It’s Tuesday and that means 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 week, we’re looking at an MLB “unicorn” … and the answer to the question “Who is the only MLB pitcher to win twenty games AND win two World Series games in a rookie season?”

I should note it took a while to establish these unicorn credentials. For example, I did find 33 Modern Era (post-1900) qualifying rookies who won 20 or more games –  including Grover Alexander, who set the Modern Era record for wins by a rookie with 28 (28-13, 2.57), as a 24-year-old  MLB freshman with the 1911 Phillies.  That season, Alexander led the NL in wins, complete games (31), shutouts (seven) and innings pitched (367).  I also found 11 qualifying rookies  to win two or more World Series games (including the Negro Leagues Championship Series) in a rookie season – including Charles “Babe” Adams, who won a rookie-record three games for the Pirates in the 1909 World Series (after posting a 12-3, 1.11 regular season in 1909).  Adams started Games One, Five and Seven in the Series (three starts in nine days) and went the distance in all three contests. In 27 innings  he gave up 18 hits and six walks, five runs (four earned) and fanned 11.  Note: Adams qualified as a rookie, although he had appeared in five MLB games (26 total innings) in short MLB stints in  1906 amd 1907, going 0-3, 7.96.

A Brief Diversion

The last MLB pitcher to win 20 games in a rookie season was Reds’ southpaw Tom Browning in 1985 (20-9, 3.55 in 38 starts with six complete games and four shutouts). Browning went 123-90, 3.94 in 12 MLB seasons, winning fifteen or more games in four of them.  

I, however, found just one player who both won 20 regular-season games AND two World Series games as a rookie. That would be John Beazley of the 1942 Cardinals.   Beazley went 21-6, 2.13 in the regular season and then pitched two World Series complete-game victories, as the Redbirds topped the powerful Yankees four games-to-one.  Beazley qualified as a rookie, having pitched just one game in a late 1941 call up.  After that sterling 1942 performance, Beazley pitched in four more MLB seasons, winning just nine more games (9-6, 4.39) – for an MLB career record of 31-12, 3.01.  (There were some extenuating circumstances and we’ll get into those as we take a look at Beazley’s career.)

In 1942, rookie Beazley had more wins, more appearances (43), more starts (23),  more complete games (13), more shutouts (3) and more saves (three  – recognized retroactively) than the rest of his MLB career combined.  And, despite pithing 56 2/3 more innings in 1942 than in the rest of his MLB career, he walked fewer batters and gave up fewer home runs.  (And, of course, there are  those World Series victories.)

Beazley grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and excelled on the mound in high school.  He began his pro career as a 19-year-old  and, in his first season (1937), stumbled a bit, going 7-15, 4.33 for three Class-D squads. Things did not improve greatly in 1938, with Beazley putting up 8-12, 4.53 in C- and D-Ball and, as noted in John Fuqua’s Society for American Baseball Research Beazley Bio, actually quit baseball for a time during the season. (Fuqua’s bio of Beazley provided info essential to this Tidbit.)  In 1939, Beazley was with the Class-A1 New Orleans Pelicans and, after a month of the season, was 1-3, 9.36, suffered an elbow injury, was sent to Montgomery of the Class-B Southeastern League and pitched in just one game before being sent home to rest is arm (and again contemplate leaving baseball).

Still, in 1940, he was back in New Orleans with the Ckass-A1 Pelicans, who were now part of the Cardinals’ system.  After just four appearances, Beazley was sent down to the Class-B Columbus Red Birds, where he went 5-3, 5.17, spent some time out with an injured back, and then rejoined the Columbus squad and seemed to find himself – going  4-2, 2.04 in eight games.   That performance earned him a call up to the Cardinals and he made his first MLB appearance on last day of the 1941 regular season.   In that debut, Beazley, pitched a complete game in a 3-1 win over the Cubs – giving up just one run (on ten hits and three walks), while fanning four.

In 1942, Beazley opened the season with the Cardinals, working primarily out of the bullpen (just two starts in his first 19 appearances.) He pitched  his way into the starting  rotation by  late June. (At that point, Beazley was 6-4, with a tidy 1.80 ERA in 19 appearances … and the Cardinals were 36-26, in second place – as of June 27 –  nine games behind the Dodgers.)  From Beazley’s start on June 28 through season’s end, the rookie went 15-2, with a 2.18 ERA in 24 games (21 starts, with 12 complete games and three shutouts).  Beazley and staff ace Mort Cooper help drive to the Cardinals to a 70-22 finish, a final 106-48 record and a first-place finish (two games ahead of the Dodgers).  For the season, Beazley was 21-6, 2.13 in 43 appearances (23 starts), with 13 complete games and three shutouts.)  Beazley was second in the NL in earned run average (to Cooper); second in wins (one victory behind Cooper); third in W-L percentage at .778); and third in pitching appearances (43). Cooper and Beasley were, in fact, the best 1-2 pitching punch in the NL (and the only NL pitchers to reach 20 wins that season. (Cooper was 22-7, 1.78, with 22 complete games and ten shutouts.)

Beazley put the cherry on top of his 1942 sundae in the World Series.  After the favored Yankees scored five runs (three earned) off Cooper to win Game One, Beazley picked up a complete-game win in Game Two (October 1 in St. Louis), scattering ten hits, walking two and fanning four in a 4-3 victory.  Beazley  was even better in the Championship-clinching Game Five (October 5 in New York); pitching a complete-game, seven-hitter (one walk, two strikeouts) as the Cardinals won 4-2.

Beazley appeared to be on his way – and he was, but rather into the 1943 season, it was  into the U.S. Army. In the military, Beazley spent his time (thanks again, John Fuqua) traveling from base-to-base and playing ball to entertain the troops.  It was during this heavy pitching schedule that Beazley again injured his arm – and (as the record shows) he never recovered his rookie season form. After returning from military, he pitched in four more MLB seasons, going 9-6, 4.39 in 32 games (22 starts), with seven complete games.  He spent time in the majors and minors in 1948 and 1949 and pitched solely in the minors in 1950 and 1951. His final MLB stat line was 31-12, 3.01 in 76 games (46 starts), with 21 complete games and three shutouts.

Ring ‘Em Up, Grover!

The most victories  by a rookie pitcher in the Modern Era is 28, by Grover “Pete”  Alexander (28-13, 2.57 for the 1911 Phillies. Alexander went on to win 373 MLB games (208 losses) in 20 MLB seasons (1911-30 … Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals). He won 20 or more games in nine seasons, three times winning 30 or more.

 

A Final Diversion

Since the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947, six pitchers have recorded 20 or more victories in a qualifying rookie season.  The only one of the six to capture Rookie Of The Year Honors was Bob Grim of the 1954 Yankees.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; John Beazley bio, by John Fuqua, Society for American Baseball Research

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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.

Last week, we took a long look at Tidbits surrounding MLB’s workhorses … players with 700 or more plate appearances in a season.   See that post by clicking here. This week, we’re answering a trivia question loaded with “firsts.”

Name the player, who hit:

• The first MLB pitch he saw in, of course, his first MLB plate appearance, for a pinch-hit home run;
• Which came in his team’s first game of the season (in other words, Opening Day);
• Which was also the franchise’s first-ever pinch “hit” and, of course, it’s first-ever pinch-hit four-bagger; and
• Came in the franchise’s first-ever regular-season contest.

The answer is coming right up, along with a look at the other players whose first-ever MLB plate appearance resulted in an Opening Day pinch-hit home run.

Statistical Coincidence.

The Roundtable loves coincidences. Three players have hit pinch-hit home runs in their first MLB plate appearance on Opening Day (their team’s first game of the season).  All three connected for that dinger on the first MLB pitch they ever saw.

Now, let’s answer that multi-qualifier trivia question.  The answer is:

Al Woods … Toronto  Blue Jays, April 7, 1977

Al Woods was drafted and signed by the Twins in the Second Round (secondary Phase) of the June 1972 Draft. In 1973, as a 19-year-old, he hit .302-2-10 at  for the Low-A  Geneva Twins of the New York-Pennsylvania League.  In four seasons in the Twins’ minor-league system (1973-76), he went .287-32-211, with 30 steals in 390 games.

Then – after a .284-6-74, 13-steal season at Triple-A Tacoma, he was the Blue Jays’ 15th selection in the 1976 MLB Expansion Draft – setting the stage for Opening Day 1977.  Note: The photo in the post notification/teaser (photo of  a Twins Opening Day) provided a very obscure hint in that Woods began his professional career in the Twins’ organization and played his final MLB game in a Twins’ uniform.

The Blue Jays’ first-ever game came on April 7, versus the White Sox,  in front of 44,649 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Left-hander Ken Brett started on the mound for Chicago and the left-handed swinging Woods was on the bench for the Blue Jays.

In the fifth inning, Toronto had a 5-4 lead and righty Francisco Barrios was on the mound for Chicago (having relieved Brett in the fourth). With a runner second on one out, Woods was sent to the plate to pinch hit for right-handed swinging RF Steve Bowling. In this first-ever MLB plate appearance, Woods smacked the first pitch he saw from Barrios for a two-run home run (and a bit of a unicorn was born).  Woods stayed in the game in RF, had two more plate appearances and struck out looking both times.  (Side note: Woods was not the Blue Jays’ first-ever pinch-hitter: Jim Mason walked in a fourth-inning pinch-hit appearance. Woods’ homer , while the Blue Jays’ first-ever pinch “hit” and first-ever pinch-hit homer, was not the team’s first-ever home run. Starting 1B Doug Alt had gone deep in the bottom of the first. The Blue Jays won their inaugural game 9-5.

Woods went on to a seven-season MLB career (1977-82, 1986 … Blue Jays, Twins), hitting .271-34-196 in 618 games. His best season was 1980, when he went .300-15-47 in 109 games for Toronto.

____________________________________

The two other players who hit Opening Day pinch-hit homers in their first MLB plate appearance were Eddie Morgan (1936 Cardinals) and Chuck Tanner (1955 Braves)

Eddie Morgan … Cardinals, April 14, 1936

Eddie Morgan made his MLB debut (as a 21-year-old) with the Cardinals on Opening Day 1936 – following a 1935 .347, 13-home run season (in 112 games) with the Class-B Bloomington Bloomers. (Now, there’s an unfortunate team name.)  While he didn’t start the (home) game versus the Cubs,  Redbirds’ manager Frankie Frisch  gave the rookie a chance to play – pinch-hitting Morgan (for pitcher Bill McGee) in the bottom of the seventh, with a runner on second, no outs and Saint Louis trailing 12-3.  Morgan hit the first pitch he saw from Lon Warneke for a two-run homer to right-center. ( The Cardinals eventually lost 12-7.)

The home run would be Morgan’s only roundtripper in a two-season MLB career (1936 Cardinals, 1937 Dodgers), in which he went .212-1-8 in 39 games. While he did not play in the majors after 1937, Morgan continued to toil in the minor-leagues through the 1950 season. In all, he played 1,692 minor-league games.

Chuck Tanner, Braves … April 12, 1955

Chuck Tanner made his MLB debut on April 12, 1955 (with the Braves hosting the season opener versus  the Reds) – after a .323-20-101 season (155 games) with the Double-A Atlanta Crackers in 1954. Tanner’s might have been the most meaningful appearance among the three-players  noted in this post.  He came in with one out and no one on base in the bottom of the eighth inning (pinch-hitting for Warren Spahn), with the Braves trailing 2-1. Tanner tied the game with a home run on the first pitch he saw from Gerry Staley; and the Braves went on to win 4-2.

Tanner got in 97 games in his rookie campaign, hitting .247-6-27. (He made it to the majors at age 26, after nine minor-league campaigns … hitting .300+ in eight of them.) By the time he reached the Braves, Tanner had more than 1,000 minor-league games under his belt – playing for eight different minor-league teams at six different levels. (Tanner began his professional career as a 17-year-old.)

Tanner, an outfielder,  went on to play in eight MLB seasons (1955-62 … Braves, Cubs, Indians, Angels), going .261-21-105 in 396 games.

A student of the game, Tanner (known as  an optimistic leader … nicknamed Mr. Sunshine),  went on to a 19-season career as a major-league manager (1970-88 …. White Sox, Athletics, Pirates, Braves) – putting up a 1,352 – 1,381 record and leading the 1979 Pirates to a 98-64 regular-season record and a World Series Championship.  He also managed in the minor-leagues … 1963-70).

“The greatest feeling in the world is to win a major-league game. The second-greatest feeling is to lose a major-league game.”

                                        Chuck Tanner, July 15, 1985, Sporting News

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Yesterday (March 31), Baseball Roundtable took part in what has become a Roundtable rite of spring – the Twins’ annual food and beverage preview, sponsored by the Twins and Sportservice – the sports hospitality division of Delaware North.  This event features a look at (and taste of) the upcoming season’s new Target Field food and beverage offerings.

Now, there are some things I (possibly as a curmudgeon) miss about baseball seasons past; regularly scheduled, Sunday, single-admission doubleheaders; pitchers committed to completing what they started; extra-innings played by the same rules as the rest of the game;  And, I think, this season, I’ll miss those crafty hurlers with the ability to “work the edges” and expand the strike zone. Still, baseball is, in my mind, the best and most addictive of sports (for my post on the eleven reasons “Why I Love Baseball” click here).

But I digress.  I must also admit, I don’t miss the old-style baseball “menu.” As I’ve noted here before, when I first began attending MLB games, standard fare consisted of (not always piping-hot) hot dogs and (not always ice-cold) beer and soda.  For those wanting to step outside the box, there were peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack®.   For the really adventurous, there were frozen malt cups (with a wooden spoon after taste).  When pizza, burgers and licorice ropes arrived on the scene, we all thought baseball’s culinary landscape was complete. When helmets loaded with nachos were added, we were sure of it.

The 2026 Target Field food and beverage preview (like those that went before it ) brought home how wrong we were about reaching the ultimate in ballpark fare – and how committed the Twins are to continually raising the ballpark food and beverage (and value)  bar.

Here are a few of Baseball Roundtable’s favorite new Target Field offerings for 2026 – as judged by super-taster Bob King and me. Note:  At the time of this writing, the Twins had not yet posted prices for the new items, but they should be on Twins.com before the April 3 home opener.

NUMBER ONE

Mac and Yes Please … (Section 113)

“Mac and Yes Please” takes Macaroni and Cheese from the comfort-food category to gourmet ballpark fare. Bob I both ranked this as our number-one new offering – and you can build it to fit your own taste.  You start with a generous helping of Cavatappi pasta tossed in creamy white cheddar cheese sauce and toasted breadcrumbs. Then you choose the toppings from a list that includes:  Buffalo chicken, brisket, blue cheese crumbles, sliced hot peppers and fried onion crisps. Then, you top the whole thing off with your choice of a Buffalo ranch or BBQ drizzle.

A word of advice: Make sure you ask for the blue cheese crumbles.  As Bob noted: “That blue cheese takes this to a whole new level.“ Indeed, they do. Note: A more basic kid’s option is available.

NUMBER TWO

Wicked Corn Dogs … Section 232

Okay, what’s more baseball than a hot dog? Or what’s more Minnesota (think State Fair) than a corn dog, a hot dog encased in sweet corn meal breading and served on a stick? And could be more wickedly wonderful than enhancing those traditional favorites with spicy jalapenos or cheddar and smooth American cheese and offering it at a Twins game?   Wicked Corn Dogs start with a quality dog from Manea ‘s Meats in Sauk Rapids.  Then each dog is enhanced with jalapeno (a whole jalapeno in each dog) or a well-balanced combination of cheddar and American Cheese. Which one to choose? (Let’s work in some baseball here.) In honor of Twins’ Cy Young Award winner Frank “Sweet Music “ Viola: If you like spicy salsa music, go for the Jalapeno Wicked Corn Dog; If you prefer smooth, cool jazz, it’s the cheese version. Bob, by the way, says he intends make a Wicked Corn Dog his “opening” Opening Day snack.

NUMBER THREE

Mediterranean Bowl (Section 114)

This is a tasty and a refreshing combination of steamed rice topped with chicken shawarma (a vegetarian option is available), diced red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and a perfect tzatziki sauce. True Mediterranean flavors, right at the ballpark.  Perhaps the only thing better than enjoying a Mediterranean Bowl on a sunny afternoon, during a Twins game, would be enjoying one between games of a doubleheader.

ALSO IN THE MIX

Elote (from La Madres) … Section 110

A true Mexican Street Food experience – steamed corn on the cob slathered with mayonnaise and coated in a choice of cotija, Tajín or árbol spice, plus Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or hot blue corn chips, and served with lime wedges.  This is a tasty treat.  Bob and I agreed, an authentic tribute to the Mexican Street Food experience. And, hey, it’s on a stick.  We tried all three flavors – and liked them all.

—SOMETHING FOR THE SWEET TOOTH—

Justin’s Candied Popcorn Bar … Section 106

You simply can’t go wrong with anything that served in a baseball helmet, whether it’s nachos or ice cream sundaes … and especially if it’s fresh-popped popcorn complemented by your choice of toppings including Reese’s Pieces; M&M’s; crushed Oreos; chocolate-covered pretzels; yogurt-covered pretzels; Nerds clusters; cookie crumbles; miniature marshmallows; and chocolate, white chocolate or caramel sauce.  A great shareable with that special mix of salty and sweet.  The helmet full will keep two or three adults smiling.  (If you buy it for the kids, it’ll keep them busy for three to four innings, but be ready for an energetic ride home.)  Professional (well, semi-professiual ) tip, rinse out the helmet before you try it on.

Chocolate Fish on a Stick … Truly On Deck and Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern

This Japanese-inspired dessert – from Minneapolis-based chef Mathew Kazama – features a fish-shaped waffle plumped with a sweet filling and served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.  It’s rich, so eat it slow – and take a picture before you bite into the fish’s tail (not sure if it’s a Walleye.)

No Gluten Way (Section 112):

There’s a new section dedicated to fans following a gluten-free diet.  Among then gluten-free offerings:

• Beef burger with white American cheese, grilled onions, bacon and bistro sauce on a gluten-free bun;
• All-beef hot dog with grilled onions on a gluten-free bun;
• A variety of gluten-free snack items;
• Tasty gluten-free cookies from Minneapolis’ family-owned Atuvava Bakery; and
• A selection of gluten-free beers, seltzers and nonalcoholic beverages.

 

—BEVERAGES—

Niko Niko …. Section 120

Expanding on the successful 2025 introduction of Boba Tea at Target Field, Niko Niko expands the experience with new Boba flavors and Dirty Sodas, as well as Boozy Boba adult-beverage options .  They’ll all put a sparkle in your game day experience.

Dirty Sodas: Peachy Dew; Creamy Pepsi; Pink Cream Soda.

Boba Tea: Strawberry Lemon Fizz;  Signature Milk Tea; Hawaiian Fruit Tea.

Boozy Boba: Tequila Sunrise; Peach Palmer; Rum and Jam.

Summertime Shandies … (Several stadium bars, restaurants and clubs)

Target Field mixologists (mixologists at the ballpark, another sign of the upgrading of food and beverage offerings) have put together several flavors of this popular Midwest summer drink. (I can endorse the raspberry.)

More Mocktails …. Truly On Deck, Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern, Hrbek’s)

Plenty of new, fun non-alcoholic options, themed for the baseball fan.  We particularly liked the Bullpen Breeze and Moon Shot.

—-Some VALUE-able Tips—-

Here are a few 2026 Target Field Bargains that may bring you out to the ballpark early.

• $2 pregame beers: Available before every game for MyTwins Choice and Reserved Members 21+; and for all fans 21+ before every Friday and Saturday game (12-oz. cans of Summit Twins Pils, Budweiser and Bud Light)
• Friday Happy Hour: Every Friday home is a party, with pre-game $2 beers, $2 hot dogs and $2 snacks, plus music from a band or DJ.
• Free Sunday Ice Cream for the Kids: All kids 12 and under get a free ice cream at every Sunday home game, as part of Kids Day presented by Target! (Sundays also include half-price kids’ meals, presented by U.S. Bank.)
• Tuesday Dollar Dog Day: Dollar Dogs are back, presented by Sheboygan Sausage Company.

Note: Pregame value deals are available from the time the gates open through the scheduled first pitch at select concession stands. $2 beers are available to fans 21+ with a valid ID.

So, there’s a look at some of The Roundtable’s favorites from among Target Field’s new offerings. Enjoy the 2016 baseball season and Go Twins/Go Saints!

 

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. 

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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.

Last week, we  took a look at the members of the 3,000+-Hit Club, with a wide range of Tidbit(s) regarding its members (like the only player with 3,000+ hits to play 500 or more MLB games at four different positions or the only members of the 3,000+-Hit Club to never lead their league in hits or batting average and much more). For that post, click here:

This week. We’re looking at a players who racked up 700 or more plate appearances in a season. This, by the way, is one of those posts that illustrate how, with Baseball Roundtable, “one thing always seems to lead to another.”  The initial inspiration was Kyle Schwarber’s “unicorn” season for the 2023 Phillies.  That season, Schwarber hit just .197 in 160 games.  In the process, among the records he set were:

• Most home runs by a hitter in a sub-.200 average season (47, the only qualifier to reach 40);
• Most runs batted by a hitter in a sub-.200 season (104, the only qualifier to reach 100);
• Most runs scored by a player in a sub-.200 season (108, the only qualifier to reach 100);
• Most walks in a season by a sub-.200 hitter (126);
• Most total bases in a season by a sub-.200 hitter (277);
• The most strikeouts in a sub-.200 season (215); and
• Most games played in a sub-.200 MLB season (160, tied with Carlos Pena’s 2012, .197 season for the Rays).

I also noticed that Schwarber was the only  player with a sub-.200 average and 700 or more plate appearances in a season (720).  That “one thing led to another,” sending me to the record books for a look at players with seasons of 700 or more plate appearances.  To date, there have been 849 such seasons (842 since 1900).   As you might expect, they were a bit rarer before the adoption of the 162-game schedule (versus the old 154). From 1900 to 1961, there were 236 player-seasons of 700 or more plate appearances (an average of 3.8 per season). Since 1961 (the first year both the AL and NL had 162-game schedules), there have been 606 such seasons (9.47 per season). Eleven batters made 700 or more plate appearances in 2025.

To The Roundtable, there seemed to be plenty to explore.

First, the real career workhorses, players with the most seasons of 700 or more plate appearances.

Pete Rose … 15 Seasons of 700+ Plate Appearances

Pete Rose, the MLB all-time leader in games (3,562), plate appearances (15,890), at bats (14,053) and hits (4,256) had a record 15 seasons with 700 or more plate appearances;  including 12 consecutive (1969-1980). He, in fact, has more consecutive 700+ plate appearance seasons than any other player has 700+ plate appearance seasons. The 17-time All Star led the league in plate appearances seven times and in games played five times.

Rose played 24 MLB seasons (1963-86 … Reds, Phillies, Expos), going .303-160-1,314, with 2,165 runs scored and 198 stolen bases. He won three batting titles, was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1973 NL Most Valuable Player. He played 150 or more games in 17 of his 24 MLB seasons. He played in 160 or more games in ten campaigns.

Cal Ripken, Jr. … Ten Seasons of 700+ Plate Appearances

Cal Ripken, Jr., of course, holds the MLB record for consecutive games played (2,632). Ripken played in 21 MLB seasons and topped 700 plate appearances in ten of them;  including five consecutive (1983-87). Surprisingly, despite leading or tying for the lead in games played nine times, he only led the league in plate appearances once.  That was in his 1983 MVP season, when he led the AL: in games (162); plate appearances (726); at bats (663); runs (121); hits (211); and doubles (47).  Ripken was a 19-time All Star, the 1982 AL Rookie of the Year and the AL Most Valuable Player in 1983 and 1991. Ripken played 21 MLB seasons (1981-2001 … Orioles), going .276-431-1,695, with 1,647 runs and 36 steals. He played 150 or more games in 15 of his 21 MLB seasons – and 12 of his first 13. Notably, in all 15 of his 150+ game seasons, Ripken played at least 160 games.

Derek Jeter … 10 Seasons of 700+ Plate Appearances

Derek Jeter played in 20 MLB seasons (1995-2014 … Yankees) and had 700 or more plate appearances in half of them (leading the league in plate appearances five times). Jeter was a 14-time All Star and the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year. Over his 20 MLB seasons (1995-2014), he hit .310-260-1,311, with 1,923 runs scored and 358 stolen bases.  His last season with 700+ plate appearances was 2012 (his age-38 season). He played 150 or more games in 13 of his 20 MLB seasons.

Ichiro Suzuki … Ten Seasons of 700+ Plate Appearances

Ichiro Suzuki played in 19 MLB seasons and had 700 or more plate appearances in ten of them. Notably, he didn’t have his first 700+ PA season until age 27 (when he made the move from Japanese Baseball to the Seattle Mariners). He then ran off eight consecutive seasons of 700+ plate appearances and ten  consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits (including his 2004 season, when he set a new record for base hits in a single season at 262). Suzuki led the league in games played four times, plate appearances four times, at bats eight times and hits seven times. He won two batting titles and  was a ten-time All Star, the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player and a ten-time Gold Glover. In his 19 MLB seasons (2001-19 … Mariners, Marlins, Yankees), he hit .311-117-780, with 1,420 runs scored and 509 stolen bases.  He played 150 or more games in 13 of his 19 MLB seasons – and 12 of his first 13.  He played in at least 160 games in eight seasons.

A few Other 700+ Plate Appearances Tidbits:

• The Most Plate appearances in an MLB season … Jimmy Rollins, 2007 Phillies, 778 (Rollins had seven 700+ plate appearance seasons);
• Oldest Player with a 700+ plate appearance seasons … Pete Rose, 1982 Phillies, 41-years-old;

Putting The Old Horsehide In Play

Tommy Holmes had the fewest strikeouts of any player with 700 or more plate appearances in a season.  In 1945, the Braves’ outfielder came to the plate 714 times and only struck out nine times.  His final line was .352-28-117 – with 125 runs scored and 15 steals.  He walked 70 times (a 7.77 BB-to-K ratio) and led the NL in hits (224), home runs, doubles (47), slugging percentage (.577) and total bases (367).

• Youngest player with a 700+ plate appearance season … Ken Hubbs, age 20, 1962 Cubs (It was Hubbs only 700+ PA season). The 1962 NL Rookie of the Year (and Gold Glove winner) died tragically – at age 22 – in a plane crash); .
• Fewest Games played in a 700+ plate appearance season: Billy Hamilton, 1894 Phillies, 132 (Modern Era: Woody English, 1929 Cubs, 144;

Going Deep – Or Not

The Cubs’ Sammy Sosa had the most home runs in a season of 700 or more plate appearances – 66 in 1998.  There have, in fact, been four seasons in which a player with 700 or more plate appearances hit 60 or more home runs. Three of them belong to Sosa: 1998 (66); 1999 (63); and 64 ( 2001). The other belongs to the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh (60 homers in 2025). 

There have been 28 700+ PA seasons (by 25 different players) in which a player has hit zero home runs in 700 or more plate appearances. The only players to do it twice are Sparky Adams (1927 & 1928 Cubs); Doc Cramer (1936 & 1938 Red Sox); and Ozzie Smith (1980 Padres & 1987 Cardinals). Those were also Smith’s only 700+ plate appearance seasons. Nice bar trivia: “Who is the only player to have completed seasons of 700 or more plate appearances with zero home runs for two different teams?)  For those who like to know such things, the most recent player to “achieve” this feat was Juan Pierre of the 2007 Dodgers (.293-0- 41 in 729 plate appearances).  Pierre, by the way, had seven seasons of 700+ PA, five consecutively (2003-2007), when he also played 162 games each season.  From 2005 through 2007, he reached 162 games played and 700+ PA for three different teams  (2005 Marlins, 2006 Cubs, 2007 Dodgers). 

• Fewest hits in a 700+ plate appearance season: Kyle Schwarber, 2023 Phillies, 115;
• Highest Average in a 700+ plate appearance season; Billy Hamilton, 1894 Phillies .403. (Modern Era: Rogers Hornsby 1922 Cardinals, .40128 and Bill Terry, 1930 Giants, .40126.);
• Most walks in a 700+ plate appearance seasons: Ted Williams, 1949 REd Sox, 162;
• Fewest walks in a 700+ plate appearance season: Woody Jensen, 1936 Pirates, 16;
• Most strikeout in a 700+ plate appearance season: And, we back to where this all started. It’s Kyle Schwarber with 215 for the 2023 Phillies.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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

P 1158

With Opening Day 2026 upon us, I find myself (as always) looking forward to the months ahead and  reflecting on why I love baseball.  With that in mind, I’ll dedicate this post to a review/update of the ten top (plus one) reasons I love the national pastime – and also include links (at the end of this post) to posts on the topic of “Why I Love Baseball” from  guest writers ranging from Grammy nominee Leonard Eckhaus to 2013 MLB Draft sixth-round pick John Michael Murphy to sportswriter and author Larry LaRue.

Let’s start with Baseball Roundtable’s reasons to love the national pastime.

1.  Baseball comes along every spring, accompanied by sunshine and optimism.

Baseball is the harbinger of better times.  It signifies the end of winter (not a small thing if you’re from Minnesota) and the coming of spring – a season of rebirth, new life and abundant optimism.   Each season, you start with a clean slate.   Last year’s successes can still be savored, but last year’s failures can be set aside (although rival fans may try to refresh your memory), replaced by hope and anticipation.   On Opening Day, in our hearts, we can all be in contention.

People ask me what I do in winter, when there’s no baseball. 

I’ll tell you what I do.  I stare out the window and wait for spring.

 Honus Wagner, Hall of Famer

 

2.  Baseball is timeless and, ultimately, fair in the offering of opportunity.

The clock doesn’t run out.  There is no coin flip to determine who gets the ball first in sudden death overtime.  No matter what the score, your team (if trailing) gets at least 27 outs as it pursues an equal opportunity to secure victory.  What could be more fair?   And then there is the prospect of “extra” innings, bonus baseball for FREE.

3.  Plays and players are distinct (in space and time).

Baseball, while a game of inches, is also a game of considerable space.   The players are not gathered along an offensive line or elbow-to-elbow under a basket. They are widely spaced, each with his own area of responsibility and each acting (as part of a continuing play) in their own time frame.  (On a 6-3 play, for example,  first baseman can’t catch the ball for the putout until after the shortstop throws it.)   This enables fans to follow, understand  and analyze each play (maybe not always accurately) in detail.   And, baseball’s distinct spacing and timing makes it possible to see the game even when you are not there.  A lot of people grinned at President Gerald Ford’s comment that he “watched a lot of baseball on the radio.”  In my view, he was spot on.  You can see baseball on the radio – you can create a “visual” of the game in your mind with minimal description.    That’s why on summer nights, in parks, backyards and garages across the country, you’ll find radios tuned to the national pastime.

 4. The scorecard.

Can there be anything more satisfying than keeping an accurate scorecard at the ballpark?  It serves so many purposes.  The keeping of a scorecard ensures your attention to the happenings on the field.

Maintaining the score card also makes you, in a way understandable only to fellow fans, more a part of the game.   That magical combination of names, numbers and symbols also enables you to go back and check the progress of the game at any time.  “Oh, Johnson’s up next.  He’s walked and grounded out twice.”  It’s also a conversation starter, when the fan in the row behind you asks, “How many strikeouts does Ryan have today?”   And, it leaves you (if you choose to keep it) with a permanent record of the game, allowing you to replay it in your mind (or share it with others) at will.  Ultimately, a well-kept scorecard enhances the game experience and offers a true post-game sense of accomplishment.

5.  The long season.

Baseball, so many have pointed out, is a marathon rather than a sprint.  It’s a long season with ample opportunity to prove yourself and lots of chances to redeem yourself.  For fans, the long season also represents a test of your passion for the game.  Endurance is part of the nature of the true baseball fan.  And, and in the end, the rigors of a 162-game season prove your mettle and that of your team.   Not only that, but like a true friend … baseball is there for you every day.

 6.  Baseball invites, encourages, even demands, conversation.

I love the fact that whenever baseball fans gather, their passion comes out in conversation – and they find plenty to talk about:

•  Statistics,  statistics, statistics.  Baseball and its fans will count anything.  Did you know that Yankee Jim Bouton’s hat flew off 37 times in his 2-1, complete-game victory over the Cardinals in game three of the 1964 World Series?  More seriously, statistics are part of a common language and shared passion that bring baseball fans together in spirited conversation.  There is  no sport more statistically annotated than baseball and the sheer volume of stats available offers unending angles and avenues of comparison. For example, you can compare the batting average of two players from different eras – and then you can go a step further and compare how each their averages compare to the “average” average of the era in which they played or … (I could go on and on). As best-selling author Pat Conroy once put it “Baseball fans love numbers.  They love to swirl them around in their mouths like Bordeaux wine.”  I agree, to the fan, statistics are intoxicating.  I personally like to swirl them around in my brains to find new ways to connect and compare “moments” from baseball past and present (failures, achievements and even coincidences.) Side note: Fans have found other ways to savor the hypnotic draw of statistics from statistic-based board/dice and computer games like Strat-O-Matic(R) to today’s many versions of fantasy baseball.

• Stories, stories, stories.  Baseball and its fans celebrate the game’s history.  And, I’m not talking just about statistics.  I’m talking about the stories that give this great game color, character and characters:  Ty Cobb sharpening his spikes on the dugout steps; Babe Ruth’s called shot; Luis Tiant’s wind-up; Willie Mays’ basket catch; Dock Ellis’ LSD-fueled no-hitter; Dizzy Dean being, well, Dizzy Dean (r Manny being Manny); Paul Skenes starting on the mound in the All Star game – as a rookie.

• Trivia, trivia, trivia.  This may fall close to the “stories, stories , stories” category, but fans cherish the trivia that surrounds our national pastime – whether that trivia is iconic or ironic.  For example, it’s ironic that the most recent player to steal home twice in one game (Vic Power, August 14, 1958) did it in a season when he only stole a total of three bases).  Then there is the iconic performance of Ralph Kiner, who led the NL in home runs as a rookie in 1948 – and successfully defended that title in each of the next six seasons – the most consecutive home runs titles by any major leaguer ever.

Basically, I took a long time to say I love the fact that baseball fans will talk with passion about something that happened in today’s game, yesterday’s game, over time or even in a game that took place on May 30, 1894 (Bobby Lowe of the Boston Beaneaters records MLB’s first four-homer game).  And, as a bonus, all this conversation – all the statistics, stories and trivia – make the games, moments within the games and the characters of the game (heroes, goats and mere participants) as timeless as baseball itself.

7. The irony of a team game made up of individual performances.

While baseball and baseball fans live for individual statistics and, while the spacing of the players drives individual accountability, the game is, ironically, deeply dependent on the concept of “team.”

Consider the offense.  Unlike other sports , where you can deliver victory by giving the ball or puck – time and time again (particularly as the clock runs down) –  to your best runner, skater, receiver or shooter, in baseball, your lineup determines who will be “on the spot” and at the plate when the game is on the line.  It may be your .230-hitting second basemen, rather than your .320-hitting outfielder.  Yet, even as the team depends on the hitter, he is totally alone in his individual battle with the pitcher.  And, achieving individual statistics that signify exceptional performance also demands a sense of team.  You don’t score 100 runs without a teammate to drive you in (although the statistic remains your measure of performance) …  and you don’t drive in 100 runs if no one gets on base in front of you.   And, can you think of any other sport that keeps track of – and honors – the team-oriented “sacrifice.”

On defense, the story is the same.  Circumstances may determine which fielders are compelled to handle the ball at the games most critical junctures.   And, “team” is at play. A ground ball pitcher, for example, needs a good infield behind him to optimize his statistical presence in the “win” column.  And the six-four-three double play requires masterful teamwork as well as individual performance –  duly recorded in the record books as an assist for the shortstop, a putout and an assist for the second baseman and a put out for the first baseman.  Then there is the outfield assist – a perfect throw from a right fielder to nail a runner at third earns an assist – even if the third baseman drops the ball and earns an error.  Two individual results (one good / one bad) highlighted, but without the necessary teamwork – a good play on both ends – a negative outcome in terms of the game.

Ultimately, baseball is a game of individual accomplishments that must be connected by the thread of “team” to produce a positive outcome.

8.  The pace of the game invites contemplation.

Between innings, between batters or pitchers, and even between pitches, baseball leaves us time to contemplate what just occurred, speculate on what might happen next and even share those thoughts with nearby spectators.  Baseball is indeed a thinking person’s game. (Side note: The relatively new pitch clock rules have slightly dampened aspect of the national pastime, so I’ve dropped it from number-two a couple of years ago.) 

 9.  The box score. 

My mother used to refer to an accordion as “an orchestra in a box.”  That’s how I view the daily box score – the symphony of a game recorded in a space one-column wide by four inches deep.   Some would say the box score reduces the game to statistics, I would say it elevates the game to history.  What do you want to know about the contest?   Who played where, when?  At bats, hits, stolen bases, strikeouts, errors, caught stealing, time, attendance, even the umpires’ names?   It’s all there and more – so much information, captured for baseball fans in a compact and orderly space.  I am, of course, dating myself here, but during baseball season, the morning newspaper, through its box scores, is a treasure trove of information for baseball fans. (Okay, you can find that information online now, but I do prefer my box scores accompanied by the smell of fresh coffee and newsprint.)

10. Baseball’s assault on the senses.  (Indoor ballparks fall a bit short here).

The sight of a blue sky and bright sun above the ballpark or a full moon over a black sky above a well-lit stadium.  The feel of the warm sun or a crisp evening breeze.  The scent of freshly mowed grass or steaming hot dogs.  The taste of cold beer and peanuts.  The sound of the crack of the bat, the cheers (or moans) of the crowd, the musical pitch of the vendors.  Baseball assaults all the senses ―  in  a good way.

11. Baseball is the most literary of all sports. Okay, I love to read and I love baseball – and that is as perfect a combination as 6-4-3.  There is no doubt (at least in my mind) that baseball is the most literary of all sports – from the fiction of Philip Roth (The Great American Novel) and Paul Quarrington (Home Game – you’ve got to read this one if you haven’t) to non-fiction like The Glory of Their Times (Lawrence Ritter) and The Baseball 100 (Joe Posnanski).  The fact is there are literally (pun intended) hundreds of baseball books I love (and would recommend to every fan) – and the hits just keep on growing.  Heck, my library even includes a book of baseball nicknames, another on baseball trades and a two-volume set of reprinted news articles from Joe DiMaggio’s career.   And, just think of the movies that have emerged from baseball literature:  The Natural, Bang the Drum Slowly, for the Love of the Game. (Note: For each set of these examples, I could have added “and many, many more.”  The fact is, for this baseball fan, baseball literature is a “Field of Dreams.”

Now, I could go on and on, there are lots more reasons to love this game: its combination of conformity (all infields are laid out the same) and individualism (outfield configurations not so much); its strategy (hit-and-run, run-and-hit, sacrifice bunts, infield / outfield positioning, pitching changes, etc.); triples; the 6-4-3 double play; knuckleballs; and more.  But to protect myself – and BBRT’s readers – I’ve limited myself to eleven.   I probably could have saved a lot of time and words  had I just started with this so-perfect comment from sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, “The other sports are just sports.  Baseball is love.”  That says it all.

 

 

Bonus Reason to Love Baseball – Opening Day

In the words of Joe DiMaggio:

“You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you were a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.”

Now. here are links to guest posts on “Why I Love Baseball.”

• For a post from author, poet and Grammy nominee Leonard Eckhaus (that includes an original poem) click here.
• For a post from John Michael Murphy, Yankees’ sixth-round pick in the 2013 MLB draft, click here.
• For a post from Jason Love, author of “Slices of Americana – A Road Trip Through American Baseball History, click here.
• For a post from sportswriter and author Larry LaRue, click here.
• For a post from college football coach Alex Smith, click here.
• For a post from baseball blogger Bill Ivie (I70baseball.com), click here.
• For a post from dedicated autograph seeker Scott Perry, click here.
• For a post from lifelong baseball fan Tom Cuggino, click here.

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

P 1157

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.

Last week, we  looked at the ultimate sign of respect, MLB hitters who received a bases-loaded intentional walk. For that post, click here. This week, we’re taking  a look at the members of the 3,000-Hit Club. This statistical exploration started with a determination that Al Kaline, who retired from MLB after the 1974 season, was the first player to retire with at least 3,000 hits (3,007) and a batting average of under .300 (.297).  Kaline was the eleventh player to retire with 3,000+ safeties. Since Kaline’s retirement,  22 more players have retired with 3000+ hits – 12 of those with averages under .300.

The High And Low Of It.

The highest career average for any “3,000-Hit Club member” is Ty Cobb’s .366; the lowest Cal Ripken Jr.’s .276.  

Of course, as usual  with The Roundtable, “One thing led to another,” So, here are a few more Tidbits.  For example,  The 33 members of the 3000+-Hits Club include 18 right-handed hitters, 13 left-handed batters and just  two switch hitters (Pete Rose and Eddie Murray).

What Your Position On This?

From a position perspective, assigning each player the position he appeared in the most games at, the list includes:

• Eight First Basemen;
• Seven Right Fielders;
• Five Shortstops;
• Three Second Basemen;
• Three Third Basemen;
• Three Left Fielders;
• The Center Fielders.
• One Designated Hitter.

That led me to a few Unicorns:

• Pete Rose is the only player on the list to appear in at least 500 games at four different positions … 1B (939 games); LF (673); 3B (634); 2B (628); RF (570).
• The only players on the list to appear in at least 1,000 games at multiple positions are; Robin Yount (SS-1,478 & RF 1,150); Alex Rodriguez (SS – 1,272 & 3B 1,194); and Rod Carew (1B – 1,184 & 2B – 1,130).
• While Paul Molitor appears on the list as a DH (appearing in 1,174 games as a DH), he also appeared in 792 games at 3B, 400 at 2B, 197 at 1B, 57 at SS, 42 in CF, four in LF and four in RF.  In his first 13 seasons (his age-21 to  age-33 seasons), he appeared in just 198 games as DH.  In those first 13 seasons, he collected 1,870 hits (143.4 per season). In his final eight seasons (his age-34 to age-41 seasons), he appeared in 976 games at DH. In those seasons, he collected 1,449 hits (181.1 per season).

Almost Perfect

Ty Cobb and Tony Gwynn are the only members of the 3000+-hit club who had just one season in which they hit under .300 and, for both, it was their rookie campaign.

 In Cobb’s first season (1905), the 18-year-old rookie hit .238 in 41 games. In 1906, he hit  .316 and he hit over .320 in every season after that – a total of 23 seasons hitting over .300.

 Gwynn was 22-years-old in his 1982 rookie season, when he hit .289 in 54 games. The next season, he hit .309 and did not hit below that mark in any season over the rest of his career (a total of 19 seasons of .300 or better).

• Cap Anson had the most seasons with a .300 or better batting average – 24 in 27 campaigns.
• Dave Winfield had the most under-.300 seasons among the 3,000-hit Club … 18 seasons under .300 to four at .300 or better.
• Thirteen of the 33-member 3,000+-Hit Club had more seasons under .300 than at .300 or better.
• Eddie Collins, Lou Brock, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield and Craig Biggio are the only players to retire with 3000+ hits without ever leading their league in either batting average or base hits.

 

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 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 1156

 

 

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.

Last, week, we  looked at hitters’ performance (Modern Era) with the bases loaded – those who delivered and those who didn’t. (If you missed that  that post, click here.).  This week, we’re looking at the ultimate sign of respect, hitters who received a bases-loaded intentional walk.

The lead research of  Bill Deane, with contributions from  Everett Parker and Trent McCotter provided the foundation for this post.   

Side Note: Although MLB did not officially keep Intentional Bases on Balls records until 1955, there has been research (using box scores and news accounts) unveiling pre-1955 statistics.  Baseball-Almanac.com, credits researcher Trent McCotter for much of this effort, including uncovering the  Dalrymple bases-loaded MLB.

Here are those bases-loaded intentional walks, in reverse order.

Corey Seager, Texas Rangers, April 15, 2022

This was a weird one. In the bottom of the fourth inning of an Angels-Rangers tilt, Rangers’ SS and number-two hitter, Corey Seager came to the plate (versus Angels’ reliever) – with one out, the bases full  and the Rangers leading 3-2. Seager, who came into the game hitting .346 on the season, was intentionally walked – forcing in a run. and bringing  up C Mitch Garver. Manager Joe Maddon‘s strategy, walking the left-handed hitter (with righthander Austin Warren on the mound and right-handed batters C Mitch Garver and RF Adolis Garcia to follow) didn’t work – as Garver hit an RBI sacrifice fly and Warren (perhaps flustered) balked in another run before retiring Garcia. Warren had come on in relief of Reid Detmers, with runners on first and third, two fourth-inning runs already in and Marcus Semien (2B and leadoff hitter) at the plate.   The runner on first (CF Eli White) stole second  on the second pitch to Semien – who walked on four pitches to set up the intentional bases-loaded walk to Seager.  The inning ended with Texas up 6-2, but the Angels did come back for a 9-6 win.  Maddon later said, his goal was to both “avoid the big blow” and “stir up the group.”

Seager, by the way ended the season at .245-33-83. To date, the five-time All Star has played in 11 MLB seasons (2015-25 … Dodgers, Rangers), going .289-221-667.  Warren ended 2022 at 2-0, 5.63 and, to date, is 7-0, 2.79 in six MLB seasons (2021-25 … Angels, Giants Mets).

Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers, August 17, 2008

This  game saw RF Josh Hamilton and his Rangers trailing  the rays 7-2 in the bottom of the ninth.  With Juan Salas on the mound for Tampa (he had come in with one out in the eighth), Rangers’ DH Jarrod Saltalamacchia opened the ninth inning with a single, followed by a Chris Davis (1B)  walk. Salas then fanned 3B Travis Metcalf on three pitches. before giving way to Grant Balfour (perhaps his last name was an omen of what was to come) on the mound.

Balfour walked 2B Ramon Vazquez  to load the bases, before getting LF Brandon Boggs to hit into a fielder’s choicer (second-to-shortstop) with one run scoring. A walk to SS Michael Young again loaded the bases – and Devil Rays ‘manager Joe Maddon ordered Hamilton intentionally walked,  pushing across another run, putting the tying run at first base and bringing  Dan Wheeler in from the bullpen. The strategy worked. Wheeler ended the game by fanning Marlon Byrd on five pitches.

Hamilton had come into the August 17  game hitting .302 with 28 homers and 112 RBI, while Byrd came in at .290-8-34.  Balfour came into that August 17  game with a 3-1, 1.21 line, with four saves (in 31 appearances).

Balfour pitched in 12 MLB seasons (2011, 2003-2015 … Twins, Brewers, Rays, Athletics), going 30-23, 3.49, with 84 saves in 534 appearances (one start). Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, played in nine MLB seasons (2007-15 … Reds, Rangers, Angels), going .290-200-701).

Going Four-for-Two

Josh Hamilton is one of just 21 MLB players to hit four home runs in a single game. He did it on May 8, 2012 – hitting four two-run home runs and a double in five at bats (driving in eight runs) as his Rangers topped the Orioles 10-3.

____________________________

Barry Bonds, Giants, May 28, 1998

The Giants trailed the Diamondbacks 8-5  in the bottom of the ninth with Arizona closer Gregg Olson (who had come in to get the final out in the eighth) on the mound. It would prove a stressful (and memorable) frame, but the stage had been set the previous inning.

The eighth had been an adventure for Olson. He came in with runner on first, two outs, the Diamondbacks leading 7-5 (two runs had already scored in the inning)  and the Giants’ dangerous Barry Bonds (who would stay in the game in LF) pinch-hitting for starting LF Chris Jones (hitting .190 at the time, but two-for-three, with a home run in the game). Bonds came to the plate .305-13-41 on the season.

Rather than douse the flames, Olson add accelerant to the wild-fire. He walked Bonds on six pitches, bringing up C Brent Mayne. Olson’s third pitch to Mayne was a wild pitch, moving the baserunners  (PH Marvin Barnard and Bonds) to second and third. He eventually walked Mayne, loading the bases for SS Ray Sanchez, who fanned on three pitches to end the inning. The Diamondbacks scored once (a David Dellucci home run) in the top of ninth – and Olson started the final frame with an 8-5 lead and more excitement to come.

Olson fanned CF Darryl Hamilton on three pitches  to open the ninth, then walked 3B Bill Mueller on four pitches, before giving up a double to 2B  Jeff Kent (Mueller to third) and walking 1B  Charlie Hayes  to load the bases.  Olson then got RF Stan Javier to ground out (second-to-first) with Mueller scoring and Kent and Hayes each moving up a base.   J.T Snow then came on as a pinch hitter and drew a five-pitch walk again loading the bases.  Now, up by just two  runs,  manager Buck Showalter ordered Olson to intentionally walk Bonds – forcing in a run and putting the tying  tally at third base and the go-ahead run at second. Olson then got Mayne on a liner to right-center to end the contest and give the Diamondbacks an 8-7 win.  (Mayne was no easy out at  .290-2-12 coming into the game.) Olson had an unusual line for the game.  He got the save, despite giving up six walks and a hit to the 11 batters he faced (and tossing a wild pitch).

Bonds ended the season at .303-37-122, with 130 walks (a league-leading 29 intentional walks). Olson went 3-4, 3.01 with  30 saves (and not a single blown save).

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Barry Bonds led his league in Intentional Walks a record 12 times – the last time in his final season, at age 42. His career is bar t far MLB’s most. ( Second is Albert Pujols   with 316.)

______________________________ 

Bill Nicholson, Cubs, July 23, 1944 (second game)

The Giants led the Cubs 10-7 in the top of the eighth inning in this one, but the Cubs were mounting a comeback. Giants’ righty Ace Adams (on in relief of Bill Voiselle) walked Cubs’ leadoff hitter 3B  Stan Hack and SS Bill Schuster to open  the inning – and was replaced on the mound by southpaw Ewald Pyle, who walked 1B Phil Cavarretta to load the bases. That brought up RF and cleanup hitter Bill Nicholson – who was having quite a  day. In the first game of the Sunday twin bill (remember those), Nicholson had banged out three home runs (three homers and a walk for the game) as the Cubs won 7-4.   He already had an RBI single, walk and solo  home run in four plate appearances the second game – and Giants’ manager Mel Ott wanted no part of the hot hitter. Pyle issued the sacks-full free pass, plating one run.  Pyle, after facing two batters and walking both, then was replaced by right-hander Andy Hansen, who retired LF  Ival Goodman (holding the runners) and then hit CF Andy Pafko with a pitch, bringing in the second run of the inning (making the score 10-9) and keeping the bases loaded. 2B Don Johnson then grounded into a force at second,  plating another run – and tying the contest. Righty Bob Barthelson came in to pitch and got PH Billy Holm on a pop out to at least preserve the tie.  The Giants scored twice in the top of the ninth and won the game 12-10.

Nicholson finished the 1944 season at .287-33-122, leading the NL in home runs and RBI. For his 16-season MLB career (1936, 1939-53 … Athletics, Cubs, Phillies), Nicholson went .268-235-948,  Pyle, who issued the base-loaded free pass, played in  five MLB seasons (1939, 1942-45 … Giants, Browns, Nationals, Braves), going 11-21, 5.03 in 67 games (36 starts).

Taking the Lead

Bill Nicholson led the National League in home runs and RBI in both 1943 and 1944 … finishing second and third, respectively, in the NL Most Valuable voting in those years.

___________________________

Del Bissonette, Dodgers, May 2, 1928

This bases-loaded IBB was unique for a few reasons: 1) ItDel came pretty much as late in the game as possible, with two out in the ninth inning; 2) It was a very close game, the team walking in a run held just a two-run lead at the time; 3) the hurler ordered to issue the bases-loaded IBB was one out away from a complete-game shutout; and 4) the batter was a rookie.   Here’s how it went down.

The Dodgers trailed the Giants 2-0 in the top of the ninth inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs (thanks to a pair of singles and a walk). That brought up 1B and number-six hitter, 28-year-old rookie Del Bissonette, who had come into the game hitting .345-4-15 (15 games played in the season and in his MLB career). Manager John McGraw had Giants’ pitcher Larry Benton (a 13-game winner in 1927 and 2-1, 2.03 in three 1928 starts … all complete games) intentionally walk Bissonette, cutting the margin to one run. Benton then pitched to 2B Henry Riconda, who came into the contest with a .220-1-5 line on the season (15 games). While the IBB cost Benton a shutout, the strategy worked, as Benton went on to fan Riconda to end the game and get the win.

Benton, by  the way, had his best MLB season in 1928 (his sixth MLB campaign), leading the league in wins (25 versus nine losses), winning percentage (.735) and complete games (28) – with a 2.73 ERA.  He pitched 13 MLB seasons (1923-35 … Braves, Giants, Reds), going 128-128, 4.03.

The other principal in this mini-drama, Bissonette, played five MLB  seasons (1928-31, 1933 … Dodgers), going .305-66-391 in 604 games. In 1928, the year of his bases-loaded IBB (and, again, his rookie MLB campaign), Bissonette hit .320-25-106 in 155 games. He had his best season in 1930, when he hit .336-16-113 in 146 games. (The year before making the Robins’ roster, he hit .365 with 31 home runs at Class-AA Buffalo.) His major-league playing career was dampened and shortened by injury and illness, although he did play several seasons in the minors after 1933 and went on to coach and manage in the minor leagues. He also managed the Boston Braves for part of the 1945 season and served as a coach with coach with  the Pirates in 1946. He retired from baseball after the 1951 season (he was managing the Class-C Trois Rivieres in the Canadian Provincial League).   Reports are that he was offered the opportunity to manage the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, but declined to return to baseball.

Load ‘Em Up, I’m Ready

Del Bissonette is credited with (on April 21, 1930) being the first MLB player to hit a bases-loaded home run and a bases-loaded triple in the same game. 

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Napoleon Lajoie, Philadelphia Athletics, May 23, 1901

Nap Lajoie’s Athletics were down 11-5 to the White Sox in the top of the ninth inning, when they mounted a comeback – loading the bases with none out and bringing cleanup hitter 2B Napoleon Lajoie – who came into the game hitting .525 (42-for-80 in 20 games) and was on his way to a  .426-14-125 Triple Crown  season – to the plate. (Note: In 1901 Lajoie led the NL in average, home runs, RBI, runs scored (145), hits (232), doubles (48), total bases (350). on-base percentage (.463) and slugging percentage (.643).

White Sox player-manager Clark Griffith put himself into the game and intentionally  walked Lajoie, forcing in a run and cutting the lead to three. Griffith then got RF Socks Seybold (who would lead the AL in home runs in 1902) and 1B Harry Davis (who would lead the league in round trippers four times  in his career) on ground outs (one run scoring) to save an 11-9 win.  This intentional walk gets extra points for the courage of manager Griffith to take the responsibility on himself – and for setting up a situation in which the bases were loaded, the tying run was at first and he had to get two tough  outs to save the game.

Lajoie played in 21 MLB seasons (1896-1916 … Phillies, Athletics, Napoleons), going .338-82-1,599, with 3,243 hits. Clark Griffith played in 20 MLB seasons (1891, 1893-1907, 1909, 1912-14 … St. Louis Browns, Boston Reds, Chicago Colts/Orphans/Cubs, White Sox, Yankees, Reds, Nationals), going 237-146, 3.31, with 337 complete games in 372 starts (453 total appearances). Griffith managed in 20 MLB seasons, Lajoie in five.

 Clark Griffith … A Role(s) Player

Clark Griffith managed the 1901 White Sox to an 83-53 record and first  place in the National League. As a player-manager, he went 24-7, 2.67 on the mound and .303-2-14 (in 35 games) at the plate.

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Abner Dalrymple, Chicago White Stockings (NL), August 2, 1881

The White Stockings, already up  5-0 over the Buffalo Bisons, opened the eighth inning  by loading the bases on consecutive hits by P Fred Goldsmith, C Silver Flint and 2B Joe Quest. Bisons’ manager Jim O’Rourke (presumably) wanted nothing to do with Abner Dalrymple (on his way to a .323 season and the 1878 NL batting champ) and had Jack Lynch walk him intentionally – forcing in a run.  The White Sox eventually won the contest 11-2. The intentional pass was of little consequence in the outcome, but is generally accepted as the first IBB with the sacks full in MLB history. Side note: This IBB is unique in that it took seven balls to draw a walk in 1881,

Dalrymple played in 12 MLB seasons (1878-1888, 1891 … Milwaukee Grays, Chicago White Stockings, Allegheny City, Milwaukee Brewers), hitting .288-43-407. Lynch played in seven MLB seasons (1881, 1883-87, 1890 … Buffalo Bisons, New York Metropolitans, Brooklyn Gladiators), going 110-105, 3.69, with 214 complete games in 216 starts/221 appearances.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Del Bissonette bio, Society for American Baseball Research, by Will Anderson; Maddon Intentionally Walks Corey Seager … With The  Bases Loaded ?!, Rhett Bollinger & Kennedi Landry, MLB.com, April 16, 2022.

Next Tuesday: A look at the first player to record 3,000+ MLB hits and retire with an average below .300 (and more, of course). 

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.

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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 week, we’re looking at hitters’ performance (Modern Era) with the bases loaded – those who delivered and those who didn’t. Usual Disclaimer: Negro League game-by-game stats from 1920-48 are not yet fully incorporated into the MLB record books.

Did you know that Mike Morgan had the most career plates appearances and most at bats (17) with the bases loaded without recording a single RBI in those situations? Of course, he was a pitcher and a .109 career hitter (1978-79, 1982-83, 1985-2002 … Athletics, Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners, Orioles, Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals, Twins, Rangers, Diamondbacks).  If you look at position players, the dubious distinction of most career plate appearances (and at batss) with the bases loaded and zero RBI,  goes to Nationals’ utility player (2022-24) Juan Yepez, who  had 12 career  plate appearances (12 at bats) with the bases loaded and went 0-for-12, with three strikeouts  and, of course, zero RBI.

Contact Counts

In his MLB career (1944-50 … Cardinals, Phillies, Cubs, Braves), Emil Verban came to the plate 67 times with the bases loaded and did not strike out a single time. (The most career MLB bases loaded plate appearances without striking out.)  For his career, Verban hit .297-0-42 with the sacks full and .272-1-241 overall.  

 

Highest Single-Season Batting Average with Bases Loaded (minimum 10 at bats)

Bill Wambsganss … 1923 Indians, .833

Bill Wambsganss came to the plate with the sacks full 17 times (12 at bats) in 1923 and delivered 10 hits, three walks and two sacrifice flies.  Wambsganss played in 13 MLB seasons (1915-26 … Indians, Red Sox, Athletics), going .259-7-521.  Wambsganss’ career average with the bases loaded was .292 (40-for-137) and 104 (20 percent) of his 521 career RBI came with the sacks full. Side note: In his first nine MLB seasons, he hit just .194  (19-for-98) with the bases drunk. Then over his final four MLB seasons, he  went 21-for-35 (.600).

The Other Side

In 1960, Giants’ RF Willie Kirkland made 16 plate appearances with the bases loaded without driving in a single run (that is the most “RBI-free”  bases-loaded plate appearances in an MLB season). Kirkland went 0-for-16, with three strikeouts (which also gave him the record for the most bases-loaded at bats without an RBI in a season.    For his career, Kirkland went 13-for-60 with the sacks full (.217-0-40). In nine MLB seasons (1958-66 … Giants, Indians, Orioles, Senators), Kirkland hit .240-148-509.  

Highest Career Batting Average with the Bases Loaded (minimum 25 at bats)

Lance Richbourg –  1921, 1924, 1927-32 … .520

Only two MLB players with at least 25 career bases-loaded at bats have hit .500 or better in those situations … Lance Richbourg and So Taguchi.

Richbourg leads the way at .520.  The left-handed hitting outfielder was a career .308 hitter (.308-13-247 in 698 games). From 1927 through 1930 (the only seasons he appeared in more than 100 games), Richbourg went .315-10-196. Excluding his rookie season (1924), when he had just one bases-loaded plate appearance, Richbourg never hit under .417 with the bases loaded in any season.  Expand to a minimum of  100 MLB bases-loaded at bats and your bases-loaded average leader is Tony Gwynn at .444 (59-for-133, with three homers and 143 RBI in  158 plate appearances) – at a minimum of 100 bases-loaded plate appearances, your batting average  leader is Pat Tabler at .489 (43-for-88 in 109 plate appearances, with 108 RBI.)

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Most Career RBI with the Bases Loaded

Lou Gehrig – 1923-38 …  313

Lou Gehrig leads the way with 313 career RBI with the bases loaded, the only player to reach the 300 mark (.369-22-313).  Eddie Murray came close at 299  bases-loaded RBI. Murray also fell just short of the players with a .400 average with the sacks full (.399) and one home run short of joining the players with 20 or more bases-loaded homers.

Gehrig played 17 seasons (all with the Yankees), hitting .340-493-1,995. He led the AL in RBI five times. Over his career, he had nine seasons with 20 or more bases-loaded RBI (three with 30+).

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Most Career Strikeouts With The Bases Loaded

Mike Cameron – 1995-2011 … 71

Mike Cameron holds the record for most times striking out with the bases loaded.  From 1995-2011, he fanned 71 times in 227 bases-loaded plate appearances (31 percent of the time). The only other player to reach 70 bases-loaded career strikeouts was Jim Thome,  who, from (1992-2012) fanned 70 times in 239 bases-loaded plate appearances.  Cameron hit .249-5-143 in bases-loaded at bats over his career, Thome hit .304-9-187.

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Most Bases-Loaded RBI in a Season

Luke Appling, SS, White Sox 1936 … 48

Luke Appling is one of only two players with 40 or more bases-loaded RBI in a single MLB season – and he did it (48 bases-loaded RBI), in 1936, without the benefit of a Grand Slam. For his career, Appling hit .358-0-206 in bases-full situations (72-for-201, with 35 walks). He hit  .400 or better with the bases loaded in six seasons. Appling played in 20 MLB seasons (1930-43, 1945-50), hitting .310-45-1,116.

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What, Ducks On The Pond Again?

Bill Brubaker (1936 Pirates) holds the MLB record for plate appearances with the bases loaded in a season at 57.  In 1936, 9.2 percent of his plate appearances and 39.2 percent of his RBI came in bases-loaded situations. (He was .289-6-106 on the year and .245-0-40 with the sacks full). Brubaker, primarily a third baseman, played in 10 MLB seasons (1932-40-1943 … Pirates, Braves), going .264-22-225 in 479 games.

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Most Career Walks with the Bases Loaded

Carl Yastrzemski, 1961-83 …. 39

Carl Yastrzemski drew a free pass in 15.1 percent of his career bases-loaded plate appearances – for a career record 39 walks in such circumstances. Over his career (1961-83 … Red Sox), Yaz hit .285-452-1,844. In career bases loaded situations (259 plate appearances), he hit .315-7-207.

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Most Walks in  a Season with the Bases Loaded

Zeke Bonura and Carlos Pena … 9

Zeke Bonura (1936 White Sox) and Carlos Pena 2008 Rays share the record for the most bases-loaded walks in a season at nine.  Bonura drew his nine free passes in 32 sacks-full plate appearances, Pena did it in 26.

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Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

Yadier Molina holds the MLB record for grounding into double plays with the bases loaded – 30 times over his 19-season MLB career (241 bases-loaded plate appearances). Still, his career bases-loaded stat line was .335-7-195. The single-season record for GIDP with the bases loaded is eight – by Carl Furillo (1956 Dodgers) and Jackie Jensen (1956 Red Sox). Furillo did it in 23 bases -loaded plate appearances, Jensen in 35.

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Most Career Home Runs With the Bases Loaded

Alex Rodriguez … 25

Alex Rodriguez hit 25 Grand Slams over his 22-season MLB career and hit at least one Grand Slam in seasons. For his career, he hit .340 with the sacks full (87-for-256) and drove in 286 runs in those situations.  Only two other players reached 20 career Grand Slams: Lou Gehrig (22) and Manny Ramirez (21).

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Most Grand Slams in a Season

Don Mattingly and Travis Hafner … 6

The record most Grand Slams in a season (six) is shared by Don Mattingly (1987 Yankees) and Travis Hafner (2006 Indians). Mattingly is the unicorn among these two, his six GS in 1987 were the only Grand Slams of his 14-season (1982-95 … Yankees) MLB career. Mattingly hit his six Slams in 21 bases-loaded plate appearances (19 at bats); Hafner did it 16 plate appearances (14 at bats). For his career, Hafner was .280-12-114 with the bases loaded; Mattingly was .292-6-127.

—–Closing With A Few Grand Slam Tidbits——

• The record for most Grand Slams in a season by a pitcher is two (shared by Madison Bumgarner (2014 Giants) and Tony Cloninger (1966 Braves).  Cloninger is the unicorn here –  the only pitcher to hit two Grand Slams in one game (July 3, 1966). In that game, he also set the record for RBI by a pitcher in a game at nine. Cloninger, a career .192 hitter, was pretty darn good with the sacks full. He had  22 at bats (23 plate appearances) with the bases loaded and delivered eight hits (.364 average) and one walk, driving in 22 runs. (Side note: After retiring from MLB, Cloninger went on to become a World Class Slo-Pitch Softball third baseman. The competitive fires burn long and bright.)
• Building on Cloninger’s feat (above), the most Grand Slams in a game (by any player/any position) is also two, shared by 13 players). Fernando Tatis the unicorn here. On April 23, 1999 – A Friday evening with 46,687 in attendance at Dodger Stadium, Tatis proved to be a true cleanup hitter. In the third inning of that game, he came to the plate, facing Chan Ho Park, with no outs and the bases loaded. Tatis hit a 2-0 pitch for a Grand Slam to left. Later that same inning, Tatis faced Park again, this time with two outs and the bases loaded. History repeated itself in the minimum of time, as Tatis smacked his second Grand Slam of the inning. (He is still the only MLB player to hit two Grand Slams in an inning – and, of course, Park is the only pitcher to give up two Grand slams to the same batter in a single inning. Unicorns they will most likely be forever. Tatis, by the way, hit .341 with the sacks full over for his  11-season MLB career (28-for-82, with eight home runs and 94 RBI, including 15 bases-loaded walks.

Jim Gentile Makes Chuck Estrada An MLB  Unicorn.

In 1961 – with Yankee sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris dominating headlines in their chase of Babe Ruth’s record 60 home runs in a season – Jim Gentile of the Orioles quietly put up quite a season of his own. Gentile hit .302, with 46 home runs and a league-topping 141 RBI.  On May 9, in a game against the Twins (in Minnesota), Gentile  tied the MLB record and set a new AL mark (both since broken) for Grand Slams in a season with five bases-loaded long balls  In addition, he tied an MLB record with two Grand Slams in a game and became the first player to hit a Grand Slam in consecutive innings and on consecutive pitches. (Fernando Tatis has since hit two Grand Slams in an inning.)

Now, here’s taht unicorn that attracted The Roundtable. Orioles’ pitcher Chuck Estrada was the sole beneficiary of Gentile’s 1961 Grand Slam barrage – every one of Gentile’s record-tying five four-run blasts was hit in a game started by Estrada (who, as you would expect, picked up a victory in all four contests).  Notably, Gentile hit only one other Grand Slam in his career (June 26, 1960) and – you guessed it – the starting and winning pitcher in that contest was Chuck Estrada.  Gentile played in nine MLB seasons (1957-58, 1960-66 … Dodgers, Orioles, Athletics, Astros, Indians), hitting .260-179-549.  With the bases loaded, he hit .400 (28-for-70, with those six home runs and 92 RBI. 

 

Coming next Tuesday, a look at the players who were gifted Intentional Walks with the baes loaded.  (I thought that level of respect deserved its own Tuesday Tidbit.

 

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 1155

With MLB’s Opening Day 2026 (actually Opening Night this year) just three weeks and a day away, Baseball Roundtable would like to use this Tuesday’s Trivia(L) Tidbits to  celebrate the dawn of a new season with an updated and expanded version of Opening Day records for MLB players to shoot for or try to avoid.

Two disclaimers here. Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am limiting myself to the Modern Era (post 1900) and Negro League game stats from 1920-48 have not been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record book.

“You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid.  You think something wonderful is going to happen.”

                                                                                                        Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio

So, let’s look at some Opening Day stats and stories – some wonderful, some not so great. We’ll start with an MLB unicorn looking to extend his existing record and add a unique spin to it.  Note: For this post, “Opening Day” refers to the first game of the season for each team, not just the first day of the MLB season (for example, this season will open on March 25 with just one game … Yankees at Giants).

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED … The PLayer I’ll Be Tracking Most Closely in His Season Opener

Orioles’ outfielder Tyler O’Neill, will be looking to extend his enviable (and almost unbelievable) record of going deep in six consecutive Opening Day (OD) games.

Tyler O’Neill – Opening Day Home Runs

July 24, 2020* … (for the Cardinals versus the Pirates’ Joe Musgrove)

April 1, 2021 … (for the Cardinals versus the Reds’ Cam Bedrosian)

April 7, 2022 … (for the Cardinals versus the Pirate’s JT Brubaker)

March 30, 2023 … (for the Cardinals versus the Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah)

March 28, 2024 … (for the Red Sox’ versus the Mariners’ Cody Bolton)

March 27, 2025 … (for the Orioles versus the Blue Jays’ Jose Berrios)

*Late-starting COVID season.

O’Neill has homered in every Opening Day game he has started. His only other Opening Day appearance was in 2019, when he had one plate appearance as a pinch-hitter for the Redbirds and flied out to CF versus the Brewers’ Junior Guerra. In his seven Opening Day appearances, O’Neill is 9-for-21 (.429), with six home runs, 14 RBI and ten runs scored.  He’s also drawn five walks for a .538 on-base percentage. Among players with at least 25 Opening Day plate appearances, O’Neill is the leader in slugging percentage (1.286).

Travelin’ Man

Tyler O’Neill is the only MLB player to go deep on Opening Day for three different teams in three consecutive years.

GETTING ON BASE … A Fielder Does It Best

Among players with at least 25 OD plate appearances, Fielder Jones leads in on-base percentage (.624) … 32 plate appearances in seven OD games, with 12 hits and eight walks. Jones, a centerfielder,  played 15 MLB seasons (1896-1908, 1914-15 …  Superbas, White Sox, Federal League St.  Louis Terriers), hitting .285-21-631, with 1,180 runs scored.

Ahead of the Eight Ball

The career record for home runs in Opening Day (OD) games is eight, shared by Frank Robinson (20 OD games/76 AB); Ken Griffey, Jr. (21 OD games/71 AB); and Adam Dunn (13 OD games/54 AB). Trailing these three at seven OD game homers are: Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Eddie Mathews. Impressive list, I’d say.  Among active players, the leaders in OD long balls, at six, are: Bryce Harper and, of course, the already discussed Tyler O’Neill.

FIVE WHIFFS – A (strikeout) Victim of Circumstance

Which player became a “victim of circumstance” in the process of becoming the first MLB player to fan five times on Opening Day? That would be Ron Karkovice.

On March 31, 1996, White Sox’ catcher Karkovice set the still (but since tied) MLB Opening Day record by striking out five times as Chicago lost 3-2 in Seattle.  Karkovice, however, may have been a victim of circumstance.

First Circumstance: Future Hall of Famer (and whiff artist) Randy Johnson started on the mound for the Mariners – striking out 14 in seven innings (including Karkovice three times). Johnson holds the MLB record for Opening Day career strikeouts with 107 (14 Opening Day Games – 97 2/3 innings pitched). Second on the OD list is Tom Seaver with 81 strikeouts in 16 Openers.

Second Circumstance:  The White Sox could muster only two runs on four hits over the first nine innings – taking a slim 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth (at that point, Karkovice had fanned just three times).

Third Circumstance: The Mariners tied the contest in the ninth, and the game went to 12 innings before the Mariners prevailed 3-2.  In those three extra innings, Karkovice struck out against Norm Charlton (tenth inning) and Edwin Hurtado (twelfth inning) to set the Opening Day record.

Since Karkovice’s disappointing day, two players have matched his five OD-game strikeouts – and both did it in nine innings. In the Dodgers’ 2023 opener (versus the Diamondbacks in Arizona), Dodgers’ 3B Max Muncy (batting cleanup) fanned five time in five at bats. In 2025’s Brewers’ season opener (versus the Yankees in New York), Brewers’ starting LF Jackson Chourio tied the OD record with five strikeouts in five at bats. Both players also tied the record for the most strikeouts in any nine-inning game (eight players have fanned six times in a regular-season, extra-inning contest).

GIVE ME FIVE, BUDDY!   … These Players Got a Handful of Hits on Opening Day

In the Modern Era, only 14 MLB players have collected five hits (five is a handful, isn’t it?) in an Opening Day game.  Looking for Unicorns within this list, on March 30, 2023, we saw the first (still only) Opening Day in which two players collected five hits (it happened in two different games). The players were Andy Rutschman of the Orioles and George Springer of the Blue Jays. Rutschman also became the first (only) catcher to record a five-hit Opening Day.  The most productive of any five-hit opener belongs to Giants’ 2B Jeff Kent, who (on OD 1998) went five-for-seven, with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBI in a 13-inning, 9-4 Giants win over the Astros.

Now, there are some potential trivia tidbits (that you can turn into trivia questions) in this list, but here’s one that intrigues The Roundtable.  In a statistical anomaly, seven of the 14 players to enjoy a five-hit Opening Day played the same position.  What position was it?

Your answer:  Second base and the players were Craig Biggio (2001); Jeff Kent (1998); Nellie Fox (1959); Billy Herman (1936); Aaron Miles (2005); Larry Doyle (1915); and Eddie Collins (1913). For those who like to know such things, the list also includes three left fielders, two third baseman, one right fielder and one catcher.  As you might guess, most of these players were batting high in the order:  Five leading off, five batting second, two in the three-hole, one at cleanup and one sixth.

DESIGNATED HITTER!  I DON’T NEED NO STINKING DH!

The highest career batting Opening Day batting  average – with no minimum at bats – is 1.000, shared by 142 players.   However, 105 of those are one-for-one for their careers on Opening Day. The most at bats for any player with a 1.000 Opening Day career average is four- shared by eight players.  Phil Collins – a right-handed pitcher –   is the unicorn in that group, the only one with five plate appearances. (He is also one of just two players with a 1.000 Opening Day average and  four at bats.)

On April 12, 1932, Collins (coming off a 12-16, 3.86 1931 season) started for the Phillies in their season opened (versus the Giants in New York). Collins picked up the complete-game win, giving up five runs in a 14-5 Phillies win.  At the plate, he was even better:  four singles and a walk in five plate appearances (the most career plate appearances by any player with a 1.000 career OD average). Collins appeared in one more Opening Day game(1934), but came on in relief and did not bat. Collins was a career .193 hitter (93-for-482). However, for one grand Opening Day, he was, indeed, grand at the plate. For those who like to know such things, Collins was 80-85, 4.66 in eight MLB seasons (1923, 1929-35 … Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals).

 

 

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OPENING DAY STARTS – Another GIMME FIVE!

Gaylord Perry and Bert Blyleven each started on the mound on Opening Day for a record five different franchises.

Blyleven: Rangers; Twins; Indians; Pirates; Angels (12 total OD starts).

Perry: Padres; Indians; Giants; Rangers; Mariners (9 OD starts).

I used the term franchises instead of” teams” because Livan Hernandez started on Opening day for the Expos; Giants; Nationals; Marlins and Twins.  However, the Nationals were the old (transported) Expos franchise.

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THREE FOR FOUR … Or, more correctly, four-for-three

The Opening Day, single-game record of three home runs is shared by four players.  The quartet includes: the Blue Jays’ George Bell; Cubs’ Tuffy Rhodes; Tigers’ Dmitri Young; and White Sox’ Matt Davidson.  Here’s another anomaly that would make a good trivia question. Three of the four three-homer Opening Day games were logged against the same franchise.  Who were the unlucky opponents in those three triple-round tripper openers?

Your answer.  The Kansas City Royals.  Here are some details.

George Bell … On April 4, 1988, Bell – batting clean-up and serving as the DH – became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in an Opening Day game as his Blue Jays topped the Royals 5-3 in Kansas City. Bell’s power outburst was no surprise. He was coming off a 1987 season in which he hit 47 homers, drove in 134 runs and was the AL MVP. Bell went three-for-four with three runs scored and four RBI, hitting all three home runs off Royals’ starter Brett Saberhagen.  Bell Played 12 MLB seasons (1981, 1983-93 … Blue Jays, White Sox), hitting .278-265-1,002.

Tuffy Rhodes … On a windy April 4, 1994, Rhodes (leading off and playing CF for the Cubs in Chicago) hit three solo shots off Mets’ starter Dwight Gooden. Rhodes also had a single and a walk in five plate appearances. Despite Rhodes’ record-tying performance, the Cubs lost to the visiting Mets 12-8. At the time, Rhodes had played 107 MLB games in four seasons – hitting a total of five home runs. His MLB career consisted of 225 games in six seasons, with a .224 average and just 13 round trippers (with a high of eight in 1994). Rhodes did go on to hit 474 home runs in eleven seasons in Japan.

Dmitri Young … On April 4, 2005, the Tigers’ Young joined Bell and Rhodes on the list of batters with three home runs in an Opening Day game – as the Tigers topped the Royals 11-2 in Detroit. Young started at DH and went four-for-four with four runs and five RBI.  Young, an All Star in 2003 and 2007, hit a total of 21 home runs in 2005 – and 171 in 13 MLB seasons. He hit a career-high 29 round trippers in 2003.  Over 13 MLB seasons (1996-2008 … Cardinals, Reds, Tigers, Nationals ), Young hit .292-171-683).

Matt Davidson … On March 29, 2018, as the White Sox topped the Royals 14-7 in Kansas City, DH and (appropriately) cleanup hitter Davidson opened the season with a three-homer, five-RBI game. He went three-for-four with a walk, four runs scored and five RBI. Davidson went deep off three different pitchers: solo shots in the fourth and fifth off Danny Duffy and Blaine Boyer and a three-run blast in the eighth off Brian Flynn. Davidson, in his fourth MLB season, went on to a .228-20-62 campaign.  In his 306 MLB games (2013, 2015-18, 2020, 2022 … Diamondbacks, White Sox, Reds, Athletics), Davidson had a .220-54-157 stat line.

Three seems to be the sweet spot for rarity on this one.  There have been 114 two-homer Opening Day games. The players with two, two-homer Opening Day contests are: Adam Dunn (2005 & 2007); Juan Gonzalez (1993 & 2001); Eddie Mathews (1954 & 1958); Raul Mondesi (1995 & 1999); Albert Pujols (2006-2010); and Joe Torre (1965 & 1966). None of the players with a three-homer Opening Day game had an additional multi-homer OD contest.

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A UNICORN OF A WIN

In 1980, Mike Parrott was the Opening Day starter (at home) for the Seattle Mariners – an honor he earned with a 14-12, 3.77 season for the 67-95 Mariners in 1979.   He picked up the win, going 6 1/3 innings in an 8-6 Seattle victory over Toronto. Why then Unicorn designation? Parrot would pitch in 26 more games that season (15 more starts) and not record another victory – ending the campaign at 1-16, 7.28. Parrot pitched in five MLB seasons (1977-81, all for the Mariners) – going in 19-39, 4.87.

 

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HOW ABOUT A LITTLE SUPPORT HERE GUYS?

Who was the first MLB pitcher to throw nine no-hit innings in an Opening Day Start? I’ll toss in a little hint here.  It’s not the Feller you may be thinking of – and it’s not a good Day to guess.

MLB has seen a pair of Opening Day no-hitters, Bob Feller of the Indians on April 16, 1940 and Leon Day of the of the Newark Eagles (Negro National League II) on May 5, 1946.

Still, neither of these gentlemen can lay claim to be the first MLB pitcher to throw nine no-hit innings in an Opening Day start. Back on April 15, 1909 – as the Giants opened against the Superbas (Dodgers) in Brooklyn – Giants’ righty Leon “Red” Ames started and, with just the minimum of support, could have made history. Ames held Brooklyn hitless for nine innings, but got nary a run of support from his batsmen.  Ames finally gave up a hit with one out in the tenth and, while he kept the shutout going through the 12th inning, eventually lost 3-0 in 13 innings.  How the game has changed:  Both Ames and Brooklyn starter Irvin “Kaiser” Wilhelm went the distance.

Ames had a 17-season MLB career (1903-10 … Giants, Reds, Cardinals, Phillies), going 183-167, 2.63. His best season was 1905 (Giants), when he went 22-8, 2.74.

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WALK, DON’T RUN

The record for walks received in an Opening Day game is four – shared by 134 players.  Of those players, only Mike Cameron can lay claim to two four-walk Openers.  On April 2, 2001, playing CF and batting in the two-hole for the Mariners, he drew four walks in five plate appearances as Seattle topped the A’s 5-4 in Seattle.  On April 7, 2009, Cameron again drew four walks in five plate appearances in an Opener. This time, he was playing CF and batting sixth for the Brewers, as they lost to the Giants 10-6 in San Francisco.

The career record for OD walks is 19 shared by Barry Bonds (in 91 plate appearances/20 games) and Rickey Henderson (in 92 plate appearances/21 games.) Carlos Santana leads active major-leaguers with 17 OD walks in 15 games.

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PLEASE, (DON’T) GIVE ME A BREAK

Robin Roberts holds the MLB record for consecutive Opening Day (mound) starts for the same team – 12 for the Phillies from 1950 through 1961. The record for overall consecutive Opening Day (mound) starts belong to Jack Morris at 14 – Tigers (1980-90), Twins (1991), Blue Jays (1992-93).  Morris went 8-6. 3.39 in those 14 starts.

Looking for a trivia question?   Robin Roberts made 13 Opening Day starts.  Those 12 consecutives for the Phillies and one other.  Who was that 13th Opening Day start for? The 1966 Astros. Roberts, by the way, went seven innings in that 13th Opening Day start, giving up eight hits and two runs (one earned), walking one and fanning none. He took the loss in a 3-2 game versus the Dodgers (in LA).  He was 39 and in his final MLB season at the time.  For his career, Roberts was 5-7, 4.03 on Opening Day. For his MLB career (1948-66 … Phillies, Orioles, Astros, Cubs), the Hall of Famer was 286-245, 3.41.

More: How the Game has Changed

In the 1950’s (1950-59), Robin Roberts won 199 games and threw 3,011 2/3 innings – an average of 301 innings pitched per season.

AN UNFORTUNATE BREAK

Hall of Famer Steve Carlton started 14 of the 15 Phillies’ Opening Day games from 1972 through 1986. The one year he missed cost him the record for both overall consecutive Opening Day starts and consecutive Opening Day starts (among pitchers) for the same team. Who was the pitcher who interrupted Carlton’s streak?  Hint: Like Carlton, that pitcher is in the Hall of Fame.

In 1976, Jim Kaat (like Carlton, a lefty and future Hall of Famer) got the Opening Day nod from the Phillies. Kaat, at the time, was a three-time 20-game winner, and an All Star for the White Sox the year before (he had been traded to the Phillies in December of 1975).   For those who may be wondering whether Carlton’s health played an issue in Kaat’s Opening Day start, Carlton started the second game of the season and went on to a 20-7 record in 35 starts.

Oh, one other tidbit, Tom Seaver holds the record for total opening day (mound) starts with sixteen – 11 for the Mets, three for the Reds and two for the White Sox. Seaver recorded seven wins, two losses and seven no decisions on Opening Day.

OH, WHAT A RELIEF IT IS

There is a four-way tie for the most Opening Day relief appearances at 11: Rollie Fingers; John Franco; Lee Smith; and David Weathers.  Among active pitchers, Hector Neris leads the way with nine OD relief appearances.

Rollie Fingers and Francisco Rodriguez are tied for the lead in OD saves, with six.

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Both Sides of the Coin

Eleven pitchers have made at least 12 Opening Day appearances and all but one were on the mound to start each of those games. The exception is Dennis Eckersley with 12 OD appearances – seven as a starter and five as a reliever.

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Just A chart for your entertainment.

Jim Jones (chart above) stole three bases in three attempts in the 1902 season Opener. Jones then went on to play in 66 more games that season, stealing just four more bases, while being tossed out 13 times.

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TOSSING YOU A CURVE ON THIS ONE

What pitcher holds the mark for the most strikeouts in an Opening Day game? Answer: Camilo Pascual.

This is a bit of a unicorn, as Pascual’s 15 strikeouts on Opening Day 1960 have never been matched. Three players have fallen just one short of the total: Randy Johnson (twice – 1963 & 1996, Mariners); Don Drysdale (1960 Dodgers); and Shane Bieber ()2020 Indians).

On April 18, 1960, Pascual (known for his sweeping curveball) took the mound at Griffith Stadium for the Washington Senators (against the Boston Red Sox). In 1959, the Senators had finished in last place in the AL, but Pascual had gone 17-10, 2.64, leading the league with 17 complete games and six shutouts. As the Senators’ Opening Day starter in 1960, Pascual picked up right where he left off – tossing a complete game three-hitter, walking three and striking out a still Opening Day record 15 batters in a 10-1 win over the Red Sox. It was one of two 15-whiff games in his career.

Pascual pitched 18 MLB seasons (1954-71 … Senators/Twins, Senators, Reds, Dodgers, Indians), winning 174 and losing 170, with a 3.63 earned run average. He was a five-time All Star, two-time twenty-game winner and led the league in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts three times each.

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ANOTHER WALK DON’T RUN

On April 16, 1957, Cleveland southpaw Herb Score set the Opening Day record for pitcher’s walks, delivering eleven free passes to the visiting White Sox.  Despite Score’s wildness, it was a close contest, with Score going the distance in a 3-2, 11-inning loss.  Score struck out ten and gave up just seven hits and two earned runs – stranding 14 Chicago base runners.

Score was the 1955 AL Rookie of the Year, when the 22-year-old lefty went 16-10. 2.85 and led the league in strikeouts with 245.  In 1956, he was even better, going 20-9, 2.53 and again topping the league in whiffs (263). His 1957 season ended on May 7, when he was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of Yankee Gil McDougald.  Score suffered a broken nose, as well as damage to is right cheekbone and right eye.  He was hospitalized for about three weeks and did not return to the mound that season.

Score came back in 1958, but suffered an elbow injury early in the season (some wondered if he had changed his delivery after the McDougald incident, but Score denied that – and had been pitching well to that point). At any rate, from 1958 until he retired in 1962, Score was 17-26, 4.43.

The record for Opening Day walks by a pitcher in a nine-inning game, belongs to Nolan Ryan at 10 … and he won the game. On April 5, 1974, Ryan started for the Angels in the Opener (at the White Sox). It was Ryan’s blazer versus Wilbur Wood’s floater.  After eight innings, the Angels held an 8-2 lead (scoring five runs in the top of the eighth) and Ryan had given up two runs on four hits, while walking ten and fanning five. He was relieved by Dick Selma, who threw a scoreless ninth.

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A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

No one played in more Opening Day games then Pete Rose (23 consecutively from 1963-85) … Followed closely by Henry Aaron; Carl Yastrzemski; and at 22.  Rose is also the OD all-time leader in hits 31.

WHAT A BABE

Babe Ruth is the All-Time OD leader in:

Runs scored: 22

RBI … 22

Total bases … 55

In 18 Opening Day games, he hit .422-7-22, with 22 runs scored.  He also had five doubles, a triple and three stolen bases.  Only one other MLB player has 20 or more OD RBI – Adam Dunn (.244-8-21 in 13 Openers). In 14 MLB seasons (2001-2014 … Reds, Diamondbacks, Nationals, White Sox, Athletics), Dunn hit .237-462-1,168. Although he hit 4o or more homers in six seasons (five consecutive seasons … 2004-2008), the two-time All Star never led his league in homers.

 

A PAINFUL WAY TO START THE SEASON

On April 9, 1990, Astros’ first baseman and cleanup hitter Glenn Davis was hit by a pitch an Opening Day record three times. Davis came to the plate six times and never put the ball in play – but still made only one out.  Davis (who led the league in HBP that season with eight) was hit by a pitch three times, walked twice and struck out once as the Astros lost to the visiting Reds 8-4.  Davis finished Opening Day with a batting average of .000, but an on-base percentage of .833.

Second Inning – Davis, leading off, HBP (on 1-0 count) from Tom Browning;

Third Inning – Davis (one out, none on) hit by a 2-2 pitch from Browning;

Fifth Inning – Five-pitch walk off Tim Layana;

Seventh Inning – Davis fans on three pitches from Norm Charlton;

Ninth Inning: Runner on second two out, Davis intentionally walked by Rob Dibble (score tied at four);

Eleventh Inning: Davis hit by pitch (one out, one on) on a 2-2 pitch from Randy Myers.

Davis played 10 MLB seasons (1984-93 … Astros, Orioles) ), hitting .259, with 190 home runs and 603 RBI.  He was hit by a pitch 55 times.

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THE LONGEST DAY– 15 SHUTOUT INNINGS

On April 13, 1926, the Senators’ Walter Johnson pitched a 15-inning, complete-game shutout (six hits, three walks, nine strikeouts) as Washington topped the Philadelphia Athletics 1-0 in Washington.  The opposing starter, Eddie Rommel tossed the second-most innings in an Opening Day appearance – going 14 1/3, as Washington scored the winning run with one out in the 15th.  Johnson, by the way, was 38-years-old at the time.

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YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS

Jimmy Key holds the record for Opening Day wins without a loss at seven – and he did in the minimum seven starts (Blue Jays, Yankees and Orioles). In those seven wins, he threw 44 1/3 innings, with a 3.05 ERA.

Key played in 15 MLB seasons (1984-98 … Blue Jays, Yankees, Orioles), going 186-117, 3.51. He was a five-time All Star and won 15 or more games in five seasons.

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BRINGING THE BOYS HOME SWEET HOME

The Opening Day single-game record for RBI (seven) is shared by the Twins’ Brant Alyea and the Cubs’ Corey Patterson.

On April 7, 1970 – in his very first game as a Twin (picked up in an off-season trade with the Senators) – LF  Alyea drove in an Opening Day record seven runs as Minnesota topped the White Sox 12-0 in Chicago. Batting fifth, Alyea went four-for-four, with two home runs, two singles and two runs scored.  The game, it turned out, would foreshadow a strong April for Alyea.  In 17 April games, he hit .415, with seven runs, 23 RBI, four doubles and five home runs. He ended the season at .291-16-61 (the 61 RBI were his career best.)

On March 31, 2003, the Cubs’ CF Patterson tied Alyea’s record. In a 15-2 win over the Mets in New York, Patterson, batting seventh, drove in seven runs, going four-for-six with two home runs and two runs scored.  Patterson, a career .252 hitter (12 seasons), was a true Opening Day All Star. In seven Opening Day appearances, Patterson hit .440, with seven runs, 12 RBI and three home runs.

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—THE ROUNDTABLE’S KING OF OPENING DAY-

The Washington Senators’ Walter Johnson can be crowned king of the Opening Day hill.  In his first-ever Opening Day start (April 14, 1910), the 22-year-old Johnson tossed a 3-0 one-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Athletics.  Sixteen years (and 13 Opening Day starts) later, a 38-year-old Johnson fulfilled his last Opening Day assignment with a 15-inning, complete-game, 1-0 win (6 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts) over the A’s.  Johnson holds the record for Opening Day records for:

• Pitching victories … nine;
• Shutouts seven; and
• Complete games …. 12 (in 12 starts);

In his 12 Opening Day starts, he threw an OD record 124 innings (yep, averaging 10 1/3 innings per start).

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