Archives for March 2024

Welcome to another of Baseball Roundtable’s “When I start looking into a topic one thing always seem to lead to another” posts.  This one started out the “Where is the asterisk when you need it?” and ended up with a look at players who had multi-homer games when they also took the hill as a pitcher.  This took me down a research rabbit hole that included 71 multi-homer games by 58 different pitchers – with names and credentials ranging from Babe Ruth and Shohei Ohtani to Garland Buckeye and Elon Hogsett (and a lot in between, like “Dons” Cardwell, Drysdale and Newcombe and even Phil Collins).  But I’m betting ahead of myself.

Note: Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am limiting myself to the Modern Era (post-1900). Also, not all Negro game stats (1920-48) have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books.

Another Ruth/Ohtani Comparison

Let me explain how this all started. Browsing through Baseball-Reference.com, I noted that, while Shohei Ohtani has had 16 multi-homer games in his seven MLB seasons (171 total homers), he has had only one two-homer game in a contest in which he also pitched. That came in a June 27, 2023, 4-2 Angels win over the White Sox. In that game, Ohtani hit his second home run in the bottom of the seventh inning – after being replaced on the mound in the top of the inning (remaining in the lineup at DH). So, technically, that separates him from players who hit two (or more) homers in a game while in the lineup as a pitcher. Perhaps not a big “difference,” but (for The Roundtable) a statistical “distinction.”

This led me to look for any other pitchers/players who also had a multi-homer game in which at least one homer came after they had been pulled from the mound. I found one.  Babe Ruth, who had 72 multi-homer games, had just one multi-homer contest in which he also pitched.  That came on June 13, 1921, when Ruth made a rare start on the mound for the Yankees. Ruth homered to lead off the third inning (off Howard Ehmke). He was pulled from the mound in the top of the sixth, with two-on, no outs and the Yankees up 10-4. But, he didn’t’ go to the dugout. He moved to CF.  In the bottom of the seventh, now-centerfielder Ruth hit his second homer of the game (a two-run shot of Ehmke). So, like Ohtani, Ruth’s sole game in which he pitched and hit two home-runs also featured one homer after he left the mound. The Yankees, by the way, prevailed 13-8.

______________________________

For those who like to know such things.

In 1918, when Babe Ruth won 13-7, 2.22 for the Red Sox and won his first home run title (with 11 dingers), he hit two homers as a pitcher, six as a centerfielder, two as a first baseman and one as a left fielder. In 2023, when Shohei Ohtani went 10-5, 3.14 and won the AL home run title with 44, he hit seven home runs in games in which he pitched (four of those while he was still in the game at pitcher). He was in the lineup as DH for all 44 long balls.  

________________________________

 

Now for some additional pitcher’s multi-homer game tidbits.

A Handful of Multi-Homer Games

No pitcher had more multi-homer games than Wes Ferrell with five. (Five is officially a handful, isn’t it?)

In his fifteen-season MLB career (1927-41 … Indians, Red Sox, Nationals, Yankees. Dodgers, Braves), Ferrell went 193-128, 4.04 – with six seasons of 20 or more wins – leading the AL with 25 wins (14 losses) in 1935. As a hitter, he went .280-38-208 in 548 games.  Ferrell, notably, appeared in 157 games as a pinch-hitter and 13 in left field.  His 37 home runs as a pitcher are a record for MLB moundsmen (he hit one homer as a pinch hitter).

Other pitchers with multiple, multiple-homer games are:

Don Newcombe      3

Jack Harshman        2

Dick Donovan          2

Tony Cloninger         2

Lew Burdette           2

Rick Wise                  2

Red Ruffing             2

Pedro Ramos           2

_________________________________________

Thirteen Can Be a Lucky Number

On May 13, 1942, as the Braves topped the Cubs 6-5, Braves’ pitcher Jim Tobin became the first (still only) modern-era pitcher to hit three home runs in a single game. Tobin hit a solo shot leading off the fifth (off Jake Mooty) to tie the game at two; a solo shot off Mooty to open the seventh (with the Braves trailing 4-2); and a two-run shot in the eighth, breaking a 4-4 tie, off Hiram Bithorn.  Tobin went the distance in the game, giving up five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks.

Tobin pitched in nine MLB seasons (1937-45 … Pirates, Braves, Tigers), going 105-112, 3.44 (287 games/227 starts). As a hitter, he went .230-17-102 in 396 games. He appeared in 92 games as a pinch-hitter and four at 1B.

_____________________________________

Come On Home, Boys

The Braves’ Tony Cloninger had a pair of multi-homer games, but the one he enjoyed on July 3, 1996 (in a 17-3 win over the Giants in San Francisco) was a record-setter. On that day, he not only racked up his second multi-homer game of the season, but also became the first and still only pitcher to hit two grand slams in a game and set the (still-standing) MLB record for RBI in a game by a pitcher at nine. Here was Cloninger’s game:

First Inning – Grand Slam off Bob Priddy (the Braves scored seven runs in the top of the first);

Third inning – Ground out to short off Priddy;

Fourth Inning – Grand Slam off Ray Sadecki;

Sixth Inning – Flyout to left off Sadecki;

Eighth Inning – RBI single off Sadecki.

Cloninger pitched a complete-game, seven-hitter (three runs, two walks, five whiffs).

Notably, Cloninger’s two-home game came just 17 days after he enjoyed a two-homer contest in a 17-1 Braves’ win over the Mets.

___________________________________

Pitchers with Two Multi-Homer Games in a Single Season

Wes Ferrell, Red Sox                      1934

Don Newcombe, Dodgers            1955

Jack Harshman, Orioles                1958

Dick Donovan, Indians                  1962

Tony Cloninger, braves                  1966

Rick Wise, Phillies                           1971

____________________________________________

Cloninger pitched in 12 MLB seasons (1961-72 … Braves, Reds, Cardinals), going 113-97, 4.07.  His best season was 1965, when he went 24-11, 3.29 for the Braves. As a hitter, he went .192-11-67 in 366 games.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

After retiring from MLB, Tony Cloninger became a world-class, slow-pitch softball player. In 1978 (six years after his MLB retirement), playing for the United States Slow-Pitch Softball Association’s Slow-Pitch World Series Champion Howard & Carroll team, Cloninger was selected as the third baseman on the Series All-World Team.

_______________________________

Wisely Done, Rick

The Roundtable does like MLB unicorns – and, like Cloninger’s two-Grand Slam game, this one. On June 23, 1971, the Phillies’ Rick Wise became the first (and still only) MLB pitcher to hit two home runs and throw a no-hitter in the same game. Wise shut down the Reds in Cincinnati by a 4-0 score – giving up no hits, walking one and fanning three. He also rapped a two-run homer (off Ross Grimsley) in the fifth inning and a solo shot off Clay Carroll in the eighth.  Only a one-out, sixth-inning walk (to the Reds SS Dave Concepcion kept Wise from a perfect game on this day. And, consider the opposition. The Reds’ Lineup included the likes of: RF Pete Rose; CF George Foster; 1B Lee May; C Johnny Bench; and 3B Tony Perez.

Wise played in 18 MLB seasons (1964, 1966-82 … Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, Padres), going 188-181, 3.69. He won 15 or more games in six seasons. As a hitter he went .195-15-66 in 341 games.

Let’s get this Party Started

Another unicorn. On April 2, 2017, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner became the first (still only) pitcher to hit two home runs on Opening Day. It came against the Diamondbacks (in Arizona) and MadBum homered to lead off the fifth inning (off Zack Greinke) and went deep again (a solo shot with one out, that gave the Giants a 4-3 lead) in the seventh off Andrew Chapin. He also drew a seven-pitch walk in the second inning. Bumgarner got a no-decision in the game – going seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits, while walking none and fanning 11.

In 15 MLB seasons (2009-2023 … Giants, Diamondbacks), Bumgarner went 134-124, 3.47 and was an All Star four times.  As a hitter his stat line is .172-19-65 in 313 games.

Side Note; April 2 is the earliest date for a two-homer game by a pitcher.  The other pitcher to do it?  Zack Greinke (who opposed Bumgarner on Opening Day 2017). Exactly two years later, in the Diamondbacks sixth game of the season, Grienke hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs as his D-backs topped the Padres 8-5 in San Diego.

Whiff N’Poof

No pitcher fanned more batters in a two-homer game than the Indians’ Pedro Ramos.  On July 31, 1963, in a start against the Angels (in Cleveland), Ramos went two-for-four with a pair of solo home runs. He also fanned 15 Angels batters in a 9-5 win.

____________________________________________

Adding Insult to Injury

In the sixth inning of the Indians 9-5 win over the Angels on July 31, 1963, the Indians tied an MLB record by bashing four consecutive home runs – and Pedro Ramos was part of that record. The home run string began with two out in the seventh inning and included (in order) 2B Woodie Held, P Pedro Ramos, LF Tito Francona and SS Larry Brown.

_______________________________________

Ramos logged two two-homer games in his career – with wildly different pitching lines.  One was a three-hit shutout, in which he struck out just one batter.  In the second, he gave up five runs on 11 hits and two walks, but fanned 15.

Ramos pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1955-67, 1969-70 … Senators/Twins, Indians, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates, Reds, new Senators). He went 117-160, 4.08 as a pitcher and .155-15-56 in 696 games as a hitter.

Wrong Side of the Ledger

Pedro Ramos is one of only two MLB pitchers to lead his league in losses four consecutive seasons. Ramos (with the Senators) led the AL in losses from 1958 through 1961, with records of 14-18, 13-19, 11-18 and 11-20.  Phil Niekro matched that record in the NL, leading the league in losses from 1977 through 1980, going 16-20, 19-18, 21-20 and 15-18.  (In 1979, Niekro’s 21-20 record led the NL in wins and losses.)  The only other player to lead his league in losses four times is Bobo Newsom (who led the AL in losses I 1934, 1935, 1941 and 1945).

Oh, What A Relief It Is

Only four relievers have notcheda  two-homer game as hitter.

Babe Birrer’s two-homer game (July 19, 1955) in relief may be the most interesting.  While he didn’t enter the game until the sixth inning, Birrer drove in six of the Tiger’s 12 runs in a 12-4 win over the Orioles (in Detroit). In his two plate appearances, Birrer:

• Poked a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth (off George Zuvernick);
• Hit another three-run shot in the eighth (off Art Schallock).

Those, by the way, were the only home runs and RBI in Birrer’s short MLB career (1955-56, 1958 … Tigers, Orioles, Dodgers). He appeared in 56 games, going 4-3, 4.36 in 119 2/3 innings. As a hitter, he went .259-2-6 in 27 at bats.

_____________________________________

Teamwork

The Teams with the most pitchers multi-homer games in their history are:

Indians – Eight: Pedro Ramos (2); Dick Donovan (2); Bob Lemon; Mel Harder; Wes Ferrell; Garland Buckeye.

Phillies – Eight: Rick Wise (2); Randy Wolf; Robert Person; Randy Lerch; Larry Christenson; Phill Collins; Jack Knight.

My Favorite Names of Two-Homer Pitchers – Garland Buckeye, Elon Hogsett and Phill Collins (No, not that Phil Collins).

Gotta love Garland Buckeye and Elon Hogsett – pitchers with two-homer games on September 10, 1925 (for the Indians) and August 31, 1932, respectively.

Buckeye, a hefty 6’-260-pound southpaw went 30-39, 3.91 over five MLB seasons (1918, 1925-28 … Nationals, Indians Giants). As a batter, he went .230-5-23 in 108 games.  Garland’s best season was 1925, when he went 13-8, 3.65 for the Indians. He drove in five runs in his two-homer game.

Buckeye’s size made him seem more suited for football – and he suited up at center/guard for the Chicago Tigers of the American Professional Football Association (forerunner to the NFL) in 1920, with the Chicago Cardinals (APFA and NFL from 1921 through 1924) and the American Football League Chicago Bulls in 1926.

Hogsett was also a southpaw and he enjoyed a 11-season MLB career (1929-38, 1944 … Tigers, Browns, Nationals) – going 63-87, 5.02 on the mound (as a starter and reliever (114 starts/216 relief appearances). As a hitter, he was .226-6-27 in 339 games. In his two-homer game, he went three-for-three (two homers and a single), with three RBI.

Then there is Phil Collins. No not the Genesis/Grammy-winning Phil Collins. This Phil Collins had an eight-season MLB career (1923, 1929-35 … Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals) – going 80-85, 4.66 – and four-times winning 12 or more games in a season. On July 22, 1930, Collins started for the Phillies (makes sense if your name is Phil) against the pirate in Philadelphia. He went three-for-four at the plate, with two homers, a single and four RBI.  He also tossed a complete game (12 hits, five runs, six walks, three whiffs) in the Phillies 11-5 win. Over his career, Collins hit .193-4-44 in 322 games.

 

 

MLB Pitchers with Three-Homer Games (Modern ERA)

Jim Tobin, Braves                            May 13, 1942

 

MLB Pitchers with Two-Homer Games (Modern Era)

Ed Summers, Tigers                       Sept. 17, 1910

Ed Willet, Tigers                              June 30, 1912

Jim Shaw, Nationals                       May 2, 1919

Babe Ruth, Yankees                       June 13, 1921

Art Nehf, Giants                              July 29, 1924

Tony Kaufmann, Cubs                    July 4, 1925

Garland Buckeye, Indians             Sept. 10, 1925

Jess Doyle, Tigers                           Sept. 28, 2925

Jack Knight, Phillies                        June 24, 1926

Phil Collins, Phillies                       July 22, 1930

Red Ruffing, Yankees                     Sept. 18, 1930

Wes Ferrell, Indians                       August 31, 1931

Elon Hogsett, Tigers                       August 31, 1932

Hal Schumacher, Giants                April 24, 1934

Wes Ferrell, Red Sox                      July 13, 1934

Wes Ferrell, Red Sox                      August 22, 1934

Wes Ferrell, Red Sox                      July 31, 1935

Mel Harder, Indians                       July 31, 1935

Red Ruffing, Yankees                     June 17, 1936

Wes Ferrell, Red Sox                      August 12, 1936

Elden Auker, Tigers                        August 14, 1937

Jack Wilson, Red Sox                     June 16, 1940

Spud Chandler, Yankees                July 26, 1940

Bill Lee, Cubs                                   May 7, 1941

Bucky Walters, Reds                      May 20, 1945

Dave Koslo, Giants                         July 7, 1949

Bob Lemon, Indians                       July 24, 1949

Ben Wade, Dodgers                       July 6, 1952

Don Newcombe, Dodgers            April 14, 1955

Don Newcombe, Dodgers            May 30, 1955

Jim Hearn, Giants                           July 9, 1955

Babe Birrer, Tigers                          July 19, 1955

Don Newcombe, Dodgers            Sept. 19, 1956

Dixie Howell, White Sox               June 16, 1957

Billy Hoeft, Tigers                           July 14, 1957

Lew Burdette, Braves                    August 13, 1957

Lew Burdette, Braves                    July 10, 1958

Jack Harshman, Orioles                 July 16, 1958

Don Drysdale, Dodgers                 August 23, 1958

Jack Harshman, Orioles                 Sept. 23, 1958

Don Cardwell, Cubs                       Sept. 2, 1960

Glen Hobbie, Cubs                         July 2, 1961

Milt Pappas, Orioles                       August 27, 1961

Dick Donovan, Indians                  May 18, 1962

Pedro Ramos, Indians                   May 30, 1962

Dick Donovan, Indians                  August 31, 1962

Pedro Ramos, Indians                   July 31, 1963

Earl Wilson, Red Sox                      August 16, 1965

Tony Cloninger, Braves                  June 16, 1966

Tony Cloninger, Braves                  July 3, 1966

Jim Rooker, Royals                          July 7, 1969

Rick Wise, Phillies                           June 23, 1971

Rick Wise, Phillies                           August 28, 1971

Fergie Jenkins, Cubs                      Sept. 1, 1971

Sonny Siebert, Red Sox                 Sept. 2, 1971

Larry Christenson, Phillies            Sept. 5, 1976

Randy Lerch, Phillies                      Sept. 30, 1978

Walt Terrell, Mets                          August 6, 1983

Jim Gott, Giants                              May 12, 1985

Derek Lilliquist, Braves                  May 1, 1990

Darren Driefort, Dodgers             August 8, 2000

Mike Hampton, Rockies                June 5, 2001

Robert Person, Phillies                  June 2, 2002

Randy Wolf, Phillies                        August 11, 2004

Dontrelle Willis, Marlins               Sept. 20, 2006

Micah Owings, Diamondbacks    August 18, 2007

Noah Syndergaard, Mets             May 11, 2016

Madison Bumgarner, Giants        April 2, 2017

Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks      April 2, 2019

Shohei Ohtani, Angels                   June 27, 2003

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

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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

Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

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

P1029

Oh yes, one thing leads to another – again.

Yesterday, the Diamondbacks (March 28) made a bit of Opening Day history.  In their opener against the Rockies, the Diamondbacks scored 14 runs in the third inning – a modern era (post-1900) single-inning Opening Day record – and they did it without the benefit of a home run.  That inning took me back in time to another even more unique frame – which took place on April 22, 1959, when the White Sox plated 11 runs in an inning, while logging just one hit.

Let’s look at both innings.

In yesterday’s 14-run third, the Diamondbacks sent 18 batters to the plate – collecting ten singles, three doubles and two walks.  In the inning:

• Five of the nine players in the starting lineup collected two hits;
• Corbin Carroll walked twice;
• Eight of the nine collected at least one RBI;
• Eight of the nine scored at least one run, with six scoring twice;
• The Diamondbacks had two streaks within the inning when seven consecutive batters reached base;
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno each has three RBI.

It went like this:

• SS Geraldo Perdomo, the number-nine hitter singled off Kyle Freeland;
• 2B Ketel Marte singled;
• RF Corbin Carroll walked, loading the bases;
• LF Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. hit an RBI single;
• 1B Christian Walker hit a two-run double;
• C Gabriel Moreno hit an RBI single;
• 3B Eugenio Suarez hit an RBI single;
• DH Blaze Alexander flied out to RF;
• CF Alek Thomas hit an RBI double;
• Anthony Molina relieved Freeland;
• Perdomo hit an RBI single;
• Marte hit an RBI single;
• Carroll drew his second walk, again loading the bases;
• Gurriel hit a two-run single;
• Walker singled, loading the bases.
• Moreno hit a two-run double;
• Suarez drove in a run with a sac fly;
• Alexander hit an RBI single;
• Jalen Beeks replaced Molina on the mound.
• Thomas grounded out pitcher to first.

The Diamondbacks came into the inning with a 2-0 lead and did not score after the 14-run third – coming away with a 16-1 win. (From the time that Beeks took the mound for the Rockies, the Rox bullpen held the Diamondbacks to two hits over 5 1/3 innings, with seven strikeouts.

__________________________________________

Now for that 1959 game. On April 22, 1959 – in a 20-6 win over the Kansas City Athletics (in Kansas City), the White Sox scored 11 runs in the seventh inning on just one hit (a single). Here are few “numbers” from that 11-run inning:

• The Sox sent 17 batters to the plate, but collected just one hit;
• Sox’ hitters stepped into the box with runners in scoring position 14 times;
• Sox hitters batted with the bases loaded 12 times and never got the ball past the pitcher;
• Eight different White Sox’ players drew walks;
• The Sox drew eight bases-loaded walks (and had one bases-loaded hit batsman);
• White Sox’ 2B Nellie Fox walked twice with the bases loaded in the inning.

Here’s how it went that inning (per baseball-reference.com):

• 1B Ray Boone was safe on a throwing error by A’s shortstop Joe DeMaestri;
• RF Al Smith attempted to sacrifice Boone to second (score was 8-6 at the time) and reached on an error by A’s third baseman Hal Smith;
• LF Johnny Callison singled to right. Scoring Boone and Smith (with the help of an error by A’s right fielder Roger Maris). Callison ended up on third;
• SS Louis Aparicio walked – then stole second (runners now on second and third);
• P Bob Shaw walked (loading the bases);
• PH Earl Torgeson (batting for 3B Sammy Esposito) walked (scoring Callison);
• 2B Nellie Fox walked (scoring Aparicio);
• CF Jim Landis reached on fielder’s choice – grounding back to pitcher Mark Freeman, who took the force at home (bases still loaded);
• C Sherman Lollar walked (scoring Torgeson, bases still loaded);
• Boone made his second plate appearance of the inning and walked (scoring Fox).
• Smith made his second plate appearance of the inning and walked (scoring Landis);
• Callison, who had the only hit of the inning in his first plate appearance, was hit by a pitch (scoring Lollar, bases still loaded). Lou Skizas came in to run for Callison;
• Aparicio drew his second walk of the inning (scoring Boone, bases still loaded);
• Shaw struck out.
• PH Bubba Phillips (batting for Torgeson, who batted for Esposito earlier in the inning) walked (scoring Smith, bases still full);
• Fox drew his second bases loaded walk of the inning (scoring Skizas);
• Landis grounded out pitcher to first to end the inning.

The 20-runs the White Sox scored that day were the most they plated in any game that season.  Another side note: It did not start out like it was going to be a good day for the White Sox.  The A’s knocked Chicago’s starting pitcher Early Wynn – who would go on to lead the AL in wins with 22 – out of the game with six runs on six hits and two walks in the first 1 2/3 innings. The Sox actually trailed 6-1 after two frames. A few other stats:

• The Sox collected a total of 16 hits and 13 walks in the contest; which also saw four Kansas City errors.
• In addition, to scoring 20 times, Chicago left eleven runners on base.
• Nellie Fox was the offensive star of the game – with four hits (five at bats), two walks and five RBI.

The A’s used six pitchers in the contest, three in the seventh inning.

The 1959 AL pennant-winning White Sox went on to become known as the “Go-Go Sox” for their ability to manufacture runs despite a punchless offense. (The Sox finished last in the league in home runs and sixth – out of the eight AL teams – in batting average and runs scored, but first in stolen bases and second in walks).

This One Had a Homer

For those that like to know such things, the most runs tallied in any MLB inning is 18, by the National League Chicago White Stockings (Cubs) in a 26-6 win over the Detroit Wolverines on September 6, 1883.  That inning featured 18 Chicago base hits (six doubles, one triple, one home run, ten singles and two Detroit errors. ).  Those 18 hits are also an MLB single-inning record, as are the 29 total bases. Three players logged a record  (tied, but never broken) three  hits in the inning (3B Ed Williamson, SS Tom Burns and 2B Fred Pfeffer). Tom Burns’ two doubles and a home run set the mark for extra-base hits in an inning. Burns and Williamson set the mark (since tied) for runs scored in an inning with three.  Six players had two hits in the inning.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball’s Biggest Inning, by Art Ahrens, 1977 Baseball Research Journal (Society for American Baseball Research).

COMING SOON – A DEEP DIVE INTO PITCHERS WITH MULTI-HR GAMES (as hitters).

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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

Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

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

P1028

On July 21, 1975, Mets’ infielders Felix Millan (2B) and Joe Torre (1B) became a record-setting double play combination – but that was not necessarily a good thing.

In 6-2 loss to the Astros in New York, Millan went four-for-four (four singles) and each time was forced at second base, as Torre grounded into four double plays in his four plate appearances. Plenty of unicorns here. By grounding into four twin killings, Torre became the first (and still only) National League player to ground into four double plays in a game. (The only other MLB player to “accomplish” this feat is Tigers’ LF Goose Goslin, who grounded not four twin killings as the Tigers topped the Indians 4-1 on April 28, 1934.)  The Millan/Torre combination also  became the first (and still only) MLB combo to be partners on wrong end of a double play four times in a game. Further, Astros’ starter Ken Frosch, who went the distance (11 hits, two runs, one walk, two strikeouts) became the first (and still only) pitcher to induce the same batter to hit into four double plays  in a game. That day, by the way, Millan was batting second and playing second base for the Mets, while Torre was batting third and playing third base (nice symmetry there).  Side note: Some of this could possibly change as Negro League game stats from 1920-48 are further documented and incorporated into the MLB record book.  

Here’s the Millan/Torre story:

• In the bottom of the first, already trailing 2-0, Millan singled with one out. Torre followed by hitting into an inning-ending double play – Forsch to second baseman Larry Milbourne to first baseman Bob Watson.
• In the third frame, with the Mets down 5-1, Millan singled with one out and one on. Torre followed by grounding into an inning-ending shortstop Roger Metzger to Milbourne to Watson DP.
• In the sixth frame, Millan led off with his third one-bagger of the day. This time, Torre hit into a Melbourne to Metzger to Watson twin killing.
• In the seventh, Millan punched another single (with one man on). Torre followed by grounding into a Metzger to Milbourne to Watson double play.

Double Whammy

Nice coincidence. Torre and Millan each had a consecutive double consonant in their last names. In the game, seven players with a double consonant in their last name (Torre, Millan, Greg Gross, Enos Cabell, Mike Phillips, Hank Webb and Jack Heidemann) took the field.  Also in the game was the double-voweled Ed Kranepoole. Honorable mentions go out to first name, double-consonant players that game (Cliff Johnson, Larry Milbourne and Jerry Grote).

That season, Torre grounded into 22 double plays – second most in the NL. During his 18-year MLB playing career, Torre led the NL in GIDP three times. His final stat line was .297-252-1,185 in 2,209 games.

A few double- play tidbits.

• Albert Pujols holds the career record for GIDP at 426 (Over 22 seasons (He led the league in GIDP four times.)
• Miguel Tejada led the league in GIDP he most times in MLB history (five – 2004-06, Orioles and 2008-09, Astros).
• Jim Rice holds the record for most GIDP in a season at 36 (1984 Red Sox).
• 

As always, when Baseball Roundtable begin looking a topic “one thing seemed to lead to another.”  This led me to the MLB career of Ron Wright.

RON WRIGHT.  Three at bats – six outs – and done

Attitude is everything – and we could all learn a lot from Ron Wright, a one-time MLB prospect who calls his one-game major-league career “the best day of my professional life,” despite the fact that he missed, hit and ran his way into six outs in only three at bats (and a total of nine pitches). Starting his first – and only – game after being called up in April 2002 by the Mariners, Wright began his MLB career by striking out with two on in the second inning – and it was all downhill from there. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Wright’s day went like this:

Second Inning: With Ruben Sierra on second and John Olerud on first, Wright – who started at DH, batting seventh – took a called third strike (on an 0-2 pitch) from Rangers’ starter Kenny Rogers.

Fourth Inning: With Sierra on third and Olerud on first, Wright  hit a grounder to Rogers (on a 2-2 pitch), who threw to SS Alex Rodriguez at second for the force. Sierra, who had broken for home, was caught in a SS-C-3B-P rundown for a second out, and Wright who tried to take second during the run down was thrown out P-2B.  An unusual triple play.

Sixth inning: Again up with both Sierra and Olerud on base (second and first, respectively), Wright hit the first offering from Rogers  into a more traditional short-to-second-to first double play.

Seventh Inning: Up again with Sierra and Olerud on base (first and third) with one out, Mike McLemore pinch hit for Wright (ending Wright’s MLB stat line).  McLemore, by the way, struck out.

The Mariners trailing 5-1 after six frames, came back to win the game 9-7.

RON WRIGHT HITS/RUNS INTO A TRIPLE PLAY

 

Wright went back down to the minors before getting another MLB at bat and never made it back. (He did hit .273 with 15 HRs for Tacoma in 2002).  So, his major-league career consisted of three at bats, nine pitches and six outs – strikeout, triple play, double play.  For The Roundtable, the key words are major-league. Ron Wright made it to The Show.

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

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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

Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

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

P1026