David, Author at Baseball Roundtable

Nineteen runs …. with Nineteen Different Players Touching the Plate

December 27, 2020 by David

Hank and Willie – starting center fielders in this big game.

I have often commented in this blog about how when researching “one things leads to another” – how, while looking into one Baseball Roundtable blog topic, it’s not unusual for me to be distracted an accidentally unearthed hardball tidbit. No surprise, it’s happened again.

While looking into the stats for my all-time favorite players – Braves’ Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews – I came across a game that caught my attention. I found this contest – a June 4, 1958 matchup between the Braves and Giants in San Francisco – intriguing for several reasons:

It was a meaningful contest – the Braves and Giants came into the game tied for first place;
It involved some of MLB’s biggest offensive “names” at the time, like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews and Orlando Cepeda;
It ended in an 11-inning, 10-9 Braves’ win;
THE NINETEEN RUNS IN THE GAME WERE SCORED BY NINETEEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS; and
The game-winning RBI went to pinch-hitter and Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s take a look at this matchup. The Braves opened the series in San Francisco with veteran righty Bob Rush (4-2, 2.06) on the mound, while the Giants countered with 19-year-old southpaw Mike McCormick (4-1, 4.21). The youngster outlasted the veteran, as Rush lasted just 1 2/3 innings – giving up four runs on six hits and a walk. After just three innings, the Giants seemed in control, leading by a 7-1 score. (The Braves would go on to use seven pitchers to the Giants four.) McCormick was pulled with two out in the seventh, with the Giants still up 7-2 (a third run would be charged to McCormick before the frame was over). That’s when things got interesting. The Braves added a run in the eight to cut the lead to three and then tied it with a two-out, three-run home run in the ninth by Wes Covington. Milwaukee scored twice in the top of the tenth on a two-out bases-loaded single by Eddie Mathews and the Giants came right back with two tallies in the bottom of the inning on two-out solo home runs by Hank Sauer and Bob Schmidt. That set the stage for Warren Spahn’s eleventh-inning offensive heroics.

Spahn won 363 regular-season games on the mound. He won this one from the batter’s box.

Wes Covington opened the top of the eleventh with a walk off Giants’ reliever Stu Miller, with speedster Billy Bruton being brought in as a pinch runner. Johnny Logan bunted Bruton to second and when Andy Pafko flied out to right, pitcher Ernie Johnson was due up with a runner in scoring position and two out. Braves’ manager Fred Haney, who had already used four pinch-hitters, called upon star southpaw Warren Spahn to hit for Johnson. Spahn drove a run-scoring single to center to plate what proved to be the winning run (the Giants went down in order in the borrow of the inning).

Here are a few notable “stats” from that game.

The nineteen runs scored were scored by nineteen different players.
The two team used five catchers sin the game and each catcher scored a run. (For the Braves: Del Crandall, Del Rice and Carl Sawatski. For the Giants: Valmy Thomas and Bob Schmidt.

The Braves used 23 players; the Giants 19.
In the final (eleventh) inning, both teams used pitchers as pinch hitters. The Braves’ Warren Spahn hit for reliever Ernie Johnson and the Giants’ Johnny Antonelli came to the plate for pitcher Stu Miller. Spahn collected the game-winning RBI, Antonelli fanned to end the contest.

Who Says Pitcher Can’t Hit?

The 37-year-old Warren Spahn came into the Braves/Giants game of June 4, 1958 hitting .361 on the season (13-for-36, with three doubles, one triple and six RBI). He finished the campaign at .333 (36-for-108), with six doubles, one triple, two home runs and 15 RBI – add in his seven walks and he produced a .381 on-base percentage. Over his career, Spahn his .194-35-109. His 35 career home runs are the third-most by a pitcher. Side note Spahn earned 363 regular-season victories and collected 363 regular season hits.

The starting center fielders in the game were a pair of Hall of Famers – Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Mays led the Giants with four hits (he also had two stolen bases), while Aaron led the Braves with three safeties. Each, of course, scored one run. The other players with more than one hit in the game (all with two) were RF Andy Pafko and 1B Joe Adcock for the Braves and pitcher Mike McCormick for the Giants.
Each team had three home runs. For the Braves: Felix Mantilla (solo); Del Crandall (solo); Wes Covington (three-run). For the Giants, it was Bob Speake, Hank Sauer and Bob Schmidt (all solo).

Baseball Roundtable (unofficial) fans’ Hall of Fame Ballot.

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Primary Resource for this Post: Baseball-Reference.com

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From Bloomer Girls to the Big Leagues to Babe Ruth Lite … Smoky Joe Wood

December 19, 2020 by David

Smoky Joe Wood’s baseball career took him from the Bloomer Girls to the Big Leagues to Babe Ruth Lite – and, eventually to Yale University … all for the love of the game.

With plenty of time to for baseball reading these days, it’s easy to come across intriguing stories about those who have taken the field at the major-league level. Smoky Joe Wood’s tale is one of those stories.

The Bloomer Girls

Joe Wood (he wasn’t Smoky yet, his major-league fastball would earn him that moniker) started playing baseball as a 16-year-old (1906) pitching town ball in Kansas. Wood, however, didn’t stay amateur for long. That fall he played his first games as a paid professional – for the barnstorming “Bloomer Girls.” Basically, the Bloomer Girls (there were several Bloomer Girls squads) were teams of female baseball players who traveled the country taking on all-male squads (usually town ball or semi-pro teams). Each team would have two or three young fellows willing to play wearing the bloomer-based uniforms (and often curly wigs). Wood played as “Lucy Totton” for the Kansas Bloomer Girls team.

All Wigged Out

Like Joe Wood, Hall of Famers Rogers Hornsby and Grover Cleveland Alexander also “suited up” for the Bloomer Girls before making their way to the major leagues. Because of the wigs male players often wore, the impersonators were known as “toppers.”

The Big Leagues

Library of Congress photo. George Grantham Bain Collection

Wood’s Bloomer Girls gig didn’t last long. In 1907, he was pitching for the Hutchinson Salt Packers in the Class C Western Association – where he would go 18-11 and fan more than 200 batters. In 1908, it was on to the Kansas City Blues of the Class A American Association. By August 1908, at just 18-years-old, Wood’s contract had been purchased by the Red Sox and he found himself in the major leagues. In his first MLB season, Wood made six appearances, two starts, and went 1-1, 2.38 with 11 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.

In the spring of 1909, Wood suffered a foot injury (reportedly while roughhousing with his roommate, Tris Speaker), that put him out of action until June (he made his first start on June 21 – a complete-game, two-hit, 4-1 win over the Athletics). Wood went 11-7, 2.18 on the season. He also lost a month of the 1910 season (ankle surgery), when he went 12-13, 1.69. Despite the injury layoff, Wood’s 1.69 ERA in 1910 was the second-lowest on the team and eighth-best in the AL and his 145 strikeouts led all BoSox hurlers and represented the sixth-highest total in the AL (his 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings pitched were second only to Walter Johnson).

Over the 1909 and 1910 seasons, Wood split his duties between starting and relieving (36 starts and 23 relief appearances). In 1911, Woods took his place as a primary member of the Red Sox’ rotation (starting 33 games and relieving in 11). His 23 wins (17 losses) were fourth-best in the league, his 2.02 ERA third-best; his 231 strikeouts second-best; his 7.54 whiffs per nine-innings the AL’s top ratio; and his 25 complete-games, fifth.

Smoky Joe Lights It Up

In the first game of a doubleheader on July 29, 1911, Smoky Joe Wood pitched a gem – a complete-game, 5-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns. In the contest, Wood walked two, hit one batter and fanned a dozen.

In 1912, Wood was even better – putting together one of the most dominant pitching seasons ever. He went 34- 5, 1.91 and won 16 games in a row between July 8 and September 15. During his 16-game streak. Wood made 16 starts and three relief appearances, tossed 14 complete games and recorded six shutouts. Notably, during the streak, Wood also hit .347 (17-for-49), with six doubles, a triple, seven runs scored, five RBI and five walks (a .407 on-base percentage). For the season, he led the league in wins, winning percentage (.872); complete games (35) and shutouts (ten); while fanning 258 batters (second to Walter Johnson) in 344 innings pitched. He topped off his season with three wins in the 1912 World Series, two as a starter and one in relief. Around baseball, one of the great debates was over who was the fastest pitcher alive – Joe Wood or Walter Johnson.

A Harbinger of Things to Come?

Commenting on his work in Game One of the 1912 World Series, Joe Wood said “I threw so hard, I thought my arm would fly right off my body.”

Wood got off to a solid start in 1913. He went into a July 18 game against the Tigers in Detroit sporting an 11-5, 2.37 record in 17 starts (plus four relief appearances), with 13 complete games. Then the injury bug struck again. In the start at Detroit, he slipped and fell on wet infield grass while making a fielding play – breaking his thumb and, apparently, jamming his shoulder. He pitched only one more inning that season – ending at 11-5, 2.29. That tumble – and perhaps the wear and tear already inflicted on his arm (Remember that “I thought arm would fly right off my body comment?) – changed the course of Wood’s career.

In Lawrence Ritter’s book, The Glory of Their Times, Wood described the change. “I’ don’t know whether I tried to pitch too soon after that, or whether I did something to my shoulder at the same time. But whatever it was, I never pitched again without a terrific amount of pain in my right shoulder.”

Wood was back in 1914, but due to an appendicitis attack, did not make his first start until late May. He ended that season at 10-3, with a 2.,62 ERA; but observers said he wasn’t quite the same. Despite pitching in pain, Wood managed a 15-5 record, with a league-best 1.49 earned run average in 1915. Good numbers, but on the negative side he made only 24 appearances (16 starts).

The combination of a pay dispute and a still ailing arm kept Wood off the field in 1916 – and an attempt to comeback with the Cleveland Indians in 1917 ended after just five mound appearances (one start). For many, their major-league career would have been over. The love of the game, however, would not let Wood stay home.

Babe Ruth Lite

Despite his shoulder, Wood soldiered (pun intended) on. And this is where “Babe Ruth Lite” comes in. In 1918, a 23-year-old southpaw pitcher named George Herman Ruth (who, over his first four MLB seasons, had gone 67-34, 2.07 and twice won 20 games) began his transition to the outfield. Before the 1918 season, Ruth had not appeared in any position other than pitcher and pinch-hitter. In 1918, he appeared in 59 games in the outfield, 13 at first base and 20 on the mound (where he went 13-7, 2.01), while leading the AL in home runs (11). The rest, as they say, is history.

In 1918, Smoky Joe Wood – although for different reasons – joined Ruth in transitioning from the mound to the field. That season, Wood started 95 games in the outfield, 19 at second base and three at first base – hitting .296 with five home runs and 66 RBI. He remained in the major leagues as an outfielder through the 1922 season, hitting .298, with 18 home runs and 275 RBI in 460 games. In 1921, in 66 games for the Indians, Wood hit .366-4-60.

Yale University

Wood retired as a player after the 1922 season, but his love for the game continued. In 1923, he was hired to coach the Yale University freshman baseball squad and, the following year, moved on to coach the varsity team – a position he held through 1942.

Baseball Roundtable (unofficial) fans’ Hall of Fame Ballot.

There is still time to vote in BBRT’s unofficial fans’ 2012 Hall of Fame balloting. Click here to access the ballot.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; “The Glory of Their Times,” Lawrence S. Ritter, Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Baseball-Almanac.com; “She’s on first: Women in Baseball,” by Dawn Mitchell, IndyStar, May 13, 2016; “Baseball’s Barnstorming Bloomer Girls: Women and the National Pastime,” Massachusetts Historical Society, June 2018.

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Early Returns for Baseball Roundtable’s (unofficial) Fan 2021 Hall of Fame Balloting

December 13, 2020 by David

Photo by Keith Allison

With 74 votes cast in the Baseball Roundtable (unofficial) fan 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame voting, no candidates are showing the 75 percent level of support necessary to achieve election into the Hall. Leading the way are: Omar Vizquel (with his eleven Gold Gloves and 2.877 hits); Todd Helton (with his .316 career average and 2000 NL batting crown); Jeff Kent (the 2006 NL MVP and all-time home run leader among second basement); Billy Wagner (with his 422 saves – sixth all-time); and Curt Schilling (with 216 career wins and 3,116 strikeouts.) This differs from early publicly released BBWAA ballots – which also see no candidates at 75 percent, but which have Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling leading the way. (Scott Rolen, Omar Vizquel and Todd Helton round out the top half dozen.) Note: Totals as of 9:00 a.m., December 13.

Still Time to Vote in the BBRT Balloting

There is still time to cast your vote in the BBRT unofficial fan 2012 Hall of Fame balloting. Click here to access the ballot and/or here for a post on BBRT’s predictions and preferences (as well as candidate bios). Note: The prediction post also includes a link to the ballot.

The BBRT ballot also asks reader which players (no longer eligible for the ballot) they think are most deserving of a spot in the Hall. Pete Rose currently leads the way with seven mentions. Followed by Dick Allen, Steve Garvey, Jim Kaat and Al Whitaker with three each. Overall, 35 players have mentioned in the responses.

Here are the leading BBRT vote-getters thus far:

Omar Vizquel 66.2%

Todd Helton 58.1

Jeff Kent 56.8

Billy Wagner 56.8

Curt Schilling 52.7

Barry Bonds 46.9

Andy Pettitte 37.8

Andruw Jones 36.5

Bobby Abreu 32.4

Scott Rolen 31.1

Gary Sheffield 31.1

Roger Clemens 27.0

Torii Hunter 25.7

Sammy Sosa 24.3

Mark Buehrle 20.3

Aramis Ramirez 14.9

Manny Ramirez 13.5

Shane Victoria 13.5

Tim Hudson 8.1

LaTroy Hawkins 6.8

Barry Zito 6.8

A.J. Burnett 4.1

Michael Cuddyer 4.1

Nick Swisher 4.1

Dan Haren –

Baseball Roundtable will post the final voting results, with a comparison to the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) final results once balloting is completed and announced.

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

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Baseball Roundtable “Who’s Your Daddy?” Series … Mariano Rivera Edition

December 10, 2020 by David

Inducing Weak Contact

Ray Durham faced Mariano Rivera 26 times in his career – and went hitless. (The most at bats of any player with a .000 average versus Rivera.) He did reach base against River once in those 26 at bats – on an infield error. Surprisingly, Durham struck out only three times in those 26 at bats. Durham, by the way, was a .277 career hitter over 14 seasons.

We’re well into the off-season (although the whole 2020 season seemed just a bit off), and it seems an appropriate time to offer up the next edition of Baseball Roundtable’s “Who’s Your Daddy?” series … focusing on some of MLB’s premier pitchers – like Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan, as well as contemporary hurlers like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

Who’s Your Daddy? What’s it all about?
In this series, BBRT presents lineups of players who performed unexpectedly well against baseball’s top pitchers. (An explanation of the inspiration behind the Who’s Your Daddy? series can be found the end of this post.) As always, I would stress that the pitchers included in the Who’s Your Daddy? series are among the “best in the business.” They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because success among hitters when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.

Before we get started on this edition – focusing on Hall of Famer Mariano “The Sandman” Rivera.” here are links to the previous editions of this series:

Nolan Ryan, click here.

Sandy Koufax, click here.

Pedro Martinez, click here.

Bob Gibson, click here.

Randy Johnson, click here.

Greg Maddux, click here.

Justin Verlander, click here.

Bob Feller, click here.

Roger Clemens, click here.

Max Scherzer, click here.

Tom Seaver, click here.

Now, to Mariano Rivera. This is the first reliever featured in the series, but with Rivera being the first-ever unanimous Hall of Fame selection, he is a natural for the spot. Of course, focusing on a reliever, particularly a closer, offered some challenges. Sampling sizes are a whole lot smaller when you’re looking at one- (or two-) inning stints. For example, when examining hitter performance against Nolan Ryan, there were ten hitters with more than 100 regular-season plate appearances versus Ryan and 86 hitters with 50 or more. With Rivera, over his 19 seasons, not a single batter logged 50 regular-season plate appearances against him and only seven had 25 or more. Still, as I think you will see, there was enough data to select a “Who’s Your Daddy?” lineup. So, let’s get on with it.

Rivera was the Yankee closer for 17 or his 19 seasons (1995-2013, all with the Yankees). He saved an MLB-record 652 games (also had 82 wins and 60 losses), put up a 2.21 career earned run average and fanned 1,174 batters in 1,283 2/3 innings. Rivera, a thirteen-time All Star, led the AL in saves three times and saved 40 or more games in 10 seasons (two seasons of 50 or more). In his final campaign (2013), he saved 44 games at age 43. Rivera recorded an ERA under 2.00 in 11 campaigns. Rivera’s career WHIP (Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched) of 1.0003 is third-lowest among pitchers with at least 1,000 career innings pitched.

Off to a Slow “Start”

Called up to the Yankees in mid-May of 1995. Rivera began his MLB career as a starter. In his first four MLB starts he went 1-2, with a put up a 10.20 ERA, lasing just 15 innings in those four appearances. By mid-June was back a Triple A. He was back with the Yankees in July, back at Triple A Columbus in August and then back with the big club in September. For that initial MLB season, Rivera was 5-3, 5.51 in 19 games (ten starts). Rivera pitched for the Yankees for 18 more season, but never made another start. After that up-and-down first campaign, Rivera pitched to a 2.03 earned run average and held hitters to a .211 average over 1,096 regular-season appearances.

Rivera was even better in the post season, going 8-1, with record 42 post–season saves in 96 appearances – and posting a minuscule 0.70 earned run average.

Mariano Rivera’s Best Season: A lot to choose from here, but I’ll go with 2004, when Rivera went 4-2, with an MLB-topping 53 saves and a 1.95 ERA.

Double Your Pleasure …

On July 8, 2000, Mariano Rivera earned two saves in two different stadiums. The first came in a day game at Shea Stadium as the Yankees topped the Mets 4-2 and Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth. The two teams then headed to Yankee stadium for an evening tilt – again won 4-2 by the Yankees, with Rivera pitching a scoreless top of the ninth.

So, let’s take a look at a lineup of hitters who proved they could hold their own against Rivera’s dominating cutter. As in past “Who’s Your Daddy?” posts, the stats are for the regular season. (Although I’ll give a nod to Rivera’s post-season excellence on occasion.)

DH – Edgar Martinez

Photo by clare_and_ben

We’ll start with the DH spot. (I’ve included pitchers’ batting stats in other posts in this series, but Rivera pitched his entire career in the American League’s DH era.) Very simply, no one has numbers against Mariano Rivera like Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez. Among those with at least ten at bats against Rivera, Martinez has the highest average (.625), highest on-base percentage (.700) and highest slugging percentage (1.188). He also has the second-most base hits (10-tied), most doubles (3-tied), most home runs (2-tied); and fourth-most RBI (6-ted).

Now, some will argue that Martinez did a lot his damage in Mariano’s rookie season – when Rivera bounced (less than successfully) between starter and reliever. Martinez faced Rivera seven times in that 1995 season and had five hits and a walk, with two home runs and five RBI. However, between 1996 and 2004, Martinez faced Rivera 13 more times and delivered five hits and two walks (a .500 average and a .615 on-base percentage). He earned this spot.

Edgar Martinez had a .500 or better on-base percentage in six of the seven season he faced Rivera. The exception was 2003, when he came up against the Yankee closer four times, grounding out once and striking out three times. In the post season, Martinez went one-for-three (a single) versus Rivera in his career. This was actually a pretty easy selection since Rivera, in numerous interviews, has called Martinez the toughest hitter he ever faced.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T …

In 2004, MLB changed the name of the Designated Hitter Award to the Edgar Martinez Award.

Edgar Martinez played 18 MLB seasons (1987-2004), all with the Mariners. He was a seven-time All Star, won two batting titles and led his league in runs scored once, doubles twice and RBI once. His final stat line was .312-309-1,261, with 1,219 runs scored (in 2,055 games).

Edgar Martinez’ Best Season: In 2000, Martinez he hit .324 and notched career highs in home runs (37) and RBI (145).

Honorable Mention: David Ortiz’ 11 regular-season hits versus Ramirez are the most of any batter. He put up a .344 average, with one home run and four RBI against The Sandman.

Catcher – Jason Varitek

While Jason Varitek didn’t put up the flashy batting averages against Rivera that we see from many of the players in this lineup, he did some damage. Varitek hit .286 against Rivera, but his ten hits against the Hall of Fame reliever were second only to David Ortiz and his eight RBI second only to Manny Ramirez (some pretty potent company in those two). In 2005, Varitek faced Rivera four times and delivered a home run and two singles. Varitek’s line against Rivera would have looked little better if not for 2009 season, when the 37-year-old backstop faced Rivera three times and fanned all three. (Varitek has two singles in seven post-season at bats versus Rivera.)

Jason Varitek played 15 MLB seasons (1997-2011), all with the Red Sox. He was a three-time All Star and hit .256, with 193 home runs and 757 RBI in 1,546 games. Varitek hit 20 or more home runs in three seasons and drove in 70 or more runs in four.

Jason Varitek’s Best Season: From BBRT’s perspective, Varitek’s best season was 2004, when he hit .296-18-73 and even swiped ten bases.

A Good Luck Charm …

Jason Varitek is one of only two catchers to catch four no-hitters. (The other is Carlos Ruiz.)

First Base – Rafael Palmeiro

Making Contact

Rafael Palmeiro faced Mariano Rivera 30 times during the regular seasons and never went down on strikes – the most plate appearances against River for any batter who didn’t take a “K.”

Rafael Palmeiro’s eight hits off Mariano Rivera tied for the fourth-most among opposing batters and his two home runs tied for the most off “Mo.” While he hit .333 off the Yankee closer, Palmeiro’s six walks gave him an on-base percentage of .467 tying for the eighth-highest.

Palmeiro played 29 MLB seasons (1986-2005 … Cubs, Rangers, Orioles), putting up a .288-569-1,835 stat line. The four-time All Star hit 30+ home runs in 10 seasons (40+ in four of those campaigns) and drove in 100+ runs in ten seasons. He was also a three-time Gold Glover. In the post-season, Palmeiro faced Rivera four times and went one-for-three with a walk. Rivera also got that elusive strikeout against Palmeiro, fanning Palmeiro once in the post-seasons.

Hmmm?

In 1999, Palmeiro won his third consecutive Gold Glove at first base, despite starting just 28 games at the position (and 128 sit DH). It’s the fewest defensive games ever for a Gold Glover.

Rafael Palmeiro’s Best Season: In 1999, Palmeiro (Rangers) hit .324, with 47 home runs and 148 RBI.

Honorable Mention(s): Aubrey Huff was a solid candidate for this spot, hitting .400 versus Mariano Rivera with his eight safeties (tied for fourth against the ace reliever) and four RBI (tied) for eighth. Huff’s two home runs off Rivera are tied for the most of any player. Huff, however, didn’t started only four games at 1B against Rivera (he also started three times in the OF, five at 3B and eight at DH in games he eventually faced Mo). Huff could be a utility man on this squad. BBRT also looked at Mo Vaughn (.417-1-4 against Rivera in 12 at bats) and Jeff Conine (.357-1-5 in 14 at bats), but Palmeiro’s six walks (versus no whiffs) gave him a slight edge.

Second Base – Roberto Alomar

Between June 28, 1996 and May 1, 2000, Roberto Alomar faced Mariano Rivera seven times (in seven games) and got on base every time – three doubles, two singles and two walks. The string was broken when Alomar was called on to drop down a sacrifice bunt against Rivera May 3, 2000. At that point, Alomar was six-for-seven with two walks against Rivera in his career.

Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar played 17 MLB seasons (1988-2004 … Blue Jays, Padres, Indians, Orioles, Mets, White Sox Diamondbacks). He hit an even .300, with 210 home runs, 1,134 RBI and 1,508 runs scored and 474 steals. The 12-time All Star was also a ten-time Gold Glover. Alomar hit 20 or more home runs in three seasons, drove in 100 or more runs twice, stole 30 or more bases in eight seasons (a high of 55 in 1993) and scored 100 or more run six times.

Like Brother … Like Brother

The Alomar brothers (Roberto and Sandy, Jr.) did pretty well against Mariano Rivera, each going five-for-eleven (.455) in their careers against The Sandman – with five of their ten hits going for extra bases (all doubles). In addition, Sandy Alomar hit one of only two post-season home runs hit against Rivera (Game Four, 1997 ALDS). The other post-season dinger off Rivera came in Game Two of the 2000 World Series (Mets/Yankees). It was a ninth-inning three-run shot off the bat of Jay Payton. (Despite Payton’s heroics, the Yankees won 6-5.)

Third Base – Bill Mueller

Bill Mueller hit .455 against Rivera and his one long ball against the New York closer was one of just five walk-off homers Rivera gave up in his career. Mueller was one for six versus Rivera in the post-season.

Bill Mueller played 11 MLB seasons (1996-2006 … Giants, Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers). He hit .291, with 85 home runs and 493 RBI over that span. While he never made an All Star team, Mueller did win the American League batting crown with a .326 average for the Red Sox in 2003.

Bill Mueller’s Best Season: In 2003, Mueller hit .326-19-85 – all career highs. (Mueller did hit .330 as a Giants rookie in 1996, but only played in 55 games.)

A Grand Day at the Plate …

A switch hitter, Bill Mueller is the only MLB player to hit a Grand Slam from both sides of the plate in the same game. Mueller, with the Red Sox, slammed a bases-loaded homer (right-handed) off Aaron Fultz in the seventh inning and another (left-handed) off Jay Powell in the eighth. He also hit a solo shot off R.A. Dickey in the third. For the day, Mueller was three-for-nine, with three runs scored and nine RBI.

Shortstop – Nomar Garciaparra

Nomar Garciaparra went seven-for-eighteen (.389) against Mariano Rivera, with his seven hits tying for the tenth-most against Rivera.

Garciaparra played in 14 MLB seasons (1996-2009 …Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, A’s). For his career, he hit .313-229-936. The six-time All Star (and 1997 AL Rookie of the Year) was nearly unstoppable in 1999 and 2000, winning batting titles in each year. Over those two seasons, he played in 275 games for the red Sox and hit .365, with 48 home runs and 200 RBI. In addition to his two batting titles, Garciaparra led the league in doubles once and triples once. He collected 100+ RBI in four seasons and scored 100+ runs in six. He also hit 20 or more home runs in seven campaigns and hit over .300 in eight seasons. Garciaparra hit .321-7-24 in 32 post-season games – although he was just one-for-five against Mariano in the post-season.

The Old College Try, and Then Some …

While playing for the Georgia Tech Wildcats, Nomar Garciaparra was a two-time All American (1993 & 1994).

Honorable Mention: Omar Vizquel hit .375 (six-for-sixteen) against Rivera in the regular season.

Outfield – Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki hit Mariano Rivera at a .385 pace (5-for-13) and, as you might expect. most of those safeties were singles. Suzuki did, however, hit one of five regular-season, walk-off home runs off Mariano. It came on September 18, 2009, with the Mariners trailing the Yankees 2-1, with two outs and one on (Mike Sweeney) in the bottom of the ninth. Suzuki ended the game, taking River’s first pitch to him over the right field fence.

A Hitting Machine …

Ichiro Suzuki collected an MLB-record 262 hits in 2004.

Ichiro Suzuki played 19 MLB seasons (2001-20019 … Mariners, Yankees, Marlins). For his career, he hit .311 (3,089 hits), with 117 home runs, 780 RBI, 1,420 runs scored and 509 stolen bases. He won a pair of batting titles and hit over .300 in 11 seasons. Suzuki, a ten-time All Star also led the AL in hits seven times – collecting 200+ hits in ten (consecutive) seasons. He was also the recipient of ten Gold Gloves. In the post-season, Suzuki went one-for-two versus Rivera (a double).

Ichiro Suzuki’s Best Season: In 2004 (mariners), Suzuki won the batting title (.372), collected 262 hits, poked eight home runs, drove in 60, scored 101 and stole 36 bases.

COMING SOON …

AN UPDATE ON BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S FAN BALLOTING FOR THE 2021 HALL OF FAME CLASS. THERE IS TILL TIME TO CAST YOUR (UNOFFICIAL ) VOTE(S), JUST CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE BALLOT.

Outfield – Magglio Ordonez

Magglio Ordonez hit .500 against Mariano Rivera (7-for-14) and also never struck out against The Sandman. From 2006 to 2008, he came up against Mariano four times and collected two doubles and two singles.

Ordonez played 15 MLB seasons (1997-2011 … White Sox Tigers) – going .309-294-1,236. He was a six-time All Star and won the 2007 batting title (Detroit) with a .363 average. That same year he led the AL with 54 doubles. Ordonez hit 30 or more home runs in four seasons and drove in 100+ in seven.

A Two-for-One Deal?

Magglio Ordonez is one of 56 MLB players to hit two home runs in one inning. He did in the second inning of a Tigers’ 11-6 win over the A’s on August 12, 2007. In the game, Ordonez was two-for-three, with two walks, two runs scored and four RBI.

Magglio Ordonez’ Best Season: In 2007, Ordonez hit .363-28-130, collected 216 hits, scored 117 runs and led the AL with 54 doubles.

Outfield – Manny Ramirez

At first glance, I didn’t expect to be putting Manny Ramirez in this line. After all, he only hit .205 versus Mariano Rivera and his 13 strikeouts were the most of any batter against “Mo” (as were his 39 at bats). But, then again, Ramirez’ eight hits tied for the fourth-most against Rivera and his nine regular season RBI led all batters. Ramirez really “learned” his way into this lineup, by figuring Rivera out. In Ramirez’ first 13 plate appearances against Rivera (1995-2000), he was 0-for-12 (one run-scoring sacrifice fly), with seven strikeouts. Then on April 12, 2001, Ramirez poked a walk-off, game-winning, two-run single off Rivera and the tide seem to change. In Ramirez’ final 31 plate appearances (2001-2010) against The Sandman, Ramirez went 8-for-27 (.296), with three walks, one hit-by-pitch, two “safe-on-error” and six strikeouts.

Manny Ramirez played 19 MLB seasons (1993-2011 … Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers, Rays, White Sox – putting up a .312-555-1,831 line. He was a 12-time All Star and one-time batting champion, He also led the AL in home runs and RBI once each. He hit 30 or more home runs in 12 seasons (five seasons over 40), drove in 100+ runs in 12 times, scored 100+ runs six times and hit .300 or better in a dozen campaigns.

Manny Ramirez’ Best Season: In 1999 (Indians), Ramirez hit .313, with 44 home runs, 165 RBI and 131 runs scored.

Ramirez hit .285-29-78 in 111 Post-season games. Ramirez was three-for-eigt in the post-season versus Rivera.

Manny Being Manny?

Manny Ramirez’ 29 post-season home runs are the most all-time; his 78 RBI second; his 223 total bases second (tie); his 67 runs third; and his 19 post-season doubles fifth (tie).

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Who’s Your Daddy? The Inspiration.

On September 24, 2004, in the middle of a tight pennant race, the Yankees handed future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox a tough 6-4 loss. Martinez went 7 1/3 innings giving up nine hits and five earned runs. The game came just five days after (in his previous start) Martinez had lasted just five frames against the Bronx Bombers (eight hits, eight earned runs) in a 16-7 loss.

After that second loss, Martinez candidly commented, “What can I say? I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.” Little did he know that his comment – and a Yankee fans’ chant of “Who’s your daddy?” would follow him into future starts in New York (all the way to his final MLB start – against the Yankees for the Phillies – in Game Six of the 2009 World Series.)

The concept of “Who’s your daddy?” became the inspiration for Baseball Roundtable to take a look at the players who “had the number” of some of MLB’s premier pitchers. Again, you can find links to the previous “editions” of “Who’s Your Daddy?” near the top of this post.

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

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

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S HALL OF FAME NICKNAME QUIZ – A LOCK DOWN DIVERSION

December 3, 2020 by David

The Baseball Writers Association’s (BBWAA) official 2021 Hall of Fame balloting is open, so it seems like an appropriate time to offer up a Hall of Fame Nickname(s) quiz (particularly given that we are in “lock down.”) Let’s see how you can do on these questions. Once, you complete the quiz, here’s link to the answers – answers here.

Give me the name of each of the following “bigger than life” Hall of Famers.

` The Big Six … The Big Unit … The Big Cat … The Big Train … The Big Hurt

There are a pair of hurlers in the Hall of Fame known more by their nicknames – “Dizzy” and “Dazzy” – than their given names. What are their real names (first and last)?

The Waner Brothers were known as “Big Poison” and “Little Poison.” What first name goes with each nickname?

The Man and the Kid

Stan Musial was born on November 21, 1921 in Donora, Pennsylvania. Ken Griffey Jr. was born on the same date (November 21) in 1969, also in Donora, Pennsylvania. The former became known as “The Man,” the latter as “The Kid.”

Name the two Hall of Fame catchers known as ‘Pudge.”

What is Ken Griffey, Hr.’s real first name?

From “The Iron Horse” to “Biscuit Pants” – Lou Gehrig’s Nickname Legacy

Lou Gehrig had a host of nicknames over his lifetime… The best of the lot was probably “The Iron Horse,” the worst “Biscuit Pants.” Along the way there was also “Larrupin’ Lou” and even “Buster.” For Baseball Roundtable’s take on MLB best and worse nicknames, click here.

What is Tom Seaver’s real first name?

Which of these pitchers best known as “Lefty” notched the most MLB wins – Grove or Gomez?

What was “Home Run: Baker’s first name?

Baseball Roundtable Fan Hall of Fame Ballot

Baseball Roundtable fan Hall of Fame balloting still open. Want to vote in BBRT’s unofficial Hall of Fame fan ballot? There’s still time, click here to go the ballot. Click here for BBRT’s 2021 Hall of Fame preferences and predictions.

Hall of Famer Kiki Cuyler’s middle name was Shirley, what was his given first name?

What are the real first names of these famous mound “Rubes?”

Rube Waddell & Rube Marquard

Give me the real first names of the following Hall of Famers.

Sparky Anderson

Cool Papa Bell

Yogi Berra

Bert Blyleven

Red Faber

Lefty Gomez

Lefty Grove

Chipper Jones

Satchel Paige

Pee Wee Reese

Red Ruffing

Red Schoendienst

Duke Snider

Casey Stengel

Mule Suttles

Turkey Stearnes

Pie Traynor

Hack Wilson

Cy Young

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

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Baseball Roundtable Looks at Last- and First-Ballot BB HOF Electees

November 24, 2020 by David

The Baseball Writers Association of America voting on Hall of Fame candidates for 2012 has begun – which seems to offer an appropriate segue to a post looking back at past balloting. In this case, there will be an emphasis on players who had to wait until their final year of eligibility to have their Hall of Fame ticket validated. (Although, we’ll briefly touch on those elected in their first appearance on the ballot.) I’ll also provide a link to the BBRT (unofficial) Hall of Fame Ballot for 2021.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S 2021 BASEBALL HALL OF FAME (unofficial) FAN BALLOT

Baseball Roundtable is once again offering readers the opportunity to vote in BBRT’s (unofficial) Hall of Fame Fan Ballot (based on the 2021 BBWAA list of candidates). To take a look at the players on the ballot, BBRT’s predictions and preferences and find a link to the fan ballot, click here. To go directly to the fan ballot, click here.

Since 1936, 235 individual have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as players, with 134 of those through the traditional Baseball Writers Association balloting (as opposed various Veterans, Negro Leagues or ERA Committees). Of those 134 elected in the traditional BBWAA balloting, 57 have been first-ballot electees. This number of course, includes the five players elected in the very first year of balloting (for 1936 induction) – Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. Since it was the first-ever Hall of Fame ballot, those five were all automatically “first-ballot” electees. Notably, there would not be another first-ballot electee until 1962, when Jackie Robinson and Bob Feller both achieved that status. In the interim the BBWAA had elected 31 players to the Hall.

Now, a lot has been written about those first-ballot Hall of Famers. They, after all, should represent the acknowledged “best of the best.” In this post I would like to look in more depth at a rarer group, those players who had to wait until their final year of eligibility to celebrate election to the Hall of Fame. There are only seven players in this group. In this post, Baseball Roundtable will take a look at the “patient seven,” ranking them in order or BBRT’s surprise that they had to wait that long.

As you read through the profiles of the last-chance electees, you will see some numbers that don’t seem to match up with current BBWAA voting rules. Under current rules, players first are eligible to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot five years after their retirement; players must have played in at least ten MLB seasons and may remain on the ballot only until reaching 15 years post-retirement; players must be approved for placement on the ballot by a Hall of Fame Steering Committee; and players must receive at least 5 percent of the vote to remain on the ballot for the following year. Why the discrepancies? The rules have changed a lot over time. For example, until 1945, there was no waiting period before a player could appear on the HOF ballot. Then from 1946-53, a player had to be retired at least one year before taking a spot on the ballot. In 1954, the current five-year (after retirement) waiting period was established. Similarly, there originally was no limit as to how long a player could remain on the ballot after retirement. In 1946, that was changed to 25 years after retirement; in 1956 it was changed to 30 years; in 1962 it was dropped to 20 years; and, in 2014, the present 15-year limit was adopted. Over time, there also have been changes in the frequency of election; the use of a steering committee to pare the ballot; and even the use of a second round of “run-off” voting in years when no player got the needed support on the first ballot.

Now, here’s a look at the seven players who had to wait until their final year of ballot eligibility to be voted in by the writers – presented in order of BBRT’s surprise at the wait.

Joe Medwick, inducted 1968 … 84.8 percent support the year of his election.

From 1962 to 2014, a player could remain on the Hall of Fame Ballot for up to twenty years after retirement – and it took all twenty for Joe “Ducky” Medwick to make his way into the Hall. He tops the Baseball Roundtable’s “surprised he had to wait so long” list – thanks to a career batting average of .324, 10 All Star selections, an MVP Award and a Triple Crown.

Medwick played 17 MLB seasons – Cardinals (1932-1940, 1947-48), Dodgers (1940-1943, 46), Giants (1943-45), Braves (1945). Medwick put up a .324 career average (2,471 hits), led the NL in batting average once (.374 in 1937), hits twice, doubles three times, triples once, home runs once, RBI three times, and total bases three times. He was the NL MVP in 1937, when he won the NL Triple Crown. His final MLB line was .324-205-1,383, with 1,198 runs scored. He also hit .326 in 12 World Series gamers.

Wear that Crown Proudly

Joe “Ducky” Medwick is the National League’s last (most recent) Triple Crown (batting) winner – .374-31-154 for the 1937 Cardinals.

Ducky Medwick first appeared on the Hall of Fame Ballot in 1948 – and he got just one vote. Some attributed Medwick’s 20-year wait for his ticket to the Hall of Fame on the colorful and combative player’s often difficult relationship with sportswriters, opponents and sometimes even teammates.

Joe Medwick’s Baseball Hall of Fame balloting percentages: 1948 (0.8%); 1956 (16.1%); 1958 (18.8%); 1960 (14.1%); 1962 (21.2%); 1964 (64.7%); 1966 (61.5%); 1967 (72.6%); 1968 (84.8%). Note: I am not sure why Medwick garnered that one vote in 1948 and then did not appear in the voting again until 1956 – still looking into that.)

Joe “Ducky Medwick’s Best Season: In 1938, Joe Medwick played in an NL-tops 156 games. He led the league in hitting (.374), home runs (31), RBI (154), runs scored (111), hits (237), doubles (56) and total bases (406).

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Ralph Kiner, OF/1B, inducted 1975 … 75.4 percent support the year of election.

Hall of Fame voting rules require a player to appear in the major leagues ten seasons to appear on the ballot. A back injury limited Kiner, who retired at age 32, to ten MLB campaigns on the button.

Kiner won (or tied for), the National League home run crown in his first seven seasons (1946-52) – and he remains the only player with seven consecutive home run crowns. Kiner was also an All Star in six of his ten MLB seasons, led the league in games played twice, runs once, RBI once, walks three times, on-base percentage once, slugging percentage three times and total bases once. He finished in the top ten in NL Most Valuable Player balloting four times.

A couple of factors may have slowed Kiner’s trip to the Hall: 1) His injury-shortened career kept him from reaching the kind of milestone numbers that quickly pushed the door to the Hall open (like 500 home runs); 2) He was on the ballot at a time when votes seemed at a premium (From 1960 through 1974, the BBWAA voted only 14 players into the Hall). Kiner was elected in his final year of eligibility (20 years post-retirement). In the year he was finally elected (1975), it took 272 votes to reach the Hall. Kiner beat that by just one – and was the only player elected by the BBWAA that year. He should not have had to wait that long.

Fifty, that’s a Nice Number

Ralph Kiner was the first National Leaguer to log two 50-HR seasons.

Kiner played for the Pirates (1946-53), Cubs (1953-54) and Indians (1955). He hit .279, with 369 home runs and 1.015 RBI in 1,472 games. He also drew 1,011 walks, while fanning 749 times.

Ralph Kiner’s Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 1960 (1.1%); 1962 (3.1%); 1964 (15.4%); 1966 (24.5%); 1967 (42.5%); 1968 (41.7%); 1969 (40.3%); 1970 (55.7%); 1971 (58.9%); 1972 (59.3%);1973 (61.8%); 1974 (58.9%); 1975 (75.4%); Note: From 1957-1965, the BBWAA balloting occurred every other year. Previous to 1979, there was no five percent requirement for a player to remain on the ballot.

Ralph Kiner’s Best Season: In 1949, Ralph Kiner hit .310, with a league-leading 54 home runs and a league-topping 127 RBI. He also led the NL in walks (117) and slugging percentage (.658).

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Larry Walker, 2020 inductee – 76.6 percent support the year of election

Larry Walker made a jump of more than 20 percentage points in his final year on the ballot. It seems the the fact that Walker played nearly one-third of his MLB career in hitter-friendly Coors Field may have hurt his vote totals over time – he hit .383 for his career in Coors, .271 elsewhere. I’m not much for punishing a player for taking full advantage of his home-field conditions. I believe the numbers and Walker’s status as a multi-tool player – three Silver Slugger Awards, seven Gold Gloves, 383 home runs and 230 stolen bases – indicate his election was both well-deserved and overdue.

Walker played for the Expos (1989-1994), Rockies (1995-2004) and Cardinals (2004-2005). In his 17 MLB seasons, he recorded 2,160 hits, a .313 average and three batting titles. Between 1997 and 2001, he hit .350 or better in four of five seasons. The five-time All Star (and 1997 NL MVP) hit 383 home runs (a high of 49 in 1997) and stole 230 bases (a high of 33 in 1997). Walker hit just .230 in 28 post-season games, but did rack up seven home runs, 15 RBI and sixteen walks in those contests.

The 400 Club

In 1997, Larry Walker led the NL with 409 total bases – the 18th highest single-season total all-time. There have been only 29 seasons of 400 or more total bases (by 18 different players) in MLB history. Babe Ruth hold the record with 457 total bases in 1921.

Larry Walker’s Hall of Fame Balloting Percentages: 2011 (20.3%); 2012 (22.9%); 2013 (21.6%); 2014 (10.2%); 2015 (11.8%); 2016 (15.5%); 2017 (21.9%); 2018 (34.1%); 2019 (54.5%); 2020 (76.6%).

Larry Walker’s Best Season: In his 1997 NL MVP year (Rockies), Larry Walker hit .366, with a league-leading 49 home runs. He drove in 130 runs, scored 143, rapped 46 doubles, led the league in total bases at 409, topped the league in slugging percentage at .720 and even threw in 33 stolen bases and a Gold Glove. That’s using all five tools.

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Jim Rice, inducted 2009 … 76.4 percent support the year of election.

Jim Rice got solid support as he waited for his election – collecting more than 50 percent of the vote in each of his last ten years on the ballot. The eight-time All Star and 1978 American League MVP played 16 MLB seasons (1974-89), all with the Red Sox.

Rice was a three-time league home-run leader (topping 30 home runs in four seasons); twice lead the AL in RBI (topping 100 eight times); four-times lead the league in total bases; and hit over .300 in seven full seasons. He finished his career with a .298 average, 382 home runs, and 1,451 RBI. In his ten peak seasons (1977-86), he averaged .305-30-109 per campaign. It has been speculated that several factors contributed to Rice’s long wait for induction: 1) His was on the ballot with a number PED-suspects, competing with some inflated numbers and facing some skeptical voters; he was not known as a particularly strong fielder; and his stats took a bit a slide over this final three seasons (averaging just 100 games, .263, 10 home runs and 54 RBI over those campaigns.)

Jim Rice’s Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 1995 (29.8%); 1996 (35.3%); 1997 (37.6%); 1998 (42.9%); 1999 (29.4%); 2000 (51.4%); 2001 (57.9%); 2002 (55.1%); 2003 (52.2%); 2004 (54.5%); 2005 (59.5%); 2006 (64.8%); 2007 (63.5%); 2008 (72.2%); 2009 (76.4%).

Jim Rice’s Best Season: In his 1978 American League MVP season Jim Rice led the league in games (163), plate appearances (746); at bats (677); hits (213); triples (15); home runs (46); RBI (139); slugging percentage (.600); and total bases (408). He hit .315 and scored 121 runs.

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Edgar Martinez, 2019 … 85.4 percent support in the year of election.

Photo by clare_and_ben

Edgar Martinez’ .312 career batting average points to him as a strong Hall of Fame candidate. He was disadvantaged, however, by a long-running prejudice against designated hitters among voters (71.7 percent of Martinez’ MLB plate appearances came as a DH). With that in mind, Martinez’s wait is less of a surprise to BBRT than some of the others on this list. Martinez’ candidacy, in fact, looked to in jeopardy for a while. After topping 30 percent support in each of his first four years on the ballot, Martinez dropped below 30 percent for two ballots (2014-15). He then jumped to 43.4 percent in 2016 and steadily made the climb to election in 2019. BBRT would have put him in much sooner.

The fact is, Martinez clearly, and expertly, defined the DH role. In an 18-season MLB career (all with the Mariners), Martinez was named to seven All Star teams; won a pair of batting titles (hitting a high of .356 in 1995); earned five Silver Slugger Awards; topped 100 RBI in six seasons (leading the league with 145 in 2000); and scored 100 or more runs five times (leading the league with 121 in 1995). He finished his career with a .312 average; 2,247 hits; 1,219 runs; 1,261 RBI; 309 home runs; and 514 doubles.

Martinez hit .571 in the 1995 AL Championship Series (12-for-21), with two home runs, six walks and 10 RBI in five games. In 34 post-season games, he hit .266, with eight home runs and 24 RBI.

That’s Recognition Right There

In 2004, MLB renamed the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award “The Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.” That says a lot, right there.

Edgar Martinez’ Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 2010 (36.1%); 2011 (32.9%); 2012 (36.5% ); 2013 (35.9%); 2014 (25.2%); 2015 (27.0%); 2016 (43.4%); 2017 (58.6%); 2018 (70.4%); 2019 (85.4%).

Edgar Martinez’ Best Season: One of two here, in 1995, Martinez led the league in batting average (.356), runs scored (121) and doubles (52), adding 29 home runs and 113 RBI. In 2005, Martinez put up a .324 average, 37 home runs, a league-leading 145 RBI and 100 runs scored.

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Tim Raines, 2017 … 86.05 percent support the year of election.

Tim Raines may have been a bit overlooked because he did not reach of those magic “markers” for Hall of Fame selection – like a .300 career average, 3,000 hits, 500 home runs. He also did not have an MVP Award on his resume; gained the most recognition early in his career (seven All Star selections in his first nine seasons, none in his final 14). He also had some drug-related issues that may have swayed some voters. He was, however, one of the top leadoff hitters in baseball – a bit of a Rickey Henderson-lite.

Raines put up some impressive numbers in his 23 MLB seasons – a .294 average, 2,605 hits, 1,571 runs scored (55^th all time), 170 home runs, 980 RBI and 808 stolen bases (fifth all time). He was a seven-time All Star; led the NL in stolen bases four consecutive years (1981-84); had a streak of six seasons with at least 70 steals; won the NL batting title in 1986 with a .334 average; led the league in runs scored twice and doubles once.

Just How much of a threat was Raines on the bases? Over 23 seasons, he averaged 35 steals a year (and that included six seasons in which he played in less than half his team’s games). Over his MLB career – from age 19 to 42 – Raines averaged 52 stolen bases for every 162 games played. In 34 post-season games, The Rock hit .270 with one home run, six RBI, 18 runs scored and three steals. Raines played for the Expos (1979-1990 and 2001); White Sox (1991-1995); Yankees (1996-1998); A’s (1999); Orioles (2001); and Marlins (2002).

Good Genes

On October 4, 2001, the 42-year-old Raines started in left field for the Orioles, alongside his 22–year-old son Tim Raines, Jr. (CF).

Tim Raines’ Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 2008 (24.3%); 2009 (22.6%); 2010 (30.4%); 2011 (37.5%); 2012 (48.7%); 2013 (52.2%); 2014 (46.1%); 2015 (55.0%); 2016 (69.8%); 2017 (86.0%)

Tim Raines’ Best Season: Despite his 1986 batting title (.334 average), BBRT thinks Raines’ top season was 1983 (Expos) – 156 games, 179 hits, .298 average, league-leading 133 runs scored, 11 homers, 71 RBI, league-leading 90 steals.

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Red Ruffing, 1967 … 86.9 percent support the year of election.

Photo by rchdj10

Not only did Red Ruffing have to wait until his fifteenth and final year of HOF ballot eligibility, he had to wait until a runoff vote to see his ticket to the HOF stamped. In that final year of eligibility, Ruffing had received 72.6 percent of the vote in the BBWAA balloting (tied with Ducky Medwick). At the time (from 1960-68), HOF balloting rules called for a run off ballot (among the top 30 vote gets) if no one was elected on the original ballot. Ruffing was elected in that run-off.

Red Ruffing won 273 MLB games – despite losing two seasons to military service (1943-44). Ruffing’s candidacy was dampened a bit by his 3.80 career earned run average (at the time the highest-ever for a HOF inductee, now second to Jack Morris’ 3,90) and a couple of seasons when he led the American League in losses (10-25 in 1928 and 9-22 in 1929).

Still he put in 22 MLB seasons, won 273 games (225 losses), was a twenty-game winner four times (leading the league in wins once) and was an All Star in six campaigns (1934 & 1938-42 with the Yankees). Ruffing also led the league in complete games once, shutouts once and strikeouts once. He fanned 1,987 batters (and walked 1,541) in 4,344 innings pitched. Had he not spent the 1943-44 season in the military, Ruffing likely would have recorded 300 MLB wins and made his way to Cooperstown much earlier.

Big Game Arm

Red Ruffing started ten World Series Games (all for the Yankees) and went 7-2, 2.63, with eight complete games.

Ruffing pitched for the Red Sox (1924-1930); Yankees (1930-42, 1945-46): and White Sox (1947).

Red Ruffing’s Hall of Fame Vote Percentages: 1948 (3.3%); 1949 (14.4%); 1950 (7.1%); 1951 (4.0%); 1952 (4.3%); 1953 (9.1%); 1954 (11.5%); 1955 (23.9%); 1956 (50.3%); 1958 (37.2%); 1960 (32.0%); 1962 (45.0%); 1964 (70.1% – lost in runoff to Luke Appling); 1966 (68.9%); 1967 (72.6% – runoff 86.9%).

A Trade … and a New Trajectory

Red Ruffing’s trade from the Red Sox to the Yankees in May of 1930 was a career turning point. At the time, he was 39-96, 4.61 in seven seasons for the Red Sox (0-3, 6.38 for Boston to that point in 1930). Ruffing went 15-5, 4.14 for the remainder of the season in a Yankee uniform. He went on to pitch 15 seasons for New York, going 231-124, 3.47.

Red Ruffing’s Best Season: One of two here. In 1938, Red Ruffing led the American League in wins with 21 (seven losses), put up a 3.31 earned run average and completed 22 of 31 starts. The very next season he duplicated his 21-7 record (but did not lead the league in wins), with a 2.93 ERA, another 22 complete games (28 starts) and a league–leading five shutouts.

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

Once again, to vote in BBRT’s (unofficial) 2012 Hall of Fame Fan Ballot, click here.

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

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Baseball Roundtable Offers the Chance to Vote in BBRT’s Unofficial 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame Balloting

November 16, 2020 by David

BBRT’s Baseball Hall of Fame 2020 Debate Season is officially open! The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) 2021 Hall of Fame ballots were distributed yesterday and the results will be announced in January, with the honorees inducted on July 21. This year’s traditional ballot includes 14 holdovers from last year, along with 11 newcomers.

Skip the post (although I hope you will read on) and go right to the ballot, click here.

In this post, BBRT will share:

Predictions on the 2021 BBWAA voting;
BBRT’s ballot (if I had one);
A deep look into all the candidates on the ballot;
A link to BBRT’s unofficial fan ballot – please take a few minutes to follow the link and cast your votes.

––PARTICIPATE IN BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S 2021 FANS’ HALL OF FAME BALLOT—

Baseball Roundtable is once again conducting an unofficial fan ballot – to cast your vote(s), click here. Remember, you can vote for up to ten of the nominees for 2021 induction. If you want to read through the nominees’ bios first, there is another link to the BBRT Fan Ballot following the bios (near the end of this post). BBRT will be providing updates on the fan balloting, as well as a post-election comparison of fan votes as compared to the final BBWAA results. Voting on the BBRT Fan Ballot will remain open until January 1, 2021.

Also, if you leave your email or Facebook address in the comments section at the end of the ballot, you will be entered in a bobblehead and baseball card “surprise-prize” drawing.

Again, to cast your votes, click here.

As you consider this year’s slate of candidates, BBRT would stress that all the players on the ballot – even those who remain for only one voting cycle – deserve recognition. To rise to the major leagues, last ten years and make it past the Hall of Fame Screening Committee is a significant accomplishment in itself. In fact, the annual ballot release is a highlight for BBRT, as it provides a chance to acknowledge the accomplishments of all the candidates – not just the favorites for election. For example, a review of the ballot gives us the opportunity to honor Mike Buehrle’s n0-hitter and perfect game; Bobby Abreu’s 400 stolen bases; Billy Wagner’s 400 saves; A.J.Burnett’s nine-walk no-hitter; Torii Hunter’s nine Gold Gloves; LaTroy Hawkins’ 1,042 games pitched; Barry Zito’s Cy Young season; and more.

Now on to the official 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame election process itself – and, then, a look at the players on the ballot for 2021.

BASEBALL HALL OF FAME ELIGIBILITY/CRITERIA FOR ELECTION

The basic rules for eligibility are that a player must have played at least ten seasons and be retired for at least five years. In addition, the player must be approved for the ballot by the Hall of Fame Screening Committee.

A player can remain on the ballot for up to ten years, but must receive at least five percent of the vote in the preceding year’s ballot to remain on the ballot. Each voter can vote for up to ten candidates. Election requires that a player be named on at least 75 percent of the ballots cast.

The criteria for election: “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”

A couple of preliminary comments.

This year’s ballot is not as crowded with strong newcomers as those as we have seen in that recent years. In the last five balloting sessions, for example, we have seen Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Ivan Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. all elected on their first ballots.
The 2021 ballot also includes no players in their final year of eligibility – a group that generally gains some additional momentum (and pulls votes from other nominees).
The PED-controversey is appears to still be having on impact on voting, with some key players gaining support in recent voting – but not at a pace that points to election.
The holdovers are players that at least 70 percent BBWAA voters found a reason not to support for 2020 election.(Curt Schilling had the highest percentage of votes among those no elected at 70 percent.) In addition, there are no newcomers on the ballot who can boast those “Oh, yes, you’re in” statistical achievements. No members of the 500- (or even 400-) home run club; no members of 3,000- (or even 2,500-) hit club; no members of the 3,000-strikeout club (and only pitcher with 2,500 whiffs); and no members of the 300 (or even 250) victories club.

In short, this year’s ballot has a lot of holdovers who are not sure things and a lot of very good newcomers, but no shoe-ins. It will be interesting to see how BBWAA voters view this year’s list (as well as hoe BBRT’s voters react). Now, let’s take a look at whom BBRT predicts will be elected by the BBWAA; how BBRT would vote if I had a ballot; and, along the way, the bios of these year’s candidates.

—–LIKELY BASEBALL HALL OF FAME ELECTEES FOR 2021—–

BBRT’s Prediction for 2021 …

Last November, Baseball Roundtable released its 2020 BBWAA balloting predictions, projecting the election of Derek Jeter and Larry Walker – and predicting “dark horse” candidate Curt Schilling would fall closer to 70 percent than 75. Jeter and Walker were elected and Schilling fell short (at 70 percent). Two years ago, BBRT projected the election of Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martinez and listed Mike Mussina and Roy Halladay as “dark horse” candidates with a chance to generate the needed 75 percent support. It was a bit of a swing and miss (maybe a foul ball), as all four were elected. Three years ago, BBRT predicted the election of Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Vlad Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman (with Mike Mussina as a “dark horse” candidate). Jones, Thome, Guerrero and Hoffman made it, with Mussina garnering 64.5 percent (sixth-most).

For 2021, BBRT is not optimistic about the balloting. I see just one truly likely candidate – Curt Schilling, who has seen his vote percentage increase by more than 5 percent in each of the past four years: 45.0 percent in 2017; 51.2 in 2018; 60.0 in 2019; and 70.0 last year. Another 5 percent-plus increase would put him over the top. Further, if you go back to 2018, when Schilling finished with the ninth-highest vote total, six of the eight players who finished ahead of him are now in the Hall of Fame (the exceptions being Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens).

I’d add one dark horse candidate. Omar Vizquel (52.5 percent one year ago) – who should be helped by this year’s “slimmer” ballot – has a chance to gain some ground. However, it’s more likely he moves to about the 60-65 percent level percent this year.

Let’s move on to BBRT’s hypothetical – if I had one – ballot and bios of the players I would vote for; followed by a look at the remainder of the 2021 candidates.

Side note: You will not find those caught up in the PED-controversy on my ballot. While I think the best of them will eventually be elected/inducted, if I had a ballot, I’d prefer they made the 75 percent without my vote. Still, given their place in the history of the game, I’d probably break down and vote for the top players in this group when they reached their final year of eligibility.

So, here is BBRT’s Hall of Fame Ballot – again, if I had one – with the players listed in BBRT’s order of preference.

— PLAYERS WHO WOULD GET BBRT’S VOTE …

Jeff Kent – (Second Base/Third Base/First Base, 1992-2008) … Eighth year on the ballot, 27.5 percent last year.

BBRT has long believed Jeff Kent is a deserving candidate, but he has not been getting much support from the writers. Kent holds the all-time MLB record for home runs by a second baseman (351 of his 377 career round trippers were hit while in the lineup at second base). He has a healthy .290 career batting average; his 1,518 RBI are 54th all time; and his 560 doubles 30th. His 984 extra base hits are 43^rd all-time.

Kent was a five-time All Star and the 2000 NL MVP. As primarily a middle infielder, he hit 20 or more home runs in 12 seasons (a high of 37 in 2007) and topped 100 RBI eight times. He hit .276, with nine home runs and 23 RBI in 49 post-season games.

Running with the Big Boys …

Jeff Kent has more career runs batted in (1,509 in 17 seasons) than such noted Hall of Famers (who played a comparable number of seasons) as Mickey Mantle (1,508 in 18 seasons), Billy Williams (1,475 in 18 seasons), Eddie Mathews 1,453 in 17 seasons), Duke Snider (1,333 in 18 seasons) and Orlando Cepeda (1,365 in 17 seasons). Not bad for a middle infielder.

Kent has the credentials, but BBRT has a hunch the writers may keep him on the bench – a couple of Gold Gloves, at this traditionally defense-oriented position, would have really helped his case. Kent played for the Blue Jays (1992), Mets (1992-1996), Indians (1996), Giants (1997-2002), Astros (2003-2004) and Dodgers (2005-2008).

Jeff Kent’s Best Season: With the Giants in 2000, Kent put up these stats – 159 games; 196 hits; .334 average; 33 home runs; 125 RBI; 114 runs; 12 steals. His performance earned him the NL MVP Award.

Kent gets BBRT’s vote – and I believe the BBWAA’s support is overdue (but not forthcoming). This is one HOF “snub” that somewhat confuses BBRT.

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Todd Helton – (First Base, 1997-2013) … Third year on the ballot, 29.2 percent last year.

Todd Helton moved from 16.5 percent of the vote to 29.2 percent between his first and second years on the ballot. He faced some pretty strong ballot competition in those first two years and this year’s lighter ballot should help boost his numbers. I expect he might reach 40-45 percent). Still, he is hampered by the fact that he spent his entire 17-year career with the Rockies (playing half his games in hitter-friendly Coors field). Helton, who put up a .316 career average, hit .345 at home and .287 on the road. Despite that home/road split, Helton’s body of work deserves HOF consideration.

Helton was a five-time All Star, three-time Gold Glover and four-time Silver Slugger. He hit over .300 in 12 seasons – and won the NL batting crown in 2000 with a .372 average. His 59 doubles that season are the seventh-most all-time. Helton drove in 100 or more runs in five seasons and scored in triple figures six times. His 1,335 walks (36th all-time) indicate the respect he earned at the plate. Helton also ranks fifth in games played at first base, second in career assists at the position, 13th in putouts and third in double plays.

The Denver 400

Todd Helton is one of only 18 players to reach 400 or more total bases in a season – and one of only seven players to have multiple 400+ total base campaigns. He is also the only player to collect 100 extra-base hits in two consecutive seasons (2000-2001).

Todd Helton’s Best Season: In 2000, Helton won the NL batting crown with a .372 average – and also led the league in base hits (216), doubles (59), RBI (147), on-base percentage (.463), slugging percentage (.698) and total bases (405). He also scored 138 runs and hit 42 home runs.

Helton will stay on the ballot and has a chance at entry into the HOF – he’s just not likely to overcome the Coors Field-bias in the short-term future. He gets BBRT’s vote (as he has in the past).

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Omar Vizquel – (Shortstop/Third Base, 1989-2012) … Fourth year on the ballot, 52.6 percent last year.

Photo by Keith Allison

Omar Vizquel got off to a good start toward a HOF plaque, grabbing 37 percent support on his first-ballot year, moving up to 42.8 percent in his second year and 52.6 percent last year. Vizquel once again earns BBRT’s vote – and should make his way into the Hall of Fame over time. When he does, it will be more with his glove (eleven Gold Gloves) than his bat. However, voters should be mindful of the fact that he finished his 24-season MLB career just 123 hits short of that milestone 3,000 safeties.

Vizquel delivered premier defense to the Mariners (1989-1993), Indians (1994-2004), Giants (2005-2008), Rangers (2009), White Sox (2010-2011) and Blue Jays (2012). He was a three-time All Star – and put together a string of nine straight Gold Gloves at shortstop (1993-2001).

Sacrificing for the Team

Omar Vizquel led his league in sacrifice bunts four times.

In the field, Vizquel has the highest career fielding percentage (.9847) among shortstops with at least 500 games at the position. Vizquel is also the all-time leader among shortstops in double plays (1,734), ranks third at the position for career assists and 11th in putouts. He shares the record (with Cal Ripken, Jr.) for the fewest errors by a shortstop in a season of at least 150 games played (three). For those who are into advance metrics, Vizquel also had the highest career Defensive Wins Above Replacement (War) among shortstops at 44.2.

On offense, Vizquel put up a serviceable .272 career average, with 80 home runs, 951 RBI and 1,445 runs scored. The 1,445 runs put him in the top 100 players all-time (83rd); while his 2,877 hits put him in the top 50 (43rd and fourth all-time among switch-hitters). He also swiped 404 bases – topping twenty steals eight times (a high of 42 in 1999) – putting him at number-72 on the all-time list. Vizquel played in 57 post-season games, hitting .250-0-20.

Omar Vizquel’s Best Season: In 1999, with the Indians, Vizquel hit a surprising .333, with five home runs, 66 RBI, 112 runs scored and 42 stolen bases – and, of course, won a Gold Glove at shortstop.

Vizquel would get BBRT’s vote, but the BBWAA voters likely will make him wait a bit longer – showing a preference for a bit more offense. He does have a chance, however, given that his 2,877 base hits are at the top of this class.

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Billy Wagner – (LHP 1995-2010) … Sixth year on the ballot, 31.7 percent last year.

Billy Wagner played for the Astros (1995-2003), Phillies (2004-2005), Mets (2006-2009), Red Sox (2009) and Braves (2010). Wagner was a seven-time All Star, who amassed 422 saves (sixth all-time) in a 16-season MLB career. He had nine seasons of 30 or more saves; a career ERA of 2.31; 1,196 career strikeouts in 903 innings; and 47-40 won-lost record.

Whiff-and-Poof

In 1992, playing for Ferrum College, Billy Wagner set an NCAA record for strikeouts per nine innings in a season at 19.3.

Billy Wagner’s Best Season: In 2003, Wagner went 1-4, 1.78 for the Astros, saving 44 games and fanning 105 batters in 86 innings.

BBWAA voters have been very demanding of relievers (although the recent induction of Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman may be a good sign – but they, of course, both had 600+ saves). It also helps that Lee Smith (478 saves) was elected by the Today’s Game Committee in 2019. BBRT thinks Wagner belongs in the Hall (based on his 400+ saves) – and hopes that momentum continues to build. Wagner has been gaining more support lately – 31.7 percent last year; 16.7 percent in 2019; 11.1 percent in 2018; 10.2 percent in 2017. He should gain more ground in this year’s ballot, but 75 percent is still a long way off. I’d like to see Wagner at least jump past the 50 percent mark. He gets my vote.

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Andy Pettitte – (LHP/Starter, 1995-2010, 2012-13) … Third year on the ballot, 11.3 percent last year.

Andy Pettitte – 19 career post-season wins.

I had to think for a while on this one (and will probably get some push back from readers), largely because a major part of Andy Pettitte’s HOF resume was achieved in the post-season and there was some PED-controversey surrounding Pettitte. (Note: Pettitte admitted to using HGH while recovering from elbow surgery – a couple of years before the substance was banned. He took responsibility and apologized.)

Pettitte holds the MLB post-season marks for most wins (19 … versus 11 losses), innings pitched (276 2/3), games started (44) and is fourth in strikeouts (183). His post-season accomplishments include a 3.81 career ERA and the 2001 American League Championship series MVP Award.

Pettitte, however, was no slouch in the regular season (Yankees – 1995-2003, 2007-2010, 2012-13) and Astros (2004-06). He finished with 256 wins (153 losses) and a 3.85 ERA. Pettitte won 20 games in two seasons and 14 or more games 12 times – leading the AL with 21 wins in 1996. The three-time All Star struck out 2,448 batters (45th all-time) in 2,316 innings.

Ready, Willing and Able …

Andy Pettitte started 30 or more games in a season 12 times, leading his league three times (1997, 2006, 2007.)

Pettitte’s post-season numbers, plus 256 regular-season victories and the fact that he had 100+ more career wins than losses secure BBRT’s vote. He still has a long way to go with the BBWAA voters, however.

Andy Pettitte’s Best Season: In 1997, following a 21-8 campaign in 1996, Pettitte went 18-7, with a 2.88 ERA (fourth-best in the AL), leading the league in starts with 35, finishing third in innings pitched (240 1/3) and eighth in strikeouts (166).

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Bobby Abreu – (OF, 1996-2012, 2014) … Second Year on the ballot, 5.5 percent one year ago.

A solid .291 career hitter (2,470 base hits), Abreu hit .300 or better in six seasons. He hit 20 or more round trippers in 10 campaigns, stole 20 or more bases 12 times (a high of 40 in 2004), drove in 100 or more runs eight times and scored at least 100 runs eight times. Abreu also walked 1,476 times – including 100 or more free passes in eight straight seasons (1999-2006).

In the Top 50 …

Bobby Abreu’s 1,476 walks are 20th all-time; his 574 doubles are 25th; his putout as a RF are 12th; and his assists as a RF 28th.

Abreu played for the Astros (1996-97, Phillies (1999-2006), Yankees (2006-2008), Angels (2009-1012), Dodgers (2012) and Mets (2014).

In 20 post-season games, Abreu went 19-for-67 (.284), with one home runs and nine RBI.

Bobby Abreu’s Best Season: In 2004, as a Phillie, Abreu hit .301, with 30 home runs and 40 steals. An All Star that season, he also drove in 105 runs and scored 118.

Abreu’s 400 steals are an HOF plus, as his 30-40 season in 2004 and his eight campaigns with 100 or more RBI. Had he reached 300 home runs; it would have really boosted his status with the writers. He’s also hurt by the fact that he only made two All Star teams in his 18 seasons. Still, I have votes left and his body of work earns one of them.

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So, with BBRT’s unofficial ballot covered, let’s look at the remainder of candidates – in alphabetical order. Note: Here you will find a host of players with solid (but perhaps not HOF-level) career numbers and accomplishments – as well as a few that remain on the sidelines for other reasons.

—–THE REST OF THE BALLOT—–

Barry Bonds – (Outfield, 1986-2007) … Ninth year on the ballot, 60.7 percent a year ago.

Barry Bonds played for the Pirates (1986-1992) and the Giants (1993-2007). There is no doubt about Bond’s credentials – .298 average, 2,935 hits, MLB-record 762 home runs, 1,996 RBI, MLB-record 2,558 walks. He was also a 14-time All Star; 12-time Silver Slugger Award winner; his league’s MVP a record seven times; and an eight-time Gold Glove winner. In 2001, Bonds hit .328, with an MLB-record 73 home runs and 177 RBI. He drove in 100 or more runs 12 times and also scored 100 or more runs in a dozen seasons. And, I could go on and on.

Base Open? Makes Sense to Me …

Barry Bonds drew an MLB-record 688 intentional walks in his career. Second place? Albert Pujols, with 32. In 2004 alone, Bonds drew a record 120 intentional passes. He led his league in IBB 12 times.

Still, there are there is that pesky PED-controversey – an elephant in the room (and on the ballot) that I think will keep Bonds out of the Hall for at least another year. The dam may very well break and we will see some of the major stars now under a PED cloud take places in the Hall very soon. BBRT is not ready to cast that vote yet – and I don’t think 75 percent of the BBWAA is either. We can expect Bonds back on the ballot next year.

Barry Bonds’ Best Season: In 2001, Bonds crushed an all-time record 73 home runs, while hitting .328, driving in 137 runs, scoring 129 – all while drawing 177 walks.

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Mark Buehrle – (LHP, 2000-15) …. First year on the ballot.

Mark Buehrle pitched in 15 MLB campaigns – White Sox (2000-11), Marlins (2012), Blue Jays (2013-15) – and threw 200 or more innings in all but his rookie and final seasons. Buehrle was a five-time All Star and put up a 214-160, 3.81 record, with 1,870 strikeouts in 3,283 1/3 innings. He twice led his league in starts and twice topped his league in innings pitched. He won ten or more games in 15 consecutive seasons and six times won 15 or more. Buehrle also four Gold Glove Awards.

Near-Perfect and Perfect

Mark Buehrle’s HOF resume is bolstered by a no-hitter tossed on April 18, 2007 – when his White Sox topped the Rangers 7-0 and Buehrle faced the minimum 27 batters. The only Texas’ base runner came on a fifth inning, one-out walk to Sammy Sosa, whom Buehrle then picked off first base. Buehrle notched eight strikeouts in the game, which was so-o-o very close to a “perfecto.”

Buehrle got his perfect game two years later (July 23, m 2009), when he recorded a clean slate in a 5-0 ChiSox win over the Rays. He fanned six in that one.

Mark Buehrle’s Best Season: In 2005, Buehrle went 16-8, 3.12 for the White Sox.

If he had 250 wins to go with the no-hitter, perfect game and four Gold Gloves, Buehrle would have had my vote. With just 214 wins, no Cy Young Award and no 20-win season, he’s short of what BBRT looks for in a first-ballot inductee. I fully expect he will be back on the 2022 ballot.

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A.J. Burnett – (RHP, 1999-2915) … First year on the ballot.

A.J. Burnett pitched for five teams in his 17 MLB seasons: Marlins (1999-2005); Blue Jays (2006-08); Yankees (2009-11); Pirates (2012-13, 2015); Phillies (2014). He went 165-157, with a 3.99 earned run average. He made one All Star squad, in his final season (at age 38). He finished that campaign at 9-7, 3.18, but was 7-3, 2.11 at the All Star break. Burnett led his league in games started twice and strikeouts once. He won ten or more games in 11 of his 17 seasons.

One Wild No-No …

On May 12, 2001, A.J. Burnett pitched one of MLB’s wildest no-hitters. While his Marlins topped the Padres 3-0, Burnett notched no-hit, no-run game that included nine walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch. Burnett walked one in the first inning; two in the second; two in the third; walked one and hit one in the fourth; walked one in the seventh; and walked two more in the eighth. H fanned seven in the 129-pitch outing

A.J. Burnett’s Best Season: In 2008, Burnett went 18-10, 4.07 for the Blue Jays and lead the AL with 231 strikeouts in 221 1/3 innings.

Eight games over .500 is just not enough to get BBRT’s vote – and likely will not keep Burnett on the ballot for 2022.

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Roger Clemens – (RHP, 1984-2007) … Ninth year on the ballot, 61.0 percent last year.

Roger Clemens pitched in 24 MLB seasons; for the Red Sox (1984-1996), Blue Jays (1997-1998), Yankees (1999-2003, 2007) and Astros (2004-2006). Clemens has Hall-worthy stats: 354 wins (ninth all-time), 4,672 strikeouts (third all-time), an MLB-record seven Cy Young Awards and the 1986 AL MVP Award. The eleven-time All Star was a five-time 20-game winner (led the league in wins four times), seven-time ERA leader, five-time league leader in strikeouts and six-time leader in shutouts. He won the AL pitching Triple Crown (Wins/ERA/Strikeouts) three times. Clemens also has 12 post-season wins, with 173 strikeouts in 199 post-season innings.

Grab Some Bench, Buddy

Roger Clemens shares the record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game (20) with Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer. Clemens is the only pitcher to achieve 20 whiffs in a nine-inning game twice.

Roger Clemens’ Best Season: Lots to choose from here. Like 21-6, 1.93 in 1990 – or 1987, with a 20-9 record, 2.97 ERA, 18 complete games and seven shutouts. I take 1986. Clemens went 24-4. 2.48 and won both the Cy Young (his first) and AL MVP Awards for the Red Sox. He led the AL in wins, winning percentage (.857) and earned run average. He was fifth in innings pitched (254) and second in strikeouts (238).

Yes, he’s got the numbers (those listed and more), but the PED controversy seems to stand between him and the Hall. Don’t think the BBWAA is ready yet, but he’ll continue on the ballot – and will likely gain a bit of ground toward that 75 percent requirement. This year could be the springboard toward a 2022 trip to the Hall.

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Michael Cuddyer – (RF/1B/3B, 2001-15) …. First Year on the ballot.

Michael Cuddyer spent his 15-season MLB career with the Twins (2001-11), Rockies (2012-14) and Mete (2015). He was a two-time All Star and put up a .277-197-794 line in 1,536 games. Cuddyer hit 20 or more home runs in four seasons (a high of 32 in 2009). He scored 100+ runs in one season and drove in 100+ in one campaign. He won the National League batting title with a .331 average (Rockies) in 2013. Cuddyer hit well in the post season – .306-2-8 in 28 games. (There are those who would like to attribute Cuddyer’s 2013 batting title to Coors Field, but while Cuddyer did hit.356 at home, he also hit a healthy .311 on the road that season.)

Two-for-One

In 2009, as a Twin, Michael Cuddyer hit for the cycle on May 22, 2009 and then on August 23 of that season hit two home runs in one inning (seventh) against the Royals, He’s the only MLB player to accomplish both feats in the same season.

Michael Cuddyer’s Best Season: In 2013, Cuddyer went .331-20-84, with ten stolen bases, for the Rockies.

A solid player and an all-around good guy (and a pretty good magician), but HOF stats are just not quite there.

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Dan Haren – (RHP. 2003-15) … First year on the ballot.

Dan Haren’s 13 MLB seasons saw him pitch for the Cardinals (2003-04), A’s (2005-07), Diamondbacks (2008-10), Angels (2010-12), Nationals (2013), Dodgers (2014), Marlins (2015) and Cubs (2015). Haren went 153-131, 3.75 over his MLB career, fanning 2,013 batters in 2,419 2/3 innings. He was a three-time All Star and won 15 or more games in three seasons and ten or more in eleven. He started 30 or games in 11 seasons and had an ERA under 3.50 in five campaigns. Haren was 2-0, 3.26 in seven post-season appearances (two starts).

Got ‘em All …

Dan Haren is one of 19 pitchers to record at least one win versus all 30 major league teams.

Dan Haren’s Best Season: Haren’s best season was probably 2008, when he went 16-8, 3.33 for the Diamondbacks.

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LaTroy Hawkins – (RHP 1995-2015) … First Year on the ballot.

LaTroy Hawkins might be the least well-known two-decade major leaguer. Hawkins came up to the big leagues as a 22-year-old and finished his MLB playing career at age 42 – a pretty nice run. During that time, he pitched for the Twins (1995-2003), Cubs (2004-05), Giants (2005), Orioles (2006), Rockies (2007 & 2014-15), Yankees (2008), Astros (2008-09) Brewers (2010-11), Angels (2012), Mets (2013) and Blue Jays (2015). Hawkins began his MLB tenure as a starting pitcher – from 1995-99 – going 26-44, 6.16 in 99 games (98 starts). Hawkins moved to the bullpen in 2000 and found his niche. Between 2000 and 2015, he appeared in 943 games – all in relief – going 49-50, 3.30 with 127 saves. He had three seasons of 20+ saves.

Put Me in ,Coach …

LaTroy Hawkins in number-ten all time in games pitched (1,042).

LaTroy Hawkins’ Best Season: From BBRT’s perspective, Hawkins’ best season was either 2004 (Cubs), when he went 5-4, 2.63 with 25 saves or 2003, when he went 9-3, 1.86 with two saves for the Twins.

BBWAA voters (and BBRT) are hard on relievers – and it’s particularly tough if you’re not a closer.

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Tim Hudson, – (RHP. 1999-2015) … First year on the ballot.

Tm Hudson pitched in 17 MLB seasons: A; s (1999-2004), Braves (2005-2013); and Giants (2014-15). He was a four-time All Star – making the All Star squad with the A’s, Braves and Giants. Hudson’s career mark was 222-133, 3.49, with 2,080 strikeouts in 3, 126 2/3 innings pitched. He won 15 or more games in a season eight times, leading the AL in wins with 20 in 2000, his second MLB season. He led his league in games started twice, nine times starting 30+ games, and in shutouts twice.

A Two-way Player …

In 1997, Tim Hudson played in 65 games for Auburn University. As a pitcher he went 15-2, 2.97 and, as a hitter, he went .396-18-95. Appropriately, he was named SEC Player of the Year and was a consensus All American. (He was also named All-SEC at both pitcher and outfield.)

Tim Hudson’s Best Season: In 2000, with the A’s, Hudson went 20-6, 4.14, leading the AL in wins and winning percentage (.769). Also, in the running is 2001, when he went 18-9, with a 34.37 ERA.

Nearly 100 more wins than losses and four All Star selections should garner enough support to keep Hudson on the ballot.

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Torii Hunter – (OF, 1997-2015) … First year on the ballot.

Torii Hunter played 19 MLB seasons, suiting up for the Twins (1997-2007, 2015), Angels (2008-12) and Tigers 2013-14). He was a five-time All Star, and nine-time Gold Glover. For his career, Hunter hit .277 (2,452 hits), with 353 home runs, 1,391 RBI, 1,296 runs scored and 195 stolen bases. He hit 20+ home runs in 11 seasons, drove in 100+ runs twice and stole 20+ bases in three campaigns. Hunter hit .274-4-20 in 48 post-season games. Hunter led his league in CF assists three times, CF putouts once and double plays turned out of CF four times. He also led his league’s right fielders in putouts, assists and double plays once each.

Spider-Man

Torii Hunter earned the nicknamed spider-man for his outstanding outfield play.

Torii Hunter’s Best Season: In 2007 (Twins), Hunter hit .287, with 28 home runs, 107 RBI, 94 runs scored and 18 steals – although he can look back on at least four seasons with very similar numbers.

If I was going to add another player to my ballot, it would probably be Hunter. Nine Gold Gloves, five All Star selections and 353 home runs represent some pretty good credentials. What may hurt Hunter is his consistency. He could have used a couple of standout/spectacular/memorable seasons mixed in with all those very good campaigns that fans came to expect.

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Andruw Jones – (CF 1996-2012 )…. Fourth Year on the ballot, 19.4 percent last year.

Andruw Jones played for the Braves (1996-2007), Dodgers (2008), Rangers (2009), White Sox (2010) and Yankees (2011-2012). In a 17-season career – primarily patrolling centerfield – he won ten Gold Gloves (consecutively, 1998-2007). At the plate, he hit .254, with 434 home runs (47th all time), 1,289 RBI and 1,204 runs scored. He topped 25 home runs in ten seasons (six over thirty and a league-leading and career-high of 51 in 2005). He scored 100 or more runs four times, drove in 100+ five times and stole twenty or more bases in a season four times. Jones appeared in 76 post-season games, hitting .273, with ten home runs and 34 RBI.

On the Big Stage ,,,

In the 1996 World Series, Andruw Jones – just 19-years-old – hit .400 (8-for-20) with two home runs and six RBI, becoming the youngest player to go yard in the Fall Classic.

Andrew Jones’ Best Season: In 2005, Jones hit only .263, but led the NL in home runs (51) and RBI (128) – finishing second in the MVP voting to Albert Pujols (.330-41-117).

Jones’ ten Gold Gloves work in his favor, but – over the long haul – that .254 average (he only hit .300 or better once and over .270 only four times) dampen his HOF chances.

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Aramis Ramirez – (3B ,1998-2915) …. First year on the ballot

Aramis Ramirez may be the most under-appreciated player joining the ballot this year. Ramirez played 18 major league seasons, hitting .283, with 386 home runs, 1,417 RBI and 1,098 runs scored. He played for the Pirates (1998-2003), Cubs (2003-11) and Brewers (2012-2015). The three-time All Star hit 20+ home runs in ten seasons, had 100+ RBI seven times and hit .300 or better six times. In 2012, he led his league in doubles with 50.

Ouch.

Aramis Ramirez could have put up even more impressive numbers were it not for numerous injuries: quadriceps (2005), shoulder (2009), thumb (2010), knee (2013).

Aramis Ramirez’ Best Season: In 2004, with the Cubs, he hit .318-36-103, with 99 runs scored.

Trivia Tidbit …

In the 2003 National League Championship Series (Game Four), Aramis Ramirez hit the Cubs’ first-ever post-season Grand Slam.

I really wanted to vote for Ramirez. Like Torii Hunter, he needed a couple of spectacular seasons mixed in with all those “really good” campaigns. Still, I think, he will get enough support to stay on the ballot. Ramirez is one of those “bubble” guys. Had he reached 400 homers and 1,500 RBI, I’d probably have checked his unofficial box.

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Manny Ramirez – (Outfield, 1993-2011) – Fifth year on the ballot, 28.2 percent last year.

Manny Ramirez played 19 MLB seasons, collecting 2,574 hits, a .312 batting average, 555 home runs (15th all-time) and 1,831 RBI (19th all-time). Ramirez was a 12-time All Star and led the AL in average (2002), home runs (2004) and RBI (1999) once each. Ramirez won nine Silver Slugger Awards, including eight consecutive (1999-2006), hit .285 with 29 home runs in 111 post-season games and was the 2004 World Series MVP. He hit 30 or more home runs in twelve seasons (five of 40+), scored 100 or more runs six times, hit .300 or better in 11 seasons and topped 100 RBI 12 times.

It’s Post Time …

Manny Ramirez’ 29 post-season home runs are first all-time, while his 78 post-season RBI rank second. In addition, he is the all-time post-season leader in walks (72, tied with Chipper Jones) and ranks third in post-season hits (117) and runs scored (67).

Ramirez clearly put up HOF-caliber numbers, but two PED-related suspensions continue to hurt his chances. Not this year, but he’ll be back for another shot. Still he’s got a long way to do. Ramirez played for the Indians (1993-2000), Red Sox (2001-2008), Dodgers 2009-2010) and Rays (2011).

Manny Ramirez’ Best Season: In 1999, with Cleveland, Ramirez hit .333, with 44 home runs and 165 RBI (14th most in a season all-time) in 140 games.

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Scott Rolen – (Third Base, 1996-2012) … Fourth year on the ballot, 35.3 percent last year.

Scott Rolen played for the Phillies (1996-2002), Cardinals (2002-2007), Blue Jays (2008-2009) and Reds (2009-2012). The seven-time All Star (including in two of his final three seasons) flashed leather and lumber, collecting eight Gold Gloves and rapping 316 home runs. He finished with a .281 average, 316 home runs, 1,287 RBI, 1,211 runs scored and 188 stolen bases. Rolen hit 25 or more home runs seven times, with a high of 34 in 2005. He also put up five 100+ RBI seasons, scored 100+ runs in two campaigns and reached double digits in steals five times.

Off to a Good Start …

Scott Rolen was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1997 (.283-21-92, with 16 steals).

Scott Rolen’s Best Season: In 2004, with the Cardinals, Rolen hit career highs in average, home runs and RBI (.314-34-124) and won a Gold Glove.

Those Gold Gloves should keep Rolen on the ballot. If only he had reached 200 steals or 400 home runs.

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Curt Schilling – (RHP, 1988-2007) … Ninth year on the ballot, 70.0 percent last year.

Curt Schilling pitched for the Orioles (1988-1990), Astros (1991), Phillies (1992-2000), Diamondbacks (2000-2003) and Red Sox (2004-2007). Schilling was a six-time All Star, with 216 career wins (three seasons of 20 or more wins) over a 20-season MLB career. He recorded the 15th most career MLB strikeouts at 3,116 (three seasons of 300 or more whiffs), led his league in wins twice, complete games four times, innings pitched twice and strikeouts twice. He was also the 2001 World Series co-MVP – and has an impressive 11-2, 2.23 ERA post-season record (19 starts).

Putting the “K” in StriKeout …

Curt Schilling is one-half of one of only two tandems of teammates to strike out 300 batters in the same season. In 2002, Schilling fanned 316 batters for the Diamondbacks, while teammate Randy Johnson whiffed 324. In 2019, Gerrit Cole (326) and Justin Verlander (300 K) joined this club.

Curt Schilling’s Best Season: In 2001, Schilling went 22-6 for the Diamondbacks (with a 2.98 ERA). That year, he led the league in wins, starts (35), complete games (six), innings pitched (256 2/3).

It looks like Schilling will get in this year … he just needs a five-percent improvement. For me he is on the cusp for the HOF – reaching 250 wins would help sway me (although Jim Kaat, with 283 wins and 16 Gold Gloves is still not in the HOF – a Minnesota gripe here). However, Schilling’s outspoken views and the lack of a Cy Young Award have been working against his vote-getting capacity. (All these things play a factor in my holding my unofficial vote.)

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Gary Sheffield … (Outfield/Designated Hitter/Third Base/Shortstop, 1988-2009) … Seventh year on the ballot, 30.5 percent last year.

Gary Sheffield played for the Brewers (1988-1991), Padres (1992-1993), Marlins (1993-19998), Dodgers (1998-2001), Braves (2002-2003), Yankees (2004-2006), Tigers (2008) and Mets (2009). Sheffield was a nine-time All Star (in 22 MLB seasons). He launched 509 career home runs (26th all time) and topped 30 home runs in a season eight times (a high of 43 in 2000). He also maintained a .292 career average (hit .300+ in eight seasons); and collected 1,676 RBI (30th all-time). Sheffield won the 1992 NL batting title (.330); topped 100 RBI eight times; and scored 100 or more runs in a season seven times.

From the Spring to the Winter of a Baseball Life …

Gary Sheffield is one of only four players to hit MLB home runs as teenagers and in their 40’s. The others are Ty Cobb, Rusty Staub and Alex Rodriguez.

Gary Sheffield’s Best Season: In 1996 (Marlins), Sheffield hit .314, with 42 home runs, 120 RBI, 188 runs scored and 16 steals.

Sheffield has the offensive numbers, but defensive questions and the shadow of PEDs are likely to keep him on the outside looking in for now. He did jump from 13.6 percent of the vote in two years ago to 30.5 percent last year – so that’s progress. I don’t see as big a gain in this year’s balloting.

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Sammy Sosa – (Outfield, 1989-2007) … Ninth year year on the ballot, 13.9 percent last year.

Sammy Sosa played for the Rangers (1989, 2007), White Sox (1989-1991), Cubs (1992-2004) and Orioles (2005). Sosa hit 609 home runs (9th all-time) in 18 MLB seasons – winning two HR titles, topping sixty three times and also hitting 50 one year. In the four seasons from 1998 to 2001, Sosa averaged 60 home runs and 149 RBI per season. His career numbers include a .273 average, 1,667 RBI (31st all-time), 1,475 runs scored and 234 stolen bases (a high of 36 steals in 1993). Sosa was the 1998 NL MVP (Cubs), led his league in home runs twice, runs scored three times and RBI twice.

Sixty Home Runs and All I Got was this Lousy T-Shirt …

Sammy Sosa has the most 60-home run seasons in MLB history with three – yet he did not lead the league in home runs in any of them. In 1998, he hit 66 home runs (Mark McGwire hit 70); in 1999, Sosa launched 63 (McGwire had 65); and, in 2001, he hit 64 (Barry Bonds hit 73). Talk about unfortunate timing.

Sammy Sosa’s Best Season: In 1998 (Cubs), Sosa hit .308, with 66 home runs, a league-leading 158 RBI and a league-leading 134 runs scored – and even tossed in 18 stolen bases.

Why is the seven-time All Star not in the Hall? The PED shadow continues to cloud his chances.

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Nick Swisher – (RF/1B, 2004-15) … First Year on the ballot.

I always thought “Swisher” was an unfortunate name for a hitter, but switch-hitter Nick Swisher overcame that moniker to hit .249-245-803, with 895 runs scored over 12 MLB seasons – A’s (2004-07), White Sox (2008), Yankees (2009-12), Indians (2013-15) and Braves (2015). The one-time All Star hit 20 or more home runs in nine seasons, with a high of 35 in 2006.

Swisher’s Best Season: BBRT sees a pair of possibilities here. In 2006, Swisher hit .254-35-95 for the A’s and in 2010 (his All Star season), he hit .288-29-89 for the Yankees.

Just one All Star selection is not enough for Hall voters.

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Shane Victorino – (OF, 2003, 2005-15) … First year on the ballot.

Known as the Flyin’ Hawaiian, primarily for his speed and defensive skills, Shane Victorino played 12 MLB seasons – Padres (2003), Phillies (2006-12), Red Sox (2013-15) and Angels (2015). Victorino was a two-time All Star and four-time Gold Glover. During his career he led the NL in triples twice. He scored 100+ runs in two seasons and stole 20+ bases in six (a high of 39 in 2012). He also hit 10 or more home runs in seven seasons, with a high of 18 in 2010.

Shane Victorino’s Best Season: In 2009 (Phillies), Victorino hit .292, with 10 home runs, a league-leading 13 triples, 102 runs scored, 62 RBI and 25 steals.

Victorino needed either more offense or more Gold Gloves to gain significant HOF support.

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Barry Zito – (LHP, 2000-13, 2015) ….First time on the ballot.

Barry Zito, who won the 2002 AL Cy Young Award, was a true workhorse on the mound – four times leading his league in games started and starting 30+ games in 11 of his 15 MLB seasons. Zito pitched for the A’s (2000-06, 2015) and Giants (2007-13). Over his career, he went 165-143, 4.04, with 1,885 strikeouts in 2,576 2/3 innings pitched. He was a three-time All Star and won 14 or more games in six seasons (a league-leading high of 23 in 2002).

Barry Zito’s Best Season: Easy one here. In 2002 (A’s), Zito went 23-5, 2.75 and won the AL Cy Young Award.

Being just 22 games over .500 with an ERA slightly north of 4.00 is not enough to make the Hall.

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BASEBALL ROUND TABLE EXTRA ….

Here’s a player who didn’t make it past the Hall of Famer Screening Committee, but whom I would like to have seen on the ballot (even if for just one year) – in honor of potential not realized.

Grady Sizemore – (CF 2004-2011 & 2014-15) …. Not on the ballot.

Surgery-requiring knee and back surgeries took a toll on the career of Grady Sizemore, who played ten MLB seasons – with the Indians (2005-2011), Red Sox (2014), Pirates (2014), Phillies (2014-15) and Rays 2015. In his first five seasons (four full seasons), Sizemore was an All Star three times and went .279-111-349, with 117 steals in 682 games. Over his final five seasons, he went .238-39-169, with 26 stolen bases in 419 games.

Sizemore was a three-time Star and led his league in runs scored once and doubles once. He also won a pair of Gold Gloves. In his first five campaigns (and in his career), he hit 20+ home runs four times (30+ once), drove in 100+ run once, scored 100+ runs four times and stole 20+ bases in four seasons. Sizemore had a 30-30 season in 2008, hitting .268, with 33 home runs and 39 steals for the Indians. He also won his second Gold Glove that season.

Grady Sizemore’s Best Season: In 2006 (Indians), Sizemore hit .290, with 28 home runs, a league-leading 53 doubles, 11 triples, 76 RBI, a league-topping 134 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

No, I wouldn’t have given him my vote, but I would like to have seen him on the ballot.

Again, to vote in Baseball Roundtable’s unofficial Fan Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot, click here.

Primary Resources: National Baseball Hall of Fame; Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Baseball Roundtable’s 2020 All-Rookie Lineup

November 12, 2020 by David

Early this week, we saw the announcement of MLB’s 2020 Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year. Congratulations to Mariners’ multi-tool CF Kyle Lewis (the unanimous AL choice) and Brewers’ lights-out reliever Devin Williams (the first reliever to win the ROY Award since Craig Kimbrel in 2011 and the first reliever ever to win ROY without recording a single save). You’ll read more on these two players later in this post, as Baseball Roundtable presents its 2020 All-Rookie lineup. Note: If you would like a look at BBRT’s All-Time, All-Rookie of the Year lineup, click here after finishing this post.

—-BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE 2020 ALL-ROOKIE LINEUP —-

Catcher – Sean Murphy, Oakland A’s

Sean Murphy was drafted by the A’s in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft (out of Wright State University, where he was a two-time All-Horizon League player). He showed solid defensive skills and hit .309-14-105 in 155 games at Wright State. Murphy got a taste of the majors in 2019 – hitting .245-4-8 in 20 games – and came into the 2020 season as the A’s number-three prospect. Retaining his rookie status in 2020, the 25-year-old hit .233 with seven home runs and 14 RBI in 43 games. Murphy’s 27 hits, seven home runs, 14 RBI and 21 runs scored led all MLB rookie catchers. His seven home runs and 21 runs scored each ranked eighth among MLB rookies. The 26-year-old is also considered a potential Gold Glove defender.

First Base – Jared Walsh, Los Angeles Angels

Okay, he’s not Shohei Ohtani, but Jared Walsh is another Angels’ two-way player. Walsh was drafted in the 39^th round of the 2015 MLB draft (yes, the 39th round). In his final season at the University of Georgia, Walsh hit .306, with three home runs and 22 RBI in 66 games and also put up a 5-2, 2.60 record in 14 mound appearances.

Walsh showed his power potential in 2019, when he hit .325-36-86 at Triple-A Sale Lake City – and put up a 1-0, 4.15 record in 13 mound appearance. (In 2019, Walsh hit .203-1-5 in 31 games with the Angels; while also recording a 1.80 earned run average in five relief appearances.) In 2020, still retaining hie rookie status, Walsh hit .293-9-26 for the Halos – and struck out only 15 times in 108 plate appearances. The 27-year-old Walsh is looking like an ongoing power source for the Angels, although his days on the mound may be numbered. (Walsh did not appear on the mound in 2020. ) Side note: After making the Opening Day Roster, Walsh got off to a slow start. In his July and August, he was zero-for-13 in ten games. Then in September he hit .337, with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 22 games.

Jared Walsh’s nine homers led all MLB rookie first sackers and were third overall among rookies – as were his 26 RBI.

2B – Nick Madrigal, Chicago White Sox

Nick Madrigal did not get the publicity of some of the other 2020 rookies (or even some of his young ChiSox teammates), but he had a rookie campaign worthy of recognition.

Madrigal was selected fourth overall in the 2018 MLB draft – after a stellar three seasons at Oregon State University. Over his three NCAA campaigns (151 games), he hit .361, with eight home runs, 103 RBI, 126 runs scored and 39 steals. In his first two minor-league seasons, Madrigal hit a combined .309-4-71, with 43 stolen bases.

While his 2020 MLB rookie campaign was interrupted by injury (separated shoulder), he hit .340 in 29 games, with four walks and just seven strikeouts. At just 23-years-old, he appears to have a bright future as an MLB middle infielder – with solid defensive skills and the ability to make contact at the plate.

Nick Madrigal’s .340 average ranked third among 2020 rookies with at least 50 at bats.

3B – (Tie) Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies & Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates

Alec Bohm. Bohm surprisingly, was not drafted out of high school (Roncalli Catholic High School in Omaha, Nebraska), despite hitting over .500 as both a junior and senior. He went on to Wichita State University, where he was named a First-Team Freshman All-American after a .303-6-30 2017 season. I won’t go into the numbers, but Bohm was selected to the First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference team as a sophomore and First-Team All-American as a Junior. He also starred in both the collegiate Coastal Plain League and Cape Cod League.

Bohm was the third-overall pick (Phillies) in the 2018 MLB draft and had two solid minor-league seasons (.293-21-97 in 165 games) before playing in 44 games for the Phillies in 2020. Bohm hit .338-4-23 in his first taste of the big leagues and certainly appears ready to stay.

Alec Bohm’s 23 RBI were seventh among MLB 2020 rookies and led all rookie third sackers. His 24 runs scored topped all rookie third baseman and were sixth overall among 2020 rookies.

Ke’Bryan Hayes. When you look at Bohm’s credential,s you may wonder why there is a tie at third base. Well the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes’ .376 average topped all rookies with at least 50 at bats. Hayes was drafted 32^nd overall in the 2015 MLB draft – right out of Concordia Lutheran High School (Tomball, Texas); choosing to decline a scholarship offer to the University of Tennessee. (In his senior year in high school, Hayes hit .436, with 16 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 27 RBI and 12 stolen bases.)

N0 surprise that the Pirates drafted him, not only did he show his potential on the field, he comes from good genes. Hayes is the son of Charlie Hayes, who enjoyed a 14-season MLB career (.262-144-740) and, in 1993, hit .305-25-98 for the Rockies, while leading the NL in doubles with 45.

Ke’Bryan Hayes hit .279-25-202, with 66 steals in five minor-league seasons (461 games). He made his MLB debut September 1, 2020

The 23-year-old Ke’Bryan Hayes was held hitless in only four of 24 games in his rookie MLB season and finished the campaign on an eight-game hitting streak, during which he hit .516 (16-for-31) with four doubles and three home runs.

SS – Willi Castro. Detroit Tigers

The Puerto Rican-born Willi Castro signed with the Indians as an international free agent in July of 2014 and was traded to the Tigers (for Leonys Martin and Kyle Dowdy) in late July, 2018. Castro made his MLB debut in August of 2019 (age 22) and hit .230-1-8 in 30 games. He retained his rookie status in 2020, when he hit .349, with six home runs, 24 RBI, and 21 runs scored in 36 games – and also proved his versatility, primarily playing shortstop, but also appearing at third base and second base. The Tigers seem confident that Castro’s at will keep him in the lineup somewhere.

Willi Castro’s .349 average was second among 2020 rookies with at least 50 at bats and his six home runs topped all rookie shortstops. His 24 RBI were fifth overall among rookies and tops among rookie shortstops,

LF – Nick Solak, Texas Rangers

Nick Solak was signed by the Yankees in the second round of the 2016 MLB June draft (out of the University of Louisville). In three seasons at Louisville, Solak hit .346, with 10 home runs, 94 RBI and 36 steals in 159 games. He was named a College Freshman All-American in 2014 and a College All-American in 2016.

He continued to show offensive firepower and speed in the minor leagues’ hitting .294, with 61 homers and 48 steals over four minor-league campaigns. (Note: Solak was traded from the Yankees to the Rays as part of a three-team trade in February of 2018 and then moved from the Rays to the Rangers in July of 2019.) Solak made his MLB debut with the Rangers in August of 2019 and hit .293-5-17 over 33 games. Retaining his rookie status, he earned a regular spot in the Rangers’ lineup for 2020 (appearing in 58 games), hitting .268 with two home runs, 23 RBI, 27 runs scored and seven steals. Solak started 23 games in LF, 13 in CF, 16 at 2B and 5 at DH.

Among 2020 MLB eligible rookies, Nick Solak finished first in base hits; fourth in doubles; fourth in runs scored; f0urth in stolen bases; and seventh in RBI.

CF – Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners

Kyle Lewis was MLB’s unanimous choice for American League Rookie of the Year, but I’m pretty sure he took the honor in stride – Lewis has a lot of experience with recognition. As a freshman at Mercer University (2014), he hit .294-1-17 in 41 games. Then in his sophomore season he was named Southern Conference Player of the Year, as well as co-winner of the Gregg Olson Award (college baseball Breakout Player of the Year), after going .367-17-56 n 54 games. He kept right on rolling as a junior, going .395-20-72 in 61 games – again being named Southwest Conference Player of the Year and also earning All-American honors, as well as Baseball America’s College Player of the Year, the American Association of Baseball Coaches Association Division 1 Player of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award.

All of this earned him the 11^th overall selection in the 2016 MLB Draft. By September 2019, he was in the major leagues – hitting .268 with six home runs and 13 RBI in 18 games for Mariners. For Seattle in 2020, Lewis played in 58 games, going .262, with 11 home runs, 37 runs scored and 28 RBI – and providing plus defense in CF.

Kyle Lewis’ 11 home runs tied the White Sox’ Luis Robert for the most by a rookie in 2020. His 28 RBI were second only to Robert and his 37 runs scored led all MLB rookies.

RF – Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles

Austin Hays played college ball at Seminole State College and Jacksonville University. In two seasons at Jacksonville (2015 and 2016), Hays hit .310-19-78, with 24 steals (110 games). After being drafted in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft, he played 38 2016 games with the A-Level Aberdeen Ironbirds, hitting .336-4-21, with four steals. Hays hit .329-32-95 at A and Double-A in 2017, earning a late-season call up to the Orioles, where he hit .217-1-8 in 20 games (as a 21-year-old).

Hays got off to a slow start at Double-A in 2017 and later was hampered by an ankle injury. He did not return to the major leagues until September of 2019, when he went .309-4-13 in 21 games for the Orioles.

In 2019, Hays played for the Low-A Aberdeen Ironbirds; High-A Frederick Keys; Double-A Bowie Baysox; Triple-A Norfolk Tides; and Baltimore Orioles.

In 2020, despite some time on the disabled list (broken rib on a hit-by-pitch), Hays hit .279-4-9, with 20 runs scored in 33 games for the Orioles. In September, a healthy Hays played in 14 games for the Birds, hitting .377 with three home runs, four RBI and 12 runs scored.

DH – Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox

Luis Robert, who defected from Cuba in November of 2016, was considered a top (if not THE top) international prospect – and with good reason. Playing in the tough Cuba Serie Nacional during the 2016-17 season, the 18-year-old Robert hit .401-12-40, with 11 steals in 53 games. Once signed by the White Sox (2017), Robert delivered on his promise – hitting .312-35-12, with 63 stolen bases in 200 minor-league games (three seasons). This performance earned Roberts the starting CF job for the ChiSox in 2020 and he delivered again.

Luis Robert tied another CF (the Mariners’Kyle Lewis) for rookie home runs in 2020 with 11. Robert’s 31 RBI led all rookies (Lewis was second) and his 33 runs scored were second only to Lewis 37. In addition, Lewis’ nine steals led all 2020 rookies. Lewis edged out Robert for the CF spot by virtue of a 29-point edge in batting average (.262 to .233). So, in this lineup, when Lewis needs a break, I’d just switch him to DH and put Robert in CF. Side note: Robert fanned 73 times in 202 at bats in 2020 – as he cuts down on whiffs, we can expect some monster seasons.

SP – Tie … Christian Javier, Houston Astros and Josh Fleming, Tampa Bay Rays

Christian Javier. Astros’ right-hander Christian Javier signed with Houston as an international free agent (out of the Dominican Republic) – bringing a mid-90s fastball, solid slider and respectable curve to the fray. In his first pro (minor-league) season – as an 18-year-old – he went 4-0, 2.13 with 50 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings pitched. As he moved up through the minors, he added an effective change to his repertoire. (In 2019, Javier fanned 170 batters in 113 2/3 innings with three minor league clubs.) Over five minor-league seasons, Javier went 26-11, 2.22 with 512 whiffs in 377 innings. With the Astros in 2020, he continued to establish his reputation for putting batters away, going 5-2, 3.48 and fanning 54 batters in 54 1/3 innings pitched.

The Astros’ 23-year-old right-hander Christian Javier was 5-2, 3.48 in 12 games/ten starts). Javier’s 54 1/3 innings pitched were fifth among MLB 2020 rookies and his 54 strikeouts were third.

Josh Fleming. Southpaw Josh Fleming was signed by the Rays in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB draft – out of Webster University, where he went 12-2, 1.28 with 165 strikeouts in 127 innings pitched (over two seasons). In 2019, Josh Fleming was named MVP of the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits – after going 11-4, 3.31 in 21 games (17 starts).

For the Rays in 2020, the 24-year-old Fleming went 5-0, with a nifty 2.78 earned run average in seven games/five starts). He also had a 3.6 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (seven walks and 25 whiffs in 32 ½ innings). He relies on a pitching low in the zone with a heavy sinker, cutter and change up.

RP – Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers

No ties here. Righty Devin Williams – the NL Rookie of the Year – was clearly the most dominant rookie reliever in 2020. Williams had the lowest earned run average among rookies with at least ten innings pitched – a sparking 0.33. In 27 innings, he gave up just four runs – and only one earned – and fanned 53 batters (fourth-most among rookies); just one whiff shy of two per frame. He kind of walks away with this one.

Williams signed with the Brewers out of Hazelwood (Missouri) West High School in the 2013 MLB draft (54^th overall selection). In his final high-school season, William went 6-2, 1.15, allowing only 19 hits and fanning 101 batters in 55 innings. In his first four pro season (minors), Williams went 15-24 ( 3 saves), 3.79 with 288 strikeouts in 287 1/3 innings pitched, He then missed the 2017 season (and pitched only 34 innings in 2018) after Tommy John surgery (torn ulnar collateral ligament). In 2018, he appeared fully recovered and, perhaps, stronger than ever – going 7-2, 2.36 in 31 minor-league appearances – fanning 82 batters in 57 innings (and earning a call up to the Brewers). He got roughed up a bit in his MLB-debut season (5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 innings), but came back with a vengeance in 2020.

Devin Williams refers to his high-movement circle change as the “Airbender.”

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

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Heavy Metal – Players Who Have Won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger in the Same Season

November 9, 2020 by David

Regular readers of BBRT know that Baseball Roundtable has a particular fondness for players that bring “lumber and leather” to their game. This post (an annual BBRT tradition) will focus on players who have captured what BBRT thinks of as “MLB’s Heavy Metal Doubleheader” – winning a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the same season. You have to admire those players who can earn recognition as the best at their positions both defensively and offensively.

Note: The Hillerich and Bradsby Silver Slugger Awards were first presented in 1980 (the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were launched in 1957), so the list of double winners is relatively recent (at least as defined by someone who went to their first World Series game the year the Gold Glove Awards were initiated).

In 2020’s shortened season, only one player achieved “Heavy Metal” status, Dodgers’ rightfielder Mookie Betts. It was only the second time in Silver Slugger/Gold Glove history that only one MLB player earned both recognitions in the same campaign. (The first was Dodgers’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez n 2014.) In the 2019 season four players earned Gold Glove and Silver Slugger recognition: Betts in right field for the Red Sox; Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto; Dodgers’ RF Cody Bellinger; and Diamondbacks’ pitcher Zack Greinke.

Let’s look at Mookie Betts’ 2020 Heavy Metal Season.

Mookie Betts, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers

On the offensive side, Betts’ hit .292-16-39, with 47 runs scored and ten steals in 55 games during his first year in a Dodgers uniform. His 47 runs were fourth overall and first among outfielders in the National League. His 64 base hits were tenth in the NL; his 123 total bases seventh; his 16 home runs tied for third. His performance at the plate earned him his fourth Silver Slugger Award in six full MLB seasons.

On defense, he topped NL right fielders in putouts (113) and Defensive Runs Saved (11); leading in the range and positioning components of DRS among right fielders. Betts also won the 2020 Fielding Bible Award for right fielders. It was Betts’ fifth consecutive Gold Glove and fourth Fielding Bible Award (the Awards were established in 2006), the most won by any rightfielder.

Change of Venue? No Problem.

In. 2020 Mookie Betts joined Adrian Gonzalez (1B) and Matt Williams (3B) as the only players to capture a SS/GG single-season combination in both the AL and NL. Betts accomplished the feat with the Red Sox in 2016-18-19 and, of course, with the Dodgers in 2020. Gonzalez achieved the combination with the Red Sox in 2011 and the Dodgers in 2014. Williams did it with the Indians in 1997 and Giants in 1993-94.

–A FEW ADDITIONAL BITS OF SAME-SEASON SILVER SLUGGER AND GOLD GLOVER TRIVIA–

The Chicago White Sox are the only team to never have a player capture a Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove in the same season.
The most players to achieve the GG/SS combo in a season is nine – back in 1984: Lance Parrish, C, Tigers; Keith Hernandez, 1B, Mets; Eddie Murray, 1B, Orioles; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Buddy Bell, 3B, Rangers; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves.
Roberto Alomar (2B) is the only player to win the single-season Gold Glove/Silver Slugger combo with three different teams (Blue Jays-1992; Orioles-1996; Indians-1999, 2000).
Scott Rolen (3B) and Zack Greinke are the only players to win the SS/GG combo in a season in which they played for two different teams. In 2002, Rolen was traded from the Phillies to the Cardinals on July 29. He played 100 games for the Phillies and 55 for the Cardinals in what would be his only SS/GG combo season. Greinke did it in 2019, , when he started the season with the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Astros at the July deadline. Despite moving to the AL with its DH, Geinke’s .280-3-8 season was goo enough to earn him a Silver Slugger.
The only team to have three SS/GG winners in the same season is the 1993 Giants (Robby Thompson (2B), Matt Williams (3B), Barry Bonds (OF).

Zack Greinke (2019 Diamondbacks/Astros) and Mike Hampton (2003 Braves) are the only pitchers to win a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the same season.

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Now that we’ve looked at 2020’s “Heavy Metal Doubleheader” winner, here’s a look back at those who have won both awards in the same season in the past. Since 1980, the combination of a Gold Glove/Silver Slugger has been achieved in a season 195 times by 104 different players – with 39 players accomplishing the feat more than once and 26 of those winning two or more consecutive SS/GG combinations. Here are a couple of lists that might be of interest. (Note: Since the Silver Slugger is awarded to three outfielders annually regardless of their position, the GG/SS combo lists in this post do not break outfielders out by position.)

—Full List of Same-Year Gold Glove/Silver Slugger Winners by Season—

2020

Mookie Betts,RF, Dodgers

2019

J.T. Realmuto, C, Phillies; Mookie Betts, RF, Red Sox; Cody Bellinger, RF, Dodgers; Zack Greinke, P, D-backs/Astros

2018

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Mookie Betts, OF, Red Sox; Nick Markakis, OF, Braves; Salvador Perez, C, Royals

2017

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks; Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals; Marcell Ozuna, OF, Marlins

2016

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Mookie Betts, Of, Red Sox; Salvador Perez, C, Royals; Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs

2015

Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros; Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks; Dee Gordon, 2B, Marlins; Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Brandon Crawford, SS, Giants.

2014

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Dodgers

2013

Yadier Molina, C, Cardinals; Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks; J.J. Hardy, SS, Orioles; Adam Jones, OF, Orioles

2012

Adam LaRoche, 1B, Nationals; Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees; Chase Headley, 3B, Padres; Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates

2011

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox; Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds; Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers; Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies; Jacob Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox; Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers

2010

Joe Mauer, C, Twins; Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals; Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees; Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies; Carl Crawford, OF, Rays; Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies

2009

Joe Mauer, C, Twins; Mark Tiexiera, 1B, Yankees; Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals; Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees; Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers; Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners; Torii Hunter, OF, Angels

2008

Joe Mauer, C, Twins; Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox; David Wright, 3B, Mets; Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians

2007

Russell Martin, C, Dodgers; Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers; David Wright, 3B, Mets; Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies; Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets; Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners

2006

Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees; Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets

2005

Jason Varitek, C, Red Sox; Mark Tiexierea, 1B, Rangers; Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs; Andruw Jones, OF, Braves

2004

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Tigers; Jim Edmonds, OF, Cardinals

2003

Brett Boone, 2B, Mariners; Edgar Renteria, SS, Cardinals; Alex Rodriguez, SS, Rangers; Mike Hampton, P, Braves

2002

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies; Scott Rolen, 3B, Cardinals/Phillies; Eric Chavez, 3B, A’s; Edgar Renteria, SS, Cardinals; Alex Rodriguez, SS, Rangers

2001

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies; Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners

2000

Roberto Alomar, 2B, Indians; Darin Erstad, OF, Angels

1999

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Robert Alomar, 2B, Indians; Larry Walker, OF, Rockies; Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Mariners; Shawn Green, OF, Blue Jays

1998

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Rafael Palmeiro, 1B, Rangers; Ken Griffey, Jr. OF, Mariners

1997

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Craig Biggio, 2B, Astros; Chuck Knoblauch, 2B, Twins; Matt Williams, 3B, Indians; Larry Walker, OF, Rockies; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr, OF, Mariners

1996

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Roberto Alomar, 2B, Orioles; Ken Caminiti, 3B, Padres; Barry Larkin, SS, Reds; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr. OF, Mariners

1995

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Craig, Biggio, 2B, Astros; Barry Larkin, SS, Reds

1994

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Astros; Craig Biggio, 2B, Astros; Matt Williams, 3B, Giants; Wade Boggs, 3B, Yankees; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Mariners

1993

Robby Thompson, 2B, Giants; Matt Williams, 3B, Giants; Jay Bell, SS, Pirates; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr, OF, Mariners

1992

Roberto Alomar, 2B, Blue Jays; Larry Walker, OF, Expos; Andy Van Slyke, OF, Pirates; Barry Bonds, OF, Pirates; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins

1991

Will Clark, 1B, Giants; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Cal Ripken, Jr., SS, Orioles; Barry Bonds, OF, Pirates’ Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Mariners

1990

Benito Santiago, C, Padres; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Kelly Gruber, 3B, Blue Jays; Barry Bonds, OF, Pirates; Ellis Burks, OF, Red Sox

1989

Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Eric Davis, OF, Reds; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins; Tony Gwynn, OF, Padres

1988

Benito Santiago, C, Padres; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Andy Van Slyke, OF, Pirates; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins

1987

Don Mattingly, 1B, Yankees; Ozzie Smith, SS, Cardinals; Tony Gwynn, OF, Padres; Eric Davis, OF, Reds; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins; Andre Dawson, OF, Cubs

1986

Don Mattingly, 1B, Yankees; Frank White, 2B, Royals; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Tony Gwynn, OF, Padres; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins

1985

Don Mattingly, 1B, Yankees; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Tim Wallach, 3B, Expos; George Brett, 3B, Royals; Willie McGee, OF, Cardinals; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees

1984

Lance Parrish, C, Tigers; Keith Hernandez, 1B, Mets; Eddie Murray, 1B, Orioles; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Buddy Bell, 3B, Rangers; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves

1983

Lance Parrish, C, Tigers; Eddie Murray, 1B, Orioles; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees; Andre Dawson, OF, Expos

1982

Gary Carter, C, Expos; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Robin Yount, SS, Brewers; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees

1981

Gary Carter, C, Expos; Manny Trillo, 2B, Phillies; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Andre Dawson, OF, Expos; Rickey Henderson, OF, A’s; Dwight Evans, OF, Red Sox; Dusty Baker, OF, Dodgers

1980

Keith Hernandez, 1B, Cardinals; Cecil Cooper, 1B, Brewers; Andre Dawson, OF, Expos; Willie Wilson, OF, Royals

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If you want to look up your favorite player(s), here is:

Your Same-Season, Gold Glove/Silver Slugger combo winners listed alphabetically:

Alomar, Roberto … 1992; 1996; 1999; 2000

Altuve, Jose … 2015

Arenado, Nolan … 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018

Baker, Dusty … 1981

Bagwell, Jeff … 1994

Bell, Buddy … 1984

Bell, Jay (SS) … 1993

Cody Bellinger … 2019

Beltre, Adrian (3B) … 2011

Beltran, Carlos (OF) … 2006; 2007

Biggio, Craig (2B) … 1994; 1995; 1997

Betts, Mookie (OF) … 2016; 2018; 2019; 2020

Boggs, Wade (3B) … 1994

Bonds, Barry … 1990; 1991; 1992; 1993; 1994; 1996; 1997

Boone, Brett … 2003

Brett, George … 1985

Burks, Ellis … 1990

Caminiti, Ken … 1996

Cano, Robinson … 2010; 2012

Carter, Gary … 1981; 1982

Chavez, Eric … 2002

Clark, Will … 1991

Cooper, Cecil …1980

Crawford, Brandon … 2015

Crawford, Carl … 2010

Dawson, Andre … 1980; 1981; 1983; 1987

Davis, Eric … 1987; 1989

Edmonds, Jim … 2004

Ellsbury, Jacob … 2011

Erstad, Darin … 2000

Evans, Dwight … 1981

Goldschmidt, Paul … 2013; 2015; 2017

Gonzalez, Adrian … 2011; 2014

Gonzalez, Carlos … 2010

Gordon, Dee … 2015

Green, Shawn … 1999

Zack Greinke … 2019

Griffey, Ken Jr. … 1991; 1993; 1994; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999

Gruber, Kelly … 1990

Gwynn, Tony … 1986; 1987; 1989

Hampton, Mike … 2003

Hardy, J.J. … 2013

Headley, Chase … 2012

Helton, Todd … 2002

Henderson, Rickey … 1981

Hernandez, Keith … 1980; 1984

Eric Hosmer … 2017

Hunter, Torii … 2009

Jeter, Derek … 2006; 2009

Jones, Adam … 2013

Jones, Andruw … 2005

Kemp, Matt … 2009; 2011

Knoblauch, Chuck … 1997

Larkin, Barry … 1995; 1996

LaRoche, Adam … 2012\

Lee, Derrek … 2005

Markakis, Nick … 2018

Martin, Russell … 2008\

Mattingly, Don … 1985; 1986; 1987

Mauer, Joe … 2008; 2009; 2010

McCutchen, Andrew … 2012

McGee, Willie … 1985

Molina, Yadier … 2013

Murphy, Dale … 1982; 1983; 1984; 1985

Murray, Eddie … 1983; 1984

Marcell Ozuna … 2017

Polanco, Placido … 2007

Palmeiro, Rafael … 1998

Parrish, Lance … 1983; 1984

Pedroia, Dustin … 2008

Salvador, Perez … 2016; 2018

Phillips, Brandon … 2011

Puckett, Kirby … 1986; 1987; 1988; 1989; 1992

Pujols, Albert … 2010

J.T. Realmuto … 2019

Renteria, Edgar … 2002

Ripken, Cal, Jr. … 1991

Anthony Rizzo … 2016

Rodriguez, Alex … 2002; 2003

Rodriguez, Ivan … 1994; 1995; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2004

Rolen, Scott … 2002

Rollins, Jimmy … 2007

Sandberg, Ryne … 1984; 1985; 1988; 1989; 1990; 1991

Santiago, Benito … 1988; 1990

Schmidt, Mike … 1981; 1982; 1983; 1984; 1986

Sizemore, Grady … 2008

Smith, Ozzie … 1987

Suzuki, Ichiro … 2001; 2007; 2009

Thompson, Robby … 1993

Tiexiera, Mark … 2005, 2009

Trillo, Manny … 1981

Tulowitzki, Troy … 2010; 2011

Van Slyke, Andy … 1988; 1992

Varitek, Jason … 2005

Walker, Larry … 1992; 1997; 1999

Wallach, Tim … 1985

White, Frank … 1986

Whitaker, Lou … 1983; 1984; 1985

Williams, Matt … 1993; 1994; 1997

Wilson, Willie … 1980\

Winfield, Dave … 1982; 1983; 1984; 1985

Wright, David … 2007; 2008

Yount, Robin … 1982

Ryan Zimmerman … 2009

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

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From a Perfect Game to a Ten-Hitter … Baseball Roundtable’s Top Ten World Series Complete-Game Shutouts

November 6, 2020 by David

Since the first AL/NL World Series matchup opened on October 1, 1903, there have been 678 World Series games played. Of those contests, 118 have ended with one team held scoreless, with 91 of those featuring complete-game shutouts. Eighteen of those complete-game shutouts have been “under maximum pressure,” ending in a 1-0 score.

Yankee Killer

Southpaw Art Nehf of the Giants is the only pitcher to win two World Series’ 1-0 complete games, tossing a four-hit shutout in Game Eight of the (best-of-nine) 1921 World Series against the Yankees and a six-hit shutout (again against the Yankees) in Game Three of the 1920 World Series. Nehf pitched 15 MLB seasons, going 184-120, 3.20, winning twenty or more games in two campaigns. He was 4-4, 2.16 in 12 World Series appearances (nine starts).

In this post, Baseball Roundtable would like to present its top-ten World Series complete-game shutouts. Keep in mind, these ratings, while based on BBRT criteria (additional value placed, for example, on Game Seven shutouts, contests that ended 1-0, extra-inning shutouts or unique accomplishments like Bob Gibson’s 17 strikeouts or Spud Chandler’s ten-hit, two-walk scoreless outing), these ranking are subjective and clearly invite discussion and debate. Isn’t discussion and debate what makes the national pastime great?

THE GRANDDADDY OF ALL WORLD SERIES SHUTOUTS –

A “PERFECT” CHOICE FOR NUMBER ONE

ONE – WITH A BULLET – Don Larsen, Yankees, Game 5, 1956 World Series … October 8, 1956

A no-brainer here. How could you not put the only World Series perfect game at the top of this list?

When Don Larsen took the mound to start Game Five of the 1956 World Series for the Yankees (against the rival Brooklyn Dodgers at Yankee stadium) expectations may not have been very high. Larsen (11-5, 3.26 on the season) was coming off a Game Two start (in Brooklyn three days earlier) when he lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (none earned) on one hit and four walks. In that contest a double play got him out of a scoreless first after issuing a pair of walks — and the Yankees scored once in the first and five times in the top of the second to give Larsen a nice 6-0 lead. But in the second inning, the wheels came off. Larsen’s second frame went: single by Dodgers’ 1B Gil Hodges; LF Sandy Amoros safe on an error by 1B Jim Collins; walk to RF Carl Furillo to load the bases; sacrifice fly by C Roy Campanella scoring Hodges; foul pop out by PH Dale Mitchell; walk to 2B Jim Gilliam reloading the bases. Johnny Kucks then replaced Larsen on the mound and gave up a two-run single to SS Pee Wee Reese. Tommy Byrne then replaced Kucks and gave up a three-run home run to CF Duke Snider before fanning 3B Jackie Robinson to get out of the inning. End result? Six Dodger runs to tie the game and, ultimately, lead to a 13-8 Dodger win.

N0w, There’s a Trade that Worked Out for Someone

In the two seasons before his trade to the Yankees (1953-54), Don Larsen had gone 10-34, 4.27 for the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles). In five seasons as a Yankee, Larsen went 45-24, 3.50 in the regular season and 3-2, 3.33 in six World Series starts.

Larsen, however, was in complete control in Game Five – fanning seven in a 97-pitch, perfect game – a 2-0 Yankee win. In the game, Larsen went to a three-ball count on only one batter, started 14 hitters off 0-1 and – if you count the four batters who hit the first pitch for an out – threw a first-pitch strike to 18 of 27 hitters.

Bookends

Don Larsen opened his World Series perfect game with a five-pitch strikeout (looking) of Dodgers’ 2B Jim Gilliam and closed it out with a five-pitch strike out (looking) of pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell.

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TWO – Christy Mathewson, Giants … Game 5, 1905 World Series … October 14, 1905

Photo by trialsanderrors

Christy Mathewson threw a nifty six-hit shutout (no walks, four strikeouts) in beating the Philadelphia Athletics 2-0 in Game Five of the 1905 World Series – giving the Giants the Series four games-to-one. It was not just future Hall of Famer Mathewson’s excellence in this game that earned him spot number-two on this ranking. It’s that this was Mathewson’s’ third-consecutive, complete-game shutout in the 1905 series – and he threw those three whitewashings over a period of just six days. On October 9, Mathewson shutout the Athletics 3-0, giving up just four hits. Then, on October 12, he threw another four-hitter, this time shutting down the Athletics 9-0. Then in Game Seven, it was the five-hit. 2-0 win. For the Series, Mathewson gave up just 13 hits (and, of course no runs) and one walk in 27 innings, fanning 18.

Trivia Tidbits from the 1005 World Series

The Giants’ four wins all came via the shutout – three by Christy Mathewson and one by Joe McGinnity.
The Athletics’ only win also came via the shutout – a four-hitter tossed by Chief Bender in a 3-0, Game Two victory.
The Giants gave up just three runs in the Series – all unearned, giving them an unbeatable single World Series’ record 0.00 earned run average.
The Giants used only three pitchers in the entire series – Christ Mathewson (27 innings pitched); Joe McGinnity (17 innings pitched); and Red Ames one inning pitched. Yep, and entire World Series and only one “call to the pen.”

Mathewson was coming off a 31-9, 1.28 1905 season in which he led MLB in wins, ERA and shutouts (tied with eight), and led the NL in strikeouts (206). In his career, he led his league in ERA five times, strikeouts five times, wins four times and shutouts four times. He finished with a 373-188, 2.13 record.

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THREE – Bob Gibson, Cardinals … Game One, 1968 World Series … October 2, 1961

1968 was the Year of the Pitcher and, in the National League, Bob Gibson was the Pitcher of the Year. Gibson went 22-9 that season, with a microscopic, MLB-best 1.12 earned run average. In addition, 13 of his wins were complete-game shutouts (another 1968 MLB-best). He also led the NL in strikeouts with 268 in 304 2/3 innings pitched. Gibson’s 1968 earned run average of 1.12 was the third-lowest, post-1900, qualifying MLB ERA – and his 13 complete-game shutouts are the second-most in a single season since 1900.

They Call Him the Streak

Over June, July and August of 1968, Bob Gibson started 18 games, completed 17, won 16 (one loss/one no-decision), threw 11 shutouts, and put up a 0.77 ERA.

It’s no surprise that the Redbirds selected Gibson to start Game One (against the Tigers’ 31-game winner Denny McLain) – and Gibson did not disappoint. He threw a five-hit shutout, walking just one and fanning a World Series record 17 batters. Gibson fanned everyone in the Tigers’ starting lineup at least once, struck out at least one batter in every inning and fanned three batters in two frames. Despite Gibson’s heroics, the Cardinals lost the Series four games-to-three behind three complete-game wins from Mickey Lolich. Gibson also started and completed three games, going 2-1, 1.67. He took the loss in Game Seven giving up four runs on eight hits and one walk, while Lolich gave up just one tally on five hits and three walks.

Hall of Famer Gibson pitched in 17 MLB seasons (all for the Cardinals). He won two Cy Young awards and, in 1968, won both the NL Cy Young and MVP Awards. Gibson was a five-time 20-game winner, leading the NL in wins once, ERA once, complete games once, strikeouts once and shutouts four times. His career mound record was 251-174, 2,91, with 3,117 strikeouts in 3,884 1/3 innings. He also won nine Gold Gloves and hit .206 with 24 career homers. In nine World Series starts, Gibson won seven and lost two, pitching eight complete games, posting a 1.89 earned run average and fanning 92 batters in 81 innings.

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FOUR – Jack Morris, Game Seven, 1991 World Series … October 27, 1991

There have only been three extra-inning World Series complete-game shutouts, ten Game Seven complete-game shutouts and 18 World Series complete-game wins ending in a 1-0 score. And, there has been only one game that met all three criteria – Jack Morris’ performance in the finale of the 1991 World Series – a ten-inning seven-hit, two walk, eight-whiff gem that gave the Twins a 1-0 Game Seven win over the Atlanta Braves. This performance earned extra credit for Morris, since it came at a time when complete games were at a premium. As was widely reported, Twins’ Manager Tom Kelly was ready to pull Morris after nine innings and 118 pitches – but Morris was having none of it (and voiced his objection in no uncertain terms). And, the rest, as they say, is history.

Hall of Farmer Morris pitched in 18 MLB seasons, going 254-186, 3.90. He was a five-time All Star and led his league in wins twice (winning twenty or more games in three seasons), and in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts once each. (He also led the league in wild pitches six times.) Morris was 4-2, 2.96 in seven World Series starts and was MVP of the 1991 World Series.

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FIVE – Christy Mathewson, Giants, Game Two, 1913 World Series …. October 8, 1913

Yes, Christy Mathewson holds two spots on the top ten – and he earned them. The Giants won only one game in the 1913 World Series (against the Athletics) and it was a good one (at least for Giants’ starter Christy Mathewson). That day Mathewson tossed his still-record fourth World Series complete-game shutout, as well as one of only (to date) three extra inning, complete-game Fall Classic whitewashings. In addition, when the Giants finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the tenth inning, Mathewson plated the first run with an RBI single off Athletics’ starter (and future Hall of Famer) Eddie Plank and later came around to score the second run in the Giants’ 3-0 win. (Mathewson was two-for-three at the plate in the game.) On the mound, Mathewson gave up eight hit and one walk, while fanning five in his ten scoreless frames.

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BONUS CONTENT – The First and Last (most recent) World Series Complete-Game Shutouts

Bill Dinneen … The first-ever World Series complete-game shutout came in Game Two of the first-ever AL/NL World Series (October 2, 1903). The AL Boston Americans’ southpaw Bill Dinneen shut down the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on three hits and two walks. He fanned 11 in his nine frames. Eleven days later (October 13), Dinneen threw the second-ever World Series complete-game shutout, blanking the Pirates (again by a 3-0 score) in Game Eight of the best of nine matchup. (The Americans won the Series five games-to-three). Dinneen pitched in 12 MLB seasons, going 170-177, 3.01 with 306 complete games in 352 starts. He won twenty or more games in four seasons. In 1903, he went 21-13, 2.26.

Madison Bumgarner … The most-recent World Series complete-game shutout was tossed by the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner in Game Five (October 26) of the 2014 World Series. Bumgarner shut down the Royals 5-0, giving up four hits and no walks, while fanning eight in nine innings of work. In that Series, Bumgarner started and won two games and then picked up a five-inning save in Game Seven. He was on the mound for 21 innings in the Series and gave up just nine hits, one walk and one earned run, earning Series MVP honors. Bumgarner played in his twelfth MLB season in 2020 and has a 120-96, 3.20 record.

SIX – Spud Chandler, Yankees, 1943 World Series, Game Five … October 11, 1943

When Spud Chandler topped the Cardinals (in St, Louis) 2-0 in Game Five (giving the Yankees the Series four games-to-one), he had to work for it. Chandler gave up the most hits ever in a World Series complete-game shutout (ten) and was in and out of trouble the whole game. The Yankee righty stranded two runners in the first inning, two in the second, two in the fourth, one in the seventh, two in the eighth and two in the ninth – while the Yankees got him a sparse two runs in the sixth. He had only two hit-free innings in the game (the second and fifth). Chandler comes in at number six on the basis of pure grit.

Chandler pitched in 11 MLB seasons, going 109-43, 2.84. In 1943, he led the AL in wins (20 against four losses), earned run average (1.64), winning percentage (.833), complete games (20) and shutouts (5). The four-time All Star was also a twenty-game winner in 1946 and, in his final season (1947), at age 39, led the American League in ERA at 2.46 (although he would not qualify under today’s rules, having pitched just 128 innings in a 154-game season).

In six post-season appearances (four starts), Chandler went 2-2, 1.62.

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SEVEN … Clem Labine, Dodgers, 1956 World Series, Game Six … October 9, 1956

Clem Labine took the mound for the Dodgers the day after Don Larsen pitched his World Series perfect game against them. Brooklyn was down three games to two and, given the excitement of the day before, needed someone to turn things around revive their hopes. Labine proved up to the task, pitching ten innings of seven-hit, two-walk (five strikeout) shutout ball against the vaunted Yankees’ lineup. And he needed to be that good, for after nine frames, Yankees’ starter Bob Turley also had a shutout going, having given up just three hits (but six walks), with 11 strikeouts. The Dodgers finally gave Labine the run he needed – and a victory – on two walks and a Jackie Robinson RBI single in the bottom of the tenth.

Clem Labine pitched 13 MLB seasons, putting up a 77-56 record (94 saves). He gets extra credit in this rating for his Game Six start because he had spent the bulk of the 1956 season working in relief. An All Star that campaign, he had appeared in 62 games (just three starts) and gone 10-6, 3.35, with an NL best 19 saves (statistically noted after the save rule was enacted). Over his career, Labine appeared in 475 regular-season games as a reliever and 38 as a starter. His ten-inning Game Six shutout was his only start in 13 World Series appearances.

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EIGHT – Sandy Koufax, Dodgers, Game Seven, 1965 World Series …. October 14, 1965

Sandy Koufax started Game Two of the 1965 World Series against the Twins (in Minnesota) and took the loss (Twins 5 – Dodgers 1), despite giving up just two runs (one earned) in six innings. He came back to throw a nifty four-hit, complete-game shutout in Game Five (in LA) – with one walk and ten strikeouts. Then, with the Series tied at three games apiece, he took the mound for Game Seven on just two days rest and produced another gem – a three-hit, three-walk, ten-strikeout shutout – as the Dodgers won 2-1. The short rest give him an edge when looking a Game Seven shutout winners.

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched in 12 MLB campaigns, winning 165 games (87 losses) and putting up a 2.76 earned run average. In his final four seasons (he retired at age 30 due to arm issues), he won three Cy Young Award (1963-65-66), led the league in wins three times, ERA four times, complete games twice, shutouts three times and strikeouts three times. His record over those four seasons was 97-27, 1.88, with 1,228 strikeouts in 1,192 2/3 inning pitched. He tossed 89 complete games and 31 shutouts over those four seasons. For his career, Koufax was 165-87, 2.76. In eight World Series appearances (seven starts), he was 4-3, despite a stingy 0.95 ERA.

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NINE – Jesse Haines, Cardinals, Game 3, 1926 World Series … October 5, 1926

Jesse Haines gets in the top ten as the only hurler to hit a home run while throwing a World Series shutout. Hines threw a five-hit, three-walk, three-strikeout shutout for the Cardinals (against the Yankees – with the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel in the center of the lineup) in Game Three of the 1926 World Series. The Cardinals, who won 4-0, scored three times in the fourth inning, with Haines popping a two-run home run to right field. Haines also had a single in his three at bats.

Hall of Famer Haines pitched in 19 MLB seasons, going 210-158, 3.64. Haines was a three-time twenty-game winner and led the NL in complete games (25) and shutouts (6) in 1927. Haines was 3-1, 1.67 in six World Series appearances (four starts).

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TEN – Orel Hershiser, Dodgers, 1988 World Series, Game Two …. October 16, 1988

Orel Hershiser pitched a three-hit, two walk, eight-whiff shutout as the Dodgers topped the A’s 6-0 in Game Two of the 1988 World Series. But that’s not what got him the ten-spot here. He is the only pitcher to collect three hits in a World Series game in which he also pitched a complete-game shutout. He got those three safeties – which included two doubles – in three at bats, He also had one run scored and one RBI – not a bad complement to his pitching prowess. Hershiser had two starts in the Series, pitching a pair of complete games and giving up just seven hits and two runs in 18 innings (fanning 17). His performance earned earned him the World Series MVP Award.

“O” is for Orel

“O”rel Hershiser holds the MLB record for the most consecutive regular-season scoreless innings pitched at 59 – set from August 30 through September 28, 1988. The streak included five consecutive complete-game shutouts in September. In his sixth (and final) September start, Hershiser pitched ten scoreless innings before being relieved in a game the Dodgers lost to the Padres 2-1 in 16 innings. Talk about a big finish, in his last nine starts of the 1988 season, Hershiser threw eight complete games, going 7-2, with a 0.44 earned run average and six shutouts.

Orel Hershiser had an 18-season MLB career, going 204-150, 3.48, with 2,014 strikeouts in 3,130 1/3 innings. He was a three-time All Star and, in 1988, led the National League in wins (23), complete games (15), shutouts (8) and innings pitched (267). In six World Series starts, Hershiser was 3-3, 4.07 and, in a total of 22 post-season appearances, he was 8-3, 2.59. He was voted MVP of of the 1988 NLCS, 1988 WS and 1995 ALCS. As a hitter, Hershiser hit .201 (163-for-810), with no homers, but 50 RBI. He was a .208 hitter in the 24 post-seasons at bats.

Hershiser Tidbit

Orel Hershiser twice led the National League in losses (1989 and 1992).

Bonus World Series Shutout – Babe Ruth

Why a bonus? Because it’s Babe Ruth, that’s why. In Game One of the 1918 World Series, Red Sox’ southpaw Babe Ruth shutout the Cubs on six hits over nine innings – the BoSox winning 1-0. Ruth’s mound opponent that day was the Cubs’ Hippo Vaughn, who had led the NL in wins (22), ERA (1.74), shutouts (8), and strikeouts (148). Ruth was a pretty good World Series hurler, going 3-0, with a 0.87 earned run average in three starts (two complete games).

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference,.com; “The World Series,,” Richard Cohen, David Neft, Roland Johnson, Jordan Deutsch, Dial Press, New York (1976)

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