Archives for January 2023

Brief Mound Appearances – A Portside Show

January 30, 2023 by

It’s the off-season and, as usual, while I await the start of Spring Training, I find myself musing about a variety of baseball topics and statistics.  This time, it’s brief – very brief – pitching appearances.  So, while this post my seem, at times, a bit like watching a series of unrelated slides (some or you do remember slides, I hope), there is a central theme.

One first observation, as  I looked at the leading pitchers when it comes to brief appearances (I chose one-batter and one-pitch mound appearances), it was clear the lists was dominated by left-handed sidearmers – with offerings ranging submariner Mike Myers’ angling fastball to Tony Fossas’ slow, sidearm curve.

How dominant were lefty sidearmers on these lists? When you look at the top five pitchers in terms of one-batter and one-pitch appearances, seven pitchers hold the top ten places (three appear on both lists).  All seven are southpaws and five of the seven are sidearmers or submariners.   This  portside dominance, by the way, has been recognized with an adaption of the term  “LOOGY”  to describe a “Left-handed One Out Guy.”  With recent rule changes, however, this terminology may be on the way to becoming extinct. (More on that a bit later).

Let’s get on to  the lists – starting with the one-batter appearances.    

Photo: Keith Allison on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The career leader in one-batter appearances is submariner Mike Myers – with 320 one-batter appearances in 13 MLB seasons (1995-2007 … Marlins, Tigers, Brewers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Red Sox, Yankees, White Sox).  Myers was signed by the Giants in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft – out of Iowa State University, where he went 6-5, 2.65 over two seasons (14 games as a starter/18 as a reliever).

Myers credits Hall of Famer Al Kaline with encouraging him (in 1996, Myers’ seventh pro season and second in the major leagues) to “drop down” into the submarine motion. Myers went on to pitch in the majors through 2007 – going 25-24, 4.29 with 14 saves.  His status as one of the kings of the brief appearance is reflected in the fact that he threw a total of 541 2/3 innings in 883 MLB appearances (0.61 innings per appearance – all in relief) – walking 256 and fanning 429. He averaged just 41.6 innings per season over his MLB career and pitched 50 or more innings in only four campaigns (a high of 64 1/3 innings in 83 1996 appearances). Myers twice led the AL in appearances and made 60 or more appearances in 12 seasons. Over his MLB career, Myers held left-handed batters (1,263 plate appearances) to a .219 average, while righties (1,122 plate appearances) hit .301 against him. Myers’ best season was 2000, when he went 0-1, with a 1.99 earned run average and one save in 78 games (45 1/3 innings) for the Rockies. Notably, that season, Myers put up a 2.00 ERA at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

Mikey Myers led the American League in pitching appearances in 1996 and 1997 (83 and 85 games, respectively). In each of those seasons, his earned run average was north of 5.00 (.5.01 and 5.70).

Note: In the chart above, all are southpaws and all but Dan Plesac were submariners or sidearmers.

Now, the one-pitch appearances.

Javier Lopez is the King  of the One-Pitch Outing – and is likely to retain the crown.

 DISCLAIMER, KIND OF

MLB didn’t start tracking pitch counts until 1988, so the one-pitch inning records noted here – unless otherwise explained – are from 1988 forward. 

Photo: Lopez SD Dirk on Flickr, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Javier Lopez was a left-handed, sidearming relief specialist who forged a 14-season MLB career (2003-2016 … Rockies, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants). Lopez’  MLB tenure took place after MLB started tracking pitch counts and before the 2020 rule requiring a relief pitcher to face three batters or finish a half inning (except in cases of injury or illness.). In his career, Lopez made 839 appearances (no starts) and averaged about 2/3 of an inning (0.64 innings) and 2.7 batters faced per appearance.  He was the king of the one-pitch appearance. During his career, he came into a game, tossed one pitch a record 34 times and was done for the day (six times in 2015 alone).

In 281 (33.5 percent) of his MLB appearances, Javier Lopez faced just one batter.

Now, you might think that most of one-pitch those appearances ended an inning. Nope. In fact, only 14 of those 34  appearances involved Lopez recording the final out of the frame. Under current rules, Lopez would have had to  remain in the game in twenty of his one-pitch appearances – which is why I’m pretty sure he will remain king of the one-pitch inning.

In his 34 one-pitch outings, Lopez held hitters to a .206 average. He gave up f0ur singles. two doubles and one home run and induced 19 ground outs (three double plays), five fly outs and one pop out (two batters were safe on infield errors.)

Note: On the chart above, all are southpaws and all but Mike Stanton are sidearmers.

Lopez was signed by the Diamondbacks out of the fourth round of the 1998 MLB draft. He played his college ball at the University of Virginia, where he was primarily used as a staring pitcher. He began his professional career as a starter, but struggled in that role and was converted to a reliever in his fourth season (2001). He made his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2003 and went 4-1, 3.70, with one save in 75 appearances (58 1/3 innings), walking 12 and fanning 40. He went on to pitch in 14 MLB seasons (2003-16 … Rockies, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants), going  30-17, 3.48 with 14 saves and  533 1/3 innings pitched (358 strikeouts) in 839 appearances (all in relief).  He did his best work with the Giants, going 17-8, 2.47, with ten saves over seven seasons (2010-16). Lopez  held lefties to a to a .202 average (1,242 plate appearances) versus .297 for right-handers (1,031 plate appearances).

One Thing Leads to Another …

Looking at the Impact of the Three-Batter Rule

If you are wondering, like the Roundtable was,  how much the 2020 rule requiring  relievers to pitch to “three-batters or end of an inning”  altered pitching strategies, here are some stats. In 2019, there were 1,100 instances in which a pitcher faced just one batter in an appearance and 110 in which that pitcher tossed just one pitch. (There were also nine instances in which a pitcher was not credited with a batter faced in an appearance, usually involving  a pick off or caught stealing).  In 2021, the  first full season with the new rule, there were 660 one-batter appearances (a 40 percent drop), 64 one-pitch appearances (a 42 percent drop) and 13 zero-batters-faced appearances

Special Mention …  Jesse Orosco

Jesse Orosco ranks fourth  on he list of one-batter appearances and second on the roster of one-pitch appearances (keep in mind that pitch count tracking did not really became a “thing” until Orosco’s ninth MLB season.)

Orosco was signed out of the second round of the 1978 MLB Draft by the Twins. He played college baseball for Santa Barbara City College (1978), where he won All-Western State Conference honors. In 1979, after one solid rookie-level seasons (4-4, 1.12, with six saves in 20 appearances), the Twins sent Orosco to the Mets in the trade that brought Jerry Koosman to Minnesota,

Orosco went on to a 24-season MLB career (1979, 1981-2003 … Mets, Dodgers, Indians, Brewers, Orioles, Cardinals, Padres, Yankees, Twins).

While he never led his league in appearances, Jesse Orosco holds the all-time MLB record for regular -season mound appearances with 1,252.

Orosco, a two-time All Star went 87-80, 3.16, with 144 save in 1,252 appearances (four starts). He pitched 1,295 1/3 MLB innings, walking 581 and fanning 1,179, He averaged 1.03 innings per appearance. Orosco’s best season was 1983 (Mets), when he went 13-7, 1,47, with 17 saves in 62 appearances (110 innings).

How About a Two-Fer … or Twelve Can Be A Lucky Number

On July 31, 1983, the Mets and Pirates faced off in a doubleheader (Remember those?) in New York. Both games went twelve innings and the Mets’ Jesse Orosco earned both victories. In the first game, Orosco pitched four scoreless frames (innings nine through twelve) and picked the win as the Mets triumphed 7-6. In Game Two, he came on in the top of the twelfth in a scoreless game, pitched a scoreless inning and picked up his second win of the day, as the Mets tallied a run in the bottom of the inning.

Orosco is somewhat unique on these lists of brief appearances in that: 1) his career began before the  LOOGY became a thing; and 2) he was pretty much a full-time closer until 1987.  From 1979 through 1987, Orosco went 47-47, 2.73 with 107 saves.  He pitched 595 2/3 innings in 372 games (1.60 innings per game).  Then, from 1991 through 2003, he went 40-33, 3.52 with 37 saves – logging 699 2/3 innings in 880 appearances (0.80 innings per game). In the eight seasons from 1979 through 1987, Orosco logged 25 one-batter appearances (6.6 percent of his total appearances), while in 16 campaigns from 1991 through 2003, he notched 212 one-batter appearances (25.7 percent of his total appearances).

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More of Baseball Roundtable “One Thing Leads to Another”

On July 22, 1986, southpaw Jesse Orosco was involved in an unusual set of pitching changes.

  • With the Mets and Reds tied 3-3 in Cincinnati, Mets’ manager Davey Johnson brought Orosco to the mound to open  the bottom of the tenth, replacing Rick Aguilera. Orosco was the Mets’ fifth pitcher to take the mound in the game.  Aguilera, however, was not one of them.  Aguilera had been used as a pinch hitter for pitcher Doug Sisk (batting sixth) in the top of the inning.  
  • In the bottom of the tenth, Orosco struck out Reds’ RF Dave Parker, gave up a single to PH Pete Rose and fanned CF Eddie Milner (while Eric Davis, who had come in to run for Rose, stole second and third).
  • With right-handed hitting SS Wade Rowdon coming up (and a runner on third), Johnson brought righty Roger McDowell to  the mound. He didn’t, however, pull Orosco from the game. Rather , Johnson made a number  moves and substitutions that ended up with Orosco playing right field – and new players at C and 3B. It all worked out, as McDowell got Rowdon to ground out to end the inning.
  • McDowell faced the first three batters in the bottom of the 11th and, with a runner on second and two out, Reds’ left-swinging outfielder Max Venable was due up. Johnson brought Orosco back to the mound, but didn’t take McDowell out of the game.  Instead, McDowell moved to RF – and Orosco fanned Venable.
  • Orosco pitched a scoreless twelfth frame and, when  the 13th inning opened, McDowell  (who by this time was playing left field) came back to the mound, with Orosco going back to RF and Mookie Wilson, by then playing RF, moved to LF. McDowell pitched the 13th and 14th frames (with Orosco in RF), before the Mets eventually won 6-3 by virtue of a 14th inning three-run home run by Howard Johnson. 

In the game, the Mets used 21 players, with five pitchers taking the mound – and  and five different players manning  RF, three playing LF and two different players each used at C, 3B, and SS.   

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Moving right along, how about a look at a couple of pitchers who got the maximum “Output” from a single pitch?

Three-for-One … With a Little Help from My Friends

While this occurred before MLB began tracking pitch counts, it is well documented enough to be included here. On July 27, 1930, the Reds’ righty Ken Ash – recorded three outs and picked up a victory, while throwing just one pitch.  Notably, Ash got a little help from the Cubs’ base-running foibles.

Ash came on in the bottom of the sixth with: the Cubs leading the Reds 3-2 (two runs had already scored in the inning); runners on  first and third (Cubs’ LF Danny Taylor on first, CF Hack Wilson on third); no outs; and 1B Charlie Grimm at the plate. Grimm hit  ground ball to Cubs’ 2B Clarence Blair, and Wilson made the mistake of breaking for home. Blair threw behind Wilson to 3B Tony Cuccinello, who threw to C Clyde Sukeforth, who tagged out Wilson for the first out.  Grimm, meanwhile, rounded first and decided to try for second on the play, but Taylor was still on the second base bag. So, Grimm reversed direction and headed back toward first, Sukeforth threw to 1B Joe Stripp, who tagged Grimm for out number two. As the play at first unfolded, Taylor took off for third and Stripp threw to Cuccinello for the third out. Ash was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth, as the Reds scored four runs to take a  lead they would not relinquish – giving Ash the victory.,

Ash would finish the season 2-0, 3.43 (one save) in 16 appearances. Ash played in just four MLB seasons (1925, 1928-30 … White Sox, Reds), going 6-8, 4.96 with three saves in 55 games (13 starts).

Lucy Number 13

On July 13, 1995, the Mariners’ RHP Jeff Nelson also got the most out of a  one-pitch mound appearance, at least in terms of outs. Nelson came on in relief of Tim Belcher, with the Mariners trailing the Blue Jays 4-1, with two runners on base (Blue Jays’ RF Shawn Green at second and SS Alex Gonzalez at first).  On Nelson’s first pitch to Sandy Martinez, the Jays’ catcher popped a bunt toward the mound. Nelson let the ball drop, then picked it up and fired to SS Luis Sojo covering second. Sojo tagged Green (still on the bag, but forced to go to third) for the first out. Sojo then touched the second base bag forcing Gonzalez; and then fired to 1B Tino Martinez to retire Sandy Martinez.

Note: Some smart fielding on this play. 1) Nelson letting the popped up bunt drop; and 2) Sojo knowing to tag Green before touching the second base bag. Had he stepped on the bag first, Gonzalez would have been out and Green, no longer forced to go to third, would have been safe on second. .  

Nelson pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1992-2006 … Mariners, Yankees, Rangers, White Sox), going 48-45, 3.41, with 33 saves in 798 appearances (all in relief).

How About Zero-Pitch Appearances?

Well, as usual with Baseball Roundtable, one thing again led to another, and after looking into one-batter and one-pitch appearances, I began digging into zero-pitch appearances.

Since 1988, there have been two dozen official pitching appearances of zero pitches.  As the  chart below shows, southpaws again dominate this brief outing category, holding 19 0f 24 spots.  Note:  In this chart, these outings – unless otherwise noted – consisted of a pick-off (and in, some cases rundown) at first base.

A handful of these zero-pitch outings captured my attention.

Two of those zero-pitch outings actually resulted in a win for the hurler in question.

All in a Day’s Work

On May 1, 2003, Orioles’ southpaw reliever B.J. Ryan was called in from the bullpen, with the Orioles’ trailing the Tigers 2-1 (in Detroit). Tigers’ SS Omar Infante was on first, with two out and RF Bobby Higginson (batting third in the order) at the plate.  Before sending a pitch to the plate, Ryan sent a pick-off throw to 1B Jeff Conine. Infante was eventually retired on the play (pitcher – to first – to shortstop), ending the inning. The Orioles then came back to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth.  Buddy Groom relieved Ryan (now the pitcher of record) in the bottom of the inning, the Orioles held their lead and Ryan got a win … without ever throwing a pitch.

Ryan pitched in 11 MLB seasons (1999-2009) and went 21-28, 3.37, with 117 saves in 560 games.  The two-time all Star’s best season was 2006 (Blue Jays), when he went 2-2, 1.37, with 38 saves.

This Could be the Last Time

On July 7, 2009, Rockies’ southpaw Alan Embree notched a zero-pitch win. This  one caught the Roundtable’s attention because it was  the final win of the 39-year-old Embree’s 16-season MLB career. In the top of the eighth, with the Rockies and Nationals tied at four apiece, Embree was summoned to the mound with two outs and a runner on first (PH Austin Kearns). Before throwing a pitch, Embree picked off Kearns on a play that went Embree to 1B Todd Helton to SS Troy Tulowitzki back to Embree. The Rockies scored in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-4 lead, closer Huston Street replaced Embree (who had been pinch hit for) and saved the game – and the win – for Embree. So Embree, while not tossing a  pitch got a win, an assist and a putout.

Embree went 39-45, 4.59, with 25 saves in a 16-season MLB career (1992, 1995-2009 … Indians, Braves, Diamondbacks, Giants, White Sox, Padres, Red Sox, Yankees, A’s, Rockies). Notably., 17 of his 25 career saves came for the 2007 A’s.

Put A Bow on It

Let’s Wrap this Whole Thing up

On October 1, 2000, Rockies’ righty Jerry Dipoto was called to the mound for the final time in his eight-season MLB career. It was the bottom of the sixth and Dipoto’s Rockies were trailing the Braves 5-3 (three runs had scored in the inning). Braves’ LF Reggie Sanders was on first, there were two outs and RF Brian Jordan was at the plate.  Before tossing a pitch Dipoto picked Sanders off first, ending the inning.  So, in his last MLB appearance, Dipoto – while recording 1/3 of an inning pitched – did not actually pitch at all.

Save The Last Out for Me

Cubs’ southpaw Mitch Williams recorded the only zero-pitch save (since 1988). It happened at Wrigley Field on April 28, 1989. In that game, Williams was called in to relieve Cubs’ starter Paul Kilgus, with two outs in the ninth and the Cubs on top of the Padres 3-1.  At the time, the Padres had scored once in the inning and had runners on first (RF Luis Salazar) and second (LF Carmelo Martin). Before tossing a pitch to Padres’ SS Gary Templeton, Williams picked Salazar off second (Williams to SS Shawn Dunston), earning a zero-pitch save.

Williams, a one-time All Star, pitched in 11 MLB seasons – going 45-58, 3.65 with 192 saves in 619 games. He saved 30 or more games in three seasons. 1989, the year of his zero-pitch save, was Williams All-Star season.  He went 4-4, 2.76, with 36 saves and led the league in appearances with 76.

In 1980, Mitch Williams – as a 21-year-old rookie with the Rangers –  led the AL in appearances with 80 and went 8-6, 3.58 with eight saves. Despite that performance, he did not receive a single vote in the Rookie of the Year balloting(won by the Indians Joe Charboneau).

Not a Lucky Break

Not a Great Finish

On July 15, 2005, Mike Stanton of the Nationals was called into a game in a tough spot. It was the bottom of the tenth inning, the Nationals and Brewers were tied at 3-3 and the Brewers had runners on first and third with one out when Stanton came to the mound to take over from Luis Ayala.  Conventional wisdom? Intentionally walk 1B Lyle Overbay to load the bases and set up a possible double play. Unconventional outcome? The game resumed after Stanton’s warm-ups and, before tossing a pitch, Stanton balked in the winning run.  Game over, without Stanton throwing a single pitch.

Stanton pitched 19 years in the major leagues (1989-2007 … Braves, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Nationals, Giants, Ranger, Reds), He appeared in 1,178 games, picking up 69 wins (63 losses), with 84 saves and a 3.92 ERA. In 1993, he saved 27 games for the NL West-leading Atlanta Braves.

Mike Stanton appeared in 53 post-season games, going 5-2, 1.54, with one save over 22 2/3 innings, with 21 walks (nine  intentional) and 47 strikeouts.

Now that Doesn’t Seem Fair

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

On June 29, 2018, Indians’ southpaw Oliver Perez became the first pitcher credited with allowing a baserunner, in a game in which he didn’t throw a single pitch. Perez was brought into the game in the  seventh inning, with two outs, runners on second and third and the Indians trailing the A’s 2-0. A’s leadoff hitter and CF, left-handed swinging Dustin Fowler, was scheduled to bat.  A’s Manager Bob Melvin sent in right-handed swinging Matt Canha to pinch hit for Fowler and Indians’ manager Terry Francona chose to intentionally walk him. No pitches thrown under the relatively new “wave ‘em to first” rule, but the walk and baserunner were charged to Perez. Right-handed hitting Chad Pinder came in to pinch hit for lefty-swinging Matt Joyce and Francona countered with right-hander Zack McAllister. Perez left the mound  after allowing a baserunner via a walk, without ever tossing a pitch in the contest. Fortunately, McAllister fanned Pinder on four pitchers and Perez was off the hook.

Perez, still active in 2022, has pitched in 20 MLB seasons (2002-2010, 2012-2022), going 74-94, 4.37, with five saves in 703 games (195 starts).

Roundtable Extra … A Brief Outing That Lasted an Entire Career

Larry Yount, brother of Hall of Famer Robin Yount, made his MLB debut on September 15, 1971 – coming on in the top of the ninth to replace Skip Guinn (who had been pinch hit for in the previous half inning).   The score was 4-1 and, if all worked out, Yount would face LF Ralph Garr, 1B Hank Aaron and C Earl Williams.  All did not work out. Yount had experienced some elbow pain in the bullpen warming up and, as he continued to warm up on the mound, it only got worse. He called the trainer to the mound and, after a bit of discussion, Yount walked off the field – officially registering an MLB appearance, but not tossing a single pitch. Yount pitched two more season in the minors, but never came to the major-league mound again.  Note:  This was before the pitch-tracking era began, but has between widely enough reported to earn its spot.

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Baseball Roundtable Book Review … Bronx Epitaph – How Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” Speech Defined the Yankee Legend

January 16, 2023 by

Bronx Epitaph – How Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” Speech Defined the Yankee Legend

By Steven K. Wagner

State University of New York Press (2023)

$27.95

 

 

 

Whether you are a fan of Lou Gehrig, a follower of the Yankees or just would  like to know the back story behind one  of baseball’s most iconic  moments, Steven Wagner’s “Bronx Epitaph – How Lou Gehrig’s ‘Luckiest Man’ Speech Defined the Yankee Legend” has something for you. It is a well-researched and well-written  tale that uses the words of Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech to lead us through the story of the Hall of Famer’s Life and the relationships that led him to his luckiest man conclusion.

The speech was  made (between games of a doubleheader) on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day (July 4, 1939) – an event honoring a Yankee legend, a true “Iron Man,” then facing a debilitating, career-ending and life-threatening disease (Gehrig would live only 698 more days).  It was a speech  the humble Gehrig was reluctant to deliver and one that did not  receive extensive coverage at the time.  Yet, Gehrig’s remarks, which opened with “For the past two weeks, you’ve been reading about a bad break. Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth”  and the  image of a tearful Gehrig at the microphone, are considered among the most iconic moments and images in baseball lore.

His (Gehrig’s) speech was a baseball moment that had nothing to do with playing.  It was baseball ‘s Gettysburg address.

                                                                    Marty Appel, Baseball Historian

In Bronx Epitaph, author Steven  Wagner presents what is clearly  the most deeply researched and best-documented version of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech.  Only four sentences of the speech captured on film are known to be available  and there is no known complete audio recording of Gehrig’s remarks. In his research, Wagner used not only available film and audio, but news accounts from a wide range of publications – giving particular credence to quotes or paraphrases that appeared in multiple stories.  In fleshing out the story of the speech and Gehrig’s life, Wagner also interviewed a host of players – all former Yankees – and even a fan who was in the stands that day. In the process, Wagner developed not only the most in-depth accounting of Gehrig’s farewell speech, but an equally in-depth look at Gehrig’s life and character.

Using the Farewell Speech – and filling in the back story of each sentence – Wagner tells the tale of Gehrig the ballplayer and Gehrig the man. We see a fierce and talented competitor, a dedicated teammate, a humble and caring person, an individual of great integrity and a man who recognized and was thankful for all those who contributed to what he saw as a great and ”lucky” life.  In Yankee manager Joe McCarthy’s words, as quoted in Wagner’s book, Gehrig was “the finest example of a ball player, sportsman and citizen that baseball has ever known.”

The emotional nature of Gehrig’s speech (and the day itself) may be reflected  in the fact that the speech almost didn’t happen. Here’s how Wagner describes it,  “As Gehrig stood on the grass that day, struggling to hold back his tears,  Mercer (sportswriter Sid Mercer, emcee of the event) announced that the Yankee was too overcome with emotion and would not be speaking. He then thanked the crowd for coming out to honor the man. Unfortunately for their quiet hero, those in the crowd would not be dismissed lightly and they quickly and collectively took over, rising to their feet and chanting his name over and over. Finally, (Joe) McCarthy, a father figure to the slugger, put his hand on Gehrig’s back and gently ushered him over to the microphone, urging him to speak.” The rest, as they say, is history.

In the introduction to Bronx Epitaph, Wagner takes the reader through Gehrig’s childhood, when his family often faced economic challenges; through his high school years,  when he excelled at both baseball and football (and, as Wagner reports “At first declined to play on the baseball team because he was shy about appearing in front of crowds;” through his years at Columbia University (where he was a fullback on the football team and a pitcher/first baseman on the baseball squad;  and on to highlights of  his Hall of Fame career as a Yankee.

But the story really starts when Wagner begins to recreate and analyze Gehrig’s farewell speech – made at a time when Gehrig was facing the toughest  challenge of his life and still thought of himself as the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Gehrig went on to cite the reasons why he felt that way, and those reasons  had nothing to do with fame, fortune, Most Valuable Player Awards or championship rings, but rather were based on the  people and relationships that had built his character and shaped his life.

In his remarks Gehrig thanked the fans;  his teammates; Yankee owner Jake Ruppert; Yankee executive Ed Barrow; Yankee managers Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy; his Yankee roommate Bill Dickey; the  rival New York Giants; stadium vendors, groundskeepers and office staff; sportswriters; his mother-in-law; his parents; and his wife.

“He (Gehrig) was a beloved player, because of who he was, not just because of how he played. What he spoke that day came from his heart. When the people who in your heart are your mother-in -law and ticket takers, that says a lot about your character.”

                                                 Former Yankee Mike Buddie

In his book, Wagner outlines Gehrig’s relationship with each of those he thanked in that speech – telling Gehrig’s  life story along the way. And – as the humble Gehrig would have preferred – also provides  insight into the lives, careers and accomplishments of each individual or group included in his list of thank you’s.

Wagner writes about Jacob Ruppert’s commitment to building the Yankee franchise; how and why Ed Barrow signed Gehrig to his first baseball contract; Gehrig’s relationship with his teammates, particularly roommate Bill Dickey (nicknamed The Man Nobody Knows); Gehrig’s family life and the positive impact that Gehrig’s parents, wife and mother-in-law had on building his “lucky life;” and much, much more. Readers even get a glimpse of Gehrig’s challenging life after he left baseball and some insight into the Gehrig-Ruth rift.

I found Bronx Epitaph to be a great read. As I’ve often said of Baseball Roundtable research “one thing always seems to lead to another.” That’s also true about Wagner’s Bronx Epitaph – one story from Gehrig’s life leads to another and, then, another  – and in the end, they lead to the tale of a great ballplayer and a great person.

Other books by Steven K. Wagner include:

  • The Four Home Runs Club: Sluggers Who Achieved Baseball’s Rarest Feat. Review here.
  • Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder. Review here.
  • Game Won: How the Greatest Home Run Ever Hit Sparked the 1988 Dodgers to Game One Victory and an Unlikely World Series Title. Review here.
  • Seinsoth: The Rough and Tumble Life of a Dodger. Review here.

 

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TALKS WITH STEVEN WAGNER

Roundtable: What prompted your decision to tackle the Luckiest Man speech as a book topic?

Wagner: I’ve always been intrigued by Lou Gehrig, not only his greatness but his squeaky-clean persona. However, it’s The Speech that I found most intriguing – how a man near the peak of his athleticism could have everything taken away from him and still consider himself lucky. As I looked into the speech and read assumed transcripts, I decided to put together a more likely transcript and look into exactly why he said what he did on that warm summer day.

Roundtable: How long did the research take and what was the most challenging aspect?

Wagner: I probably spent six months researching for the book. I think the most difficult part was searching for quotations from publications that haven’t existed for decades. I then compared quotes from one news source to another to determine what Gehrig truly did say and what he didn’t say.

Roundtable: Were there any surprises along the way?  Things you didn’t expect to learn about Gehrig or any of the other principals in the book?

Wagner: I didn’t realize at the outset that Gehrig had no interest in speaking that day, that manager Joe McCarthy actually patted him on the back and encouraged him to talk, which he only reluctantly did. I really think McCarthy understood better than anyone the mark that Gehrig would have on history by speaking. I also didn’t realize that earlier in the day a little-known player named Johnny Welaj was honored at home plate in similar fashion. Before it was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day it was actually Johnny Welaj Day.

Roundtable Note:  In true Baseball Roundtable fashion,“one things always leads to another” and you’ll find more about Welaj at the end of this post.

Roundtable:  If you had to sum up Lou Gehrig in a single sentence, how would you do it?

Wagner: No player in major-league history had the impact on baseball that Lou Gehrig did, and The Speech played a big role in the legacy he left.

Roundtable: You’ve written about one game careers (Paciorek): the Gibson World Series home run; Four-Homer Games; and Bill Seinsoth’s career.  How do you select what players, events or topics you are going to explore?

Wagner: I always choose topics that I know I’d enjoy writing about and that I believe others would enjoy reading about. If I can’t enjoy working on a book project, it’s unlikely I can put enough into it to make the reader enjoy it.

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One Thing Leads to Another  … J0hnny Welaj Shares Lou Gehrig’s Day

In traditional  Roundtable “one thing leads to another” fashion, one of author Steven Wagner’s answers led me to look deeper into Johnny Welaj – who also had  a “Day” on July 4.  Welaj, it runs out was a Washington Senators’  rookie outfielder, with 31 MLB games under his belt. The 25-year-old was in his fourth professional season.

As David E. Skelton reports in his Society for American Baseball Research Johnny Welaj biography, Welaj was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up  in Manville, New Jersey (40 miles from New York City) – and was “a standout athlete in football, basketball, and especially baseball,” at Bound Brooke High School (and later in semi-pro baseball in the area). Signed by the Senator in 1936, the speedy Welaj, as noted, made his way to the major leagues by 1939. With the senators visiting nearby New York City on Independence 1939, Skelton reports that hundreds of Welaj’s friends, relatives and neighbors traveled from Manville to Yankee Stadium to celebrate “Johnny Welaj Day” before the first game of the twin bill. Reportedly, Welaj was not aware that the Gehrig appreciation event would be taking place between games of the doubleheader.

Welaj played in just four MLB seasons (1939-41, 1943), hitting .250-4-74, with 36 steals in 293 games. (His MLB career was uninterrupted by military service.) He played in 15 minor-league campaigns – the final one in 1956  at age 42. A true baseball lifer, Welaj spent seven decades in the game as a player, coach, manager and front office executive (including a ten-year stint as the Texas Rangers’ Director of Stadium Operations).

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Baseball Roundtable Fan Hall of Fame Ballots In – Readers Throw a Shutout – Scott Rolen Top Vote-Getter

January 14, 2023 by

Scott Rolen, top vote-getter in Baseball Roundtable Readers’ Hall of Fame Balloting. Photo: User Darwin’s Bulldog on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Baseball Roundtable (unofficial) Fan Hall of Fame Balloting is closed and the  votes are counted.  The end result? Roundtable readers threw a shutout – with no player reaching the 75 percent support needed for induction in the official balloting.

In this post, I’ll pass on the results of the reader voting, as well as share a few observations on the differences between the Roundtable fan ballots and the publicly announced (to date) Baseball Writers Association of America official balloting (as reported by the Baseball Hall of Fame Vote Tracker).

For those interested in a deeper dive into Hall of Fame voting, I would recommend the BBHOF Vote tracker (at bbhoftracker.com). The site offers an updated listing of public votes (total and individual ballots), as well as commentary on voting trends and implications.  All of the official ballot  totals used in this post are as of January 14, with 39.4% of ballots made public.

Roundtable Side Note

Roundtable reader (and voter) Ralph from North Carolina won the randomly drawn Fan Ballot prize package, which included: a complete 1993 Topps set (with Derek Jeter’s rookie card); a Bob Gibson replica Cardinals jersey; a Tony Oliva HOF bobblehead; a replica Ernie Banks Wrigley Field flag; and a Bert Blyleven HOF “How to Throw a Curve Ball” baseball. 

So, on to a few observations. No player received the necessary 75 percent support in the fan ballot, while Scott Rolen and Todd Helton have each drawn more than 75 percent support among the official ballots made public (again via bbhoftracker.com) as of January 14.

As you can see, the top five in the fan ballot mirrored the top five in the public official balloting (to date). The only exceptions being that fans placed Jeff Kent in the top five, while Gary Sheffield was  the top five in the BBWAA public ballots.

Voting percentages tend to fall in the official balloting when final results are reported.  At this point, it appears Rolen has the best chance of making it into the Hall in 2023, while Helton may end up very close.  Below are the full results of the Baseball Roundtable reader voting.

Overall, readers tended to spread out their ballots among more players (some home-team bias, perhaps). Reader voters cast votes for 6.23 players per ballot, as opposed to 6.42 among the writers. Thirteen players on each ballot did not receive enough votes to remain on the ballot for 2024.  However, only two players received  zero votes on the fan ballot, as opposed to 12 on the official ballot (again, that is on ballots made public to date).

Carlos Beltran, top vote-getter among first-timers.  Photo: Jeffrey Hayes, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The strongest newcomer to the ballot (among both groups) was Carlos Beltran – at 53.5 percent (sixth) among readers and 57.1 percent (sixth) in  the official balloting. Reader votes and the public official votes to date indicate only two ballot first-timers will carry over to next year (Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez) on the ballot (5 percent minimum support).

Among the  biggest differences (beyond Rolen’s and Helton’s totals) between the reader ballots and the public  official ballots to date are:

  • Gary Sheffield (29.3% among readers; 65.4% among writers);
  • Francisco Rodriguez (41.4% among readers; 9.0% among writers);
  • Torii Hunter (26.3% among readers; 1.9% among writers).

Again, thanks to all the readers who voted.  And, remember bbhoftracker.com is a great source for more in-depth information on the official balloting.

 

 

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Baseball Roundtable 2023 John Paciorek Award Honoree – Glenn Williams, Who Never Suffered an O-For

January 8, 2023 by

Each year, since 2014, Baseball Roundtable has announced a John Paciorek Award (JPA) honoree. The JPA recognizes players who have had short, sometimes very short, major-league careers, but whose accomplishments, nonetheless, deserve recognition.  Past winners have included:  a player whose every MLB hit (three in nine career at bats) was a home run;  a player who had only one MLB at bat, but earned  a World Series ring and a Purple Heart; a player who had just two home runs in 61 MLB at bats, but is also one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major-league batter’s box; a war hero who pitched in the majors on one leg; and more.  There are links to the bios of past honorees later in this post.  By the way, I usually announced the JPA Award in early April, but being cooped up by the recent winter weather gave me time (and the inclination) to consider this in January.

(Note: Information on John Paciorek’s career – the inspiration for the JPA – can be found at the end of this post. Paciorek’s day in the sun constitutes arguably the best one-game MLB career ever.)

Photo: Wknight94, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commonshoto:

This year’s John Paciorek Award honoree is Australian-born third baseman Glenn Williams, who had a 13-game major-league career – all in June of 2005 and all with the Minnesota Twins.  Over his 13-games in “The Show,” Williams hit a robust .425 and collected at least one hit in every game he played.

More Baseball Roundtable #InBaseballWeCountEverything

Glenn Williams holds the MLB record for the longest MLB career for a player who was never held hitless in any MLB game he appeared in.

Included in that 13-game hitting streak were three games in which Williams made just one plate appearance – twice as a pinch hitter and once after entering a game at third base in the tenth inning. That  extra-inning single-plate-appearance contest (June 17) is probably the highlight of William career (after his first-ever MLB appearance, of course).  On June 17, after entering a 4-4 game (at third bases) in the top of tenth inning (Padres versus Twins in Minnesota), Williams came to bat with no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eleventh frame. He broke the tie with a game-winning, walk-off single to left field.

For those who like a little more detail, Williams  hit .360 (9-for-25) from the left side and .533 (8-for-15) from the right-handed batters’ box.  He hit .455 at home (10-for-22) and .389 on the road (7-for-18).  He batted in the second, sixth, eighth and ninth spots in the order and hit .364 or better in all four lineup spots.   While he only had three RBI, he hit .556 with runners in scoring position (5-for-9) and .500 with runners in scoring position and two out (2-for-4).

Now for a bit of background.

Williams was born in Gosford, Australia, to a family with a passion for baseball – Glenn’s father Gary had been deeply involved in the development of baseball in Australia and the switch-hitting Glenn followed in his footsteps, eventually playing for the Australian Junior National Team in 1992 and signing with the Braves as a 16-year-old in 1993 (for a reported $925,000 bonus).

Williams started his professional career (rookie-level) in the Braves’ system in 1994.  Between 1994 and 1999, he worked his way up Double-A, but struggled along the way. Over  six seasons in the Braves’ system, Williams hit .222-40-195 in 476 games. More troubling, perhaps, was the fact that he walked just 140 times versus 507 strikeouts. The Braves released Williams (who was coming off shoulder surgery) during 1994 Spring Training.  Three days later, Williams signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.  He fared better in four seasons (2000-2004 in the Toronto  system, hitting .260-65-292 over 507 games. In 2004, at 27-years-old and already in his 11th professional season, Williams had a solid year at Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .264-23-79 in 117 games – and showing improvement in his walk-to-strikeout ratio (34 walks/79 whiffs). Still, in October, he was granted free agency by the Blue Jays and, in December, signed with the Twins.

The Twins sent Williams to Triple-A Rochester, where he sparkled – hitting .303-5-22 in 48 games before being called up to Minnesota. In his MLB debut, on June 7,  he delivered a sixth-inning, two-out pinch-hit single on the first MLB pitch he ever saw.  That single helped continue what would eventually be a three-run inning, tying the game at five apiece. From there, Williams’ MLB career lasted 21 days – during which, as noted earlier, he got into 13 games, hit safely in all of them and put up a .425 average. Then, Williams suffered a shoulder injury diving back to first base on a pick-off play – ending  his season. The injury required surgery and Williams never returned to the major leagues.

Williams did play two more seasons in the Twins’ minor-league system  – both at Triple-A Rochester – hitting .245, with 19 home runs and 93 RBI in 229 games.

Glenn Williams was a member of the Australian team that won a Silver Medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also was a member of the 2000 Australian Olympic baseball squad.

There is no doubt that baseball is in Williams’ blood.  His first job after retiring as a player was as a coach at the MLB academy in Australia. He has also worked a as General Manager of Australia’s entry in the World Baseball Classic and manager of the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League.  In 2021, Williams became the Chief Executive Officer of Baseball Australia.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball Australia; Glenn Williams Interview, TwinsTrivia.com.

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Here’s a look at – and links to – past JPA Award honorees:

2014 – Brian Scott Dallimore

In his first start (not his first game) for the 2004 Giants, Dallimore had two singles, a Grand Slam (his first MLB hit and only MLB home run), a walk and a hit by pitch.  For the full JPA take on Dallimore’s 27- game MLB career, click here.

2015 – Roy Gleason

Gleason played in just eight MLB games, had a double in his only MLB at bat – but also earned a World Series ring (1963) and a Purple Heart. Ultimately, he was the only ballplayer with MLB experience to serve on the front lines in Vietnam. For the full JPA take on Gleason, click here. Note: Gleason’s life is detailed in the book “Lost in the Sun – Roy Gleason’s Odyssey from the Outfield to the Battlefield.”

2016 – John Allen Miller

Miller played just 32 MLB games (during the 1966 and 1969 seasons), taking the field (at 1B/LF/3B/2B) for the Yankees and Dodgers. Miller collected ten hits in 61 MLB at bats (.164 average) and hit just two home runs – but he made those long balls count – becoming one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major-league batter’s box. For more on Miller, click here.

2017 – Chris Saenz

RHP Chris Saenz’ big day came on April 24, 2004 – when he was called up from Double-A Huntsville (where he was 1-1, 3.86) to make a spot start against the Saint Louis Cardinals, whose powerful lineup included the likes of Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders.   The rookie went six innings, giving up just two hits, three walks and no runs, while fanning seven. Two days after this debut, he was on his way back to Huntsville, where he suffered an elbow injury and never returned to the majors. Statistics before 1900 can be sketchy, but baseball-reference.com shows that Saenz is the only pitcher to complete a one-game MLB career of at least five innings pitched, without giving up a single run (earned or unearned). For more details on this JPA honoree, click here.

2018 – Keith McDonald

McDonald’s MLB career (Cardinals 2000-2001) covered just eight games and 11 plate appearances (nine at bats) and three hits – but he made them count.  All of McDonald’s safeties were home runs – making him the only MLB player with more than one career hit who can look back on major league career in which his every hit was a home run. .For the full story, click here.

2019 – Harley Hisner

Hisner’s MLB tenure encompassed the day of September 30, 1951. That’s when the 24-year-old righty faced the New York Yankees – and a lineup that included five future Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle in RF; Joe DiMaggio in CF; Phil Rizzuto at SS; Johnny Mize at 1B; and Yogi Berra behind the plate. In his very first MLB inning, Hisner faced five batters, four of them future Hall of Famers, and gave up two singles and no runs.  His place in history? One of those singles was Joe DiMaggio’s last MLB safety. For more on Hisner and his ongoing involvement in and love of the game (he went on to earn the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Colin Lister Award for “dedication to the game of baseball and its historic legacy,” click here.

2020 – Bert Shepard

Shepard set aside his baseball mound dreams in 1943 – after four minor-league seasons – to enlist in the U.S. Army, where he became a P-38 Lightning fighter pilot. Shepard was shot down on his 34th combat mission and, while a prisoner of war, his wounds resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.  Upon his release (a prisoner exchange), Shepard did not surrender his dreams and fought his way back to the major leagues. He made one major-league appearance (for the Washington Senators), pitching 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball.  While Shepard’s MLB career consisted of that sole appearance, he did continue to pitch, coach and manage in minor leagues – and his story proved an inspiration for disabled veterans.  For more of Bert Shepard story, click here.

2021 – Henry Schmidt

Henry Martin Schmidt didn’t make it to the big leagues until eight seasons after his professional (minor-league) debut.  In fact, he was just two months shy of his 30th birthday when he first took the major-league mound.   Why did it take so long?  Simple answer – location.  He had considerable difficulty “locating” his pitches.  While it took a long time for Schmidt to make it to the major leagues, it didn’t take him long to leave MLB. He lasted just one season – and is the only pitcher in MLB history who was a 20-game winner in his only major league season. Why was his MLB career so short? Simple answer – location.  He did not care for the geographic “location” of major-league baseball. For more on Henry Schmidt’s unusual career, click here.

2022 – Karl Spooner

Southpaw Spooner holds a share of the record for strikeouts in an MLB debut (15) and also threw complete-game shutouts in each of his first two starts.  After earning a late September (1954) call-up (to the Dodgers), the 23-year-old rookie was thrown right into the fire – starting on September 26 against the league-leading and Dodger chief rival Giants. In the first frame, it looked like it might be a short game for Spooner.  It took him 32 pitches to get out of the inning (17 strikes – 15 balls). He gave up a single and two walks, but escaped unscored upon.  Settling down, Spooner went on to pitch a complete-game,  three-hit, three-walk, fifteen strikeout shutout, as the Dodgers won 3-0.  Four days later (September 26), Spooner made second MLB appearance – a start against the Pirates (in Brooklyn). In this one, he threw another complete-game shutout – giving up four hits and fanning 12 in a 1-0 win.  His  27 strikeouts in his first two appearances also remain an MLB record.   A shoulder injury suffered in 1955 Spring Training cut Spooner’s career short. He  didn’t get his first start of the 1955 season until May 15 and finished the season, his last in the major leagues, 8-6, 3.65 in 29 games (14 starts).   Spooner pitched for three more seasons in the minors, but never recaptured 1954 glory.  For the full Karl Spooner story, click here.

—–INSPIRATION FOR THE JPA—–

John Paciorek – signed out of Saint Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan (where he had starred in football, basketball and baseball) – appeared in his first major-league game on the final day of the 1963 season (September 29) at the age of 18.  The 6’ 1”, 200-pound outfielder had spent the 1963 season with Class-A Modesto Colts. The Colts’ parent club, the Houston Colt .45s (that was the current Astros’ franchise name back then), was suffering through a difficult season. The team was 65-96 going into that final game.  Looking to the future, Houston had, in fact, fielded an all-rookie lineup (average age 19) on September 27. Youth was still being served two days later when John Paciorek started his first MLB game. The results were surprising – and worthy of recognition.

Playing right field and batting seventh in a 13-4 win over the NY Mets, Paciorek ended up with three hits and two walks in five plate appearances, with four runs scored and three runs batted in.  Perhaps equally surprising is that it was not only Paciorek’s first major-league appearance, it was to be his only MLB appearance.  Back pain the following spring, followed by surgery (he played 49 minor league games in 1964 and missed all of the 1965 season), put an end to his MLB playing days. (Paciorek did play in four more minor-league seasons.)  Still, you will find John Paciorek in the Baseball Encyclopedia and his is arguably the greatest one-game MLB career ever.  Among one-gamers, he holds the record for times on base and runs scored, and shares the record for batting average, on base percentage and RBIs.

Paciorek, by the way, went on to become a high school teacher and multi-sport coach and is the author of the books (Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans;  The Principles of Baseball: And All There Is To Know About Hitting; and If I Knew Then What I Know Now. You also can enjoy Paciorek’s prose (and expertise) at his blog “Paciorek’s Principles of Perfect Practice” by clicking here. You can find out even more about Paciorek in Steven Wagner’s 2015 book Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder.

A final note. John Paciorek’s insight into the national pastime should come as no surprise. Paciorek comes from a true “baseball family.”  He was the first born of eight siblings and was followed to the big leagues by younger brothers Jim and Tom Paciorek.  (Like John, Jim’s MLB career was short – 48 games for the Brewers in 1987. Brother Tom, however, achieved a .282 average over an 18-season MLB career.

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Eddie Collins … King of the Sacrifice and Much, Much More

January 4, 2023 by

As the off-season drags on, Baseball Roundtable continues to randomly peruse the MLB record books. My thoughts often turn to “unbreakable” records.  Readers know what I mean, career marks like Cy Young’s 511 wins, Walter Johnson’s 110 career shutouts Nolan Ryan’s 5,714 strikeouts, Rickey Henderson’s 1,406 stolen bases or Barry Bonds’ 688 intentional walks.

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

In this post, we’ll take a look at another of those seemingly unreachable career marks, Hall of Famer Eddie Collins 512 sacrifice hits (bunts). No one is even within 100 of that total and the current leaders among active players are Clayton Kershaw with 110 and Elvis Andrus with 103. Couple that with the fact that the bunt has fallen into disfavor (perhaps giving way to the three-run home run) as a strategic weapon and you can see why Collins’ mark should continue stand the test of time.

How the Game Has Changed

In 1915,  24 major-league teams (American, National and Federal Leagues) laid down a record 4,441 sacrifice bunts. In 2022, 30 major-league teams (playing a longer schedule) recorded only  390 sacrifice hits (bunts).  Looked at in another way, in 1915 fans could expect to see 2.4 sacrifice bunts per game, while in in 2022 those in the ballpark could anticipate seeing one sacrifice bunt ever 6.2 games.

For those who like to know such things, the 2022 leader in sacrifice bunts was the Arizona Diamondbacks with 31.  The Braves almost had a perfect (in a way) season, with only one sacrifice bunt. It came off the bat of rookie CF Micheal Harris in the final game of the season (October 4 at Miami). It was in the fourth inning and, after DH William Contreras and 2B Avisail Garcia opened the inning with singles (putting runners on first and second with no outs), Harris sacrificed them to second and third, respectively. The sacrifice, by the way, did not pay off. What followed was a strikeout, intentional walk and another strikeout, with no runs scoring. Roundtable Note: In that 1915 record season, no team had fewer than 120 sacrifice bunts and the White Sox led the way with 270. 

 

Despite his MLB-record 512 career sacrifice bunts, Eddie Collins never led his league in sacrifices.

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A Couple of Other Players Who Were Part of Sacrifice Royalty

Ray Chapman, an infielder with the Indians from 1912 to 1920 (when he was fatally injured by a pitch from Carl Mays), holds the record for sacrifice bunts in a single season with 67 in 1917. That season, Chapman hit .302-2-36, with 98 runs scored and 52 stolen bases. Chapman laid down forty or more sacrifices in five of his nine MLB seasons.

George “Mule” Haas – an outfielder/first baseman for the Athletics, White Sox and, very briefly, Pirates … 1925, 1928-38 – led the American League in sacrifice hits six times, including five consecutive seasons (1930-34).

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A little more about Collins.

Collins was a graduate of Columbia University, where he played quarterback on the football team and shortstop on the baseball squad.  He was considered one of the smartest players in the game – on and off the field.  He was also considered one of the most confident (or, as some reported, arrogant) and competitive players in the game (his nickname as “Cocky”); as well as a supportive (but also demanding) teammate and an individual of notable dedication and integrity. Roundtable Note: Collins was a member of the 1919 White Sox team that was involved in he 1919 World Series “Black Sox Scandal,” but reportedly, because of his solid reputation, was not approached by any of the suspected participants.

High Praise from the Georgia Peach and Others

In Joe Posnanski’s book “The Baseball 100,” Posnanski notes that Hall of Famer Ty Cobb once said of Collins, “Not only does he play the game, he thinks it. If anyone tells you he wasn’t the greatest second baseball of all time, you argue with him”.

Hall of Famer John McGraw on Eddie Collins … from  “Collins Revered as One of the Game’s Best Second Basemen,” by Bill Francis, included in the Baseball Hall of Fame “Hall of Famer Facts Series.”  “He (Collins) is a steady and brilliant fielder, getting balls that no other second baseman would try for. He is also one of the fastest thinkers I have ever watched, judging plays and executing them with great accuracy … Collins is not playing for individual glory, which is what I like about him. He is always ready to dump down the bunt when that looks like the play … He is a  finished ballplayer of the  thinking type, and, to my mind, the greatest the world. “

Also from the Hall of Famer Fact Series, Hall of Famer Connie Mack said of Collins, “I want to point out that  he was a great batsman, one of the best players  defensively  and a daring base runner. Then he topped all these  things by being the brainiest player that ever guarded the keystone.”

For those who like the such stats as Wins Above Replacement, Eddie Collins ranks 13th All-time at 124.4. For some comparison, that puts him one spot on the list behind Rogers Hornsby and one ahead of Ted Williams.

Eddie Collins at the Plate

Collins  was not just a master at giving himself  up (sacrifices) for the team, he was also a master at getting on base. He put up a career .333 average and his 3,315 hits are twelfth all-time.  He also is in MLB‘s top-20 all-time in on-base percentage (.424, 14th).  In today’s game, can you imagine regularly calling on a hitter with that record for reaching base to lay down even  an occasional sacrifice? (It seems even less likely when you consider what Collins could do once he was on base.  His 741 stolen bases are eighth all -time.)

A few other Collins all-time rankings: singles – 2,643 (third); triples – 187 (12th); walks – 1,499 (19th); runs scored – 1,821 (18th).

Collins was also about a steady a producer on offense as you can be.  Within his .333 career average:

  • He hit .333 at home and .332 on the road.
  • He hit .334 versus righties and .326 versus southpaws.
  • He hit .328 in 34 World Series games.

Collins was also solid in the clutch, hitting .355 with runners in scoring position and ramping up his game in the pressure-filled final months of the annual pennant race (.350 in August and .356 in September/October for his career). Career-wise, Mays was his  weakest month – but still over .300 (.314).

Eddie Collins hit .300 or better (actually .308 or higher) in 16 of the 18 seasons in which he played at least 100 games.

A few other tidbits from Collins’ career in the batter’s box.

  • While he never won a batting title, he finished second three times and in the top four eight times.
  • While he never led the league in hits, he finished in the top four four times;
  • While he never led the league in on-base percentage, he finished second tree times and  in the top four 12 times.
  • He led the league in walks once and finished second five times and in the top four ten times.
  • He led the Al in runs scored three times and finished in the top four a total of eight times.

Power was not part of Collins’ game. He hit only 47 home runs in 25 seasons. Notably, he did play 13 of his 25 seasons in the “Dead Ball Era,” generally accepted as ending with Babe Ruth’s 29-homer season in 1919.  Collins’ final stat line was ,333-47-1,299, with 1,821 runs scored and 741 stolen bases.

In 1914, Eddie Collins won the Chalmers Award (forerunner to the Most Valuable Player Award).  That season, he hit .344-2-85, with 58 steals and a league-lading 122 runs scored. 

Eddie Collins on the Bases

Eddie Collins, while not the fastest runner of his time, was one of the game’s best base runners – studying pitchers (especially) and catches intensely.,

As noted, his 741 stolen bases are eighth all-time. He led the league in steals three times, finished  the AL’s top four 12 times  and swiped 40 or more bases in ten seasons. Note: Collins is also eighth all-time in caught stealing .

Collins is also one of just four players (since 1900) to steal six bases in a game – and the only MLB player to do it twice. And, he accomplished the feat twice in an 11-day span.

Eddie Collins in the Field

Despite leading American League second baseman in fielding percentage nine times and  finishing second seven times, Eddie Collins is not even in the top 200 among second basemen with at least 500 games at the keystone sack.  (He’s 211th).  Then again, take a look at the equipment available as he started his major league career.

Photo: Author Unknown; Public Domain via WikiCommons

Here’s a few stats that reflect his play in the field . Collins is:

  • First in career game at second base (2,650), led American League second basemen in games played seven times and was in the top four 17 times;
  • Second in career putouts at second base (6,526), led the AL seven times was second six times and in the top four 17 times;
  • First in career assists at second base (7,630), led the AL five times and was in the top four 15 times;
  • 15th in double plays at second base (1,239), led the AL in five seasons, was second five times and in the top four 17 times.

In, 1938, Eddie Collins –  then General Manager of the Red Sox – scouted and signed a slender young outfielder named Ted Williams.  Commenting on the signing,  Collins is quoted to have said it was an easy  decision, “Your Aunt Susan could have picked Teddy out of 1,000 players.”

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; The Baseball 100, Joe Posnanski, Avid Reader Press, 2021; “The Baseball Legend Who Wore ‘Clean Sox,’” Columbia College Today, Spring 2020, by Thomas Vinciguerra; “Collins Revered as One of Game’s Best Second Basemen,’  Baseball Hall of Fame “Hall of Famer Facts” series, by Bill Francis.

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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