Welcome to another edition Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday, a weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye. (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances or statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. This week, we are looking at a trio of players who were really on the move – one homered for teams in all of MLB’s divisions in a single season; one who took the hill for five MLB teams in one campaign; and one (whose exploits have bee n most often chronicled) hit safely against two future Hall of Famers for two teams in two different cities in a single day. There will also, as is often the case, be a mid-course diversion – the exploration of a unique link between Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. To see previous Tidbits, type Trivia(l) in the search box on the right hand side of this page.
A Travelin’ Man
On this date (September 17) in 1977, Dave Kingman started his first game in a Yankee uniform (at DH, batting sixth). In the top of the third inning, in his second at bat as a Yankee, Kingman smacked a two-run home run to deep LF – which became an immediate Trivia(l) Tidbit. You see, by this point in the 1977 season, Kingman had homered nine times as a New York Met; 11 times as a San Diego Padre; and twice as a California Angel. Adding the Yankee long ball meant that, in the 1977 season, Kingman had homered for teams in each of MLB’s divisions (at the time, there were just four Divisions) for the Mets in the NL East; the Padres in the NL West; the Angels in the AL West; and the Yankees in the AL East. Kingman ended the season at .221-26-78.
Kingman played in 16 MLB seasons (1971-86 … Giants, Mets, Padres, Angels, Yankees, Cubs, A’s). He hit .236-442-1,210 in 1,941 games. The three-time All Star had seven seasons of 30 or more home runs and twice lead his league in roundtrippers. His best season was with the Cubs in 1979, when he hit .288, led the NL with 48 home runs and drove in 115.
Getting back to the 1977 season, here is chronical of Kingman’s travels.
In 1977, Kingman:
- began the season with the Mets;
- was traded to the Padres (for LHP Paul Siebert and INF/OF Bobby Valentine) on June 15;
- was selected (off waivers) by the Angels on September 6;
- was traded by the Angels (for RHP Randy Stein and cash) on September 15;
- was granted free agency November 2; and
- signed with the Cubs on November 30.
Bonus Tidbit – I Digress
Here’s one I came across that is of little consequence, but which I did find interesting. As September opened in 2007, Los Angeles’ fans were looking forward toward a September 7 matchup featuring Dodgers’ 42-year-old RHP Greg Maddux (with 354 wins and four Cy Young Awards under his belt) and Arizona’s 44-year-old southpaw Randy Johnson (with 294 wins and five CYA on his resume). It did not happen. Johnson was scratched due to a sore shoulder and Dodgers’ manager Joe Torre shifted his rotation – reportedly to put a left-hander on the mound against the Diamondbacks.
What attracted The Roundtable’s attention was the two rookie pitchers who replaced Johnson and Maddux: 23-year-old RHP Max Scherzer for the Diamondbacks and 20-year-old LHP Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers. It was Scherzer’s thirteenth MLB appearance (third start) and Kershaw’s eighteenth (all starts). Scherzer was 0-2, 2.65 and Kershaw was 3-5, 4.50. As I write this, Scherzer and Kershaw have combined for 428 wins and six Cy Young Awards – and both stand a good chance of Joining Johnson and Maddux in the Hall of Fame.
For those who like to know such things: In that September 7, 2007 game, Scherzer lasted five innings, giving up five hits and three runs, walking one and fanning 11; while Kershaw went four frames giving up three runs on six hits and one walk, while fanning four. Neither got a decision as the Dodgers prevailed 5-3,
Back to Our Original Topic – A Suitcase Saga
In 2018, 32-year-old right-hander Oliver Drake set a major-league mark by playing for five MLB teams in a single season.
Drake began the season with the Brewers (where he finished the previous campaign). After going 1-0, 6.39 in eleven appearances, he was designated for assignment on May 2 and, on May 5, purchased from the Brewers by the Indians.
He was with the Tribe until the final week in May – going 0-0, with a 12.46 ERA in just four appearances – before again being designated for assignment.
May 31, he was selected off waivers by the Angels. Sixteen days (and an 0-1, 10.13 record) later, he was again designated for assignment. He went unclaimed and reported to the Angels’ Salt Lake City Triple-A affiliate – where he was pretty much lights out. That earned him a trip back to Anaheim, where he added four more appearances, with an 0-0, 3.00 record – and was again designated for assignment.
He was picked up (off waivers) by the Blue Jays on July 26 and was there for just two appearances (giving up three runs in 1 2/3 innings) before again being designated for assignment.
On August 3, he was selected off waivers by the Twins – his fifth MLB team of the season – where he found a bit more success and stability. Drake finished the season with Minnesota, getting in 19 games and posting a 2.21 earned run average and fanning 22 batters in in 20 1/3 innings pitched. What did that get him? In the off-season, he was again designated for assignment.
Drake finished the 2018 season with an 1-1 record, a 5.29 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings. Drake pitched in six MLB seasons (2015-20 … Orioles, Brewers, Indians, Twins, Angels, Blue Jays, Rays). Over those six campaigns, he went 10-10, 4.27, with five saves in 196 appearances.
Need Someone to Face a Hall of Famer – Hold My Suitcase
On August 4, 1982, outfielder Joel Youngblood made MLB history by becoming the only player to collect a base hit for two different major league teams in two different cities – on the same day. This is a story often told, but what piqued my interest is that those hits came off two future Hall of Famers – Steve Carlton and Fergie Jenkins.
Youngblood started the day with the Mets, playing an afternoon game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Youngblood opened the game in center field, batting third in the order. After striking out in the first inning, Youngblood drove in two runs with a single off Fergie Jenkins in the top of the third – breaking a 1-1 tie. (The Mets would sine 7-4.)
Youngblood was then replaced in centerfield by Mookie Wilson in the bottom of the fourth – told by Mets’ manager George Bamberger that he had been traded to the Expos (for a player to be named later), who were scheduled to play in Philadelphia that night.
Youngblood immediately set out to join his new team – catching a 6:05 flight to Philadelphia – eventually arriving at Veterans Stadium with the game in progress. To his surprise, there was an Expos uniform, with his name already sewn on the back, waiting for him. And, the Expos wasted no time getting their newest player into the game. Manager Jim Fanning sent Youngblood into right field and the number-two spot in the batting order (replacing Jerry White) in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Youngblood singled off Steve Carlton, in his first Expos’ at bat.
Two hits, for two different teams, two different cities, against tow future Hall of Famers in one day – an historic accomplishment.
Youngblood, by the way, was a true utility player, manning every position except pitcher over his 14-season MLB career (right field – 455 games; left field – 237; third base – 218; second base – 173; center field 107; first base – 7; shortstop – 3; catcher – 1). In 1,408 games, he hit .265, with 80 home runs, 422 RBI and 60 stolen bases. He made one All Star team (in an injury-plagued and strike-shortened 1981 season, when he hit .350 in 43 games for the Mets). His best season was 1983, when he hit .292, with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 124 games (at four positions) for the San Francisco Giants.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; “D-backs’ Johnson Scratched From Start,” Washington Post, September 7, 2008.
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