While we wait for the national pastime’s return, here’s another Baseball Roundtable trivia question.

Question:  On this date (April 21) in 1961, the Minnesota Twins, having relocated from Washington D.C. to the Land of 10,000 Lakes,  played a true “home opener.” That day, they took the field, for the first-ever game  in their new digs – Metropolitan Stadium in  Bloomington, Minnesota.  They lost that contest 5-3. To get this question correct, you just have to tell me what team picked up the victory. Bonus point if you can name the winning pitcher of that contest.  Hint for both answers: The headline for this post points to “tiny bits of irony.”

Answer(s):

In a bit of irony, the Twins – who had moved from Washington D.C.  to Minnesota for the 19861 seasons, lost their first home-open to the “new” Washington Senators. 

The winning pitcher was Senators’ 27-year-old rookie Joe McClain, who had toiled six years in the minors (with a two-season interruption for military service) before getting his major-league break. McClain had been the final pick of the minor league phase of the 1960 MLB expansion draft. The new Washington Senators had taken him out of – you guessed it – the old Washington Senators (now Twins) minor-league system (in 1960, McClain played for the Triple A Charleston Senators.)

For you trivia buffs, McClain

• Was the winning pitcher in the new Washington Senators’ (now Texas Rangers) first franchise victory – a 3-2 complete game win over the Cleveland Indians on (April 14, 1961), the Senators’ second-ever game.
• Pitched the new Senators’ second-ever complete game. Dick Donovan had gone the distance in the Senators’ inaugural game (a 4-3 loss to the White Sox), so McClain missed making new Senators’ history buy once contest.
• Pitched the new Senators’ second-ever complete-game shutout, again missing history by one game. The Senators’ ‘Tom Sturdivant blanked the Red Sox 4-0 on a one-hitter on May 13. McClain shutout the BoSox (3-0) on a five-hit, complete game the very next day.

McClain led the new Senators (who went 61-100) in games started (29), shutouts (2), tied with Dick Donovan and Pete Burnside); innings pitched (212, tied with Bennie Daniels) – while gong 8-18, with a 3.86 earned run average.

McClain, by the way, faced the Twins five times that season picking up three of 1961 (and career) eight MLB victories – going 3-2, 2.84 against his “former franchise. ” He also threw one of his two 1961 (and career) shutouts versus the Twins, a 3-0 three hit victory on July 7.

More on McClain later in this post, but first a little more on that Twins ‘1961 home opener.

The Twins were down 3-0 before they ever stepped into the batter’s box in that home opening contest – thanks in part to a two-run home run by Senators’ 1B Dale Long in the top of the first inning.  The Twins got home runs in the game from Don Mincher (a two-run shot in the fourth,) and Lenny Green (a solo-shot in the eighth that tied the game at 3-3).  The Senators came back with two runs in the top of the ninth (off reliever Ray Moore) and Joe McClain earned the win with help from Dave Sisler in the ninth.

Dale Long shares the record for consecutive games with a home run at eight (tied with Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey, Jr.) Long was the first to achieve this feat. Between May 19 and May 28, 1956, he went yard in eight straight contests, hitting an even .500 (15-for-30), with eight home runs and 19 RBI.

——-A look at Joe McClain – and his painful path to the major leagues ——-

Joe McClain – a 6-foot, 183-pound righthander, was a gifted (and highly scouted) athlete – a three-sport star (baseball,  football and track & field) for Science Hill High School in Johnson City Tennessee.   He was signed by the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1953 after one year at the University of Tennessee.

He started his pro career in 1953 and was sent  “home” by the Cardinals –  going 10-2, 3.42 for his hometown Johnson City Cardinals (Class D).  He showed real promise on the mound, and his natural athleticism was reflected in his .344 batting average (63-for-183, with five home runs). That athleticism may literally have hurt McClain’s career, as he suffered an elbow injury when called on to play centerfield in a pinch.

McLain’s pro career was interrupted by military service  in 1954 and 1955,  and he returned to the Cardinals’ organization (still having problems with his elbow) in 1956.   Those arm troubles forced a change in pitching style and most likely altered the curve of his pro career.  In a 2008 interview, McClain told Tim Hayes of the Bristol Herald Courier, “I would have liked to have gone through my career with the arm I had before the injury and see where the cards fell … I went  from throwing a lot of fastballs to mainly throwing off speed pitches a lot.”

Even with the tender arm (and eventually shoulder), McClain pitched through pain, cortisone shots and other treatments to eventually make his way to the major leagues.

Between 1956 and 1969, McClain went 56-45, 3.58 in the minors (also putting up a .243 batting average). Then major league expansion created an opportunity – with the “new” Senators.

McClain got off to a great start, notching that first-ever (new) Washington franchise victory and, after his first nine major league starts, he was 5-3, 2.63 and had averaged eight innings per outing – with three complete games.  He also had a .273 batting average over those nine contests.  McClain finished the season 8-18, 3.86, with a .206 average.  He came back for the 1962 season, , but went 0-4, 9.38 in ten appearances before being sent down to Triple A.  He did not make it back to the majors and retired after the 1963 season.

Joe McCain’s major-league career may have been a too short and even a bit too painful.  Still, he made it to the major leagues – and that in itself is pretty sweet!  And remember there are those eight MLB wins, seven MLB complete games, two MLB shutouts and even 14 big league base hits (four doubles).  Sweet, indeed!

Primary Resources: Baseball-reference.com; “McClain elected to pitch with pain,” Johnson City Press, October 29, 2012, by Trey Williams; “LOCAL LEGENDS IN THE PROS: McClain made memorable major league debut,” Bristol Herald Courier, October 6, 2008, by Tim Hayes.

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Here’s a little diversion, while we shelter at home and wait for baseball to return.

TRIVIA QUESTION:

What somewhat unique achievement do the players in the following line up share? Hint:  It was a stroke of good luck – against notable odds – to have a pitcher qualify for this squad and we’re not likely to see a Designated Hitter join the lineup any time soon.

P -Hal Newh0user … 1B – Jimmie Foxx … 2B – Joe Morgan … 3B – Mike Schmidt … SS – Ernie Banks … LF – Barry Bonds … CF – Mickey Mantle … RF – Roger Maris

Answer:  They all won consecutive league Most Valuable Player Awards during their career.   

Here’s a look at the All-Consecutive MVP lineup, some tidbits about their lives and careers – as well as a few comments on the additional players who won consecutive MVP Awards, but didn’t make the lineup (Dale Murphy, Frank Thomas, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera).

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Pitcher – Hal Newhouser

The only pitcher to capture consecutive MVP Awards was the Tigers’ southpaw Hal Newhauser – who was the AL MVP in 1944 and 1945. In 1944, Newhouser led the major leagues with 29 victories (nine losses) and strikeouts (187), as his Tigers finished second in the American League with an 88-66 record.   He was also second in MLB in ERA, third in shutouts, fourth in complete games, third in W-L percentage, and third in innings pitched.  Notably, the Al MVP race came down to Newhouser and his Detroit teammate Dizzy Trout. Newhauser got fewer first-place votes than Trout, but edged him in total points 236 to 232.  Trout, by the way, went 27-14 and bested Newhauser and led MLB in ERA (2.12), innings pitched (352 1/3), shutouts (7) and complete games (33).  This was a close one.  Winning one of the closest-ever MVP races, put Newhauser in the position to become the only pitcher to capture consecutive league MVP Awards.

Who says pitchers can’t hit?

In his MVP seasons, Newhauser acquitted himself well as the plate, as well as on the mound.   In 1944 and 1945, he went 57 for 229 (.249), with 18 runs scored and 22 RBI (in 878 games).  

Newhouser followed up his 1944 success with a second MVP Award in 1945, when the Tigers finished first in the American League (88-65) and topped the Cubs four games-to-three in the World Series.  That season, Newhouser again lead MLB in wins (25, versus nine losses), and also lead MLB in ERA (1.81), starts (36), complete games (29), shutouts (8), innings pitched (313 1/3) and strikeouts 212.

Newhouser followed up his 1945 MVP season with another worthy of MVP consideration, In 1946, he went 26-9, again leading MLB in wins (tied with Bob Feller) and ERA (1.94), while tossing 29 complete games  and fanning 275 batters in 292 2/3 innings.  That season, Newhouser finished second in the AL MVP race to Ted Williams, who went .342-38-123 for AL Champion Red Sox (the Tigers finished 12 games back, despite going 92-62).

Oh, Not to be 30-Something

Hal Newhauser made his first major league appearance at age 18 (one game for the Tigers in the 1939 season).  When he beat the Red Sox (an 8-4 complete game victory) on his 30^th birthday (May 20, 1951), Newhouser’s career record was 189-134, with a 2.96 ERA. He had, however, already faced shoulder and back issues and from his thirtieth birthday on (he retired as a player in 1955), Newhouser won just 18 more games (14 losses), with a 3.97 ERA.

Over a 17-season MLB career, Newhouser went 207-150, with a 3.06 ERA and 1,796 strikeouts in 2,993 innings pitched. He threw 212 complete games and had 33 shutouts in 374 starts. Newhouser was a six-time All Star and four times won 20 or more games in a season (leading his league in wins in all four of those campaigns).  In his peak years, 1944-48, Newhauser went 118-56, with a 2.35 ERA. Note:  Newhauser would have been a seven-time All Star, but (due to World War II) there were no official All Star selections in Newhouser’s 1945 MVP seasons.

Temper – Temper

Hal Newhouser was known as a perfectionist with a temper and at, at times, a hard-to-control fastball – not a great combination for a pitcher. After a slow start to his major-league career, Newhouser seem to settle into a groove. Some observers speculated that he gained control of his fastball when he gained control of his temper.  Newhauser disagreed, maintaining “I didn’t win because I controlled my temper, I controlled my temper because I began to win.”

                Source, Society for American Baseball Research Newhauser bio – by Mark Stewart.

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C – Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra played on some Yankee teams that were loaded with All Stars and MVP candidates. In fact, during Yogi’s 19-season tenure (1946-63, 1965) with the team, the Yankees won 14 AL Pennants and ten World Series Championships. During that period, Berra won three AL MVP Awards (1951, 1953 and 1954).  To illustrate how tough the competition was – even from just his own team – other Yankees to bring home MVP hardware during that time included Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Elston Howard.

You Can Quote Me on That

He (Yogi Berra) seemed to be doing everything wrong, yet everything came out right, He stopped everything behind the plate and hit everything in front of it.

                                                                   Hall of Famer Mel Ott

He’d (Yogi Berra) fall I a sewer and come up with a gold watch.

                                                                    Hall of Famer Casey Stengel

In 1954, Berra won his second MVP Award (and the first of his two consecutive MVP honors), despite the fact that the Yankees finished second to the Indians (the Yankees did post a 103-51 record that season, but the Indians went 111-43). Berra topped the Indian’s Larry Doby by a 230-to-210 point margin.  Berra may have been helped a bit by the way the votes split out. Four of the top six finishers were from the Indians (Doby, Bobby Avila, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn). Doby, Avila and Wynn each garnered five first-place votes, while Berra picked up seven.  For the season, Berra finished in the American League’s top ten in average (sixth, games played (ninth), doubles (fourth), home runs (seventh) and runs batted in (second).  Berra’s 1955 MVP Award saw him outdistance second-place finisher Al Kaline by 16 points (218-201).

That’ll Do in a Pinch

On October 2, 1947 – in the seventh inning of the third game of the Yankees-Dodgers World Series, – Yogi Berra hit the first-ever World Series pinch-hit home run – bringing the Yankees to within one run of the Dodgers (who were leading 9-7 at the time and would win the contest 9-8). Berra hit the long ball off a pitcher who would give up an even more historic home run in the future – Ralph Branca.

Berra’s Hall of Fame career spanned 19 seasons, over which he hit .285 (2,150 hits), with 358 home runs and 1,430 RBI. He was an All Star in 15 of those seasons.  Berra hit 20 or more home runs in 11 seasons and topped 100 RBI in four. He played on ten World Series Champions and holds the career World Series records for games played (75), at bats (259), hit (71), doubles (10).

It’s Not Exactly Brain Surgery

When Yogi Berra appeared on the soap opera General Hospital in 1962, he played a brain surgeon.

Yogi Berra Museum

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First Base – Jimmie Foxx

Those  eligible for this lineup atsfirst base (winners of consecutive MVP Awards) are pretty impressive – Jimmie Foxx, Albert Pujols and Frank Thomas. Foxx earns this spot for having the most dominating pair of MVP season of the trio.  In Pujols’ consecutive MVP seasons (2008-2009), he put up stat lines of .357-37-116 and .327-47-135 – leading the league in home runs in 2009.  Frank Thomas earned consecutive MVP awards in 1993 and 1994, with stat lines of .317-41-128 and .353-38-101. He did not lead the AL in any of those categories in either season (although they were both clearly MVP-caliber campaigns).  Foxx – the first player ever to capture consecutive MVP Awards –  was the most dominant of the three first-sackers. He won the Triple Crown with a .356-48-163 season in the second of his consecutive MVP campaigns (1933).

Notably, Foxx had even better numbers in all three categories as MVP the year before (.364-58-169), when he led the AL in home runs and RBI.  Under today’s qualifying rules, Foxx would, in fact, have captured the Triple Crown in 1932. He finished second in the AL to Dale Alexander in batting average (by .003).  Under today’s rules, Alexander- who had 454 plate appearances that season – would need 477 plate appearances to qualify for the batting title.  In his two consecutive MVP seasons, Foxx’ Philadelphia Athletics finished second (1932) and third (1933).

Two-for-Three … Not a Bad Day (or season)

When Jimmie Foxx won the American League Triple Crown in 1933, it marked the only season when both the AL and NL boasted Triple Crown winners – and they played in the same city. Foxx was taking the field for the Philadelphia Athletics, while the NL winner, Chuck Klein, played for the Phillies.

Hall of Famer Foxx, nicknamed Double X and The Beast, was known as one of the – if not THE – most powerful and feared sluggers of his time.   He played 20 MLB seasons (1925-42, 1944-45). He was an All Star in nine seasons and a three-time American League MVP. He finished with a .325 batting average (2,646 hits), 534 home runs, 1,922 RBI and 1,751 runs scored. He led his league in home runs four times (had 12 consecutive seasons of 30 or more); RBI three times (13 seasons of 100+ and four seasons pf 150+), batting average twice (topping .300 nine times) and runs scored once (with 100+ runs scored in 11 seasons).  Foxx also hit .344-4-11 in 18 post-season games.

While Foxx was best known for his prestigious home runs, the surprise of his stellar career may have come in his final season (1945), when the 37-year-old – a sure Hall of Famer by this time – answered the call when his team (then the Phillies) found itself short of pitching. Foxx who had taken the mound only once in his career (a 1-2-3 inning for the Red Sox in 1939) volunteered to step on the bump and into the breach.  How did the veteran do?  He made nine appearances, two starts – going 1-0, 1.52 in 22 2/3 innings (fanning ten and walking 14).  With his one clean 1939 inning, Foxx had a 1.59 career ERA.  Side note: Jimmie Foxx’ lone career mound win came on August 19th, as his Phillies topped the Reds 4-2.  The losing pitcher was another Fox (single X), Reds’ starter Howie Fox.

Mystery Solved

When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew exactly what it was. That was a home run hit off me in 1937 by Jimmie Foxx,

Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez

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Second Base – Joe Morgan

If you like lumber and leather, Hoe Morgan fits the bill.  In 1975 and 1976, when he turned in consecutive MVP seasons to lead his Reds to a pair of NL pennants (and World Series Championships), Morgan was not only one of the best offensive second basemen in MLB, he also earned a pair of Gold Gloves for his defensive play. (Morgan won five consecutive Gold Gloves at 2B … 1973-77).

How valuable was Morgan? In 1975 he earned 21 of 23 first-place votes in the MVP race and outscored runner up Greg Luzinski 321 to 154. The following year, he got 19 of 24 first place votes (the other five went to teammate George Foster) and led runner up Foster 311 to 221 overall.

Doesn’t Flinch in the Clutch

In 1975, Joe Morgan hit .339 with two out and runner in scoring position; while in 1976 he hit .327 in those situations.

Joe Morgan played 22 MLB seasons (1963-84). The Hall of Famer was an All Star in ten seasons . He retired with a .271 average (2,517 hits), 268 home runs, 1,133 RBI, 1,650 runs scored and 689 steals (eleventh all time). He led his league in runs scored once, triples once and walks four times. His keen batting eye helped him to lead his league in on-base percentage four times and compile a .392 career OBP. While he never led the league in steals, Morgan brings speed to this lineup.  He swiped 40 or more bags in nine seasons, including a high of 67 in both 1973 and 1975. He also topped 20 home runs in three seasons and had 100+ walks in eight campaigns.

Getting the Jump on the Opposition

A good base stealer should make the whole infield jumpy. Whether you steal or not, you’re changing the rhythm of the game. Of the pitcher is concerned about you, he isn’t concentrating enough on the batter.,

Joe Morgan

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Third Base – Mike Schmidt

There was plenty of competition at both corner infield spots for a place in this lineup.  (We’ve already talked about the first-base candidates.) At third base, two players have earned consecutive league MVP honors – Mike Schmidt and Miguel Cabrera. BBRT gives Schmidt a slight edge.  In his consecutive MVP seasons (2012-13), Cabrera went a combined .338-88-276, with 398 hits and 212 runs scored for the Tigers.  Included in that total was his 2012 Triple Crown season.  Schmidt’s consecutive MVP seasons (1980-81) produced a .298-79-212 line, with 182 runs scored. (We need to keep in mind that the 1981 season was strike-shortened). Schmidt led the NL in home runs and RBI in each of  his consecutive MVP seasons. The difference maker between Cabrera and Schmidt? Schmidt earned a Gold Glove for his defense in each of his consecutive MVP seasons. Schmidt, by the way, received all 24 first-place votes for NL MVP in 1980 and 21 of 24 in 1981. Cabrera received 22 of 28 votes in 2012 and 28 of 30 in 2013.

Alone at the Top of the List

Mike Schmidt’s 509 home runs, while in the lineup as a third baseman, are the most by any third sacker ever.

Mike Schmidt enjoyed an 18-season MLB career (1972-89 …. all with the Phillies).  He hit .267 (2,234 hits) with 548 home runs, 1,595 RBI, 1,506 runs scored and 174 stolen bases.  Schmidt was a 12-time All Star. He led the NL in round trippers eight times (topping 30 home runs in 13 seasons). He also led the NL in runs scored once, RBI four times (with 100+ nine times), walks four times and slugging percentage five times.  He earned a total of three league MVP Awards (1980, 1981, 1986).

Tied at the Top of the List

Mike Schmidt also holds a share of the record for most home runs in a game.  On April 17, 1976, he sent four balls over the fences in a five-for-six, eight-RBI day.

In addition to his power, Schmidt showed good speed, reaching double-digits in steals eight times, with a high of 29 stolen bases in 1975.

Near the top of the list

Only Babe Ruth won more home runs titles (12) than Schmidt (8).

Only Brooks Robinson has more Gold Glove at third base (16) than Schmidt (10).

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Shortstop – Ernie Banks

Ernie banks has a unique distinction among players with two consecutive MVP Awards. Not only is he the only shortstop to achieve the feat, he is also the only player to win consecutive MVP Award while playing on losing team for both seasons – and one of only two players to twice win an MVP Award (consecutively or not) while playing on a losing squad.

Banks, who was bucking the image of shortstops as glove men, base stealers and slap hitters, won his first MVP in 1958, when he led the NL in games played, home runs (a career high 47) and RBI and finished sixth in batting average.

He followed that with another MVP season in 1959, again leading the NL in games played and RBI (a career-high 143), while finishing tenth in batting average.

The First Ever Moon Shot.

In 1954, Ernie Banks finished second to the Cardinals’ Wally Moon in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting. Moon went .304-121-76 and got 17 votes. Banks went .275-19-79 and got four votes. Two Braves finished third and fourth – Gene Conley and Hank Aaron.

Banks played 19 MLB seasons (1953-71 … all for the Cubs) and was an All Star in eleven of those campaigns. He led the National in games played six times (in his seven first full seasons), home runs twice (topping 20 home runs in 13 seasons – with forty+ dingers in five of those), RBI twice (with 100+ eight times). He also won one Gold Glove.  For his career, the Hall of Famer hit .274, with 512 home runs and 1,636 RBI.  He was known, deservedly, in Chicago as “Mr. Cub.”

For the Love of the Game

Ernie Banks was synonymous with a childlike enthusiasm for baseball.  It was not just great talent, but also his relentless spirit of optimism that made him a back-to-back National League MVP, a Hall of Famer, a member of our All-Century Team, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and, indeed, forever Mr. Cub.

                                                            Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig

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Left Field – Barry Bonds

What can you say about Barry Bonds – good and bad – that hasn’t already been said? The man won a record seven MVP Awards, including two consecutive (1992 and 1993) and another streak of four consecutive (2001-2004.)  And, he nearly had two streaks of four consecutive MVP recognitions.  Bonds won the NL MVP Award in 1990, finished a close second (274-259 and 12 first-place votes to ten) behind the Braves’ Terry Pendleton in 1991, and then won the honor again in 1992 and 1993. The chart below provides the stats for those MVP seasons – and they are remarkable. But then, of course, there is that PED “elephant in the room.” In the seven seasons that Bonds won the NL MVP Award, his team finished first in their division four times and second three times.

Bonds had a 22-season MLB career, during which he was an All Star 14 times, a Silver Slugger winner 12 times, home run champion twice and batting champion twice.  He holds the MLB single-season home run record at 73 (2001, Giants), as well as the career record for long balls (762). He retired with a .298 average (2,935 hits), 762 home runs, 1,996 RBI, 2,227 ruins scored and 514 stolen bases.  He hit 30 or more home runs in 14 seasons, drove in 100 or more tallies in 12 campaigns and hit over .300 11 times (a high of .370 in 2002).  Bonds also earned eight Gold Gloves

A Real Mover and Shaker

Barry Bonds is the only player to win the Most Valuable Player Award in two consecutive seasons while playing for two different team – Pirates (1992) and Giants (1993).

How feared was Barry Bonds at the plate? Bonds led the NL in walks 12 times, amassing an MLB-record 2,558 career walks.  He also led the league in intentional walks 12 times, being intentionally passed an MLB-high 688 times. In 2004, he was intentional passed a record 120 times.  No other player has been intentionally walked more than 45 times in a season (Willie McCovey, 45 in 1969).

The rest of us play in the major leagues, He’s at another level.

                                             Giants’ infielder Rich Aurelia

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Center field – Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantles’ two consecutive MVP Awards came in 1956 and 1957 and included his .353-52-130 Triple Crown campaign in 1956.  Notably, in addition to the 1956 and 1957 MVP honors, Mantle won the MVP award in in 1962 and finished second in 1960, 1961 and 1964 – while playing on Yankee teams that were loaded with potential MVP candidates. Two of Mantle’s three second-place finishes were to teammate Roger Maris, who is also in this lineup of consecutive MVP winners.  In his 1956 MVP season, Mantle led both leagues in average (.,353), slugging percentage (,705), runs scored (132), total bases (376), home runs (52) and runs batted in (130).

Walk, Don’t’ Run

Only Jim Thome hit more regular-season walk-off home runs in his career (13) than Mickey Mantle (12). Note: Mantle is tied with Jimmie Foxx, Stan Musial, Albert Pujols, Frank Robinson and Babe Ruth at 12.

Mickey Mantle played 18 major league seasons (1951-68 … all with the Yankees).  The Hall of Famer was an All Star in 16 of those seasons. He led his league in runs scored five times, home runs four times, walks five times, and batting average and triples once each.  He retired with a .298 average (2,415 hits), 536 home runs (hitting 30 or more in nine seasons), 1,509 RBI (100+ four times), 1,676 runs scored (topping 100 in eight seasons), 1,733 walks and 153 stolen bases. He won a Gold Glove in his 1962 MVP season.  He put up those numbers, despite suffering from Osteomyelitis and dealing with a series of injuries that dampened his numbers (shoulder, rib cage, hip abscess, fractured finger, knee surgeries, broken foot).

Nearly an Annual Affair

In 18 MLB seasons, Mickey Mantle played in 12 World Series.  He holds the all-time record for World Series home runs (18), runs batted in (40) and runs scored (42) in 65 games).

The Final Word … On two good legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer that ever lived.,

                                                                      Hall of Famer Nellie Fox

Also qualifying for this spot was Braves ‘CF Dale Murphy , who won consecutive NL MVP Awards in 1982 and 1983. In 1982, Murphy went .281-36-109, with 232 steals and a Gold Glove.  He followed that up in 1983 with a .302-36-121 season (30 steals and another Gold Glove). Still, Mantle’s Triple Crown season gives him the edge. Murphy, be the way, hit .265 over 18 MLB seasons, with 398 homers, 1,266 RBI, 161 steals, seven All Star  selections and five Gold Gloves.

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RF – Roger Maris

Roger Maris was traded from the Kansas City Athletics to the Yankees after the 1950 season – part of a multi-player deal. At the time, he had three major-league seasons under his belt – with a .249 average, 58 home runs and 203 RBI in 388 games. His best season had been 1958, when he hit .240-28-80 in 150 games.  Whether it was joining the powerful Yankee lineup   or just maturing as a hitter, the move to New York changed Maris’ career path, as he was the American MVP Award his first two seasons in Yankee pinstripes.

A Change of Scenery

In his first three seasons in pinstripes, Roger Maris average 44 home runs and 118 RBI per campaign. They were the only seasons in which he reached 30 homers or 75 RBI.

In 1960, as the Yankees won the pennant with a 97-59 record, Maris set new career highs with a .283 average, 39 home runs and a league-leading 112 RBI – and threw in a Gold Glove for good measure. In 1961, as the Yankees went 109-53 (and won the World Series), Maris, of course, made history.  He won his second consecutive MVP Award, while also setting a new (since broken) single-season home run record of 61.

Making It Count

On October 1, 1961, when Roger Maris hit his historic 61^st home run of the season, he made it count. The blast came in the bottom of the fourth inning and accounted for the only run in a 1-0 Yankee win over the rival Red Sox,

Maris played 12 major-league seasons (1957-68) and put up a .260 average, with 275 home runs and 850 RBI. He was a four-time All Star and led his league in RBI twice and runs, home runs and total bass once each.

Going Yard in Football, Too

Roger Maris set a national high school record, returning four kick-offs for touchdowns in a single game, while playing for Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota. He was offered a football scholarship by the University of Oklahoma, but chose instead to start his baseball career (right out of high school) in the Cleveland Indians organization.

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

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

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

Photo by SD Dirk

Six-foot-ten inch Randy Johnson stood tall, threw downhill and brought the heat.   Drafted in the second round of the 1985 MLB draft (by the Montreal Expos) out of the University of Southern California, he pitched his way into the Hall of Fame during a 22-season major-league career that featured 303 victories (22^nd all time) and 4,975 regular-season strikeouts (second only to Nolan Ryan). He was also ten-time time All Star and five-time Cy Young Award winner (second only to Roger Clemens’ seven).

Brett Carroll – One for the Ages.

Brett Carroll, a .201 career hitter (2007-12 … Marlins/Brewers/Nationals), faced Randy Johnson in just one game (June 8, 2009), but he will have a story to share long into the future. Johnson gave up three runs in five innings of a 4-0 Giants’ loss to the Marlins – and Carroll drove in all three tallies. He only batted twice against Johnson, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning (Carroll’s first MLB long ball) and adding a triple in the fourth.  Not bad.  Two career at bats against Johnson – with two hits and seven total bases. I’d leave out the part about Johnson being 45-year-old and in his late MLB season at the time. Although The Big Unit did go 8-6, 4.88 with 86 strikeouts in 96 innings that season.)

In the post, we’ll take a look at a lineup of hitters who seemed to have Randy Johnson’s number.  It’s part of a series inspired by Pedro Martinez.

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.  

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. 

BBRT Note:  Keep in mind, 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 solid hitter performance when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.

Now, a look at the mound resume that earned Johnson a spot in this series – and then a lineup of players who seemed up to the task of facing Johnson’s downhill heat.

“Randy (Johnson) carries his emotions on his sleeve. So when Randy gets pumped, it’s pretty much wise to just go home. When he gets that look in his eyes, you know you’re not going tog get a hit off him. “

                                   16-season major leaguer Mark Grace

During his career, Johnson won 20 or more games in three seasons, leading the NL with 24 victories (five losses) in 2002.  He also led his league in strikeouts nine times; winning percentage, ERA and complete games four times each; shutouts and innings pitched twice.  Like a fine wine, Johnson aged well. He fanned 300 or more batters in five seasons – four after turning age 35. Similarly, he earned the NL Cy Young Award in his age 35, 35, 37 and 38 seasons. (  In short, he was an intimidating and superbly effect presence on the mound.

But again, this post is not about the many batters Johnson dispatched to the dugout shaking their heads.  It’s about a lineup of hitters who stood tall versus  “The Big Unit.”  As you go through this lineup, you’ll find some hitters you might have expected, like Albert Pujols and Chipper Jones at the corner infield spots, and some that may seem less likely, say Ty Wigginton at second base.

–—The Randy Jones “Who’s Your Daddy?” Lineup—

Regular-season stats – 10 at bat versus Johnson minimum.

Catcher – Paul Lo Duca … RHH, 5’10”, 193 lbs. (Twenty career hits versus Johnson)

Nobody had more regular-season hits in his career against Johnson than Paul Lo Duca (20 hits in 21 games and 63 at bats (.317 average). Not only that, his 14 RBI  are second only to Manny Ramirez’ 17 against the big southpaw. To top it off, Lo Duca had a pretty good strikeout-to-walk ratio versus Johnson – five walks and six whiffs.

Lo Duca is one of those players whom BBRT thinks doesn’t get enough attention.  In an 11-season MLB career (1998-2008 … Dodgers/Marlins/Mets/Nationals), the four-time All Star hit .286, with 80 home runs and 481 RBI. His best season was 2001, when he went .320-25-90 for the Dodgers.

I also consider Ivan Rodriguez for this spot. I-Rod had 21 hits against Johnson. Those 21 safeties were the most of any batter against Johnson, but two of them came in the post-season. In the regular-season, he hit .244 (19-for-78) with one home run and five RBI against Johnson.  Lo Duca clearly deserves this spot.

There’s Statistics and then there’s ….

In 2003, Paul Lo Duca led MLB in runners thrown out stealing (but he also allowed the second most stolen bases). In 2004, he reversed those – allowing the most stolen bases (but throwing out the second most baser runners.)  Al in all, it looks like Lo Duca was consistently tested.

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First Base – Albert Pujols … RHH, 6’3″, 235 lbs. (13 RBI in xx games versus Johnson)

Photo by Marianne O’Leary

Albert Pujols hit a healthy .458 (in 24 regular-season games) against Randy Johnson.  He was 11-for-24 and eight of those 11 hits went for extra bases (three doubles and five home runs).  He also had 13 RBI versus Johnson. So, despite have the 196^th most plate appearances versus the HOF southpaw, Pujols was number-two in home runs and number-three in RBI against him (regular season).  In Pujols’ final game against Johnson (June 30, 2009), in fact in his final two at bats against him, the 1B/OF hit a pair of home runs.

Pujols, still active, is a sure Hall of Famer. In 10 seasons (2001-19 … Cardinals/Angels), he has collected 3,202 hits (.300 average), 656 home runs and 2,075 RBI. He is a 10-time All Star, three-time league Most Valuable Player and was the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year.

Jack of All Trades

In 2002, Alert Pujols took the field defensively at 1B, 3B, SS, LF and RF.

Pujols has led his league in runs scored five times, home runs twice and hits, doubles, RBI and batting average once each. He has hit 30 or more home runs in 14 season, topped 100 RBI in 14 seasons and hit .300 or better in 11 campaigns.  He is also .323-19-54 in 77 post-season games.

Consistency is Not a Hobgoblin

Albert Pujols, famously, topped .300, 30 home runs and 100 RBI in each of his first ten MLB seasons. He came close in his 11^th campaign, .299-37-99.

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Second Base – Ty Wigginton … (.393 average versus Johnson)

Ty Wigginton hit .393 and popped four long balls in xx games against Randy Johnson – all this after going zero-for-four in his first game against him (August 5, 2002).  Wigginton’s success against the HOFer is a bit of a surprise, since Wigginton was a .261 career hitter over 12 seasons (2002-2013 … Mets/Pirates/Devil Rays/Astros/Orioles/Rockies/Phillies/Cardinals). Still, he had his moments – topping 20 home runs in four campaigns and making the AL All Star squad, as an Oriole, in 2010.

Where’s Waldo?

Ty Wigginton was a true journey man. In 12 MLB seasons, he suited up for eight different MLB teams – and started games at 1B,2B, 3B, LF RF and DH,

In nine games against Randy Johnson, Wigginton started for four different teams (Astros, Devil Rays, Pirates, Mets) and at four different positions (1B, 2B, 3B, LF).

Wigginton’s career line is .261-169-594.

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Third Base – Chipper Jones … SH, 6’4″, 210 lbs. (Six regular-season home runs, the most of any batter versus Johnson)

In 12 games against Johnson, Hall of Famer Chipper Jones hit .361, with six home runs and eight RBI.  Those six home runs are the most by any batter against Johnson and the second-most Jones had against any pitcher.  (He had seven career, regular-season long balls off Steve Trachsel, but in more than twice as many games (29 versus Trachsel and 12 versus Johnson). Jones did the most damage in 2000, when he faced Jones six times in two games and went four-for-six, with three home runs and five RBI. That season, Johnson was 19-7, 2.64, with 347 strikeouts in 248 2/3 innings – capturing his third Cy Young Award.

Bad Bookends

If you looked at his first and last games against Randy Johnson, you would not expect Chipper Jones to have put up good numbers against the big southpaw.  The first time he faced Johnson (September 2, 1998), Jones, went zero-for-four, with a ground out and three swinging strikeouts.   The final game in which he faced Johnson (May 27, 2009), Chipper went zero-for-three, with all three appearance ending in a strikeout (two swinging, one looking). So, for those book-ending games, Jones was zero-for-seven with six whiffs.

I did look consider a couple of other third baseman for this spot. Mike Blowers, who hit .563 against Johnson in six games (nine-for-sixteen) and Phil Nevin, who drove in the third-most runs against Johnson (13 in 24 games).  Blowers’ line against Johnson was .563-0-7, while Nevin was .261-3-13.  Jones got the edge for combing average and power.

Jones enjoyed a 19-season career (1993, 1995-2012 … Braves) – hitting .303, with 468 home runs and 1,623 RBI. He was an eight-time All Star and the 1999 National League MVP.  He also won the 2008 NL batting title. While he never led his league in home runs, Jones hit 30 or more in six seasons and 20 or more in 14 campaigns. He had 100 or more RBI in nine seasons – eight consecutive (1996-2003). He stole 150 bases in his career, with a high of 25 in 1999.

Trivia that is Not so Trivial

Chipper Jones had more walks (1,512) than whiffs (1,409) in his career.

Only Mickey Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (504) have more home runs among switch hitters than Chipper Jones (468).

Only Eddie Murray has more RBI (1,917) among switch hitters than Chipper Jones (1,623).

Chipper Jones is one of only two switch hitters with at least 5,000 plate appearances to hit .300 or better from both sides of the plate.  Jones hit .303 left-handed and .304 right-handed.  The other, by the way, is Hall of Famer Frankie Frisch, who hit .319 lefty and.308 righty over a 19-season MLB career (1919-37).

Chipper Jones is one of only two Braves with a career on- base percentage (with the Braves) over .400.  Jones OBP was .401.   By comparison, Hank Aaron’s OBP in 21-seasons with the Braves was .377.  Billy Hamilton, who played with Braves (Beaneaters) franchise from 1896-1901 had the highest OBP for the team (.456).  In a 14-season MLB career – from 1888-1901 – Hamilton .344, with a .455 OBP.

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Shortstop – Miguel Tejada … RHH, 5’9″, 220 lbs.  (Hit .386 versus Johnson)

In 16 games against Johnson, Miguel Tejada hit .386, with two home runs and eight RBI.  In addition, he had a 1-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (five walks/five whiffs).  I should note this was a very close call.  I also considered Randy Velarde and Rich Aurilia for this spot. Velarde faced off against Johnson in 13 career regular-season games and hit .452 (19-for-42). His 19 hits tied for the second-most regular-season safeties against Johnson. Velarde, however, had no home runs, seven RBI (one fewer than Tejada) and walked four times, while fanning ten.  Aurilia took the field (and batter’s box) against Johnson in 18 games and hit .333 (18-for-59), with three home runs and six RBI.  He walked five times against The Big Unit and fanned 16. Anyone of these three would have fit in here. I subjectively gave Tejada a slight edge for putting the ball in play.

Tejada played 16 MLB seasons (1997-2011, 2013 … A’s/Orioles/Astros/Padres/Giants/Royals).  He hit .285, with 307 home runs and 1,302 RBI. He was a six-time All Star and the 2002 American League MVP (.308-34-131 for the A’s).  Tejada hit 30 or more home runs in four seasons, drove in 100+ tallies in six seasons and hit .300+ in five.  Miguel Tejada is one of only 25 MLB players to drive in at 150 or more runs in a season.  (In 2004, he went .311-34-150 for the Orioles.)

We May not Know where Waldo is, but We Do Know where Miguel is – on the Field

Between June 2, 2000 and June 21, 2007 – a seven-year span – Miguel Tejada did not miss a game. His 1,152 consecutive games played is MLB’s fifth-longest streak.

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Outfield – Barry Bonds … LHH, 6’1″, 185 lbs. – or so it says in Baseball-Reference.com. (Walked once every 5.6 plate appearance versus Randy Johnson)

Barry Bonds faced off against Randy Johnson 62 times in 19 games – and put up a .306 average, with three home runs and 12 RBI.  Just as important, he walked 11 times and struck out just six (and was HBP twice) – for a .452 on-base percentage.

Putting the ball in play.

In 2004, Barry Bonds faced Randy Johnson 15 times and did not strikeout once (three hits, two walks, two HBP).

Barry Bonds played 22 MLB seasons (1986-2007 … Pirates/Giants).  He was a 14-time All Star, eight-time Gold Glover and seven-time MVP. He led the NL in home runs twice (an MLB record 73 in 2001); batting average twice; ruins scored once; RBI once; and walks 12 times. He finished his career with a .298-762-2,558 line and holds the career and single-season home runs records, as well as the career RBI record.  In addition, his career  2,558 walks and 688 intentional walks are MLB highs. (He led his league in intentional walks 12 times – with a high of, and MLB-record, 120 in 2004. There is, of course, that “elephant in the room.”

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Not a Lot of Action

Rickey Henderson struck more often against Randy Johnson than any other batter – 30 times in 85 plate appearances/59 at bats.  He also walked more times against Johnson than any other batter (26 times).  When he did make contact, Henderson hit .119 (7-for-59) against him).

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Outfield – Moises Alou … RHH, 6’3″, 185 lbs. (.571 batting average against Johnson)

Moises Alou’s .571 average (8-for-14) against Randy Johnson is the highest of any hitter with at least 10 at bats against the HOF lefty, He did most of his damage during the 2000 season, when he played two games against Johnson and went three-for-five, with a walk, home run and four RBI. In his five career games against Johnson, he was never held hitless.

Alou played in 17 MLB seasons (1990, 1992-98, 2000-2008 …. Pirates/Expos/Marlins/Astros/Cubs/Giants/Mets). He was a six-time All Star, whose best season was probably 1998, when he went .312-38-124 for the Astros.  Alou put up a .303 career average, with 332 home runs and 1,287 RBI.  He hit 30 or more home runs three times and drove in 100+ runs in five seasons.

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Shout out to Mel Hall and Bill Pecota

Mel Hall had the most plate appearances and at bats against Randy Johnson without striking out (18 plate appearances/16 at bats).  He did, however, have just three singles and two walks (.188) average.  Second in both plate appearances and at bats versus Johnson without a whiff was Bill Pecota (16/11). Pecota had four hits and two walks (.364).

Hall, an outfielder, put up a .276-134-620 line in 13 MLB seasons, while Pecota (infielder) hit .249-22-148 in nine MLB seasons.

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Outfield – Manny Ramirez … RHH, 6′, 225 lbs. (17 RBI in 20 regular season games versus Randy Johnson)

No hitter drove in more regular season runs versus Randy Jonson than Manny Ramirez, who drove in 17 tallies in 20 games. His five regular-season home runs off the Big Unit is tied for second among all hitters. Overall Manny went 14-for-50 versus Johnson, with nine of those 14 safeties going for extra bases.

How About a Mulligan for 1995?

In 1995, Manny Ramirez faced Randy Johnson in just one regular-season game – going zero-for-four with two strikeouts.  They matched up again in the AL Championship Series (Ramirez’ Indians versus Johnson’s Mariners) and Ramirez recorded six plate appearance against Johnson – going 0-for-6 with tree whiffs.

Manny Ramirez had a 190-season MLB career (1993-2011 … Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers, Rays, White Sox). He hit .312, with 555 home runs and 1,831 RBI. He was a 12-tie All Star and the 2002 AL Batting champ. He also led his league in home runs and RBI once each. Ramirez hit 30+ home runs in 12 seasons, drove om 100+ runs in 12 seasons and hit .300+ in 11 full campaigns.  He also hit .285-29-78 in 111 post-season games – and was the 2004 World Series MVP.

Other outfielders, I took a long hard look at: Alex Rios (.500 average … 7-for-14) versus Johnson; Carlos Beltran (.409-1-8 in eight games versus Johnson); and Ellis Burks (.281-3-13 in 12 games);

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Not Again!

Jason LaRue had a tough time against Randy Johnson. He struck out the first seven times he faced him – getting to two-ball count only once. He tightened up after that going ground out, fly out, sacrifice in his final three plate appearance versus Johnson. LaRue, by the way, hit .231 over a 12-season MLB career (922 games)

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Pitcher – Seth McClung … LHH/RHP, 6’6″, 280 lbs. (Johnson never got him out)

Seth McClung only found himself matched up against Randy Johnson in one contest, it came on June 3 2008 and McClung got the win, pitching six innings of one-run ball in a 7-1 Brewers ‘win over the Diamondbacks. At the plate, McClung wen 2-for-2 versus Johnson (both singles).

BIG Time Match up

When Brewer Seth McClung started against Randy Johnson and the Diamondbacks, it was a BIG mound confrontation.  The two pitchers stood a combined 13′ 4″ tall and weighed a combined 505 lbs.

McClung’s career mound record (2003, 2005-09 … Devil Rays/Brewers) was 26-34, 5.46.)  At the plate he was five for 27 (.185).

O-Fer Pete’s Sake

When it comes to pitcher futility (in the batter’s box) versus Johnson, we might look to Tom Glavine who had 14 regular-seasons career at bats (17 plate appearances) versus Johnson and fanned ten times. He did draw a pair of walks and put down one successful sacrifice. For his career, Glavine had a regular-season average of .186 (246-for-1,323). 

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The inspiration for this post – looking at some of MLB’s lost records – is Hugh “Losing Pitcher” Mulcahy. Here’s why.

Mulcahy “enjoyed” a nine-season major league career (1935-47, minus five WWII years), primarily for the Phillies. He was given the unfortunate nickname “Losing Pitcher” by Philadelphia sportswriters for the frequency “LP” appeared beside his name in box score. That moniker (as you will see as you read on) was overly critical.  Still, Mulcahy ran up a career record of 45-89, with a 4.49 ERA, leading the NL in losses twice, hits allowed once, earned runs allowed twice, walks allowed once, hit batsmen twice and wild pitches once.

So, why does BBRT say that nickname may have been overlay critical? Keep in mind that in his peak years (1937-1940 – when Mulcahy went 40-76; a .345 winning percentage), Mulcahy’s Phillies’ squads went 201-406 (.331 percentage).  Notably, he made one MLB All Star team – in 194o, when he led the NL with 22 losses (versus 13 wins), despite a respectable 3.60 ERA. (That season the MLB earned run average was 4.11.)

A Phillie in the Philippines

Hugh Mulcahy was the first MLB regular to be drafted for service in World War II. A National League All Star in 1940, Mulcahy was inducted on March 8, 1941. He served 53 months in the U.S. Army, including time in New Guinea and the Philippines, missing nearly five full seasons.  He was drafted at age 27, and missed what should have been his prime season. Returning to MLB in 1945, Mulcahy pitched in just 23 more MLB games (1945-47).

In this post, BBRT will take a look at some additional pitchers, who made a notable mark in the “lost” column.

Note:  For a post outlining BBRT’s Best and Worst Nickname lineups, click here.  Spoiler.  Lou Gehrig plays first base in both lineups based on a pair of nicknames he carried – “Biscuit Pants” and “Iron Man.” 

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Terry Felton – Most MLB Career Losses Without Ever Reaching the “W” Column (16)

Terry Felton was drafted right out of high school (by the Minnesota Twins) in the second round of the 1976 MLB draft. He began his professional career at age 18 and made his MLB debut on September 28, 1979 (as a 21-year old).  Before being called up, he had gone 26-34, 3.50 in four minor league campaigns.

Felton made just one appearance for the Twins in 1979 and it was promising – two innings pitched (versus the Brewers), six up, six down and one strikeout.  Felton opened the season with the Twins in 1980 and his first start (April 14) also showed promise.  He went a strong seven innings (six hits, three earned runs, one walk, three strikeouts) in a Twins ‘5-3 road win versus the Angels.  (Felton left the game with the Twins trailing 3-0. but Minnesota scored five runs over the last two inning for the victory.) Things started to unravel from there.  In his next three starts, Felton lasted a total of 9 2/3 innings, giving up 12 runs (eight earned), on 11 hits and seven walks, while fanning ten) – picking up his first three career losses.

Felton spent most of the rest of the season in the minors, appearing in just one more game for the Twins, giving up three runs in one inning of relief on May 2. He also appeared in just one game at the major-league level in 1981, giving up six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. In those two seasons, he went 14-19, 4.09 for the AAA Toledo Mudhens.

In 1982, he stuck with the big club, appearing in 48 games (six starts); while he often showed “swing-and-miss” stuff, he had command issues (in 117 1/3 innings, he fanned 92 batters, but also walked 76 and hit four).  Felton also had a little trouble keeping the ball in the park, giving up 18 home runs.   He finished the season 0-13, with a 4.99 ERA (three saves). How much did his command issues affect his outcomes?  Hard to say, but American League hitters batted just .230 against him that season (as compared to an overall league average of .264).

Felton played two more minor-league seasons, but did not appear in the major league after 1982  His final MLB stat line: no wins, 16 losses, three saves and a 5.53 ERA in 55 appearances.

As you will see is often the case for the pitchers appearing in this post, the teams they played for had an impact on their (lack of) success. In Felton’s 0-16 season, for example, the Twins were a woeful 60-102 (5-43 in games in which Felton appeared).  Felton, by the way, was 0-7, 5.79 in ten career starts and 0-9, 5.40 in 45 relief appearances.

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Anthony Young – Most Consecutive MLB Losses Between Wins (27)

From May 6, 1992 to July 24 1993, Mets’ righty Anthony Young lost a record 27 consecutive decisions.  There was a lot of (bad) luck involved in setting this dubious record.  Consider, for example, that his streak included a stretch in which he threw 23 2/3 scoreless innings (without picking up a win), as well as a game (loss number 26 on July 7, 1993) in which he retired 23 of the first 24 batters he faced.  With two outs in the bottom of the eighth (against the Padres), Young had allowed just one base runner (a single to lead off the game), while fanning seven.  At that point, however, the game was tied at zero and Young’s mound opponent (Andy Benes) was in the process of pitching a one-hit, complete-game shutout.  Young ultimately gave up a single and home run and ended up with a 2-0 loss (three hits, two runs, no walks, seven strikeouts over eight innings).

Just One Win Could Save Me

Anthony Young’s 27-decision losing streak included a stretch from July 7 through August 28,1992, when (as the Met’s closer) he pitched 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and recorded 12 saves in 12 opportunities.

Now for some background.  The right-handed Young was selected in the 38^th round of the 1987 MLB draft (by the Mets) out of the University of Houston (where he played football and baseball.)  He made his professional debut in 1987, at age 21 (A Level). In 1990, he had his best professional season, going 15-3, 1.65 in 23 starts at Double A.  The following season, he was 7-9, 3.73 in 25 starts at Triple A, earning an August call up to the Mets.

Young made his MLB debut on August 5, 1991 – pitching 2 1/3 innings of one-run relief in a Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Cubs.  He pitched in ten games for the Mets that season (eight starts) and put up a 2-5 record, with a 3.10 ERA.

In 1992, he started the season with the Mets and after five appearances (two starts), he was a solid 2-0, 3.26.  On May 6, he took his first loss of the season giving up five runs in six innings in a 5-3 loss to the Reds.  Little did he know that it would be 76 more appearances and 26 more losses before he would see a “W” next to his name again.

Young really didn’t pitch like an 0-27 hurler during the streak. (He put up a 4.36 ERA during the span.) You have to allow for the fact that he was pitching for a Mets’ team that went 72-90 in 1992 and 50-103 in 1993.  During Young’s 27-loss streak, the Mets went 90-144 (and Young saved 16 of those wins).

Bad Luck CAN be Better than No Luck at All

Ironically, it took a bit of bad luck to bring Young’s losing streak to end. In a July 28, 1993 game against the Marlins, Young was summoned to the mound to open the top of the ninth with the game knotted at three runs apiece.  The Marlins scratched out an unearned run to take a 4-3 lead (and put Young in line for a 28^th consecutive losing decision).  However, the Mets came back with two in the bottom of the ninth to give Young (who had finished the top of the inning) the win.

During his streak, Young showed true balance – going 0-14 as a starter and 0-13 as a reliever. He did, however, put up a 3.51 ERA in 60 relief appearances, versus a 5.01 ERA in 17 starts. For his MLB career (1991-1996, Mets/Cubs/Astros), Young went 15-48, 3,89 in 181 appearances (51 starts). Notably, in 1993, when he went 1-16, his ERA was 3.77, compared to an overall National League ERA of 4.04. He clearly deserved better.

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Jack Nabors – Most Consecutive Losses in a Single Season (19)

Right-hander Jack Nabors made his debut on August 9, 1915 – at age 27 – with the Philadelphia Athletics.  He earned his call up with a 12-1 season at the D-Level Georgia-Alabama League (Talladega Tigers/Newman Coweta)– a stint which included a 13-inning, complete-game, no-hit, no-walk, 11-strikeout victory (two batters reached on errors). Things did not go well for Nabors at the MLB-level. He went 0-5, 5.50 in ten appearances for the lowly Athletics (who finished with a 43-109 record).

The following season started off better for Nabors. After three starts, he had a 1-1 record with a 1.42 earned run average – but he was still pitching for the inept Athletics (who would finish the season 36-117).  Little did Nabors know that his April 22, 1916 victory over the eventual 1916 World Series Champion Red Sox would be the only time he would notch a “W” in his MLB career.  After his win on April 22, Nabors would take the hill 37 more times in 1916 – going a 0-19.

The Sad Case of Jack Nabors

Consider this. In nine of his 20 losses in 1916, Jack Nabors pitched seven or more innings and gave up two or fewer earned runs.  Or this. In 15 of his 20 losses, the Athletics scored two or fewer runs in the game; being shutout I five of those contests. 

On the season, Nabors was 1-20, with a 3.47 earned run average – slightly better than the league ERA of 3.68.

In 1917, Nabors started the season with the Athletics, but was traded to Indianapolis of the Double-A American Association after just two appearances.  Indianapolis sent him on the Denver of the Single-A Western League, where his 9-17 record did include a no-hitter.  1918 saw him make brief appearances in with Indianapolis and with Sioux City of the Western League before enlisting in the U.S. Army. During his Army stint, he came down with the flu (influenza epidemic of 1918-19) and would never pitch again.  He died of tuberculosis in 1923 at the age of 35.

Nabors career MLB mark was 1-25, with a 3.97 earned run average in 52 games (37 starts).

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John Coleman – Most Losses in a Season (48)

Library of Congress.

John Coleman was a 20-year-old rookie for the 1883 Philadelphia Quakers – a squad that finished the National League season with a dismal 17-81 record. Coleman started 61 of those games and appeared on the mound in 65 – going 12-48, with a 4.87 ERA.  He led the league in hits allowed (772), runs allowed (510) earned runs allowed (291) and home runs allowed (17) – while pitching 538 innings.  He also appeared in 31 games as an outfielder and one at second base. The game was indeed different then.

Like a Broken Record

John Coleman holds the MLB single-season record for runs allowed, earned runs allowed, hits allowed and losses – all set in 1883.

In 1884, Coleman started 21 games on the mound (relieving in three more) and went 5-17, 4.72. He also appeared in 51 games in the OF, and four at 1B. He played six more MLB seasons, primarily as an OF, appearing on the mound in just 18 more contests.  For his career, Coleman was 23-72, 4.68.  As a hitter, he was .257-7-29 in 629 games.

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Vic Willis – Most Losses in a Season Since 1900 (29)

Library of Congress .

When the 1905 season rolled around, Boston Beaneaters’ RHP Vic Willis was already a four-time 20-game winner. However, he had also led the NL in losses in 1905, going 18-25. 2.85 for a Boston team that went 55-98.  (Note: The NL ERA in 1904 was 2.73). It was more of the same for Willis in 1905, when he went 12-29, 3.21 (the league average ERA was 2.99) and the Beaneaters were 51-103 – finishing last in run scored (averaging just 3.0 runs per game – the league-topping Giants average 5.1 RPG).

Fate smiled on Willis the next season, as he was traded the Pittsburgh Pirate, where he went on to four consecutive 20-win seasons (a four-year record of 89-46, 2.08) forging his Hall of Fame resume.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 (Veteran’s Committee), Willis finished with a 13-season MLB record of 249-205, 2.63.  He was an eight-time 20-game winner, one-time ERA leader, two-time leader in complete games and one-time leader in strikeouts.

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Bobo Newsom, Pedro Ramos, Phil Niekro – Most Seasons Leading the League in Losses (4)

Bobo Newsom

Of the three MLB pitchers who led their leagues in losses four times, two did it while playing with with one team/franchise and in four consecutive seasons. The one who accomplished the feat first, however, spaced his four loss-leading seasons  over a span of 11 years and four different teams.  That was right-hander Bobo Newsom – a large, tough and colorful right-hander who lasted 20 MLB seasons, pitched for nine different teams and picked up 211 wins and 222 losses along the way.

How much of a workhorse was Newsom?  He not only notched 433 decisions (211-222) on the major-league level, but had a 139-105 minor league record. Newsom took the mound as a professional every season from 1928 through 1953.

Newsom started his professional career in 1928 (as a 20-year-old). In his early minor-league campaigns, Newsom showed notable potential earning (very) brief call ups to the big leagues in 1929 and 1930 (Dodgers) and 1932 Cubs. In 1933, he really punched his ticket to the big leagues with a 30-11, 3.18 record for the LA Angels of the Pacific Coast League. In 1934, he was pitching for the Saint Louis Browns – going 16-20, 4.01 and leading the AL in losses for the first time.  (The Browns went 67-85 that season.) Still, he led the Browns in wins, earned run average, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and (retroactively determined) even saves. The following season, Newsom started 0-6 for the Browns and was sold to the Washington Senators  in May.  He went 11-12 for the Senators (who finished 67-86) and his 18 losses again led the league.

Newsom went on to pitch a total of twenty seasons in the major leagues (for nine different franchises) – often suiting up for second-division squads. Still, when he had a solid team behind him, he showed what he could do. In 1940, for example, pitching for the first-place Tigers, Newsom went 21-5, with a 2.83 ERA. The very next season, as Detroit slumped to a fourth-place (75-79 season), Newsom went 12-20, 4.60 and led the AL in losses. He would top his league in the “L”column one more time.  In 1945, toiling for the last-place  Philadelphia Athletics, Newsom put up a 8-20, 3.29 record.

On the Big Stage

In the 1940 World Series, as his Tigers lost to the Reds four games to three, Bobo Newsom pitched three complete games, winning tw0.  He gave up just four runs over 26 innings (1.38 ERA) on 18 hits and four walks, while striking out 17.

Over his career, Bobo Newsom was a four-time All Star and three-time 20-game winner. He led his league in games started four times, complete games twice and innings pitched once. His career MLB record was 211-222, 3.96 with 600 appearances and 246 complete games in 483 starts.

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Pedro Ramos

Cuban-born Pedro Ramos led the American League in losses four consecutive seasons (1958-61 -… Senators Twins).  Over those four seasons, his teams finished a combined 88 games under .500.

In 1959, Pedro Ramos made  his only All Star team.  That season, he was 9-7, 4.29 at the break. Ramos went 4-12, 3.95 over the second half and his 19 losses led the league. For his career, Ramos was 117-160, 4.08; posting a winning record in two of 15 campaigns.

Pedro Ramos’ Day(s) in the Sun

Pedro Ramos did find success as a reliever for the Yankees.  Traded from the Indians to the Yankees in September of 1964, Ramos notched one victory and eight saves for the Bombers in the stretch drive (13 appearances, 1.25 ERA) – helping New York hold off the White Sox (who finished just a game behind). Ramos went on to save 18 games for New York in 1965 and another 13 for the Yankees in 1966.

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A Special for BBRT’s Minnesota Readers – a Different Kind of Last-to-First

When the Senators moved to Minnesota, Ramos did make a bit of  Senators/Twins’ history. On October 2, 1960, Ramos pitched the original Washington’s franchise’s last official game – going the distance in a 2-1 loss (four-hits, one earned run) to the Orioles in Baltimore.

On April 11, 1961 Ramos was the starting pitcher in the Twins’ first-ever MLB game. Opening against the Yankees in New York, Ramos started the franchise off on the right foot, pitching a three-hit, complete-game shutout in a 6-0 win.

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Phil Niekro

Future Hall of Famer Phil “Knucksie” Niekro finished his MLB career (1964-87) with 318 wins (274 losses) and a 3.35 ERA. The knuckleball specialist  started a lot of games and tossed a ton of innings. One particularly notable stretch included four consecutive seasons (1977-80), when he pitched for a Braves’ team that went a combined 277-368.  Niekro led the league in games started and losses all four years and in complete games and innings pitched in three of the four seasons (as well as in strikeouts once.)

Niekro was a well-rounded athlete, playing  baseball basketball and football in high school – going 17-1 as a high school pitcher. He was signed by the Braves out of a tryout camp in July of 1958 and made is professional debut at Class D Wellsville in 1959 and reached the major leagues (as a Milwaukee Brave) in 1964.  In his first three seasons with the Braves, he was used primarily as a reliever (79 appearances/one start), going 6-6, 3.54 with eight saves.  In 1967, he finally got a shot at starting in the major leagues (he had been a starter in the minors), moving from the pen to the rotation in June. He tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout in his first 1967 start (June 13). The rest is, well, history,  Niekro finished  the 1967 season at 11-9, with ten complete games in 20 starts.  His 1.87 ERA in 207 innings was the best among league qualifiers. He was on his way – starting 30 or more games in 18 of the next 19 seasons.

Every Coin has Two Sides

In 1979, Phil Niekro led the National League with 20 losses, but he also led the league in victories (21) – the most recent pitcher to lead his league in both categories in the same season.  As a further twist, Niekro actually tied for the NL lead in wins with his brother Joe, who was 21-11 for the Houston Astros.

In a 24-season MLB career, Niekro was an All Star five times, led his league in wins twice, wining percentage once, ERA once, games started four times, complete games four times, innings pitched four times and strikeouts once.  In true knuckler fashion, he also led the league in walks, wild pitches and hit batsmen three times each. He also won five Gold Gloves.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com;  Baseball-Almanac.com; Jack Nabors, by Stephen V. Rice (SABR); Bobo, Newsom, by Ralph Berger (SABR).

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