In Baseball Roundtable’s last post, we took a look at MLB’s (batting) Triple Crown Winners – with an emphasis on those who earned that distinction in multiple seasons. (For that post, click here.)  This post will look at a less publicized Triple Crown category, focusing on those  hurlers who won MLB’s pitching Triple Crown (Wins-Earned Run Average, Strikeouts); again emphasizing those with multiple qualifying seasons.  The list reads like w “Who’s Who” of moundsmen. You might recognize some of them by their  nicknames The Left Arm of God, The Big Train, Rocket, Big Six and a couple of well-known Lefty’s.”  Of the 32 pitchers who have recorded at least one Triple Crown season, 19 are in the Hall of Fame  (three of those not in the Hall have yet to be eligible).

So, let’s get on with it.

Pitchers with Three Triple Crown Seasons

Asterisk = Hall of Famer

 

Sandy Koufax* … 1963, 1965, 1966

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax (aka “The Left Arm of God”) earned three pitching Triple Crowns in the midst of one of the most dominant streaks in MLB pitching history. From 1962 through 1966, Koufax went 111-34, with a 1.95 earned run average and 1,444 strikeouts in 1377 innings. In that five-season stretch, Koufax led the NL in:

• Earned Run Average all five seasons;
• Wins in three campaigns;
• Shutouts three times;
• Strikeouts three times (all three with 300+ whiffs);
• Complete games twice;
• WHIP four times;
• Strikeouts per nine innings four times.

 

In that five-season span, he also won three Cy Young Awards earned one  NL MVP Award and threw four no-hitters (one a perfect game).

“I can see how he won 25 games. What I don’t understand is how he lost five.”

                      Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra on Sandy Koufax (1963)

If it were not for traumatic arthritis in his  pitching elbow – which forced his retirement at age 30 (after one his finest seasons) – Koufax probably would have eventually moved into first place on his own in the pitching Triple Crown list.  In his final MLB season, Koufax led all of MLB in wins (27); ERA (1.73); strikeouts (317); innings pitched (323); starts (4, tied); complete games (27); shutouts (tied, five).

For his career Koufax was 165-87, 2.76, with 2,396 whiffs in 2,324 innings.

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A Tale of Two Pitchers

Sandy Koufax started as a hard thrower who, some observed, saw his control diminish as his velocity increased.  In Spring Training 1961, it has been reported, Dodgers’ catcher Norm Sherry, urged Koufax to loosen his group on the ball, take a little bit off his fastball and make more use of his curve and change-up.

As the chart below shows that advice apparently made an impression (or, perhaps, Koufax just matured – he was only 25 in 1961).

“I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss her ball and stated trying to make then hit it.”

                                                           Sandy Koufax

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Walter Johnson* … 1913, 1918, 1924

Hall of Famer Walter “The Big Train”  Johnson notched three Triple Crown seasons in a  21-season MLB career that saw him win 417 games with 12 seasons of 20 or more wins. In his first Triple Crown season, Johnson also led the AL in complete games (29), shutouts (11), innings pitched (346), WHIP (0.78). He also notched (among qualifiers) the fewest walks per nine innings and most strikeouts per nine innings. That performance earned him one of his two AL MVP Awards. His second MVP Award would come 11-seasons later (1924), when he as picked up his third pitching Triple Crown.

How good was Walter Johnson?  In his  career, he led the American League in:

• Strikeouts 12 times;
• Wins six times;
• ERA five times;
• Starts four times;
• Complete games six times;
• Shutouts seven times;
• Innings pitched five times.

Between 1910 and 1916, Johnson won 25 or more games in every season. You get the idea.

No Need to Dust Off  Plate … Nobody’s Coming Home

Walter Johnson’s 110 career shutouts are the all-time MLB high,  20 ahead of runner-up Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander.

Johnson finished his career with a 417-279 record (second in wins only to Cy Young); a 2.17 ERA; 531 complete games (fifth all-time) in 666 starts;  and 3,509 strikeouts (ninth all-time).

“His fastball looked about the size of a watermelon seed and it hissed at you as it passed.”

                                           Hall of Famer Ty Cobb on Walter Johnson

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Grover Cleveland Alexander* … 1915, 1916, 1920

Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander made his MLB debut with the Philllies in 1911 – at the age of 24 – and he wasted no time in showing his potential on the major-league stage.  In that rookie season, he led the National League  in wins (28 – versus 13 losses), complete games (31), shutouts (7) and innings pitched (367),  while finishing fifth in ERA and second in strikeouts.

Of note is the fact that Alexander Alexander’s professional baseball career almost ended before he ever made it to a major-league mound. In a July 1909 Missouri League game, Alexander, running between first and second, was hit in the head by the shortstop’s attempted double play relay. According to Jan Finkel’s Society for American Baseball Research Alexander biography “”Reports vary, but he was unconscious between 36 and 56 hours. He awoke suffering from double vision, which he endured during the fall and winter into the next spring.” It’s possible the injury contributed to epilepsy that would later take its toll on the future Hall of Famer.

In his first Triple Crown season (1915), Alexander led the NL not only in wins (31), ERA (1.22) and strikeouts (241), but also in complete games (36), shutouts (12), innings pitched (376 1/3) and  WHIP (0.842).

Lucky Number Seven

In his first seven MLB seasons (1915-17), Pete Alexander led the NL in wins and strikeouts five times each (three times reaching 30 or more victories).

Over his 20-season MLB career, Alexander led the NL in wins six times, ERA five times, complete games six times, shutouts seven times, innings pitched seven times and strikeouts six times.

Alexander’s baseball career was interrupted in 1917 by military service in World War. He reportedly suffered from shell shock (which we would now term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), as well as ear and arm injuries.  His injuries, coupled with epilepsy and ongoing issues with alcohol, likely had had an impact on Alexander’s mound achievements.  For example, in his first seven seasons (1911-1917), Alexander led the NL in strikeouts five times. In his final 13 seasons (post World War I service), he led the league in whiffs just once.  From 1911 through 1917, Alexander was 190-88, winning an average of 24 games  per season with a 2.12 ERA. From 1918 through his retirement in 1930, he went 183-120, winning an average of 14 games per season) and posting  a  2.96 Era.

Still, Alexander maintained the pinpoint control that was his trademark as a moundsman. Over his 20-season MLB career, he walked only 1.6 batters per nine frames and, from 1914 through 1929, walked just 1.4 batters per nine innings, never reaching 2 batters per nine frames in any season.

Put It There, right There, Pal

Over his MLB career, Pete Alexander recorded the fewest walks per nine innings in his league five times and finished in the top two a total of ten times.   

Over his 20-MLB seasons, Alexander went 373-208, 2.56 with 436 complete games and 90 shutouts  in 600 starts (696 appearances). His 373 MLB wins are third all-time and his 90 shutouts second, (first in the NL). He won 20 or more games nine times, with 30 or more wins in three of those seasons. He led the NL in ERA five times, complete games six times, shutouts seven times, innings pitched seven times and strikeouts six times. His 16 shutouts in 1916 remain tied for the most-ever in a single MLB season.

“He (Pete Alexander) could pitch into a Tin Can. His control was always remarkable – the finest I’ve ever seen.”

            Grantland Rice in “Winningest Pitchers: Baseball’s 300-Game Winners”

Another Roundtable” one thing leads to another” moment: ” Grover Cleveland Alexander is the only MLB player named after a past president, who later had a future president play him in a movie. (Ronald Reagan played Alexander in the 1952 movie The Winning Team.)

 

Players with Two Pitching Triple Crowns

Asterisk = Hall of Famer

Roger Clemens … 1997, 1998

Roger Clemens put together consecutive Triple Crown seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998. They were his age-34 and age-35 seasons, 14^th and 15^th MLB campaigns.  By the start of the 1997 season, he was already a five-time All Star with a 192 MLB wins on his resume.

Clemens played in 24 MLB seasons (1984-2002 … Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees,Astros) – taking the mound from age 21 to age 44.  He led his league in wins four times, ERA seven times, strikeouts five times, complete games three times and shutouts six times. Along the way, Clemens won a record  seven Cy Young Awards and was the 1986 American League MVP. His overall stats were: 354-184 (ninth in career  MLB wins), 3.12, with 4,672 strikeouts (third) in 4,916 2/3 innings pitched (16^th).

Twenty Times Two

Roger Clemens is the only MLB pitcher to record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game twice. In those two games (April 29, 1986 and September 18, 1996)  – both for the Red Sox – he pitched 18 innings, gave up eight hits and one run, while walking zero and fanning 40. For those who liked to know such things, the one run came on a Gorman Thomas (Mariners) home run on a 1-2 pitch in the top of the seventh inning of the 1986 outing.

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Lefty Gomez* … 1934, 1937

Hall of Famer Vernon “Lefty” Gomez, captured the American League pitching Triple Crown in 1934 and 1937. Those were the only two seasons in which Gomez led  the AL in wins, the only two seasons he led in ERA and two of the only three seasons he led in strikeouts. He also led the AL in complete games once, shutouts three times and innings pitched once

Gomez finished with a career mark of 189-102 (including four seasons of 20+ wins), 3.34, with 1,468 strikeouts in 2,503 innings pitched, and 173 complete games in 320 starts.  He was 6-0, 2.86 in seven World Series starts.

Quick with the Quip

Lefty Gomez was known as one of baseball’s most engaging and entertaining characters, His plaque in the New York Yankees’ Monument Park reads “Noted for his excellent wit, as he was fast with a quip and a pitch.”

Gomez pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1930-42 for the Yankees and one game in  1943 for the Senators). He was an All Star in seven seasons.

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Lefty Grove* … 1930, 1931

Hall of Famer Robert “Lefty” Grove notched back-to-back Triple Crown seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1930 and 1931.  Those campaigns were part of a seven-season stretch (1927-33) in which he won 20 or more games each season (31 in 1931), leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts four times each.

 

Put Me In Coach

In his 1930 Triple Crown season, Gomez not only led the Al in wins, ERA and whiffs, he also topped the league in saves (noted retroactively) with nine. That season, he made 52 starts and 18 relief appearances. He was 23-2, 2.55 as a starter and 5-2, 2.03, with nine saves  as a reliever.

Grove pitched 17 MLB seasons (1925-41 … Athletics, Red Sox) going 300-142, 3.06, with 298 complete games in 457 starts.  He led the AL  strikeouts seven times – his first seven MLB seasons (1925-31). He also led the league in ERA nine times, complete games three times, shutouts three times,  He was the 1931 AL MVP.

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Christy Mathewson* … 1905, 1908

In Hall of  Famer Christy “Big Six” Mathewson’s second Triple Crown season (Giants 1908), he not only led the National League in wins (37) ERA (1.43) and strikeouts (259), but also in pitching appearances (56), saves (5), starts (44), complete games (34), shutouts (11), innings pitched 390 2/3 and WHIP (0.827).

Christy Mathewson was, in many ways, the All-American boy (one of his nicknames was “The Gentleman Hurler) – handsome, honest, well-educated, well-read and well-spoken. At Bucknell University, he played football, basketball and baseball and  was a bright student, a class president and a member of the band, glee club and a pair of literary societies.

“Christy (Mathewson was the greatest pitcher who ever lived. He had knowledge, judgment, perfect, control and form. It was wonderful to watch him pitch, when he wasn’t pitching against you.”

                                              Hall of Fame Manager Connie Mack

Mathewson played in 17 MLB seasons (1900-16 … Giants, except for one game with the Reds in 1916).  He won 20 or more games in 13 seasons (30 or more four times) and led NL in wins four times, ERA five times, complete games twice, strikeouts five times and shutouts four times. He led in strikeouts-to-walks ratio nine times, including eight consecutive seasons (1907-14).

Mathewson finished his career with a 373-188 record, a 2.13 ERA, 2,507 strikeouts (in 4,788 2/3 innings)  and 435 complete games in 552 starts.

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Pitchers with Single Triple Crown Seasons

Asterisk = Hall of Famer

2020 –  Shane Bieber, Indians. American League … 8-1, 1.63 ERA, 122K

2011 –  Justin Verlander,  Tigers, American League  … 24-5, 2.40 ERA, 250K

2011 – Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, National League… 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 248K

2007 – Jake Peavey, Padres, National League … 19-6, 2.54 ERA, 240K

2007 was the only season in which Jake Peavey led the league in wins.  In fact, it was the only season in which he won more than 15 games.  He led the NL in strikeouts twice and ERA twice in his 15 MLB seasons.

2006 –  Johan Santana, Twins, American League … 19-6, 2.77 ERA, 245K

2002  – Randy Johnson*, D-backs, American League … 24-5, 2.32 ERA, 334K

Randy Johnson had five seasons of 300+ whiffs, including four consecutive (1999-2002).

1999  – Pedro Martinez*, Red Sox, American League…. 23-4, 2.07, 313K

In 1999, Pedro Martinez led the AL in wins by five, won the ERA title by 1.37 earned runs per nine frames and had 113 more strikeouts than the AL runner-up.

1985  – Dwight Gooden, Mets, National League … 24-4, 1.53 ERA, 268K

1972  – Steve Carlton*, Phillies … 27-10, 1.97, 310K

Steve Carlton won the 1972 pitcher Triple Crown for the last-place  Phillies (who finished 59-97).

1945  – Hal Newhouser*, Tigers, American League … 25-9, 1.81 ERA, 212K

1943 – Johnny Wright, Homestead Grays, Negro National League II … 18-3, 2,54 ERA,  94K

1940  – Bob Feller*, Indians, American League … 27-11, 2.61 ERA, 261K

1939  – Bucky Walters, Reds, National League … 27-11, 2.29, 137K

1938  – Ray Brown*, Homestead Grays, Negro National League II … 14-0, 1.88 ERA, 70K

Between 1935 and 1942 (eight seasons), Ray Brown led the Negro National League II in wins six times. 

1934 – Stuart “Slim” Jones, Philadelphia Stars, Negro National League II … 20-4, 1.24 ERA, 164K

1924  – Arthur “Dazzy” Vance*, Brooklyn Robins, National League … 28-6, 2.16 ERA, 262K

Dazzy Vance led the NL in strikeouts in seven straight seasons (1922-28).

1918 – James “Hippo” Vaughn, Cubs, National League … 22-10, 1.74 ERA, 148K

1913  – George “Rube” Waddell*, Athletics, American League 27-10, 1.48 ERA, 287K

In 1902, Rube Waddell started the season with the Los Angeles Angels of the California League. He joined the Philadelphia Athletics in mid-season (making his first appearance June 26). He went on (in that short span) to win 24 games (the league’s second-highest total), put up the league’s second-best ERA (2.05) and lead the league in strikeouts (205).  He would go on to lead the league in whiffs in each of the next five seasons.

1901 – Denton “Cy”  Young*, Boston Americans, American League … 33-10, 1.62 ERA, 158K

1894 – Amos Rusie*, New York Giants, National League … 36-13, 2.78 ERA, 195K

1889 –  John Clarkson*, Boston Beaneaters, National League … 49-19, 2.73 ERA, 284K

1888 – Tim Keefe*, New York Giants, National League … 35-12, 1.74 Era 335K

1884  – Guy Hecker, Louisville Eclipse, American Association … 52-20, 1.80 ERA, 385K

In 1886, Guy Hecker went 26-23, 2.87 on the mound  – and led the American Association in batting with a .341 average. He appeared in 49 games on the mound, 22 at first base and 17 in the outfield.

1884 – Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn*, Providence Grays, National League  60-12, 1.38 ERA, 441K

In 1884, Old Hoss Radbourn started 73 games and completed 73 games. He also come on in relief in two games and appeared in seven games in the outfield, five at first base, two at shortstop and one at second base.

Side Note: Some sources credit Radbourn with “only” 59 wins in 1884, baseball-reference lists the total at 60.

1877 – Tommy Bond, Boston Red Stockings, National League … 40-17, 2.11 ERA, 170K

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com, “The Baseball 100,” by Joe Posnanski, Avid Reader Press, 2021.

 

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Major League Baseball, in 2020, declared the Negro Leagues from 1920-1948 to be Major Leagues.  That change should prompt a new look at some old trivia – and some adjustments in how we view the record books. The inclusion of Negro  League statistics is possible to a great extent by the work of the creators of the Seamheads.com Negro League Data Base, as well as the finding of study by the Negro League Researchers and Author Group and the work of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.  Baseball-Reference.com also deserves kudos for its efforts to incorporate Negro League statistics into its data base.  Note: Keep in mind, MLB is counting only league records not barnstorming or exhibition exploits, there were not uniform record-keeping standards during the era and statistics and game records are not yet fully incorporated.

These efforts, as noted, are producing  some changes in the Major-League record books – many of particular interest to trivia buffs. For example, Mike Schmidt, with eight MLB home runs title, has long been considered number-two in that category – trailing only Babe Ruth’s 12 home run crowns.  Well, between 1930 and 1946 Josh Gibson won 11 Negro National League II home run titles. Then, there is Satchel Paige, long listed as one of a handful of pitchers with a losing record  to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. With the addition of his eligible Negro Leagues stats from 1927-47, he is now credited with a 121-81 major league won-lost mark. And there are other popular trivia question answers that have or may change.  For example, Leon Day of the Newark Eagles has joined Bob Feller as one of (now) only  two pitchers to have  thrown an Opening Day no-hitter.  And, Baseball-reference.com now shows a handful of Negro League players who fashioned a .400 batting average in the seasons after Ted Williams’ .406 in 1941. Most of those involved season in which the player appeared in less than 50 games.  However, in 1943, the Homestead Grays’ Josh Gibson hit .466 in 69 games.

With this situation in mind, Baseball Roundtable will present occasional post that reflects the inclusion of Negro League statistics into the MLB record books.  Let’s start with Triple Crown winners.

Q:  Name the four major-league players who have won multiple (batting) Triple Crowns.

 

Three Triple Crowns – Oscar Charleston – 1921, 1924, 1925

Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston (OF/1B) was one of the stars of the Negro Leagues. Among major leaguers, his .364 career average (over 18 seasons and 916 games …  1920-27, 1929, 1933-41– 916) trails only Ty Cobb’s .366 (among players with 3,000 career major-league plate appearances).   Charleston led his league in runs scored six times,  home runs five times, RBI four times, total bases four times, batting average three times (each time hitting over .400), hits three times, triples three times, doubles twice, stolen bases twice. In his prime seasons 1920-27  -ages 23-30), Charleston averaged .384,with 108 home runs and 623 RBI in 596 games.

In his book “The Baseball 100,” Joe Posnanski placed Oscar Charleston at number-five, behind only Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron.

Hall of Famer Honus Wagner on Oscar Charleston

“Oscar Charleston could have played on any big league team in history if he had been given the opportunity. He could hit, run and throw. He did everything a great outfielder is supposed to do. I’ve seen all the great players in the many years I’ve been around and have yet to see one greater than Charleston.

Pittsburgh Courier, August 21, 1954

Charleston spent much of his MLB career as a player-manager and led the Pittsburgh Crawford to Negro National League II pennants in 1933, 1935 and 1936.

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Two Triple Crowns – Ted Williams, Josh Gibson, Rogers Hornsby

Ted Williams … 1942, 1947

Hall of Fame outfielder Ted Williams might have won three or more triple Crowns if it wasn’t for World War II. He won his first Triple Crown in 1942 (at the age of 23) with a .356-36-137. Teddy Ballgame missed the 1943-45 seasons due to military service and came back to win a second Triple Crown in 1947 with a .343-32-114 line.   In 1949, William missed a third Triple Crown by just one base hit. He led the AL with 43 home runs, tied for the RBI lead with 159, but lost the batting title to the Tigers’ George Kell by .3427 to .3429. Side Note: In 1946, in his first year back on the big-league diamonds after a three-season absence, Williams hit .342-38-123 – finishing second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories. 

Williams played in  19 MLB seasons (1939-42, 1946-60), all for the Red Sox. An All Star in 17 seasons, he led the AL in runs scored six times, batting average six times, total bases six times, home runs four times, RBI four times and doubles twice. He also led the AL  in on-bases percentage 12 times and  slugging percentage nine times. The two-time MVP also led the AL in walks eight times and  and intentional walks nine times.  Williams hit .316 or higher in 18 of his 19 MLB seasons. His only season under that figure was 1959, when – as a 40-year-old, he hit .254-10-43 in 103 games.

Ted Williams’ final stat line was .344-521-1,839, with 1,798 runs scored (2,292 games). Looking at his spots in MLB’s career top 20: He is eleventh all time in average (among players with 3,000 plate appearances); first in on-base percentage (.482); second in slugging percentage (.634); 20^th in runs scored; 20^th in home runs; 16^th in runs batted in; 20^th in extra-base hits; fourth in walks; and sixth in intentional walks.

Ted Williams had two .400+ batting average seasons. His iconic .406 in 1941 (.406-37-120 in 143 games) and 1953 – after returning from flying more than 30 combat missions  in Korea.  He was mustered out in time to get in 37  games over the final two months of the season. Over those contets, Williams went 37-for-91 (.407), with 13 home runs and 34 RBI. 

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Josh Gibson 1936, 1937

In 1936, Pittsburgh Crawfords’ catcher Josh Gibson won the Negro National League II Triple Crown with a .389-18-66 line in 50 games. He came back even stronger in 1937, with a second Triple Crown (with the Homestead Grays), improving on all three stats (.417-20-73).  Overall, Gibson played 14 (now) MLB seasons (1930. 1933-40, 1942-46). He led his league in home runs 11 times, RBI seven times, total bases six times, runs scored five times and average three times. He was a nine-time Negro Leagues All Star. In 1943, Gibson appeared in 69 games for the Homestead Grays hitting .466, scoring 93 runs, hitting 20 homers and driving in 109.   He led the league in home runs and RBI, but lost the batting title to Tetelo Vargas of the New York Cubans, who hit .471 in 30 games.

For his career (598 games), Gibson hit .374-165-730. Note: His 2,511 plate appearances fall short of the 3,000 necessary to make the career batting average list.

Gibson would most likely have moved well up the statistical rankings had he not suffered significant health problems. In 1943, he collapsed at home and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He passed away in 1947 at the age of 35. From 1943-46, despite health issues, Gibson hit .382-50-249 in 209 games – leading the Negro National League II in home runs all four seasons.

Josh Gibson led the Negro National League II in home runs for seven straight seasons (1933-39) and led the league in RBI in six of those campaigns.

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Rogers Hornsby – 1922 and 1925

Rogers Hornsby, in putting up a .358 carer batting average, hit .400+ in three season – winning the National League batting title all three times  (1922, 1924, 1925) and capturing the NL Triple Crown in 1922 and 1925. Both of Hornsby’s Triple Crowns were “no-doubters. In 1922, the powerful second baseman won the batting title by 47 points, had a 16-home run edge over the NL second finisher and topped the runner-up in RBI by 20.  In 1925, he won the NL batting crown by 36 points, the home run crown by 15 dingers and led in RBI by 13.

Hornsby played 23 MLB seasons (1915-37 … Cardinals, Giants, Braves, Cubs, Browns).  He hit .358, with 2,930 hits,  301 home runs 1,584 RBI and 1,579 runs scored in 2,259 games, He led his league in batting average seven times, total bases seven times,  runs scored five times, hits four times, doubles four times, RBI four times,  triples twice and  home runs twice.  Hornsby’s .358 career average is the highest in MLB-history for a right-handed batter (minimum 3,000 plate appearances.)

In the six seasons from 1920 through 1925, Rogers Hornsby averaged .397 – and won six consecutive batting titles.

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Here are your one-time Triple Crown winners:

2012 … Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers, American League  … .330-44-139

1967 … Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox, American League … .326-44-121

1966 … Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles, American League … .316-49-122

1956 … Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees, American League … .353-52-130

1942 … Ted Strong, Kansas City Monarchs, Negro American League … .364-6-32

1942 … Lennie Pearson, Newark Eagles & Homestead Grays Negro National League II … .347-11-56

1937 … Joe (Ducky) Medwick, Cardinals, National League … .374-31-154

1934 … Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees, American League … .363-49-166

1933 … Jimmie Foxx, Philadelphia Athletics, American League … .356-48-163

1933 … Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies, National League … .368-28-120

1930 … Willie Wells, St. Louis Stars, Negro National League … .411-17-114

1926 … George (Mule) Suttles, St. Louis Stars, Negro National League, … .425-32-130

1923 … Oscar (Heavy) Johnson, Kansas City Monarchs, Negro National League … .406-20-120

1912 … Henry (Heinie) Zimmerman, Chicago ?Cubs, National League … .372-14-104

1909 … Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers, American League … .377-9-107

1901 … Napoleon (Nap) Lajoie, Philadelphia Athletics, American League … .426-14-125

1887 …  James (Tip) O’Neill, St. Louis Browns, American Association … .435-14-123

1878 … Paul Hines, Providence Grays, National League … .358-4-50

Note: RBI were not an official MLB statistic until 1920. 

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

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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

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

How the Game Has Changed

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

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

 

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

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A Couple of Other Players Who Were Part of Sacrifice Royalty

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

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

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A little more about Collins.

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

High Praise from the Georgia Peach and Others

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

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

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

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

Eddie Collins at the Plate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eddie Collins on the Bases

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

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

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

Eddie Collins in the Field

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

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

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

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

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

 

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As Baseball Roundtable (impatiently) awaits that fan-centric phrase “pitchers and catchers report,” I continue to somewhat randomly peruse (and present) hardball  statistics and stories. (Yes, even on Christmas Eve.)   In this post, I’ll take a look at the long ball, specifically players – both familiar and obscure –  who are at the top of the record books when it comes to multi-homer games.

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Now back, to our regularly scheduled programming. This first chart really has no surprises.   Appropriately, Babe Ruth is not just the “Sultan of Swat,” but also the “King of Clout” when it comes to multi-homer outings.

The top five active players in multi-homer runs games are Miguel Cabrera (39), Edwin Encarnacion (36); Giancarlo Stanton (32); Ryan Braun (32); and Nelson Cruz (31).

But let’s move beyond the obvious and look deeper into the roster of players who have gone yard multiple times in a single game.

Let the Kid(s) Do It

Ten MLB players have recorded multi-homer games while still teenagers. The youngest of those is Cubs’ outfielder Danny Murphy, who launched a pair of solo shots at the age of 19 years-35 days, as his Cubs topped the Cardinals 5-2 on September 27, 1961. Those long balls were two of only four MLB home runs Murphy would hit in his MLB career.

Murphy, who made his MLB debut on June 18, 1960 was a high school PHENOM (St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, MA). Why the capital letters in phenom?  Well, the 17-year-old’s signing (by the Cubs for $100,000) was significant enough that the June 27, 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated ran a story (by Roy Terrell) titled: THE SIGNING OF DANNY MURPHY … Hard Work and a $100,000 Bonus Landed the Year’s Prize Youngster for the Cubs. In the story, Terrell recounted Murphy’s signing day almost minute-by-minute – including visits and/or calls from the Cardinals, Athletics, Tigers, White Sox, Braves, Pirates, Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees, Orioles. To read that story, click here.

Murphy went directly to the Cubs and made his MLB debut in CF (and leading off) just three days after his signing.  Murphy went zero-for-four in that initial game. He played in 31 games that season, but was over-matched, hitting just .120. He did hit one home run becoming the second-youngest player to homer in an MLB game.  Murphy ended up splitting his 1960 season between the Cubs and Double-A San Antonio Missions (where he hit .294-8-31 in 47 games).

Only Tommy Brown of the Dodgers went deep in an MLB game at a younger age than Danny Murphy (Murphy hit his first MLB homer at age 18 years-21 days), Brown had two MLB home runs for the 1945 Dodgers before his 18th birthday.

Over the 1961-62 seasons, Murphy got in just 18 games for the Cubs (and 253 minor-league contests). He then didn’t appear in another MLB game until August 11, 1969 – when he reemerged as a pitcher (for the White Sox). In five MLB seasons, Murphy hit .177-4-13 in 117 games and put up a 4-4, 4.65 record in 39 reliefs appearances.

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The Nationals’ Juan Soto holds the distinction of being the only MLB player to enjoy  three multi-homer games before his twentieth birthday (June 13, June 29 and September 11, 2018).  The only other players with multiple two-homer games before reaching age 20 are Mel Ott  Giants, 1928), Ken Griffey Jr. (Mariners, 1989) and Bryce Harper (Nationals, 2012).   Other teenagers (not already mentioned here) with multiple-homer games are: Harmon Killebrew, Senators, 1956); Brian McCall (White Sox, 1962); Tony Conigliaro (Red Sox, 1964); Ed Kranepool, (Mets, 1964); ; Andruw Jones (Braves, 1996).

The surprise on this list is McCall, who (as a 19-year-old) hit two home runs  in a September 30, 1962 game – as his White Sox topped the Yankees 8-4. It would be McCall’s only two MLB home runs in an MLB career that encompassed just seven games (in 1962-63). McCall hit 47 home runs over six minor-league seasons. Like Danny Murphy, McCall was moved to the mound, pitching  in the minors in 1965 and  1966, but never making an MLB mound appearance.

Old Guys Rule

Julio Franco is the oldest player to have a multi-homer MLB game – at age 46 years-299 days. He did it while playing 1B for the Braves in a June 18, 2005 6-1 win over the Reds in Cincinnati. Franco played in 23 MLB seasons (1982-94, 1996-97, 2001-2007) from age 23 through age 48.

Franco also is the oldest player ever to hit an MLB home run (48 years-254 days) on May 4, 2007 – as his Mets  topped the Diamondback 5-3. In fact, in the ranking of oldest-player home runs, Franco holds 18 0f the top 19 places.

 

 

 

 

The 11 multi-home run games (in a season) of Hank Greenberg and Aaron Judge were all two-home run contests.  Sammy Sosa had ten two-homer games and one three-homer game in his 11 multi-homer games.

Now, that Makes for a Good Story

Rockies’ shortstop Trevor Story’s two-home run debut game is the most unique on the list above.  It is the only one the chart that took place on Opening Day. It came on April 4, 2016 as Story’s Rockies topped the Diamondbacks 10-5. Story went on to homer in his first  four games as a major leaguer – going 7-for-19 (.368) with six homers, six runs scored and 11 RBI.

Still Active, Story has put up a .268-174-516 line over seven seasons. He currently has 19 multi-home games in his career.

 

 

 

 

 

There have been more than 350 three-homer MLB regular-season games, so we’ll just touch on a few highlights here.

• The youngest player ever to record a three-homer game is Tigers’ outfielder Al Kaline, who accomplished the feat on April 17, 1955 – as the Tigers topped the athletics 16-0. Kaline, already in his third MLB season, was 20 years-19 days old and on his way to a .340-27-102 season, leading the AL in average and base hits (200).
• The oldest player with a three-homer game is Stan Musial (at 41 years-229 days).  Musial’s game came on July 8, 1962, as his Cardinals topped the Mets 5-1. Musial had two three-homer games in his  22-season MLB  career (35 two-homer games, 399 with one home run).
• Only four players have recorded a three-homer game after their fortieth birthday: Stan Musial (Cardinals, 1962), Jason Giambi (Rockies, 2011), Reggie Jackson (Angels, 1986) and Babe Ruth (Braves,1935).

The most three homer games in a single season is three – and they came in a span of 46 days –  by Sammy Sosa in 2001. Ironically, Sosa’s Cubs lost two of the three contests.

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A Baseball Roundtable Extra – a bit of  “one thing leads do another.”

While this post is all about regular-season multi-homer games, here’s a look at players with a three-homer game in the post-season.

• Babe Ruth, Yankees … Game Four, 1926 World Series & Game Four, 1928 World Series
• Reggie Jackson, Yankees … Game Six, 1977 World Series
• Albert Pujols, Cardinals … Game Three, 2011 World Series
• Pablo Sandoval, Giants … Game One, 2012 World Series
• Bob Robertson, Pirates … Game Two, 1971 NLCS
• George Brett, Royals … Game Three, 1978 ALCS
• Adam Kennedy, Angels … Game Five, 2002 ALCS
• Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers  … Game Five, 2017 NLCS
• Chris Taylor, Dodgers … Game Five, 2012 NLCS
• Adrian Beltre, Rangers … Game Four, 2011 ALDS.

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Ah, those great single-admission doubleheaders – which helped make the next story possible.

A Beautiful Coincidence

Stan Musial and Nate Colbert share the record for most home runs in a double header -with five – and they share more than that. On May 2, 1954, the New York Giants faced Musial’s Cardinals in a double header before 26,662 fans at Busch Stadium.  And, on that day, Musial became the first player to pole five home runs in a doubleheader – or, if you prefer, five home runs in a single day of the MLB schedule.

As the Cardinals won Game One 10-6, Musial was brilliant, recording four hits and a walk in five plate appearances – including a solo home run in the third inning, a two-run homer in the fifth and a three-run blast in the eighth. It was the first time Musial had hit three round trippers in a single game. He ended with contest with three runs scored and six RBI.

Musial faced knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm in Game Two. If Stan was going to continue his long-ball heroics, he would have to provide his own power – and he did. In Game Two, Musial collected two hits and a walk in five plate appearances – including a two-run homer in the fifth inning and a solo shot in the seventh, scoring three runs and driving in three in a 9-7 Cardinals loss.

So, for the doubleheader, Stan Musial was six-for-eight, with two walks, six runs scored, nine RBI and five home runs.

Now, that coincidence.

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Among the fans witnessing Musial’s 1954 feat was eight-year-old Nate Colbert – who, on August 1, 1972, would become the second player in MLB history (and there are still only two) to hit five round trippers in a double header.

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Colbert, whose San Diego Padres were facing the Atlanta Braves in a double header before a meager crowd of 5,784 (in Atlanta), got his day off to a quick start. The Padres’ clean-up hitter hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning. Colbert went on to add a run-scoring single in the third, another single in the fourth, and a solo homer in the seventh before striking out to open the ninth. For the game, won by the Padres 9-0, Colbert was four-for-five, three runs scored, five RBI and two home runs.

Game two started out quietly enough, with Colbert drawing a first-inning walk. Things heated up fast, as Colbert added a grand slam in the second, a ground out to third base in the fourth, a two-run homer in the seventh and a day-topping two-run round tripper with two out in the ninth. In the process, he went three-for-four with three runs scored and eight RBI – becoming only the second player with five home runs in a double header. (The Padres, by the way, won game two 11-7.)  For the double header, Colbert was seven-for-nine, with a walk, seven runs scored, 13 RBI and five home runs. Stan Musial, however, was not in the stands.

Some four-homer game tidbits:

• The youngest player to hit four homers in a game was White Sox’ outfielder Pat Seerey (25 years-123 days).
• The oldest player to hit four homers in a game was Phillies’ outfielder Chuck Klein (31 years-277 days).
• The Braves’ Bob Horner is the only player to hit four home runs in a game his team lost – (The Braves lost to the Expos 11-8 on July 6, 1986).
• ‘The Cardinals’ Mark Whiten tied the MLB record for RBI in a game in his September 7, 1993 four-homer game versus the Reds, with 12 RBI. His day included a Grand Slam, two three-run homers; and one two-run shot.

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When Baseball Roundtable Looks into the Baseball Record Books – One Thing Always Seems to Lead to Another.

This post has focused thus far on multi-home run games.   How about players who logged a multi-homer inning?  Not as rare as you might think. A total  59 players have it two home runs in a single inning.  Too many too list, but how about a few tidbits.

• Fernando Tatis (Cardinals) is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in one inning. He did it on April 23, 1999. – in the third inning of a Redbirds’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers (in LA). Surprisingly, both Grand Slams came off the same pitcher – Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park. Yep, they left Park in to take the thrashing. Park, by the way, finished the season 2-10, with a 7.43 ERA.
• Alex Rodriguez (Yankees, 2007 & 2009), Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays, 2013 & Mariners, 2019), Andre Dawson (Expos, 1978 & 1985), Jeff King (Pirates , 1995 & 1996) and Willie McCovey (Giants (1973 & 1977) are the only players to hit two home runs in an inning twice in their career.
• Carlos Baerga (Indians, 1993), Mark Bellhorn (Cubs, 2002) and Kendrys Morales (Angels , 2012) all hit home runs from both side of the plate in the same inning.

Baseball Roundtable Flash Back-to-Back … A Final Tale for this Post

In the top of the first inning of a game (May 2, 2002) between the Mariners and White Sox (in Chicago),  White Sox’ starter Jon Rauch hit Mariners’  RF Ichiro Suzuki with the first pitch of the game.  Second baseman Bret Boone followed with a home run on the very next pitch, and  CF  Mike Cameron followed with another dinger on a 1-2 pitch.  The Mariners batted around and, by the time Boone came up for a second time that inning, held a 7-0 lead.

In his second at bat of the frame, Boone homered again (another two-run shot), this time on a 1-2 pitch from Jim Parque. Next up was Cameron, who hit the first pitch he saw from Parque for another home run.  This remains the only time that two players have homered twice, back-to-back, in the same inning. The Mariners, by the way, won the contest 15-4.

Side Note: We could see some players added to these lists as Negro League statistics from 1920-1948 are further documented and add to the MLB record books. 

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

 

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