David, Author at Baseball Roundtable

More From the Road … Bleacher Bums XL – More Museums, More Chandeliers, More Baseball, On-Board Hi-Jinx

June 22, 2023 by David

Baseball Roundtable, reporting again from Bleacher Bums XL … The Tulsa Culture Tour, which began on June 16. The trip will ultimately take our busload of 32 baseball fans and friends to six ball games (major- and minor-leagues), in five cities, in four states in eight days. Along the way, we’re taking in a number of cultural/historical sights, visiting a few breweries and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow baseball fans and friends. Over the next few days, I will continue to blog from the trip to give you an idea of what a Ballpark Tours trip is like. This post looks at Day Five. For Episode One of our journey, click here. For Episode Two, click here. For Episode Three, click here here.

Day 6 – June 21

It was on the bus by 10 a.m. after another free Holiday Inn breakfast – another big museum/history/culture and chandelier day.

The first stop was Tulsa’s Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center, where one of the worst racially motivated mass acts of violence in U.S. history is documented and commemorated. Termed “The Tulsa Race Massacre,” the tragedy – which took place on May 31, 1921 – saw the destruction of one of the most vibrant and successful Black communities in the nation. (known as The Black Wall Street). In a period of 12-16 hours, more than 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed and an estimated 150-300 lives lost.

In eye-opening and heart-wrenching displays, the stories of the event, its causes (both immediate and underlying), the immediate impact and aftermath, and the irrepressible spirit and determined rebuilding of the Greenwood community are brought to light.

Our next stop, as we departed Tulsa, was the historic Church (recording ) Studio. Established in what was originally (1915) Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, the building was purchased by Leon Russell in 1972 and transformed into one of the most successful recording studios in the music industry (home of Shelter Records and the “Tulsa sound”) – attracting such talent as Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson – and the list goes on and on. Renovated and revived, it now includes a recording studio, musical archive and concert/event venue. Church Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017 – due to its significance in American musical culture.

Touring the studio, our group came upon two more unique chandeliers – this is now a four-chandelier trip (previously recognized chandeliers were at the Brickworks Brewery and Woody Guthrie Center.

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We reached Wichita about three hours before game time. The Drury Plaza Hotel proved very popular with our group – which was especially fond of the 5:30 “Kickback” social hour, which included three free adult beverages (won our hearts right there.) The group was expecting light hors d’oeuvres to be served. What we fond was everything from the likes of Alfredo pasta, chicken, baked potatoes and salad to nachos and hot dogs. A good time was had by all, but I expect the Drury freebies cut into the ballpark concessions.

Then it was on the bus for Wichita … a long ride for some those who enjoyed Tulsa the most.

The Wichita Windsurge plays at Riverfront Stadium, a beautiful park with simple (some say sleek) architecture, wide concourses, plenty of berm seating and ample food and merchandise locations.

Say it ain’t so, Windsurge

One notable gripe. The Windsurge do not offer a program or scorecard anywhere in the ballpark. You can scan a code for the rosters, but – as Guest Services reported – “We don’t do scorecards.” Well, some fans do. At first, I worked to create my own scorecard in a notebook, but was fortunate to have Joe Bliven (see Episode Two) tear a sheet out of his custom scorebook for me, Come on, Windsurge, a scorecard is part of the game.

Kudos to the Windsurge for the (free) on-site Wichita Baseball Museum, which got high marks from a number of our touring group.

The Windsurge dropped a 5-1 decision to the NW Arkansas Travelers, despite outhitting the Travelers 11-8. It seemed the Tulsa post-tornado power outages followed us to Wichita. All eleven of the Windsurge hits were singles, The Travelers showed more pop, with two home runs and a triple among their eight safeties. Those extra base knocks were the key to Travelers’ scoring. The star of the game was Travelers’ RF Isiah Gillion, who rapped a two-run homer in the top of the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth. His two-for-four outing gave Gilliam a .300-11-33 line for the season. The evening’s home run hero was appropriately wearing Henry Aaron’s number 44. Over on the Windsurge side, catcher Patrick Winkel had a three-for-five day – although all three safeties were harmless singles.

The winning pitcher, righty Shawn Semple, went five innings, pitching in and out of trouble. He gave up nine hits and a walk, but just one run (in the first inning) and did not have a single 1-2-3 inning. He was a strike-throwing machine, throwing 51 strikes in 73 pitches. Unlike yesterday’s game in Tulsa – where we saw 12 walks – only three free passes were issued in this one. The Windsurge had a chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the fourth, as SS Brooks Lee punched lined a two-out single to center with runners on first and second. However, Arkansas CF Jonatan Clase made a great throw to the plate to nail the runner trying to score – ending the inning and the threat. That may have taken the wind out of Wichita’s sails, as the Windsurge got only one runner to second base over the remainder of the game.

JUST A LITTLE OBSERVATION.

One more game- and one more post from the road – to go.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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More From the Road – Bleacher Bums XL – Episode Three – Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan. Baseball, Ramen, Rooftop Parking and More.

June 21, 2023 by David

Day Five – June 20

Here in Tulsa, we continue to hear about the aftermath of the weekend storms – businesses and homes without power; lots of stoplights not operating; cooling stations set up in public buildings and businesses that have power (and, therefore air conditioning) as temperatures near 100 degrees are forecast; free ice pickup stations; many gas stations closed or running out of fuel. Fortunately. our hotel (Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Greenwood) has power.

Speaking (writing, actually) of the hotel. Another solid choice by the tourmaster. We’re located in the historic Greenwood District, just one block from the ballpark and easy walking distance to a host of museums, historic sites and monuments, specialty shops, bars and eateries – and, of course, there is that free Holiday Inn breakfast. Side note: A significant number of the local establishments are closed due to storm-related power outages.

This morning, our group visited the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan Centers – just two or three blocks from the hotel. Kudos again to the tourmaster, who got the museums (scheduled to be closed) to open especially for our group.

The tours featured great stories and history, great film/video; and great music. At the Guthrie Center, our tour guide was the very animated “Sam.” I’d guess he was a theater (or theatre for hoi polloi) major. Before you complain about the missing “the,” in the Greek hoi polloi, hoi is “the.” Sam really brought the Woody Guthrie story to life – in a very touching presentation. (During his presentation, I think same patted, shook the hand of or hugged nearly every member of our group.

If you read Episode Two, you know we found the perfect Man Cave chandelier in the Bricktown Brewery. Well, we found another unique chandelier, see photo below, at the Woody Guthrie Center.

People went a variety of directions for lunch/early dinner. Red Light Chicken seemed a popular choice, with its southern fried chicken, catfish, shrimp and more. I opted for the JINYA Ramen Bar and Spicy Shrimp Wonton Ramen (backed by a Pinot Noir). I was not disappointed.

ONEOK Field proved to be a beautiful ballpark, with plenty to see – the Jackie Robinson mural in left field, the flaming oil derrick at the right field entrance and, of course, for our group, the Busch Scoreboard Bar – the largest outdoor bar in Oklahoma. One of the first things we noticed is that this was the first ballpark on our trip with no metal detectors at the gates.

As usual, great seats – along the first base line, which were fortunately in the shade. It was a blistering hot day in Tulsa – even at our 7:05 p.m. game time.

Maybe it was the heat, or the small crowd or the quality of Double-A ball, but this matchup between the NW Arkansas Naturals and hometown Tulsa Drillers seemed to drag on a bit. It also could have been the 12 walks (six by each team). Although, we should have seen that coming. Each starting pitcher walked the first two batters they faced. In poker that would be a “tell.”

Adult beverages at Oklahoma’s largest outdoor bar.

The big blows in the 6-2 Naturals’ win were a two-run home run by DH and cleanup hitter Jorge Bonifacio (his fifteenth of the season) in the first inning and a three-run shot by number-five hitter – C Luca Tresh – in the fourth (his seventh long ball of the year). Those blasts gave the Naturals a 5-1 lead in the fourth and they coasted home to a win.

ONEOK Field’s Jacdkie Robinson mural.

Drillers starting pitcher Ben Casparius did seem to get a little fired up after giving up three-run homer in the top of the fourth. After starting the inning single-walk-home run, he fanned the next three batters. Casparius was promoted from High -A (where he was 4-0, 2.68 in eight starts) in late May. He is currently 0-2, 4.91 at Double-A.

Parking was apparently hard to come by near the ballpark … or maybe it was the tornadoes.

A few additional notes:

While it was Double-A ball, the Drillers offer a major-league program/scorecard. Small game-day magazine-style, listing all the players and numbers, short bios on the Drillers, info on all the teams in the Texas League and more. For free.
Happy Hour for one hour before the game – reduced prices on domestic beers and High Noon hard seltzers.
Value-priced tickets $8.19 for good seats.
The Drillers go with blue jerseys – and the vanilla soft serve ice cream is colored blue.
The bacon-flavored popcorn got good reviews.
We did see most of the ant1cipated game action; 12 hits (three home runs); 12 walks; 20 strikeouts; a pick-off; a 4-6-3 double play; two stolen bases; and seven pitching changes.

More to come from the road as our trip winds down. Two games to go.

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Baseball Rountable From the Road – Bleacher Bums XL – Episode Two

June 19, 2023 by David

Baseball Roundtable, reporting again from Bleacher Bums XL – The Tulsa Culture Tour. The trip will take our busload of 32 baseball fans and friends to six ball games (major- and minor-leagues), in five cities, in four states in eight days. Along the way, we’ll also take in a number of cultural/historical sights, visit a few breweries and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow baseball fans and friends. Over the next few days, I will continue to blog from the trip to give you an idea of what a Ballpark Tours trip is like. This post looks at Days Three & Four. Click here for Days One & Two.

Day Three – June 18, 2023

Day Three of Bleacher Bums XL -The Tulsa Culture Tour started early for many trekkers – with the Kansas City Crowne Plaza Breakfast Buffet: Scrambled eggs with cheese, French toast, sausage, bacon, American Fries, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal fruit, yogurt, assorted pastries … and ,more. Well worth the time (and money $14.95).

Our bus left the hotel for the ballpark at about noon – with the Royals again posting the Angels. We, once again, had great seats – upper deck, just beyond third base. Great sight lines. Good crowd – and it was Bobblehead Day – a Nicky Lopez/Vinnie Pasquantino double bobblehead for Fathers’ Day.

Did He Hit A Double? No, He Was Double Hit,

The fourth was an, at least slightly, painful inning for Angels’ 3B Luis Rengifo. With two-out and runners on second and third, Rengifo was hit by a pitch from the Royals’ Zack Greinke. That “hit” put him safely at first base. Then, Rengifo’s teammate – SS Andrew Valazquez – slapped a hard ground ball that hit Rengifo between first and second. That “hit” put Rengifo out and ended the inning.

Obligatory Ohtani photo.

The game was a bit cleaner (and shorter) than yesterday’s 3 hour-13 minute affair … with the Angels winning 5-2 in two hours and 31 minutes. The key blows were back-to-back home runs by Angels’ DH Shohei Ohtani (two-run) and CF Mike Trout (solo) in the fifth inning. Ohtani’s blast extended his hitting streak, which began June 3, to fifteen games. During those 15 contests, Ohtani went .446-9-20 and stole three bases in four tries. Jared Walsh also homered for the Angels in the top of the ninth. It was Walsh’s first homer in 26 2023 games.

Food Note: KQC made it again, as one of our trekkers raved about the Smoak Craft Barbeque’s Sampler Platter ( see photo below). KCQ features local BBQ Pit Masters from Chef J’s, Scott’s Kitchen and Smoak Craft BBQ on a rotating basis.

The Fans Ballpark Tours Creates

Back in 2016, Ballpark Tours’ veteran Nina Manzi spent some time on the tour teaching Joe Bliven the fine art of keeping score. Well, Bliven (who is on this trip) has since developed (and had printed) his own scorebook – and it’s a beauty. Not only, does it include the traditional “boxes” for scoring the action, It has spots for such topics as Game Start and End; Seat; Ball Park and City; Mascots, Food; Drink; Weather; National Anthem Performance; and Who’s With You? It seems like the perfect score sheet – proud that Ballpark Tours helped lay its foundation.

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Trekkers enjoying cocktails at Providence New American Kitchen.

After the game, trekkers went out on the town – focusing primarily on the Power & Light and Art Districts. One popular spot was the Providence New American Kitchen – noted for its uniquely crafted cocktails. The bar is located in the lower level of the Hilton in what was once “The Drum Room” – an entertainment venue that hosted such stars as ranks Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and Sammy Davis Jr. Also popular were Tom’s Town Distillery, The Double Shift Brewery (and tap room) and the music at The Green Lady Lounge. One group travel a bit farther to the barbeque at Slap’s BBQ – a non-nonsense BBQ.

Slap’s BBQ

Day Four – June 19, 2023

Day Four was primarily a bus day – as we rolled from Kansas City to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The on-board Bloody Mary Bar was again open. “The Rev” provided some music and there (for some unknown reason) was plenty of talk about 1960’s sitcoms like Gilligan’s Island, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, The Brady Bunch, My Three Sons, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis — and more. We did not, by the way, resolve the Ginger versus Mary Ann issue. Like so many trips, the primary sound was laughter.

We did make a brewery stop for lunch – at the Bricktown Brewery in Joplin, MO. The chandelier in the entrance proved particularly mesmerizing for our group. The photo should tell you why. Overall, the Bricktown stop provided good beer and good food and my tour companions prove good company.

We arrived in Tulsa on the heels of the weekend’s severe and tornadoes and in the midst of Monday’s 90+ degree heat. As members of our group prepared to head out for a look at what the area had to offer, they were cautioned to call ahead to make sure the facilities had power.

Big day tomorrow – museum by day, ball game (NW Arkansas Travelers versus Tulsa Drillers) by night – and who knows what else.

More to come.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Ballpark Tours Tulsa Culture Tour (2023) – Episode One

June 18, 2023 by David

Friday. June 16, began a baseball adventure … Ballpark Tours Bleacher Bums XL – Tulsa Culture Tour. The trip will take our busload of 32 baseball fans and friends to six ball games (major- and minor-leagues), in five cities, in four states in eight days. Along the way, we’ll also take in a number of cultural/historical sights, visit a few breweries and enjoy the camaraderie and hi-jinx (always wanted to use that word in a post) that have become Ballpark Tours’s traditions. Over the next few days, I will blog from the trip to give you an idea of what a Ballpark Tours trip is like.

Day One – June 16

We departed in a coach bus from Saint Paul, MN on Friday morning, June 16, each of us with our commemorative T-Shirt in hand (or quickly stored in our luggage). Where else could you get a custom-designed, salmon-colored t-shirt with a home run-robbing catch on the front and Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie on the back?

As we motored toward our first stop, plenty was already going on on the bus. (How often do you get to key a sentence with two “ons” in a row?) Here’s a few of the first-day on-board activities to give you an idea of what a day on the bus is like.

“The Rev” in action.

The K-Kwiz – the Ballpark Tours’ traditional trivia challenge was distributed, as was the annual contest calling for a prediction of the total number of major-league runs scored over a three-day period during the tour. In addition, one Ballpark Tours regular, affectionately known as “The Rev” went into character as he prepared fed the masses with such treats as Cheez-Its, Oreos, beef sticks, pickled herring and more – even a baseball card for each trekker.

We also went through introductions, sharing baseball stories, as well as tales of misadventures from past Ballpark Tour trips (BPT has been in operation since 1982. I’ve been on 30+ of these “trips.” Those who were young adults during the ’60s will get my drift.)

One of our intrepid regulars set up a complimentary Bloody Mary Bar at the back of the bus – complete with such accompaniments as pickles, olives, multiple cheeses, beef sticks, celery, horseradish and spices. It was breakfast time, so one trekker chose to added a fried, glazed cinnamon roll to his concoction.

The afternoon’s shared snacks also included Kentucky Bourbon Rice Krispie treats – as though we needed more foods (particularly an item with bourbon in its name).

As we rolled on, there was plenty of laughter and music as the Ballpark Tours family renewed old friendships and forged new ones.

Our first stop on this year’s tour was the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. For those readers not familiar with the Surf Ballroom, It was the sight of the last rock-and-roll concert featuring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper before they died in a tragic small plane crash after a February 2, 1959 show. The Surf Ballroom continues as a concert and special events venue – as well as an historic site. You’ll find the story in the box below.

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

The February s, 1959, concert – featuring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper (Richardson), Dion and the Belmonts and Frankie Sardo – was the eleventh concert in a Winter Dance Party series that was to take the group of rock-and-rollers to 24 upper midwest cities in 24 days. The Surf Ballroom, which had been host to such stars as the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and Little Richard – was an important stop on the tour. The travel (particularly the bad-weather bus rides ) was grueling and difficult. (In fact, one of the members of Buddy Holly’s band had to leave the tour after getting frostbite on the bus.)

Holly decided to charter a small plane to take part of the group from Mason City (an airfield near Clear Lake) to to an airfield near the next concert (Moorhead, MN). The plane never made it, crashing less than ten miles from Mason City in the winter weather – taking the lives of Holly (22-years-old), Valens (17-years-old), the Big Bopper (28-years-old) and pilot Roger Peterson. The tragedy has been immortalized in monuments, film and several songs (most notably Don McLean’s “ American Pie,” in which the tragic event is referred to as “The Day the Music Died.” The Surf Ballroom is also host to annual tribute concerts.

For those who like to know such things, the 1959 Winter Dance Party series continued, with such stars as Bobby Vee, Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton filling in.

In 2011, the Surf Ballroom was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and, in 2021, it was designated a National Historic Landmark,

Next on the day’s agenda was a visit to the Lua Brewery Brewpub, before checking in to the Downtown Des Moines Holiday Inn Express and Suites.

The first game on our tour was a 7 p.m. contest between the Indianapolis Indians and the host Iowa Cubs (Des Moines) – a tightly played 2-1 Cubs win that featured a second-inning home run by Iowa SS David Bote and five shutouts innings from Iowa starter Riley Thompson, who came into the game 1-4, with a 6.74 earned run average. Four Iowa relievers finished the game, giving up just one run over their four innings, while fanning six batters. The capacity crowd of 11,000+ went home happy – with a win and post-game Friday Fireworks.

A few additional comments:

The scorecard (free) was on two sides of one sheet of paper, but included pre-printed starting lineups (with key stats for each player), all players’ names and numbers and news and notes of interest. You will see the significance of the scorecard description when we look at the Kansas City Royals’ games.
The game featured the Triple-A ball-strike challenge system (it was used four times), in which the home-plate umpire calls balls and strikes and a team can challenge calls. The electronic ABS – Automated Ball-strike System – is used to resolve any challenges. Each team gets up to three unsuccessful challenges, with challenges allowed to be initiated only by the catcher, pitcher or hitter. The challenge was used four times during the game and it was generally agreed that the challenges disrupted game flow and did not seem worth the inconvenience. (Note: The league is also trying out a fully automated ABS. In that system, the ABS call is communicated to the home plate umpire via an earpiece.)
The Cubs’ Principal Park had a strictly enforced bag rule. Lots of fans – including several from our group – had to return their bags to their vehicles (and then re-enter the long entrance lines). I asked one official whether there was a place I could leave my bag (which, incidentally, I have carried into MLB parks) and pick it up after the game. The reply? “You could drop in the bushes somewhere and go back for it.”

Final wrap: Crispy played ball game (two hours-one minute), the trip’s first home run, first 6-4-3 double play (regular readers know how I love the ballet of an infield twin killing) and a handful of sparkling defensive plays.

Day Two – Saturday, June 17

Day Two started with the free hot breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express – lots of choices (all good). I opted to go southern and went for the biscuits and gravy and fried bologna. Then it was on the bus for Kansas City ( Missouri – and that will be important later).

We got into KC around lunch time and headed for the 18th and Vine neighborhood – and a prepaid visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. If you’ve never been there, find the time. You’ll get a look at the history of the Negro Leagues and black MLB pioneers. You can get up close to the displays; there are lots of great films (transferred to video); and you can walk among the greats on “The Field of Legends.” There is also an impressive display of nearly 200 baseballs signed by former Negro Leagues players – donated by Geddy Lee, lead singer for Rush.

After touring the Museum, a number of our trekkers headed for nearby, renowned Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque; while others went into the neighborhood, where the streets were blocked off for the Juneteenth celebration – lots of stands featuring African-American crafts, clothing, music and foods and even a Corvette Car show. It was a fortunate coincidence that we were there for this event. I did some shopping and then lunched on a chicken-skewer grilled street-side and doused with homemade hot sauce. Sadly, some of the favorite nearby drinking and eating establishments have closed since my last visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (pre-pandemic).

Our Next stop (even before hotel check-in) was Kaufmann Stadium and a 3:10 p.m.Royals/Angels matchup.

Kaufmann Trivia

Kaufmann Stadium has the second-most playable square footage in the major leagues – behind only Coors Field.

We had great seats at Kaufmann – lower deck, just beyond third base – great sight lines and in the shade on a hot, humid day. (Good luck or the expertise of tourmaster Julian? We’ll never know.) We saw a rarity in today’s age of pitch clocks, disengagement rules, limited batter timeouts – a nine-inning game that exceeded three hours (three hours-13 minutes). The 2023 average time for a nine-inning MLB game, through yesterday, was two-hours and forty minutes (per Baseball-reference.com). The reason for our three-hour + “show?” Plenty of action on the field. We witnessed 19 runs, 22 hits, five home runs, 11 walks, one hit batter and five stolen bases. There were, in fact, only three half-innings in which there were no base runners. Notably, the Royals’ fans went home happy, after a dramatic comeback over the final three innings. We will not reveal the names of most of the pitchers, in order to protect the innocent (or not so innocent).

Obligatory Shohei Ohtani photo. You just can’t post about the Angels with an Ohtani picture.

The Angels jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the first 6 ½ innings. This was due in great part to four home runs, including two by 1B Brandon Drury, his 11^th and 12^th of the season. DH Shohei Ohtani and LF Taylor Ward also went deep.

Shohie Ohtani hit his 23^rd home run of the year in the game – giving him the 2023 MLB lead in long balls. He also ranks fourth overall and second in the American League in strikeouts as a pitcher.

The Royals then began a remarkable comeback. Remember, these are the 18-51 (now 19-51) last-place Royals. They scored three in the bottom of the seventh and three in the eighth to tie the contest at 8-8 and put the fans into a frenzy. In the ninth, things got even more interesting. Angels’ SS Andrew Valazquez (he of two z’s and a q in his last name) led off with a six-pitch walk off Aroldis Chapman. Valazquez then stole second with pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe at the plate. After Renfroe fanned, Valazquez swiped third base with Ohtani at the plate. Ohtani walked and then CF Mike Trout singled in Valazquez. Chapman then struck out Drury and pinch hitter Chad Wallach to end the frame. The Angels were now up 9-8 and it looked like the team that built its original lead on a foundation of four long balls would win it on the impact of two stolen bases.

Not so fast! The Royals were not done yet. Kansas City DH Edward Olivares, facing reliever Chris Devenski, singled to left and was replaced pinch runner Dairon Blanco, who stole second on the second pitch to 3B Maikel Garcia (two can play the stolen base game). Garcia then singled Blanco home and the game was tied. Next up was 2B Nicky Lopez. On the second pitch to Lopez, Garcia swiped second. On the very next pitch, Lopez laid down a sacrifice bunt (Remember those?) moving Garcia to third.

The next batter was 24-year-old rookie left fielder Samad Taylor – playing in his first MLB game. At this point in his MLB debut, he was zero-for-two with two walks and two runs scored. Taylor popped an 0-1 pitch to LF and his first MLB hit provided a walk-off Royals’ win. (Taylor, by the way, was hitting .304-6-37, with 34 stolen bases in 62 games at Triple-A when called up.) Note: If I had to pick a “hero” of the game, it would be Royals’ Bobby Witt, Jr., who went two-for-five, with one double and four RBI.

Youth Will Prevail – At Least This Time

Six of the nine players in the Royals’ starting lineup were in their first or second MLB season: 1B Nick Pratto; SS Bobby Witt, Jr.; RF MJ Melendez; 3B Maikel Garcia; LF Samad Taylor; CF Drew Walker.

Side Note: For those still reading, remember earlier I noted that the Iowa Cubs scorecard (free) listed the starting lineups and all the players’ names and numbers? Well, the Royals’ “Official Scorecard” cost a dollar (free, if you go to Guest Services), but provided no information (no players’ names or numbers). Not a major-league move.

On the food front, a good trekker review was given to the KCQ, which features a rotating group of Kansas City barbeque pit masters.

Post -game it was on to our hotel for check-in at the Crowne Plaza (Downtown Kansas City ) … a 28-story hotel in the “grand tradition.” More on this in a future posts “from the road.”

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Some Baseball Roundtable Inside-the-Park (Home Run) Musings

June 15, 2023 by David

Baseball Roundtable likes a good coincidence. Like Nate Colbert – one of only two major leaguers to hit five home runs in a doubleheader – being in the ballpark (as an eight-year-old) when Stan Musial became the first player to go yard five times a doubleheader. When I was putting together a “Kwiz” for an upcoming Ballpark Tours trip, I came across another baseball coincidence (coincidences) that intrigued me.

From 1951-2023, there have been just two games in which a player hit two inside-the-park home runs. Coincidentally:

Both occurred in the Metrodome;
Both involved the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox;
Both were started on the mound by the Twins’ Bert Blyleven.

Okay, that Metrodome locale was not that much of a coincidence. The domed stadium was known for its high-bounce turf and difficult Teflon roof. So, I’ll the one goes two-for-three on the coincidence meter.

Photo: Gagne Park Press Inc., Public domain, via Wikimedia Comm

On October 4, 1986, Twins’ SS Greg Gagne hit two inside-the-park home runs in his first two at bats in a 7-3 win over the White Sox. The first was “lost” in the Teflon roof by CF Daryl Boston, the second bounced over the head of a charging Boston. (Gagne, by the way, hit a triple in his third at bat). Gagne is the most recent player with a two inside-the-park home run game. Bert Blyleven started for the Twins and recorded a complete-game victory.

The second-most recent double inside-the-parker game belongs to White Sox’ 1B Dick Allen, who – on July 31, 1972 – hit a pair of inside-the-parkers as the White Sox topped the Twins 8-1 in the Metrodome. Blyleven started for the Twins and took the loss. The most recent National League player to hit two inside-the-park homers in one game was Hank Thompson, Giants – August 16, 1950.

Side note: Statistics on inside-the-park homers have not always been meticulously tracked. The remainder of this column is based on the most accurate/confirmable stats available.

As usual, when Baseball Roundtable look into a topic “one thing always seems to lead to another.” Here are a few other few other inside-the-park homer facts:

Ricky Henderson and Boog Powell have the same number of careers inside-the-park homers (one each).
In 1909, Ty Cobb earned his only AL home run title with nine round trippers. They were fast trips. All nine of his homers were inside-the-parkers. Cobb’s nine inside-the-park homers are the AL single-season record for ITP round trippers.
The 1945 Washington Senators (who finished 87-67 – second place) hit just one home run in their home park and it was an inside-the-parker by 1B Joe Kuhel (in a 3-2 Senators’ win on September 7). Side note: The spacious field dimensions of old Griffith Stadium – it was 407-feet to LF- earned it a reputation as a home run graveyard.)

Jesse Burkett. Photo; Charles M. Conlon

Jesse Burkett holds the record for career inside-the-park (ITP) home runs with 55. The left-handed hitting outfielder hit 75 total home runs over sixteen MLB seasons (1890-1905), with 55 of those being ITP. Hall of Famer Burkett was a three-time batting champ, who topped .400 twice while with the NL Cleveland Spiders (.405 in 1895 and .410 in 1896). The AL career ITP home run record belongs to Ty Cobb (46), while the NL record goes to Tommy Leach (48).

Tom McCreery holds the record for most ITP home runs in a game with three – for the NL Louisville Colonels on July 12, 1897. McCreery hit a total of five home runs that season.
Forty-five MLB players have hit two ITP home runs in a game, but only four have accomplished that feat more than once (twice each): Dan Brouthers; Jesse Burkett, Ed Delahanty and Roger Bresnahan.
Ed Delahanty, playing first base for the Philadelphia Colts (Phillies) on July 13, 1896, earned a place in the record books by blasting a record-tying four home runs in a single game. To date, only 18 players have accomplished that feat. Two of Delahanty’s round trippers were inside-the-parkers. He is the only members of the four-homer club to have ITP homers included in their one-game total.
Luke Stuart of the St. Louis Browns and Johnny LeMaster of the San Francisco Giants are the only two players to hit ITP home runs in their first MLB at bats (August 8, 1921 and September 2, 1975, respectively.)

Never Mind Coach, I Got This

Photo: Public Domain via Wiki Commons

There have been plenty of inside-the-park walk-off (run-off?) home runs, and plenty of inside-the park Grand Slams, but there has been only one inside-the-park walk-off Grand Slam – and that belongs to Roberto Clemente – and it was his first MLB Grand Slam.

It came on July 25, 1956, with the Pirates’ Clemente batting against the Cubs’ Jim Brosnan in the bottom of the ninth and the Pirates trailing 8-5. There were no outs and Pittsburgh’s Hank Foiles, Bill Virdon and Dick Cole were on base. Clemente drove a ball to deep left that hit near the light standard and rolled along the warning track to center. All three runners scored and Clemente ran through the coach’s stop sign at third base, beating the relay.

Pete Milne had a brief MLB career (three seasons, 47 games, 65 plate appearances) with the Giants (1948-50). He hit only one home run in the majors, but it was a significant. It was the only pinch hit, inside-the park Grand Slam ever (April 27, 1949).
Sam Crawford holds the single-season record for inside-the-park home runs, with 12 ITP home runs (of his NL-leading 16 dingers) for the Reds in 1901.
Speedster Ichiro Suzuki – in 2007 – hit the first (still only) All Star Game inside-the-park home run. Why do I mention that here? None of Ichiro’s 117 regular-season homers were inside-the-parkers.
On August 27, 1977, the Texas Rangers’ 3B Toby Harrah and 2B Bump Wills hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs off consecutive pitches from the Yankees’ Ken Clay. This is one of only two confirmed instances of back-to-back inside-the-parkers in MLB history.

Primary Resources: Baseball-reference.com; Baseball-almanac.com; Inside the Park Home Runs, Society for American Baseball Research, by Mil Chipp.

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Baseball Roundtable May Wrap Up … Stats, Stories, Roundtable Players/Pitchers of the Month, Trot Index and More

June 1, 2023 by David

It’s June 1 and time for Baseball Roundtable’s 2023 monthly Wrap Up (for May) – a look at Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, the Trot Index, the May leaderboards and the stats and stories that caught Baseball Roundtable’s eye during the past month. And, there was plenty going on in May:

Not one, but two, pitchers joining the 400-career-saves club;
2023’s second cycle (single-double-triple-homer in one game);
One pitcher completing another kind of cycle, joining the “club” of hurlers with at least one career win against each of the thirty MLB teams;
The completion of a third kind of cycle, one player joining the “club” of hitters with at least one career home run against each of the thirty MLB teams;
Two Immaculate Innings;
Four more complete-game shutouts (Is this becoming a thing?);
One player hitting .400 for the month;
A 300th home run and a 2,000th strikeout (not by the same player nor in the same game);
A 456-foot home run by a pitcher (Okay, it was Shohei Ohtani, but it still counts).

For these stories and more, read on.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE

PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH … MAY 2023

National League

Player of the Month – Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers

Photo: dougandme

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman led all MLB players (with at least 75 May at bats) in average at a nice round .400. In addition, he was first in MLB in May RBI with 26, runs scored with base hits with 46. Freeman’s on-base percentage of .462 was third MLB players with at least 75 May at bats and hit .722 slugging percentage was second (first in the NL)x. Freeman ended May with a still-active 20-game hitting streak streak, during which he has hit .457-5-21. Freeman had 16 multi-hit games in May. Oh and Freeman stole four bases in four tries. This was a pretty easy choice. Freeman finished May at .346-10-35 on the season.

Honorable Mention: You have to acknowledge the power surge of Marlins’ DH Jorge Soler, who led the NL and tied for the MLB lead with 12 May home runs, to go with a .271 average and an MLB second-best 25 RBI. From May 23 through May 27, Soler homered in five straight games, going .391-5-8). He homered in 11 of his 25 games played during the month. Dodgers’ DH J.D. Martinez had a nice month at .311-8-24.

Pitcher of the Month … (tie) Michael Wacha, RHP, Padres & Camilo Doval, RHP, Giants

Padres’ starter Michael Wacha went 3-0 in May in five starts. More to the point, in 32 innings pitched, he gave up just three earned runs (a stingy 0.84 ERA – lowest among MLB pitchers with at least 25 May innings). Wacha held hitters to a .147 May average and a 0.72 WHIP. Wacha’s best start was on May 21, when he went seven scoreless frames versus the Royals – giving up just one hit and one walk, while fanning 11. Wacha finished May with a 5-1, 3.45 record on the season.

Have to also recognize a reliever here. The Giants’ Camilo Doval, appeared in 14 May games and notched 11 saves in 11 save opportunities. He put up a 1.32 ERA and fanned 23 batters (just four walks) in 13 2/3 innings. Doval finished May 1-2, 2,19, with a NL-leading 14 saves on the season.

Honorable Mention: Merrill Kelly, RHP, Diamondbacks went 4-0, 2.59 in five May starts – fanning 39 (seven walks) in 31 1/3 innings. The Giants’ Logan Webb went 3-0, 1.30 in five May starts, fanning 33 in 34 2/3 innings). In his two no-decisions, Webb gave up just one run over 13 innings.

American League

Player of the Month … Aaron Judge, RF, Yankees

Photo: DR. Buddie, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Yankee’s Aaron Judge led MLB (tied) in May home runs with 12 and in was second in RBI (first in the AL) with 25. Put this with his .342 average and 23 runs scored (tied for first in the AL) and you’ve got Player of the Month numbers. He also had a solid walks-to-strikeout ratio for a power hitter (20 walks, 25 whiffs), giving him a .474 on-base percentage (tops among hitter with at least 75 May at bats). And he accomplished all this despite not playing his first May game until May 9 (hip injury). Judge finished May with a .298-18-39 line on the season.

Honorable Mentions; Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays, led the AL with 42 May base hits (only Freddie Freeman and Bichette reached the 40-hit mark for May) – going .350-5-20, with 15 runs scored. Great output for a middle infielder. The Guardians’ 1B Josh Naylor tied Aaron Judge tor the AL-high May RBI, putting up a .293-5-25 month. The A’s CF Esteury Ruiz deserves a nod here for leading the majors in stolen bases in May – with 17. He he hit .282-1-13 for the month).

Pitcher of the Month – Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers

Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi was 4-0, in May with an AL-lowest (among pitchers with at least 25 May innings) earned run average of 0.96. Eovaldi’s month included a one-run complete game and he went at least seven innings in four of his five starts. He walked nine and fanned 31 in 37 2/3 May innings. Eovaldi finished May with a 7-2, 2.42 record on the season.

Honorable Mentions; The Rangers’ Jon Gray went 4-0, 1.95 in five May starts (Texas also won his no-decision start) – fanning 29 batters (with just six walks) in 32 1/3 innings pitched. He went at eat seven innings in three of his five outings and gave up more than one earned run only once;.The Astros’ Christian Javier was 4-0, 2.40 in five starts.

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MLB Surprise Player of the month – Francisco Alvarez, C Mets

The Mets 21-year-old catcher had .292-7-17 month (22 games) – after hitting just .194 in 12 April Mets’ games and .167 in a five late-season 2022 contests (and .273 over 257 minor-league games in four seasons). He enjoyed an eight-game hitting streak (May 16-28), during which he hit .400-5-13.

Honorable Mention: The Cubs’ 23-year-old CF Christopher Morel’s career seem to mushroom (sorry, couldn’t resist) after his May call up. In 19 May games, Morel hit .282-9-15. His performance included homering in five straight games (May 17-23), when he hit .421-5-6. Now, surprise may be a strong word here – as Morel clearly earned his call up – going .330-11-31 in 29 2023 games with the Iowa Cubs. Still, you can look back at his .235-16-47 in 113 Cubs (MLB) games in 2022 and rank his fast MLB start as, at least, somewhat unexpected.

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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through May 31 35.6 percent of the MLB season’s 63,553 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.7%); walks (8.8%); home runs (3.1%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits 14,423 – 1,4047.

The 35.6 percent figure is up from 2022’s full season 34.6 percent. Other recent seasons: 2021 – 36.3 percent; 2020 – 37.3 percent; 2019 – 36.2 percent; and 2018 – 34.8 percent. By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.

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The Yankees gained a it of ground on the Rays by putting up May’s most victories (19-10), despite getting just six wins from their starting pitchers. (The Yankees are awaiting the return of Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino to the rotation.) They powered their way to victory, leading MLB with 53 May home runs and finishing second in the AL in runs scored with 157. The offense was led by: RF Aaron Judge (.342-120-25 in May … see Player of the Month); 1B Anthony Rizzo (.327-6-19); 2B Gleyber Torres (.286-5-15); and CF Harrison Bader (.267-6-19). Rookie SS Anthony Volpe added six home runs and 16 RBI in May, despite a .174 average and 37 whiffs (five walks) in May.

Yankee ace Gerrit Cole who went 5-0, 1.11 in April,slipped to 1-0, 5.18 in May. Reliever Clay Holmes led the Yankees in wins in May (3-1, 2.63 in 15 games … 13 2/3 innings).

On the other end of the AL spectrum were the Oakland A’s , who won only six games in May (23 losses) and are on a pace for a 34-win season. The A’s put up May’s worst team earned run average (5.54) and most runs surrendered, as well as MLB’s lowest batting average (.208) and second-fewest run scored.

In May, the A’s were outscored 165-to-87.

The AL’s biggest surprise in May may have been the Texas Rangers – who put up an 18-89 record and an AL-leading 168 runs scored.There simply seemed to be no weak spot in the Rangers’ lineup. Consider this infield: 1B Nathaniel Lowe (.297-1-12, with 20 runs scored); 2B Marcus Semien (.323-3-21, with 23 runs scored); SS Corey Seager (.291 with four home runs and 19 RBI in just 13 games); 3B Josh Jung (.318-6-16, with 22 runs scored). On the mound, the Rangers were led by starters Nathan Eovaldi (4-0, 0.96) and Jon Gray (4-0, 1.95.).

In the NL West, the Dodgers went 18-9 to claim the Division lead. And, like the Rangers in the AL, the offense led the way. (Are we seeing a new trend here?) The Dodgers ERA of 4.61 was tenth in the NL, while their 173 May runs scored led all of MLB and their 49 home runs for the month trailed only the Yankees (53) and the Braves (51). 1B Freddie Freeman (see Player of the Month) led the way at .400-6-26), but he had plenty of help: DH J.D. Martinez (.311-8-24); C Will Smith (.318-5-17); RF Mookie Betts (.269-9-22). Overall, their lineup included seven players with four or more May homers and six with 15 or more May RBI.

Spreading Out the Load

Twelve Dodgers’pitches recorded wins in May (ony Tony Gonsolin … 3-1 in six starts had more than two) and and the team’s seven saves were divided among three relievers.

The Diamondbacks came close to keeping pace with the Dodgers – going 17-10, as did the Giants at 17-12. The Giants (2.39) and Diamondbacks (3.85) boasted the NL’s second – and third-best earned run average in May. The Padres, with MLB’s lowest May ERA – at just 3.20 – surprisingly, went 10-16. The did, however, score the NL’s sixth fewest runs (103).

Year-to-date (through May 31) standings ans further comments can be found at the end of this post.

——-Team Statistical Leaders for May 2023 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Dodgers (173); Cardinals (150); Braves (144)

American League – Rangers (168); Yankees (157); Rays (145)

The fewest runs in May were scored by the Pirates – 85. The A’s tallied the fewest runs in the AL at 87. Others under 100 were the Brewers and Guardians (97 each).

AVERAGE

National League – Nationals (.275); Rockies (.271); Marlins (.268)

American League – Rangers (.286); Blue Jays (.274); Red Sox (.272)

The lowest team averages for May belonged to the A’s (.208) and Padres (.212).

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (51); Dodgers (49); Cardinals (44)

American League – Yankees (53); Rays (42); Angels (39)

The Guardians had the fewest home runs in May at 16. The Pirates were at the bottom of the NL at 19.

The Dodgers led MLB in slugging percentage for May at .487. The Yankees led the AL at .463.

The A’s had the lowest May slugging percentage – sounding like a broken record here – at .331.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Reds (28); Padres (27); Brewers (26)

American League – Rays (52); A’s (25): Blue Jays (23)

The Astros stole the fewest sacks in May – just nine in 14 attempts.. The Rockies were at the bottom of the NL with 13 in 17 attempts.

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Padres (120); Cubs (115); Dodgers (115)

American League Twins (115): Tigers (106); Rays (103)

The Rangers led MLB in on-base percentage for May at .341. The Dodgers led the NL at .340. The A’s had MLB’s lowest OBP for May at .287.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Cubs (2682; Giants (260); Reds (244)

American League – Twins (299); Athletics (264); Mariners (262)

Guardians batters fanned the fewest times in May (183).

Bonus Stats

Dodgers’ batter racked up the most total bases in May at 473. The Pirates were at the bottom of MLB at 303.

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Earned Run Average

National League – Padres (3.20); Giants (3.39); Diamondbacks (3.85)

American League – Astros (3.09); Guardians (3.28); Twins (3.38)

The Athletics had the highest May ERA at 5.54. The only other team over 5.00 was the Rockies at 5.13.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Braves (276); Marlins (267); Dodgers (211)

American League – Astros (272); Twins (267); Mariners (257)

The Astros averaged an MLB-best 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings in May. The Marlins averaged an NL-best 9.96. Seven teams averaged 9.00 or better

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League – Phillies (75); Padres (78); Cubs (78)

American League – Mariners (54); Tigers (68); Guardians (72)

The Mariners walked an MLB-lowest 1.94 batter per nine innings in May . The Royals walked an MLB-worst 4.60 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Giants (14); Reds (11); Nationals (10)

American League – Rays (112; Yankees (10); Guardians (9); Orioles (9)

Bonus Stats:

The Athletics gave up an MLB-high 49 home runs in May – The Padres gave up an MLB-low 21.

The White Sox held opponent to an MLB-low .220 average in May; the Rockies staff was touched for an MLB-high .280 during the month.

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MAY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Sho-Time Again … Make Room for Me, Babe

Okay, it seems like you can’t have a monthly wrap up without a Shohei Ohtani story. On May 3, Ohtani fanned 13 batters (in five innings) in the Angels’ 6-4 win over the Cardinal in St. Louis. Ohtani gave up four earned runs in five innings and did not get the decision. Still, history was made, as that 13^th strikeout (Cardinals’ 3B Nolan Arenado) to close out the fifth inning gave Ohtani 500 career MLB strikeouts – enabling him to join Babe Ruth as the only MLB players to accrue 500 career strikeouts as pitchers sand 100 or more home runs as hitters.

Good New Bad News

Good News. On May 3, Padres SS Xander Bogaerts came into a game against the Reds (in San Diego) with a season-opening 30-game streak of getting on base. In the fifth inning, it looked like more good news, as Bogaerts – with Padres’ LF Juan Soto on first – stroked an apparent single to right. Reds’ RF Stuart Fairchild dove for the ball, but did not make the catch – it short-hopped into his glove.

Now the bad news. Soto (who had walked) mistakenly thought the ball had been caught and headed back to first (where Bogaerts was already perched). Fairchild tossed to second for the force-out – negating the hit and resulting in a Fielder’s Choice (which does not extend an on-base streak). More bad news. Bogaerts ended the game zero-for-five – also ending his streak. Good news: The Padre did win 7-1.

During his streak , Bogaerts went 34-for-112 (.304), with 15 walks and two hit by pitches.,

Rafael Devers and Number 150… or “Good Company”

On May 4, as the Red Sox topped the Blue Jays in Boston 11-5, Boston 3B Rafael Devers hit his 11^th home run of the season (appropriately off Zach Pop). The two-run shot came in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was the 150^th round tripper of Devers’ career (2017-2023 … all with the Red Sox.) In another #InBaseballWeCountEverything moment, it was noted that Devers hit the long ball in his 721st Red Sox contest – making him the third-fastest to 150 in Red Sox history (Ted Williams – 664 games; Jim Rice -711).

2023’s First Immaculate Inning

On Thursday, May 4, the Pirates’ Colin Holderman threw 2023’s first Immaculate Inning (nine-pitches, three strikeouts). Holderman came on in the bottom of the seventh with the Pirates trailing the Rays 2-0. He fanned the Rays 6-7-8 hitters 2B Taylor Walls, RF Luke Raley and C Christian Bethancourt) in order one nine pitches. Through May, Holderman was 0-1, 2.18, with 26 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

Tee (off) for Two

On May 5, Fernando Tatis, Jr. – playing RF and leading off for the Padres (against the Dodgers) had a big night – two-homers, two runs scored and three RBI as the Padres won 5-2. It was Tatis ninth multi-homer game – coming in his fourth MLB season. So, why is it mentioned in the highlights? Because both long balls came off Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw – making Tatis the first player with two multi-homer games against Kershaw (now in his sixteenth MLB season).

Goldy is Gold

On May 7, Cardinal first baseman Paul Goldschmidt banged out three home runs and a single, as the Cardinals topped the Tigers in St. Louis. Goldschmidt’s three-homer day was his third career three-homer contest and the first for the Redbirds since September 3, 2006 (Albert Pujols). Goldschmidt’s homers came in the:

First inning off Alex Faedo;
Third inning, again off Faedo.
Eighth inning off Tyler Holton.

The 400 Club Adds Two New Members … or Save The Last Out for Me

Photo: TonyTheTiger, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On May 10, Kenley Jansen became just the seventh MLB pitcher to record 400 saves, as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the Red Sox 5-2 win over the Braves in Atlanta. It was his ninth save of the season (and ninth for Boston). Now in his 14^th MLB season, the breakout for Jansen’s first 400 saves is Dodgers (350 in 12 seasons); Braves (41 in one season) and Red Sox (9). Jansen has four seasons of 41+ saves on is MLB resume and four more of 30+ saves.

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

On May 26, the 400-Save Club added an eighth member, when the Philllies’ Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless ninth as the Phillies topped the Braves 6-4 in Atlanta. Kimbrel, like Jansen, notched save 400 in his 14th MLB season. His save breakout: Braves (186 in five seasons); Red Sox (108 in three seasons); Padres (39 in one season); Dodgers (22 in one season); Cubs (38 in three seasons); Phillies (six in one season); White Sox (one in one season). Kimbrel has notched eight seasons of 30+ saves (five of more than 40), with a high of 50 saves in 2013. The eight-time All Star was the 2011 NL Rookie of The Year, when he led the NL with 46 saves and set the record for rookie-season saves. He led the NL in saves four straight seasons (2011-14) – averaging 46 saves a season in that span.

Other with 400 or more saves include: Mariano Rivera (652); Trevor Hoffman (601); Lee Smith (478); Francisco Rodriguez (437); John Franco (424); and Billy Wagner (422).

Cedric for the Cycle

On May 12, Orioles’ CF and leadoff hitter Cedric Mullins hit for the 2023 MLB seasons’ second cycle, as the O’s topped the Pirates 6-3 in Baltimore. Mullins who came into the game hitting .248 with four home runs on the season , flied out to CF in the first; singled in the third; tripled in the fifth; doubled home a run in the seventh; and completed the cycle with a three-run home run in the eighth.

30-30 Vision

Photo: D. Benjamin Miller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On May 10, The Mets’ Justin Verlander pitched seven two-hit, one-run innings (fanning seven), as the Mets topped the Reds 2-1 in Cincinnati, Verlander got the win (his first of 2023) and, in the process, became the 21^st pitcher to pick up a victory against all 30 current MLB franchises. For those who like to know such things, the first hurler to record victories against all 30 teams was also a Met – Al Leiter, who became first on this list with a win against the Diamondbacks on April 30, 2002.

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

On May 22, we saw another “thirty-team” landmark. Astros’ catcher Martin Maldonado hit his third home run of the season – as the Astros beat the Brewers 12-2 in Milwaukee. That blast made Maldonado the 69^th MLB player to homer against all 30 MLB teams. It was Maldonado’s 99^th career round tripper (in 13 MLB seasons), which (according to the Elias Sport Bureau) made him just the fourth player to homer against all 30 teams before collecting his 100^th round tripper (joining Jose Guillen, Orlando Hudson, Stephen Drew).

We Do Love Round Numbers in Baseball

On May 13, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Royals’ starter Zack Greinke fanned Brewers’ rookies Brice Turang and Joey Wiemer. In the vein of #InBaseballWeCountEverything, we know that (with those two whiffs) Greinke became just the fifth MLB pitcher to fan 1,000 different batters. The others comprise a pretty impressive list: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Roger Clemens.

Unlucky Number 13

Over their first 39 games of 2023, the Marlins were involved in 12 one-run contests – and they won them all … setting a new AL/NL record for consecutive wins in games decided by a single tally. The streak was broken on May 13, in their 13^th one-run contest of the season, as the Marlins lost to the Reds 6-5 in Miami. Miami’s early run of one-run victories is even more surprising, considering the team was an MLB-worst 24-40 in one -run games last season.

Shohei-time AGAIN

On May 15, Shohei Ohtani went seven innings in a 9-5 win over the Orioles in Baltimore. It wasn’t his best mound outing. He gave up five runs over the seven frames. He did, however, get the win – running his record to 5-1 on the season.

He did a bit better at the plate – stroking four hits (including a triple and a home run) and collecting a walk in six plate appearances. The homer, by the way, was not a cheap one – measured at 456 feet by Statcast. For more of #InBaseballWeCountEverything, Ohtani was the first starting pitcher to reach base safely five times in a game since Mel Stottlemyre in September of 1964,

Way To Go Rook

On September 26, 1964, Yankees’ rookie Mel Stottlemyre started against the Senators in Washington D.C. Stottlemyre pitched a two-hit shutout (five walks, five whiffs), running his record to 9-2, 1.97. As if the complete-game shutout wasn’t enough, Stottlemyre went five-for-five (four singles and a double) at the plate, scoring once and driving in two. The 22-year-old finished his rookie season with a 9-3, 2.06 record in 13 games (he made his MLB debut in mid-August). At the plate, he hit .243 in 37 at bats.

Over the next six seasons, Stottlemyre was an All Star five times, going 103-83, 2.94, winning 20 or more games in three of those seasons. In an 11-season MLB career, he was 164-139, 2.97.

Another Round Number

On May 17, the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado notched his 1,000th career RBI, as the Redbirds topped the Brewers 3-0 in St. Louis. The 1,000th RBI came on an infield single off Corbin Burnes in the bottom of the first inning (scoring DH Paul Goldschmidt). As May 2023 closed out, Arenado – in his 11th MLB season, had a career offensive stat line of .288-308-1,004 – as well as ten consecutive Gold Gloves – to his credit.

More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

In his last plate appearance on May 16 (ninth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Astros in Houston), Cubs’ RF Seiya Suzuki launched a 2-0 pitch from Matt Gage to deep left for a two-run home run. Then, in his first two plate appearances the following day (in a 7-6 loss to the Astros), Suzuki hit a solo homer off J.P. France and a two-run shot (again off France). So, why is this in the highlights? Elias Sports Bureau reports that Suzuki is the first Japanese born player to homer in three consecutive MLB plate appearances. Suzuki who hit .262-14-46 for the Cubs last season was .293-6-19 in 2023 (through May 31). Suzuki signed with the Cubs (five years – $85 million) in March 2022 after nine seasons in Japan – over which he hit .309-189-621, with 102 steals in 1,055 games. In 2021 he it .317, with 38 homers in 134 games for the Hiroshima Carp.

Lucky Seven

On May 18, off to a difficult start to the season, the last-place (18-36) Cardinals knocked off the first place (28-16) Dodgers 16-8. They tallied those 16 runs on just 12 hits, including seven home runs (their most long balls in a home game since May 7, 1940).

The Cardinals popped four home runs a six-run third inning: C Wilson Contreras (three-run); PH Juan Yepez (solo), 3B Nolan Gorman(solo); SS Paul DeJong (solo) – the last three back-to-back-to back. DH Nolan Arenado added a two-run shot in the three-run fourth and, in the seven-run eighth, Contreras added a second three-run homer and Gorman a second solo shot.

On May 26, the Pirates also enjoyed a win fueled by seven round trippers, as they bested the Mariners 11-6 in Seattle. DH Andrew McCutchen set the tone, leading off the top of the first with a home run off George Kirby on just the second pitch of the game. 1B Carlos Santana led off the fourth with a solo short (also off Kirby). Kirby then gave up back-to-back long balls to CF Jack Suwinski (two-run) and 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes in the fifth. Suwinski added a solo shot (off Juan Then) in the seventh and Tucupita Marcano also had a solo homer that inning. LF Bryan Reynolds got into the act in the eighth, with a solo homer off Chris Flexen. It was MLB’s third seven-homer game of 2023. (The Giants poked seven round trippers in a 12-3 win over the White Sox on April 3.

On May 28, the Astros banged out seven home runs in beating the A’s 10-1 in Oakland. All ten of the Astros runs scored via the long ball. DH Yordan Alvarez had a solo homer in the first inning; CF Jake Meyers hit a three-run shot in the third. RF Chas McCormick and 2B Jose Altuve went back-to-back with solo shots in the seventh; 1B Jose Abreu had a solo homer in the eighth; and SS Jeremy Pena (two-run) and Alvarez went back-to-back in the ninth.

A Grand (Slam) Celebration (sort of)

On May 18, as is Dodgers lost to the Cardinals 16-8, LA’s 1B Freddie Freeman notched his 300^th career home run (albeit in a losing causes) – a grand slam in the top of the sixth off Genesis Cabrera. It was Freeman’s eight round tripper of 2023.

Ruben Sierra (2004 Yankees) and Freddie Freeman (2023 Dodges) are the only MLB players (to date) to celebrate their 300^th career homer with a Grand Slam.

More Shutouts on the Books

May saw four more complete-game shutouts – bringing the 2023 season total to nine. I note that here because in 2022, we saw only three complete-game shutouts through May and 16 over the entire season.

On May 8, The Pirates’ Mitch Keller shut out the Rockies (2-0) in Pittsburgh. Keller gave up four hits and a walk, while fanning eight. He threw 103 pitches, 77 for strikes. It was Keller’s first career complete game in 78 starts (over five seasons).

On May 12, the Blue Jays’ Chris Bassitt went nine scoreless frames, as his Blue Jays topped the Braves 3-0 in Toronto. Bassitt gave up just two hits and two walks (eight strikeouts) in the outing – tossing 103 pitches (70 for strikes). It was Bassitt’s second career complete game (and second career shutout) – in 132 starts over nine seasons.

On May 21, the Astros’ Framer Valdez tossed the eighth complete-game shutout of 2023 – shutting down the Oakland A’s by a 2-0 score – giving up just four hits (no walks), while fanning seven. It was Valdez’ fifth complete game and second shutout over 86 starts in six seasons. Valdez threw 104 p[itches, 64 strikes.

On May 29, the Cubs’ Marcus Stroman picked up his fifth win of the season (versus) four losses, tossing a complete-game, one-hit, one-walk, eight-whiff shutout. It was just the second complete-game and first shutout for Stroman – now in his ninth MLB season. Stroman threw 105 pitches (72 strikes).

1,000 and Counting

On May 22, Mariners starter Luis Castillo picked up a win, going six scoreless innings (four hits, two walks, eight strikeouts) in a Mariners’ 11-2 win over the A’s. Notably, his fifth strikeout of the game – A’s C Shea Langeliers leading off the fifth inning – marked the 1,000 strikeout of Castillo’s MLB career (he’s in his seventh season.) Castillo finished May 4-2, 2.69 with 76 whiffs in 63 2/3 innings on the season.

Good Company or Three is not a Crowd

On May 23, Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole had a rough night – getting touched for five runs in five-plus innings. (Cole was pulled with no outs and two on in the sixth.) The Bronx Bombers did come back to win 6-5 in ten frames. Cole did reach a milestone though, fanning the Orioles’ Jorge Mateo in the second inning for his (Cole’s) 70^th whiff of the season and 2,000^th career strikeout. Only Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw (pretty good company) reached 2,000 strikeouts in fewer games than Cole’s 278 (Johnson -262 … Kershaw 277). Cole also secured third place in terms of fewest innings pitched to reach 2,000 strikeouts (1,714 2/3), trailing Chris Sale (1,626) and Pedro Martinez (1,711 2/3). C

Moving in a Fast Crowd

On May 25, Twins’ reliever Jhoan Duran threw three pitches at 104 mph+, as he closed out the Twins’ 7-1 win versus the Giants in Minnesota. They were the first three pitches over 104 mph of the 2023 season (the fastest was 104.6 mph). The outing enabled Duran to climb up the career list of pitchers with pitches over 104 mph (there are only eight). Ahead of Duran are only Aroldis Chapman (with 67 104-mph+ pitches) and Jordan Hicks (12).

Another Immaculate Outings (inning)

On May 24, Pirate Johan Oviedo threw the second Immaculate Inning (nine pitches/three strikeouts) of the month, fanning the Rangers’ Jonah Heim, Robbie Grossman and Josh Smith consecutively on nine pitches. It came in the fourth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Rangers in Pittsburgh.

Somebody’s Got To Be First

On May 26, as the Nationals faced the Royals in Kansas City, 2B Luis Garcia came into the game hitting .262 on the season. Over the course of the contest, he raised his average to .288 – as he picked up the 2023 season’s first six-hit contest – collecting four singles and two doubles, driving in two runs and scoring three. The Nationals needed all that punch, as they edged the Royals 12-10. As noted, it was the first six-hit game of 2023 and just the third six-hit contest in Nationals/Expos franchise history. For those who like to know such things, Wilbert Robinson and Rennie Stennett share the record for the most hits in a nine-inning game with seven.)

The Nationals’ Luis Garcia is the second youngest MLB player to collect six hits in a game (at 23 ear-10 days-old). The youngest is Jesus Alou (1964 Giants) at 22-years-108 days).

Getting Off to a Fast Start

Angels’ rookie righty Ben Joyce, on May 29, made his major-league debut against the White Sox in Chicago. The 22-year-old – called up form Double-A the day before – came on to start the seventh inning with the Angels up 4-3. He dispatched the White Sox on 12 pitches (10 strikes), giving up a single and fanning two. Why a fast start? Eleven of Joyce’s 12 offerings were 100+ mph. In two minor-league seasons, the 2022 third-round draft choice (out of the University of Tennessee), had gone 1-1, 3.45 with 44 strikeouts (17 walks) in 28 2/3 innings.

A Feel Good Story in Chicago

On May 29, righty Liam Hendriks – who saved 75 games for the White Sox over the 2021-22 seasons – made his first mound appearance of 2023. He came on in he top of the eighth with the Angels leading the hometown White Sox 4-3. It was a bit of a rough inning – Hendriks gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. It was, however, still a good day. It was Hendriks’ first major-league mound appearance since being diagnosed with (and treated for) stage four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last December. Hendriks entered the game to a standing ovation and chants of “Liam! Liam!” – (as wells with players in both dugouts standing to applaud his comeback). Throughout his appearance fans took every opportunity to show their appreciation for Hendriks perseverance and courage.

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for May 2023———

AVERAGE (at least 75 May at bats)

National League – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (.400); Owen Miller, Brewers (.363); Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., Diamondbacks (.352)

American League – Leody Taveras, Rangers (.368); Riley Greene, Tigers (.365); Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox (.354)

The lowest May average (among players with at least 50 at bats in the month) belonged to the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber at .115 (10-for-87). Schwarber did have seven homers and 15 RBI during the month.,

HOME RUNS

National League – Jorge Soler, Marlins (12); Pete Alonso, Mets (10); four with nine

American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (12); Salvador Perez, Royals (9); four with eight

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge had the highest May slugging percentage (among players with at least 75 at bats) at .882. The NL leader was the Dodgers Freddie Freeman at .722.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (26); Jorge Soler, Marlins (25); J.D. Martinez, Dodgers (24)

American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (25); Josh Naylor,Guardians (25); Anthony Santander,Orioles (22)

HITS

National League – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (46); Lane Thomas, Nationals (36); Spencer Steer, Reds (32); Joey Meneses, Nationals (35)

American League – Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (42); Marcus Semien, Rangers (37); Riley Greene, Tigers (35); Leody Taveras, Rangers (35)

The Padres’ Juan Soto led MLB players (with at bats 75 May at bats) in on-base percentage at .482. The AL leader was the Yankees’ Aaron Judge at .474)..

DOUBLES

National League – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (17); Juan Soto, Padres (11); five with nine

American League – Alex Verdugo, Red Sox (10); Andrew Benintendi, White Sox (10); five with nine

TRIPLES

National League – Brandon Nimmo, Mets (4); televen with two

American League – Seven with two.

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman had an MLB-high 24 extra-base hit in May. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge and White Sox’ Luis Robert shared the AL lead at 17.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (10); Starling Marte, Mets (7); Christian Yelich, Brewers (7)

American League – Esteury Ruiz, A’s (17); Wander Franco, Rays (14); three with ten

The Rays’ Taylor Walls had the most May steals without getting caught, with ten.

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Padres (25); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (22); Matt Olson, Braves (21)

American League – Adley Rutschman, Orioles (21); Randy Arozarena, Rays (20); Aaron Judge Yankees (20); Zach McKinstry, Tigers (20)

The Dodgers’ Will Smith led MLB players (with at least 75 May at bats) in walks-to-strikeouts ratio at 1.80 (18 May walks to 10 May whiffs).

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (35); Jack Suwinski, Pirates (35); four with 34

American League – Teoscar Hernandez, Mariners (40); Jarred Kalenic, Mariners (39; )Brent Rooker, A’s (38)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks (4-0); Mitch Keller,Pirates (401); Ian Gibaut, Reds (4-1)

American League – Jon Gray, Rangers (4-0); Cristian Javier, Astros (4-0); Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers (4-0); Zach Eflin, Rays (4-1); Lance Lynn, White Sox (4-2)

Alex Manoah, Blue Jays, led MLB in May losses (0-5, 6.15).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 25 May innings))

National League – Michael Wacha, Padres (0.84); Logan Webb, Giants (1.30); Bryce Elder, Braves (1.72)

American League – Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers (0.96); Jon Gray, Rangers (1.95); Mike Lorenzen, Tigers (1.95)

Among pitchers with at least four May starts or 20 innings pitched, the Orioles’ Grayson Rodriguez had the highest ERA at 11.14 … 26 earned runs in 21 innings pitched in five starts.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Spencer Strider, Braves (57 K / 33 2/3 IP); Mitch Keller, Pirates (53 K / 39 IP); Hunter Greene, Reds (40 K/ 28 IP);

American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (44 K / 31 IP); Michael Kopech, White Sox (43 K / 36 IP); Hunter Brown, Astros (42 K / 32 IP)

Among players with at least 25 May innings, the Braves Spencer Striker had the highest strikeouts- to-walks ration at 15.24. the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani led the AL at 12.77.

SAVES

National League – Camilo Doval, Giants (11); Alexis Diaz Reds (9); Pierce Johnson, Rockies (8)

American League – Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (8); fie with seven

WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched – at least 25 May innings))

National League – Michael Wacha, Padres (0.72); Mitch Keller, Pirates (0.82); Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks (0.83)

American League – Bryce Miller, Mariners (0.75); Chris Sale, Red Sox (0.81); Zack Greinke, Royals (0.83)

BONUS STAT

The Orioles’ Grayson Rodriguez gave up an MLB-high 11 home runs in May (over 21 innings).

The Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen pitched the most May innings without surrendering a home run … 35.

____________________________________________

If the MLB season ended May 31, your playoff teams would be:

National League

Dodgers, Braves, Brewers: Wild Cards: Diamondbacks, Marlins, Mets

American League

Rays, Rangers Twins: Wild Cards: Orioles, Yankees, Astros

A few Observations:

The young Orioles’ squad continues to surprise (14 games over .500), but they are going to miss Cedric Mullins (groin strain).
Who will wake up in the AL Central Division? Only one team — the Twins – is over .500.
Through May, the A’s have a minus-195 run differential (worst in MLB), The Rangers strand at the top with a +131. The only other team with a 100-run differential (plus or minus) is the Rays at +119.
How would you like to play in the AL East? The Red Sox with a 28-27 record stand in last place 10 1/2 games out.
Through May, no team has won more one-run games than the Miami Marlins (16-4 in one-run contests); the Guardians have lost the most one-run games (11-14).
The Rays are a remarkable 26-6 at home through May. The Athletics are an equally remarkable 7-24 at home.
The Orioles and and Braves have the best road winning percentages at .667 (18-9).

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

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Ken Brett’s Big Day … Double Duty in a Doubleheader

May 27, 2023 by David

On this date (May 27) in 1974, MLB saw something we’re not likely to see again. It involved a series of currently somewhat rare occurrences: a doubleheader, a complete-game shutout, a pitcher in the starting offensive lineup and a pitcher tripling as a pinch hitter (driving in the tying runs and scoring the go-ahead run). Now, any of these remain possibilities, but it seems unlikely we’d see them all in the same ballpark on the same day.

On May 27, 1974, the Pirates faced off against the Padres in a doubleheader (in Pittsburgh). Starting on the mound in Game One, with a 4-3, 3.52 record, was southpaw Ken Brett. Brett went the distance, throwing a two-hit, no-walk, four-strikeout shutout – as the Pirates won 6-0. Brett also contributed an eighth-inning, RBI single, raising his batting average on the season to .409 (9-for-22, with two homers and six RBI). But, he wasn’t done yet.

In Game Two, with the Pirates trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh – and runners on first and third with no outs – Pirates’ Manager Danny Murtaugh looked to his bench for a pinch hitter. His choice? First Game starting pitcher Ken Brett, who laced a triple to left center, scoring both runners and tying the game. Brett then scored the go-ahead run on a double by PH Al Oliver. (The Pirates eventually won 8-7.) Quite a day for Hall of Famer George Brett’s big brother. For those who like to know such things, Brett pinch hit for number-eight batter SS Frank Taveras, batting .270 at the time.

The day was part of Ken Brett’s only All Star season (in a 14-season MLB career). In 1974, Brett went 13-9, 3.30,with ten complete games and three shutouts in 27 starts. At the plate, he hit .310 (27-for-80), with four doubles, a triple, two homers and 15 RBI. Brett got at least one base hit in 17 of the 27 games he started on the mound – including six multi-hit games. He was used 16 times as a pinch hitter, collecting three hits and a walk.

Ken Brett was the winning pitcher in the 1974 All Star game giving up one hit and walk over two innings of work – as the NL won 7-2.

Ken Brett was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1966 MLB Draft – after a high school career in which he pitched and played outfield – going 33-3 on the mound and hitting .484. (Society for American Baseball Research Ken Brett Bio, by Jonathan Arnold.)

He made his MLB debut in late September of 1967, as a 19-year-old, in his second professional season. (He had gone 14-11, 1.95 at Double-A and Single-A.) The young left-handed fireballer actually pitched in two games of the 1967 World Series (1 1/3 innings, no hits, one walk, one whiff). Then things took a turn to the left.

Shortly after the 19678 World Series, Brett began a six-month stint in the U.S. Army. After being discharged, he apparently returned to the mound too quickly and suffered elbow issues that would follow him throughout his career.

He pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1967, 1969-81) and for ten different teams (Red Sox, Royals, Pirates, Angels, White Sox, Twins, Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers). He went 83-85, 3.93 in 340 games (184 starts/51 complete games). Brett won ten or more games in five seasons, a carer-high 13 in 1973, 1974 and 1977. He earned a reputation as one of MLB’s best-hitting pitchers, putting up a career average of .262 (91-for-347), with ten home runs and 44 RBI.

In 1973, Ken Brett set a still-standing MLB record for pitchers, homering in four consecutive games played (between June 16 and June 23). In the streak, he hit .308 (4-for-13), with four homers and five RBI. He also got the victory in all four games, throwing three complete games, with a 2.88 ERA. In the only game he didn’t finish he went 7 1/3 innings.

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

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Some Surprising Thefts of Home

May 21, 2023 by David

Jim Thome Steals A Win

Photo by Keith Allison

On this date (May 21), 1997, Cleveland Indians’ first baseman Jim Thome stole his only base of the season. Not much of a surprise in that statement After all, the 6’4”, 250-pound future Hall of Famer was known for his bat not his speed. In is 22-season MLB career, he would swipe only 19 bases , but would launch 612 home runs.

What made his one 1997 steal surprising is that it was a swipe of home – and proved the only run in an Indians 1-0 win over the Royals in Cleveland.

It came in the bottom of the fourth frame. With Kevin Appier on the mound, Thome opened the inning with a single to short right. Third baseman Matt Williams followed with a single to left, with Thome advancing to second. Appier then got LF David Justice looking on a 3-2 pitch. Next up was DH Julio Franco, who was safe on a fielder’s choice (Williams forced at second), with Thome moving to third. Then, on the fourth pitch (2-1 count) to RF Brian Giles, Franco broke for second. As Royals’ backstop Tim Spehr threw down to second, Thome broke for home (I was going to say scampered, but Thome never really scampered ). Franco was safe and Thome scored the game’s only run, (The singles by Thome and Williams were the only Indians’ safeties of the game).

Vic Power … Most Recent MLB Player to Steal Home Twice in a Game

On August 14, 1958, Vic Power became just the eleventh player in AL/NL history to steal home twice in one game – a feat that has not been accomplished since. Why the surprise? Power stole only three bases all season.

In a game against the Tigers (in Cleveland), Detroit was on top of the Tribe 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning – but the Indians fought back. Cleveland RF Rocky Colavito started the inning with his second home run of the game (his 26th of the season). Then pinch-hitter Gary Geiger (hitting for SS Woodie Held) walked. Next up was another pinch hitter – Vic Wertz – for pitcher Morrie Martin. Wertz tied the contest with a two-run long ball.

After a Detroit pitching change – Bill Fischer in for Tom Morgan – Indians’ 2B Bobby Avila reached on an error by Tigers’ 1B Gail Harris. Cleveland 1B Mickey Vernon sacrificed Avila to second and Power singled him home – moving on to second on an error by Detroit catcher Charlie Lau. And, the pesky Power was just warming up. He went to third on a wild pitch by Fischer and then stole home with LF Minnie Minoso at the plate (after a short fly out to center by catcher Russ Nixon) to run the lead to 9-7. Minoso was hit by a pitch and stole second before CF Larry Doby flied out to end the inning. The Tribe bullpen, however, could not hold the two-run lead – and the Tigers tied it in the top of the ninth. That opened the door for Power’s historic second steal of home – which came in the bottom of the tenth, with the bases loaded, two outs and one of the AL’s most dependable RBI men (Rocky Colavito, with 74 driven in at that point in the season) at the plate.

Here’s how that tenth went. Vernon grounded out. Then, Power singled to right (his third hit of the day, raising his average to .319). Nixon followed with another single, Power moving to second. Minoso grounded to short, with Power moving on to third, Nixon forced at second and Minoso reaching first on the fielder’s choice. Doby was intentionally walked, loading the bases and bringing Colavito to the dish. On the fourth pitch to the Indians’ slugger, Power – who had been scampering up and down the third base line – broke for the plate and ended the game on a “run off” steal of home.

First part of this surprise: Going into that August 14 tilt, Power had exactly one stolen base on the season – and he did not steal a single bag for the remainder of that campaign. The fact is, he was much more likely to beat you with his glove (seven Gold Gloves) or his bat (.284 career average) than his legs. In twelve MLB seasons, Power stole just 45 bases (and was caught 35 times). Second part of this surprise: The steal came with Colavito at the plate.

Glenn Brummer – A Running Walk Off

Catchers are usually more noted for defending home plate then stealing it. Cardinals’ backup backstop Glenn Brummer, however, may be best remembered for his walk-off steal of home in the 12^th inning of a Cardinals’ 5-4 win over the Giants on September 22,1982.

Brummer (who had entered the game in the pinch runner in the eighth) started the winning rally with a one-out single to left off the Giants’ Gary Lavelle. Brummer went to second on a single by CF Willie McGee. Then after a pop out by 3B Julio Gonzalez, Brummer advanced to third on an infield single by SS Ozzie Smith. Next, with a 1-2 count on LF David Green, Brummer surprised everyone in the park and broke for home. He was safe, delivering the walk-off steal of home plate.

Bummer stole only four bases (and was thrown out eight times) in his five-season (178 games played) MLB career. His final stat line was .251-1-27.

Another Catcher Puts up a Big Steal of Home

In Game Seven of the 1964 World Series (Yankees/Cardinals), Cardinals’ catcher Tim McCarver swiped home in the bottom of the fourth. The score was 1-0 Cardinals at the time, and the Redbirds had McCarver on third and RF Mike Shannon on first with one out. The Cardinals successfully executed a double steal with light-hitting Dal Maxvill at the plate. Saint Louis eventually prevailed 7-5.

During the 1964 regular season, McCarver had stolen just two bases (two attempts). For his 21-season MLB career, McCarver was 61-for-100 in steal attempts. Is career stat line was .271-97-645.

Let’s Take A Chance, It’s Only a Big Game

On October 11, 1997 – in the third game of the American League Championship Series (Indians/Orioles) – the two teams came into the 12th inning tied at one apiece. The Orioles failed to score to score in the top of the inning, setting the stage for an historic moment for Indians’ CF Marquis Grissom. After LF Brian Giles fanned (against Randy Myers) to open the frame, number-nine hitter Grissom walked. That brought up 2B Tony Fernandez, who singled with Grissom gong to third. Next was SS Omar Vizquel, who got the “squeeze” sign with a 2-1 count. Vizquel squared to bunt and missed the ball – with Grissom speeding toward home. The ball glanced off catcher Lenny Webster’s glove and Grissom was safe and credited with a walk-off steal of home. Okay, Grissom stealing home is not a surprise, he did have 429 steals over a 17-season MLB career (1989-2005). But the fact that his was the first-ever MLB post-season walk-off steal of home (and it came on a botched suicide squeeze) qualified Grissom’s dash for this list.

Grissom’s final MLB stat line was .272-227-967, with those 429 steals.

An oddity

Both Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth notched double digit steals of home in their MLB careers (15 and 10, respectively). Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Maury Wills did not.

Some steal-of-home tidbits:

Ty Cobb – no surprise here – holds the MLB career record for steals of home with 54, as well as the single-season record with eight.
The Yankees’ Bob Muesel stole home an MLB career-record two times in the World Series (Game Two, 1921 and Game Three, 1928).
On October 7, 2021 – in Game One of the Red Sox/Rays AL Division Series, Rays’ LF Randy Arozarena became the fist player to hit a home run and steal home in the same post-season game.
There have been 34 regular-season walk-off steals of home in the AL/NL – only one player has two Wally Moses (Athletics – August 20, 1940) and White Sox (July 7, 1943).

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

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Racking up the Putouts … and a Segue to Richie Ashburn

May 20, 2023 by David

Photo: Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia

On this day (May 20) in 2009, Red Sox’ CF Jacob Ellsbury tied the MLB record for putouts in a nine-inning game by a CF (and by an outfielder any position) – with 12 – capturing two fly balls in the first inning; two in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth, none in the seventh or eighth and one in the ninth. The record-tying putout was the final out of the game – an 8-3 Red Sox win over the Blue Jays.

In a bit of a twist, in the same game, Blue Jays’ CF Vernon Wells tied the record for fewest putouts in a nine-inning game by a CF – with zero.

Here are the single-game (nine inning) put out record for outfielders.

CF – 12

Earl Clark, Braves … May 10, 1929

Lyman Bostock, Twins … May 25, 1977

Jacob Ellsbury, Red Sox … May 20, 2009

LF – 11

Dick Harley, St. Louis Browns (NL) … June 30, 1898

Topsy Hartsel, Chicago Orphans (NL) … September 10, 1901

Paul Lehner, Athletics … June 25, 1950

Willie Horton, Tigers … July 18, 1960

RF – American League – 11 … National League – 10

Tony Armas, A’s … June 12, 1982

***

Bill Nicholson, Cubs … September 17, 1945

Raul Mondesi, Dodgers … September 25, 1999

A few other outfield putouts factoids:

Willie Mays leads all MLB players in career outfield putouts with 7,112.
Taylor Douthit of the 1928 Cardinal holds the record for outfield putouts in a season with 547.

This look at outfield putout records provide me with a nice segue to a look at one of my favorite players (from my younger days) – Phillies’ CF Richie Ashburn

Richie Ashburn – A Defensive Putout Machine and a “Single-ular” Force on Offense

Photo: Bowman Gum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Richie Ashburn of the Phillies led NL outfielders in putouts nine times between 1949 and 1958 (the only season in that span he didn’t lead the NL in putouts was 1955, when he finished third, behind the Braves’ Billy Bruton and Giants’ Willie Mays). The Pirates’ Max Carey shares the record for most years leading his league’s outfielders in putouts with Ashburn (9). Carey’s nine leading seasons came between 1912 and 1925.

Six of the top ten seasons for putouts by an outfielder belong to Ashburn. No other player is in the top ten more than once. Ashburn had four seasons of 500+ outfield putouts, no other player had more had more than one. Ashburn ranks sixth overall in career MLB outfield putouts with 6,089.

Ashburn, was known not only for his fine defensive ability, but also for his bunting skills – an art that contributed to his offensive contribution to the Phillies.

“Bunting is a lost art. Nobody works on it … Thirty five of my 225 hits one year were bunts, most of them pushed toward third.”

Richie Ashburn in a 1991 interview with sportswriter Norman L. Macht

Ashburn was also recognized for his ability to foul off pitches he couldn’t turn into safeties – a skill that contributed to both his on-base percentage (long at bats that turned into walks) and low strikeout totals. In his 15-season MLB carer, Ashburn never struck out more than 50 times in a season – a total of 571 whiffs (1,198 walks) in 9,737 plate appearances. In 1952, he fanned just 30 times in 702 pate appearances (154 games).

A Somewhat Foul Ashburn Story … Courtesy of the History Channel (and other sources)

On August 17, 1957, in an at bat against the Giants, Richie Ashburn hit a foul ball that struck a fan in the stands (Alice Roth) in the face. Now, here’s the rest of the story, as noted at History.com. “After being struck by a foul ball off the bat of future Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, Roth is being treated for a broken nose, when the Philadelphia Phillies’ star fouled off the very next pitch, hitting her in the leg and breaking it.” Side note: Alice Roth was the spouse of Philadelphia Bulletin Sports Editor Earl Roth.

Surprisingly, the speedy Ashburn began his professional career with a focus on being a catcher. However, his speed led quickly to a position change. In Ashburn’s Society for American Baseball Research bio (by Seamus Kearny), it is reported that a defining moment leading to the position switch came when Ashburn – playing catcher for the Class-A Utica Blue Sox – on a play with a batted ball hit to the right side (and pursued by both the first baseman and second baseman), Ashburn came out from behind the plate, tossed his mask and didn’t just back up the play at first, but beat the runner to the bag and took the throw for a 4-2 ground out.

Ashburn is the fastest man I’ve ever seen getting down to first base … Anybody who’s faster than Ashburn isn’t running, He’s flying.

Leo Durocher

Signed as an 18-year-old, Ashburn played in just two minor-league seasons (both in A-Ball), hitting .342 over 243 games. Ashburn went on to play 15 MLB seasons (1948-59, Phillies … 1960-61, Cubs … 1962 Mets,). The Hall of Famer hit. 308-29-586, with 1,322 runs scored and 234 steals. (Eight of his 29 home runs were inside-the-parkers.)

Known for his ability to slap, slash, bunt and bounce his way on base, 82 percent of Richie Ashburn’ 2,574 regular-season hits were singles.

Ashburn was an All Star in five seasons. On offense, he won two batting titles, led his league in hits three times, triples twice, stolen bases once, walks four times and on-base percentage four times. On defense, in addition to leading NL outfielders in putouts nine times, he led NL outfielders assist three times and double plays three times.

Right at the Top of the List(s)

Richie Ashburn not only led MLB outfielders in putouts in the 1950’s (1950-59) with 4,611, he also led all major leaguers in base hits over the same period with 1,875 (for a .313 average).

Richie Ashburn’s Best Season: In 1958, Richie Ashburn led the NL in batting average (.350), base hits (215), triples (13), on-base percentage (.440). He also drew a league-leading 97 walks, scored 98 runs and stole 30 bases. In addition, he led NL outfielders in putouts (495).

Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.com.

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Guest Post – John Paciorek on The Art and Science of Perfect Batsmanship

May 17, 2023 by David

Baseball Roundtable is pleased to present a guest post from former major leaguer John Paciorek, who has spent a lifetime playing and studying the national pastime – and, in particular, the art of hitting a baseball. In this essay, Paciorek offers what he has observed and learned about developing the optimal approach to batsmanship. Before, we get into the essay – a bit about Paciorek.

John Paciorek’s drive and talent got him onto a major-league field on September 29, 1963 – at the age of 18 – for the Houston Colt .45s (that‘s what they were called then). Paciorek’s passion for the national pastime comes as no surprise, two of his brothers – Jim and Tom Paciorek – also made it to the major leagues. But, back to John’s career. Batting seventh and playing right field, Paciorek had an auspicious debut. In addition to four cleanly handled outfield chances, he racked up five plate appearances, three hits, two walks, four runs scored and three RBI. As surprising as his debut major league performance is the fact that the game also represented Paciorek’s major-league finale. Still, John Paciorek had the most successful one-game MLB career in history (a 1.000 batting average; on-base percentage; slugging percentage; and fielding percentage).

What happened? Paciorek’s major league potential was cut short by a back injury that required surgery in 1964, sidelined him for all of 1965 and limited him to four minor-league seasons going forward. After leaving professional baseball, Paciorek went on to earn a degree in physical education and forged a career as a physical education teacher. But he never lost his passion for – and deep interest in – the intricacies of the game. Paciorek has expressed that passion in (among other ways) the authorship of three baseball-focused books Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans; The Principle of Baseball – and All There is to Know About Hitting; and If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now. He has also established a baseball-focused website – at JohnPaciorek.com.

Now, here is Paciorek’s essay on the art of hitting a pitched ball.

Professional Baseball Batter’s Most Vulnerable Stage

As He/She Is Attempting to Hit A Pitched Ball

By

John F. Paciorek

Since I finished my career in Major League Baseball on the final day of the 1963 season – on a day that I came to the plate five times, walked twice, had three singles, scored four runs, knocked in three (and suddenly became destined to posterity as the only MLB player with two or more at-bats to record a single-season and career batting average and on-base percentage of 1.000) – I have relegated myself to the idea that penultimate “batting proficiency” can be attained even if perfection is inaccessible to all other major-leaguers.

The circumstances surrounding my “One Game” performance are documented by Steven Wagner in his Book, PERFECT, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder. To me, the most remarkable thing that I recall from that otherwise wonderful one-game experience is the very fact that I could warrant such acclamation while sporting a batting technique that I have since calibrated as so devoid of practical application that I wonder how I ever made it to the big leagues. Yet, this technique is one that many players still use today and, as a result, are experiencing the same batting inconsistency I normally suffered through during my playing days. I’m now assuming that I was either extremely lucky or it was a work of providence to have such a Perfect Day.

Within the last 60 years, I’ve attempted to formulate a practical method by which any aspiring baseball player could simply and logically transcend the gamut of mortal illogical reasoning and the despairing moments of human futility to ascend to a nominal level of batting proficiency. After much study and trial and error, I was able to compile a plethora of valuable information, both metaphysically and scientifically adept, and transpose it in written form to three books and hundreds of essays that comprise the website from which I hoped others could glean.

Mostly every batter, whether an inept amateur, competent sandlot prodigy or a professional of variable regard, is inherently drawn to the instinctive notion that he/she needs to stride into a pitched ball in order to hit it with maximum power, force or efficiency. Even those who realize that a minimum stride is theoretically advantageous to seeing the speeding ball with near optimum acuity seem to still insist on lifting the front foot to initiate an opposing force to the pitcher’s powerful delivery. Thus, the actual point at which the batter is at his MOST DEBILITATING!

I have observed recently two current professional batters who simply lift the heel of the front-foot as the pitch is delivered and vigorously plant it down as the ball reaches the hitting zone, creating a better chance to achieve batting consistency. They are major-leaguer Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals) and minor-leaguer Ben Gobbel (San Bernadino 66ers). Goldschmidt has already established himself as a prominent hitter in the major leagues, well regarded for the consistency he has demonstrated over his tenure. But he is by no means perfect nor an example of a Penultimate Batter. Gobbel has just recently changed his technique from that of a slight stride to that of “heel-lift” and his college batting prowess caught the attention of the Anaheim Angels who offered him a minor-league contract to play in the California League this year. He had been showing great potential until he recently broke his left hand by a pitched ball.

Both Goldschmidt and Gobbel (as well as most hitters) understand that, in order to hit a pitched ball effectively in professional baseball, a batter must see it with maximum acuity. Unfortunately, even professional major leaguers do not understand that any movement of the head and eyes diminishes the capacity for “Maximum-Acuity.” In addition, the conscious thought of simply raising the “front heel” expends energy that deprives the batter of optimal “focus” on the pitched ball.

Although Gobbel and Goldschmidt are on the right track in securing batting prowess, they are not altogether on the highest level for experiencing batting perfection. Both would do well if they would copy the batting technique of the greatest hitter in baseball history (besides me – just kidding) – Barry Bonds!

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

I picture Barry Bonds in the batter’s box and wonder why more (if not all) batters didn’t try to emulate the technique he brought to the plate? His .370 average (2002) was an understatement of his potential (even with his “senior citizen” status). One of the only things that kept him from hitting 100 home runs and averaging over .400 was the despicable tendency of pitchers who avoided throwing to him.

I don’t know how good an athlete has to be to attain the status of consistent performer. But he shouldn’t have to be an Einstein to figure out (from video replays) what it is that Barry Bonds did differently from all other batters. Each, or any of them, could possibly translate that information into a means to eliminate the margins of error that he unwittingly employed. Most players must think that Bonds was an anomaly and could not be duplicated in strength and natural ability (besides the steroid controversy).

It was neither strength nor natural ability which allowed Barry to stand out as the greatest exponent of batting excellence the national pastime has ever seen. It was his masterful application of the basic fundamentals of batting principles that afforded him the facility to approach impeccable batting technique and execution. He was the only hitter who came to the plate, and looked as though he should get a hit every time he swung his bat.

What was it that Barry did consistently right, that most, if not all, other batters do only sporadically? The answer is five separate things:

He established a strong low center of gravity while waiting for the ball.
He eliminated movement of his head and eyes. (Only slightest of strides … No-stride would’ve been even better.)
He waited patiently for the ball to get to him, while he quietly lowered his hands to begin an unobtrusive rhythm of his arms.
When the ball got to his hitting zone, four things happened simultaneously:a.

The front foot planted quickly and firmly – at a 120-degree angle to the pitcher
Front shoulder “shrugged” upward, while back shoulder and elbow drove downward (hands staying behind back shoulder and resenting a flat bat as the body was turning to address the pitched ball)
Back bent knee drove forward, allowing the hips to turn rapidly with a straightening front leg
The shoulders followed the hips in rapid succession, arms extending through the contact of the ball.

From contact, through the straightening of arms, through the follow-through, the shoulders were continuously flowing, until they had reversed positions.

Photo: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The only player capable of superseding Bonds in batting efficiency is Aaron Judge, if he would change a few minor things in his batting technique. Because of his natural overpowering strength, Judge doesn’t need to stride. So, he should merely assume a stance wherein he does not have to stride, but rather simply push down onto his front foot from a stable bent-knee position to begin his swing. When he pushes down, his front foot should be pointed at 120 degrees toward the pitcher. By doing this, he will avoid twisting his ankle and knee as the weight will be distributed evenly onto his foot and leg as did Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. If Judge continues in his current stance and approach to the ball, he will never surpass Barry as the greatest batter ever!

Like Judge, both Gobbel and Goldschmidt address the pitcher with both feet parallel and toes pointed toward the plate. When they plant the front foot as the heel comes down, they inadvertently strain the ankle and knee as they commence with their powerful swings.

With regard to Goldschmidt and Gobbel, with their feet perpendicular to the plate through their swings, they never express their full power because their ankles are twisted, and foot not fully planted. When Judge takes a full swing, you can always see his front ankle twisted almost to the point of spraining.

For a detailed analysis of Judge’s batting stance and stride,click here.

The best pre-condition for these three hitters (as well as ALL batters) is to assume a “Bonds-like” batting stance (low and stable) with front foot pointed at 120 degrees toward the pitcher, after they have spread their legs and feet to a distance equal to what would be their normal strides. Their hands and bat should be at a position no higher than what is considered a high strike. (In Little League right on up to the major leagues, when the hands are up too high, the batter has a tendency to see the high pitch too clearly and with the hands and bat at that position, they can’t stop themselves from swinging at it.)

A pitcher’s most consistent “out-pitch” with two strikes on a batter with hands high is a high fastball above the strike-zone. The main reason a batter misses the high pitch is that when he begins his swing from a high position, his power muscles of “lats and pecs” naturally drive the arms and bat down under the ball. If the arms and bat begin at the high strike, it is easier for an adept “swinger of the bat” to adjust his thinking as well as his bat-control to the non-strike, while still remaining competent in hitting the high pitch within the zone.

Following these instructions is made easier if the batter can manage to contain his primal instinct to stride after a pitched ball. With the “No-Stride,” all the batter has to do has to do is WAIT, BE READY, PUSH DOWN on front foot and explode with extreme intensity by way of the correct mechanical employment of his legs, hips, shoulders, arms, and hands at the ball that he sees most clearly making its way into his striking zone. Thus, it takes away the mental strain of wondering when to “Put the front foot down”!

For any more information about the only sure way of becoming as close to a Perfect Batter in the Big-Leagues, as well as in all lower levels of Baseball, please consult my website at www.johnpaciorek.com.

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Guest Post – John Paciorek on The Art and Science of Perfect Batsmanship

Professional Baseball Batter’s Most Vulnerable Stage

As He/She Is Attempting to Hit A Pitched Ball

By

John F. Paciorek

For a detailed analysis of Judge’s batting stance and stride,click here.

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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