Photo by OlympianX

Baseball Roundtable continues to reflect on past seasons, while looking forward to the return of “new” baseball.  In this post, I’m taking a look at players who delivered 200 or more base hits in their rookie season.  By the way, that’s not a very large group. Only 16 MLB rookies have collected 200 or safeties.

Now, to perhaps entice readers to make their way through this post, here are a handful of questions about this sweet sixteen.  And, to help you on your way, here is a hint – the initials of the sixteen players sin reverse chronological order. IS; NG; KS; TO; D (or R) A; JP; JD; HT; DA; RJ; JF; LW; EC; JW.

Now the questions:

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1. Which one of the six 200-hit rookies who achieved the feat after the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947 did not win the ROY?
2. Which three of the 16 players with 200-hit rookie seasons are in the Hall of Fame?
3. Only one of the 200-hit rookies whose rookie season occurred after the first MLB all Star Game never made an MLB All Star team. Name him.  Extra hint here: HT
4. Seven of the 16 rookies with 200-hit seasons never reached 200 safeties in another campaign. How many can you name/guess?
5. Which four 200-hit rookies led their league in triples in their initial 200-safety season? Hint: One from the 1990s; one from the 1960s; one from the 1930s; and one from the 1890s. 

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Before we take an in-depth look at these 200-hit rookies, here are the answers to the questions.

1. Kevin Seitzer
2. Joe DiMaggio, Lloyd Waner, Earle Combs
3.  Hal Trosky
4. Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Seitzer, Dick Allen, Dick Wakefield, Dale Alexander, Roy  Johnson, Jimmy Williams
5.  Nomar Garciaparra, Dick Allen, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmy Williams

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Now a closer look at MLB’s 200-hit rookie seasons.

Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 2001

Ichiro Suzuki holds the record for  the most hits by any MLB rookie, racking up 242 safeties for the Mariners in 2001.  That season, he led the American League in hits, batting average (.350) and stolen bases (56) – earning Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors.   A free-swinger, he drew only 30 walks (and ten of those were intentional) in a league-topping 738 plate appearances.  There are those who would support an asterisk by this rookie-hits record (I’m not one of them), since Suzuki came to MLB (as a 27-year-old rookie) after nine seasons with Japanese Baseball’s Orix Blue Wave – where he put up a .353 batting average (1,278 hits) in 951 games.

Suzuki played 19 MLB seasons (2001-2019 … Mariners, Yankees, Marlins), collecting 3,089 hits (.311 average), leading the league in hits seven times and setting the all-time, single-season hits record of 262 in 2004.  He was a ten-time All Star, a two-time batting champion and ten-time Gold Glover in the outfield.  Over his MLB career, he scored 1,420 runs (topping 100 in eight seasons), hit 117 home runs, drove in 780 and stole 509 bases (topping 30 steals ten times).

Keep the Line Moving

After collecting 242 hits in his rookie campaign, Ichiro Suzuki garnered 200 or more safeties in each the next nine seasons. His ten consecutive 200-hit seasons are an MLB record. and tie him with Pete Rose for the most 200-hit seasons in a career. Over his first ten MLB seasons, Suzuki’s average season was .331, with 224 hits, 105 runs scored, 56 RBI, nine home runs and 38 steals.

Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox, 1997

Nomar Garciaparra kept his rookie status into 1997, after hitting .241-4-16 in 24 games in 1996.  In his 1997 Rookie of the Year season, the Red Sox ‘shortstop hit .306 (a league-leading 209 hits), with 30 home runs, 98 RBI, 122 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He also led the American League in triples with 11.

Home Cookin’

Nomar Garciaparra is one of only 13 players with two Grand Slams in a single game – and the only one to do it in his home park.

In a 14-season MLB career (1996-2009 … Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, A’s), Garciaparra (while never again reaching 200 hits), was a six-time All Star and two-time batting champion (.357 in 1999 and .372 in 2000 – both with the Red Sox). Garciaparra also led the league in doubles once (topping 50 doubles in two season), scored 100+ ruins six times, topped 100 RBI four times and hit 20 or more round trippers in seven seasons.  His career average was .313, with 229 home runs, 936 RBI, 927 runs scored and 95 stolen bases.  He also hit .321-7-24 in 32 post-season contests.

Kevin Seitzer, Royals, 1987

Kevin Seitzer hit .323 in a September 1986 call up (28 games).  (His trip to the Royals came after a .318-13-75 season at Triple A and Double A.) In 1987, still retaining his rookie status, Seitzer proved 1986 was no fluke, hitting an identical .323 (207 hits) over 161 games. He also had 11 home runs, 83 RBI, 105 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. In most seasons, that would be good enough for Rookie of the Year honors. In 1987, however, Seitzer finished a distant second in the voting, as all the first-place AL votes went to Mark McGwire, who put up a .289-49-118 line.

Big Day for a Rookie

On August 2, 1987, as the Royals topped the Red Sox 13-5, in Kansas City, Kevin Seitzer has a six-for-six day, with two home runs, four runs scored and seven RBI.  Seitzer is one of only two Royals with a six-for-six day at the plate.  (The other is Bob Oliver.)

Seitzer went on to a 12-season MLB career (1986-97 … Royals, Brewers, A’s, Indians).  He collected 1,557 hits (never again reaching 200 in a season) for a .295 average, with 74 home runs, 613 RBI, 739 runs scored and 30 steals.  He was twice an All Star (1987 and 1995). His rookie campaign saw him record his career highs in games, plate appearances, at bats, runs, hits, triples, home runs and RBI. Over his career, he started 1,014 games at 3B, 208 at 2B, 119 at DH, nine in the OF and one at SS.

Tony Oliva, Twins, 1964

Twins outfielder Tony Oliva enjoyed two brief call ups (1962-63) before his first full MLB season (in 1964, when he still retained rookie status, having played in just 16 games – hitting .438 – in two previous stints with the Twins). In that 1964 campaign, Oliva led the American League in hints (217), batting average (.323), runs scored (109), doubles (43) and total bases (374), while also launching 32 home runs, driving in 94 runs and swiping 32 bases.

T(ony) for Two

Tony Oliva is the only player to win a batting title in his rookie and sophomore MLB seasons – .323 in 1964 and .321 in 1965.

Oliva went on to lead the AL in hits in four of the next six seasons (reaching 200+ safeties once more), as well as to earn a third batting title (1971). He played 15 MLB seasons (1962-76), all for the Twins and was an eight-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover.  Oliva hit .300 or better in six of the eleven seasons when he played at least 100 games.  The eight-time All Star also led the league in doubles four times. He retired from the playing fields with a .304 average (1,917 hits), 220 home runs, 947 RBI and 870 runs scored.  Oliva hit .314, with three home runs, in 13 post-season games.

Dick Allen, Phillies, 1964

In 1963, Dick Allen played ten games for the Phillies after a September call up – primarily as a LF (one appearance at 3B).  Then, in his 1964, Rookie of the Year season, he became the Phillies’ full-time third baseman and quickly showed his power.  That season, Allen hit .318, with 29 home runs and 91 RBI.  He led the NL in runs scored (125), total bases (352) and triples (13).  He went on to a become a seven-time All Star and the 1972 American League MVP – when he hit .308-37-133 for the White Sox, leading the league in home runs and RBI. Allen played 15 MLB seasons (1963-77 … Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, A’s). He put up a .292 career average (hitting .300 or better in seven seasons); 351 home runs (leading his league twice and topping 30 long balls in six campaigns); and driving in 1,119 runs (leading the league once).  Known more for his power than his speed, Allen had 79 career triples, and had ten or more three-baggers in four seasons. He also swiped 133 bases, with a high of 20 steals (in 25 attempts) in 1967. Over his career, Allen started 795 games at 1B; 646 at 3B; and 249 in the outfield.  Allen had two brothers Hank and Ron, who also played in the major leagues.

Music to My Ears

Dick Allen was also an accomplished doo-wop singer, performing professionally with his band “Rich Allen and the Ebonistics. Click below for a sample. 

https://youtu.be/w_bcRzEknhM

Harvey Kuenn, Tigers, 1953

After a brief call up in 1957 (19 September games), Harvey Kuenn settled in as the Tigers’ full-time shortstop in 1958 – earning a spot on the AL All Star team, as well as Rookie of the Year honors.  That season, Kuenn led the AL in hits (209), while batting .308. He scored 94 runs, drove in 48, hit two homers and stole six bags.  Kuenn went on to make the AL All Star squad in every season from 1953 through 1960, batting over .300 in all but one of those campaigns and leading the league with a .353 average in 1959. Over his career, Kuenn led his league in hits four times (with 200+ hits twice) and doubles three times.

Even Exchange.  I’ll give You One Harvey Kuenn for … 

After leading the AL with a .353 batting average in 1959, Kuenn was traded (just before the start of the 1960 season) to the Cleveland Indians for 1959 home run champion Rocky Colavito (42 home runs).

Kuenn played 15 MLB seasons (1952-66 … Tigers, Indians, Giants, Cubs, Phillies).  He put up a .303 average (2,092 hits), with 87 home runs, 671 RBI, 950 runs scored.  Starting primarily as a SS, he eventually shifted to the outfield.  During his career, he started 758 games in the OF, 742 at SS, 130 at 3B and 16 at 1B. After retiring as a player, Kuenn, tried his hand at managing and led the 1982 Brewers to the American League Championship.

Dick Wakefield, Tigers, 1943

Dick Wakefield’s Rookie of the Year season was a bright one – as the Tigers’ outfielder (just 22-years-old) led the American League in games (155), hits (200) and doubles (38), while hitting .316, with seven home runs, 79 RBI and 91 runs scored.   It seems the highly touted rookie was on his way to a great career.

The Old College Try

Dick Wakefield was a star in his only college season – 1941, University of Michigan – hitting .368, with nine home runs in 26 games. That summer, he was invited for tryout with a number of MLB teams and eventually signed with the Tigers for a reported $52,000 and a new automobile (makes sense for Detroit). How significant was that bonus?  At that time, Hank Greenberg was MLB’s highest paid player at $55,000 – and he was a two-time MVP.

Wakefield’s early success did not come as a surprise. After a short, but stellar, college career, he spent most of the 1941 seasons at B-Level Winston Salem, but got a taste of the major leagues, appearing in seven games as a 20-year-old. In 1942, he was assigned to the High-A Beaumont Exporters, where he hit .345 in 149 games and earned Texas League Most Valuable player honors.

The big (6’4”, 210-pound) outfielder came back strong in 1944, hitting .355-12-53 in 78 games in a season interrupted by military service. He missed the entire 1945 season and, when he returned to the Tigers in 1946, he seemed to have lost a bit of his edge – a situation amplified by a pair of injuries (broken wrist/HBP and broken left forearm/collision with outfield wall). He averaged just .268 for the remainder of his MLB career.

Wakefield played all or part of nine seasons in the majors (1941, 1943-44, 1946-50, 1952 … Tigers, Yankees, Giants). He finished with a .293 career average, 56 home runs, 315 RBI and 334 runs scored.

Johnny Pesky, Red Sox, 1942

Twenty-three-year old Red Sox’ shortstop Johnny Pesky had a strong rookie campaign (1942), leading the American League with 205 hits and putting up a .331 average, with two home runs, 51 RBI, 105 runs scored and 12 steals.

.325 Can be a Lucky Number

Johnny Pesky played two minor-league seasons before joining the Red Sox in 1940, he played 136 games with the Class-B Rocky Mountain Red Sox and hit .325.  Promoted to the Double-A Louisville Colonels in 1941, he played 146 games and again hit .325.

Pesky’s major league career was interrupted by three years of military service (1943-45), but when he returned, he picked up right where he left off. – leading the league in hits in 1946 (208 hits, .335 average) and 1947 (207 hits, .324 average).

Pesky played ten MLB seasons (1942, 1946-54 … Red Sox, Tigers, Senators).  His career average was .307, with 17 home runs, 404 RBI and 867 runs scored.  He scored 100+ runs in six seasons and hit for a .300+ average in six campaigns. He was an All Star in 1946. Over his career, Pesky started 579 games at SS, 455 at 3B and 104 at 2B.

Rounding the Bases, Again and Again and Again

Johnny Pesky was the first American Leaguer to score six runs in a nine-inning game (still the AL record, since tied by Spike Owen and Joe Randa). The only MLB player to reach seven runs scored in nine innings is Guy Hecker – for the 1886 American Association Louisville Colonels.

Joe DiMaggio, Yankees, 1936

Yankee outfielder Joe DiMaggio made his MLB debut as a 21-year-old on May 3, 1936 – and he had a pretty good day.   DiMaggio went three-for-six, with two singles and a triple, scoring three runs and driving in one – as the Yankees topped the Browns 14-5 in New York. Joltin’ Joe went on to play 138 games, put up a .323 average, with 206 hits, 29 home runs, 125 RBI and 132 runs scored.  He also led the American League with 15 three-baggers.

Despite missing three seasons due to military service (1943-45), DiMaggio played 13 MLB seasons (1936-42, 1946-52), all with the Yankees. He was an All Star in every season, a three-time Most Valuable Player, a two-time batting champ (ten times hitting .300+), a two-time RBI leader (nine seasons of 100+), a two-time home run leader (seven seasons of 30 or more) and once lead the AL in runs scored (eight seasons of 100+).  He retired with a .325-361, 1,537 stat line.

56? Been There, Done That

Joe DiMaggio 56-hitting streak in 1941 remains the longest in MLB history. DiMaggio, however, had a longer steak in the minors – 61 games, as an 18-year-old rookie, for the Pacific Coast League San Francisco Seals in 1933. The only longer streak in professional baseball history belong to Joe Wilhoit, who hit in 69 consecutive games for the Wichita Jobbers of the Western League in 1919.

Hal Trosky, Indians, 1934

Hal Trosky got an 11-game taste of the major leagues, as a 20-year-old, late in the 1933 season.  Then in 1934 – rookie-status still intact – Trosky played in all 154 games at first base for the Indians. Trosky collected 206 hits, launched 35 home runs and drove in 142 in that rookie campaign. He went on to play in 11 MLB seasons (1933-41, 1944, 1946 …. Indians, White Sox). From 1933 through 1938, Trosky averaged .314, hit 155 home runs and drove in 663.  In 1938, migraines began to take a toll on his skills and ability to stay in the game. He missed the entire 1942 and 1943 seasons.

Tough Competition

Hal Trosky may be one of the best players to never make an All Star team.  Then again, his competition at first base included Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg.

Over his 11 MLB seasons, Trosky hit .302 (four times topping .300), with 228 home runs (three times hitting 30+) and 1,012 RBI (topping 100 in six seasons). He led the American league with 162 RBI and 405 total bases in 1936, when he went .343-42-162.

Dale Alexander, Tigers, 1929

Dale Alexander’s story is one of a potential Hall of Fame career derailed by a freak injury.  Alexander made it to the major leagues, with the Tigers, as a 26-year-old rookie in 1929. This came after six minor-league seasons in which he hit ,333 in 783 games.

As a rookie with the Indians, Alexander played in all 155 games, hitting .343 and collecting a league-leading 215 hits – plus 25 home runs, 137 RBI and 110 runs scored.  The following season, he again played in every Indian’s contest (154 games) – hitting .326-20-135. Over the next two seasons, he continued his torrid batsmanship, hitting .325 in 1931 and winning the American League batting title at .367 in 1932 (a season he split between the Tigers and Red Sox).

Then misfortune struck. On Memorial Day in 1933, Alexander suffered a knee injury that was addressed with a new, electric, deep-heating treatment.  Alexander was left on the machine for too long – suffering third-degree burns and a subsequent infection (at one point amputation was even considered).  While he did come back to play that season, his speed and mobility were limited by the aftermath of the injury and treatment. He finished the season with a .281 average in 94 games – and 1933 marked his last season in the major leagues.  Dale Alexander’s MLB career was finished at five seasons (1929-33 … Tigers, Red Sox.  He played in 662 games and put up a .331 average, with 61 home runs and 459 RBI.

Keep on Keeping ON

Dale Alexander did not leave baseball after his 1933 health issues derailed his MLB career. He played nine more season in the minor leagues – hitting .336 over 976 games. He notably served as a player-manager in four of those seasons. He later continued to be involved as both a minor-league manager and scout (for the Giants and Braves).

Roy Johnson, Tigers, 1929

Rookie Roy Johnson patrolled the outfield for the Tigers in 1929, collecting 201 hits (.314 average), ten home runs, 69 RBI, 128 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.  He also led the AL with 45 doubles.  It was Johnson’s only 200-hit campaign.

Chasing ’em Down

In 1931, Roy Johnson led American League right fielders in putouts (309), assists (24) and double plays (8).  He was also third in errors with 15.

Johnson played ten MLB seasons (1929-38 …. Tigers, Red Sox, Yankees, Bees). He hit .296 (1,292 hits), topping .300 four times.  He finished with 58 home runs, 555 RBI, 716 runs scored (with 100+ runs in three seasons) and 135 steals (reaching 20 in two seasons).  He also led The AL in triples, with 19 for the Tigers in 1931.

Johnny Frederick, Dodgers, 1929

Johnny Frederick made his debut as an outfielder with the Brooklyn Dodgers in April of 1929.  He played in 148 games in his rookie season, collecting 206 hits (.328 average), with 24 home runs, 75 RBI, 127 runs scored and a league-leading 52 doubles. He followed that up with a 1930 campaign that again saw him rap 206 hits, this time with a .334 average, 17 homers, 76 RBI and 120 runs scored.

Good in a Pinch

In 1932, Johnny Frederick went 10-for 32 as a pinch hitter (.313), and hit a then-record six pinch-hit home runs – a PH-homer record that stood until Dave Hansen hit seven pinch-hit long balls in 2000.

Frederick was a solid hitting outfielder over six MLB seasons (1929-34), all with the Dodgers. He had a .308 career MLB average with season marks of .328, .334, .270, .299, .308, and .296. He drove in 377 runs, scored 498 and stole 23 bases.  In December of 1934, he was traded by the Dodgers to Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League for Frenchy Bordagary. Frederick played six more season in the PCL, averaging .329 over 978 games, but never again appeared in an MLB box score.

Lloyd Waner, Pirates, 1927

Hall of Fame outfielder Lloyd Waner collected 223 hits (.355 average) in his 1927 rookie seasons (age 21). He had just two home runs and 27 RBI (in fact, he had just 25 extra base hits), but the Pirate led the NL in runs scored with 133. Waner stroked 200+ hits in four of his first five season, only missing the magic number in 1930, when he plated in only 68 games.

Brotherly Love

Lloyd Waner and his brother Paul – known as “Little Poison” and “Big Poison,” respectively – both hit their way into the MLB Hall of Fame. Together they collected the most hits by any MLB brothers (5,611 …  3,152 for Paul and 2,459 for Lloyd).

Lloyd Waner played 18 MLB seasons (1922-42, 1944-45 … Pirates, Braves, Reds, Phillies, Dodgers). He put up a .316 career average (2,59 hits), hit 27 home runs, drove in 598 and scored 1,201, The one-time All Star led his league in hits once (topping 200 four times); runs once (topping 100 three times); triples once (20 in 1929). Of his 2,459 hits only 426 went for extra bases.

Earle Combs, Yankees, 1925 

Yankee CF Earle Combs got in 24 games for the Bronx Bombers in 1924 – going 10-for-35 (.400). His inaugural MLB season was cut short by a broken ankle suffered in mid-June. In 1925, with his rookie status still intact, he built upon that “cup of coffee,” hitting .342-3-62 and notching 203 hits.  He also scored 113 runs and stole 12 bags. The Hall of Famer went to have a 21-season MLB career (1924-35), all with the Yankees; averaging .325 (,300 or better in all but two seasons), with 58 home runs, 633 RBI and 1,186 runs scored.  He had three 200+ hit seasons and eight seasons in which scored 100+ runs. He led the AL in hits once and triples three times, hitting 20+ three-baggers in each of those seasons.

Bad Timing, Earle

Earle Comb’s best season was 1927, when he hit .356, scored 137 runs and led the AL with 231 hits and 23 triples. He didn’t get the attention he deserved for those numbers; since teammate Babe Ruth went .356-60-165 that year.

Jimmy Williams, Pirates, 1899

Jimmy Williams made his major league debut in 1889 as a third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 22-year-old, who would spend most of his career as a second basemen, hit .354-9-116, with 126 runs scored and 26 steals that season. (It would be the only times he reached 160 hits in his 11-season MLB career). He led the NL with 27 triples that season.  In his rookie season, William set his career highs in games (153); hits (220); average (.354); RBI (116); runs (126); home runs (9); triples (27); and total bases (329).

Three Standing Tall

Jimmy Williams’s 27 triples for the Pittsburgh Pirate in 1899 remains the rookie record for three-baggers.

Jimmy Williams played 11 MLB seasons (1899-1909 … Pirates, Orioles, Highlanders, Browns). His career average was .275, although he hit .300 or better in three of his first four seasons. He scored 100+ runs in two seasons, led the league in triples three times, hit 49 home runs and drove in 796, while scoring 780 times and stealing 151 bases.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com; Stathead.com;  Dick Wakefield, SABR bio, by Warren Corbett; Dale Alexander, SABR Bio, by Bill Nowlin.

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On this date (July 1) in 1902, Philadelphia Athletics southpaw George Edward “Rube” Waddell became the first American League pitcher (and second major leaguer) to toss an “Immaculate Inning” (three strikeouts on nine pitches).  It came in the sixth inning of a 2-0 Athletics win over the Baltimore Orioles.  (The victims were Billy Gilbert, Harry Howell and Jack Cronin).  In the two-hit shutout, Waddell faced the minimum  27 batters, fanning 13. Side note:  The first-ever Immaculate Inning was thrown on June 4, 1889, by John Clarkson of the National Leaguer Boston Beaneaters versus the Philadelphia Quakers. 

How good was Waddell in 1902?  The lefty started the 1902 season in the minors, with Los Angeles Angels of the California League – where he had  pitched to a 12-8 record by late June.  The Philadelphia Athletics’ Connie Mack took notice and signed Waddell. At the time Waddell made his first appearance for the Athletics (June 26), the team was in fourth place, just one game over .500 (26-25) and  six games behind the league-leading  the White Sox. With Waddell showing the way,  they would go 57-28 over the rest of the season, taking the AL pennant, finishing five games up on the second-place Saint Louis Browns.  Let’s look at what Waddell accomplished in 1902.

Now, it’s important to remember Waddell made his first mound appearance on June 27,  with just 86 games left in the season. He proceeded to win 24 games (the league’s second-highest total, behind only Cy Young’s 32 wins; and Young had 43 starts to Waddell’s 27 and 45 appearances to Waddell ‘s 33). Waddell also put up the league’s second-best earned run average (2.05).  Despite his shortened season, Waddell led the AL with 210 strikeouts, fifty more than the runner-up (again Cy Young, who pitched 384 2/3 innings to Waddell’s 276 1/3). Waddell went on to lead the AL in strikeouts over the next five seasons – by wide margins. The lefty  who relied primarily on an exceptional fastball and hard curve also led the NL in strikeouts per nine innings in 1900 and the AL  every season from 1902 through 1907. (He finished second in the NL in K/9 in 1901 and fourth in the AL in 1909.) He also allowed the fewest hits per nine frames in the NL in 1900 and the AL in 1905 – and finished in his league’s top five in five seasons.

Waddell – A Truly Eccentric Lefty

Now southpaws are acknowledged (whether justifiably is debatable) in baseball lore to, at times, be a bit “eccentric.”  Waddell was clearly NOT “the exception that proved the rule.” He is recognized (justifiably) as one of the zaniest player in MLB history – but he also was one of the best (when he was focused on the game). Waddell was known to: leave a ball game to chase fire engines; miss a game he was scheduled to start because he was fishing or playing marbles with neighborhood kids; bring his outfielders in to sit on the grass and then proceed to fan the side (only in exhibition games, of course); wrestle alligators in the off-season; enjoy more than an occasional libation; and (frequently) do battle with owners and managers.  (It has also been reported that Waddell, during his career, found time to ride ostriches, spontaneously join and lead parades, assist fire fighters on the job, go into the stands to confront hecklers – and was once even bitten by a lion that he had, for some reason, decided to punch.  This is the stuff of legends.)  Waddell simply was more interested in enjoying life in his own way than in money or professional stability.

Still, when Waddell set his mind and his heart to it, he could be something pretty special on the mound.  Thanks to his unpredictability, however, his professional career included stints with five major league clubs (13 seasons) and numerous minor league, independent, semi-pro and barn-storming teams. For BBRT’s Minnesota readers, Waddell was a 20-game winner for the 1911 American Association champion Minneapolis Millers.

Symmetry

Rube Waddell was born on Friday the 13 of October in 1876 and died on April Fools day 1914. 

Waddell – A Strikeout “Artist”

In 1904, Waddell set a modern (post-1900) MLB record with 349 strikeouts that stood until 1965 (when Sandy Koufax fanned 382).   The next highest total in 1904 went to the Giants’ Jack Chesbro, a full 110 whiffs behind Waddell – despite pitching 71 2/3 more innings. That season, Waddell averaged 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings, at a time when the league average was 3.8.

Have a Seat, Batter

Rube Waddell fanned 302 batters in 1903 and 349 in 1904, making him the first modern-era (post 1900) pitcher to record two 300-strikeout seasons.  To date, only nine pitchers have recorded multiple 300-whiff campaigns, led by Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson with six each. Only 19 pitcher have recorded 300-strikeout seasons since 1900.

The Pitcher’s Triple Crown – Wins, ERA, Strikeouts

Waddell had his best season in 1905, when he led the American League in wins (27 – versus ten losses); earned run average (1.48); winning percentage (.730); and strikeouts (287). He tossed 27 complete games and seven shutouts in 34 starts.

Waddell, elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, finished with a 193-143, 2.16 stat line.  In the four seasons from 1902-1905, pitching for the Philadelphia Athletics, Waddell went 97-52, with a 1.88 earned run average and 1,148 strikeouts (versus 330 walks).  In those four peak campaigns, he threw 1,312 innings (an average of 328 innings per season), completed 126 of 145 starts and twirled 22 shutouts.

A Peer Review

In my opinion, and I suppose if there is any subject I am qualified to discuss it is pitching, Rube Waddell had more sheet pitching ability than any man I ever saw.”

                           Hall of Famer Walter Johnson (Source, National Baseball Hall of Fame)

For more on Waddell, BBRT suggests: “Rube Waddell: The Zany, Brilliant Life of a Strikeout Artist,” by Allan Howard Levy and “Just a Big Kid: The Life and Times of Rube Waddell,” by Paul Proia.  They are both good reads.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; “Rube Waddell: The Zany, Brilliant Life of a Strikeout Artist,” by Allan Howard Levy and “Just a Big Kid: The Life and Times of Rube Waddell,” by Paul Proia. 

Coming Soon:  The Baseball Roundtable “Who’s Your Daddy?” Series – Max Scherzer edition.

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

As I look “forward” to the late-July start of the 2020 baseball season (although I must admit the recent Covid resurgence and spate of “positives” among players has me worried), I am passing the time by looking “backward” at significant (at least in my view) MLB events from the past. Today’s homage to the past is triggered by a Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim)-Los Angeles Dodger matchup that took place on this date (June 28) in 2008.

The Dodgers’ 1-0 win that day marked the fifth (and most recent) time in MLB history that a team has come away with a victory without the benefit of a single base hit.

Let’s take a look at those contests.

Angels 0 – Dodgers 1 … Dodger Stadium, June 28, 2008

In this game, the Dodgers were no-hit by losing pitcher Jered Weaver (six innings, three walks, six strikeouts, one unearned run) and Jose Arredondo (two perfect frames with three strikeouts). The Dodgers scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth.  CF Matt Kemp led off and reached on an error by Weaver (bobbling a weak ground ball between home plate and the mound). Two pitches later, with 3B Blake DeWitt at the plate, Kemp stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis.  DeWitt, with a 1-1 count, then hit a sacrifice fly to deep right – and that was all the scoring for the day. So, in a sequence of four pitches, the game was lost.

Weaver, of course, was credited with the defeat.  The win went to Dodgers’ starter Chad Billingsley, who went seven innings and gave up three hits and three walks, while fanning seven.  He got relief help from Jonathan Broxton (hold) and Takashi Sato (save).  Side note:  The Angels did not record an “official” MLB no-hitter, since the Dodgers did not bat in the bottom of the ninth (an official no-hitter must go at least nine innings).

Red Sox 1 – Indians 2… Cleveland Stadium, April 12, 1992

While the Indians failed to get a hit over eight innings against Red Sox’ starter Matt Young, they scored in their very first inning – in fact, within the first three hitters.  It started with four-pitch walk to the leadoff hitter, speedy center fielder  Kenny Lofton. Lofton stole second while the number two hitter – Glenallen Hill – was at the plate.  Hill ran the count to 3-2 and, as he went down swinging, Lofton swiped third.  The next hit hitter was 2B Carlos Baerga, who reached first on an error (bad throw) by Red Sox’ SS Luis Rivera, allowing Lofton to score.

The Indians plated an insurance run in the third – and a four-pitch walk again played a role. Indians SS and number-nine hitter Mark Lewis led off and drew a four-pitch walk off  Young. Lofton then walked on five pitches, sending Lewis to second. Hill then grounded to short, forcing Lofton, but reaching first on a fielder’s choice. Hill stole second, while Baerga was at the plate. Then, Lewis scored on a Baerga grounder to short.

The Red Sox came back with a run in the top of the fourth, on a walk and two singles, but it was not enough.

Matt Young took the loss (a complete-game) tossing eight innings of no-hit ball (seven walks and six strikeouts) and giving up two unearned runs. Indians’ starter Charles Nagy got the win – giving up eight hits and one run (four walks, ten whiffs) over seven innings, with help from Brad Arnsberg (hold) and Derek Lilliquist (save). As in the June 28, 2008, Angels-Dodgers game, a no-hitter was not credited, since the Indians did not bat in the bottom of the ninth.  (Personally, I think that rule needs a look.)

Yankees 0 – White Sox 4 … July 1, 1990 at (old) Comiskey Park

In this one, Yankee starter Andy Hawkins and White Sox starter Greg Hibbard were locked in a scoreless pitching duel after seven frames. Hibbard had given up just four hits (no walks, four strikeouts), while Hawkins was working on a no-hitter (three walks, three whiffs). Barry Jones relieved Hubbard in the top of the eight and held New York scoreless.  In the bottom of the inning, Hawkins retired the first two batters on easy pop flies.  Then it all unraveled.  RF Sammy Sosa (hitting in the number-eight spot) reached on error by 3B Mike Blowers and stole second with SS Ozzie Guillen at the plate.  Guillen then walked on a 3-2 pitch and CF Lance Johnson followed with a four-pitch walk. Bases loaded with two out – still no hits.

Robin Ventura then appeared to fly out to left, but the ball hit off of left fielder Jim Leyritz’ glove and rolled away, while all three runners scored.  Next up was DH Ivan Calderon, who flied to right.  This time, the ball popped out of RF Jesse Barfield’s glove and a fourth run scored.  Hawkins got the next batter (LF Dan Pasqua) on a pop up, by the damage was done and the game was gone.

Hawkins took the loss – an eight-inning, complete game (five walks, three hits, four unearned runs), The win went to reliever Barry Jones (who pitched the top of the eighth). Scott Radinsky pitched the ninth for Chicago. Hawkins not only did not get the win, he was not credited with a no-hitter, having pitched just eight innings.

We Interrupt this Post for a Brief Diversion

On this Date (April 22) in 1959, the Chicago White Sox completed what may be the weirdest MLB offensive inning ever – and while it was not a no-hit inning – it was close.  In the seventh inning of a 20-6 road win over the Kansas City A’s, the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs on just one base hit. In fact, they got only one ball out of the infield.  In that inning:

• The Sox sent 17 batters to the plate, but collected just one hit – and, in fact, got only one ball out of the infield.
• Sox’ hitters stepped into the box with runners in scoring position 14 times.
• Sox hitters batted with the bases loaded 12 times and never got the ball past the pitcher.
• Eight different White Sox’ players drew walks.
• The Sox drew eight bases-loaded walks (and had one bases-loaded hit batsman). and
• White Sox 2B Nellie Fox walked twice with the bases loaded in the inning.

Here’s how it went that inning (per baseball-reference.com):

• 1B Ray Boone is safe on a throwing error by A’s shortstop Joe DeMaestri.
• RF Al Smith attempts to sacrifice Boone to second (score was 8-6 at the time) and reaches safely on an error by A’s third baseman Hal Smith.
• LF Johnny Callison singles to right. Scoring Boone and Smith (with the help of an error by A’s right fielder Roger Maris). Callison ends up on third.
• SS Louis Aparicio walks – steals second (runners now on second and third).
• P Bob Shaw walks (loading the bases).
• PH Earl Torgeson (batting for 3B Sammy Esposito) walks (scoring Callison).
• 2B Nellie Fox walks (scoring Aparicio).
• CF Jim Landis reaches on fielder’s choice – grounding back to pitcher Mark Freeman, who takes the force at home (bases still loaded).
• C Sherman Lollar walks (scoring Torgeson, bases still loaded).
• Ray Boone makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Nellie Fox).
• Al Smith makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Landis).
• Johnny Callison, who had the only hit of the inning in his first plate appearance, is hit by a pitch (scoring Lollar, bases still loaded). Lou Skizas comes in to run for Callison.)
• Louis Aparicio draws his second walk of the inning (scoring Boone, bases still loaded).
• Bob Shaw strikes out.
• PH Bubba Phillips (batting for Torgeson, who batted for Esposito earlier in the inning) walks (scoring Smith, bases still full).
• Nellie Fox draws his second bases loaded walk of the inning (scoring Skizas).
• Jim Landis grounds out pitcher to first to end the inning.

 

Now, back to our regularly scheduled posting – victories without the benefit of a hit.

Tigers 2 – Orioles 1 … April 30, 1967 at Memorial Stadium

This Tigers-Orioles contest was scoreless through seven innings, with the Orioles’ Steve Barber tossing a no-hitter and the Tigers’ Earl Wilson having surrendered just two hits.  Still, it did appear Wilson had the better stuff that day.  He had given up just one walk, while fanning four.  Barber, despite having a no-hitter in the works, had walked five batters and hit two (three strikeouts). In the top of eighth, Barber walked two more (one intentional), but escaped without damage – no-hitter and shutout intact.

In the bottom of the inning, the Orioles finally broke through against Wilson, ironically, without the benefit of a hit – as Wilson seemed to “lose the plate”.  LF Curt Blefary led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by 2B Woodie Held. Charlie Laue then pinch hit for catcher Andy Etchebarren and was intentionally walked to put the double play on the table. Wilson, still struggling, walked Barber to load the bases and Orioles’ SS Luis Aparicio got him home with a sacrifice fly to right. Barber was now going into the top of the ninth with a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead.  (But, remember, he had already walked seven and hit two batters).  Barber started the inning by walking 1B Norm Cash (who was replaced on the bases by pinch runner Dick Tracewski).  Barber then walked SS Roy Oyler, bringing up Wilson, who sacrificed the pair of runners to second and third.  Barber than got dangerous PH Willie Horton on a foul pop.  He was now just one out away from a no-hit win. Oops! Tracewski came into score on a wild pitch.  Then Barber walked CF Mickey Stanley and Orioles’ manager Hank Bauer brought in Stu Miller, who got the final out of the inning.  Holding a one-run lead, Tiger manager Mayo Smith brought in Fred Gladding, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to save the win for Wilson.

The game, by the way, went in the books as an official (combined) no-hitter – be it a wild one, as Steve Barber walked ten, hit two and threw a wild pitch), while twirling 8 2/3 no-hit innings and losing the game.

Reds 1 – Colt .45s 0 … April 23, 1964

This contest went into the ninth inning tied at zero, with the Reds’ Joe Nuxhall having given up five hits (one walk, four strikeouts) and the Colt .45s’ Ken Johnson working on a brilliant no-hitter (two walks, nine whiffs). In the top of the ninth, errors robbed Johnson of a victory, but not of a complete-game no-hitter. Johnson got Nuxhall on a grounder to third to open the inning. Next 2B Pete Rose attempted to bunt for a hit and reached on a throwing error by Johnson (Rose went to second on the play). Third baseman Chico Ruiz then grounded out, with Rose moving to third. With two-out and the shutout and no-hitter still intact, CF Vada Pinson grounded to second, but reached on an error by Nellie Fox, allowing Rose to score.  Johnson got RF Frank Robinson for the final out of the inning, but the damage was done. Nuxhall, pitched a scoreless ninth and Johnson had a no-hitter (two walks, nine strikeouts) and a loss.

Ken Johnson is the only MLB pitcher to throw a complete-game, official  MLB no-hitter and lose.

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

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Everyone kind of perceives me as being angry. It’s not anger, it’s motivation.

                                                                  Roger Clemens

This Edition of “Who’s Your Daddy?” focuses on 354-game winner Roger Clemens, long noted as one of the most aggressive competitors in the game.

Who’s You Daddy?  What it’s all about.

Those of you who read Baseball Roundtable regularly are familiar with the “Who’s Your Daddy?” series – presenting lineups of players who performed unexpectedly well against some of baseball’s top pitchers. In the past, BBRT has featured such moundsmen as Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson and Pedro Martinez.  (An explanation of the inspiration behind the Who’s Your Daddy? series can be found the end of this post.)  This post looks at a lineup of hitters who found success against Roger “The Rocket” Clemens/  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 Clemens, 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. 

Coming soon, Max Scherzer.

Now, on to Roger Clemens.

Roger Clemens pitched in 24 MLB seasons (1984-2007 … Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Astros). He was an 11-time All Star and his seven Cy Young Awards are the most earned by any pitcher. In 1986, he went 24-4, 2.48 – leading the league in wins, winning percentage (.857), ERA – capturing the Al Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards.

Clemens won 20 or more games in six seasons, leading his league in wins four times. He also led in winning percentage three times, earned run average seven times, strikeouts five times, complete games three times, shutouts six times and innings pitched twice.  Notably, he recorded his leagues’ lowest qualifying ERA for the first time in 1986 (age 23) and for the last time in 2005 (age 42).  He notched 354 career wins (ninth all-time) against 184 losses, put up a 3.12 in 4,916 2/3 innings and fanned 4,672 batters (third all-time).  Over his career, Clemens held hitters to a .229 average and fanned one of every 4.3 batters he faced. In the post-season Clemens went 12-8, 3.75 in 35 games (34 starts), fanning 173 batter in 199 innings.

20-20 … More than a Vision

For most pitchers, fanning 20 batters in nine innings is no more than a “vision.”  Only four pitchers have turned that vision into reality: Roger Clemens, Kerry Woods, Max Scherzer and Randy Johnson. Of those only Roger Clemens has achieved this feat twice.  He was, in fact, both the first and second pitcher to whiff 20 batters in a nine-inning game – and he did it ten years apart (April 29, 1986 and September 18, 1996. Side note: Randy Johnson’s 20 strikeouts came in the first nine-innings of an eleven-inning contest (he was relived after nine frames by Byung-Hyun Kim).  All the others were nine-inning complete games.

So, who could hit Clemens’ stuff? Let’s take a look.  Keeping in mind, these lineup selections are subjective (but informed) choices – open for discussion and debate.  Note:  Unless otherwise noted the stats here are regular-season only. 

Now, the “Who’s Your “Daddy?” lineup versus The Rocket.

Catcher – Mike Piazza … .421 average, 1.105 slugging percentage

Mike Piazza clearly “had Clemens’ number” – and he put up the numbers of his own to prove it.  In eight regular-season games against Clemens, Piazza hit .421 (8-for-19) and drove in ten runs.  Further, five of his eight hits were for extra bases (one double and four home runs). That gave Piazza a 1.105 slugging percentage against The Rocket – the highest among batters with at least ten at bats versus Clemens.   Piazza got on base via hit, walk or hit by pitch at least once in every regular-season game he faced Clemens.  Notably, only 12 players notched at least four regular-season home runs against Clemens. Piazza accomplished the feat in 19 at bats. Everyone else with at least four dingers versus Clemens had at least 56 at bats against him.

Hall of Famer Mike Piazza played 16 MLB seasons (1992-2007 … Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Padres, A’s). He was the 1993 NL Rookie of the Year (.318-35-112 for the Dodgers) and a 12-time All Star.

Looking for the Long Ball

Mike Piazza hit an MLB-record (for catchers) 396 home runs as a backstop.

While he never led his league in any of the key offensive categories, Poazza topped 30 home runs in nine seasons (reaching 40 twice); had six seasons of 100+ RBI; and hit .300 or better nine times  Over his career, Piazza hit .308 (2,127 hits), with 427 home runs, 1,335 RBI, 1,048 runs scored.  His best season was 1997, when he hit .362-40-124 in 152 games for the Dodgers.  He hit .242-6-15 in 32 post-season games.

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Making Contact… or Not – A Couple of Players with Twins Ties

Brian Harper made pretty consistent contact versus The Rocket.  In 23 regular season plate appearances against Clemens, he never struck out (the highest total of PA against Clemens without a whiff of any player).  He also never walked, and collected seven hits (for a .304 average).

On the other side of the coin, Torii Hunter faced Clemens 27 times, fanned 14 and never got a hit (two walks).  His 25 at bats are the most of any player with a .000 average versus Clemens. 

First Base – Jim Thome … Eight home runs and 19 RBI versus Clemens

Hall of Famer Jim Thome’s eight home runs and 19 RBI are the most of any hitter versus Clemens – and his .373 average (Thome was a career .276 hitter) wasn’t bad either (understatement there). Thome had 22 career hits (in 23 games) against Clemens – 15 of which went for extra bases.

Jim Thome played 22 MLB seasons (1991-2012 … Indians, Phillies, White Sox, Dodgers, Twins, Orioles). The five-time All Star hit 30 or more home runs 11 times (a high of 52 in 2002). He led the AL in home runs with 47 in 2003 – and hit 190 home runs between 2001 and 2004 (four seasons). Thome also topped 100 RBI in nine seasons, 100 runs scored in eight and drew 100 or more walks nine times.

Walk, Don’t Run

Going into the 2020 season (we hope), Jim Thome leads all of MLB with 13 career walk-off home runs. He also shares the MLB lead with walk-off home runs in extra innings at eight (tied with Frank Robinson and Albert Pujols).

For his career, Thome went .276-612-1,699, with 1,583 runs scored.   His 612 regular-season home runs are eighth all-time.  Side note: His career 2,548 strikeouts are second all-time.  Thome also had 17 post-season home runs (71 games … .211-17-37). His best season was 2002, when he went .304-52-118 for the Indians. He became a free agent after that campaign and signed with the Phillies, where he led the NL in home runs with 47 in 2002.  Side note:  In his first game facing Clemens, (August 13, 1992), Thome played third base and batter eighth. 

Honorable Mention at 1B: Paul Konerko only faced Clement in eight games, but he made the most of them – going 10-for-20 (.500), with two home runs and six RBI; Will Clark went eight-for-20 (.400), with two home runs and six RBI in nine games versus Clemens.

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Where was that pitch?

Greg Vaughn clearly had trouble with Roger Clemens’ heat – fanning 25 times in just 49 plate appearances (45 at bats), putting up a .089 average and driving in just one run in 15 games. Vaughn was a career .242 hitter (15 MLB seasons), who fanned in 21.4 percent of his plate appearances. He went down on strikes in 51 percent of his plate appearances versus Clemens.

Second Base – Lou Whitaker … .338 average. .444 on-base percentage

Lou Whitaker hit a healthy .338 against Roger Clemens and also drew 14 walks (in 24 games). Whitaker reached Clemens for three home runs and drove in eight runs against him. In his final game against Clemens (August 2, 1995), Whitaker reached him for two walks and hit a long home run in three plate appearances.

Lou Whitaker played 19 MLB seasons (1977-95), all with the Tigers. He was the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year (.285-3-58 in 139 games), a five-time All Star and three-time Gold Glover. His best season was 1983, when he hit .320 (206 hits), with 12 home runs, 72 RBI, 94 runs scored and 17 steals.  Over his career, Whitaker hit 20 or more home runs four times, and scored 100+ runs twice.

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun

The Tigers’ vaunted double-play combination – Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammel – did pretty well against Clemens: Whitaker hit .338 against him in 65 at bats; Trammel .364 in 66 at bats.

Whitaker was a career .276 hitter (2,369 hits in 2,390 games), with 244 home runs, 1,084 RBI, 1,386 runs scored and 143 stolen bases.

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Third Base – Paul Molitor … 33 hits

Yes, I know Paul Molitor spent most of his career (and made the Hall of Fame) primarily as a DH, but he started five of his first ten games against Clemens at third base (four at DH and one at 2B).

Molitor’s 33 hits against Clemens are the most safeties The Rocket gave up to any hitter. They are also the most hits Molitor had off any pitcher (he also had 33 off Jack Morris). Molitor’s performance against Clemens is dampened a bit by his 18 strikeouts (versus seven walks), but he did put up a .308 batting average.

Molitor played 21 MLB seasons (Brewers, Blue Jays, Twins). He was a seven-time All Star … and hit .306.  His 3,319 base hits rank tenth all-time. He finished with 234 regular-season home runs, 605 doubles, 114 triples, 1,307 RBI, 1,782 runs scored and 504 stolen bases. Molitor led his league in hits three times (topping 200 hits in four seasons); runs scored three times (with five campaigns of 100+); doubles once and triples once. He stole twenty or more bases in 13 seasons, reaching forty or more steals four times.

Three for 300

Paul Molitor and Ichiro Suzuki are the only MLB players to triple for their 3,000^th MLB hit.

Molitor was even more of a force on the big stage, putting up a .368-6-22 line in 29 post-season games – and earnings MVP honors in the 1993 World Series (for Toronto), when he had 12 hits in 24 at bats (.500), two home runs, eight RBI and ten runs scored.

Honorable Mention at 3B: Gary Sheffield, who faced Clemens in five games (three at 3B, one at SS, one at DH), went 11-for-18 against him for a .611 average (nine singles, two doubles). In his first game versus Clemens (June 27, 1989), he went single, single, double, walk.

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Shortstop – Alex Rodriguez …. .377 average in 18 games

Alex Rodriguez collected 20 hits in 18 games off Roger Clemens – for a nifty .377 average.  He had two home runs, six doubles and nine RBI.   Interestingly (at least to BBRT), when Rodriguez first faced Clemens (in A-Rod’s 1994 rookie season), he batted ninth in the lineup.

Rodriguez played 22 MLB seasons (1994-2013, 2015-16 … Mariners, Rangers, Yankees). He was a 14-time All Star, three-time AL Most Valuable Player and a two-time Gold Glover at shortstop.  He won one batting title (as a 20-year-old in 1996, when he hit a career-high .358) – and hit .300 or better in nine seasons. Rodriguez was also a five-time home run leader and topped 50 home runs in three seasons. He hit 30 or more dingers in 14 campaigns. In addition, he led the AL in runs five times (scoring 100 or more runs in 13 consecutive seasons) and RBI twice (driving in 100+ tallies in 14 seasons – 13 consecutively). He also led the league in hits once, doubles once and total bases four times.

Rodriguez retired with a .295 batting average (3,115 hits), 696 home runs (fourth all-time), 2,086 RBI (third all-time), 2,021 runs scored (eighth all-time) and 329 stolen bases (in 405 attempts). He hit .259-13-41 in 76 post-season games.

40-40

Alex Rodriguez is one of only four players to record 40 or more home runs and 40 or more stolen bases in a single season (Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano are the others).  In 1998, Rodriguez his .310, with 42 home runs and 46 steals.

Honorable Mention at SS: Allen Trammel went .364-2-14 in 20 games against Clemens.

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Outfield – Ken Griffey Jr. … Six home runs and 16 RBI

Ken Griffey Jr. hit .311 in 30 games versus Clemens.  His six home runs off The Rocket are second only to Jim Thome’s eight round trippers and Griffey’s 16 RBI trail only Thome (19), B.J, Surhoff (18) and Gary Gaetti (18). Griffey Jr.’s first five plate appearances against Clemens produced three ground outs, one fly out and one strikeout – a nice round 0-for-5. He then got on base six straight times – walk, single, single, double, walk, walk. In 1994, Griffey Jr. faced Clemens six times in two games and collected five hits (four singles and a home run).

Like Son, Like Father

Ken Griffey, Sr. also touched up Clemens pretty well. While he faced him only 11 times (three games), he recorded five hits (all singles) and two walks (.556 average, .636 on-base percentage).

Ken Griffey Jr. played 22 MLB seasons (1989-2010 … Mariners, Reds, White Sox). The Hall of Famer was a 13-time All Star, ten-time Gold Glover and the 1992 AL Most Valuable Player. He was a four-time home run leader (hitting 40 or more home runs in seven seasons – 56 in a season twice); led the league in RBI once (getting 100 or more RBI in eight seasons); led the league in runs scored once (scoring 100 or more runs in six campaigns);  He also hit .300 or better seven times.  Griffey finished his MLB career with 2,781 hits (.284 average); 630 home runs (seventh all-time), 1,836 RBI, 1,662 runs scored and 184 stolen bases.  His best season was 1997 (Mariners), when he hit .304 and led the league in home runs (56), RBI (147), run scored (125) and total bases (393) – and threw In a Gold Glove to ice the cake.

Some Pretty Good Players, by George

What do Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., George Brett, and Tom Seaver have in common?

Their first names:  George Herman Ruth; George Kenneth Griffey Sr. and Junior; George Brett; and George Thomas Seaver.

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Outfield – Harold Baines … 32 hits, 17 walks, .402 on-base percentage

Harold Baines came to the plate more times against Clement than any other player (122 plate appearances in 37 games-) He collected the second-most hits against him (32, one behind Paul Molitor) and tied for the most walks (17, tied with Rafael Palmeiro and John Olerud).  That added up to a .305 average and a .402 on-base percentage.

Baines played 22 MLB seasons (1980-2001 … White Sox, Rangers, A’s, Orioles, Indians.)  The Hall of Famer was a five-time All Star. He collected 2,866 hits (.289), 384 home runs and 1,628 RBI. Baines hit 20 or more home runs in 12 seasons, drove in 100+ runs twice and hit .300 or better in eight campaigns.

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Making Them Count

Gary Gaetti hit only .194 against Clemens (13-for-67  in 23 games) – but he made those hits count.  His 18 RBI against Clemens are the second most of any batter.  Gaetti had seven extra base hits against Clements (two doubles, one triple and four home runs). He has one of only six Grand Slam hit off Clemens. 

Outfield – Trot Nixon … .371 average, .476 on-base percentage

Christopher Trotman “Trot” Nixon faced Roger Clemens 42 times in 15 regular-season games and came away with 13 hits (35 at bats) and seven walks (.372 average, .476 OBP). Of his thirteen hits, eight went for extra bases – four doubles, one triple and three home runs (.800 slugging percentage).

Nixon played in 12 MLB seasons (1996, 1998-2008 … Red Sox, Indians, Mets). He hit .274 (995 hits), with 137 home runs, 555 RBI and 579 runs scored. Nixon hit 20 or more home runs in three seasons and scored 100 runs in one campaign. His best season was 2003, with the Red Sox, when he went .306-28-87. Nixon was a solid post-season performer, hitting .283, with six home runs and 25 RBI in 42 games.

Honorable Mention in the OF: Carmello Castillo faced Roger Clements in ten games (1986 and 1991) and hit .385 (10-for-26), with three home runs and five RBI; Dave Winfield went .308-3-13 in 20 games versus Clemens.

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Pitcher – Jon Rauch & Shawn Estes … Only pitchers to go deep versus Clemens

Pitchers, as a whole, didn’t fare well against The Rocket, so I give you the only pitchers to take Clemens yard during his career.

Rauch hit a two-run homer in an Expos’ August 13. 2004, 6-5 win over the Astros. (Clemens got a no-decision, as did Rauch, who pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.) It is easy to see where Rauch’s power came from – at 6’11, 290 pounds. Rauch pitched 11 MLB seasons (2002, 2004-13 … White Sox, Expos/Nationals, Diamondbacks, Twins, Blue Jays, Mets, Marlins).  He went 43-40, 3.90 with 62 saves. As a hitter, he went 2-for 21 (15 strikeouts) and his home run against Clemens was his only MLB long ball.

Estes hit his dinger against Clemens on June 15, 2002. It came in an 8-0 Mets win over Clemens and the Yankees. It was two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.  Estes went seven innings (five hits, no runs, one walk, eleven strikeouts) for the victory.  Estes pitched 13 MLB seasons (1995-2006, 2008 … Giants, Mets, Reds, Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Padres). He went 101-93, 4.71 and was an All Star in 1997, when he went 19-5, 3.18 for the Giants. As a hitter, he went 79-for-498 (.159) with four home runs and 28 RBI.

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

Who’s Your Daddy?  What It’s All About.

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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Recognizing how so many of us are LONG-ing for baseball, Baseball Roundtable would like to use this post to look at the players and plays from some of the longest games in MLB history – those times when fans got way more than their money’s worth at the ballpark.

There have been only eight MLB games of 23 innings or more and only five of those did not end in a tie.  The Mets were in three of the five and lost all three (one each of 25, 24 and 23 innings). Note: There have been nine MLB games of 22 innings and 46 games of 20 or more innings.

Now, let’s take a look at a few of the longest MLB games ever.

LONGEST GAME BY INNINGS – May 1, 1920 … Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) versus Boston Braves

On May 1, 1920, the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) and Boston Braves locked up in the longest MLB duel ever – by innings – playing to a 1-1 tie over 26 frames (game called due to darkness).  This one gets a special nod, since it is also the longest game in which a starting pitcher was on the mound for the entire game (in this case, both starters). My, how the game has changed!

Starting pitchers Leon Cadore of Brooklyn and Joe Oeschger of Boston each threw more than 300 pitches (analysts estimate Cadore at 345 and Oeschger at 319) in completing their 26-inning, record-setting starts. Cadore gave up 15 hits and five walks, while fanning seven. Oeschger allowed only nine hits and four walks, while also striking out seven batters.   The Robins scored their lone tally in the fifth – a leadoff walk to number-eight hitter (catcher) Ernie Kreuger, who moved to second on a ground out by Cadore and then scored on a single by 2B Ivy Olson. The Braves countered with a run in the sixth – on a one-out triple by cleanup hitter Walton Cruise (RF) and a two-out single by 3B Tony Boeckel.  That two-inning scoring spree was followed by 20 innings of scoreless ball. Oh, and here’s another sign of how the game has changed, the time of the 26-inning contest was only 3 hours and 50 minutes.

It was a particularly bad day for Braves’ number-two hitter 2B Charlie Pick, who came to the plate 11 times and was responsible for 13 outs – zero-for-eleven, hitting into two double plays. Pick came into the game hitting .324 (12-for-37) and left hitting .250.  Pick was a career .261 hitter over six MLB seasons (367 games).

A Tale of Two Cities

Playing for the Brooklyn Robins in Boston (Braves) on May 1, 1920, Charlie Pick is recorded an MLB-record 11 at bats in a game (to date, 17 players share that record) – and went zero-for-eleven.  Pick is the only player to record a hitless 11-at bat day. By contrast, on July 10, 1932 – in Cleveland – as the Philadelphia Athletics topped the Indians 18-17 in 18 innings, Cleveland 2B Johnny Burnett went 9-for-11 (two doubles and seven singles). Burnett’s nine safeties in one game remains the MLB record.

Cadore and Oeschger, by the way, were both off to solid starts in 1920.  Cadore came into the historic game at 2-1, 1.38 (with two complete games in three starts), while Oeschger was even better at 2-1, 0.63 (with three complete games in three starts). At the end of the contest, Cadore’s ERA was 0.87, while Oeschger stood at 0.49. Cadore finished the season at 15-14, 2.61, with 16 complete games in 30 starts. Oeschger went 15-13, 3.46, with 20 complete games in 30 starts.   (That season MLB pitchers put up a 3.46 ERA and completed 57 percent of all starts.) Both Cadore and Oeschger finished under .500 for their careers (Cadore 68-72, 3.14 and Oeschger 82-1666, 3.81.)

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LONGEST GAME (by time)* – May 8, 1984 … Milwaukee Brewers versus Chicago White Sox

This one gets an asterisk – because it was not a “continuous” contest.

MLB’s longest-ever (time-wise) game started on May 8, 1984 and was played at (old) Comiskey, with the hometown White Sox prevailing 7-6 in 25 innings (tied for the second-most MLB innings) – in a record-long eight hours and six minutes of game time.  The game started at 7:30 p.m. and was suspended after 17 innings (at 1:05 a.m.) due to the American League curfew rule then in force.  Play was resume the following day.

Rollie Fingers’ blown save helped send this game into the record books.

There were plenty of chances for this one to end earlier. The game was tied 1-1 going into the top of the ninth, when the Brewers scored twice off White Sox’ reliever Britt Burns to take the lead. (Brewers’ SS Robin Yount led off with a double, stole third after DH Cecil Cooper grounded out and came in to score the go-ahead run on a bad throw by White Sox ‘ C Jim Sundberg.  Then, Brewers’ 1B Ted Simmons singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a (LF) Ben Oglivie single.  With a 2-0 lead, the Brewers brought in future Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers and the die seemed cast.  Oops! The bottom of the ninth saw the White Sox tie the game with two tallies of their own.  Left fielder Tom Paciorek led off and reached on a two-base error by Brewers’ RF  Charlie Moore. (You’ll find that errors played a role in a number of these super-long games.) Fingers got the next two batters and things were looking pretty good for the Brew Crew.  However, 2B Julio Cruz scored Paciorek with a double to left and CF Rudy Law brought Cruz home with a single.   Carlton Fisk grounded out to end the frame and it was time for some “free baseball” – lots of it.

In 1981, Rollie Fingers, with the Brewers, won the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Awards.  He is one on only ten pitchers and just three relievers to earn both those honors in the same season.

No one scored between the ninth and the seventeenth innings (when the game was suspended). The goose eggs continued when play resumed, going on until the  until the top of the 21st, when the Brewers put up a three-spot on a three-run homer off Ron Reed by Ben Oglivie (scoring Cecil Cooper and 1B Ted Simmons) – and the game again appeared to be over.   The White Sox, however, scored three of their own in the bottom of the inning. Just like the ChiSox’ rally in the bottom of the ninth, it all started with a fielding error. This time Rudy Law reached on an error by Milwaukee third baseman Randy Ready. Chuck Porter then gave up, in order: a run-scoring single to Carlton Fisk; a single to 1B Marc Hill; a bases-loading walk to Harold Baines (after fanning Dave Stegman); and a two-run single to Paciorek. Porter got the next two hitters, and the game continued its march toward the record books.

Finally, with one out in the bottom of the 25th White Sox’ RF Harold Baines hit a walk-off home run (making it, of course, the latest walk-off long ball ever) against Chuck Porter (starting his eighth inning of relief) to win it for the ChiSox.  A few tidbits:

• White Sox’ CF Rudy Law, C Carlton Fisk and 2B Julio Cruz, as well as Milwaukee DH Cecil Cooper each had an MLB record-tying 11 at bats in the game. They had three, one and two hits, respectively.
• Rudy Law, Carlton Fisk and Harold Baines each had a record-tying 12 plate appearances. Law and Fisk each had one walk, Baines had two free passes.
• Chicago’s Dave Stegman, who came on as a pinch runner for DH Greg Luzinski in the eighth inning and stayed in to play LF, struck out a game-high five times in eight at bats.
• The teams used a combined 14 pitchers (six for the Brewers, eight for the White Sox).
• Two relievers went seven or more innings: losing pitcher Chuck Porter of the Brewers (7 1/3); Juan Agosto of the White Sox (7 innings) – both logged more innings than their team’s starting pitcher.
• The White used four first basemen: Greg Walker (started); Mike Squires replaced Walker in the top of the ninth; Marc Hill (pinch hit for Squires in the 14^th and stayed in at 1B); in the 22^nd inning, Tom Paciorek, who had replaced  Ron Kittle in LF in the top of the fourth inning, moved to 1B, replacing Hill.
• Seven future Hall of Famers played in the game: for the White Sox – catcher Carlton Fisk and winning pitcher Tom Seaver; for the Brewers – starting pitcher Don Sutton, SS Robin Yount. 1B Ted Simmons (who made the Hall as a catcher), RF Harold Baines and closer Rollie Fingers (who blew the save in the ninth).

Tom Terrific for the Win(s)

The winning pitcher in the longest-ever MLB game (by time, not innings) was future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who pitched the 25th inning for the ChiSox (on May 9). It was Seaver’s only relief appearance of the season (one of just nine in his career) and his only career win in relief (he also had one save and two losses in that role).

Notably, Seaver then started the regularly scheduled May 9 contest and went 8 1/3 innings (three hits, one walk, four earned runs) to pick up a victory as a starter. (White Sox won 5-4).

Outside of Harold Baines’ walk-off home run, White Sox’ LF Tom Paciorek was (arguably) the hitting star of the game, going five-for-nine, with one run and three RBI (no one else had five safeties). LF Ben Oglivie went two-for-ten for the Brewers, but had a home run and four RBI.

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Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

It a long, damp evening for Phillies’ fan on In July 2, 1993.  That’s the day (as it would turn out “days”) the Phillies matched up in a twilight doubleheader that took an MLB record 12 hours and five minutes to complete – and resulted in a not-so-satisfying split.  It all started at 4:35 p.m. July 2 and ended at 4:40 a.m. July 3 – when Phillies’ closer Mitch Williams lined a single to left off future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman to drive in Pete Incaviglia and give the Phillies a 6-5, ten-inning walk-off win. Williams got the latest (or perhaps earliest) pitching victory and walk-off hit in baseball history.  It was, by the way, Williams’ only plate appearances of the 1993 season (in which he appeared in 65 games) and one of only three career hits for Williams (3-for-16 in 360 games over 11 MLB seasons).

Why did it take a record 12 hours and five minutes to complete the twin bill?  The first game of the doubleheader was interrupted three times for rain delays totaling five hours and 54 minutes (there was 2:34 of game play). After a post-game break of 25 minutes, Game Two started at just before 1:30 a.m., went ten innings and, as noted, ended at 4:40 a.m.  The crowd, originally 54,617, was down to about 1,000 hardy fans by the end of the doubleheader. For those that want to know such things, the Padres won the first game 5-2, with Mark Ettles getting the win, Gene Harris getting the save and Fred McGriff popping a two-run home run. Game Two went to the Phillies 6-5 in ten innings, with Williams getting the win (pitching hitless ball in the ninth and tenth), Hoffman the loss and Rickey Jordan launching a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY PLAYED GAME (by innings) THAT PRODUCED A WINNER (lots of “qualifiers” in this one) – September 11, 1974 … St. Louis Cardinals versus New York Mets

The September 11, 1974 Cardinals/Mets tilt is tied for the second-most innings played in an MLB game at 25 frames.  Unlike the Brewers/Mets 25-inning tilt, it was not suspended at any point and, unlike the Robins/ Braves 26-inning tie, this one did produce a winning team.  Therefore, its stands as the longest (by innings) continuously played MLB game that produced a winner.  The Mets estimated about 1,000 of the 13,450 fans in attendance at the start were still in the park when the game ended at 3:13 a.m.

Bake McBride scored from first on a botched pick-off play to end this one.

In this contest, both squads scored in the first inning – the Cardinals’ on a single off Jerry Koosman by 1B Joe Torre (scoring Ted Sizemore) and the Mets on a double by 1B John Milner (off Bob Forsch), scoring LF Cleon Jones. The Mets plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Jones touched Forsch for a two-run homer (after an inning-opening single by 2B Felix Millan). That lead held up until the top of the ninth, with Koosman cruising along with a three-hitter and a two-run lead.

In the ninth, Koosman gave up a single to C Ted Simmons (replaced by pinch runner Larry Herndon) sandwiched between strikeouts of Joe Torre and CF Bake McBride.  Then, just one out away from victory, Koosman surrendered a game-tying home run to 3B Ken Reitz. To make a long story short, neither team scored over the next 15 innings.  Then, in the top of inning number 25, Bake McBride made an unusual game-winning trip around the bases. McBride beat out an infield single to open the inning. Then with Ken Reitz at the plate at the plate, Mets’ pitcher Hank Webb made a wild pick-off throw to first that rolled into foul territory.  By the time, 1B John Milner retrieved the ball, McBride had rounded third.  Milner threw to catcher Ron Hodges and McBride slid safety across the plate  as Hodges dropped the throw. Webb and Hodges were charged with errors on the play, although some observers later said they felt Milner should have handled Webb’s throw and that McBride would have scored even if Hodges had not dropped the  ball.

A few tidbits:

• The teams used a combined 50 players – 13 pitchers.
• The Cardinals’ Claude Osteen pitched 9 1/3 innings in relief.
• Mets’ 1B John Milner and 2B Felix Milan each had an MLB record-tying  12 plate appearances.
• Mets’ OF Dave Schneck (who played RF and CF) had an MLB single-game record-tying 11 at bats.
• There were 12 pinch hitters and two pinch runners used.
• The winning pitcher was the Cardinals’ Sonny Siebert (2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball) and the losing hurler was Hank Webb (one run, one inning)– who appeared in only three games in 1974 and went 0-2, 7.20.

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THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY PLAYED NATIONAL LEAGUE GAME (by time) – May 31, 1964 … San Francisco Giants versus New York Mets

BBRT give special recognition (by time) to the longest MLB game ever in terms of continual play.  The San Francisco Giants topped the New York Mets 8-6 in 23 innings on May 31, 1964 – and took seven hours and 23 minutes  to do it.  Not only that, it was the second game of a doubleheader. It is the longest National League game (by time), MLB’s second-longest game (by time) and the longest continually played (by time) game. Remember, that Brewers/White Sox 25-inning, eight hours-plus game was suspended after the 17^th frame.   

Gaylord Perry ten scoreless innings in relief (seven hits. one walk, nine whiffs).

This one looked to be over early, as the Giants led 2-0 after just three batters had faced starter Bill Wakefield. LF Harvey Kuenn led off with a walk, RF Jesus Alou stroked a run-scoring double and CF Willie Mays hit a run-scoring single. San Francisco added four more runs on six singles in the top of the third to take a 6-1 lead. (Mets’ C Chris Cannizarro drove in CF Jim Hickman with a two-out single off Giants’ starter Bobby Bolin in the second).  The Mets added two runs in the fifth off Bolin (on a one-out single by RF Joe Christopher, a run-scoring triple by 1B Ed Kranepool and a two-out run-scoring single by 3B Charley Smith). They tied it in the seventh (Bolin was still in the game) on a three-run homer by Christopher (scoring SS Roy McMillan and LF Frank Thomas). That ended the scoring until the top of the 23^rd inning, when the Giants launched a two-out rally against Galen Cisco: SS Jim Davenport, triple; 3B Cap Peterson, intentional walk; PH Del Crandall, run scoring double; RF Jesus Alou run-scoring single. Bob Hendley took the mound for the Giants in the bottom of the inning and  retired the Mets in order (two strikeouts and a fly ball) to save the game for Gaylord Perry, who had tossed ten scoreless frames in relief.

Some tidbits:

• Each team used six pitchers in the contest.
• There were ten pinch hitters and one pinch runner used.
• Tom Sturdivant and Larry Bearnarth of the Mets pitched in both games of the doubleheader – with Bearnarth throwing seven scoreless innings in the second game after giving up one run in two innings in Game One.
• Galen Cisco, who took the loss for the Mets, pitched nine innings in relief (giving up two runs on five hits).
• Gaylord Perry got the win for the Giants, tossing ten scoreless innings in relief (seven hits, one walk, nine strikeouts). That season Perry started 19 games and relieved in 25.
• Gil Garrido, Jim Davenport and Willie Mays all spent some time at SS for the Giants during the game.
• The list of pinch hitters used by the Giants was pretty impressive: Duke Snider; Willie McCovey; Matty Alou; Del Crandall; Cap Peterson. Mets’ pinch hitters were not as well known: Jesse Gonder; George Altman; Dick Smith; Hawk Taylor; John Stephenson.
• Five future Hall of Famers played in the game for the Giants – Gaylord Perry, Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey and Duke Snider.

The first game went just nine innings and two hours and 29 minutes. It does mean fans got nine hours and 52 minutes of baseball (not including the break between games) for the price of one ticket – which, by the way, is the longest MLB double header ever in terms of game time.

Oh, So Close … and Yet So Far

Bob Hendley, who picked up the save in the Giants May 31, 1964, 23-inning win over the Mets, was involved in another historic MLB game.  On September 9, 1965, he took part in the MLB game that featured the fewest combined base hits ever.  Hendley, with the Cubs at the time, started against the Dodgers and Sandy Koufax. Koufax went into the game with a 21-7, 2.20 record on the season; while Hendley was 2-2, with an 8.22 earned run average.

Hendley, however, was on top his game that day. After eight innings, he had given up just one hit and one walk (versus three strikeouts). The only hit had been a harmless double by Dodgers’ LF Lou Johnson in the bottom of the seventh. Hendley had allowed just one run (unearned) in eight frames – and even that wasn’t his fault.  The pesky Johnson had led off the fifth with a walk; moved to second on a sacrifice by RF Ron Fairly; stole third; and then scored as Cubs’ catcher Chris Krug made a wild throw past third baseman Ron Santo.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly enough. Koufax, threw a perfect game – striking out 14 Cubs.  It was the last of Koufax’ four career no-hitters (one each in 1962-63-64-65) and his only perfect game.  For Hendley, it was a well-pitched loss and a piece of the record for playing/pitching in the MLB game with the fewest combined hits – ONE.

Hendley, by the way, went 48-52, 3.97 in a seven-year MLB career (Braves, Giants, Cubs, Mets), while Koufax went to the Hall of Fame with a 165-87, 2.76 record, three Cy Young Awards and one MVP Award. 

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THE LONGEST SHUTOUT – April 15, 1968 … Houston Astros versus New York Mets

Of course, 1968 is known as The Year of the Pitcher and there were signs that this was to be the case as early as April 15. That’s when the Houston Astros topped the Mets (in Houston) 1-0 in the longest shutout in MLB ever.  The two teams traded goose eggs for 23 innings until – in the bottom of the 24^th frame – Houston broke the scoring ice. Like so many of these long games, an error played a role in the outcome. In the bottom of the 24th, Astros ‘ RF Norm Miller opened with a single to right off Les Rohr; Rohr then balked Miller to second; LF Jimmy Wynn was given an intentional pass; 1B Rusty Staub grounded to the right side, with the runners moving up to second and third;  PH John Bateman (hitting for Hal King, who had caught all 24 innings) drew an intentional walk (to load the bases) ; and, finally, 3B Bob Aspromonte reached on an error by SS Al Weiss, allowing the winning run to score.

Some tidbits:

• Over 24 innings, each team collected 11 hits in 79 at bats, each team had only one extra base hit (both doubles).
• The starting pitchers set the tone. Mets’ starter Tom Seaver threw ten, two-hit shutout innings, while Astros’ starter Don Wilson tossed zeroes for nine frames (five hits).
• The Mets used eight pitchers, the Astros five.
• Wade Blasingame got the win with four innings of one-hit relief; Les Rohr took the loss, giving up one run in 2 1/3 innings.
• There were six intentional walks in the game.
• Jim Ray pitched seven innings of relief for the Astros, giving up just two hits and a walk, while fanning 11.
• Eight pinch hitters and one pinch runner were used in the contest.
• Both catchers (Hal King or the Astros and Jerry Grote of the Mets went the distance behind the plate.)

A CHANGE OF PACE –  SHORTEST (NINE INNING) GAME EVER –

On September 28, 1919, the Phillies took on the Giants in New York, with Philadelphia’s Lee Meadows (12 wins and 19 losses) taking on New York’s Jesse Barnes (24-9).  The outcome was as expected, Giants 6 – Phillies 1. The game featured a total of 18 hits and three walks.  None of this is surprising.  What is surprising, however, is that it took just 51 minutes to play the entire nine innings.  Now, THAT is pace of game.

Primary Resources: Baseball-almanac.com; baseball-reference.com; MLB.com; “Let’s Play Two – Until 4:40 in the Morning,” Los Angeles Times, July 4, 1993 (from the wire services); “September 11, 1974: Cardinals Prevail over Mets in 25 innings at Shea Stadium,” by Ken Duffy and Rory Costello, Society for American Baseball Research. 

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