In 2014, Baseball Roundtable launched the John Paciorek Award (JPA). The JPA recognizes players who have had short, often very short, major league careers, but whose accomplishments, nonetheless, deserve recognition.  Past winners have included a player whose every MLB hit (three in nine career at bats) were home runs;  a player who had only MLB bat, but won a World Series Ring and a Purple Heart; a player who had just two home runs in 61 MLB at bats (for the vaunted Yankees and Dodgers), but whose “body of work” made him one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major league batter’s box;’ and more.  

(Note: Information on John Paciorek’s career – the inspiration for the JPA – can be found at the end of this post. Paciorek’s day in the sun constitutes arguably the best one-game MLB career ever.)

For an interesting take on topics related to baseball’s past, present and future, BBRT also recommends a visit to BaseballHappenings.net.  Click here to take a peek.

________________ 2019 JPA Winner – Harley Parnell Hisner  _______________

Harley Hisner.
Photo: Courtesy of BaseballHappneings.net

This year’s JPA honoree did, indeed, have a short MLB career (just six innings).

Harley Hisner‘s MLB tenure encompassed the day of September 30, 1951 – when the Red Sox called upon the 6’1″, 180-pound, 24-year-old righty to face the New York Yankees.    It was also, in some way historic. He earns his spot here, as much for his love of the game, as for his place in MLB history.  But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with a look at how Hisner got to the Yankee stadium mound.

Hisner, whose nickname was “Jim,” grew up on a farm near Fort Wayne, Indiana. The youngest of four brothers, Harley was an solid athlete (basketball and baseball). In fact, the Hisner brothers seemed naturals and three of the four boys were signed to contracts by the Red Sox. (Only Harley would make it to the big club.) Harley was signed in 1945, for a $5,000 bonus, right after graduating from high school.  He was also, however, drafted into the U.S. Army at about the same time. World War II was winding down and Hisner did not leave the states and, in fact, was able to keep his baseball skills sharp playing the game at Fort Benjamin Harrison.

Hisner’s minor league career was a bit up-and-down, due in part to recurring arm/shoulder issues.  In 1947, the 20-year-old Hisner went 7-14, 5.21 for the Class C San Jose Red Sox and the Class A Scranton Red Sox.   Then, in 1948, he helped Scranton win the Eastern League title with an 11-3, 2.48 record (although Hisner missed a portion of the season with chronic bursitis).  The following  season, was down again – as Hisner went 6-11, 4.47 in stop at Scranton and Triple A Louisville.  More of the same in 1950 (5-6, 4.65 at Louisville).  In 1951, Hisner struggled early and ended up 7-13, 6.26 at Louisville.  However,  he came on strong at the end of the season; winning his last four starts.  That earned him  a late-season call up to the Red Sox – and a big-league start in the final game of the season.

HARLEY HISNER’S BIG GAME

Taking the MLB mound for  the first (and, as it would turn out, final) time, Hisner found himself facing a daunting challenge – a first-place Yankee lineup that included five future Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle in RF; Joe DiMaggio in CF; Phil Rizzuto at SS; Johnny Mize at 1B; and Yogi Berra behind the plate.  In retelling the tale, however, Hisner often said he was made more nervous by the size of the partisan crowd (35,814)  than the Yankee lineup.

Hisner got off to a good start.  The first MLB batter he faced was rookie RF Mickey Mantle, who went down on strikes. He then gave up a single to SS Phil Rizzuto, before getting LF Hank Bauer to hit into a short to second fielder’s choice.  That brought up Yankee icon Joe DiMaggio, who hit an infield single – putting Hisner into the baseball history books.  That single was DiMaggio’s the final regular-season hit of DiMaggio’s great career.  Hisner, by the way pitched out of the jam, getting 1B Johnny Mize to fly out to right.  So, in his first MLB inning – a scoreless one at that – Hisner faced five batters; four of them future Hall of Famers. He went on to pitch a total of six frames, giving  up three runs on seven hits and four walks (with three strikeouts). He faced Mickey Mantle four times and it went like this:  First inning – strikeout; second inning – strikeout; fourth inning – walk; sixth inning – pitcher to short to first double play.

Hisner’s final career stat was 0-1, 4.50, with six innings pitched, seven hits, three earned runs, four walks and three strikeouts.

Harley Hisner batted twice in his lone MLB appearance, collecting a ground out to first (unassisted) and a single to right field – finishing his MLB career with a .500 average. 

The following year, Hisner was cut from the Red Sox on the final day of Spring Training and never made it back to the major leagues.  He played two more years of professional ball – going 3-7, 3.86 in two minor league stops in 1952 and, in 1953, helping the Wichita Falls Spudders capture the Big State League (Class B) title by going 14-5, 3.87. At this point, Hisner (tired of the travel and dissapointed with his progress) retired from professional baseball to pursue a career as a machinist.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

After leaving the professional ranks, Hinser did not lose he passion for the game. Hisner played semi-pro baseball through 1961; before becoming a youth coach. He was a member of the Fort Wayne team that won the 1956 National Baseball Congress Championship and Global World Series. Then, in 1957, as the Fort Wayne team finished second in the National Baseball Congress Tournament, Hinser tied Satchel Paige’s tourney record  with four wins, while  throwing 38 innings in 11 days.  The following year, Hinser threw a no-hitter for the Anderson, Indiana squad in the tournament.  Hisner also was a long-time board member of the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association.

In 1976,  Harley Hisner was inducted into the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Hall of Fame and in 2010 he received the organization’s Colin Lister Award for “dedication to the game of baseball and its historic legacy.” 

Primary Resources: Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players: A biographical dictionary 1871-2014 (by Pete Cava); The Society for American Baseball Research; Baseball-Reference.com.

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PAST JOHN PACIOREK AWARD WINNERS:

2014 – Brian Scott Dallimore

In his first start (not his first game) for the 2004 Giants, Dallimore had two singles, a Grand Slam (his first MLB hit and only MLB home run), a walk and a hit by pitch.  For the full JPA take on Dallimore’s 27- game MLB career, click here.

2015 – Roy Gleason

Gleason played in just eight MLB games, had a double in his only MLB at bat – but also earned a World Series ring (1963) and a Purple Heart. Ultimately, he was the only ballplayer with MLB experience to serve on the front lines in Vietnam. For the full JPA take on Gleason, click here. Note: Gleason’s life is detailed in the book “Lost in the Sun – Roy Gleason’s Odyssey from the Outfield to the Battlefield.”

2016 – John Allen Miller

Miller played just 32 MLB games (during the 1966 and 1969), taking the field (at 1B/LF/3B/2B) for the Yankees and Dodgers. Miller collected ten hits in 61 MLB at bats (.164 average) and hit just two home runs – but he made those long balls count.  Miller made his MLB debut with the Yankees on September 11, 1966 and hit a two-run homer in his first big league at bat –  making him (surprisingly) the first Yankee ever to homer in his first MLB at bat. (Little did Miller know he would not get another home run or RBI until the final at bat of his MLB career.)  Miller’s final at bat came as a Dodger (September 23, 1969) and he stroked a solo home run.  That narrow “body of work” made Miller one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major league batter’s box. For more on Miller, click here.

2017 – Chris Saenz

RHP Chris Saenz’ big day came on April 24, 2004 – when he was called up from Double A Huntsville (where he was 1-1, 3.86) to make a spot start against the Saint Louis Cardinals, whose powerful lineup included the likes of Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders.   The rookie went six innings, giving up just two hits, three walks and no runs, while fanning seven. There was some speculation (primarily among sportswriters and fans) that Saenz’ performance might earn him another start or two, but two days after his debut, he was on his way back to Huntsville.  Unfortunately, his minor league season included a September elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery and he never returned to the majors. Statistics before 1900 can be sketchy, but baseball-reference.com shows that Saenz is the only pitcher to complete a one-game MLB career of at least five innings pitched, without giving up a single run (earned or unearned). For more details on this JPA honoree, click here.

2018 – Keith McDonald

Keith McDonald’s MLB career (Cardinals 2000-2001) covered just eight games and 11 plate appearances (nine at bats) and three hits – but he made them count.  All of McDonald’s safeties were home runs – making him the only MLB player with more than one career hit who can look back on major league career in which  his every hit was a home run.  McDonald is also one of only two players – and the only National Leaguer – to homer in his first two major league plate appearances.  For the full story, click here.

—–INSPIRATION FOR THE JPA—-–

John Paciorek – signed out of Saint Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan (where he had starred in football, basketball and baseball) – appeared in his first major league game on the final day of the 1963 season (September 29) at the age of 18.  The 6’ 1”, 200-pound outfielder had spent the 1963 season with Class A Modesto Colts. The Colts’ parent club, the Houston Colt .45s (that was the current Astros’ franchise name back then), was suffering through a difficult season. The team was 65-96 going into that final game.  Looking to the future, Houston had, in fact, fielded an all-rookie lineup (average age 19) on September 27. Youth was still being served two days later when John Paciorek started his first MLB game. The results were surprising – and worthy of recognition.

Playing right field and batting seventh in a 13-4 win over the NY Mets, Paciorek ended up with three hits and two walks in five plate appearances, with four runs scored and three runs batted in.  Perhaps equally surprising is that it was not only Paciorek’s first major league appearance, it was to be his only MLB appearance.  Back pain the following spring, followed by surgery (he played 49 minor league games in 1964 and missed all of the 1965 season), put an end to his MLB playing days. (Paciorek did play in four more minor league seasons.)  Still, you will find John Paciorek in the Baseball Encyclopedia and his is arguably the greatest one-game MLB career ever.  Among one-gamers, he holds the record for times on base and runs scored, and shares the record for batting average, on base percentage and RBIs.

Paciorek, by the way, went on to become a high school teacher and multi-sport coach and is the author of three books (Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans; The Principles of Baseball: And All There Is To Know About Hitting; and If I Knew Then What I Know Now.  You also can enjoy Paciorek’s prose (and expertise) directly at his blog “Paciorek’s Principles of Perfect Practice” by clicking here. You can find out even more about Paciorek in Steven Wagner’s 2015 book “Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder.”  (See the review of “Perfect” by clicking here.)

A final note. John Paciorek’s insight into the national pastime should come as no surprise. Paciorek comes from a true “baseball family.”  He was the first born of eight siblings and was followed to the big leagues by younger brothers Jim and Tom Paciorek.  (Like John, Jim’s MLB career was short – 48 games for the Brewers in 1987. Brother Tom, however, achieved a .282 average over an 18-season MLB career.)

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Records (we’re talking vinyl; here) have two-sides.  Yesterday (April 8, 2019), a couple of MLB hitting records were broken or tied – and they were, figuratively, on both sides of the offensive album.  On one side, the Orioles’ Chris Davis set a new record for futility in the batter’s box, while on other side the Mariners’ Edwin Encarnación tied an MLB record for success beyond the reaches of the ball field.

Photo by Keith Allison

Let’s start with Davis. Yesterday, Davis went zero-for-five, with two strikeouts, as the Orioles pounded out 15 hits in a 12-4 thrashing of the A’s in Oakland.  In the process, Davis set a new MLB record for consecutive at bats without a base hit at 49 (and still counting).  Davis’ streak started after the second inning of a game on September 14, 2018 (when he doubled off James Shields). Since then, he has played in another 14 games, collected 32 plate appearances and 49 at bats – with no hits, six walks, 29 strikeouts, one run and two RBI.  As Sonny and Cher might sing on vinyl – “And the streak goes on.”

Last season, Chris Davis set the MLB record for the lowest batting average by a player qualifying for the batting title, when he hit .168 (79-for-470).    To be fair, Davis is also one of only 29 MLB players to hit 50 home runs in a season. In 2013, Davis hit .286, and led the AL with 53 home runs and 138 RBI.

The previous record of 46 consecutive at bats without a hit was held by Eugenio Vélez – who went hitless from a game on July 20, 2010 until his final MLB game on August 20, 2011.  Over that time, Vélez played in 29 MLB games, getting 52 plate appearances, 46 at bats) – with no hits, three walks and 12 whiffs.  He did score one run and drive in one. Vélez started his streak as a Giant and it ended as a Dodger.  (Well, it didn’t really end, Vélez’ streak was still active when he was released by the Dodgers.  He has since played in the U.S. Minor Leagues, the Dominican Winter League, The Mexican League and Mexican Pacific Winter League – but has not made it back to the majors. In 2018-19, he went a combined .281-1-9 in 27 games in the Dominican and Mexican Winter Leagues.  Maybe someone should give the 36-years-old another shot at extending or breaking the streak.

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Now, for the other side of the record book.

Photo by james_in_to

Yesterday, the Mariners’ Edwin Encarnación hit his third and fourth home runs of the 2019 season. For the day, Encarnación was two-for-four with two runs scored and four RBI. Of importance is the fact that they both came in the sixth inning of Seattle’s 13-5 win over the Royals.  Of, perhaps, even more importance is that it was the second time in his career that Encarnacion has gone deep twice in one inning.  And, that ties an MLB record.  Fifty-six different players have hit two home runs in one MLB inning (MLB.com) – but only five players have accomplished the feat twice.

A few other two-home run inning tidbits:

• Fernando Tatis of the Cardinals is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in one inning – the third frame of a Cardinals’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers on April 23, 1999. Maybe a greater surprise is that Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park was on the mound for both long balls.
• On May 2, 2002, as the Mariners beat the White Sox 15-4, Seattle’s Brett Boone and Mike Cameron both hit two home runs in the first inning. It’s the only time two teammates have hit two home runs in an inning in the same game – and they did it back-to-back. Boone was hitting third and Cameron fourth.
• Only three players have hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning:  Carlos Baerga, Indians (versus Yankees) – April 8, 1993; seventh inning; Mark Bellhorn, Cubs (Brewers) – August 29, 2002; Fourth inning; and Kendrys Morales, Angels (versus Rangers) – July 30, 2012; sixth inning.

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

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You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen,

Joe DiMaggio

At yesterday’s Twin Opener (at home, in Minnesota, in March), something wonderful did happen for all of us who had somehow survived the 2019 Polar Vortex. The sun came out, the temperature climbed to a lofty 49 degrees, the Twins played some baseball that counted – and the home squad came away with a victory!  In this post, BBRT will take a brief look at the Twins opener, as well as recount some of the highlights from Opening Day around MLB.  Note:  BBRT will treat all of yesterday’s games as though they occurred on Opening Day – even though the season actually opened on March 20 in Tokyo. For some thoughts on that, click here. 

2019 Opening Day in Minnesota.

As the game time approaches, the sun seems a little brighter, the sky a little bluer, the air a little warmer and the grass a shade greener.  Once the game begins, the ball hops off the bat with an especially sharp crack, the pitches seem to have more zip and whir-r-r than ever and the fielders move with a unique combination of grace and energy.  In the stands, the beer is crisp and cold and the hot dogs steam in the cool of early spring.  The fans cheer on their old and new heroes and follow this opening contest with pennant-race intensity – the most intense among them logging each play in the new season’s first scorecard.   Baseball Is Back!

                                                    Baseball Roundtable … March 26, 2013

The 2019 Twins Home Opener drew an officially counted 39,519 hardy fans.  The sky was partly cloudy, with the field occasionally bathed in sunlight and the game time temperature was a brisk (but comfortable) 49 degree.  The Twins, appropriately (for this is Minnesota) gave out Twins-logo-ed “puffer” vests to the first 30,000 through the gates.  I can testify that the give-aways were put to immediate and good use by at least 80 percent of the crowd.

The day featured all the usual Opening Day hoopla – player introductions, the giant on-the-field flag for the national anthem, an F-16 flyover and a first pitch thrown out by fomer Twin and 2006 American League MVP Justin Morneau.

As it is for nearly all Opening Day games, this contest featured what was expected to be a  solid pitching match-up.  The visiting Cleveland Indians sent two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to the mound, while the Twins countered with 2018 All Star Jose Berrios. It was clear from the start that neither would disappoint.  Berrios got through the top of the first on just nine pitches (eight strikes), while Kluber was even more efficient – putting down the Twins in order in the bottom of the frame on just seven pitches (six strikes). It was more of the same in the second inning: Berrios – three up-three down on eight pitches (six strikes) and Kluber retiring the Twins in order on six pitches (all strikes).  So after two innings, we had seen a total of 27 pitches, with only four outside the strike zone.

Things didn’t change a whole lot over the course of the game – played in two hours and 18 minutes and featuring just two runs (both by the Twins) on a two-team total of six hits, with two walks, two hit batsmen and 19 strikeouts.

It’s always an honor to pitch Opening Day … It’s exciting.  It’s the beginning of a new season … That being said, I think we have five guys who could have pitched Opening day,”

Corey Kluber.

I should note that Kluber – after getting through four perfect innings on just 30 pitches (25 strikes) – did come down to earth a bit as the game progressed. While he needed just 11 pitches to get out of the fifth, his strike-to-ball ratio was six-to-five – and in the sixth inning,  he needed 15 pitches (eight strikes/seven balls).  In the seventh inning, after collecting just one hit and one walk over six  frames, the Twins finally mounted some offense – all driven by newcomers to the team.  DH Nelson Cruz singled to left. Then, after an Eddie Rosario whiff, 1B C.J. Cron singled to center.  Third baseman Marwin Gonzalez doubled them both home. And, that was the offense for the day.

Kluber pitched seven innings, giving up just two earned runs (four hits, one walk, one HBP and five strikeouts). Berrios lasted 7 2/3, giving up no runs on two hits, one walk and ten strikeouts.  Tyler Rogers came on to get a four-out save for the Twins – striking out  three.   And, the fans went home happy in their cozy “puffer” vests.

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OPENING DAY AROUND BASEBALL

Another Free-swinging Season?

The 2018 season was the first in MLB history in which there were more strikeouts than base hits.  If Opening Day is any indication, we are headed there again.  Here are a few totals from the day’s 15 games.

Base hits – 197 (13.1 per game)

Strikeouts – 247 (16.5 per game)

Home Runs – 48 (3.7 per game)

Total runs scored – 124 (93 by winning teams, 33 by those on the losing side).

The most popular score of the day was 2-0, with four games ending by that tally (Twins over Indians; Mets over Nationals; Tigers over Blue Jays; Padres over Giants). There was a fifth shutout, as the A’s topped the Angels 4-0.

The most runs scored by any team on the day were 12, by three teams: Cubs over Rangers 12-4; Mariners over Red Sox 12-4; and Dodgers over Diamondbacks 12-5.

AN OPENING DAY RECORD FOR HOME RUNS – DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

It was reported that a record 48 home runs were hit on Opening Day – the old record was 46.  For BBRT, it kind of depends on how you look at it.  Seven of those round trippers were hit by the Mariners and A’s – who had already opened the season March 30 in Tokyo.  Maybe an asterisk is in order?  Still, while all 48 homers were not hit by players in their team’s opening game, since neither the Mariners’ nor the A’s pitchers gave up a home run yesterday, all the home runs surrendered were by pitchers pitching in their teams opening game.  I guess that clears that up.

Dodgers set Opening Day Dinger Mark

The Dodgers topped the Diamondbacks (in LA) on Opening Day by a 12-5 score.  In the process, the Dodgers smacked an Opening Day single-team home run record with eight long balls. Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez each went deep twice, while Corey Seager, Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Austin Barnes added one apiece.

In Honor of the Final Four – A Baseball Double Double

For just the second time in MLB history, both starting pitchers in an Opening Day game notched double-digit strikeouts. Of course, it should be no surprise, they were the 2018 National League Cy Young Award winner (Jacob deGrom) and a three-time CYA winner and 2018 runner-up (Max Scherzer).

As the Mets topped the Nationals 2-0, deGrom got the win – going six scoreless innings, with five hits, one walk and ten whiffs. Scherzer took the loss, despite giving up just two hits (and two earned runs) in 7 2/3 frames, with three walks and 12 strikeouts.

The other time it two Opening Day starters fanned ten or more in the same game?  April 7, 1970, when Orioles bested the Indians 8-2 in Cleveland.  Orioles’ starter Dave McNally went the distance, giving up two runs on four hits, with three walks and 13 strikeouts.  Cleveland starter Sam McDowell went 6 1/3 innings before walking the bases loaded with one out in the seventh.  In his 6 1/3 frames, McDowell (who took the loss) was credited with giving up three earned runs on three hits, with five walks and eleven strikeouts.

Another Reason Why I Don’t Like the DH

When Brewers’ starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin  popped a solo home run off Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas with two out in the bottom of the fifth, he joined some good company,  He adds his name to a short list of active pitchers with opening Day homers – Madison Bumgarner (two in 2017) and Clayton Kershaw (2013).  It proved to be an important homer, as it gave the Brew Crew a 5-3 lead and they held on for a 5-4 win.

Tim Beckham Takes Chris Sale Deep Twice – and That’s a Real Surprise

The Mariners’ Tim Beckham could not have been too happy to see Chris Sale on the mound on Opening Day.  Beckham was zero-for-fifteen in his career against Sale, with nine strikeouts (no walks). The nine whiffs were his most against any pitcher (he has also fanned nine times against Mark Estrada).   What happened on Opening Day?  Beckham took Sale deep twice – going two-for-five and plating three runs.  By the way, the two round trippers ties for the most long balls Beckham has hit against any hurler (he has hit a pair of career home runs against seven different pitchers).

Like Father – Like Son

Fernando Tatis, Jr. – starting at shortstop fort the San Diego Padres – singled in his first MLB at bat (off Madison Bumgarner of the Giants). The hit came in the bottom of the seventh and was one of two singles he would get in the game – won by the Padres 2-0.

His father, Fernando Tatis made his debut for the Texas Rangers – starting at 3B (against the White Sox) on July 26, 1997. He also began His MLB career with a single in his first at bat.

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

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