Archives for November 2022

Who’s Your Daddy – A Baseball Roundtable Series

Welcome to  the 17^th post  in the Baseball Roundtable’s “Who’s Your Daddy?” series, where we take a look at Roundtable-selected lineups that performed exceptionally well against some of MLB’s greatest pitchers ever.

Photo: Play Ball cards, published by Bowman Gum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As always, I would stress that the pitchers included in the Who’s Your Daddy? series are among the “best in the business.”  They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because success among hitters when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.  We’ve looked at pitchers from a wide range of eras – from Bob Feller to Nolan Ryan to Justin Verlander.  This time, we’re going back to Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell, who took the mound for the New York Giants from 1928 to 1943.

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

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

If you go back through past editions of “Who’s Your Daddy?”, you may find a few surprises – like how Will Clark owned Nolan Ryan, Jerry Lynch‘s .714 average versus Sandy Koufax or Junior Spivey‘s six hits, one walk and one HBP in his first seven plate appearances versus Greg Maddux. There are a handful  of surprises in the Hubbell addition as well, like:

• While Hubbell led the National League in strikeouts-to-walks ratio five times (each time fanning more than three times as many as he walked) and was in the top five a total of ten times, Billy Herman walked 19 times (versus nine whiffs) in his career against Hubbell;
• Ernie Lombardi fanned just four times in 126 plate appearance versus Hubbell;
• Hank Lieber – a .288 career hitter – was Hubbell’s teammate on the Giants in seven of Lieber’s ten MLB seasons. Lieber hit .458 versus Hubbell in the three seasons he faced him and, if you take out his at bats versus Hubbell, Lieber’s career average would be seven points lower.
• Lefty O’Doul – who hit .357 against Hubbell – faced nine Hall of Fame pitchers in his career and hit .375 against them.

Before getting into the lineup (and more tidbits), let’s look at why Carl Hubbell is a solid choice for this series.

Hubbell, known for his darting and baffling screwball, pitched in the major leagues for 16 seasons (1928-43) – all with the New York Giants. He made it to the major leagues – at the age of 25 – in July of 1928, in the middle of his fifth professional season. At the time, the 6’/170-pound southpaw was 12-9, 2.97 for the Class-A Beaumont Explorers.  Hubbell’s progress while in the Tiger’s system was reportedly stymied  by the belief that relying on the screwball (a “reverse-curve” that, at the time, was  termed a fade-away) would be too hard on his arm to be sustained for any significant period of time.   The Tigers sold Hubbell to Beaumont before the 1928 season, where – now set free to use his screwball extensively –  he was spotted by a New York Giants’ scout.   His contract was purchased by the Giants, he was quickly brought to the major-leagues and the rest, as they say, is history.

Hubbell pitched for the Giants for 16-seasons and earned the nicknames “King Carl” and “The Meal Ticket” – a well as a ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Over that span, Hubbell was a nine-time All-Star, five-time 20-game winner and  led the NL in earned run average three times, complete games once, innings pitched once, strikeouts once and strikeout-to-walk ratio five times.  He was also selected as the National League’s Most Valuable Player twice (1933 & 1936).

Hubbell pitched in five All Star Games, putting up a 2.79 ERA and fanning 11 batters in 9 2/3 innings. He also started six World Series games, going 4-2, 1.79, with four complete games.  In the 1933 World Series, he started twice and pitched and won  two complete games (one an 11-inning contest),  giving up no earned runs (three unearned).

Carl Hubbell Makes All Star Game History

In the 1934 All Star Game (just the second AL/NL All Star Game), Carl Hubbell struck out six batters to set a single-game All Star record that has since been matched, but remains unbroken.  And, Hubbell did it in grand – even legendary – fashion, fanning five future Hall of Famers in a row.  After starting the game by giving up a single to AL 2B Charlie Gehringer and a walk to LF Heinie Manush, Hubbell  fanned RF Babe Ruth, 1B Lou Gehrig and 3B Jimmie Foxx to get out of the inning. He then opened the second frame by fanning CF Al Simmons and SS Joe Cronin.  After a Bill Dickey single, Hubbell fanned a sixth future Hall of Famer (pitcher Lefty Gomez).

How did those five future Hall of Fame position players do after Hubbell left the game? They went a combined seven-for-fifteen (four doubles), with two walks, six runs scored and four RBI.

So, there’s a look at King Carl, now let’s take a look at his Who’s Your Daddy? lineup.  You should note that I evaluate these players not just on pure stats, but also on when those statistics were achieved (Hubbell for example was a much more dominant pitcher from 1928-1937 -winning an average of 19 games per season – then from 1938-43 (with an average of ten wins per season). And, as you saw in the earlier chart, he was particularly dominant from 1933-37.  Here are the statistical leaders:

Why’d We Trade This Guy?

Outfielder Hank Lieber was a teammate of Hubbell’s on the Giants from 1933-38 –  before being traded to the Cubs – and a teammate of Hubbell’s again in 1942 (after the Cubs traded him back to the Giants). While a Cub, Lieber faced Hubbell 26 times in seven games over three seasons.  He collected 11 hits against Hubbell, including a double and three home runs. Among players with at least 20 at bats versus King Carl, Lieber had the highest batting average, highest on-base percentage; and highest slugging percentage. So, why didn’t he make the final “Who’s Your Daddy?” lineup – mainly because he did all this damage from 1939-1941, when Hubbell was 33-30, 3.36. Still Lieber deserves a shout out in this post. Lieber, by the way, was a pretty good ballplayer. In ten MLB seasons, he went .288-101-518 (813 games) and was a three-time All Star.

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Now for the lineup.

Catcher – Ernie Lombardi

Photo: Cincinnati Reds – 1940 Team Issue, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi faced Carl Hubbell in 42 games between 1931 and 1942, reaching him for a .331 average (25 points above Lombardi’s career average), with six homers (second-most against Hubbell by any batter) and 18 RBI (ninth-most). His 40 base hits were also the ninth-most against King Carl.  In 1939, a season in which Hubbell went 11-9, 2.75, Lombardi went five-for-eight against him, with a double, a home run and five RBI in three games. Lombardi hit .400 or better versus Hubbell in five of the 11 seasons he faced him.

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Ernie Lombardi caught both of Johnny Vander Meer’s consecutive no-hitters (June 11 & 15, 1938).

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Ernie Lombardi struck out in his first plate appearance versus Carl Hubbell (April 27, 1931). He then went sixty-seven plates appearance against him before fanning again (July 26, 1936). In 126 career plate appearances  versus Hubbell, Lombardi fanned just four times.

Lombardi played 17 MLB seasons (1931-47 … Robins, Reds, Braves, Giants). He was an eight-time All Star, the 1938 National League MVP and won two batting titles. Lombardi hit .300+ in ten seasons and under .280 just twice. Lombardi’s final stat line was .306-189, 890.

Note: I also looked at Al Todd, who hit .325-4-11 versus Hubbell over 32 games – but drew zero walks, while fanning 14 times. Todd played 11 MLB seasons (1932-41, 1943) and hit .276-35-366 in 863 games.

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First Base – Dolph Camilli

Photo: Goudey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

While Dolph Camilli hit just .279 ( about equal to his career .277 average) versus Hubbell (in 46 games), His 11 home runs versus Hubbell are far-and-away the most of any batter (the next highest is six) and his 25 RBI are second all-time against Hubbell. Note: Camilla’s 11 round  trippers versus Hubbell are also  the most Camilli hit against any pitcher.

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After two seasons facing Hubbell (1933-34), Dolph Camilli was just 2-for-25 (.080), with no walks and six strikeouts versus The Meal Ticket. Then in 1935 – when Hubbell went 23-12, 3.27 – Camilli seem to figure something out, going 11-for-23 (.478) against Hubbell, with three home runs and six RBI (in seven games). Between 1935 and 1942, Camilla hit .400 or better against Hubbell in four seasons.

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Camilli played 12 MLB seasons (1933-43, 1945 … Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, Red Sox). He was a two-time All Star and, with the Dodgers in 1941, led the NL in home runs (34) and RBI (120), while hitting .285 and capturing the National League MVP Award. His final stat line was .277-239-950. He hit 20 or more home runs in eight seasons and drove in 100 or more runs in five.

Note: At first base, I also looked at Gus Suhr, who drove in 29 regular-season runs versus Hubbell (the most of any hitter). Suhr, however, hit only .255, with just two home runs against Hubbell. Suhr was a career .279-84-818 hitter (11 seasons … 1930-40).

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Second Base – Billy Herman

Photo: Goudey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Billy Herman (a career.304 hitter) hit  .327, with a .399  on-base percentage in 53 games versus Carl Hubbell (1931-42). He hit .400 or better in four seasons against him and was particularly effective against Hubbell’s vaunted screwball in 1935 (when Hubbell went 23-12, 3.27). That season, Herman torched Hubbell for a .550 average (11-for-20), with three home runs and eight RBI in six games.

Hall of Famer Herman played 15 MLB seasons (1931-43, 1945-47 … Cubs, Dodgers, Braves, Pirates), hitting .304-47-839, with 1,163 runs scored. He was a ten-time All Star, and led his league in hits once, doubles once and triples once. Herman hit .325 or higher in five seasons and finished in the top-five in the MVP voting three times. His best season was with the  1935 Cubs, when he hit .341-7-83, scored 113 runs and led the league with 222 hits. 57 doubles and 24 sacrifice bunts.

Let’s Get This Party Started

Billy Herman shares the record(s) for the most base hits and most extra-base hits in an Opening Day game. On the Cubs’ Opening Day in 1936 (April 16 in St. Louis), Herman collected five hits (three doubles, a home run and a single) in five at bats, as the Cubs pounded the Redbirds 12-7.   

Note: I also looked at Pete Coscarart at second base. Although he faced Carl Hubbell late in Hubbell’s career, the Dodgers’ 2B-SS got off to a good start against King Carl.  In his first six plate appearances against Hubbell, Coscarart went single, single, single, strikeout, hit-by-pitch, single. In 14 games against Hubbell (1939-43), Coscarart (a career .243 hitter), hit .412 (14-for-34). In, putting Herman ahead of Coscarart, I considered Coscarart faced Hubbell over the final five years of Hubbell’s career and his 14 hits produced just one RBI (in eight games).

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Third Base –  Tie:  Pepper Martin & Les Bell

Pepper Martin – Cardinals’ spark plug Pepper Martin started against Carl Hubbell in LF, CF, RF and 3B – and makes it here at third base because he started more games (against Hubbell) there than at any other position.  Martin’s 43 hits were the fifth-most against Hubbell, his eight doubles also fifth, his three triples tied for third, his four home runs tied for sixth and his 21 RBI tied for sixth. A career .298 hitter, Martin hit .327 versus Hubbell.

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Pepper Martin had five singles (and a strikeout) in his first six plate appearances versus Carl Hubbell.

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Martin played 13 MLB seasons (1928, 1930-40, 1944), all for the Cardinals. He hit .298-59-501, with 146 steals and 756 runs scored in 1,189 games. He was a four-time All Star and led the NL in stolen bases three times.  Martin hit .300 or better in six campaigns and scored 100+ runs three times (each time surpassing 120 runs scored). He played in 100 or more games in just five of his 13 MLB seasons.

Photo: Exhibits, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Les Bell  – Les Bell hit .385, with one home run and eight RBI in  11 games against Hubbell (1928-31) – including a pinch-hit Grand slam on May 26, 1929. His .429 on-base percentage against Hubbell was the seventh-best among player with at least 25 plate appearances against The Meal Ticket.  Bell played in nine MLB seasons (1923-31 … Cardinals, Braves, Cubs), hitting .290-86-509 in 896 games. His best season was 1926, when he hit .325-17-100, for the Cardinals and finished sixth in the MVP voting.

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Shortstop – Arky Vaughn

Photo: Goudey, via Wikimedia Commons

Arky Vaughn had 52 hits in 54 games against Carl Hubbell (the second-most regular season safeties of any player).  His four home runs tie for the sixth-most and his 16 RBI tie for fourteenth.  Vaughn hit ,333 or better in five of the 11 seasons he faced Hubbell and he was particularly effective in 1937 (when Hubbell went 22-8, 3.20 and Vaughn hit .444, with two home runs against him in five games).

Vaughn played 14 MLB seasons (1932-43, 1947-48 … Pirates, Dodgers).  The nine-time All Star hit .318-96-926, with 1,173 runs scored. He led the NL in runs scored three times, triples three times, steals once, batting average once and walks three times.

.300 … That’s a Nice Round Number

Arky Vaughn his .300 or better  in each of his his first ten MLB seasons and in 12 of his 14 MLB campaigns. 

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Outfield – Lefty O’Doul

Photo: Goudey, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Lefty O’Doul hit .357 against Carl Hubbell in 25 games, with five home runs (fifth-most against Hubbell) and 17 RBI (tied for tenth most). Surprisingly, O’Doul started his career as a pitcher. In fact, in 1921 – at the age of  24 – he went 25-9, 2.39 (pitching in 47 games) for the Pacific Coast League San Francisco Seals and, in 1924, he appeared on the mound in 23 games for the Red Sox.  Note: This does not mean his bat was silent.  In that 25-win season for the Seals, he also hit .338 (in 74 games).  Ultimately, a sore arm led him off the mound and to a career .349 MLB average.

In 1929, Left O’Doul hit .520 (13 for 25) with three home runs and seven RBI against Carl Hubbell (in six games).

O’Doul played 11 MLB seasons (1919-20, 1922-23 and 1928-34 … Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, Phillies, Dodgers). He was a career .349 hitter and twice led the NL in average (.398 in 1929 for the Phillies and .368 in 1932 for the Dodgers). O’Doul’s career stat line was .349-113-542 (in 970 games).

Lefty O’Doul Liked to Face the Best

Available stats show that in 360 at bats against nine Hall of Fame pitchers, O’Doul hit .375, with 16 home runs and 70 RBI (with 37 walks versus just 16 strikeouts).

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Outfield – Hack Wilson

Photo: Conlon, Charles Martin, 1868-1945 (Photographer), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Hack Wilson hit .351 against Carl Hubbell in 33 games. His four home runs is tied for the sixth-most against Hubbell, his 17 RBI tied for tenth, his .427 on-base percentage tenth and his .575 slugging percentage eleventh. Wilson also drew 14 walks against Hubbell, the third-most of any player. Wilson hit .333 or better in six of the seven seasons he faced Hubbell (1928-34). Of note, in the one season he failed to it at least .333 against King Carl, Hubbell held Wilson  hitless in ten at bats.

In 1933, when Hubbell went 23-12, with an MLB-low 1.66 earned run average, Wilson hit .476 against him in seven games.

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Hack Wilson holds the single-season MLB record for RBI. He put up a .356-56-191 line for the 1930 Cubs. 

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A Hall of Famer, Wilson played 12 MLB seasons (1923-34 … Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies). He led the NL in home runs four times – a high of 56 in 1930 – RBI twice and walks twice. He hit over .300 in five seasons and his career stat line was .307-244-1.063.

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Outfield  – Tie …. Joe Medwick and Ival Goodall

For the third outfield spot, we have a tie between a name you’ve heard a lot – and another you might not be familiar with.  I’d add that filling this final spot was no easy call.

Photo: St Louis Cardinals / MLB, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Joe Medwick … Joe “Ducky” Medwick hit .313 versus Hubbell in  47 games.  His 50 hits versus King Carl are tied for fourth-most all-time, his six home runs tied for second, his nine doubles tied for third and his 22 RBI are fourth,  So, why was this a difficult call?  (This should provide more insight into how  I select these lineups.)

1. Medwick’s .313 average was below his ,324 career mark.
2. His on-base percentage (.325) against Hubbell  was only 12 points above his average.
3. Medwick really padded his stats against Hubbell in the final two year he faced him (which were two of Hubbell’s final three campaigns). Medwick, who faced Hubbell in ten seasons, hit .480 against him in those two campaigns– collecting 24 percent of his career hits versus Hubbell and 31 percent of his career RBI.
4. Balancing all this was the fact the Medwick  hit .365 (19-for-52), with two home runs and six RBI in 1936-37 – two seasons in which Hubbell posted a combined 48-14, 2.71 mark.

Medwick, a Hall of Famer, played 17 MLB seasons hitting .324-205-1,383. He led the league in runs scored once, hits twice, doubles three times, triples once, home runs once, RBI three times, total bases three times and batting average once.  He was a ten-time All Star and the 1937 National Leaguer MVP (when he won the Triple Crown).

Photo: Cincinnati Reds – 1940 Team Issue, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ival Goodman …  A bit less well-known than Ducky Medwick (understatement there), Ival Goodman played in just 25 games versus Hubbell (64 at bats), but his six homers tied for the second-most against Hubbell and his 16 RBI were 14th and, notably, everyone ahead of him on the lists in those two categories had at least 49 percent more at bats versus Hubbell.  Goodman’s .328 average versus Hubbell was more than 40 points higher than his career averages (.281).

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Ival Goodman’s first hit off Carl Hubbell (in his first game against him) was an inside-the-park home run – the only inside-the-park homer of Goodman’s MLB career. 

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Goodman played in 11 MLB seasons (1935-44 … Reds Cubs), hitting .281-95-515 in 1,107 games. He was a two-time  All Star and twice led the National League in triples.  His best season was 1938, when he went .292-30-92 for the Reds.

Goodman played football, basketball and track in high school (his high school did not field a baseball team) and was recruited off a townball team. He was  known more for his speed and defense than his power (he had 85 career triples and 95 career home runs).   Over his career, Goodman averaged one home run per  every 46.7 at bats – against Hubbell he laced one home per every 10.6 at bats.

Ival  Goodman drove in the first run in the first night game in MLB history. It came in the bottom of the first frame of a Reds 2-1 win over the Phillies on May 22, 1935.

Note: I also looked at Paul Waner (.318-0-24), whose 67 hits were the most of any batter versus Hubbell (Waner’s .318 average was below his career average and there were those zero home runs) and Jack Rothrock (.350-2-9 in 11 games versus Hubbell).

Pitcher(s) – Harry Gumbert, Jim Tobin, Fred Frankhouse and Red Lucas

For obvious reasons, individual opposing pitchers did not rack up significant numbers of plate appearances versus Hubbell.  With that disclaimer, here are a few who hit him well.

Harry Gumbert … Righty Harry Gumbert was a career .184 hitter (with five home runs and 45 RBI) in 708 at bats. However,  he hit .600 (in three  games) versus Carl Hubbell.   As a pitcher, Gumbert went 143-13 over 15 MLB seasons (1935-44, 1946-50 … Giants, Cardinals, Reds, Pirates). He appeared in 508 games (235 starts). Gumbert’s best season as a hitter was 1941, when he .292 (17-for-64), with two home runs and six RBI (for the Giants and Cardinals). His best season on the mound was 1937, when he went 18-11, 4.32 for the Giants (as a teammate of Hubbell). Gumbert won ten or more games in eleven seasons.  In the three games in which he pitched and batted  against Hubbell, Gumbert went 2-1, 2.53, while Hubbell went 101, 3.92.

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Jim Tobin … No surprise to find right-hander Jim Tobin here.  He was one of the best-hitting pitchers of all-time (in fact, appearing as a pinch-hitter 108 times). Tobin played in the major leagues from 1937 through 1945 (Pirates, Braves, Tigers). At the plate, his career stat line was .230-17-102 (in 796 at bats). As a pitcher, he went 105-112, 3.44 in 287 games (227 starts). As a moundsman, Tobin finished over .500 in just three of nine seasons.  His best season as a batsman was his 1937 rookie campaign, when he hit .441 (15-for-34) in 21 games. (He had a five-homer, 17-RBI season in 1945 (his final MLB season), but hit just .137. In the games in which Tobin both pitched and batted against Hubbell (he was used as a pinch hitter versus Hubbell twice), Tobin went 2-1, with a 1.70 earned run average to Hubbell’s 2-2, 1.68.

Jim Tobin is one of only two MLB pitchers to hit three home runs in a game.  On May 13, 1942 – in a 6-5 Braves’ win over the Cubs – Tobin pitched a complete-game five-hitter (three earned runs) for the Braves and smacked three home runs (four RBI). Pitcher  Guy Hecker hit three home runs for the Louisville  Colonels in a 22-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on August 15, 1886. 

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Fred Frankhouse … Righty Fred Frankhouse was a solid hitter (for a pitcher), putting up a .208 career average (132-for-636), with one homer and 58 RBI –  and hitting .357 versus Carl Hubbell.  He played 13 MLB seasons (1927-39 … Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers) and went 106-97, 3.92 in 402 games (213 starts). His best season season was 1934 – his only All Star year – when he went 17-9, 3.20 for the Braves. He won ten or more games in five seasons(1933-36).  His best season at the plate was 1930, when he hi t.359, with seven RBI in 27 games.  In games in which he pitched and batted against Hubbell, Frankhouse had some “hard luck,.” He was 1-4, with a 1.98 earned run average to Hubbell’s 5-1, 2.39.

Hard Luck

On April 20, 1933, Frank Frankhouse pitched a complete game for the Braves (versus Carl Hubbell and the Giants), giving up just one earned run.  Hubbell, however, pitched a four-hit, 13-strikeout shutout.  Frankhouse, by the way, had two of the four hits versus Hubbell.

In the first three games that Frankhouse pitched versus Hubbell, Frankhouse surrendered just four earned runs in 26 innings, while Hubbell gave up just two earned tallies in 28 innings (one was a 10-inning contest). For his quality efforts, Frankhouse picked up three losses. 

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Red Lucas …  Left-handed hitting (right-handed pitching) Red Lucas is probably on a lot of lists like this – having made 396 appearances as a pitcher and 506 as a pinch-hitter.  At the plate, Lucas hit .281 (404-for-1,439), with three home runs and 190 RBI. (He hit .318 versus Hubbell.) On the mound, Lucas was 157-135, 3.72 in 396 games (303 starts/204 complete games/22 shutouts).  His best season on the bump was 1929 (Reds), when he went 19-12, 3.60 and led the NL with 28 complete games. Lucas won 15 or more games three times and led the NL in complete games three times. His best season with the bat was 1927, when he hit .313 (47-for-150) and drove in 28 runs.  Lucas hit .300 or better in six of his 16 seasons. In games in which he pitched against Hubbell (Lucas was never used as a pinch hitter versus King Carl), Lucas held his own.  He went 4-6, 3.10 to Hubbell’s 5-4, 2.97.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com

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MLB just announced its 2022 Rookies of the Year.  Congratulations to the Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez and the Braves’ Michael Harris. (For a look at Baseball Roundtable’s 2022 All-Rookie Lineup, click here. )

In this post, we’ll take a look at Baseball Roundtable’s All-Time, All-Rookie Lineup. There are some surprises (and coincidences) along the way. For example:

• In his rookie season, the starting second baseman actually finished second in Rookie of the Year balloting to another second baseman;
• The starter at third base played 112 games at the hot corner in his rookie campaign – and never played there again in his 14-season MLB career;
• One of the starters played thirty or more games at four different positions in his rookie season;
• In college, one of the players was a two-time baseball All American and two-time academic All American;
• Another of the players hit a Grand Slam and turned an unassisted triple play in his first college game;
• Nearly half of the featured members of the “Lineup” (six of 13) had their stellar rookie campaigns in their age-23 seasons;
• The lineup includes one 20-year-old (the youngest) and two 27-year-olds (the oldest); 
• And more.

Before we start, a few words about the selection process (and, as with all baseball ratings, all my choices are open too discussion and debate). I looked primarily at traditional statistics (for example, I did not consider WAR) and compared the candidates to the players of their time (more than to each other).  I also added weight to those who led the league (or were in the top five) in statistical categories or captured such honors as All Star selections, MVP Awards or Cy Young Awards in their rookie seasons.  As usual, I tended to lean towards players who had more hits and/or fewer unproductive at bats (an admitted bias toward higher averages or on-base percentages and fewer strikeouts). Another productivity measure I looked at was runs created.  I hope you enjoy the read and find some food for thought.

So, here we go.

CATCHER – Josh Gibson, 1933 Pittsburgh Crawfords

Photo: Harrison Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As a 21-year-old rookie in 1933, Josh Gibson helped lead the Pittsburgh Crawfords to the Negro National League title. He played in 68 of the Crawfords’ 89 games and was behind  the plate in 48 of them.   In the process, he led the league in hits (94), triples (7), home runs (18), RBI (74), total bases (177), on-base percentage (.442), and slugging percentage  (.774).  He finished second in batting average, and third in runs scored, doubles and walks.

Side: note: MLB rules indicate a player qualifies as a rookie unless he has exceeded 130 at bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues. From 1930-32, Gibson played primarily  for independent clubs.

Gibson went on to play a total of 14 seasons in the Negro Leagues (MLB now considers the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1948 to be major leagues) – putting up a .374-165-730 line. He twice won the Triple Crown (1936 and 1937), led the league in home runs 11 times, RBI seven times, runs scored five times, hits twice, batting average three times and total bases six times.

Honorable  Mentions:  Mike Piazza, 1993 Dodgers (.318-35-112); Benito Santiago, 1987 Padres, who went .300-18-79 and swiped 21 bases in 146 games); Carlton Fisk, 1972 Red Sox  (.293-22-61, with a league-leading nine triples).

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Special Mention – Mike Piazza

Who could have predicted that the 1,390th player selected in the 1988 MLB draft would not only be the 1993 Rookie of the Year, but would also earn a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Mike Piazza was also an All Star and Silver Slugger winner in his 1993 rookie campaign (Dodgers). In his 24-year-old rookie season, Piazza finished seventh in the AL in batting average (.318); sixth in home runs (35) and fourth in RBI (112).

Piazza hit .308, with 427 home runs and 1,335 RBI in 16 MLB seasons (Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Padres, A’s). He was a two-time All Star, won ten Silver Slugger awards, topped 20 home runs nine times, 100 RBI six times, produced a .300+ average in nine campaigns and four times finished among the top four voter getters for MVP. Not bad for a 62^nd-round draft pick.

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FIRST BASE – Mark McGwire, 1987 A’s

Photo: Silent Sensei from Santa Cruz, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mark McGwire’s original call up was not an eye-opener (18 games in 1986, with a .189-3-9 stat line.) However, he made good on his promise in his first full season – going .289-49-118 for the A’s as a 23-year-old in 1987; and setting a rookie HR record that stood for three decades.  In 1987, McGwire led the American League in home runs and slugging percentage, was third in RBI and second in total bases. He finished sixth in the AL MVP balloting. McGwire went on to a 16-season MLB career in which he hit .263, with 583 long balls and 1,414 RBI. McGwire led his league in home runs four times (a high of 70 in 1998) and in RBI once (147 in 1999).

McGwire was drafted by the A’s in the first round (tenth overall) of the 1984 MLB Draft (out of the University of Southern California).

From Pitcher to First Base … Not a Bad Move

In three seasons (1982-84) at the University of Southern California, Mark McGwire hit .358, with 51 home runs and 139 RBI in 120 games (with all those hits coming in his final two campaigns). Some might be surprised to learn that, in 1982, McGwire was a pitcher (and did not come to the plate). He went 4-4, 3.04 in 20 games (four starts). McGwire was the Sporting News College Player of the Year in 1984, when he put up a .387-32-80 stat line in 67 games.

Honorable Mentions: Pete Alonso, 2019 Mets (.260-53-120), the AL leader in home runs, while setting a new MLB rookie record for round trippers); Dale Alexander, 1929 Tigers (.343-25-137,  with a league-leading 215 hits); Buck Leonard, 1935 Homestead Grays, who hit a league-leading .389 (40 games).

Special Mention – Jackie Robinson

You could not post about an All-Time, All-Rookie Lineup with a shout out to Jackie Robinson (after all, the Rookie of the Year Award is now known as The Jackie Robinson Award). Robinson won the award as a first baseman in 1947 – the season he broke MLB’s color line. Robinson hit .297, with 12 home runs, 48 RBI, 125 runs scored and a league-tipping 29 steals – while dealing with the pressures of an historic season.  While his offensive numbers do not match those of some of the others rookies at this traditionally offensive-focused position, there is no doubt about his, character courage and performance under pressure. And there is no double any post focusing on outstanding rookies would be incomplete without him. 

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 SECOND BASE – Joe  Morgan, 1965 Astros

Photo: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Common

This one was a tough call. I  found myself comparing speed (like Bump Wills’ 28 steals and 87 runs scored in 1997) to power (like Gleyber Torres’ 24 home runs and 77 RBI in 2018).  Ultimately, I went for a rookie second baseman who gave me some of each. Joe Morgan hit .271 as a 21-year-old rookie in 1965.  He tossed in 14 home runs, 20 steals and 100 runs scored.  In addition, his 97 walks led the league (helping him to a .373 on-base percentage, tenth in the league) – and he fanned just 77 times.

Morgan played basketball and baseball in high school, but was not recruited by four-year colleges – perhaps due to his size (5’7”).   He schooled and played instead at Oakland City College (a two-year institution), where he began to attract some  attention from scouts.  (In his second year at Oakland City College, he hit .367 and led the team in average, home runs and stolen bases.)

Morgan signed with the Astros (as an amateur free agent) in 1962 and was a major-league regular by 1965. He, in fact, made his MLB debut in as a 20-year-old in September of 1963.  (Morgan played in 18 MLB games in 1963-64.) In his final minor-league campaign, Morgan hit .323-12-90, with 47 steals in 140 games for the 1964 Double-A San Antonio Bullets.

Morgan went on to a 22-season MLB career. Hitting .271-268-1,133, with 689 stolen bases and 1,650 runs scored. He was a ten -time All Star, two-time Most Valuable Player and five-time Gold Glover.

Honorable Mentions:  Gleyber Torres, 2018 Yankees (.271-24-77); Del Pratt, 1912 Browns (.302-5-69, with 24 steals and 76 runs scored); Bump Wills, 1977 Rangers  (.287-9-62, with 28 steals and 87 runs scored); Dustin Pedroia, 2007 Red Sox (.317-8-50, with 86 runs scored).

Does This Seem Fair?

In 1965, Baseball Roundtable’s choice for second base on this All-Time, All-Rookie Lineup (Joe Morgan) finished second in the National League ROY balloting to another second baseman. Jim Lefebvre of the Dodgers got 14 first-place votes to Morgan’s four. Each played in 157 games with Morgan outhitting  Lefebvre .271 to .250, outscoring him 100 to 57, hitting 14 home runs to Lefebvre’s 12, stealing 20 bases to Lefebvre’s three, drawing 97 walks to the Dodgers’ second sacker’s 71 – and outdistancing  him in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Lefebvre did best Morgan in RBI (69-to-40). Their fielding stats were fairly equal, with Morgan making 27 errors in 867 chances and Lefebvre making 24 errors in 802 chances (Lefebvre’s fielding percentage was  .970 to Morgan’s .969).  

Side note: Jim Gilliam’s 1953 season for the Dodgers  (.278-6-63, with 125 runs scored and a league-topping 17 triples) would have made this list a few years ago.  But now that the Negro Leagues (1920-48) are considered major leagues, his rookie season would be with the Baltimore Elite giants in 1947.

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THIRD BASE – Ryan Braun, 2007 Brewers

Photo: Ian D’Andrea from Philadelphia, PA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ryan Braun put up a .324-34-97 line, with 91 runs scored, 15 steals and a league-topping .634 slugging percentage in 2007. Notably, he started 112 games at third base that season – and did not start there again in his 14 MLB seasons (defensive issues at the hot corner led to a move to the outfield).

Braun was  a first-round pick (fifth overall) of the Brewers in the 2005 draft – after three seasons at the University of Miami, where he was .365-45-195 over 165 games.

Ryan Braun College Stardom

In 2003 (while playing for the University of Miami), Ryan Braun was Baseball America’s National Freshman of the Year after going .364-17-74. He was also a 2005 All American (and Atlantic Coat Conference Player of the Year) – after a .388-18-76 season. (College Stats from TheBaseballCube.com)

Braun rose quickly through the minor-league ranks – hitting .352-10-45 in 47 games at Rookie- and A-Ball in 2005; .289-22-77, with 26 steals at High-A and Double-A in 2006; and  .342-10-22 in 34 games at Triple-A in 2007.  He made his MLB debut, at the age of 23, May 25, 2007.

Braun went on to a 14-season MLB career (.296-352-1,154, with 216 stolen bases).  He was the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, a six-time All Star and the 2011 National League MVP.

Honorable Mentions: Dick Allen, 1964 Philllies (.318-29-91, with a league-leading 125 runs scored.);  Al Rosen,  1950 Indians  (.287-37-116, with 100 runs scored); Kevin Seitzer, 1987 Royals (.323-15-83, with 12 steals and 105 runs scored); Pete Ward, 1963 White Sox (.295-22-84).

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SHORTSTOP – Nomar Garciaparra, 1997 Red Sox

Photo: Jon Gudorf Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Nomar Garciaparra’s rookie season saw the 23-year-old lead the American League in at bats, hits, and triples, while scoring 122 runs and putting up a .306-30-98 stat line, with 22 stolen bases. Garciaparra was drafted (by the Brewers) in the first round of the 1994 draft (out of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he had hit .372-23-166 with 66 steals over three seasons – 174 games).

Like most players on this list, Garciaparra’s rise to the major leagues was swift – coming in just his third professional season. He was called up  in late 1996 and got in 24 games for the Red Sox, hitting .241-4-176 (and keeping his rookie status for 1997).

All Star on the Field and in the Classroom

Nomar Garciaparra was a two-time, first-team All American and a two-time Academic All American.

Garciaparra went on to a 14-season MLB career, hitting .313-229-936.  He was a six-time All Star and won back-to-back AL batting titles in 1999 (.357) and 2000 (.371).

Honorable Mentions: Corey Seager, 2016 Dodgers (.308-26-72, with 105 runs scored); Hanley Ramirez, 2006 Marlins (.292-17-59, with 51 steals and 119 runs scored); Troy Tulowitzki, 2007 Rockies (.291-24-99, with 104 runs scored); Johnny Pesky, 1942 Red Sox, (.331-2-51, with 205 hits, 12 steals and 105 runs scored); Harvey Kuenn, 1953 Tigers (308-2-48, with a league-leading 209 hits).

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LEFT FIELD – Wally Berger, 1930 Braves

Wally Berger made his major-league debut for the Boston Braves on April 15, 1930 – after three minor-league seasons over which he hit .352, with 144 home runs in 499 games. As a 24-year-old MLB rookie, he finished third in the National League in home runs – and his 38 long balls were the record for an MLB  rookie that stood for 57 years.

Berger went on to play 11 MLB seasons, hitting .300, with 242 home runs and 898 RBI. He was a four-time All Star and led the NL in home runs (34) and RBI (130) in 1935.

Honorable Mentions: Mitchell Page, 1977 A’s (.307-21-75, with 42 steals and 85 runs scored); Frank Robinson, 1956 Reds (.290-38-83, with a league-leading 122 runs scored – at the ripe young age of 20); Jeff Heath, 1938 Indians (.343-21-112, with 104 runs scored); Kiki Cuyler, 1924 Pirates (.354-9-85, with 32 seals and 94 runs scored).

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CENTER FIELD – Fred Lynn, 1975 Red Sox

Photo: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The first player to win Rookie of the Year and a Most Valuable Player Award in the same season, Lynn had shown his promise the season before. Called up from the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox (where he hit .282-21-68 in 124 games), Lynn closed out the 1974 season hitting .419 in 15 games for Boston.  In 1975, the 23-year-old hit .331 (second in the AL), with 21 home runs, 105 RBI (third in the AL) and an AL-leading 103 runs scored  – and he won a Gold Glove for his defensive play in center field.

Lynn was selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 1973 MLB draft. He played his college ball at the University of Southern California, where he hit .320-28-111 over three seasons and was a first-team All American in 1972.

Lynn went on to a 17-season career during which he was an All Star in nine seasons and a four-time Gold Glover. His career stat line was .283-306-1,111 .

Honorable Mentions: Mike Trout, 2012 Angels (.326-30-83, with 49 steals and 129 runs scored); Turkey Stearnes, 1923 Detroit Stars (.362-17-85); Oscar Charleston, 1920 Indianapolis ABCs (.353-5-59, with a league-leading 122 hits, 80 runs scored and 11 triples); Cristobal Torriente, 1920 Chicago American Giants – the Negro National League batting champions as a rookie (.411-2-58); Kenny Lofton, 1992 Indians (.285-5-42, with 96 runs scored and 66 steals).

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RIGHT Field – Tie … Shoeless Joe Jackson, 1911 Indians,  Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 Mariners & Ted Williams, 1939 Red Sox

Yes, I know a three-way tie is kind of a cop-out, but there was so much to choose from here – a .400+ hitter; a batting champ who who, in 2001,  put up (at the time) the ninth-most hits ever in an MLB season (and the most since 1930) and a 20-year-old who drove in 145 runs ans scored 131.

Photo: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Joe Jackson … The 23-year-old Indians’ outfielder had been called up for the proverbial MLB “cup of coffee” in 1908, 1909 and 1910, but had seen action in only 30 games – retaining his rookie status. After a 1910 season that saw Jackson hit .354 in 136 games for the Class-A New Orleans Pelicans and then .387 in 20 contests for the Indians, Jackson had cemented a spot with the 1911 AL Indians’ squad.  That season, he started 96 games in right field and 50 in center.

In 147 games, he hit .408, with 233 hits, 126 runs scored, 45 doubles, 19 triples, seven home runs, 83 RBI and 41 stolen bases.   In 1911,  Jackson was second in MLB in batting average (to Ty Cobb’s .420); first in on-base percentage (.468); second (to Cobb) in slugging percentage at .590; second in runs scored (again to Cobb); second in hits (Cobb); second in doubles (Cobb); and second in total bases with 337 (Cobb, 367). He finished fourth in the MVP voting.

If it took Ty Cobb in his prime to outhit you in your rookie season, you’ve earned a spot in this lineup.

Jackson – caught up in the Black Sox scandal of 1919 – went on to a 13-year career in which he  averaged .356, three times led the AL in triples, twice led the AL in hits, twice topped the league in total bases and racked up single seasons leading the AL in doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. By the way, Jackson hit .375 in that infamous 1919 World Series.

Photo: Jeffrey Hayes, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ichiro Suzuki … Like Fred Lynn in this outfield, Suzuki was the Rookie of the Year and League MVP in the same season. As a 27-year-old MLB rookie, he led the AL with a .350 average and 242 hits – and added a league-leading 56 stolen bases and a Gold Glove. Keep in mind, that Suzuki had nine seasons in Japan before making the “major leagues” (.353 average and seven batting championships in Japan).

Like Elvis, Cher and Madonna, Ichiro became a a star who needed only one name.  After a spectacular rookie season in MLB, Ichiro just kept on hitting.  He amassed  200+ hits in each of his first ten MLB seasons, leading the league in safeties seven times – and picked up a pair of batting titles along the way.  He was also a Gold Glover in each of his first ten seasons. Ichiro retired with  a .311 MLB average, 3,089 hits, 117 home runs, 780 RBI, 1,420 runs scored. And 509 steals.

Photo: Apex Photo Company, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ted Williams …   Teddy Ball Game broke into the big leagues in 1939 – a 20-year-old rookie. It was his fourth professional season and, in three minor-league campaigns, his average had gone from .271 to .291 to .366. In 1939, Williams hit .327, banged out 31 home runs, led all of MLB with 145 RBI, led the American League with 344 total bases and scored 131 times. He finished seventh in the AL in batting average; fifth in hits (185); first in total bases (344); second in doubles (44); fifth in triples (11); and third in home runs (31).

Williams went on to a Hall of Fame career that included 19 All Star selections, two MVP Awards and two Triple Crowns.  He led his league in batting average six times; home run four times; runs scored six times; RBI four times; total bases six times; on-base percentage 12 times; slugging percentage nine times; and, not surprisingly, walks eight times and intentional walks nine times.  He set the tone for this remarkable career in his rookie season.

A Hero On and Off the Field

Ted Williams lost approximately five years of MLB playing time while serving in the U.S military – as a combat fighter pilot –  in World War II and the Korean War. 

Honorable Mentions: Aaron Judge, 2017 Yankees (.284-52-114, with 128 runs scored); George Watkins, 1930 Cardinals (.373-17-87, with 85 runs scored);  Tony Oliva, 1964 Twins (,323,-32-94, with 109 runs scored and 12 steals and the AL tops in hits and average).

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DH/UTILITY – Albert Pujols, 2001 Cardinals

Photo: SD Dirk on Flickr (Original version)  UCinternational (Crop), CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Some may be surprised that Albert Pujols is not at first base in this lineup. The reason is that in his rookie season (2001), the 21-year-old Pujols started just 31 of 161 games played (19.2%) at first base. In his rookie season, Pujols started 52 games at 3B; 38 in LF; 33 in RF; 31 at 1B; and 2 at DH.

In 2001, Pujols put up the first in a string of remarkable seasons –  hitting  .329, with 37 home runs, 130 RBI and 112 runs scored and earning Rookie of the Year Award and a fourth-place finish in the MVP balloting. Over the first ten seasons of his career, he topped a .300 average, 30 home runs and 100 RBI every season.

Pujols scores points for making a .300-30-100 season seem a bit mundane – right from his rookie season.  He also gets extra credit for versatility.

Pujols was drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB Draft (out of Metropolitan Community College -Maple Woods, Kansas City). Pujols hit .461, with 22 home runs in his only college season.

That’s a Good Start

In his first college game, Albert Pujols started at shortstop and hit a Grand Slam Home Run AND turned an unassisted triple play.

“One That Got Away,” Gordon Edes, Boston Globe, October 11, 2006

Retiring after the 2022 season, Pujols’ stat line is .296-703-2,218 (with 3,384 hits).   The 11-time All Star and three-time MVP led his league in runs scored five times, home runs twice, RBI once and average once. He also picked up a pair of Gold Gloves along the way. As a rookie, he got a Hall of Fame career off to a great start

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STARTING PITCHER – Russ Ford,  1910 Yankees

Photo: Bain News Service (publisher), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Unlike many of the players on this list, after a spectacular rookie season, right-handed hurler Russ Ford did not go on to a long and illustrious MLB career. Before making the New York Highlanders (Yankees) roster in 1910, Ford did get a somewhat disappointing  “cup of major-league coffee” in 1909 – one game, three innings pitched, four hits, four walks, three hit batsmen, three earned runs, two strikeouts.

Still a rookie in 1910, the 27-year-old righty went 26-6 with a 1.65 ERA. In his initial full campaign, Ford was second in the AL in wins (26); second in winning percentage (.813); seventh in ERA (1.65); fourth in strikeouts (209); fifth in games started (33); fourth in complete games (29); second in shutouts (8); allowed the fewest hits per nine innings (5.89); and had the second-lowest Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched (0.88).  On a Highlanders’ team that finished second with an 88-63 record, Ford led the team in virtually every positive pitching category.

Ford followed that rookie season with a 22-11, 2.27 record in 1911, but then led the AL in losses (13-21, 3.55) in 1912 and lost 18 games (versus 12 wins) in 1913. He jumped to Buffalo of the Federal League in 1914, going 21-6, 1.82 … and 5-9, 4.52 in 1915. Historians report that Ford’s career was cut short (he did not pitch in the majors after 1915) with the banning of his signature pitch – the well-scuffed “emery ball.”  His final MLB line, over seven seasons, was 99-71, 2.59.

Honorable Mentions: Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander, 1911 Phillies (28-11, 2.57 – leading the league in wins, complete games with 31 and shutouts with seven);  Dwight Gooden, 1984 Mets (17-9, 2.60, while leading the NL in complete games with 16, innings pitched with 276 2/3 and strikeouts with 276); Fernando Valenzuela, 1981 Dodgers ( 13-7 in the strike-shortened 1981 season – winning both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award – and leading the league in complete games with 11, shutouts with eight, innings pitched with 192 1/3 and strikeouts with 180); Mark Fidrych, 1976 Tigers (19-9, 2.34 – leading the league in ERA, complete games with 24, throwing complete games in 11 of his first 12 MLB starts and topping the league in talking to baseballs).

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RELIEF PITCHER – Craig Kimbrel, 2010 Braves

Photo: LWY on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop), CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2011, 23-year-old Craig Kimbrel set the rookie record for saves, with 46 – leading the National League. He put up a 2.10 ERA in a league-leading 64 appearances (fanning 127 in 77 innings).

Kimbrel was  selected (by the Braves) in the third round of the 2008 MLB draft (out of Wallace State Community College). In his freshman season at Wallace State (2007), Kimbrel went 8-0, 1.99. He followed that up with a 9-3, 2.88 record in 2008.

After being drafted by the Braves, Kimbrel went 8-7, 1,85 with 51 saves and 242 whiffs in 151 innings over three minor-league seasons. He did pitch for the Braves in 2010, going 4-0, with a 0.44 ERA in 21 appearances (his 20 2/3 innings pitched enabled him to retain his rookie status into 2011.)

Kimbrel, still active in 2022, is an eight-time All Star and has led his league in saves four times. His career record at the end of the 2022 season was 41-36, 2.31, with 394 saves and 1,098 strikeouts in 688 1/3 innings pitched.

Honorable  Mentions: Neftali Felix, 2010 Rangers (4-3, 2.73 with 40 saves in a league-leading 59 appearances); Andrew Bailey, 2009 A’s (6-3, 1.84 with 26 saves); Huston Street, 2005 A’s (5-1, 1.71 with 23 saves); Kaz Sasaki, 2000 Mariners (2-5, 3.16 with 37 saves).

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

 

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