The 2019 Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year have been announced – and there really were no surprises. In the National League, the honor went to Met’s 24-year-old 1B Pete Alonso, who put up a .260-53-120 line – topping MLB in home runs and setting a new rookie-season record.   In the process, Alonso also led all 2019 rookies in games (161), RBI (120) and runs scored (103).  Let’s face it, he simply outdistanced the competition.  The Mets had good reason expect power from Alonso. In 2018, in 132 games at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas, Alonso hit .285, with 36 home runs and 119 RBI.

Over in the American League, the honoree was the Astros’ 22-year-old DH/OF Yordan Alvarez – who didn’t make his MLB debut until June 9, and then went on to win AL Rookie of the Month honors in June, July and August. In just 87 games for Houston, Alvarez went .313-27-78.  Side note: Before his call up, Alvarez was .343-23-71 in 56 games at Triple-A Round Rock.  Alvarez, in fact, has raked at every level.  In four minor league campaigns, he was .311-56-281 (250 games).

 Baseball Roundtable notes the accomplishments of these two outstanding rookies as an introduction to BBRT’s All Rookie of the Year Lineup – which I anticipate may stir some debate. For example, despite his rookie-record 53 home runs, Alonso is not on the squad. However, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, with 52 home runs as a rookie, is.  Boston’s Fred Lynn (who won both the ROY and AL MVP awards in 1975) is not in this lineup, nor is Tony Oliva (who led the AL in batting average and hits in each of his first two seasons). In addition, since this a Rookie of the Year Lineup (and the award wasn’t established until 1947), such luminaries as Joe Jackson (.408-7-83, with 41 steals for the Naps in 1911), Joe DiMaggio (.323-29-125 for the Yankees in 1936), Ted Williams (.327-31-145 for the Red Sox in 1939), Russ Ford (26-6, 1.65 for the Yankees in 1910) and Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander (28-13, 2.57 for the Phillies in 1911) were not eligible.

So, as you read through my selections, join me in agreeing to disagree.  (Note: I made my selections based not just on the raw stats, but how those numbers compared with their peers at the time.)

—–BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR LINEUP—–

CATCHER … Mike Piazza, Dodgers, 1993

Who could have predicted that the 1,390^th player selected in the 1988 MLB draft would not only be the 1993 Rookie of the Year, but would also earn a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame? I give you the All Rookie of the Year Lineup backstop – Mike Piazza, who was also an All Star and Silver Slugger winner in his 1993 rookie campaign.

In his 24-year-old’s rookie season, Piazza finished seventh in the AL in batting average; sixth in home runs and fourth in RBI.

Piazza made his professional debut as a 20-year-old in 1989.  In his first two minor league seasons (Low A – High A), Piazza hit .254, with 14 home runs in 145 games. In 1991, he went .277-29-80 in 117 games at High A. Then in 1992, he turned on the jets, hitting .350-23-90 in 125 games at Double A and Triple A – earning a September call up to the Dodgers (.232-1-7 in 21 games).  Then came his 1993 rookie season and the rest is history.

Piazza hit .308, with 427 home runs and 1,335 RBI in 16 MLB seasons (Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Padres, A’s). He was a two-time All Star, won ten Silver Slugger awards, topped 20 home runs nine times, 100 RBI six times and produced a .300+ average in nine campaigns.

Also looked at:  Carlton Fisk (.293-22-61, with a league-leading nine triples, for the 1972 Red Sox).

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FIRST BASE … Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 2001

A lot of scouts “fanned” on Albert Pujols, who wasn’t selected until the 13^th round of the 1999 MLB draft – but was in the Redbirds’ everyday lineup by 2001.

In his first college baseball game, Albert Pujols (playing SS) hit a Grand Slam and turned an unassisted triple play.

Photo by todonitido

In his age-21 rookie season, Pujols finished sixth in the NL in batting average, fifth in RBI and 11^th in home runs.  He was an All Star, a Silver Slugger honoree and turned in the first of ten straight “.300-30-100″ seasons.  Pujols went on to a 19-season (still active in 2019) MLB career.  He has collected 3,202 career hits (.300 average), 656 home runs and 2,075 RBI. Pujols is a ten-time All Star and six-time Silver Slugger.  He has led his league in batting average once, hits once, runs scored six times, home runs three times, RBI once, total bases four times.  A tribute to his stature at the plate – he also has led the league in intentional walks four times.

Also looked at: Pete Alonso (.260-53-129 for the 2019 Mets) and Mark McGwire (.289-49-118 for the 1987 A’s). While Alonso and McGwire both out-homered Pujols, I was swayed by the .329 average and the fact that he outpaced both Alonso and McGwire in runs scored and runs batted in.

Honorary Captain – Jackie Robinson

You have to have Jackie Robinson in here somewhere.  After all, not only is he credited with breaking MLB’s modern-era line, he was MLB’s first-ever Rookie of the Year (and now the award bears his name). So, why isn’t he a starter in this All ROY Lineup? Robinson played his rookie season at first base – and his .297-12-48 line (with a league-leading 29 steals) fell short of the numbers put up by Albert Pujols.  Still, Robinson’s historic rookie season is worthy of a spot here.

SECOND BASE … Gil McDougald, Yankees, 1951

Gil McDougald’s rookie season was one of his best in the major leagues.  It was one of only two seasons in which he hit .300 or better (.306). He also set what would be career highs in home runs and total bases (14 each). Overall, the 23-year-old finished in the AL’s top ten in batting average (seventh); on-base percentage (ninth); slugging percentages (eighth); and stolen bases (fourth). (Note  McDougald started 58 games at 3B and 49 at 2B).  In three minor league seasons, McDougald hit .340 over 393 games – making the jump from Double A to the Yankees in 1951.

Gil McDougald was a versatile infielder.  He topped the AL in double plays:

• By a third baseman in 1952;
• By a second baseman in 1955;
• By a shortstop in 1957.

McDougald played 10 MLB seasons, all with the Yankees.  In 1,336 games, he collected 1,291 hits (.276), 112 home runs and 576 RBI.  He was an All Star in five seasons. He also hit .237, with seven home runs, in 53 World Series games.  (Oh, to be a Yankee in those days.)

Also looked at: Dustin Pedroia (.317-8-50, with seven steals for the 2007 Red Sox).

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THIRD BASE … Dick Allen, Phillies, 1964

Okay, if I had to guess what offensive categories Dick Allen led the league in as a rookie, triples would not likely come to mind.  But he did indeed top the NL with nine triples (and 125 runs) as a 22-year-old freshman in 1964. In his rookie campaign, Allen was also first in the NL in total bases, fifth in in batting average, seventh in home runs, fourth in doubles (first in overall extra-base hits).  For the sake of transparency, Allen also led the NL in errors and strikeouts.

Over a 15-season career (Phillies, Cards, Dodgers, White Sox, A’s), Allen hit .292, with 351 home runs and 1,119 RBI. He was a seven-time All Star and the 1972 AL Most Valuable Player. Allen led his league in home runs twice (topping 30 round trippers in six seasons), triples once (reaching double-digits in three-baggers four times), RBI once and total bases once.

Also looked at: Scott Rolen (.283-21-92, with 16 steals for the 1997 Phillies).

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SHORTSTOP … Nomar Garciaparra, 1997 Red Sox

Nomar Garciaparra led the American league in hits, with 209, in his 1992 rookie season. The 23-year-old also led the league in triples, was second in runs scored, fourth in doubles and second in extra base hits.  In the field, he led he led all AL shortstops in put outs and double plays turned, and was second in assists. Garciaparra was an All Star and Silver Slugger recipient in that first season.

Garciaparra played 14 MLB seasons (Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, A’s).  He was an All Star six times, won a pair of batting titles, hit over .300 eight times, scored 100+ runs in six seasons and drove in 100+ in four campaigns.

Nomar Garciaparra is one of only 13 major leaguers to hit two Grand Slams in a single game.  He did it on May 10, 1999 in a Red Sox 12-4 win over the Mariners. In the Game, Garciaparra went three-for-four, with three runs scored and ten RBI. 

Also looked at: Corey Seager (.308-26-72 for the 2016 Dodgers) and Hanley Ramirez (.292-17-59, with 119 runs and with 51 stolen bases for the 2006 Marlins).

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OUTFIELD …

Mike Trout … 2012 Angels

Mike Trout put up some astounding numbers as a 20-year-old rookie: .326 average (second in the NL); 30 home runs; and a league-topping 49 stolen bases (also a league-leading 129 runs scored).   Trout, of course, has gone on to prove that rookie season was no fluke.

Photo by KA Sports Photos

At the close of the 2019 season (Trout’s ninth with the Angels), he had amassed 1,324 hits (in 1,199 games), 285 home runs, 903 runs scored, 752 RBI, and 200 steals.  An eight-time All Star and two-time AL MVP, Trout ha also captured seven Silver Slugger awards and lead the league in runs scored four times, RBI once, stolen bases once, total bases once., walks three times on-base percentage four times

In the eight seasons in which he has played at least 100 games, Trout has been a mainstay on the MVP ballot – finishing first twice, second four times and fourth once – and is one of three finalists for this year’s AL MVP.  

Ichiro Suzuki, 2004 Mariners

Photo by Laertes

Ichiro (Yes, like Cher and Elvis, he is known by one name.) is a unique rookie – coming to the major leagues after nine very successful seasons in Japan (a .353  batting average in 951 games). Major league pitching did not slow the 27-year-old rookie down.  As an MLB rookie, Ichiro led the AL with a .350 average, 242 hits and 56 stolen bases.   In that first year, he was an All Star, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glover, Silver Slugger recipient and the American League Most Valuable player.  Clearly, a spot in this lineup as to be reserved for him.

After his rookie season, Ichiro pretty much continued on a hitting spree. In 19 MLB seasons (Mariners, Yankees, Marlins), he won two batting titles, set a new MLB record for hits in a season (262 in 2004) and led the league in hits seven times (getting 200+ hits in ten consecutive seasons).  Now, the cherry on top of the sundae. He also earned ten Gold Gloves.  Oh yes, maybe a little whipped cream with that cherry – he also stole 509 bases. I think I’ve found my leadoff hitter.

Ichiro retired with 3,089 MLB hits in 2,653 games (.311), 117 home runs, 1,420 runs scored, 780 RBI, 509 steals.

Aaron Judge, 2917 Yankees

Photo by KA Sports Photos

In his 2018 rookie season, the 25-year-old Aaron Judge hit .284 and led the AL with 52 home runs (at the time, the MLB rookie record and still the AL rookie mark) and 128 runs scored.  He also drove in 114 runs and drew a league-leading 127 walks.  Judge was an All Star and Silver Slugger recipient that season.

Since that rookie campaign, Judge has faced some injury issues and, at the close of the 2019 season, the two-time All Star had played in 396 games (all Yankees), putting up a .273 average, with 110 home runs and 246 RBI.

Also looked at: Walter Dropo (.322, 34 home runs and a league-leading 144 RBI for the 1950 Red Sox); Tony Oliva (league-leading .323 average, 109 runs, 217 hits and 43 doubles – plus 32 home runs and 94 RBI for the 1964 Twins); Fred Lynn; .331-21-105, plus a league-leading 103 runs and 47 doubles, a Gold Glove and the AL MVP Award for the 1975 Red Sox).

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Starting Pitcher … Dwight Gooden, 1984 Mets

In his rookie campaign, 19-year-old Dwight Gooden went 17-9, 2.60 and fanned a rookie-record and league-leading 276 batters in 218 innings. He also tossed seven complete games, including three shutouts.  That season, Gooden was first in the NL in Walks and Hits Per Nine Innings (WHIP), first in total strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, second in earned run average, second in strikeouts-to-walks ratio and third in wins.  He was also an All Star and finished second in the Cy Young Award voting. Not bad for a teenager.

Dwight Gooden went 19-4, 2.50 at A-Ball and struck out 300 batters in 191 innings pitched as a 18-year-old in 1983 – jumping from A-Ball to the major league the following season.

Over a 16-season career (dampened by substance abuse issues), Gooden went 194-112, 3.51, with 2,293 strikeouts in 2,800 2/3 innings.  (Gooden pitched for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Rays and Astros). He was a four-time All Star and won 15 or more games in six seasons.  He was the NL Cy Young Award winner in 1985, when he went 24.4, 1.53 and led the league in complete games (16), innings pitched (276 2/3) and strikeouts (268).

Also looked at: Herb Score (16-5, 2.88, with a league-leading – and then rookie record – 245 strikeouts in 227 1/3 innings for the Indians) and Fernando Valenzuela (who won the Cy Young Award as a rookie in the strike-shortened 1981 season – going 13-7, 2.48 for the Dodgers and leading  the NL in starts with 25, complete games with 11, shutouts with eight, innings pitched at 192 1/3 and strikeouts with 180.

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Relief Pitcher – Craig Kimbrel, 2011 Braves

Craig Kimbrel (at age 23) set the rookie record for saves with the Braves in 2011 – going 4-3, 2.10 with a league-leading 46 saves and 127 strikeouts in 77 innings.

Kimbrel (still active) has now pitched in ten MLB seasons (Braves, Red Sox, Padres, Cubs) and has a 31-23 record and 346 saves in 565 appearances. He has had four seasons of 40 or more saves (a high of 50 in 2013) and led the league in saves each time. He is a seven-time All Star and has fanned 898 batters in 553 1/3 innings.

Also looked at: Todd Worrell (9-10, 2.08, with a league-leading 36 saves for the 1986 Cardinals).

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

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Braves’ right-handed pitcher (and 1957 World Series hero, Lew Burdette hit as many home runs and drove in as many runs off Sandy Koufax as Willie McCovey and Dick Allen COMBINED – and he did in in 64 fewer at bats.

Burdette hit .308, with two home runs and three RBI in 13 at bats versus Koufax. McCovey and Allen hit a combined .181, with two home runs and three RBI off the Hall of Fame southpaw in  77 at bats.

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Who’s Your Daddy?

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.  I started with Nolan Ryan (see that post by clicking here) and the topic was well enough received I’ve decided to continue the journey.

Today’s “Who’s you daddy?” hurler is Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax.   

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Honorable Mention Koufax Krusher

Jerry Lynch – .714 average, .818 on-base percentage versus Sandy Koufax

Pirates’ and Reds’ outfielder Jerry Lynch – a .277 career hitter (13 seasons, 1,184 games) – faced Sandy Koufax 11 times in his career (seven at bats) and collected five hits (.714 average) and four walks (.818 on-base percentage). He struck out only once against the Hall of Fame southpaw and had one double, one home run and five RBI. Ah, but there is a catch. Eight of those plate appearances, four of those hits and two of those walks occurred between 1955 and 1960.  Why is that meaningful?  Check the chart below for the answer.

The fact is, Koufax was actually considering leaving baseball after an 8-13, 3.91 1960 season. Lucky for baseball that he persevered.  Otherwise, we would have missed a Hall of Fame career (cut short by chronic arthritis in his left arm) that included six consecutive All Star selections (1961-66); three Cy Young Awards (1963, 1965, 1966); an MVP Award (1963); five ERA titles; four seasons leading the NL in strikeouts (three with 300+ K’s); three seasons each leading the league in wins and shutouts; four no-hitters; one a perfect game; and countless thrilling performance.  All of this in Koufax’ final six seasons.

With all this in mind, as we take a look at the players who had the best overall numbers against Koufax, we need to take a bit of a unique approach.   We have to consider not only full-career (1965-66) numbers, but how batters fared from in the left-hander’s peak seasons (1961-66

––ONLY .400+ (minimum 20 at bats) HITTER VERSUS SANDY KOUFAX—

Bill Virdon, OF, Cardinals (1955-56); Pirates (1956-65, 1968)

Career versus Sandy Koufax: 21 games, 52 at bats, 21 hits (.404 average).

Now, Bill Virdon didn’t really crush Koufax. He never took Koufax deep (just four extra base hits, all doubles, against him), but he never gave in. Consider a .400+ average and nearly as many walks (seven) as whiffs (eight) against Koufax’ splendid left arm.  Virdon batted against Koufax in seven different seasons – and had a .500 or better on-base percentage in five of them.

Not only that, he actually performed his best against the three-time Cy Young Award winner when Koufax was in his prime. From 1961 forward, Virdon faced Koufax 27 times in nine games (25 at bats) – collecting 12 hits for a .480 batting average.  (During this period Koufax’ overall “Batting Average Against” was a stingy .197.)

How surprising is that?  In 12 MLB seasons, Virdon hit .267.  While he was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1955 (.281-17-68) and won a Gold Glove in 1962, he never made an All-Star team. He finished his career with 1,583 games, 1,596 hits (.267 average), 237 doubles, 81 triples, 91 home runs and 502 RBI.

Now, let’s take a look at two lineups of Koufax’ “daddies” – first for those premier years (1961-66) and then for his full career.

––BBRT ‘WHO’S YOUR DADDY?” LINEUP (ten or more regular-season at bats) AGAINST SANDY KOUFAX 1961-66 —

Note: Unless otherwise noted, stats in this section are from the 1961-66) period. BBRT limited eligibility to those with at least ten at bats against Koufax in that time (pitchers exempt). 

Catcher – Gene Oliver (.391 average)

Gene Oliver had 49 plate appearances (46 at bats) in 17 games against Koufax in the pitcher’s prime years – and mashed at a .391 rate (18 hits) – well above his .246 career average.  He also popped three long balls and drove in eight runs.

In a five-at-bat streak against Koufax in 1963, Gene Oliver collected five hits – three singles and two home runs.  It came in a season that saw Koufax go 25-5, with a 1.88 ERA, eleven shutouts and 20 complete games.  In the streak, that covered three games, Oliver twice poked the hit that knocked Koufax out of the game. In that 1963 season, Oliver hit .429-2-6 in 19 games against Koufax.  His overall, average that season?  Just .244.

The streak began with Oliver’s fifth-inning at bat (for the Milwaukee Braves) in a game against the Dodgers on June 29. His run-scoring single gave the Braves a 5-1 lead and knocked a struggling Koufax out of the game. (The Dodgers won 6-5 in 11 innings.) Oliver next faced Koufax on July 20.  In that contest, Oliver singled to lead off the bottom of the second; homered to lead off the fourth (and break a scoreless tie); and singled in the sixth (his next at bat was a single against Ron Perranoski in the seventh).  (Side note: Milwaukee’s Frank Bolling, who is also in this lineup, hit a run-scoring single later in the inning to drive Koufax from the game). The Dodgers won this one 5-4. Oliver next came up against Koufax on August 15 and hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Braves a 4-0 lead and again knock Koufax out of the game. Oliver fanned against Koufax in his first at bat on August 25 to end the five-for-five streak.

Oliver played in ten MLB seasons (1959, 1961-69; Cardinals, Braves, Phillies, Red Sox, Cubs).    He played 786 games and had 546 hits (.246 average), with 93 home runs and 320 RBI. He appeared at catcher, first base and all three outfield spots.

First Base – Deron Johnson (.295, four home runs in 14 games)

Deron Johnson faced Koufax 47 times from 1964 to 1966.  He managed 13 hits (.295 average), four home runs and 10 RBI, with three walks and six strikeouts.

In Deron Johnson’s first game against Koufax (April 18, 1964), he hit a fourth-inning, three-run home run that accounted for all the scoring in a 3-0 Reds’ victory.

Johnson’s best campaign against Koufax came in 1964 (Johnson’s first season in the National League), when he went 6-for-17 (.353) against him – with two doubles, three home runs and six RBI in five games.

Johnson enjoyed a 16-season MLB career (1960-62, 1964-76; Yankees, Athletics, Reds, Braves, Phillies, Brewers, White Sox, Red Sox). He played in 1,765 games, collecting 1,447 hits (.244 average), with 245 home runs and 923 RBI. While he never made an All-Star team, in 1965 he led the NL in RBI with 130, while hitting .287 with 32 home runs.

Note: Orlando Cepeda put up a stat line similar to Johnson’s against Koufax in the 1961-66 time frame – .286-4-12; but Johnson did his damage in 19 fewer at bats.  Johnson also had three walks and six strikeouts against Koufax, as compared to Cepeda’s three walks and 14 whiffs.  Johnson gets the nod.

Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like trying to drink coffee with a fork.

                             Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, who hit just 0.87, with ten strikeouts, in 23 at bats versus Koufax

Second Base – Frank Bolling (two homers and nine RBI in 21 games)

Frank Bolling hit just .250 against Koufax between 1961 and 1966, but made those hits count – with nine RBI and a double, triple and two home runs among his 14 hits. His two home runs were a three-run shot and a Grand Slam.

Bolling played in 12 MLB seasons (1954, 1956-1966 – Tigers, Braves). He appeared in 1,540 games and had 1,415 hits (.254 average), 106 home runs and 556 RBI. He was an All Star twice and a Gold Glover once.

Third Base – Eddie Mathews (.365 average in 18 games)

A career .271 hitter, Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews hit .365 (19 hits in 52 at bats) versus Koufax in the left-handed hurler’s prime seasons. The fact that Mathews did so well against Koufax in the years the lefty was dominating the National League is surprising since, prior to 1961, he had hit just .162 (in 20 games) versus Koufax.   This may indicate that Mathews focused on just making contact versus Koufax.  Of the power-hitting Mathews’ 19 hits against Koufax between 1961 and 1966, only three were for extra bases (two doubles and one home run.)

It was feast or famine in Eddie Mathews’ final game against Sandy Koufax (August 9, 1966). In a game that was tied 1-1 after eight innings, The Atlanta Braves’ third baseman had struck out against Koufax in the first, fourth and sixth innings.  He came up against Koufax again with one out in the ninth and hit a walk-off, game-winning solo home run. It was his first home run against Koufax since since August 17, 1959 (a span of 61 plate appearances).  

Mathews played 17 MLB seasons (1952-68; Braves, Astros, Tigers). He appeared in 2,391 games, had 2,315 hits (.271 average), with 512 home runs and 1,453 RBI. He was an All Star in nine seasons and hit 30+ home runs in ten campaigns.

Shortstop – Eddie Kasko (.366 average in 16 games)

Eddie Kasko, who played 10 seasons (1957-66; Cardinals, Reds, Astros and Red Sox), was a career .264 hitter.  From 1961-66, however, he touched Sandy Koufax for a .366 average (15 hits in 41 at bats).   Notably, 14 of Kasko 15 hits were singles (one double). He also walked three times (eight strikeouts).  In 1965, Kasko hit .247 overall, but .333 versus Koufax in nine at bats.

Eddie Kasko’s August 15, 1961 game against Koufax must have been pretty annoying for the lefty on the mound. Against Koufax in that game, the Reds’ shortstop (who came into the game hitting .265) lined a single to the left in the top of the first; slashed  another single to left in the third; hit a grounder through the hole for a single in the fifth (eventually scoring); and hit a run-scoring single to center in the sixth. He made his only out of the game (a 5-2 Reds’ win) after Koufax was off the mound.

Over his career, Kasko played in 1,077 games. He had 935 hits (.264 average), 22 home runs and 261 RBI. He was an All Star for the Reds in 1961, when he went .271-2-17, with 64 runs scored.

Outfield – Bill Virdon (.480 average in nine games.)

We already had a look at Virdon’s record versus Koufax earlier in this post.  Virdon had 22 at bats against Koufax from 1961 through 1966 and reached him for 12 hits (.480 average). Again, primarily a center fielder and leadoff hitter, Virdon did not show much power against Koufax (ten singles and two doubles among his 12 hits).  Still, he was neither fooled nor overpowered by the left-hander.

Outfield – Roberto Clemente (.301, six home runs 12 RBI in 22 games)

Facing Koufax in the pitcher’s prime years, Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente hit five home runs against the lefty (73 at bats), collected 22 hits (.301 average) and drove in a dozen tallies. Koufax did fan Clemente 13 times (versus four walks).

Roberto Clemente’s five home runs against Sandy Koufax between from 1961 to 1966 are the second most of any player during that time period. (Felipe Alou hit six dingers off Koufax in those seasons – and did it in 22 fewer at bats than Clemente). Clemente also had three doubles and two triples among his 22 hits.

Roberto Clemente’s six career home runs off Sandy Koufax tied for the most he hit off any pitcher (he also had six against Fergie Jenkins).

A Hall of Famer, Clemente played in 18 MLB seasons (1955-72; all for the Pirates). He got in 2,433 games and collected 3,000 hits (.317 average), 440 doubles, 166 triples and 240 home runs. He scored 1,416 times and drove in 1,305 runs.  He was an All Star in 12 seasons, won 12 (consecutive) Gold Gloves, was the 1966 National League MVP and was a four-time NL batting champion.

Outfield – Willie Mays (.243, with four home runs and 12 RBI in 27 games.)

I wavered between Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Felipe Alou for the final outfield spot.  I ended up on Mays (and I will explain).  Yes, Mays hit just .241 (18-for-74) against Koufax during the 1961-66 period, but he made those hits count. His four home runs against Koufax tied for the third-most against the lefty during his prime years and his 12 RBI tied for second.  (Hall of Famer Frank Robinson drove in 14 off Koufax during those prime years, but hit just .205.)  Mays also drew 15 walks against Koufax (the most of any payer during the period). He fanned fifteen times against Koufax.

Aaron did hit .303 off Koufax (1961-66 in 26 games), but had only two home runs and six RBI.  So, he had two fewer homers and ten fewer RBI than Mays in one less game – as well as seven fewer walks. Alou did top Mays in home runs off Koufax (six to Mays’ four) and did in 19 games, but he had just eight RBI – and I also considered Alou’s 12 strikeouts-to-two walks, versus Mays’ 15-15 strikeout versus walks total.   Had to go with Mays’ full body of work for the 1961-66 period.

Hall of Famer Willie Mays played 22 MLB seasons (1951-52, 1954-73; Giants, Mets). He was an All Star in 20 seasons; NL Rookie of the year (1951); and a two-time NL MVP (1954 and 1965). He earned a dozen Gold Gloves and led the NL in home runs four times, stolen bases four times, triples three times, runs scored twice, and hits and batting average once each.

FELIPE ALOU – HONORABLE MENTION CAREER AND 1961-66

When it came to taking Koufax deep, nobody did it better than Felipe Alou. While Alou hit only .265 in 68 career at bats versus Koufax (18 hits) and also fanned fifteen times, he laced four doubles and tied for the most career home runs hit against Koufax with seven long balls (tied with such luminaries as Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Ernie Banks) – one every 9.7 at bats. (It was also the most home runs Alou hit against any pitcher in his 17-season career (.286-206-852 stat line).

Notably, the bulk of those seven home runs came in Koufax’ prime years.  From 1961 to 1966, Alou hit .241 versus Koufax, but he managed six home runs – the most of any player against Koufax in that time period – and four doubles in 54 at bats (13 hits).

Pitcher – Robin Roberts (.667 average in one game.)

Robin Roberts was winding down his Hall of Fame career when he faced off against Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers on September 5, 1965.   The 38-year-old former Philly and Oriole was with the Astros at the time. In the contest, Roberts singled to left with two outs in the bottom of the third; bunted unsuccessfully in fifth; and singled to right to drive in one of the Astros’ only two tallies in the game in the seventh (and was tossed out trying to go to second on the play).  Roberts took a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth, but gave up three runs to take the loss.

Roberts, by the way, was a career .167 hitter. He fared better on the mound, earning his way into the Hall of fame with a 19-season MLB career (1948-66; Phillies, Orioles, Astros, Cubs) that included 286 wins (245 losses) and a 3.41 ERA. The seven-time All Star led his league in wins four times, complete games five times, innings pitched five times and strikeouts twice.

____________________________________________________

Now, let’s move on to the a BBRT Lineup versus Koufax based on his full career.

Note:  Several players appear on both lists.  In those cases, BBRT will deal with them briefly in this section (you’ll find more details in the 1961-66 lineup section).

—BBRT ‘WHO’S YOUR DADDY?” LINEUP AGAINST SANDY KOUFAX 1955-66 —

(minimum 20 at bats, except for pitcher)

Catcher – Gene Oliver (.392 average)

Gene Oliver is the catcher in both of the Koufax-raking lineups. The bulk of Oliver’s (all but five) 51 at bats against Sandy Koufax came in Koufax’ best seasons (1961-66). Overall, the career .246 hitter was 20-for-51 (.392) versus Koufax, with four home runs and nine RBI (three walks/11 whiffs). In seven seasons against the lefty, Oliver hit under .333 just once. In 1963, he went six-for-14 (.429) against Koufax with two homers and six RBI in five games. Oliver’s .392 career average against Koufax is second only to Bill Virdon’s .404 among hitters with at least 20 at bats against the lefty. His four home runs tied for the most he hit off any pitcher (he also it four off Joe Nuxhall) and his nine RBI were the second most he collected against any hurler (he had ten off Turk Farrell).

In the 19 career games in which he faced Koufax, Oliver appeared nine times each at catcher and first base and once in the outfield.

First Base – Orlando Cepeda (.288-5-15 in 80 at bats)

Hall o Famer Orlando Cepeda faced Sandy Koufax in 29 games during his career – going 23-for-80, with five home runs, 15 RBI, three walks and 18 strikeouts. His 23 hits were the eleventh most against Koufax, his five home runs tied for sixth-most and his 15 RBI sixth-most.

For his 17-season MLB career (1958-74; Giants, Cardinals, Braves, A’s, Red Sox, Royals), Cepeda hit .297, with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBI. He was a six-time All Star, the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year, the 1967 NL MVP and a league leader in RBI twice and home runs once.  Given his overall stats, I’d say Koufax versus McCovey was a pretty good match up.

Second Base – Frank Bolling (.250-2-9 in 20 games)

Frank Bolling is also in the 1961-66 lineup. All of Bolling’s appearances against Sandy Koufax came in Koufax’ prime years (1961-66). A .254 career hitter, Bolling nearly matched that average against Koufax and added a pair of home runs and nine RBI.  You can find more detail on the Bolling-Koufax match up in the 1961-66 section.

On September 27, 19565, Koufax brought a 23-8, 2.05   record into a game against Frank Bolling and the Milwaukee Braves (in Milwaukee). In the second inning, of that game, Koufax gave up consecutive singles (to start the inning) to Joe Torre, Gene Oliver and Eddie Mathews.  Bolling then popped a Grand Slam home run off Koufax – one of six Grand Slams Koufax gave up in his 11-season MLB career and Bolling’s only MLB Grand Slam.  (Bolling was a career .231 hitter in 121 at bats – 140 plate appearances – with the bases loaded.)

Third Base – Jim Ray Hart (.292-2-6 in 14 games)

The Giants’ third baseman hit .292 for his career against Sandy Koufax – and all his at bats came during Koufax’ prime seasons.  He also popped two home runs and drove in six tallies in 48 at bats. Notably, Koufax baffled Hart early (no hits in his first seven at bats against him), but from at bat number-eight on, Hart touched Koufax for a .350 average (14-for-40).  Koufax did fan Hart ten times (versus two walks).

Hart was a .278 hitter over 12 MLB seasons (1963-74; Giants, Yankees).  He had 1,052 hits, 170 home runs and 578 RBI.  He was a one-time All Star – 1966, when he went .285-33-93.

Shortstop – Eddie Kasko (.306-average in 24 games)

Eddie Kasko is in both the 1961-66 and career-versus-Koufax lineups.  For his career, Kasko hit .306 versus Koufax (19-for 62); but had only one extra-base hit (a double) and four RBI (three walks/ten strikeouts).  His best year against the southpaw was 1961, when he hit Koufax at a .444 pace (eight-for-eighteen). Oddly, 1961 was not a great season for the Kasko. He played in just 43 games, hitting .239

Willie Stargell managed just one two hits in 23 at bats against Sandy Koufax (a .087 average), with ten strikeouts. 

Outfield – Hank Aaron (.362-7-16 in 48 games)

Nobody collected more its off Sandy Koufax than Hank Aaron (42-for-116).  He also tied for the most home runs off Koufax with seven, hit the most triples (three) and fifth-most doubles (six) off the lefty.  Aaron’s 16 RBI are the fourth-most off Koufax.   In 12 seasons hitting against Koufax, Aaron topped .400 six times.  He also had more walks (14) than strikeouts (12) against Koufax.

Hall of Famer Aaron had a 23-season MLB career (1954-76; Braves and Brewers).   He played in 3,298 games and collected 3,771 hits (.305 average), 755 home runs and an MLB-high 2,297 RBI.  Aaron was an All Star in 21 seasons (missing only in his first and last campaigns); a three-time Gold Glover ; and the 1957 National League MVP. He led the NL in  home runs four times, RBI four times, runs scored three times, doubles three times, hits twice, and batting average twice.

Outfield – Bill Virdon (.404 average).

Bill Virdon is in both the 1961-66 and career lineups.  He is the only player with more than 20 at bats versus Koufax to hit .400+ against him.  Virdon’s line against Koufax included a  .404 average (21-for-52), but with no home runs and just three RBI (he was a leadoff hitter).  Not much damage, but you can’t leave out a .400 hitter. You can find more on Virdon in the box near the top of this post and in the 1961-66 lineup section.

Outfield – Roberto Clemente (.297-6-16 in 42 games)

Roberto Clemente can be found in both the 1961-66 and career lineups.   He hit .297 against Koufax, with six home runs (fifth-most against the lefty) and 16 RBI (fourth-most). He also touched Koufax for six doubles and two triples – giving him 14 extra base hits among 33 safeties.

Pitcher – Lew Burdette (.308-2-3 in eight games).

Braves’ right hander Lew Burdette went 203-144, 3.66 in 18 MLB seasons (1950-67; Yankees, Braves, Cardinals, Angels, Cubs, Phillies) and was not a bad hitter for a pitcher (.183-12-75 in 1,011 at bats).   And, he hit Sandy Koufax pretty well. Koufax was one of two pitchers that Burdette popped two home runs against (the other was Joe Nuxhall). That bit of power and his .308 average against Koufax earns Burdette this spot in the lineup.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference. com

Additional Editions of “Who’s Your Daddy?”

Nolan Ryan, click here.

Bob Gibson, click here.

Pedro Martinez, click here.

Randy Johnson, click here. 

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Today (October 13, 2010) marks the 59^th anniversary of one of the most exciting World Series games of all time – the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-9, Game-Seven win over the New York Yankees.  It was a victory that got the decade of the sixties off to a great start for me.

Let me set the stage.  There were only 16 major league teams.  If you didn’t finish with ‘the best record in your league, you didn’t get even the slightest taste of the post-season. No one had ever heard of the designated hitter, the wild card, WAR or even WHIP. (For that matter, no one had ever seen a computer mouse, a Ford Mustang, an Etch-A-Sketch or Star Trek – or listened to a Beatles record.)   The news was headed by the Cold War, Space Race, Kennedy-Nixon Debates, Civil Right Movement, Sexual Revolution and Year of Africa. Gunsmoke, Wagon Train and Have Gun Will Travel were the top three TV shows and Home Run Derby was a TV-must in our house – with power hitters, in black-and-white, pairing off at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.

Roger Maris Photo by rchdj10

Babe Ruth still held the MLB single-season home run record – and Roger Maris was about to collect his first AL MVP Award (earned in his first year as a Yankee; after being traded from the Kansas City Athletics).  Ted Williams had just finished his career with a home run in his last at bat, Brooks Robinson was about to collect his first Gold Glove. MLB held two All Star Games. The White Sox had become the first team to put players’ names on uniforms. That season, Warren Spahn had thrown his first no-hitter at age 39 (and won a league-leading 21 games) and 22-year-old Juan Marichal had tossed a one-hitter in his major league debut.

The Pirates’ Dick Groat won the NL batting title and would be named the NL MVP.  Mickey Mantle had led the AL in home runs, Roger Maris in RBIs, Pete Runnels in batting average and Minnie Minoso in base hits.   In the NL, Ernie Banks won the home run crown, Hank Aaron the RBI title and Willie Mays topped the senior circuit in hits.   Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax finished one-two in the NL strikeout race, while Jim Bunning topped the AL.   Lindy McDaniel of the Cardinals set a new record with 26 saves, while the Tigers’ Frank Lary’s 15 complete games were the lowest ever to lead either league.

This is Getting A Little Old … For the Rest of Us

Going into the 1960 World Series, the Yankees had played in eight of the Worlds Series held in the decade of the 1950’s – winning six of them.  The Pirates had last appeared in the Fall Classic in 1927 and last won it in 1925. 

I was thirteen and an avid baseball fan.  The Game of the Week, the radio – especially the radio – and an occasional trip to the ballpark were my tickets to the national past time.

At the time, the Yankees were baseball’s dynasty.  Since my birth in 1947, the Bronx Bombers had been to 11 World Series (including the 1960 Series, yet to be played) and had won eight World Championships.  Fans from pretty much everywhere but New York had made Yankee-hating a tradition.  I was no exception.  Milwaukee-born, I was a steadfast Braves fan, still smarting from the Yankees’ 1958 World Series comeback, when they downed my Braves after trailing three games to one. The Yankees were in the 1960 Series – and I had an emotional interest in seeing them lose.

Being of Polish descent, I also took pride in the fact the great Stan Musial was Polish and wondered why Milwaukee-born Hall of Famer Al Simmons had changed his name from Al Symanski.  I was a fan of the sleeveless power hitter Ted Kluszewski, regretted that Tony Kubek (also of Polish descent) played for the Yankees, was rooting for the Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski.  I also was firm in my belief that Steve Dalkowski threw that fastest fastball ever … you can look it up.

Put all of this together and you can see why I looked to the 1960 World Series with excitement – and why I was rooting for the underdog Pirates.

The prognosticators predicted a Yankee win in five or six games.  They pointed out that the Yankees, with a 97-57 record (the Pirates were 95-59-1) came into the Series with the momentum of a 15-game, season-closing winning streak, while the Pirates lost four of their final seven.  They also lauded the Yankees’ post-season experience and heralded the Yankees power (the Yankees led the AL with a record 193 home runs and 746 runs scored, while the Pirates led the NL with 734 runs scored, but only 120 round trippers). The Yankees’ Game-One starting lineup had belted 152 regular season homers to 98 for the Pirates’ starters.  When it came to mound work, things appeared more balanced, maybe even a shade in favor of the Pirates.  While the Yankees’ 3.52 ERA was the lowest in the AL, the Pirates’ NL third-best ERA (at 3.49) slightly bettered the Bombers’ mark.  The Pirates did have the clear advantage in strikeouts (811-712) and fewest walks allowed (an NL low of 386 to an AL worst 609 for the Yankees). They also boasted twenty-game winner Vernon Law (20-9, 3.08), backed up by Bob Friend (18-12, 3.00), while no Yankee starter had topped 15 wins.  The top relievers for the two teams were Elroy Face, with 24 saves for Pittsburgh and Bobby Shantz, who saved 11 for the Yanks.

To the surprise of many fans (and analysts), the Series was tied after six games – despite the fact that the Bronx Bombers had outscored the Pirates 46 to 17, outhit them 78 to 49 and out-homered them 8 to 1.  (The Yankees had won Game Two 16-3, Game Three 10-0 and Game Six 12-0.  The Pirates had prevailed in Game One 6-4, Game Four 3-2 and Game Five 5-2).

Then came Game Seven – 60 year ago today – in Pittsburgh.  Here’s how it went down.

The Pirates were started Vernon Law, 20-9, 3.08 on the season and the winner of Games One and Four.  The Yankees countered with Bob Turley, 9-3, 3.27 on the season.  Turley had won Game Two, despite giving up 13 hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings.  The Pirates had their top left-handed hitter, Bob Skinner (injured in Game One), back at the number-three spot in the order, while the Yankees were missing Elston Howard (broken finger, Game Six).  An upset did seem possible.

The Yanks went meekly in the top of the first inning (liner, popup, foul out), and the Pirates, homer-less since a Bill Mazeroski blast in Game One, got a two-run homer from Rocky Nelson (whom Manager Gene Murtaugh chose to start at first base over regular Dick Stuart).

In the second inning, Law set the heart of the Yankees down in order – Mickey Mantle, fly to center; Yogi Berra, grounder to third; Moose Skowron, grounder to short.  In the bottom of the inning, manager Casey Stengel appeared to put his managerial position in further jeopardy.  Smoky Burgess started the inning with a single and Stengel immediately pulled Turley in favor of the rookie Bill Stafford (who had stifled the Pirates for five innings in Game Five).  The move did not pay off.  Stafford walked third baseman Don Hoak and Mazeroski beat out a bunt single.  Law was now at the plate (the Pirates’ pitcher was two for four, with a double, run scored and RBI in Games One and Four).  Law hit back to Stafford for a pitcher-to home-to first double play, but center-fielder/lead-off hitter Bill Virdon followed with a two-run single and a 4-0 Pirates lead.

Casey Stengel, despite ten pennants and seven World Series titles in 12 seasons as manager of the Bronx Bombers, was fired by the Yankees five days after the 1960 Game Seven loss to the Pirates. 

Law handcuffed the Yankees through four innings, giving up only two singles.  In the fifth, Yankee first sacker Skowron made the score 3-1 with a lead-off homer just inside the right field foul pole.  Law did not let the round tripper upset him, retiring Johnny Blanchard, Clete Boyer and Bobby Shantz (who came on to pitch for New York in the third) in order.

The Yankees closed the gap – and then some – in the top of the sixth.  The pesky Bobby Richardson (who already had nine hits in the series) led off with a single to center, and Tony Kubek followed with a walk.  With the Bombers appearing on the verge of a rally, Murtaugh replaced Law (who, it turns out had been pitching on a sore ankle throughout the Series) with his top reliever Elroy Face.   Face got Roger Maris on a foul pop to Don Hoak at third base, but Mickey Mantle followed with a “seeing eye” single up the middle, scoring Richardson. Yogi Berra followed with an upper deck home run (like Skowron’s just inside the right field foul pole) to give New York a 5-4 lead in what was shaping up to be a Game Seven nail-biter.

The veteran Bobby Shantz, meanwhile, was baffling the Pirates – giving up only a single and a walk from the third to the seventh innings.

In the top of the eighth, the Yankees seemed to dash the Pirates’ upset hopes – using a walk, two singles and a double to produce two more runs and a 7-4 lead.   Notably, Stengel’s pitching decisions again came into play.  He let Shantz bat with two out and runners at second and third (Boyer and Skowron) and a chance to extend the Yankee lead.  Shantz flied out and the living-room and press-box managers were quick to point out:  1) the lost scoring opportunity; 2) the fact that Stengel left Shantz in for a sixth inning of work, despite the fact that Shantz had not gone more than four innings in the regular season.

So, that was the situation as the game went into the bottom of the eighth – when the Pirates (and Forbes Field) proved they still has some life left in them.  Gino Cimoli pinch hit for Face and stroked a single to right-center field.  Shantz, who had already induced two double plays appeared to have worked his magic again, as Bill Virdon hit a hard ground ball right at shortstop Tony Kubek.  Just as Kubek was ready to field the ball and begin the sure double play, it appeared to hit a pebble (the Yankees had already been critical of the condition of the Forbes Field infield) and ricocheted into Kubek’s throat.  Kubek went down, gasping for air and spitting up blood, with his windpipe rapidly swelling (doctors on the scene at first thought an emergency tracheotomy might be necessary).  The end result?  Kubek sent to the hospital and replaced by Joe DeMaestri and the Pirates with two on and no outs, instead of none on and two outs.

Pirates’ shortstop Dick Groat took advantage of Kubek’s mishap and lined singled to left, scoring Cimoli.  Stengel came to the mound and replaced Shantz with right-hander Jim Coates (despite the fact that lefty Bill Skinner was coming to the plate).  The righty-lefty match-up made little difference, as Skinner sacrificed the runners up one base.  Next was Rocky Nelson, who flied out to medium right, with the Pirates choosing not to test Roger Maris’ powerful arm.   So, two outs, two on and the Yankees still in front 7-5.   That brought up the Pirates’ best hitter, right-fielder Roberto Clemente, who had been held hitless in his first three at-bats. Coates made a good pitch, getting Clemente to hit a weak ground ball toward first.   A hustling Clemente beat both Coates and Skowron’s throw to the bag, while Virdon scored and Groat moved to third.  Now, 7-6 and the Pirates still had life.

Trivia Tidbit:  The seventh game of the 1960 Series is the only World Series game in which neither team recorded a strikeout.

That brought up backup catcher Hall Smith (who had come into the game in the eighth after Joe Christopher ran for starting catcher Smoky Burgess in the bottom of the seventh).   Smith took a 2-2 Coates’ pitch over the left-field wall for a 9-7 Pittsburgh lead.  The Pirates, with only one round tripper in the first six games had homered twice for five runs in Game Seven.

To protect the lead in the ninth (and with Elroy Face already out of the game), Pirates’ Manager Danny Murtaugh called on starter Bob Friend, who had lost Games Two and Six, giving up seven earned runs in six innings (and had pitched in relief only once all season).  Yankee lead off hitter Bobby Richardson started off the ninth with a single to left.  Veteran and former-Pirate Dale Long, pinch hitting for Joe DeMaestri (who had replaced the injured Kubek) singled to right and Friend was gone, replaced by Game Five starter Harvey Haddix.  Haddix got Roger Maris on a foul out, but Mickey Mantle drove in Richardson with a single to right center.   Yogi Berra followed with a ground ball down the first base line.  Rocky Nelson made a nice backhanded stop, but was out of position for a first-to second-to first, game-ending double play.   Nelson took the sure out, stepping on the first base bag and retiring Berra, while Gil McDougald (pinch running for Long) headed toward home.  It was at this point that Nelson realized Mantle had not run to second.  Mantle, sizing up the situation, was returning to first (with the force at second now off). It was an unorthodox base-running move, but as Mantle dove head first back to the bag (avoiding Nelson’s desperate attempt to tag him), McDougald scored the tying run.  Skowron then grounded out to Mazeroski (forcing Mantle) to end the inning in a 9-9 tie.

Mazeroski’s 1960 home run trot immortalized at PNC Park.

Stengel, like Murtaugh, was now using starters in relief, bringing Game Four-loser Ralph Terry in to pitch the ninth.  Number-eight hitter Bill Mazeroski led off the inning.  Terry’s first pitch was a high and inside fastball.  The second pitch, another fastball, was in the strike zone and Mazeroski deposited it over the 406-foot marker in left center.  Not sure the ball would carry out in the deep part of the park, Mazeroski ran full speed with his head down to first and toward second, before seeing the umpire making the circular home run signal.  Mazeroski removed his helmet, waving his way to home plate where his team mates awaited the first player in major league history to end the World Series with a walk-off home run.

When the Series was over, the Pirates were World Series Champs,

but you could never tell by the stat line.

The Yankees scored a Series’ record 55 runs to 27 for the Pirates,

The Yankees collected a Series’ record 91 hits to 60 for the Pirates.

The Yankees hit a Series record .338 to .256 for the Pirates

The Yankees collected a Series’ record 27 extra base hits to 15 for the Pirates.

The Yankees out-homered the Pirates 10-4.

The Yankees’ pitchers put up a 3.54 ERA to 7.11 for the Pirates.

Bobby Richardson of the losing Yankee squad won the Series MVP award, hitting .367 with a Series’ record 12 RBI.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Chronicle of the 20th Century (Chronicle Publications). 

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