924 Hilldale Club

Judy Johnson, Hilldale Club … In 1924 – as the Eastern Colored League Champion Hilldale Club faced off against the Negro National League Champion Kansas City Monarchs (in the first Negro League World Series) – third  baseman Judy Johnson of the Hilldale Club smacked a World Series record 15 hits in ten games. (The Series was a best-of-nine affair and featured one-tie.) Johnson went 15-44 (.341) in the series, with five doubles, one triple, one home run, seven runs scored and seven RBI – as Hilldale lost the Series to the Monarchs five  games-to-four.

Johnson, a Baseball Hall of Famer, was considered one of – if not the best – third baseman in the Negro Leagues  – an excellent fielder and slashing hitter.   Johnson played 11 Negro League seasons (1923-27, 1929, 1932-36), putting up a .304-25-457 line (709 games). He hit .325 or better in five of his first seven seasons.

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Most hits in a World Series Best-of Seven Format – 13

Bobby Richardson, Lou Brock, Marty Barrett

Thirteen – Not a Lucky Number

All three players who collected 13 hits in a seven-game World Series rapped those safeties in a losing cause (as did best-of-nine format record-holder Judy Johnson.

Bobby Richardson, Yankees … In 1964, as the Yankees faced the Cardinals in the Fall Classic, Yankees’ 2B Bobby Richardson rapped out a seven-game Series record 13 hits – hitting .406, with three runs scored and three RBI. Richardson, batting second, had at least one hit in every game and multiple hits in Games One, Two, Five, Six and Seven.

Despite Richardson’s work at the plate, the Cardinals won the Series four games-to-three. The victory was due, in large part, to the pitching of Series MVP Bob Gibson, who started three games and went 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 27 innings. Gibson’s success did not come at Richardson’s expense. The Yankee second-sacker went seven-for-fourteen against Gibson in the Series.

Richardson hit .267-4-50 in 159 1964 regular-season games.

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Marty Barrett, Red Sox … Red Sox’ 2B Marty Barrett collected 13 hits in 30 at bats (.433) versus Mets’ pitchers in the 1986 World Series – scoring once and driving in four runs, as the Red Sox lost to the Mets four games-to-three. Barrett had a least one hit in every game and multiple hits in all but Games One and Seven. In Game Six, a 6-5 ten-inning loss to the Mets, Barrett got on base five times in six plate appearances – three singles and two walks, scoring one run and driving in two.

Barrett hit .286-4-60 in 158 1986 regular-season games.

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Lou Brock, Cardinals …  Cardinals’  LF and leadoff hitter Lou Brock went 13-for-28 (.464) in the 1968 World Series, as the Redbirds lost to the Tigers four games-to-three. Brock scored six runs, drove in five. His 13 hits included three doubles, a triple and two home runs. He also swiped a Series record seven bases.  Brock hit safety in every contest.

A Single Short of a Cycle

In Game Four of the 1968 World Series, Lou Brock nearly hit for the cycle, missing just the single.  Brock led off the game with a home run to center off Denny McLain; grounded out in the second; tripled in the fourth off Joe Sparma; grounded out in the sixth; and hit a three-run double (and stole third) off John Hiller in the eighth.  The Cardinals won that one 10-1.

In the 1968 regular season, Brock hit .279-6-51, with a league-leading 62 steals.

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Most Home Runs in a World series – Five

Reggie Jackson, Chase Utley, George Springer

Reggie Jackson, Yankees … Yankees’ RF Reggie Jackson earned Series MVP honors in 1977, as the Yankees topped the Dodgers in six games.  Jackson hit .450 for the Series, with a World Series record-setting five home runs. He led all batters with eight RBI. Jackson etched his name into World Series history in the Series final game, as the Yankees won 8-4. Jackson poled a Series record-tying three home runs in the game – on successive at bats and on the first  pitch of each at bat (from three different pitchers).

Jackson  had gone .286-32-100 in the regular season.

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Chase Utley, Philllies … In the 2009 World series, Phillies’ 2B Chase Utley rapped five home runs  in a losing cause (the Phillies fell to the Yankees in six games). Utley’s  stat line for the Series was .286-5-8. He homered twice in each of the Philllies’ wins (Games One and Five) and once in  Game Four.

During the regular season, Utley it .282-31-93.

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George Springer, Astros … Astros’ CF George Springer was a dynamo in the 2017 World Series (and was the Series MVP). He hit .379-5-7, with eight runs scored and seven RBI, as the Astros topped the Dodgers four games-to-three. Springer homered in  Games Two, Four, Five, Six and  Seven.

During the regular season, Springer hit .283-34-85.

In the 2017 World Series George Springer also set a World Series record for total bases, with 29 – on five home runs, three doubles and three singles.

 

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Most RBI in a World Series – 12

Bobby Richardson

Bobby Richardson, Yankees … Yankees’ 2B Bobby Richardson drove in a record 12 runs in the 1960 World Series, as his Yankees lost to the Pirates four games-to-three – despite outscoring the Pittsburgh squad 55-27. Richardson hit .367-1-12 in the loss – leading all players in runs scored (eight, tied with Mickey Mantle), as well as RBI. In Game Three of the Series, Richardson went two-for-five, with a Grand Slam and a World Series Record (since tied) six RBI.  Richardson’s performance earned him World Series MVP honors and he is still the only Series MVP from a losing team.

Richard played 12 MLB seasons (was an All Star in seven seasons), hitting .266-34-390. He hit .305 in 36 World Series games.

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Most Runs Scored in a World Series – 10

Monte Irvin, Paul Molitor, Reggie Jackson

Monte Irvin, Newark Eagles … In the 1946 Negro League World Series (Newark Eagles of the Negro National League versus Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League), Newark SS Monte Irvin scored ten runs, crossing the plate in every game but the opener. (The Monarchs won the Series four games -to-three.) Irvine hit .462-3-8 for the Series.  His big game came in Game Six, when he collected three hits (two home runs), scored four runs and drove in three in a 9-7 Newark win.

In 1946, Irvin hit a league-leading .369, with six home runs and 54 RBI in 57 games. In 18 MLB seasons, Irvine hit .305-137-687.

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Paul Molitor, Blue Jays… In the 1993 World Series (as the Blue Jays topped the Phillies in six games), Blue Jays’ DH Paul Molitor went 11-for-24 (.458), with two home runs and seven RBI. He scored a Series record-tying ten runs. He did the bulk of his  damage in Games Three and Six. In Game three, he went three-for-four, with a single,  triple and  home run, three RBI and three runs scored.  In Game Six, Molitor again had a single, triple and home run, with two RBI and three runs scored.

For the regular  season, Molitor  hit .322-22-111, with 121 runs scored – leading the league with 211 hits.

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Reggie Jackson, Yankees … Yankees’ RF Reggie Jackson scored ten runs in the 1977 World Series, as his Yankees bested the Dodgers in six games. Notably, he drove himself in on half of those run-scoring occasions (he had a record five home runs in the Series). On the season, Jackson was .286-32-100. In the World Series, he went .450-5-8.

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WAY TO GO SLUGGER

Yankees’ 1B Lou Gehrig set the World Series slugging record in 1928 (as the Yankees topped the Cards in four games). He had six hits in 11 at bats, with five going for extra bases (one double and  four home runs) for a 1.727 slugging percentage. Gehrig scored five times and drove in nine runs over the four games.  In the regular season, the Yankee slugger went .374-47-147, leading the league in home runs and RBI.

Most Doubles in a World Series – Seven

Newt Allen

Newt Allen, Monarchs … As the Kansas City Monarchs prevailed in the 1924 Negro Leagues World Series five games-to-four (with one tie),  Monarchs’ 2B Newt Allen hit .282 (11-for-39, with eight runs scored and two RBI). Seven of his eight safeties, however, were two-baggers. That might have been a bit of a surprise. During the regular season, Allen hit .258-2-32 – and had only eight doubles in 73 games (298 at bats). Allen hit .289 in 19 Negro League seasons (1923-32, 19370, 44, 1947), hitting over .300 seven times.

Most Doubles in a World Series Best-of-Seven Format – Six

Pete Fox

Pete Fox, Tigers … The record for doubles in a World Series under the best-of-seven format is six, by Tigers’ RF Pete Fox. The two-baggers came in  the 1934 Series, which the Tigers lost to the Cardinals four games-to-three. Fox  went 8-for 28 in the Series (.286), collecting six doubles and two singles.  During the regular season Fox went .285-2-44. He played in 13 MLB seasons, hitting .298-65-693 in 1,461 games. Fox hit over .300 in five seasons, with a high of .331 in 1937, In 13 seasons, he hit .285 or better in 11.

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THIS ONE’S ON US

 In the 2002 World Series (Angels/Giants), the Giants’ Barry Bonds drew a single-World Series’ record 13 walks (in 30 plate appearances).

Most Triples in a World Series – Four

Tommy Leach

Tommy Leach, Pirates … 3B Tommy Leach of the Pirates  hit a record four triples in the 1903 World Series, as his Pirates’  squad lost to  the Boston Americans five games-to-three in a best-of-nine matchup. Leach hit .273 (9-for-33) in the Series, with three runs scored and Series-leading eight RBI.   In the regular season, Leach hit .298-7-87, with 17 triples. Over 19 MLB seasons, he hit .269-63-812, with 172 three-baggers.

 

Most Triples in a World Series Best-of-Seven Format – Three

Billy Johnson, Mark Lemke

Billy Johnson, Yankees … Yankees’ 3B Billy Johnson legged out three triples as the Yankees topped the Dodgers four games-to-three in 1947.   Johnson hit .269 (7-for-26) in the Series. In the regular season, he was .285-10-95, with eight triples.  In nine MLB seasons 1943, 1946-53, Johnson hit .271-61-487.

Mark Lemke, Braves… After hitting just two triples in 136 1991 regular-season games, Braves’ 2B Mark Lemke hit three in seven games, as the Braves lost the 1991 World Series to the Twins four games-to-three. Lemke, who hit .234-2-23 on the season, hit .417-0-4 in the Series. In 11 MLB seasons, Lemke hit .246-32-270.

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Most Stolen Bases in a World Series  – Seven

Lou Brock

Lou Brock, Cardinals … Lou Brock of the Cardinals is the only player to steal seven bases in a single World Series – and he did it twice. In the 1967 World Series, Brock stole seven bases in seven attempts.  He tied his own record with seven steals (in nine attempts) in the 1968 World Series.

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Most Strikeouts in a World Series – 17

Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger, Dodgers … The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, struck out a World Series’ record 17 times (28 at bats) in the 2017 World Series (versus the Astros). This included two games in which he fanned four times. For the Series, Bellinger hit .143 (4-for-28), with one home run and five RBI. In six seasons, the Dodgers’ 1B/OF has hit .248-152-422.  In 2019, a .305-47-115 earned him NL MVP honors.

Ouch!

In 1968, Cardinals’ SS/2B Dal Maxvill went 0-for-22 in the World Series (versus the Cardinals).  It’s the most at bats without a hit in a World Series. He did walk three times and score one run. In his defense, it was “The Year of the Pitcher.”

—–WORLD SERIES PITCHING RECORDS—–

Most Wins in a World Series – Three

Deacon Phillippe, Bill Dinneen, Nip Winters, Christy Mathewson, Babe Adams, Jack Coombs, Smoky Joe Wood, Red Faber, Stan Coveleski, Harry Brecheen, Lew Burdette, Bob Gibson, Mickey Lolich, Randy Johnson

Christy Mathewson … While 14 pitchers have recorded three wins in a single World Series, only the Giants’ Christy Mathewson threw three complete-game shutouts in single World Series (1905 against the Philadelphia Athletics). In his three starts, Mathewson threw 27 innings, giving up just 13 hits and one walk, while fanning eight.

 

 

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Most Games Started (5), Most Complete Games (5) and Most Innings Pitched (44) in a World Series

Deacon Phillippe

Deacon Phillippe. Pirates … The 1903 World Series (Boston Americans versus Pirates) was a best-of-nine affair and (as far as the record books go)  the Pirates’ Deacon Phillippe made the best of it – setting the World Series records for Games Started (five– Games One, Three, Four, Seven and Eight); Complete Games (five); and Innings Pitched (44). And, he did it all in the span of 13 days (October 1-13). Phillippe went 3-2, 3.07 in the Series, Notably, he walked just three batters in his 44 innings, while fanning 22.

Phillippe pitched in 13 MLB seasons (1899-1911), going 189-109, 2.59 and completing 242 of 289 regular-season starts. In 1903, he was 25-9, 2.43 for the Pirates and completed 31 of 33 starts.

 

 

 

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Most Starts World Series Best-of-Seven Format – Four

Johnny Wright

Johnny Wright, Homestead Grays … Johnny Wright started  four games and relieved in one, as the Homestead Grays topped the Birmingham Black Barons four games-to-three (with one tie) in the 1943 Negro League World Series. Retrosheet.org indicates Wright started Games One,  Two, Four, Six, and Eight and relieved in Game Two,   He went 2-1, 1.16 over 31 innings.

Wright pitched 10 MLB seasons (1937-45, 1947) and went 42-20, 3.09  His 1943 year was far and away his best – leading the Negro National  League in wins (18), ERA (2.54), starts (22), complete games (15), innings pitched (181) and strikeouts (94). It was the only season in which he won more than four games.

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Most Complete Games in a World Series Best-of-Seven Format – Three

George Mullin, Babe Adams, Jack Coombs, Christy Mathewson (twice) Charles Bender, Hippo Vaughn, Stan Coveleski, Waite Hoyt, Carl Mays, Art Nehf, Walter Johnson,  Bobo Newsom, Lew Burdette, Bob Gibson, Mickey Lolich

We won’t seeing this again.

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Most Strikeouts in a World Series  – 35

Bob Gibson

 

Bob Gibson, Cardinals … In the 1968 World Series, as his Cardinals lost to the Tigers four games-to-three, Bob Gibson went 2-1, 1.67 tossing three complete games and fanning a Series record 35 in 27 innings.  In Game One of the Series, he showed why 1968 was The Year of the Pitcher – fanning a World Series single-game record 17 batters – shutting  out the Tigers 4-0. During the regular season, Gibson had gone 22-9, 1.12 and tossed 13 complete-game shutouts.

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Games Pitched In a World Series – Seven

Darold Knowles, Brandon Morrow

Darold Knowles, A’s … In 1973, the A’s Darold Knowles became the first pitcher to appear in all seven games of a World Series. While he threw high-leverage innings, he wasn’t overworked. Knowles threw 6 1/3 innings, walking five, fanning five and giving up one (unearned) run. He earned two saves – as did Rollie Fingers, who pitched in six of the seven contests (13 2/3 innings.  For the Series, A’s relievers pitched 31 of the 66 innings.

Knowles pitched in 16 MLB seasons (1965-80), going 66-74, 3.12 with 143 saves.

Brandon Morrow, Dodgers … Brandon Morrow appear in all seven games of the 2017 World Series (which the Dodgers lost to the Astros four games-to-three). It was a bit of an up-and-down ride, as Morrow gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings. On the season, Morrow had gone 6-0, 2.06, with two saves.

In a 12-season MLB career, Morrow went 51-43, 3.96 with 40 saves. In 2018, he recorded 22 saves and a 1.47 ERA for the Cubs.

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YOU’VE GOT TO EARN YOUR WAY ON

Carl Mays (1921 Yankees) pitched the most innings in a single World Series without issuing a walk – 26. That series, he went 1-2, 1.73 in thee complete-game starts, as the Yankees lost to the Giants five games-to-three. Just six pitchers have walked zero batters while pitching at least ten innings in a World Series.

Earned Run Average In  A World  Series  – 0.00 (at least 15 innings pitches).

Christy Mathewson, Waite Hoyt, Carl Hubbell, Whitey Ford, Joe McGinnity, Dusty Mails

A few tidbits on each:

Christy Mathewson, Giants … Mathewson, as noted earlier, threw three complete-game shutouts in the 1905 Series. He’s the only pitcher to accomplish that feat – and it seems like a pretty safe record.

Waite Hoyt, Yankees … Like Mathewson, Hoyt pitched 27 innings in the Series (1921) without giving up an earned run. He did  give up two unearned runs. One of those came in Game Eight (It was a best of nine format) – and Hoyt took a 1-0 loss.

Carl Hubbell, Giants … In the 1933 Series, Hubbell pitched 20 innings in two starts (over four days) and gave up three unearned runs. He got the victory in both games – 4-2 in Game One and 2-1 (11 innings) in Game Six.

Whitey Ford, Yankees … Whitey Ford pitched a pair of complete-game shutouts (18 innings) in the 1960 World Series. It was pretty smooth sailing. The Yankees won the games by scores of 10-0 and 12-0

Joe McGinnity, Giants … Joe McGinnity gave up three unearned runs in two 1905 Series starts (17 innings pitched). He started Game Two of the Series and gave up three unearned run, taking a 3-0 loss to the Athletics. In Game Four, He twirled a complete-game shutouts, topping the A’s 1-0.

Duster Mails, Indians … Duster Mails is the unicorn on this list – the only one not in the Hall of Fame.  Mails started one game and relieved in two games in the 1920 Series. His one start was a complete game shutout over the Brooklyn Robins (a 1-0 win). Mails added 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Mails pitched in seven MLB seasons (1915-16, 1920-22, 1925-26), going 35-25, with a 4.10 ERA. In 1920, the Indians traded for him (a minor-league deal in late August)– and he was key to their AL pennant. (The Indians finished two games ahead of the White Sox.)

Not a Bad Move

From September 1 through October 1, 1920, Duster Mails made nine appearances for the Indians (eight starts). He went 7-0, 2.13, with six complete games (two shutouts) Mails pitched professionally from 1914-1935.  In 17 minor-league seasons, he went 207-193.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Retrosheet.org; The World Series, The Dial Press, 1976.

For a look at World Series single-game records, click here. 

For past posts ranking the World Series Top Ten Shutouts (click here) and Ranking the Top World Series Walk-Off Home Runs click here.

Baseball Roundtable … blogging baseball since 2012. 

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Once again, when Baseball Roundtable looks into hardball stories and statistics, one thing leads to another.  For this post, the approaching 2022 World Series and Albert Pujols retirement combined to drive me toward a look at single-game and single World Series targets for this year’s combatants to shoot for. (Did I take that analogy too far?) Along the way, we’ll also look at a few single-game World Series records that player would prefer to escape and evade.

In an homage to Pujols, this post will focus on World Series single-game records.  Following shortly will be a post on World Series single-series records and, then, one on a handful of World Series I recall with particular fondness.

Albert Pujols – Possibly the Best World Series Game at the Plate … Ever

Photo by Dirk DBQ

On October 22, 2011 – in Game Three of the Cardinals/Rangers World Series matchup – Redbirds’ 1B Albert Pujols went five-for-six with four runs scored and six RBI.  In the process, he established a new (and still-standing record for total bases in a World Series game (14) and also earned, and still holds, a share of the World Series’ single-game records for hits (5), runs scored (4), RBI (6) and home runs (3). Ironically, in the other six games, he went one-for-nineteen, with six walks, four runs scored and no RBI.

Now, let’s look at the Fall Classic record book.  Note: Some of these records could change over time.  The Negro League single-game records have not yet been incorporated.  The full-series records have.

SOME SINGLE-GAME WORLD SERIES MARKS TO SHOOT FOR (or avoid)

Home Runs in a World Series Game – Three

Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Pablo Sandoval

Babe Ruth … While three players have hit three home runs in a World Series game, the Yankees’ Babe Ruth is the only player to accomplish the feat twice – October 6, 1926 and October 9, 1928. In Game Four of the 1926 Series, as the Yankees topped the Cardinals 10-5, Ruth went three-for-four, with three home runs, two walks, four runs scored, four RBI and, of course, three dingers. The long-ball victims were Redbirds’ starter Flint Rhem (twice) and reliever Herman Bell. In Game Four of the 1928 World Series (a Yankees’ sweep over the Cardinals), Ruth went three-for-five with three solo home runs – two off Bill Sherdel and one off Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander.

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Reggie Jackson … The Yankees’ Reggie Jackson’s feat was unique in that he hit his three long balls (October 18, 1977) off three consecutive pitches offered up by three different pitchers. After drawing a walk to lead off the bottom of the second inning of Game Six (versus Dodgers’ starter Burt Hooton), Jackson hit the first pitch he saw from Hooton in the fourth inning for a two-run home run. He came up again in the fifth, facing Elias Sosa, and hit the first pitch in that at bat for another two-run homer. In his next at bat, leading off the eighth frame, Jackson hit the first pitch from Charlie Hough for a solo home run. A three-for-three day with four runs scored and five RBI.

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Albert Pujols … Albert Pujols hit his three home runs in Game Three of the 2011 World Series (versus the Rangers) in Texas – as part of a five-for-six day. He hit a three-run homer on a 1-1 pitch from Alexi Ogando in the top of the sixth; a two-run shot on the first pitch he saw from Mike Gonzalez in the seventh; and a solo shot homer a 2-2 pitch from Darren Oliver in the ninth. Those six RBI – which tie for the World Series single-game record – were the only runs driven in by Pujols in the seven-game Series – won by the Redbirds four games-to-three.

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Pablo Sandoval … In Game One of the 2012 World Series (October 24), the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval  went four-for-four, with three home runs, three runs scored and four RBI. He homered in the first and third innings off the Tigers’ Justin Verlander and in the fifth off Al Alburquerque before adding a single off Jose Valverde in the seventh – as the Giants triumphed 8-3.

Pablo Sandoval hit just 12 home runs in 108 games during the 2012 season and only 153 in 14 MLB seasons. In the 2012 post-season, however, he hit six home runs in 18 games.

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Base Hits in a World Series Game – Five

Paul Molitor, Albert Pujols

Paul Molitor … Brewers’ third baseman and leadoff hitter Paul Molitor – who hit .302 with 201 hits in the 1982 regular season – grounded out to second base leading off the 1982 World Series (Inning One, Game One, in St. Louis on October 12). It would be the only time he was retired in the game, as the Brewers triumphed 10-0. Molitor followed with a single in the second inning; an RBI-single in the fourth; a single in the sixth; a single in the eighth; and an RBI single in the ninth.

Taking It One Base at a Time

When the Brewers’ Paul Molitor hit .355 (11-for-31) in the 1982 World Series, every one his safeties was a single. The Brew Crew  lost the Series to the Cardinals four games-to-three.

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Albert Pujols … Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols had his five-hit World-Series contest in Game Three (October 22) of the 2011 Series (in Texas). Like Molitor (above), Pujols grounded out in his first at bat – and then went on to record five straight hits. Unlike Molitor, his safeties were not all singles. He led off the fourth inning with a single (off Matt Harrison); led off the fifth with a single off Scott Feldman; popped a three-run home run off Alexi Ogando in the sixth; homered off Mike Gonzalez in the seventh; and homered off Darren Oliver (solo) in the ninth.  The Cardinals won the contest 16-7 and won the Series four game-to-three.

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Runs Batted in a World Series Game – Six

Bobby Richardson, Hideki Matsui, Albert Pujols, Addison Russell

Bobby Richardson … In Game Three of the 1960 World Series (October 8), the Yankee trounced the Pirates 10-0. Despite a lineup that included the big bats of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Bill Skowron and Elston Howard, little  5’9” second baseman Bobby Richardson  (a .252 hitter with just one home run and 26 RBI in 150 1960 regular-season games) did the most damage to the Pirates’ pitching staff.  His day included a Grand Slam home run in the first frame and a tw0-run single in the fourth (part of a two-for-five day). Richardson’s six RBI set a new MLB single-game World Series RBI record (since tied). How unlikely was the Richardson Grand Slam? In 12 MLB seasons (1,412 regular-season games), he had  just 34 home runs and one regular-season Grand Slam. Despite the Yankees losing the Series four games-to-three, Richardson, who drove in a World Series’ record 12 RBI in the seven games, was named the Series MVP – the only player from the l0sing team ever granted that honor.

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Hideki Matsui … In the final game of the 2009 World Series (Game Six on November 4), Yankee DH Hideki Matsui filled the DH role well – driving in six runs in the Yankees’ 7-3 win over the Phillies. His three-for-four day included a two-run home run (off Pedro Martinez) in the second inning; a two-run single off Martinez in the third; and a two-run double off J.A. Happ in the fifth. Matsui had quite a series, leading the Bronx Bombers in average (.615); home runs (3); and RBI (8) – and winning World Series MVP Honors. Matsui was coming off a .274-28-90 regular season.

Put Me In, Coach

In Hideki Matsui’s first  three seasons with the Yankees (2003-05), he played in every Yankee Game – going .297-70-330. Matsui joined the Yankees (and MLB) after playing ten seasons in Japan, where he hit .304-332-889.

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Albert Pujols … Yep, Albert Pujols is here again – thanks to his three-home run, six-RBI game in the 2011 World Series (Game Three, October 22). As noted earlier, in that 16-7 win, Pujols set the World Series single-game record for total bases and tied the World Series single-game records for hits (5), home runs (3), RBI (6) and runs scored (4).

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Addison Russell … The Cubs faced elimination for the second game in a row as they came into Game Six of the 2016 World  Series. (The opposing  Indians had won three of the first four games.) Cubs’ SS Addison Russell lashed a two-run double in the top of the first to put the Cubbies ahead 3-0 and, two innings later, smacked a Grand Slam to push the edge to 7-0. The Cubs eventually won 9-3 and ended  up taking the Series four games-to-three, with a ten-inning, 8-7 win in Game Seven. Russell hit just .222 for the Series, but drove in a Series-leading nine runs. Over a five-season MLB career, Russell hit .242-60-253 in 615 games. 2016 was his only All Star year and he reached career highs in runs (67), home runs (21) and RBI (95).

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Runs Scored in a World Series Game – Four

Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Frankie Crosetti, Enos Slaughter, Reggie Jackson, Kirby Puckett, Carney Lansford, Lenny Dykstra, Jeff Kent, Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman

This is a mark, I ‘d like to seek broken, if only to end an 11-player tie.

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Stolen Bases in a World Series Game – Three

Honus Wagner, Willie Davis, Lou Brock, B.J. Upton, Rajai Davis

Lou Brock … Lets’ just note here, that Lou Brock remains the only player to steal three bases in a World Series game twice in his career. The fleet Cardinals’ outfielder accomplished the feat against the Red Sox in Game Seven of the 1967 World Series (October 12) and in Game Three of the 1968 World Series (October 5) against the Tigers.

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Intentional Walks in  World Series Game – Three

Rudy York, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz

Rudy York, Red Sox … October 11, 1946 –  Game Five of the Red Sox/Cardinals World Series.

Barry Bonds, Giants …   On October 23, 2002 – Game Four of the Angels/Giants World Series.

Albert Pujols, Cardinals … On October 24, 2011 – in Game Five of the Cardinals/Rangers World Series.

David Ortiz, Red Sox … On October 30, in Game Six of the Cardinals/Red Sox World Series.

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Grounded into Double Plays in a World Series Game – Three

Willie Mays

Willie Mays … On October 8, 1951 – in Game Four of the Yankees/Giants World Series – Giants’ rookie CF Willie Mays came to bat four times and not only was held hitless, but grounded into a Series single-game record three double plays.

Baseball Roundtable Extra – Whiff and Poof

While 17 players have fanned four times in a World Series Game – including position players Josh Devore, Mickey Mantle, Joe Collins, Wayne Garrett, Devon White, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell Mike Napoli, George Springer and Cody Bellinger:

• Only pitcher George Pipgras has fanned five times in a World Series Game. The Yankee righthander did it in Game Three of the 1932 Cubs/Yankees World Series – whiffing in all five of his plate appearances. Pipgras, a career .163 hitter, did get the win in a 7-5 Yankee triumph.
• Only Cody Bellinger has fanned four times in a World Series Game twice – and he did it in a span of five days. The Dodgers’ rookie 1B did it in Game Three of the 2017 Dodger/Astros World Series (October 27) – fanning four times in four at bats on fourteen pitches. He repeated the “feat” in Game Six (October 31) fanning four times in four plate appearances – this time on 24 pitches. Seager was coming off an All Star season in which he hit .2667-39-97. (In the 2017 World Series Bellinger struck out a World Series record 17 times (in 29 plate appearances.)

Doubles in a World Series Game – Four

Frank Isbell

Frank Isbell … In Game Five of the 1906 World Series (Cubs/White Sox), White Sox’ 2B Frank Isbell went four-for-five, rapping four doubles, as the White Sox topped the Cubs 8-6. Isbell scored three times and drove in two.  Isbell was not exactly a doubles machine.  In the 1906 regular season he hit just 18 doubles in 617 plate appearances.

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Triples in a World Series Game – Two

Tommy Leach, Patsy Dougherty, Dutch Reuther, Bobby Richardson, Tommy Davis, Mark Lemke

Tommy Leach, Pirates … Game One 1903 World Series (Pirates/Boston Americans). Notably, both three-baggers were hit off Cy Young.  Part of a four-for-five day.

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Patsy Dougherty, Boston Americans … Game Five 1903 World Series, part of a three-for-six, three-RBI day.

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Dutch Reuther, Reds … Game One, 1919 World Series (Reds/White Sox). Reuther gets special mention as the only pitcher on the list. He collected two triples, a single and a walk in four plate appearances – and also pitched a one-run, six-hit complete game as his Reds triumphed 9-1. Reuther was a solid-hitting pitcher, putting up a .258 average, with seven home runs and 111 RBI over 11 MLB seasons.

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Bobby Richardson, Yankees … Game Six 1960 World Series (Pirates/Yankees). The Yankee second-sacker went two-for-three with one run and three RBI in the game.

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Tommy Davis, Dodgers – Game Two, 1963 World Series (Dodgers/Yankees). The Dodgers’  CF went two-for-four, with one run and two RBI.

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Mark Lemke, Braves … Game Six, 1991 World Series (Braves/Twins). A two-for-three day with two runs and three RBI for the Braves’ 2B.

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Now Let switch to the moundsmen

Perfect Games in the World Series – One

Don Larsen

Don Larsen, Yankees …. Game 6 1960 World Series (October 8). Don Larsen, coming off a 11-5, 2.36 season, pitched the World Series’ only Perfect Game – retiring all 27 Dodger batters on a total of 97 pitchers as the Yankees won 2-0. Larsen, who fanned seven, reached ball three on only one Dodger hitter (Dodgers’ shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the first inning). Dodgers’ pitcher Sal Maglie had the longest at bat versus Larsen – a seven-pitch at bat before fanning on a 2-2 pitch to end the sixth inning.

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No-Hitter (not a Perfect Game) in a World Series – One

Red Grier

Red Grier … Red Grier of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (Eastern Colored League) tossed a no-hitter versus the Chicago American Giants (Negro National League) in a 10-0 win in Game Three of the 1926 Negro Leagues World Series. Retrosheet.org shows that Grier walked six and fanned eight in the outing – and also collected three hits (a double and two singles) and a walk.

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Complete Game Shutouts – 49

While there have been 49 complete-game shutouts in the World Series, Baseball Roundtable will give special mention to the three pitchers who threw extra-inning, complete-game shutouts.

Christy Mathewson, Giants … In Game Two of the 1913 World Series (Giants/Athletics), Christy Mathewson pitched a ten-inning, eight-hit, one-walk, five-strikeout shutout as his Giants won 3-0.  Mathewson himself drove in the game’s first run with a single off Athletics’ starter Eddie Plank. (The Giants scored three times in the top of the tenth.)

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Clem Labine, Dodgers … In Game Five of the 1956 World Series (Dodgers/Yankees), Clem Labine went ten innings and shutout the Yankees on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Bob Turley went the distance for the Yankees, giving up just one run on four hits, with eight walks and 11 whiffs.  Jackie Robinson drove in the only run of the game plating Jim Gilliam with a single with two outs in the bottom of the tenth.

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Jack Morris, Twins …  Jack Morris tossed a ten-inning, complete-game shutout as the Twins won Game Seven of the 1991 Series 1-0. Ironman Morris tossed 126 pitches in shutting out the Braves on seven hits, with two walks and eight whiffs.

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Most Innings pitched in a World Series Game -14

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth … Babe Ruth pitched 14 innings for the Red Sox in a World Series complete-game, six-hit, 2-1 win ( over the Brooklyn Robins) on October 9, 1916. Ruth gave up just six hits (three walks/four strikeouts) over the 14 frames. He also picked up an RBI on a third-inning ground out.

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Most Strikeouts in a World Series Game – 17

Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson … In the Opening Game of the 1968 World Series (October 8), the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson (facing the Tigers) struck out a World Series’ single-game record 17 hitters – getting each of the nine players in the Tigers’ starting lineup at least once. Gibson threw a five-hit shutout, as St. Louis won 4-0.

 

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Batters Hit-by-Pitch in a World Series  – Four

Lance McCullers Jr.

Lance McCullers, Jr.  … in Game Seven of the 2017 World Series (November 1), Lance McCullers of the Astros plunked four Dodgers in 2 1/3 innings. Surprisingly, despite giving up three hits and hitting four batters in 2 1/3 innings, McCullers did not surrender a run.

It went like this:

• Bottom of the first – Astros up 2-0. Dodgers’ CF Chris Taylor opens with a double; McCullers fans SS Corey Seager on a 3-2 pitch; 3B Justin Turner is hit by a 1-2 pitch; 1B Cody Bellinger fans on a 1-2 pitch; RF Yasiel Puig is hit by a 3-1 pitch loading the bases. LF Joc Pederson grounds out on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.
• Second Inning – 2B Logan Forsythe leads off with a single to left (on a 1-0 pitch); C Austin Barnes grounds out, Forsythe moving to second; PH Enrique Hernandez is it by a 3-1 pitch; Taylor lines into a double play.
• Third Inning – Seager singles to center on a 1-2 pitch; Turner is hit by an 0-0 pitch; Bellinger strikes out on a 2-2 pitch. Brad Peacock relieves McCullers and retries Puig and Pederson with no damage., The Astros go on to win the Game 5-1 and the Series four games-to-three.

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Strikeouts by A Reliever in a  World Series Game  – 11

Moe Drabowsky

Moe Drabowsky … In the Opening Game of the 1966 World Series (October 5) between the Orioles and Dodgers. Moe Drabowsky came on in the bottom of the third inning with the Orioles up 4-1.  The Dodgers, however, had the bases loaded with one out (starter Dave McNally had walked RF Lou Johnson, LF Tommy Davis and 2B Jim Lefebvre in succession. Drabowsky got 1B Wes Parker on a strikeout; walked 2B Jim Gilliam to force in a run; and retired got C Johnny Roseboro on a foul pop up.

Drabowsky went on to fan the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Ultimately, he finished the game, pitching 6 2/3 frames – giving  up one hit and two walks and fanning 11, as the Orioles won 5-2. Those two runs would be the Dodgers only tallies in the four-game Series.  They lost the final three games by scores of 6-0, 1-0 and 1-0.

The Baltimore Orioles used only four pitchers Dave McNally, Wally Bunker, Jim Palmer and Moe Drabowsky in winning the 1966 World Series four games-to-one over the Dodgers.  

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Most Hits Allowed in a World Series Game – 15

Walter Johnson

Walter Johnson – In Game Seven of the 1925 World Series (October 15) between the Pirates and Senators, the Senators’ Walter Johnson pitched a complete-game (eight innings) – giving up 15 hits, nine runs (five earned), with one walk and three strikeouts – as his Senators lost 9-7.

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Most Home Runs Allowed in a World Series Game – 4

Charlie Root, Gene Thompson, Dick Hughes

Charlie Root, Cubs  … In Game Three of the 1932 Yankees/Cubs World Series, Cubs’ starter Charlie Root lasted just 4 1/3 innings (five hits, six runs).  Among the five hits were two home runs apiece by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The Yankees won the game 7-5, with Ruth and Gehrig driving in six runs.

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Gene Thompson, Reds  …  In Game Three of the 1937 Yankees/Reds World Series (October 7), Reds ‘starter Gene Thompson lasted 4 2/3 innings (five hits, four walks, seven runs). The five hits  included home runs by RF Charlie Keller (2); CF Joe DiMaggio; and C Bill Dickey. The Yankees won the contest 7-3.

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Dick Hughes, Cardinals … In Game Six of the 1967 Cardinals/Red Sox World Series ( October 11), Cardinals’ starter Dick Hughes lasted just 3 2/3 innings (five hits, four runs) giving up home runs to SS Rico Petrocelli (2); LF Carl Yastrzemski and CF Reggie Smith. The Red Sox prevailed 8-4.

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Most Walks Allowed in a Word Series Game – Ten

Bill Bevens

Bill Bevens … On October 3, 1947, the Yankees’ Bill Bevens gave up just one hit (8 2/3 innings) in a 3-2 World Series loss to the Dodgers. Bevens, unfortunately, walked a World Series single-game record ten batters (one intentional), and free passes contributed to all the scoring.

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Most Runs Given Up in a World Series  – Ten

Brickyard Kennedy

Bill “Brickyard” Kennedy … Bill Kennedy gave up a World Series single-game record ten runs on October 7, 1903, as his Pirates lost to the Boston Americans (AL) 11-2. Kennedy was matched up in a scoreless duel with Cy Young through five innings, before giving up six runs – all unearned – on three hits and three errors in the sixth and another four runs (all earned) in the seventh.

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Earned Runs Given Up – Eight

Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander, Jay Witasick

Grover Cleveland Alexander … On October 5, 1928, Grover Cleveland  (Pete) Alexander (16-9, 3.36 in the regular season) lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees – giving up eight runs on six hits (one home run) and four walks, in a game the Yankees won 9-3. The 41-year-old Alexander, with 364 regular-season wins under his belt, pitched just five innings in the Series (a Yankee sweep), giving up 11 runs.

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Jay Witasick … On November 3, 2001 – in Game Six of the World Series –  Yankees’ reliever Jay Witasick came on in the third inning against the Diamondbacks, who already had roughed up starter Andy Pettitte for six runs (on seven hits and two walks) in just two innings. Witasick gave up a record-tying eight earned runs (plus one unearned) in 1 1/3 innings. While he gave up ten hits, Witasick walked none and recorded all four of his outs on strikeouts. Eight of the first nine batters Witasick faced collected base hits (six single and two doubles).

For past posts ranking the World Series Top Ten Shutouts (click here) and Ranking the Top World Series Walk Off Home Runs (click here)

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; The World Series (Dial Press/Sports Products, Inc.)

 

Baseball Roundtable … blogging baseball since 2012. 

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

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

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

On Saturday (October 8), the Cleveland Guardians, with the youngest team in the major leagues this season, upset the favored Rays to move on the next round of the 2022 MLB post season. They did it with a 1-0, 15-inning win – in  game in which the two squads combined for just 11 hits (a combined .117 average), all but one of them singles.

Through 14 innings, it was the longest scoreless game in MLB post-season history and the contest prompted me to examine the path taken to the 1-0 final.  As is usual with Baseball Roundtable “one thing led to another” and I ended up looking at topics ranging from rookies with walk-off post-season dingers, to how Saturday’s game might have looked under regular-season rules to trivia tidbits related to intentional walks. So, while this post may, at times, seem like looking at a series of unrelated slides, there is an (admittedly thin) tying thread.

And, The Oscar Goes To …

Fittingly, the winning blow for the youthful Guardians  – the only extra-base hit of the game – was a 15^th-inning, leadoff, walk-off home run by 24-year-old rookie RF Oscar Gonzalez.  It made Gonzalez just the fourth rookie to record a walk-of home run in the post-season.

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Post Season Walk-Off Home Runs by MLB Rookies

Alfonso Soriano, 2B, Yankees – 2001 AL Championship Series, Game Four

The 25-year-old Alfonso Soriano, batting ninth, came up in the bottom of the ninth (against the Mariners’ Kazuhiro Sasaki) with one on, one out and the game knotted one-to-one.  He then won the game by taking took a 1-0 pitch from Sasaki deep to right-center for a 3-1 Yankee win.

Soriano had gone .268-18-73, with 43 steals in his first full season in pinstripes. Still qualifying as a rookie, he had taken then field for the Yankees in 31 games over the previous two season.  Soriano went on to go .270-412-1,159 over 16 MLB seasons – and was a seven-time All Star.

Chris Burke, LF, Astros – 2005 NL Division Series, Game Four

Chris Burke’s walk-off put an end to an 18-inning contest between the Braves and Astros – a game that the 25-year old utility player didn’t even enter until the bottom of the tenth – when he pinch-ran for Lance Berkman and then stayed in the game in CF. (He moved to LF in the 13th frame). Burke came up in the bottom of the 18th inning with the scored tied at 6 -6.  With no one on and one out, he launched a game-winning, walk-off home run off Joey Devine.

During the 2005 season, Burke went .248-5-26 in 108 games. (He had appeared in 17 games for the Astros in 2004.)  Burke played in six MLB seasons (477 games), hitting .239-23-111. During his career he started 25 or more game at SS and 2B, and in each of the OF positions.

Kolten Wong, 2B Cardinals – 2014 NL Championship Series, Game Two

The 23-year-old Kolten Wong started Game Two of the 2014 NLCS at 2B, batting seventh. He led off the bottom of the ninth of a 4-4 game (versus the Giants), facing Sergio Romo.  Kolten’s solo shot (on an 0-1 pitch) ended the contest in favor of St. Louis. Wong, still active in 2022, has played in 10 MLB seasons, going .261-82-378. He has hit just .188 in 35 post-season games, but does have five post-season home runs.

Oscar Gonzalez. RF, Guardians – 2022 AL Wild Card Series, Game Two

The 24-year-old Oscar Gonzalez’ home run -as noted earlier – came in the bottom of the 15^th inning of a scoreless tie between Hernandez’ Guardians and the Rays. It came on a 1-0 pitch from Corey Kluber.

In his rookie campaign, Gonzalez hit .296-11-43 in 91 games.

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After Saturday’s Guardians/Rays game, I saw a notable number of comments on Twitter and Facebook somewhat critical of the length of the game (particularly when it remained scoreless), with some indicating baseball may very well have wished they hadn’t suspended the ghost or placed runner rule for the post -season. I disagree with that train of  thought.  I am no fan of ghost runners. In fact, although  I keep a scorecard at all the games I attend, I quit scoring after the ninth frame, due to my belief that a runner who didn’t earn his spot on the bases has not earned a spot on my scorecard.

This consideration then led me to contemplate how different the Guardians/Rays game might have been with the ghost-runner rule in place. That took me back to a Dodgers/Pirates game that took place on August 25, 2021. Looking at that game, it seems to me that  if Saturdays’ game had been played under current regular-season rules, we may very well have been “treated” to more than a handful of intentional walks.

Let’s look back to August 25, 2021. The Dodgers won that contest 5-3 in 16-innings and, in the process, set a new MLB record for Intentional Walks in a game.  All those intentional free passes, notably, came after the ninth inning (which ended with the game tied 1-1) – likely an unintended (or at least unanticipated) consequence of the ghost-runner rule.  Side note: the Padres’ Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth were intentionally walked back-to-back in the tenth and  thirteenth innings. Here’s the game’s Intentional Walking Path:

• Bottom of the tenth – With Alex Vesia pitching and the Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim placed at second base, 1B Eric Hosmer grounded out, moving Kim to third base; then Tommy Pham was intentionally walked (likely to put the double play in play). The Dodgers escaped on a pop up and strikeout (2B Adam Frazier, C Victor Caratini).
• Bottom of the eleventh – Caratini was placed at second base. Phil Bickford then retired the first two Padres’  batters on a muffed sacrifice (CF Trent Grisham) and a strikeout (RF Fernando Tatis, Jr. ). With only the placed runner having any importance, 3B Manny Machado and SS Jake Cronenworth (the number-three and -four hitters in the lineup) were intentionally walked, bringing pitcher Joe Musgrove to the plate. The Dodgers escaped as Bickford fanned Musgrove.
• Bottom of the twelfth – Cronenworth was placed at second base. Hosmer flied out against Justin Bruihl. Pham was intentionally walked setting up a force or double play possibility. The Dodgers escaped with a fly ball (Fraser) and ground out (Caratini).
• Bottom of the thirteenth,  Caratini was placed at second base. Brusdar Graterol retired Grisham (ground out, with Caratini to third base) and Tatis, Jr. (strikeout). Machado and Cronenworth were again intentionally walked back-to-back. The Dodgers escaped as Graterol got pinch-hitter Ryan Weathers on a ground out.
• After the Dodgers scored two in the top of the fifteenth (including ghost runner Chris Taylor), Padres’ ghost runner Caratini scored on a one-out Tatis. Jr. home run (off Corey Knebel) to tie the game. Machado then popped out and Cronenworth was intentionally walked, before Knebel fanned P  Daniel Camarena.
• Top  of the sixteenth, the Dodgers scored two (including ghost runner 2B Justin Turner) on a home run by LF AJ Pollock.
• Bottom of the sixteenth, Cronenworth was placed at second base. The Dodgers’ Shane Greene got the Padres in order (strikeout, Hosmer; strikeout,  Pham; ground out, Frazier). Dodgers win 5-3.

The Dodgers/Padres game, by the way, took 5 hours and 19 minutes, saw 19 pitchers strand 35 base runners, saw 47 players participate and involved ten pinch-hitting appearances.

You Be The Judge

Now for some more of that “one thing leads to another.”  Contemplating  intentional passes. I checked to see how many intentional walks Aaron Judge was issued on his way to a new-single season  American League record 62 home runs this past  campaign.  The number was 19.  Why is that of interest?  Because, in 1961, when Roger Maris’ 61 home runs broke Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs in a season, Maris had zero intentional free passes.

Hmm?

In 1961, when Roger Maris was the AL MVP, hit a then-record 61 homers and drove in a league-leading 141 runs, he drew no free passes.  (Of course, Mickey Mantle often batted behind Maris.)

On May 2, 1962, Roger Maris –  on his way to a 33-homer, 100-RBI season, set an MLB record (since broken) by drawing four intentional walks in a single game (a 12-inning Yankee 2-1 win over the Angels). As the Yankees squeezed by the Angels 2-1 in 12 innings.  Maris drew five walks (four intentional) in six trips to the plate. 

Don’t Want Anything to Do with Dawson

Andre Dawson, Cubs, drew a single-game record five intentional passes in a 16-inning game (versus the Reds) on May 22, 1990.  Dawson came into the game with a .346-13-41 line on the season and had gone 8-for-16, with two home runs and nine RBI in his previous four games. As the marathon game went on, it became apparent Reds’ manager Lou Piniella wanted nothing to do with Dawson’s hot bat. Here’s how the Cubs’ RF and cleanup hitter’s day went:

• First inning – With the score at 0-0, two out and a runner on third, Reds’ starter Tom Browning intentionally walked Dawson The next batter – LF Lloyd McClendon– was  retired to end the inning.
• Fourth inning – Score still 0-0, Dawson led off with a ground out on a 0-2 pitch from Browning.
• Sixth Inning – With the score still 0-0, one on and one out, Dawson lined out to left on an 0-2 pitch from Browning.
• Eighth Inning – Still 0-0, Dawson came up with a runner on third and two-out and Browning intentionally walked him.   The next batter (McClendon) grounded out to end the frame.
• Eleventh Inning – Still 0-0, Dawson came to bat with a runner on first and no outs. He singled off reliever Norm Charlton, sending the runner to second – but the Cubs failed to score.
• Twelfth Inning – Still 0-0, Dawson faced Tim Birstsas with runners on first and second and two out. He was again intentional walked and the strategy again worked, as McClendon grounded out to end the inning.
• Fourteenth Inning – With the game tied 1-1 (both teams scored in the thirteenth), Dawson came up with a runner on first and two out (against Scott Scudder). A wild pitch sent the runner to second and Dawson was intentionally walked. Dave Clark, pinch hitting for McClendon then struck out to end the inning.
• Sixteenth Inning –  Scudder faced Dawson with runner on first and third and one out. Dawson was intentionally walked. Clark followed with a single to end the game.

Dawson finished the 1990 season with a .310-27-100 stat line – leading the league with 21 intentional passes.

Barry Bonds – King of the Intentional Walk

Notably, when you talk intentional walks, the conversation pretty much has to focus on Barry Bonds. (We need to keep in mind, however, that IBB’s did not become an official statistic until 1955.)   Bonds holds the records for:

• IBB in a season – 120 with the Giants in 2004. Bonds, in fact, holds the top-three single-season spots. The first non-Barry on the list is the Giants’ Willie McCovey with 45. In 2004, Bonds also set the single-season mark for total walks with 232.

Only three players had as many total walks as Barry Bonds had intentional walks in 2004 – Bobby Abreu, Lance Berkman, and Todd Helton (127 each).

• IBB in a career – Bonds recorded 688. Second place goes to the future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols of the Angels with 316.
• Most seasons leading the league in IBB – 12.
• Most IBBs in a nine-inning game – four, done twice by Bonds … May 1 and September 22, 2004. Although, IBB were not yet an official MLB statistic, the Indians’ Jeff Heath has been credited with drawing four intentional walks in a nine-inning game on July 14, 1941.

Barry Bonds hit .362 with 45 home runs and 101 RBI the year he drew an MLB record 120 intentional walks (2004). The season he hit 73 home runs (2001), he drew only 35 intentional free passes.

A Walk in the Park

A few other free-pass marks:

• Most IBB in a season in the American League – 33 by Ted Williams in 1957 and John Olerud in 1993.
• Most IBB to a rookie – 16 to Mariners’ OF Al Davis in 1984, when he hit ..284-27-116 and was the AL Rookie of the Year.
• Most at bats in a season without an intentional walk … Jose Reyes, Mets, 696 in 2005.  In the AL. it’s the Twins’ Kirby Puckett, 691 in 1985.

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WHAT SKIPPER? PUT HIM ON?  THERE’S NO PLACE TO PUT HIM?

On April 15, 2022, Rangers’ SS Corey Seager became just the seventh major leaguer documented to have been intentionally waked with the bases loaded.  It came in the fourth inning of a Rangers/Angels game (in Texas). At the time, the Rangers were leading 3-2 and had the bases loaded with one out – Austin Warren on the mound and Seager at the plate. Rangers’ manager Joe Maddon  chose to intentionally walk Seager – forcing in a run – and pitch to Mitch Garver, who drove in another tally with a sacrifice fly. (The Angels, by the way, ultimately won the game 9-6.)

After the contest , Maddon said he was just trying to avoid the “big blow.” And “stir the group up.”  Adding “I thought by just going out there and doing something like that, the team might respond.”

Six additional players have received documented intentional walks with the bases loaded: Abner Dalrymple (August 2, 1881); Nap Lajoie (May 23, 1901); Del Bissonette (May 2, 1928); Bill Nicholson (July 23, 1944); Barry (of course, he did) Bonds (May 28, 1998); and Josh Hamilton (August 17, 2008). For more detail and Baseball Roundtable’s rating of those based-loaded IBB’s click here.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Almanac.com; Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; Why did Joe Maddon walk Corey Seager intentionally with the bases loaded? Angels manager had his reasons, by Tom Gatto, Sporting News, April 16, 2022.

 

Baseball Roundtable … blogging baseball since 2012. 

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

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

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

September has rolled into October and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s final 2022 monthly wrap up  – a look at The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the month, the Trot Index, September’s leaderboards and the stats and stories that caught Baseball Roundtable’s eye during September. And, there was plenty going on this past month.  Here are just a few attention-grabbers (at least for me):

• Two players (Aaron Judge and Bo Bichette) hit over .400 for the month;
• Mike Trout homered in seven straight games;
• We saw 2022’s fifth and sixth triple plays and fifth, sixth and seventh “Immaculate Innings“;
• MLB’s youngest team, the Guardians, responded to the pressure of a tight Division race by playing .700+ ball and walking away with the AL Central;
• Albert Pujols hit his 700th career home run and Aaron Judge hit his 61st dinger of the seasons (tying the AL record);
• We saw three balks committed during a single  batter’s plate appearance;
• 32-yer-old Fernando Cruz made his MLB debut in his 16th professional season;
• We witnessed MLB’s first All-Latino batting lineup – on Roberto Clemente Day;
• The Yankees’ Gleyber Torres hit two home runs in one inning.
• Shohei Ohtani played like – well, Shohei Ohtani, becoming the first player to hit 30+ home runs and fan 200+ batters in the same season.
• We saw the fastest and slowest pitches of the season (by pitchers, position-players excluded) in the same game.

More on these and other stories as you read on.

Roundtable Note: Some of these records may change as Negro League statistics are more fully incorporated into MLB record books.

—–Baseball Roundtable Players and Pitchers of the Month—–

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Eduardo Esc0bar, 3B, Mets

Eduardo Escobar had a .340-8-24 month for the Mets, notching the NL’s third-most home runs, second-most RBI, second-most hits (33), sixth-most run scored (16) and third-highest average (among NL players with at least 60 September at bats). He authored a ten-game hitting streak (September 2-12), during which he hit .500 (18-for-36), with five homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored. He had ten multi-nit games. Over the course of the month, he raised his average from .218 to .242.

Honorable Mentions: Nationals’ 1B Joey Meneses – the 30-year-old MLB rookie put up a .315-6-18 line and led the NL with 34 September hits. Dodgers’ 1B Freddie Freeman recorded a .337-4-16 and led the NL with 22 runs scored.

Pitcher of the Month – Yu Darvish, RHP, Padres

Yu Darvish gets the nod as MLB’s only five–game winner in September. – going 5-1, 1.85 in six starts. He fanned 44 batters (fourth in the NL) in 39 September innings (third in the NL) and had the third-best WHIP (Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched) among NL hurlers with at least 25 September innings.  He held batters to a .198 average over his six starts and walked just eight in 39 innings. On September 2, he held the tough Dodgers’ lineup to just two hits (no runs) over seven innings (two walks, nine strikeouts).

Honorable Mentions: The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who went 4-0 with a tidy 1.50 ERA in six starts. The Cardinals’ Jose Quintana, who only went 2-1, but whose 0.89 ERA was the best among NL pitchers with at least 25 September innings,

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees

This was almost too close to call, as Baseball Roundtable looked at both Aaron Judge and Blue Jays’ SS Bo Bichette. Consider:

• Both hit over .400 for the month. Judge at .417 and Bichette at .403 – the top two September averages in MLB (among players with at least 60 st bats for the month).
• Judge tied for the MLB lead in home runs (10); Bichette was ninth with seven.
• Bichette led MLB in September RBI with 27 (to Judge’s 17), while Judge led MLB in runs scored with 26 (to Bichette’s 22).
• Bichette led MLB with 48 hits for the month, Judge was sixth with 35, while Judge drew an MLB-highest 30 September walks to Bichette’s eight. Conversely, Judge fanned 26 times to 17 for Bichette.

So, why the thinnest of nods to Judge? He did all this while dealing with the pressures of chasing Roger Maris’ single-season American League home run record and inserting himself in the AL batting race (raising the possibility of a Triple Crown season).  Need more justification? Judge also led MLB qualifying batters in On-Base Percentage (.565) and Slugging Percentage (.869) – and by wide margins.

Honorable Mentions:  Bo Bichette, of course (see above). I also looked at a couple of Angels: RF Taylor Ward, who put up a .370-6-16 line and had 34 September hits (seventh in the AL) and Mike Trout, who went .301-10-20.

Pitcher of the Month – Alek Manoah, RHP Blue Jays

A second tough call this month. This time  between Alek Manoah and the Angels’ superstar Shohei Ohtani, who both went 4-0 (Manoah in six starts, Ohtani in five).

Manoah put up the MLB-best ERA among pitchers with at least 25 September innings at a minuscule 0.88. He was second in the AL in innings pitched (41), second in WHIP among pitchers with at least 25 September innings (0.85). He was eighth in strikeouts with 33. He gave up no more than two runs in any start (and that only once). The Blue Jays won five of his six starts and, in the one game the Jays lost, Manoah gave up just one run over six innings.

Honorable Mentions:  The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, who went 4-0. 1.09 in five starts, with 37 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched and a 0.91 WHIP.  Guardian Shane Bieber, who went 4-1, 2.51 with 42 strikeouts (second in the AL) and 43 innings pitched (first).

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Surprise Player of the Month – Bryan De La Cruz, OF, Marlins

Bryan De La Cruz signed with the Astros as an International Free Agent – at the age of  16 – in 2013.  From 2014 through 2021, he worked his way up through the Astros’ system, reaching  Triple-A (Sugar Land Skeeters) in 2012 – where he hit .324-12-50 in 66 games before being traded to the Marlins in late July. The Marlins brought him right to the big-league roster and he  made his MLB debut on July 31, 2012. He hit .296-5-19 in 58 games for the Marlins and seemed set to be a fixture in the outfield for 2022.

De La Cruz got off to a rocky start in 2022, hitting just .205-7-21 in 90 games before being sent back down to the minors in mid-August – where the demotion appeared to wake up his bat.  De La Cruz was called back up when the rosters expanded in September – and went .375-5-17 in 20 September games. From September 18-28, he ran off a nine-game hitting streak, in which he hit .514 (18-for-35), with three home runs and 11 RBI.  For Baseball Roundtable, it was a surprising late-season turnaround.

Honorable Mention: Joey Meneses (1B/OF) made his debut for the Nationals in August – at age 30 and in his 12th professional season.  He hit .333-6-11 in 24 August games and followed up with a .330-7-22 September. Meneses was a .281 hitter in ten minor-league seasons – and also played in Mexico and Japan.

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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

Through September  34.6 percent of the MLB season’s 176,344 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). 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 breakout: strikeouts (22.4%); walks (8.2%); home runs (2.9%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits by an even 1,000 –  39,465 to 38,465.

The 34.6 percent figure is down from 2021’s full season 36.3 percent.  Other recent seasons: 2020 –  37.3 percent;  2019 – 36.2 percent; and 2018 – 34.8 percent.  By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.  

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Among the notable developments in September was that the Guardians, with MLB’s youngest 2022 roster, did not fold under the pressure of a tight pennant race.  Instead, they played .700+ ball and turned a tight race into a walk-away. During the month, the Guardians  scored the AL’s third-most runs (behind only the Yankees and Blue Jays) and recorded the League’s second-lowest ERA (behind the Astros). Among the key contributors were 25-year-old LF Steven Kwan (.325 with 25 runs scored for the month); 24-year-old RF Oscar Gonzalez .298-6-20); 24-year-old 2B Andres Gimenez (.305 with 16 runs scored); 27-year-old RHP Shane Bieber (4-1, 2.51); 27-year-old RHP Cal Quantrill (3-0, 3.06); and 24-year-old closer Emmanuel Clase (10 saves).

The Mets and Braves kept things interesting, with the Braves gaining three games on the Mets in September and  the two squads going into October tied for the Division lead. This is really the only race left to be decided.

The Dodgers continued to roll, scoring the NL’s most runs in September and putting up the league’s lowest ERA. On the season, they have scored MLB’s most runs 831 and given up MLB’s fewest tallies (497).  Full-year (through September ) team stat leaders later i this post.

——-Team  Statistical Leaders for September  ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League –  Dodgers (140); Mets (134); Giants (126)

American League – Blue Jays (145); Yankees (134): Guardians (131)

The Cubs scored the fewest runs in September (86); The lowest tally in the AL was the Tigers at 98.

AVERAGE

National League – Mets (.263); Nationals (.257); Phillies (.253)

American League – Blue Jays (.266); Guardians (.264); Red Sox (.260)

The lowest team average in September  belonged to the Reds  at .211.   

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (43); Dodgers (37); Giants (33)

American League –  Yankees (39); Mariners (39); Astros (37); Angels (37)

The Rays had the fewest September home runs at 17. The only other team under 20 was the Cubs (19).

STOLEN BASES

National League – Diamondbacks (31); Pirates (22); Cubs (20)

American League – Guardians (31); Rangers (25); Yankees (20)

The Giants stole the fewest bags in September with four in eight attempts.  The Angels were 11-for-12 in steal attempts.

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Dodgers (103); Mets (98);  Brewers (88); Giants (88)

American League – Mariners (111); Red Sox (107); Blue Jays (97)

The Met led MLB in on-base percentage in September  at .349. The Red Sox led the AL at .348. In slugging percentage, the Braves were on top at .446, while the Blue Jays  led the AL at .441.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Giants (282); Pirates (264); Brewers (259)

American League – Rangers (262); Twins (254); A’s (251)

Astros’ batters went down on strikes the fewest times in September  (174).

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Bonus Stat

The leaders in September hit by pitch were the Mets (23) and the Guardians (22). No other team had more than 15 HBP in the month. Angles’ batter were plunked the fewest times (4).

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Dodgers (2.65); Braves (2.88); Cubs (3.03)

American League – Astros (2.53); Guardians (2.75); White Sox (3.29)

One  team had an ERA at 5.00 or higher in September – the A’s at 6.22.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Mets (281); Braves (266); Brewers (261)

American League – Astros (281); Guardians (267); White Sox (250)

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League – Mets (64); Giants (71); Padres (73)

American League – Astros (66); Mariners (67); Rays (69)

The Guardians walked an MLB-stingiest 2.42 batters per nine frames in September. The Reds walked an MLB-high 4.10 batters per nine frames during the month.

SAVES

National League – Giants (12); Cubs (11); three with 8

American League – Guardians (15); Astros (9); Blue Jays (9)

STRIKEOUTS PER NINE INNINGS

National League – Mets (11.00); Braves (10.35); Brewers (9.50)

American League – Astros (10.60) Yankees (9.31); White Sox (9.23)

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Bonus Stat

The Mets led MLB in September strikeout-to-walk ratio at 4.39.  The only other team over 4.00 was the Astros at 4.26.

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—–SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS —–

Feel Good Tale

Fernando Cruz started his professional career as an infielder in the Royals organization as a 17-year-old in 2007 – hitting .210 in the Arizona Rookie League. On September 2, Cruz made his MLB debut (as a 32-year-old pitcher) for the Reds, coming on in relief (versus Colorado) and pitching a 1-2-3, two-strikeout inning.  He made 12 appearances in September, fanning 16 and putting up a 0.75 ERA.  On his long path to the majors, Cruz played for teams in the Arizona Rookie League, Appalachian League, Puerto Rican Winter League, Midwest League, Pioneer League, Pacific Coast League, Southern League, Carolina League, Canadian-American Association, Venezuelan Winter League, Mexican League, Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific Winter League and International League.

Unlucky 13.  Lucky Seven?

On September 13, Angels’ CF  Mike Trout went zero-for-three (with one walk), as the Angels lost to the Guardians 3-1 in Cleveland. I have a hunch at least a few Cleveland fans were hoping for more from Trout. Trout came into the game having hit a home run in seven straight games – one game shy- of the record shared by: Dale Long (May 19-28, 1956); Don Mattingly (July 8-18, 19877); Ken Griffey Jr. (July 20-28, 1993).

During his seven-game homer streak, Trout hit .393 (11-for-28), with seven home runs and 11 RBI. For more on home run streaks, click here.,

He Ain’t Heavy … He’s My Brother

On September 14, Adam Wainwright took the mound against the Brewers in St. Louis – and he saw a familiar face (mask?) behind the plate  in catcher Yadier Molina. It was the 325^th time, the two were together as a regular-season starting battery, breaking the all-time MLB record of 324 such starts, held by Bill Freehan and Mickey Lolich.  It worked out pretty well, as the 41-year-old Wainwright picked up the win with five innings of eight-hit, one-run ball, while the 40-year-old Molina went one-for-four with an RBI. Side note: Molina was  the catcher for Wainwright’s first MLB start (April 6, 2006) –  a 4-2 Cardinals’ win over the Astros. Wainwright got the victory with seven one-run innings. By the way, when Wainwright and Molina have started together, the Cardinals are 213-112.

Celebrating Clemente Day

Although he said afterward it wasn’t an intentional  move, it certainly seemed an appropriate one.  On September 15 – Roberto Clemente Day – Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Kevin Cash sent an all-Latino lineup to the plate (Shane McClanahan was the starting pitcher).  The lineup – all wearing number 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente –  went like this:

Yandy Diaz – 3B (Cuba)

Randy Arozarena – RF (Cuba)

Wander Franco – SS (Dominican Republic)

Harold Ramirez – 1B (Columbia)

Manuel Margot – DH (Dominican Republic)

David Peralta – LF (Venezuela)

Isaac Paredes – 2B (Mexico)

Rene Pinto – C (Venezuela)

Jose Siri – CF (Dominican Republic)

How did it work out?  The Rays topped the Blue Jays 11-0, with three RBI apiece from Diaz and Margot.

For a look at MLB’s one and only All-Latino All Star Game, click here.

On Making Great Strides

Braves’ 23-year-old rookie right-hander Spencer Strider took to the mound on September 18 with a 10-5, 2.72  record – not knowing he was about to make history. Strider went six innings in a 5-2 win over the Phillies, giving up one run on one hit and three walks – and, most important, fanning ten.

The eighth strikeout of the game came in the fourth inning, when he fanned three Phillies – and gave Strider 200 whiffs on the season  (and for his career). It also gave him 200 strikeouts in 130 MLB innings, making him the fastest ever to reach 200 MLB strikeouts– edging out Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, who reached 200 strikeouts in his first 130 2/3 innings.

Strider finished September with an 11-5, 2.67 record on the season – with 202 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings pitched – relying primarily on a fastball that tops out in the triple-digits  and sharp slider. (Note: Striker is currently on the IL with a strained left oblique  muscle.)

Strider was a fourth-round draft pick (out of Clemson University) in 2020. In two college seasons, he was 5-2, 4.71 – with 89 strikeouts in 63 innings. In 2021, he was 3-7, 3.64 at four minor-league levels. He started the 2022 season in the Braves’ bullpen, putting up a 2.22 ERA, with 37 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings (11 appearances) before being moved to the rotation – where he has gone 10-4, 2.77 fanning 165 in 107 1/3 innings (34 walks), while holding hitters to a .183 average.

Three for Two – or Maybe Two for Three

September saw the fourth and fifth triple plays of the 2022 season. On September 18, with the score knotted at 0-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Toronto starter Dean Kremer hit the Blue Jays’  DH and leadoff hitter George  Springer on a 2-2 pitch, then walked  1B Vlad Guerrero Jr. and gave up a single to SS Bo Bichette to load the bases. Third baseman Matt Chapman was up next and smashed a line drive to Orioles’ SS  George Mateo, who snatched it for the out and flipped to 2B Tarrin Vavra to double off Guerrero. Vavra then fired to first to “triple-off” Bichette and end the frame.  The Orioles went on to win the game 5-4.

On September 20, as the Rangers turned a triple play in an inning in which the Angels had already plated three runs (to take a 5-3 lead). Angels’ DH Shohei Ohtani led off with a single to right off the Rangers’ Dennis Santana. RF Taylor Ward then doubled Ohtani home and 3B Matt Duffy singled, with Ward moving to third.  That was all for Santana, with John King taking the mound. He gave up an RBI-single to 1B Mike Ford, followed by another RBI-single to LF Jo Adell – leaving Adell at first and Ford (replaced by pinch runner Magneuris Sierra) at second. C Max Stassi hit a sharp grounder to third for a triple play – 3B Josh Jung to 2B Marcus Semien to 1B Nathan Lowe. Still, the Angels left the inning with a 5-2 lead and won the game by that score.

A Throwback? Well Kind Of.

On September 18, as the Marlins topped the National 3-1 in Washington D.C., Marlins’  starter Sandy Alcantara threw his fifth complete game of the 2022 season. Eight days later (September 30), he closed out the month with his sixth 2022 complete game – a 1-0 loss to the Brewers.  Why does that make the highlights? Because, Alcantara has more complete games than any other team in the major leagues. (The Boston Red Sox are second to Alcantara with four complete games. For a recent post on Alcantara, click here.

For those Who Like To Know … 

Between May 14 and June 4 of 1968, the Dodgers’ Don Drysdale threw six consecutive complete-game shutouts.

The Whiff-N-Poof Song

On September 18, Mets’ pitchers tied the MLB record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game (20). It’s been done eight times – seven in the AL and once in the  NL.  The Mets’ “Whiff Team:”

• Jacob deGrom – 13 strikeouts in five innings.
• Seth Lugo – one strikeout in one inning.
• Joely Rodriguez – five strikeouts in two innings.
• Trevor May – One strikeout in one inning.

Taking Control of the Situation

In MLB history, there have been four instances when a single-pitcher recorded twenty strikeouts in a nine-inning game: Roger Clemens (twice); Kerry Wood; and Max Scherzer. Not a single walk was issued by any of those pitchers in their 20-whiff performances. Randy Johnson once fanned 20 batters in the first nine innings of an 11-inning game (he was relieved after nine). Johnson also did not walk a batter in his nine-inning stint.

It Took You Long Enough or more “#InBaseballWeCountEverything”

On Tuesday, September 20, the Yankees went into the bottom of the ninth innings trailing Pittsburgh 8-5. RF Aaron Judge opened the bottom of the ninth with a home run off reliever Wil Crowe to cut the margin to three. 1B Anthony Rizzo followed with a double, 2B Gleyber Torres walked and 3B Josh Donaldson singled, loading the bases. Then, Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run to deep left, plating four runs and giving the Yankees a 9-8 walk-off win.

The very next day – about 21 hours later – in the bottom of the first inning, the Yankees loaded the bases on a Judge double, Torres walk and Stanton walk) with two outs. Then LF  Oswaldo Cabrera hit a Grand Slam off Pirates’ starter Roansy Contreras. Why “counting everything?”

For the answer, we go back to July 6 – Yankees at Pirates. In the eighth  inning of that game (an eventual 16-0 Yankee win), Judge hit a grand Slam off Manny Banuelos. Then, one inning later, Aaron Hicks took Josh Van Meter deep to left center for another Grand Slam.

In true #InBaseballWeCountEverything fashion, the Yankees are now the only MLB team to hit Grand Slams in back-to-back innings twice in one season.

More Yankee Power

On September 21, the Yankees routed the Pirates 14-2, largely on the strength of an eight-run eighth inning.  That included a pair of home runs by 2B Gleyber Torres (his 22nd and 23^rd of the season). Torres led off the frame with a homer to RF off the Pirates Miguel Yajure and, later in the frame, added a three-run blast  (with two outs) off Eric Stout.  That made Torres the 59^th major leaguer to hit two home runs in an inning. A few other two-homer inning facts:

• Fernando Tatis (Cardinals) is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in one inning. He did it on April 23, 1999. – in the third inning of a Redbirds’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers (in LA). Surprisingly, both Grand Slams came off the same pitcher – Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park. Yep, they left Park in to take the thrashing. Park, by the way, finished the season 2-10, with a 7.43 ERA.
• Alex Rodriguez, Edwin Encarnacion, Andre Dawson, Jeff King and Willie McCovey are the only players to hit two home runs in an inning twice in their career.
• Switch hitters Carlos Baerga, Mark Bellhorn and Kendrys Morales all hit home runs from both side of the plate in the same inning.

Baseball Roundtable FlashBack-to -Back

In the top of the first inning of a game (May 2, 2002) between the Mariners and White Sox (in Chicago),  White Sox’ starter Jon Rauch hit Mariners’  RF Ichiro Suzuki with the first pitch of the game.  Second baseman Bret Boone followed with a home run on the very next pitch, and  CF  Mike Cameron followed with another dinger on a 1-2 pitch.  The Mariners batted around and, by the time Boone came up for a second time that inning, held a 7-0 lead. 

In his second at bat of the frame, Boone homered again (another two-run shot), this time on a 1-2 pitch from Jim Parque. Next up was Cameron, who hit the first pitch he saw from Parque for another home run.  This remains the only time that two players have homered twice, back-to-back, in the same inning. The Mariners, by the way, won the contest 15-4.

Pujols – Padding the HOF Resume

On September 23, Cardinals’  DH Albert Pujols went two-for-four, with two home runs and five RBI, as the Cardinals  topped the Dodgers 11-0 in LA. The long balls were number 699 and 700 of his career. Side note: Baseball-References’ home run log shows that Pujols has homered off a record 455 different pitchers, in 40 different MLB parks. For those who like to know such things, number 700 came in the top of the fourth on a 1-1 pitch from Phil Bickford.

At the end of September, Pujols was  in the top five all-time (in MLB)  in total bases (second); doubles (fifth); home runs (fourth); RBI (third);  extra-base hits (third) ; and  intentional bases on balls (second).  Start working on the plaque now.

Business As Usual

As usual, there is more Shohei Ohtani news.  On September 23, Ohtani won his 14^th game of the season, going five innings (two earned runs) in a 4-2 Angels’ win against the Twins (in Minnesota). Along the way, he fanned seven Twins’ hitters, giving him 203 whiffs on the season – and making him the first player in MLB history with 30 or more home runs as a hitter and 200 or more strikeouts as a pitcher in the same season.

A Nice Round Number

On  September 23, Brewers’ Andrew McCutchen had a three-RBI game, as Milwaukee topped the Reds 5-3 in Cincinnati. The first of those three RBI was the 14-season MLB veteran’s 1,000^th major league run driven in. While McCutchen has never driven in 100 runs in a season, the five-time All Star has collected 80 or more RBI in seven campaigns.  As of September 30, his career stat line was .277-287-1,002.

20-20 Vision

On September 25, Braves’ 26-year-old right-hander Kyle Wright became 2022’s first (still only) 20-game winner. The win came in a 5 1/3-innings (two earned runs, two hits, two walks, six whiffs) performance in a 6-3 Braves’ win over the Phillies in Philadelphia. Wright’s record at the end of September was 20-5, 3.18; with 171 strikeouts in 175 1/3 innings.  Coming into the 2022 season, Wright – a 2017 first-round draft choice out of Vanderbilt –  had a major-league record of 2-8, 6.56 in 50 game (43 starts), with 59 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched.  (He did have a 29-19, 3.47 record in four minor-league seasons.) Side Note: On October 1, Wright picked up his 21st 2022 win.

You Balkin’ To Me?  A Different Kind of RBI (Run Balked In)

On September 27, in the eighth inning of a Marlins-Mets game (in New York), Mets’ 1B Pete Alonso came to the plate with  two outs and Mets’ 2B Jeff McNeil on first base.  McNeil scored during Alonso’s at bat, but no RBI was awarded.  Had an RBI been assigned it could have gone to Mets’ pitcher Richard Bleier who – during Alonso’s plate appearance – was charged with three balks (sending McNeil, to second, third and, finally, home).  Hence an RBI – Run Balked In. (Bleier and Marlins’ skipper Don Mattingly would argue –  and did – so, maybe, the RBI should go to the umpires.) Bleier, by the way, had not committed a single balk to that point in his seven MLB seasons. The Marlins won the contest 6-4, but neither Bleier nor Mattingly were around to see it.  Both were ejected.

An Immaculate Month – and Season

September saw three  pitchers throw Immaculate Innings – bringing the total of nine-pitch/three-whiff 2022 innings to seven.  This month’s pitchers (and victims).

September 16, Bottom of the ninth  – Ryan  Helsley, Cardinals. Victims: The Reds’ SS Kyle Farmer, DH Jake Fraley and 1B Donovan Solano (all swinging). Three, four and five in the lineup.

September 22, Bottom of the Fifth  – Hayden Wesneski, Cubs. Victims: The Pirates’ CF Jack Suwinski (looking), 1B Zack Collins (looking) and C Jason Delay (swinging). Seven, eight and nine in the lineup.

September 27, Top of the Seventh – Enyel De Los Santos, Guardians. Victims: The Rays’  C Christian Bethancourt (swinging), CF Jose Siri (looking) and 2B Taylor Walls (swinging). Seven, eight and nine in the lineup.

The Fast and the Slow of It

On September 27, the Cardinals’ 27-year-old closer, Ryan Helsley scorched a 104.2-mile per hour fastball to the Brewers’ 1B Rowdy Tellez – recording the fastest pitch of the 2022 season (which Tellez hit for a ground out, shortstop to first.). It might have been a bit anticlimactic, however, as the pitch Helsley pushed off the top of the list was a 104.0 MPH fastball that he threw five days earlier (September 22) to Padres’ DH Josh Bell (Bell fouled it off).

In the September 27 game, Cardinals’ starter  Miles Mikolas did a kind of reverse Helsley – tossing a 60.2-mph curveball (in the fifth frame) to the Brewers’ CF Garrett Mitchell – setting the mark for the slowest pitch this season by a non-position player.

Helsley, by the way, finished September with a 9-1, 1.26 record -with 19 saves –  on the year – 94 whiffs in 64 1/3 innings.

Here Comes The Judge

On September 28, in the top of the seventh inning, with the Yankees and Blue Jays tied at 3. Yankees’ DH Aaron Judge hit a 3-2 pitch from the Blue Jays’ Tim Mayza to deep left – for a two-run home run.  It was his 61^st of the year, tying Roger Maris for the all-time American League single-season record. To date, only three American League players have hit 60 or more home runs and, of course, they were all Yankees: Babe Ruth, Roger Maris and Judge.  Judge, by the way, had a bashing  September – going .417-10-17.

A Painful Way to Make The Record Books

In September, Mets batter were hit by a pitch 23 times. That brings their total for the season to 111 plunkings (a modern era – post 1900) record. Through September, the MLB team average for HBP was 66. The previous modern-era mark for team HBP belonged to the Reds at 105.  Again, for those who like to know such things: The 1889 Orioles hold the overall MLB record with 160 plunkings.

Here are the top Mets’ HBP contributors:

Mark Canha – 27 HBP.

Brandon Nimmo – 16

Starling Marte – 13

Pete Alonso – 12

Jeff McNeil – 11

Francisco Lindor – 10

 

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for September  2022———

AVERAGE (60 September at bats minimum)

National League – Bryan De La Cruz, Marlins (.375); Justin Turner, Dodgers (.342); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (.340)

American League –  Aaron Judge, Yankees (.417); Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (.403); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (.383)

The lowest September  average (among players with at least 60 at bats in the month)  belonged to Marlins JJ Bleday at .133 (10-for-75).

HOME RUNS

National League – Pete Alonso, Mets (9); Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (9; Eduardo Escobar, Mets (8)

American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (10); Anthony Santander, Orioles (10); Mike Trout, Angeles (10)

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge  had the highest September slugging percentage (among players with at least 60  at bats) at .869.  The NL   leader was the Marlins’ Bryan De La Cruz at .734.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Pete Alonso, Mets (26); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (24); three with 19

American League –  Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (27); Eloy Jimenez, White Sox (23); Gleyber Torres, Yankees (23)

HITS

National League – Joey Meneses, Nationals (34); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (33); Michael Harris, Braves (33); Jeff McNeil, Mets (33)

American League –  Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (48); Steven Kwan, Guardians (39); Carlos Correa, Twins (38)

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge led MLB (players (with at least 60 September at bats) in on-base percentage at .565. The NL leader was the  Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman at .473.

DOUBLES

National League –  Willy Adames, Brewers (10); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (10); Garrett Cooper, Marlins (9)

American League –  Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (11); Randy Arozarena, Rays (10); Marcus Semien, Rangers (10)

TRIPLES

National League – Joc Pederson, Giants (3); nine with two

American League – Nine with two

The Blue Jays Bo Bichette led MLB in September extra-base hits with 19.  He had 11 double, one triple and seven home runs (29 singles).

 STOLEN BASES

National League –  Jake McCarthy, Diamondbacks (10); Jon Berti, Marlins (6); Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (6)

American League –Bubba Thompson, Rangers (10); Nate Eaton, Royals (9); Elvis Andrus, White Sox (8)

The White Sox’ Elvis Andrus had the most September steals without getting caught (8).

WALKS

National League – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (23); Juan Soto, Padres (21); Brandon Nimmo, Mets (18)

American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (30); Tristan Casas, Red Sox (18); J.P. Crawford, Mariners (18); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (18)

The Mets’ Jeff McNeil led in walks/strikeouts ratio (among batters with at least 60 September  at bats)  at 1.83 …11  walks versus 6  whiffs in 26 games.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Oneil Cruz, Pirates (36); Willy Adames, Brewers (34); Michael Toglia, Rockies (34)

American League – Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (37); Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (35); Dermis Garcia, A’s (34)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Yu Darvish, Padres (5-1); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (4-0); Chris Bassitt, Mets (4-1); Logan Webb, Giants (4-1); Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (4-1)

American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (4-0); Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (4-0); Shane Bieber, Guardians (4-1)

The Marlins’ Steven Okert (0-4, 8.44); Rockies’ Chad Kohl (0-4, 7.76), and White Sox’ Johnny Cueto  (1-4, 5.20) tied for the most September losses.

 EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 25 September innings pitched)

National League –  Jose Quintana, Cardinals (0.89);Julio Urias, Dodgers (1.19); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (1.50)

American League – Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (0.88); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (1.09); Dylan Cease, White Sox (1.13)

Among pitchers with at least four September starts or 20 September  innings, the Phillies’ Kyle Gibson  had the highest ERA at 9.53 (24 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings in five starts).

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Brian Woodruff, Brewers (51 / 38 2/3 IP); Jacob deGrom, Mets (47 / 28 IP); Carlos Rodon, Giants (46 / 26 2/3 IP)

American League – Gerrit Cole, Yankees (44 / 30 IP); Shane Bieber, Guardians (42 / 43 IP); Logan Gilbert, Mariners (412 / 36 IP)

SAVES

National League – Camilo Doval, Giants (9); Kenley Jansen, Braves (8); Ryan Helsley, Cardinals (7)

American League – Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (10); Jordan Romero, Blue Jays (7); three with six

WHIP (Walks +  Hits per Inning Pitched – 25 innings minimum)

National League – Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (0.69); Jose Quintana, Cardinals (0.76); Yu Darvish, Padres (0.79)

American League – Shane Bieber, Guardians (0.81); Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (0.88); Triston McKenzie, Guardians (0.89)

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——-Team  Statistical Leaders Through Sept 2022 ———-

RUNS SCORED … Average 673

National League – Dodgers (831); Braves (769); Mets (746)

American League – Yankees (786); Blue Jays (745); Astros (719)

The fewest  runs (through September) were scored by the Tigers – 529. The Marlins tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 561. Others under 600 were the A’s (547), Pirates (566) and Nationals (583).

AVERAGE  …  Average .243

National League – Dodgers (.258); Mets (.258); Rockies (.255)

American League – Blue Jays (.261); Red Sox (.258); White Sox (.257)

The lowest team average through September  belonged to the A’s at .216. The Pirates  were at the bottom of the NL at .221

HOME RUNS …  Average 169

National League – Braves (237); Brewers (213); Dodgers (207)

American League –  Yankees (244); Astros (209); Blue Jays  (193)

The Tigers  had the fewest home runs through September at 102. Surprisingly the AL Central Champion Guardians were second lowest at 124.  The Nationals were at the bottom of the NL at 131.

The Dodgers led MLB in slugging percentage through September at .445.  The Blue Jays led the AL at .429.  The average team slugging percentage was .395.

STOLEN BASES … Average 80

National League – Marlins (118); Cubs (106); Phillies (101)

American League – Rangers (126); Guardians (114); Royals (101)

The Twins stole the fewest sacks through September (37 in 54 attempts).   The Rockies were at the bottom of the NL with 43 in 63 attempts. 

WALKS DRAWN … Average 479

National League –   Dodgers (588); Padres (559); Brewers (555)

American League  Yankees (595); Astros (520); Twins (498)

The Dodgers  led MLB  in on-base percentage through September at .335. The Yankees led the AL  at .324.  The A’s had MLB’s lowest  OBP through September at .281.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS … Average 1,316

National League – Pirates (1,469);  Braves (1,446); Giants (1,416)

American League – Angels (1,508);  Rangers (1,394); Tigers (1.362)

Guardians’ batters fanned the fewest times through September  (1,082).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE … Average 3.97

National League – Dodgers (2.78);  Braves (3.42); Mets (3.59)

American League – Astros (2.94); Yankees (3.33); Rays  (3.38)

Just one  team had  an ERA through August of 5.00  or higher – Rockies (5.12).

STRIKEOUTS … Average 1,316

National League – Mets (1,516); Braves (1,511); Brewers (1,478)

American League –  Astros (1,463); White Sox (1,407); Yankees (1,404)

The Mets averaged  an MLB-best 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings through September. The Astros averaged an AL-best 9.4.  Nine teams average at least nine  whiffs per nine innings.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED… Average 479

National League  – Dodgers (397); Mets (421);Giants (427)

American League –  Rays (373); Blue Jays (415); Orioles (425); Guardians (425)

The Rays walked an MLB-lowest 2.4 batter per nine innings through September.  The Dodgers were best in the NL at 2.5.  The Reds and Royals walked an MLB-worst 3.8 batters per nine frames.

SAVES … Average 40

National League – Braves (52); Brewers (51); Padres (46)

American League – Astros (50);  Guardians (49); White Sox (46)

________________________________

Bonus Stats:

• The Nationals gave up an MLB-high 231 home runs through September – an even 100 more than they hit. The Astros gave up an MLB-low 130.
• There were 35 complete games through September. The Marlins had the most complete games at six.  Thirteen of the 30 MLB teams have yet to record a complete game.
• There were 333 team shutouts through September (fifteen of those single-pitcher complete-game shutouts). The Mets had the most shutouts with 18.
• The Mariners and Cardinals committed the fewest errors through September (47) and had the top fielding percentage at .989. The Pirates committed an MLB-high 115 fielding miscues through September, contributing to 75 unearned runs.   The Cardinals, in contrast, gave up just 32 unearned runs.
• The Nationals grounded into the most double plays through September at 136, the Rangers grounded into the fewest twin killings at 79.
• Rays’ pitchers had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio at 3.62 and the Dodgers had the best WHIP at 1.047.

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

 

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