It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

Now, last night’s 18-inning World Series battle, as you might expect, offered up some unicorn-qualifying occurrences (although not the game itself, since it was the second-ever 18-frame World Series Game.  And, as he does so often, Shohei Ohtani did some unicorn-qualifying and unicorn-like things.  We’ll get to the Amazing Mr. Ohtani in a few paragraphs, but let’s start with a few obvious and not-so-obvious unicorns from Monday night.

The obvious: the Dodgers became the only team to play in two 18-inning World Series games and the only team to win two-18 inning World Series games with a walk-off home run.  Dodger Stadium became the first/only ballpark to host two 18-inning World Series contests and a  Game Three the only WS Game to go 18-innings. Less obvious:  Brad Paisley became the only professional singer to lead the crowd in the National Anthem before two World Series 18-inning games.

Here’s another Monday unicorn., one that at least borders on obvious.   In Monday’s game, Mookie Betts became the first player to start in 18-inning World Series games for two different teams. He started in RF for the Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series and at SS for the Dodgers Monday night. (As you will see, if you read on, he is not the only player to start 18-inning World Series games at two different positions.)

Less obvious is the fact that Clayton Kershaw is now the only player (unicorn) to participate in one 18-inning World Series game solely as an offensive player and another solely as a pitcher. Kershaw made a brief appearance in both games and each time he was responsible for exactly one out. Kershaw lined out as a pinch hitter in the 17th inning of the 2018 game (and did not pitch) and retired one batter in a relief role in the 12th inning of the 2025 game (and did not come to the plate).

Now back to some almost-unicorns. Two players were in the starting lineups for both games, each starting at two different positions. We’ve already looked at Betts.  The other two-time starter was Max Muncy, who started at 1B for the Dodgers in 2018 and at 3B for LA in 2025. Then there is Enrique Hernandez, who played in both 18-inning World Series games (for the Dodgers, coming in at 2B in the 11th inning of the 2018 game – later moving to LF – and starting in LF in the 2025 Game).

A Unicorn Extra

Last night’s game saw 19 pitchers take the mound, a new post-season record and 37 stranded runners (another post-season record).

Now, let’s move on to the king of MLB unicorns, Shohei Ohtani, who just keeps etching his name into the National Pastime’s history.

Ohtani had quite a night, making nine plate appearances and getting on base nine times (two homers, two doubles, five walks).

• In almost-unicorn fashion, he tied the record for plate appearances in a World Series game (or any post-season game for that matter) with nine.

For those Who Like To Know Such Things

The record for plate appearances in single MLB regular-season game is 12, shared by Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk and Rudy Law (all for the White Sox in a 25-inning, 7-6 win over the Brewers on May 8, 1984) and the Mets’ Felix Millan and John Milner (in a September 11, 1974, 25-inning, 3-4 loss to the Cardinals).

• Ohtani also achieved unicorn status as the only player with a 1.000 on-base percentage in a post-season game with nine plate appearances.
• In a unicorn-worthy move, Ohtani set a new record for walks in a World Series game (five). He also tied the record for walks in a post-season game of any kind. (The Rangers’ Corey Seager drew five walks in Game Two of the 2023 AL Division Series).

For Those Who Like To Know Such Things

The record for walks in a single regular-season MLB game is six, shared by Jeff Bagwell, Jimmie Foxx, Bryce Harper and Andre Thornton. Foxx is the only one of those to collect six walks in a nine-inning contest.

• Ohtani also tied the record for extra-base hits in a World Series game at four. (In Game 5 of the 1906 World Series, the White Sox’ Frank Isbell had four doubles in a ChiSox’ w8-6 win over the Cubs.)
• Ohtani set a new record for Intentional Walks in a World Series (or any post-season) game at four. Previously six players shared the post-season single game record for IBB at three. Now a unicorn holds it.

For Those Who Like To Know Such Things

The record for Intentional Walks in a single MLB game is five, by the Cubs’ Andre Thornton in a 16-inning, 2-1 win over the Reds on May 22, 1990.

So, there are some observations from Monday night’s WS Game. I can’t wait to see what happens tonight (especially with Ohtani on the mound).  I have a hunch more unicorn-worthy occurrences lie ahead.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com.

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P 1141

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.  This Tuesday, with the World Series approaching, we’ll look at a whole lot of World Series records.  I’ve worked to incorporate Negro League World Series records (1924-27, 1942-48) whenever possible (relying heavily on retrosheet.org and stathead.com).  You should keep in mind, the Negro Leagues records are still incomplete or, in some cases, not thoroughly documented.

Did you know, righthander Lance McCullers, Jr., who pitched in three World Series games (2017 & 2022), holds the World Series’ single-game records for the most batters hit (four)  and the most home runs allowed (five); that Willie Mays is the only player to ground into three double plays in a single WS game; that Christy Mathewson is the only pitcher to toss three shutouts in one World Series and did it in the span of six days; or that, in one game, Albert Pujols set or tied the World Series single-game records for total bases, hits, runs scored, RBI and home runs?

Let’s take a dive into the World Series Record Book – some records to Shoot for, some to avoid. A couple of examples, first:

 

To Shoot For

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

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

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To Avoid

Lance McCullers, Jr. – Channeling Ricky Vaughn

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

His appearance went like this:

Bottom of the first – Astros up 2-0. Dodgers’ CF Chris Taylor opens with a double; McCullers fans SS Corey Seager on a 3-2 pitch; 3B Justin Turner is hit by a 1-2 pitch; 1B Cody Bellinger fans on a 1-2 pitch; RF Yasiel Puig is hit by a 3-1 pitch, loading the bases. LF Joc Pederson grounds out on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.

Second Inning – 2B Logan Forsythe leads off with a single to left (on a 1-0 pitch); C Austin Barnes grounds out, Forsythe moving to second; PH Enrique Hernandez is it by a 3-1 pitch; Taylor lines into a double play.

Third Inning – Seager singles to center on a 1-2 pitch; Turner is hit by an 0-0 pitch; Bellinger strikes out on a 2-2 pitch. Brad Peacock relieves McCullers and retires Puig and Pederson with no damage., The Astros go on to win the Game 5-1 and the Series four games-to-three.

 

Now,  let’s break these tidbits  down in a more organized way.

 

Most Home Runs in a World Series Game – Three

Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Albert Pujols, Pablo Sandoval

 

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

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

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

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

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

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Home Runs in a Single World Series – Five

Reggie Jackson, Chase Utley, George Springer

Reggie Jackson … As noted above, Yankee RF Reggie Jackson had a three-home run game in the sixth and final matchup of the 1977 World Series.  The Yankees won the game 8-4 and the Series four games-to-two. Jackson also went deep in the Yankees’ Game Four 4-2 win over the Dodgers (a solo shot off Rick Rhoden) and in the Yankees’ 10-4 loss in Game Five (a solo homer off Don Sutton).   Over the final three games of the Series, Jackson went   seven-for-eleven, with a double, five home runs, eight runs scored and eight RBI.

Chase Utley … Utley’s Phillies lost the 2009 World Series (four games-to-two), but it wasn’t Utley’s fault, The Philly 2B led all players with five homers and tied the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui for the Series RBI lead with eight. He hit two solo homers in the Phillies’ Game One 6-1 win, had a home run and a double in a 7-4 Game Four loss; and had a second two-homer game as the Phillies took Game Five 8-6. (Utley drove in four of the eight runs).

George Springer … Astros’ CF and leadoff hitter George Springer hit .379, with five home runs and seven RBI as the Astros topped the Dodgers four games-to-three in the 2017 World Series. This was after a Game One in which he came to the plate four times and fanned four times (on a total of 19 pitches). He went on to homer in Games Two, Four, Five, Six and Seven.

Bases – Just Add ‘Em Up

George Springer holds the record for total bases in a single World Series at 29.  In the 2017 World Series – as his Astros topped the Dodgers four games-to-three, Springer collected 11 hits in 29 at bats, including three doubles and five home runs.

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Base Hits in a World Series Game – Five

Paul Molitor, Albert Pujols

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

Taking It One Base at a Time

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

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

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Base Hits in a Single World Series – Fifteen

Judy Johnson … The Hilldale Club’s 3B Judy Johnson rapped 15 hits in 44 at bats in the best-of-nine 1924 Negro Leagues World Series. (The Hilldale Club topped the Kansas City Monarchs five games-to-four (with one tie).  Johnson hit .341 for the Series with five doubles, one triple, one home run and seven runs scored.

Side Note:  The record for base hits in a best-of-seven World Series is 13, shared by Bobby Richardson, Yankees (1964); Lou Brock, Cardinals (1968); and Marty Barrett, Red Sox, 1986). Each of those Series went the full seven games.

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Runs Batted in a World Series Game – Six

Bobby Richardson, Hideki Matsui, Albert Pujols, Addison Russell

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

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

Put Me In, Coach

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

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

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

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RBI in a Single World Series – 12

Bobby Richardson, Freddie Freeman

Bobby Richardson … Yankees’ 2B Bobby Richardson drove in a record 12 runs (.367-1-12 for the Series), as the Yankees lost to the underdog Pittsburgh Pirates four games -to-three.  The Yankees lost the Series despite outscoring the Pirates 55-27 over the seven games. Again, (this deserves repeating), during the 1960 regular season, Richardson had driven in 26 runs in 150 games.

Freddie Freeman … Freeman drove in 12 tallies for the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series – which lasted only five games (The Dodgers beat the Yankees four games-to-one). Freeman’s line for the Series was .300-4-12, with six hits and five runs scored. The World Series MVP drove in four runs in the Dodger 6-3 Game One victory; one run in the Dodgers 4-2 Game Two win; two runs in LA’s 4-2 Game Three win; three runs in the Game four 11-4 loss to the Yankees; and two runs in the Series ending Game Five 7-6 Dodgers triumph. Freeman had gone .282-22-89 on the season.

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Runs Scored in a World Series Game – Four

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

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

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Runs Scored in a Single World Series – Ten

Monte Irvin, Reggie Jackson, Paul Molitor

Monte Irvin … Newark Eagles’ SS Monte Irvin scored ten runs as his Newark Eagles topped the Kansas City Monarchs four games-to-three in the 1946 Negro League World Series. Irvin was pretty much unstoppable in the Series, going 12-for-26 (.462), with two doubles, three homers, the ten runs scored and eight RBI.  Oh, and he also stole two bases.

Reggie Jackson … Yankees’ RF Reggie Jackson went .450-5-8 with ten runs scored as the Yankees bested the Dodgers four games-to-three in the 1977 World Series. Six of Jackson’s nine hits went for extra bases (five homers, one double).

Paul Molitor … Blue Jays’ DH/1B Paul Molitor went 11-for-24 (.458) in the 1993 Worlds Series, won by the Blue Jays over the Phillies four games-to-two.    Molitor had one double, two triples, two homers, ten runs  scored  and seven RBI in the six games.

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Stolen Bases in a World Series Game – Three

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

Lou Brock … Lets’ just note here, that Lou Brock remains the only player to steal three bases in a World Series game twice in his career. The fleet Cardinals’ outfielder first accomplished the feat against the Red Sox in Game Seven of the 1967 World Series (October 12) – stealing second base after a single in the fifth, then adding insult to injury in the ninth, stealing second and third after walking (with the Cardinals up 7-2 on the Red Sox).  He also stole three bases in in Game Three of the 1968 World Series (October 5) against the Tigers – stealing second after a first-inning walk (then being caught attempting to swipe third base), and second again in the third and fifth innings.  Brock led the league in steals in both 1967 and 1968, with 52 and 62 respectively.

Honus Wagner … Off and Running

Honus Wagner helped his Pirates defeat the Tigers 8-6 in Game Three of the 1909 World Series.  In the first frame: he reached on an error: stole second; took third on the catcher’s errant throw); and scored on a wild pitch. He also stole second in the fifth, was caught attempting to steal second after a seventh-inning single and stole second in the ninth.  Wagner had stolen 35 bases in the 1909 regular season.

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Stolen Bases in a Single World Series – Seven

Lou Brock … Brock, who stole 938 bases in his career (regular-season), is not just the only player to steal seven bases in a single World Series, he did it twice. In 1967, as his Cardinals lost to the Red Sox 4-3, and in 1968, as St. Louis topped the Tigers 4-3. Brock was seven-for-seven in steal attempts in 1967 and seven-for-nine in 1968. Notably, in those two World Series, Brock hit .414 (1967) and .464 (1968).

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Intentional Walks in World Series Game – Three

Rudy York, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz

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

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

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

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

13 – Lucky or Unlucky?

In the 2002 World Series, the Giants’ Barry Bonds drew a WS record 13 walks (in 30 plate appearances).  He made the best of it when the Angels, who won the Series four games-to three, pitched to him – going 8-for-17 (.471), with four home runs and six RBI.

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Grounded into Double Plays in a World Series Game – Three

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

 

Baseball Roundtable Extra – Whiff and Poof

While 19 players have fanned four times in a World Series Game – including position players Josh Devore, Mickey Mantle, Joe Collins, Wayne Garrett, Devon White, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Mike Napoli, George Springer and Cody Bellinger:

Only pitcher George Pipgras has fanned five times in a World Series Game. The Yankee righthander did it in Game Three of the 1932 Cubs/Yankees World Series – whiffing in all five of his plate appearances. Pipgras, a career .163 hitter, did get the win in a 7-5 Yankee triumph.

Only Cody Bellinger has fanned four times in a World Series Game twice – and he did it in a span of five days. The Dodgers’ rookie 1B did it in Game Three of the 2017 Dodger/Astros World Series (October 27) – fanning four times in four at bats on fourteen pitches. He repeated the “feat” in Game Six (October 31) fanning four times in four plate appearances – this time on 24 pitches. The 21-year-old Bellinger was coming off an All Star and Rookie of the Year season in which he hit .267-39-97. In the Series he fanned World Series record 17 times in 29 plate appearances.

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Doubles in a World Series Game – Four

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

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Doubles in a Single World Series – Seven

Newt Allen … Kansas City Monarchs’ 2B Newt Allen rapped seven doubles in the best-of-nine 1924 Negro League World Series, as his Monarchs topped the Hilldale Club five games-to four (one tie). Allen collected 11 hits (39 at bats) in the Series) and seven of them were doubles.  During the 1924 regular season, Allen hit just eight doubles in 73 games (298 at bats).

Side Note:  The most doubles in a best-of-seven World Series is six, by Tigers’ RF Pete Fox in the 1934 World Series. For the Series (Cardinals over Tigers four games-to-three), Fox went 8-for-28 (.286).

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Triples in a World Series Game – Two

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Triples in a Single World Series – Four

Tommy Leach … Pirates’ 3B Tommy Leach had four triples among his nine hits (in 33 at bats) in the 1903 best-of-nine World Series, won by the Boston Americans five games-to-three.

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Now Let switch to the moundsmen.

 

Perfect Games in the World Series 

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

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

Red Grier, Red Farrell

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

Red Farrell …. Luther “Red’ Farrell of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants tossed a seven-inning (game called on account of darkness) no-hitter in Game Four of the 1927 Negro League World Series – as Atlantic City topped the Chicago American Giants 3-2.  Luther gave up two unearned runs, walked five and fanned three.  (Atlantic City made four errors.)

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There have been more than 90 single-pitcher shutouts in World Series play, so let’s just look at the two narrower categories: Extra-Inning, Single-Pitcher Shutouts & Multiple Shutouts in a Single World Series.

Extra-Inning World Series Shutouts

Johnny Markham, Christy Mathewson, Clem Labine, Jack Morris

Johnny Markham, Homestead Grays … In Game Seven of the 1943 Negro League World Series (the Series went eight games – one tie), Markham threw an eight-hit, 11-inning shutout (one walk and zero – yes, zero – strikeouts), as his Homestead Grays topped the Birmingham Black Barons 1-0. His mound opponent, Roy Partlow gave up ten hits (two walks/two whiffs) and one run in 10 2/3 innings.  Markham’s is the longest single-pitcher shutout in World Series history.

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

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

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

 

 

Rest?  I’ve Got All Winter to Rest.

When Christy Mathewson threw his still-record three-shutouts in the five-game 1905 World Series, he did it in a span of six days.  On October 9 (Game One), the New Y0rk Giants’ mound giant shutout the Athletics 3-0 on four-hits. On October 12, still in Philadelphia, he whitewashed the A’s 9-0 on another four-hitter; Then, on October 14, he tossed a six-hit shutout in a 2-0 win that gave the Giants the Series four games to one. Notably, every game in the Series saw the winning pitcher go the distance in a shutout.

A few tidbits for trivia buffs:

• Lew Burdette, at one point in the 1957 World Series, threw 24 straight scoreless innings versus a powerful (and favored) Yankee squad;
• Sandy Koufax threw his second 1965 World Series shutouts on just two days rest;
• In the 1960 World Series, the Pirates scored zero runs in Whitey Ford‘s two starts and 27 runs in the other five games. The Yankees scored 22 runs in Ford’s two starts and 33 runs in the other five games;
• Bill Dineen started four games in the best-of-nine 1903 World Series (which went eight games), completed them all and went and went 3-1, 2.06;
• The Pirates’ Deacon Phillippe pitched a World Series record five complete games in the Series, going 3-2, 3.07.

Starting To Become Rare Air

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Lowest Earned Run Average – Single World Series (minimum 18 innings pitched) – 0.00

Christy Mathewson, Waite H0yte, Carl Hubbell, Whitey For

Christy Mathewson … Okay, this is a little repetitive, but it bears repeating. In the 1905 World Series, Giants’ righty Christy Mathewson put up a 0.00 earned run average over 27 innings. In fact, he threw three shutouts in six days.   So, three starts, 27 innings pitched, no runs, 13 hits, one walk and 18 whiffs.  (Keep in mind, in 1905, MLB pitchers average just 3.9 strikeouts per nine frames.)  That season, by the way, Mathewson went 31-9, 1.28 with 32 complete games and eight shutouts in 43 appearances (37 starts).

Waite Hoyte … In 1921, 21-year-old Waite Hoyt (after a 19-13, 3.09 season for the Yankees) was pegged to start Game Two of the World Series (on October 6 versus the rival Giants). Hoyte responded with a two-hit shutout (five walks and five strikeouts) in a 3-0 Yankee win.  Four days later (October 10), with the Series tied at two games apiece), he started again and threw a gutsy ten-hitter giving up just one unearned run as the Yankees won 3-1. In that game, the Giants had runners on base in seven of the nine innings. Hoyte next pitched on October 13 – in the winner-take-all Game Seven and, despite giving up just one unearned run, took the loss in a 1-0 Giants win. In that one, Hoyte gave up six hits and four walks, while fanning seven. The only run scored in the top of the first inning, on an error by shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.

Carl Hubbell … Hubbell started two games for the Giants, as they topped the Nationals in the 1933 World Series.  He put up a 0.00 ERA over 20 innings.  his efforts included a complete game in a Giants’ 5-2 win in Game One (two unearned runs, five hits, two walks, ten strikeouts) and an 11-inning complete game in Game Four – one unearned run, eight hits, four walks, five strikeouts.

Whitey Ford …  In the 1960 World Series (won by the Pirates over the Yankees in seven games), Whitey Ford pitched in two of the most lopsided shutouts in Series’ history, In Game Three, Ford pitched a four-hit (one walk/three strikeouts) shutout as New York prevailed 10-0. In Game Six, he again blanked the Pirates (seven hits, one walk, five whiffs), as the Yankees won 12-0.

In the 1960 World Series, the Yankees outhit the Pirates .338 to .256, outhomered them 10-4 4, and outscored them 55-27. The Pirates, however, won the Series four games to three.

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Most Innings pitched in a World Series Game -14

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

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The Deacon Phillippe Standard Setter

In the 1903 World Series (best-of-nine between the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates), the Pirates Deacon Phillippe set a host of World Series records – most games started (5), most complete games (5), most innings pitched (44). (The Series went eight games.) He also tied the record for wins in a single World Series (three).

                                              ____________________________________

Most Strikeouts in a World Series Game – 17

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

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Most Strikeouts in a Single World Series

Bob Gibson … As you might expect, Gibson holds the record for strikeouts in a single World Series (35 in 27 innings pitched in 1968). Gibson also holds the second spot on this list with 31 strikeouts in the 1964 Series (27 innings pitched) and is tied for the number-five spot with 26 strikeouts in the 1967 World Series. At number-three is the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, with 29 strikeouts in 24 innings in 1965. Number four is the Boston Americans’ Bill Dineen, with 28 strikeouts in 35 innings in 1903.  Tied with Gibson for the five spot are the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants’ Claude “Red” Grier (26 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings in the 1926 Negro league World Series) and the Diamondbacks’ Curt Schilling (26 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings in 200).

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

Lance McCullers, Jr. … McCullers, Jr. started Game Seven of the 2017 World Series for the Astros (versus the Dodgers in LA) and lasted just 2 1/3 innings.  In the bottom of the first, he gave up a leadoff double and, in the course of the inning, hit Dodger 3B Justin Turner and RF Yasiel Puig. (He also fanned a pair of batters – SS Corey Seager and 1B Cody Bellinger.)  He pitched around a single and hit-b -pitch (PH Enrique Hernandez), leaving the inning with a 5-0 lead.

McCullers was lifted with one out in the in the third frame after giving up a single by Seager, hitting Turner with a pitch and fanning Bellinger.  The Astros went on to a 5-1 win, with McCullers getting a no-decision.

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Strikeouts by A Reliever in a World Series Game – 11

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

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

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Most Mound Appearances in a Single World Series

The record for pitching appearances in a single World Series in seven, shared by Darold Knowles (1973 A’s) – seven appearances, 6 1/3 innings, two saves and a 0.00 ERA – and Brandon Morrow (2017 Dodgers) – seven appearances, 5 1/3 innings pitched, and an 8.44 ERA.

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Most Hits Allowed in a World Series Game – 16

Ray Brown – The Homestead Grays’ Ray Brown threw a complete-game in the 1942 Negro League World Series Game Three matchup with the Kansas City Monarchs.  The Monarch won the contest 9-6, with Brown giving up a Series-record 16 hits.

Side Note:  If you are looking at just the AL and NL, the most hits allowed belongs to the great Walter Johnson of the Nationals, who gave up 15 hits and nine runs in a complete game 9-7 Game Seven Loss to the Pirates on October 15, 1925.  Johnson had pitched a one-run, five-hitter in wining Game One of the Series and a six-hit shutout in winning Game Four.

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Most Home Runs Allowed in a World Series Game – 5

Lance McCullers, Jr. … In Game Three of the 2022 World Series, Astros’ starter Lance McCullers, Jr. gave up six hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched – and five of those hits ended up in the stands.  (He also fanned five batters.)  McCullers gave up a two-run shot to the Phillie’s DH Bryce Harper in the first; solo homers to both 3B Alec Bohm and CF Brandon Marsh in the second; and a two -run homer to LF Kyle Schwarber, as well as a solo shot to 1B Rhys Hoskins in the fifth. McCullers’ Astros lost the game 7-5.

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Most Walks Allowed in a Word Series Game – Ten

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

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Most Runs Given Up in a World Series Game – Ten

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

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Earned Runs Given Up in a World Series Game – Eight

Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander, Ray Brown, Cotton Williams, Jay Witasick

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

Ray Brown … A little repetition here. The Homestead Grays’ Ray Brown threw a complete-game in the 1942 Negro League World Series Game Three matchup with the Kansas City Monarchs.  The Monarch won the contest 9-6, with Brown giving up a Series-record 16 hits, a total of nine runs of which eight were earned tying another Series record.

Cotton Williams … In Game Three of the 1946 Negro League World Series (Newark Eagles versus Kansas City Monarchs), the Eagles’ Cotton Williams came on in relief to open the fifth inning (with the Eagles trailing 6-2).  Over the next 3 2/3 innings, he gave up 11 hits and nine runs – including a Series record-tying eight earned runs.

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

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Most Saves in a Single World Series

John Wetteland … The Yankees’ John Wetteland appeared in five Game in the 1996 World Series – won by the Yankees (over the Braves) four games-to-two. Wetteland picked up four saves in 4 1/3 innings of work (four hits, one run, one walk, six strikeouts).

 

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

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

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

P 1140

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This Tidbit looks at what is now popularly termed a “Maddux” – designated as a single-pitcher shutout of at least nine innings in which the pitcher threw less than 100 pitches.

There were three in 2025, tossed by the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi (99 pitches in a 1-0 win over the Reds April 1); the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal (94 pitches in a 5-0 win over the Guardians May 25); and the Cardinals’ Sonny Gray (89 pitches in a 5-0 win over the Guardians on June 27).  Overall, I was able to find 395 documented regular-season “Madduxes” – 329 since MLB officially began tracking pitch counts in 1988 and 66 pre-1988 listed by stathead.com.

Now, of course, the Baseball Roundtable goal is to find a “unicorn” or two among those 395 outings.  Well, it wasn’t no-hitters, 17 of the recorded Madduxes were no-nos. It also wasn’t perfect games. Available pitch counts (Baseball-Almanac.com) show that at least ten of MLB’s 24 regular-season perfect games were completed in less than 100 pitches (and you can add in Don Larsen’s perfecto in the 1956 World Series, which came in at 97 pitches).  A bit of #InBaseballRoundtableOneThingAlwaysSeemsToLeadToAnother, the most pitches thrown in a Perfect Game is 125, by Matt Cain of the Giants in his perfect outing versus the Astros (a 10-0 win) on June 13, 2012. In that one, Cain fanned 14 Astros, giving him a tie (with Sandy Koufax) for the most strikeouts in a Perfect Game.  But I digress. Let’s get back to our regularly scheduled programming.

It became clear, I was looking in the wrong forest for my Maddux unicorn. So, I changed direction – and I found my first unicorn: Only one pitcher has ever thrown a Maddux while giving up ten or more hits.

 

 

 

 

On August 3, 2004, Twins’ righthander Carlos Silva shutout the Angels on 99 pitches – while giving up 11 hits and two walks (he struck out three) and having one batter reach safely on an error. The Twins, ironically, equaled the Angels’ 11 hits, but tallied ten runs. They did draw three walks to the Angels’ two and had two hit batsmen, with no one reaching on an an error. However, there were two big differences.  First, The Angels’ hits were all singles, while the Twins’ hit parade included four home runs and a double.  Second, the Twins turned six double plays behind Silva to zero twin killings turned by the Angels. In Silva’s Maddux, 19 of the thirty batters he faced saw two or fewer pitches (seven of those putting the first pitch of the at bat in play).

Silva went 14-8, 4.21 in 2004 and that Maddux was his only complete game.  For his career (2002-2010 … Phillies, Twins, Mariners, Cubs), Silva went 70-70, 4.68 in 316 games/180 starts, with six complete games and two shutouts.

I also found another interesting unicorn. Only one player has pitched what I’d call an Uber-Maddux. On September 6, 2003, the Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay pitched the only extra-inning Maddux. In a tough 1-0 win over the Tigers, Halladay pitched ten shutout innings (three hits, one walk, five strikeouts) on just 99 pitches.

Now, a few more Maddux’ tidbits.

• Strikeouts, of course, run up the pitch count and diminish the opportunity for a Maddux. The most strikeouts in a Maddux is 13, achieved by the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal May 25 of this season (in a 5-0, 94-pitch win over the Guardians). Seventy-two of Skubal’s 94 pitches were strikes (includes balls put in play) and his 13 strikeouts used 59 pitches, while the 16 batters he faced that didn’t fan required a total of 35 pitches.
• Walks also run up the pitch count and the most walks issued in a Maddux is five, by the Dodger’s Vic Lombardi in a 5-0, 92-pitch win over the Cubs on July 11, 1947. Lombardi’s Maddux got off to a slow start. In the first two innings, he gave up three walks and a single and used 35 pitches. He struck out two in the game and was aided by four double plays.
• The fewest pitches thrown in a Maddux is 58 by the Braves’ Red Barrett in a 2-0 win over the Reds on August 10, 1944. Barrett’s game was a two-hitter, with no strikeouts or walks. Although the pitch count for this game is not listed in stathead.com (so, if you’ve read this far, you can add one to my 395 Maddux count), it is generally recognized and can be found in his Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) bio by Sidney Davis; The SABR Article “August 10, 1944: Braves’ Red Barrett shuts out the Reds with record-low 58 pitches” (by Jack Zerby); the Baseball-Reference.com Bullpen section; the “Michelson Book of World Baseball Records”; and Baseball-Almanac.com. This outing is also recognized as the fewest pitches ever in any nine-inning complete game.
• As you might expect, Greg Maddux holds the record for the most career Madduxes thrown (13). Next on the list is Zane Smith with seven. Maddux shares the record for the most Madduxes tossed in a season (three in 1998), with Smith (1991) and Sandy Koufax (1964).

I would add that Madduxes are becoming more of a rarity (which is an obvious trend given today’s pitching usage.  Going back to the first year of MLB officially tracking pitch counts as a statistic: The five seasons from 1988-92 saw 92 Madduxes, while the most recent five MLB seasons (2021-25) saw 17. The last season in which we saw ten or more Madduxes was 2014 when there were 12.

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

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

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

P 1139

There were plenty of memorable moments/accomplishments in the 2025 MLB season.  In this post, Baseball Roundtable will look at eleven that stood out for me (Everyone does a top ten, why not a top eleven?) – some were one game, some were one series, some were all season and some covered multiple seasons.  Keep in mind, that this list and its rankings are totally subjective. They are Baseball Roundtable’s takeaways from the 2025 season and I hope they encourage you to consider how you might rank the MLB events of 2025.

Number-One – Cal Raleigh’s Smashing Season … Sixty is Nifty

Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh was a proven source of power coming into the 2025 season, having hit 27 home runs in 2022, 30 in 2023 and 34 in 2024.  In 2025, Raleigh raised the bar, going .247-60-125 – becoming just the seventh player to reach the 60-home run mark in a season (joining Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Aaron Judge).  In the process, Raleigh literally smashed a lot of records:

• Most home runs in a season by a player suiting up primarily at catcher (topping Salvador Perez’ 48 in 2021);
• Most home runs in a season while in games as catcher with 49 (topping Javy Lopez’ 42 in 2003);
• Most home runs in a season by a switch hitter, (topping Mickey Mantle’s 54 in 1961);
• Most home runs in a season by a Seattle Mariner, topping Ken Griffey, Jr.’s 56 in 1997 & 1998).

And, of course, Raleigh led the Mariners into the post-season.

A Family Affair

In 2025, Cal Raleigh became the first catcher to win the MLB All Star Game Home Run Derby – and he made it a family affair.  His father Todd Raleigh, Sr. pitched to Cal, while his 15-year-old brother, Todd Raleigh, Jr., served as his catcher.

And, Raleigh does not just swing a powerful bat. He was a Gold Glove winner in 2024.

Number Two – Four-ging a Legacy … Nick Kurtz’ Big Day and MLB’s Three-for-Four Season

2025 marked the first time in MLB history that we saw three MLB-record, four-homer games in one season – Eugenio Suarez, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Kurtz.  The one that will stand out in my memory belonged to Kurtz.

The Athletics’ 22-year-old rookie 1B (at DH, batting second) earned unicorn status as the first MLB rookie to bash four dingers in a single game, as well as the youngest major leaguer to accomplish the feat.

Kurtz’ offensive explosion came in a July 25 15-3 Athletics’ win in Houston. In addition to the four dingers, Kurtz had a double and a single for 19 total bases – tying the Dodgers’ Shawn Green (May 23, 2002) for the most total bases ever in a single MLB game.  Notably, Kurtz came into the ninth inning with three long balls – and scheduled to bat sixth. Luckily, the A’s extended the inning (fly ball out, single, double, groundout, single) to bring Kurtz to the plate in the top of the final inning with two on and two out – and he delivered his fourth home run of the game, as well as his sixth, seventh and eighth RBI.

His day went like this:

• First Inning – Single (off Ryan Gusto) with one out and no one on;
• Second Inning – Two-out, two-run home run (Gusto);
• Fourth Inning – One-out, RBI-double (Gusto);
• Sixth Inning – One-out, solo homer (off Nick Hernandez);
• Eighth Inning – One-out, solo home run (off Kaleb Ort);
• Ninth Inning – Two-out, three-run homer run (off Cooper Hummel).

They Call Him The Streak

From July 10 through July 25, Nick Kurtz enjoyed a 12-game hitting streak, during which he hit .553 (25-for-47), with nine home runs, one triple, ten doubles, 20 RBI and 18 runs scored.

The 6’5”, 240-lb Kurtz finished the season at .290-36-86 in 117 games, with his 36 long balls being the eighth-most ever by an MLB rookie. Keep in mind, that Kurtz put up these numbers after just 33 minor-league games (.344-12-20). He was a 2024 first -round (fourth overall) draft choice out of Wake Forest University, where he hit .333-61-182 over three seasons (164 games).

Number Three – Tyler O’Neill … Opening Day Hero

On March 27, new Orioles’ RF Tyler O’Neill went deep for a record (breaking his own mark) sixth consecutive Opening Day.  To add to his unicorn status, over the past three seasons, O’Neill has homered on Opening Day for three different teams: Cardinals in 2023; Red Sox in 2024; and Orioles in 2025. (Side note: O’Neill has been in the starting lineup for exactly six Opening Days. He also had one pinch hit appearance on an Opening Day before the start of his HR streak.) His overall, Opening Day stat line: nine-for-nineteen (.473), six home runs and 14 RBI. Oh yeah, the Orioles won their 2025 Opener 12-2 over the Blue Jays – getting two homers apiece from C Adley Rutschman and CF Cedric Mullins, as well as solo shots by 2B Jordan Westburg and O’Neill.

O’Neill finished the 2025 season at .199-9-26. It was his eighth MLB season (2018-25 … Cardinals, Red Sox, Orioles), during which he has gone .242-118-304.  His best season was 2021, when he went .286-34-80, with 15 steals for the Cardinals.

Number Four – Trea Turner’s Batting Title … and the Disappearing .300 hitter

In 2025, Trea Turner won the National League batting title with a.304 average, the lowest average ever to capture an NL title and the second lowest to earn an MLB title (Carl Yastrzemski won the AL title in 1968 – The Year of the Pitcher – with a .301 average.  Turner was also the only qualifying National Leaguer to hit at least .300 – just as Yaz was the only qualifying American Leaguer to hit .300 in 1968. (There have been only four batting crowns award to qualifying hitters with an average under .310: Turner; Yastrzemski; George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, 1945 Yankees at .309; and Elmer Flick, 1905 Naps, at .308.) The Roundtable did a full post on this particularly highlight – and the Case of the Disappearing .300+ Hitter – which you can access by clicking here.

Number-Five – 3,000 for Clayton … A Stay-At-Home Champion

On July 2, the Dodgers topped the White Sox 5-4 in LA – a much-expected win. The 53,536 fans in attendance, however, were anticipating more than a Dodger victory.  Dodger Clayton Kershaw – a three-time Cy Young Award winner in his 18th MLB season – came into the game with 2,997 career strikeouts and the crowd was amped to see number 3,000.

It came as Kershaw recorded the final out in the sixth inning and the victim was White Sox’ 3B Vinny Capra (the final batter Kershaw faced in the game).  Kershaw, by the way, gave up nine hits and four runs over his six frames and got a no-decision.

A few things caught my eye: Kershaw became just the 20th MLB pitcher to reach the 3,000+ strikeout mark; the fifth MLB pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts for one team during his career; and (given his announced retirement) just the third pitcher to record 3,000 or more strikeouts for one team and have those be the only strikeouts of his MLB career.

Coming off shoulder surgery, Kershaw made his first 2025 appearance on May 17 and picked up his first 2025 win on June 8. He finished the season 11-2, 3.36, with 84 strikeouts in 112 2/3 innings (23 appearances/22 starts). For his 18-season Dodger career (2008-25), he is 223-96, 2.53 with 3,052 strikeouts in 2,855 1/3 innings. He was an eleven-time All Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MOst Valuable Player.

Number Six – Good Timing, Lord Byron (Buxton) … One of the Season’s Two Cycles

On July 12, fans lined up early at Target Field for a chance at that game’s give-away – a Byron Buxton Bobblehead. Their timing – and Buxton’s – was spot on. In the contest, a 12-4 Twins’ win over the Pirates, Buxton delivered a five-for-five performance – and one of two cycles (single, double, triple, home run in the same game) of the 2025 season. The Cubs’ Carson Kelly hit for the cycle in a March 31 18-3 win over the Athletics.

Buxton’s day went like this:

• First Inning – Leadoff infield single off Mike Burrows;
• Second Inning -Triple (with one out and no one on) to deep center off Burrows;
• Third Inning- Ground-rule RBI double (with two on and no outs) off Genesis Cabrera;
• Fifth Inning – Single (one out, none on) off Yohan Ramirez;
• Seventh Inning – Home run (two outs, none on) to center on an 0-2 pitch from Andrew Heaney.

Buxton’s line: Five-for-five, three runs, two RBI and a cycle plus an extra single.

For those who like to know such things: It was the first cycle ever at Target field (opened in 2010).

Postscript or #WithBaseballRoundtableOneTningAlwaysSeemsToLeadToAnother

The most cycles ever in an MLB season is nine – accomplished in 1933 and 2009; Here are the names. 1933: Pepper Martin, Cardinals; Chuck Klein, Phillies; Arky Vaughn, Pirates; Mickey Cochrane, Athletics; Pinky Higgins, Athletics; Jimmie Foxx, Athletics; Earl Averill, Indians; Bob Herman, Cubs.  2009; Orlando Hudson, Dodgers; Ian Kinsler, Rangers; Jason Kubel, Twins; Michael Cuddyer, Twins; Melky Cabrera, Yankees; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Felix Pie, Orioles;  B.J. Upton, Rays. 

The most cycles by a player in an MLB season is two: John Reilly, 1883 Cincinnati Red Stockings (American Association); Tip O’Neill,  1887 St, Louis Browns (American Association); Babe Herman, 1931 Dodgers); Aaron Hill, 2012 Diamondbacks; Christian Yelich, 2018, Brewers. 

Disclaimer: While the Negro Leagues from 1920-48 have been declared major leagues, game-by-game statistics have not been fully incorporated into MLB records. 

Number-Seven – Out-Madduxing the Professor … One of a Lucky Thirteen

There were a lucky thirteen single-pitcher shutouts in 2025, but a different lucky 13 stood out among that Bakers’ Dozen.  On May 25, Tigers’ lefty Tarik Skubal threw something rarer than a CG shutout – a “Maddux” – a nine-inning shutout using less than 100 pitches (named such in honor of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux). In running his season record to 5-2, 2.49, Skubal shutout the Guardians in a 5-0 Tigers’ win.  Skubal fanned 13 batters in his 94-pitch outing (the most strikeouts ever in a “Maddux”).  Maddux himself never fanned more than nine batters in a “Maddux.”  The Tigers’ ace gave up just two hits (no walks) and threw 72 strikes among his 94 pitches. Skubal finished the season 13-6, with an AL-best (among qualifiers) 2.21 earned run average and 241 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings. His “Maddux” was his only 2025 complete game.

This past season, by the way, saw three Madduxes: Skubal’s and outings by the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi (who used 99 pitches to top the Reds 1-0 on April 1) and the Cardinals’ Sonny Gray (who used 89 pitches in a 5-0, one-hit, 11-strikeout) win over the Guardians on June 27.

Maddux, by the way, holds the record for throwing the most Madduxes at, of course, 13.

Unicorn of Efficiency

Of the 395 documented Madduxes (one-pitcher shutouts of at least nine innings and less than 100 pitches), the Cubs’ Jon Lieber was the most efficient, using just 78 pitches (56 strikes) to top the Reds 3-0 on May 24, 2001. He gave up one hit and one walk, while fanning two, in the game. In that game, he used 13 pitches on the final two hitters (walk/double play). Both went to 3-2 counts (The only time he reached three balls on a batter in a game).

Side Note: Since MLB officially began tracking pitch counts as a stat, there have been 329 “Madduxes.” Stathead.com also lists 66 “Madduxes” before 1988.

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Your Hit Parade Extra – Mason Miller’s Immaculate Inning

Now, if you get the reference in the title of this “extra,” you can join me as official “geezers.” It is drawn from the radio and then TV Show “Your Hit Parade,” which featured a cast of non-star singers performing the top ten hits from the charts – with an occasional Hit Parade Extra song tossed in.  Why a ticket to “geezerdom?”  The last episode of the show aired in 1959.  Anyway, here’s your extra.

In 2025, the Marlins’ Cal Quantrill; Orioles’ Brandon Young; Cubs’ Andrew Kittredge; and Padres’ Mason Miller all tossed Immaculate Innings (three batters up, three batters struck out, nine total pitches). Miller’s Immaculate Frame (eighth inning, September 3, versus the Orioles) stuck out as a highlight for me for a handful of reasons: 

• Miller struck out the side on nine consecutive sliders;
• The slider is not Miller’s most-used pitch. That would be his four-seam fastball which averaged 101.2 MPH in 2025 – highest average speed in in MLB;
• None of his nine pitches in the inning were “touched” – no foul tips or foul balls;
• After a called strike on his first pitch of the inning, he followed with eight swings and misses.

How devastating was his slider? If you look at the video, it appears that as many as eight of his sliders (including the called strike) were outside of the strike zone.

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Number Eight – Quinn Priester… Hard to Beat This Trade

On April 7, the Milwaukee Brewers traded OF prospect Yophery Rodriguez, a Competitive Balance 2025 Draft pick and a Player to Be Named Later (RHP John Holobetz) to the Red Sox for RHP Quinn Priester (a prospect with a 6-9, 6.23 MLB record in 21 games/14 starts and a 26-17, 3.61 minor-league record, with 428 strikeouts over 408 2/3 minor-league innings). It worked out pretty well.  Priester went 13-3, 3.32 in 29 games (24 starts) for the Brew Crew.  What caught my eye was his last appearance of 2025.  On September 26, in a 13-3 Brewers’ loss to the Reds, Priester gave up nine hits and three runs over five innings (and took the loss). It caught my eye, because it broke a pretty nice streak for Priester.  From May 30 until that September 26 game, Priester appeared in 19 games for the Brewers (16 starts) and Milwaukee won all 19. Priester went 12-0, 2.84 over that span. Perhaps he should be on a box of Lucky Charms ©.  Priester went 13-3, 3.32 in 29 appearances/24 starts on the season.

Number Nine – The Blue Jays/Rockies … Was There No Goalie?

On August 4, the Blue Jays opened a three-game series against the Rockies (in Colorado) with a 15-1 victory.  In the game, they punched out 25 hits and three home runs. Ah, but that was just the beginning of a record-setting offensive onslaught. The Blue Jays swept the series by scores of 15-1, 10-4 and 20-1. In the process, they banged out 63 hits – a Modern Era record for base hits in a three-game set. The record was previously held by the Red Sox, who recorded 62 hits against the Browns (in Fenway) in a three-game series June 7-9, 1950. In that one, the Red Sox won Games One and Two by scores of 29-4 and 20-4, but lost the final game 12-7.

In the Blue Jays/Rox series, the Blue Jays hit .457 (63-for-38), with 13 home runs.

Number Ten … Is 30-30 The New 20-20?

I’ll remember 2025 for the fact that a record seven players reached the 30-30 mark (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). Never before had there been more than four 30-30 players in one season.  Since 2020, there have been 15 20-20 seasons in MLB, which means nearly half of those came in 2025. To date, there have been 79 MLB 30-30 seasons, accomplished by 51 players.

The highlight, for The Roundtable, among those 30-30’s? On September 20, as the Guardians whitewashed the Twins 6-0 in Minnesota (first game of a day/night doubleheader), Guardians’ star Jose Ramirez smacked a solo home run in the first inning off Twins’ starter Joe Ryan. It was his 30th home run of the season and – with his 40 stolen bases (in 47 attempts) – made Ramirez:

• the first player in the Cleveland franchise with three 30-30 seasons;
• the second switch-hitter in MLB history with three 30-30 seasons; and
• the second third baseman in MLB history with three 30-30 seasons.

Ramirez was .270-39-105 with 34 steals in 2018; .335-39-118, with 41 steals in 2024; .283-30-85, with 44 steals in 2025.  He is a seven-time All Star with a career (2013-25) .279-285-949, 287-steal stat line.

For those who like to know such things, the first switch-hitter and first third baseman with three 30-30 seasons was Howard Johnson (Mets … 1987, 1989, 1991).

Number Eleven – Shea Langeliers … A First Time for Everything

On August 5, Athletics’ C Shea Langeliers found himself batting in the leadoff position for this first time in his MLB career – and he delivered – notching his second career three-homer game.

As the A’s blasted past the Nationals 16-7, Langeliers went five-for-six with four runs, three RBI, three homers, a double and a single.  In the process, he became just the second catcher with a three-homer game while batting leadoff (Travis d’Arnaud in 2019) – and yes, this is another example of #InBaseballWeCountEverything,  Langeliers also tied the Modern Era record for the most total bases in a game by a catcher (15), joining Walker Cooper (1949) and Wes Westrom (195O). Langeliers finished the season at .277-31-72 on 123 games.

 

Primary Resources: stathead.com; baseball-almanac.com;  baseballsavant.mlb.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

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

P 1138

Once again, it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

In this Tidbit post, we’re taking a look at Trea Turner’s 2025 National League Batting Championship – and some trends that point toward the “disappearing .300 hitter. “

In 2025, Turner won the National League batting title with a.304 average, the lowest average ever to capture an NL title (unicorn status) and the second-lowest to earn an MLB title (Carl Yastrzemski won the AL title in 1968 – which became known as The Year of the Pitcher – with a .301 average.) Turner was also the only qualifying National Leaguer to hit at least .300 – just as Yaz was the only qualifying American Leaguer to hit .300 in 1968. (There have been only four batting crowns awarded to qualifying hitters with an average under .310: Turner; Yastrzemski; Snuffy Stirnweiss, 1945 Yankees at .309; and Elmer Flick, 1905 Naps, at .308.)

All this makes Turner’s .304 memorable … and that .304 average sent me deeper into to the record books (as always, with Baseball Roundtable, one thing led to another). I first went back to 1953 – the first year I attended an MLB game and the year that launched my obsession with all things baseball. Turns out, that season, MLB (with just 16 teams) had 27 qualifying hitters with averages of .300 or better (as compared to just seven qualifying hitters with .300+ averages among 2025’s 30 teams).

Next, I took a look at 1968 – again The Year of the Pitcher – and found there were just six qualifying .300+ hitters that season (there were 20 teams versus 30 in 2025). A little math shows with an additional ten teams, we could have expected nine 300+ qualifying hitters in 1968 – pretty close to the 7,7,9 of 2025, 2024, 2023. So, I wondered if 1968 was a sign of the times (as 2025 appears to be) or was it an outlier. Turns out, it was more of an outlier.  The .300+ qualifying hitter total for the years around 1968 were: 1966 – 12; 1967 – 16; 1968 – 6; 1969 – 18.

Well, loving statistics, I keep digging to see if the numbers would back up the theory that .300+ qualified hitters are truly on a decline. First, I wanted to see if the numbers qualifying hitters were on a downward slope. A it turns out (and the chart below shows), that is not the case.  Of the 11 seasons I called up, 2025 had the third-most qualifying hitters. Further, in those seasons, the number of qualifying hitters per team fell into a fairly small range (4.3 to 5.5) and 2025 fell in the middle of that group (tied for the sixth most).

Then came the most telling statistic, at least for The Roundtable, the percent of qualifying hitters in each season that hit .300+. Of the 11 seasons in the chart, 2023, 2024 and 2025 occupied the three bottom positions at 5.7%, 5.4% and 4.8%, respectively (declining, as you might notice, each year). Further, no other season on the chart saw less than 12.2 percent of qualifying hitters hit .300+.

So, it does appear that qualifying .300+ hitters are fading from the scene.  The question becomes why?  Better (or at least higher-velocity) pitching? Changing pitcher-use strategies? More emphasis on the long ball (versus making contact)?  As usual with Baseball Roundtable, one thing has led to another, and I have more research to do.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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P 1137

Once again, it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week, we’re looking at MLB’s 30-30 Club. When it comes to the 30-30 Club (30 home runs and thirty steals in the same season), 2025 was a bit of a unicorn – a record seven players (see chart) reached at least 30 steals and 30 home runs. The previous record was four – in 1987, 1996, 1997, 2011 and 2023.

 

We’ll look at each of this year’s 30-30 group, but (as usual with The Roundtable, looking at one thing led to another), so I’ll start this post with a little history and stats related to 30-30 campaigns.

Now, 30-30 seasons did not use to be a “thing.” In fact, the first MLB 30-30 campaign did not take place until 1922 and it remained an exclusive, one-man club for 34 years.

The first 30-30 season was crafted by in 1922 by St, Louis Browns’ LF Ken Williams, who put together a .332-39-155, 37-steal season. In that campaign, he led the American League in home runs and RBI.  In a 14-season MLB career (1915-16, 1918-29 … Reds, Browns, Red Sox), Williams went .319-196-916, with 154 steals. Outside of that 1922 season, his highest season home run total was 29 and his highest stolen base total was 20.  As noted, Williams was all alone in the 30-30 Club until 1956, when Willie Mays put together a .296-36-84, 40-steal season for the New York Giants.

To date, there have been 79 30-30 seasons, accomplished by 51 players.

30-30 SEASONS (Since 1900)

1900-1955    1

1956-69        4

1970-79        5

1980-89        7

1990-99        20

2000-09        17

2010-19        10

2020-25         15

 

A few other Tidbits:

 

• The record for the most career 30-30 seasons is five – and it is shared by a father-son combination. Bobby Bonds went 30-30 in 1969, 1973, 1975, 1977 and 1978; while Barry Bonds accomplished the feat in 1990, 1992, 1995,1996 and 1997. Barry Bonds is also the only player with three consecutive 30-30 seasons.
• Only two players have reached the 30-30 level while playing with two teams in a season: Bobby Bonds and Carlos Beltran. In 1978, Bonds went .267-31-90, with 43 steals. He had 29 home runs and 37 steals in 130 games with the Rangers and two long balls and six steals with the White Sox. In 2004, Beltran went .267-38-104, with 42 steals. He had 23 homers and 28 steals in 90 games with the Astros and 15 homers and 14 steals in 69 games with the Royals.
• The Mets have had more 30-30 seasons than any other team (eight); Howard Johnson (1987, 89, 91); Francisco Lindor (2023, 25); Juan Soto (2025); David Wright (2007); Darryl Strawberry (1987).
• The franchises which have never add a 30-30 season are the: Padres; Rays; Tigers; White Sox; Twins; and Cardinals. (Bobby Bonds did play 26 games for the White Sox in his 1978 30-30 season; along with 130 for the Rangers).
• Only three teams have had two 30-30 players in their lineup in the same season: 2025 Mets (Francisco Lindor/Juan Soto); 1996 Rockies (Ellis Burks/Dante Bichette); 1987 Mets (Howard Johnson/Darryl Strawberry).
• The most home runs in a 30-30 season (54) belong to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, who went .310-54-130, with 59 steals in 2024. His is the only 50-50 season in MLB history.
• The most stolen bases in a 30-30 season (73) belong to the Braves’ Ronald Acuna, Jr., who went .337-41-106, with 73 steals in 2023.
• The first 30-30 player, Ken Williams of the 1922 Browns struck out the fewest times in his 30-30 season – just 31 strikeouts in 678 plate appearances. (The most Ks in a 30-30 season belong to the Braves’ Ronald Acuna, Jr., who fanned 188 times in 715 plate appearances in 2019.
• The highest batting average in a 30-30 season (.366) is credited to the Rockies’ Larry Walker, who went .366-49-130, with 33 steals in 1997.
• The lowest batting average in a 30-30 season (.242) is on the resume of Jazz Chisholm, Jr., who went .242-31-80, with 31 steals for the 2025 Yankees.
• Players logging 30-30 seasons have led their league in home runs eight times and in stolen bases seven times. No 30-30 player has led in both categories in their 30-30 season.
• The Braves’ Christian Yelich (.329-44-97, with 30 steals in 2019); Red Sox Mookie Betts (.346-32-80, with 30 steals in 2018); and Royals’ Bobby Witt, Jr. (.332-32-109, with 31 steals in 2024) are the only three players to win a batting title in a 30-30 season.

Now a look at the seven 2025 30-30 Club Members:

Juan Soto

Soto has never lacked for power. In fact, in his first seven seasons in the majors (2018-2024 … Nationals, Padres) Yankees), he topped 20 homers six times (exceeding thirty twice and 40 once). Speed, however, did not seem to be his game – he stole in double-digits just twice (a high of 12).  Things changed in 2025 after he signed with the Mets, when he came under the wing of first base coach Antoan Richardson.  This season, Soto logged his first-ever 30-30 season.

Jazz Chisholm, Jr.

Chisholm is just the third player in Yankee pinstripes to record a 30-30 season, joining Bobby Bonds and Alfonso Soriano. The accomplishment seems even more highlight-worthy, when you consider Chisholm lost 28 games to a severe oblique strain early in the season and also was hampered by a nagging groin injury. (He did not steal a single base – only two attempts – from June 11 through July 20th – a stretch of 39 games played. He did hit.271, with nine homers in that span.)

Jose Ramirez

Guardians’ seven-time All Star (in 13 seasons) Ramirez is:

• The first player in the Cleveland franchise with three 30-30 seasons;
• The second switch-hitter in MLB history with three 30-30 seasons; and
• The second third baseman in MLB history with three 30-30 seasons.

Ramirez was .270-39-105 with 34 steals in 2018; .335-39-118, with 41 steals in 2024.

For those who like to know such things, the first switch-hitter and first third baseman with three 30-30 seasons was Howard Johnson (Mets … 1987, 1989, 1991).

Corbin Carroll

The 24-year-old Carroll recorded his first 30-30 campaign in his third full MLB season.  Over the past three seasons, Carroll averaged 26 home runs and 40.3 steals per campaign.

Francisco Lindor

Lindor is just the second player primarily taking the field at shortstop to record two 30-30 seasons (Lindor also had a 30-30 season for the Mets in 2023), joining Bobby Witt, Jr. (2023 & 2024). In 11 MLB seasons, Lindor has gone .273-279-856, with 216 steals. He is a five-time All Star.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Crow-Armstrong is just the second player to join the 30-30 Club in a Cubs’ uniform. (Sammy Sosa produced 30-30 seasons for the Cubs in 1993 and 1995.)  Just 23-years-old, PCA has plenty of time to add more 30-30 campaigns.

Julio Rodriguez

2025 was the 24-year-old Rodriguez’ second 30-30 season in four major-league campaigns. The two-time All Star has recorded at least 20 home runs and 24 steals in each of his four seasons.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

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

P 1136

 

Once again, it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week started with some reflection on one of my boyhood heroes – southpaw Warren Spahn, who notably led the National League in wins in an MLB-record five consecutive seasons. And, perhaps even more notably, did it in his age-36 to age-40 seasons.  Spahn, by the way, holds the distinction of being of being the oldest pitcher to record a 20-win season.

But I digress, this blog post looks at MLB pitchers with the most consecutive seasons leading their league in wins, as well as those with the most consecutive seasons leading the league in losses.  It touches on the likes of Spahn, Walter Johnson, Grover Alexander and Robin Roberts, as well as Pedro Ramos, Phil Niekro, Murry Dickson and Patrick Corbin.

So, let’s get to it, with a couple of charts, each followed by brief bio material on each pitcher included.

 

Warren Spahn – Five

Spahn is the only MLB pitcher to lead the league in wins for five consecutive seasons (unicorn status) – and he did it in his age-36 to age-40 seasons, compiling a 106-60, 3.04 record over those five campaigns (with 101 complete games in 195 starts). Spahn led the league in wins an MLB record eight times and his 363 MLB career wins are the most by a southpaw all time.

By The Numbers

Warren Spahn had 363 career victories and 363 career base hits.

He had 356 pitching wins and 356 base hits with the Braves.

He had four pitching wins and four base hits with the Mets.

He had three pitching wins and three base hits with the Giants. 

Spahn racked up 13 seasons of 20 or more wins, second only to Cy Young’s 15. He notched his first 20-win season in 1947 (21 wins) and his final 20-win season (23 wins) in 1963. I’ll do the math; that’s 13 seasons of at least twenty wins in a 17-season span.

Spahn pitched in 21 MLB seasons (1942, 1946-65 … Braves, Mets, Giants – Braves all but 1965). He went 363-245, 3.09, in 750 games (665 starts, 382 complete games).  Had he not lost the 1943-45 seasons to military service, he would most likely have surpassed 400 career wins. He led the league in wins eight times; earned run average three times; strikeouts four times; was an All-star in 14 seasons; and won the NL Cy Young Award in 1957. He probably would have been great at Blackjack; he won 21 games in eight different seasons.

Walter Johnson – Four

Johnson pitched in 21 MLB seasons (1907-27 … Nationals), putting up a 412-279, 2.17 stat line in 802 appearances (666 starts, 531 complete games).

I’ll Have a Triple, Please

Walter Johnson won the pitching Triple Crown (Wins-Earned Run Average-Strikeouts) a record three times (tied with Grover Alexander and Sandy Koufax) in 1913, 1918 and 1924. He also holds the MLB career record for shutouts (110).

Johnson led the league in wins six times; Earned Run Average five times; strikeouts a record 12 times; and shutouts seven times (tied for the MLB record). The two-time MVP won 20 or more games in 12 seasons.

Grover (Pete) Alexander – Four

Alexander pitched in 20 MLB seasons (1911-30 … Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals), putting up a 373-208, 2.56 record. Like Walter Johnson (above), he won the pitching Triple Crown a record three times.

Zeroes Are The Roundest of Round Numbers

In 1916, Grover Alexander tossed 16 shutouts in 45 starts. That season gives him a share of the record for shutouts in a season (tied with George Bradley of the 1876 St. Louis Brown Stockings – 64 starts).

Alexander led the league in wins six times; ERA five times; and strikeouts six times. He won twenty or more games in nine seasons, with three of those 30 or more wins.

How Low Can You go?

In the six seasons from 1915 through 1920, Grover Alexander pitched to an earned run average of 1.64 over 1,777 2/3 innings.

Robin Roberts – Four

Roberts pitched in 19 MLB seasons (1948-66 … Phillies, Orioles, Astros, Cubs), going 286-245, 3.41 in 676 games (609 starts, 305 complete games).  The seven-time All-star led the league in wins four times; strikeouts twice: and shutouts once. He had six seasons of 20 or more wins – consecutively, from 1950 through 1955.

Is Workhorse One Word Or Two?

In the decade of the ‘50s (1950-59), Robin Roberts averaged 19.9 wins, 23.7 complete games and 301 1/3 innings pitched per season.

Ironically, immediately after leading the league in wins in four consecutive seasons (1952-56), Roberts led the league in losses in two consecutive campaigns (19-18, 4.45 in 1956 and 10-22, 4.07 in 1957).

Pedro Ramos – Four

Ramos pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1955-67, 1969-70 … Senators/Twins, Indians, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates, Reds, Senators). He went 117-160, 4.08 in 582 games (268 starts, 73 complete games).

A couple of Ramos tidbits:

• On April 11, 1961, Ramos started the first-ever game in Minnesota Twins’ history and tossed a three-hit (one walk/five strikeouts) shutout in a Twins’ 6-0 win over a Yankees lineup that included the likes of Bobby Richardson, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Bill Skowron and Roger Maris,
• On July 23, 1960, Ramos was on the mound in the top of the third inning, with the Senators up 3-1 over the Athletics and runners on first (2B Jerry Lumpe) and second (CF Bill Tuttle) with no outs. Kansas City batter RF Whitey Herzog lined a ball to Ramos (for an out), who tossed to Julio Becquer at first to double up Lumpe; with Becquer relaying the ball to SS Jose Valdivieso covering second to retire a retreating Tuttle. It was MLB’s first-ever all-Cuban triple play (#InBaseballWeTrackEveything).

Phil Niekro – Four

Niekro, a knuckleballer, pitched in 24 MLB seasons (1964-87 … Braves, Yankees, Indians, Blue Jays), going 318-274, 3.35 (864 games, 716 starts, 245 complete games). He led the league in wins twice and earned run average and strikeouts once each.  The Hall of Famer was a five-time All Star.

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

In 1979, when Phil Niekro went 21-20, 3.39, he tied his brother Joe for the NL lead in wins (Joe Niekro was 21-11, 3.00 for the Astros) – the only time in MLB history two brothers have tied for the league lead in wins (unicorn status)  Side note: That season Phil Niekro led the NL in wins and losses.  The Niekro brothers also hold the MLB record for combined pitching wins by brothers  at 539 –  318 by Phil and  221 by Joe.

Murry Dickson – Three

Dickson pitched in 18 MLB seasons (1939-40, 1942-43, 1946-59 … Cardinals, Pirates, Phillies, Athletics, Yankees). He went 172-181, 3.66 in 625 appearances (338 starts, 149 complete games).

Ups And Downs

Murry Dickson won twenty games in a season once (20-16, 4.02 for the 1951 Pirates) and lost twenty or more twice (1952 and 1954, see chart for totals).

Patrick Corbin – Three

Corbin, still active in 2025, has pitched in 13 MLB seasons (2012-13, 2015-25 … Diamondbacks, Nationals, Rangers). As I write this, his career record is 110-141, 4.50 in 371 appearances (352 starts, seven complete games).  In 2018, Corbin was an All Star, putting up an 11-7, 3.15 record for the Diamondbacks (he was 6-4, 3.24 at the break).

On The Big Stage

In 2019, Patrick Corbin got the win in the seventh game of the World Series, as his Nationals topped the Astros 6-2. Corbin came on in relief o Max Scherzer to open the bottom of the sixth with the Nationals down 2-0. He pitched three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and fanning three. The Astros took the lead in the eighth, giving Corbin the win.

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

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

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

P 1135

 

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Once again, it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

It just so happens that on this date (September 16) in 1940, St. Louis Browns’ 2B Johnny Lucadello, playing in his 24th MLB game, hit his first two MLB home runs and, in the process, became just the fourth MLB player to homer from both sides of the plate in a game. Notably, the two long balls would be his only home runs of the season (he played in just 17 games) and would be two of just five home runs he would hit over his six MLB seasons (239 games).   Well, that got me to thinking about players to homer from both sides of the plate in a game, which is not exactly a rare feat.  After all, as Baseball-Almanac.com reports, there have been 385 instances in which a player has homered from both sides of the plate in a game.  (This season alone, the feat has been accomplished by the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh; Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez; Angels’ Luis Rengifo; Twins’ Brooks Lee; Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte; Mets’ Francisco Lindor; Braves’ Ozzie Albies; and Nationals’ Josh Bell.   Disclaimer:  Negro League game-by-game records for the 1920-48 seasons have not been fully incorporated into MLB records.  

So, how do you achieve unicorn status within this group?  The Red Sox’ Bill Mueller is the only MLB player to hit a Grand Slam home run from both sides of the plate in a game.  It happened on July 29, 2003, as the Red Sox topped the Rangers 14-7 in Texas. It was quite a day for Mueller, who was also on his way to his best MLB season. Mueller came into the game with a .326-10-45 line on the season – having reached double-digits in home runs for just the second time in his eight MLB campaigns.

Mueller, batting eighth, got his first at bat leading off the top of the third inning, with the Red Sox down 2-0.  Batting left-handed, he laced the first pitch he saw from righty R.A. Dickey for a solo home run to right.  It was a sign of things to come.

Mueller grounded out to second (off Dickey) in the fourth inning and lined out to third in the sixth (off Erasmo Ramirez).

Then in the seventh inning, Mueller came to the plate (batting right-handed) with the bases loaded and Boston now up 5-4 (they had already scored three times in the inning).  He took a 2-2 pitch from southpaw Aaron Fultz to deep left for a Grand Slam.   Then fate stepped in, the Red Sox kept hitting and Mueller came to the plate the very next inning with Boston now up 10-4, two out and the bases again loaded.  This time against righthander Jay Powell – switching Mueller to the left-hander’s batter’s box.  On the second pitch from Powell, BOOM, Mueller’s second Grand Slam of the game.

The 2003 season, Mueller’s first with the Red Sox (he signed as a free agent in January 2003), was Mueller’s best in MLB. His .326 average earned him the AL batting title and he set personal career highs for average, home runs (19); RBI (85); doubles (45); triples (5); and hits (171). Over 11 MLB seasons (1996-2006 … Giants, Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers), Mueller hit .291-85-493 in 1,216 games.

Mueller, by the way, is a bit of a surprise in terms of a power-focused unicorn status. A fifteenth-round draft pick (Giants, 1993) out of the Missouri State University, Mueller was known more for his plate discipline and ability to make solid contact than for pure power. (When he graduated, he held the school’s single-season record for hits, runs, singles and the career marks for runs, hits, walks, total bases and stolen bases.   Over his four years at Missouri State, he averaged .376.  All of this earned him spots in the Missouri State Athletics and Missouri Valley Conference Halls of Fame.

In four minor-league seasons before an injury to Giants’ power-hitting third baseman Matt Williams earned Mueller an opportunity for extended MLB playing time over the last half of 1996, Mueller hit.308 over 413 games (but with just 13 home runs). In 55 games for the Giants that season, Mueller hit .330-0-19. (In the off-season, Williams was traded (to the Indians), with Trent Hubbard, for Jose Vizcaino, Julian Tavarez, Joe Roa and Jeff Kent.

ANOTHER SWITCH-HITTING UNICORN

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garland_Buckeye_newspaper.png

On September 10, 1925 – in Game Two of an Indians/Tigers doubleheader in Detroit – southpaw Garland Buckeye started for the Indians and pitched a nifty four-hit, two-run (one earned) complete game in a 7-2 win, picking up his twelfth victory of the season (seven losses). More important for this Tidbit, he went two-for-four at the plate, with five RBI. A switch hitter, Buckey homered from the right side off lefty Ed Wells in the seventh inning and from the left-handed batter’s box off righty Jess Doyle in the ninth.  He remains the only pitcher to homer from both sides of the plate in a game – making him a true unicorn.  

Buckey went 30-39, 3.91 as a pitcher over five MLB seasons (1918, 1925-28 … Nationals, Indians, Giants). As a hitter, he went .230-5-23.

 

A few other tidbits about batters with home runs from both sides of the plate in one game:

• No players accomplished the feat more often than Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher (14 times each);
• Nick Swisher also shares the record for homering from both sides of the plate in a game for the most franchises at five (Athletics, Yankees, White Sox, Indians, Braves) – Carlos Beltran also accomplished the feat with five different teams (Mets, Cardinals, Royals, Astros, Yankees);
• The most games with homers from both sides of the plate in a season is four, achieved by Ken Caminiti (1996) and Anthony Santander (2022);
• Three players have homered from both sides of the plate in the same inning: Carlos Baerga (April 8, 1993); Mark Bellhorn (April 29, 2002); Kendrys Morales (July 30, 2012);
• The season with the most player-games with home runs from both sides of the plate was 1996, with 15: four by Ken Caminiti; two each by Melvin Nieves, Roberto Alomar and Todd Hundley; one each by Raul Casanova,  J.T. Snow; Ruben Sierra; Chris Davis; and Bernie Williams;
• Three players have homered from both sides of the plate in a post-season game: Bernie Williams (1995 AL Division Series & 1996 AL Division Series); Chipper Jones (2003 NL Divisions Series); and Milton Bradley (2006 AL Championship Series).

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Almanac.com; Stathead.com; Bill Mueller, Society for American Baseball Research Bio, by Kevin Bley

 

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Once again, it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.  Today, we’re celebrating the MLB game with the fewest combined hits ever.

It happened sixty years ago today – on September 9, 1965 – in Los Angeles.  Dodgers’ icon Sandy Koufax (21-7, 2.20 in 35 starts at the time) was on the mound for the Dodgers, while Bob Hendley (2-2, 8.22) was starting for Chicago.  (Hendley was making his eighth start – and 22^nd appearance of the season).

At the end of four frames, nary a batter had reached base against either Koufax or Hendley. In bottom of the fifth, the Dodgers broke the stalemate. Dodgers’ Left fielder and cleanup hitter Lou Johnson led off the inning with a walk; moved to second on a sacrifice by RF Ron Fairly; stole third; and scored as Cubs’ C Chris Krug made a wild throw past third baseman Ron Santo on Johnson’s steal.

By the bottom of the seventh, pretty much everyone in the crowd was on the edge of their seat. Koufax was yet to allow a base runner and Hendley had yet to give up a base hit. In fact, Johnson was the only Dodger to have reached base.  Double no-hitters were in progress.  The Dodgers, however, broke the base-hit ice in the bottom of the seventh – a two out double to short right field by the pesky Johnson.

Long story short, Koufax went on to complete his perfecto. Hendley gave up just the one unearned run, allowing just two base runners (Johnson’s double and walk).  The two teams combined to go 1-for-51 (the Dodgers did not bat in the bottom of the ninth). Koufax went on to finish the season 26-8, 2.04, leading the league in: wins; winning percentage (.765; complete games (27); innings pitched (335 2/3); strikeouts (382); and earning his second Cy Young Award. Hendley finished the year at 4-4, 5.96 in 26 appearances, with two complete games in 12 starts.

A bit of irony, the Roundtable does love irony.  Just five days later (September 14), Hendley got a rematch – starting against the Dodgers and Koufax in Chicago. This time, Hendley got the win in a 2-1 game. Hendley gave up just one run on four hits (three walks, seven strikeouts), while Koufax gave up two runs (one earned) over six innings (five hits, no walks, three strikeouts).   The consecutive complete games with Koufax as his mound opponent were Hendley’s only complete games of the season.

For those who like to know such things, Hendley’s career record (1961-67 … Braves, Giants, Cubs, Mets) was 48-52, 3.97, with 216 appearances, 44 starts, 25 complete games, six shutouts. Sandy Koufax? Oh, you already know.

Close, But No Cigar

On May 2, 1917 the Reds faced the Cubs in Chicago, with righty Fred Toney starting for the Reds and southpaw Jim “Hippo” Vaughn on the bump for the Cubs. Toney, who would win 24 games that season, came in with a 4-1, 1.88 record and five complete games in five starts.  Vaughn, on his way to a 23-13, 2.01 season, stood at 4-2. 2.25, with three complete games in four starts. The expected pitching duel materialized.

After nine innings, the game was knotted at 0-0 and neither Toney nor Vaughn had surrendered a hit (the only MLB game ever in which both pitchers held the opposition hitless for nine frames). Vaughn seemed to be getting the better of it. Each pitcher had walked just two batters, but Vaughn had fanned ten to Toney’s one.  In the top of the tenth, Vaughn faltered and a pair of singles and an outfield error led to an unearned run.  The two hits kept this from tieing as the MLB game with the fewest combined safeties). Toney pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning (strikeout-fly out-strikeout) to leave the mound with a 1-0 no-hitter win.

Toney pitched 12 MLB seasons (1911-13, 1915-23), going 139-102, 2.69 and twice won 20 or more games. Vaughn pitched in 13 MLB seasons (1908, 1910-21), going 178-137, 2.49 – and won twenty or more games in five seasons. In 1918. Vaughn won the pitching Triple Crown, leading the NL in wins (22), ERA (1.74) and strikeouts (148).

Bonus Tidbits

Sandy Koufax is the only MLB pitcher to throw a no-hitter in four consecutive seasons (1962-65). Pitchers to throw two no-hitters in a season include: Nolan Ryan (1973); Max Scherzer (2015); Roy Halladay (2010 – one in the post season); Virgil Trucks (1952); Allie Reynolds (1951); Johnny Vander Meer (1938).  

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

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

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

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