It’s October 1, and that means it’s time for the Baseball Roundtable monthly Wrap Up for September – a look at the stories and statistics that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month, as well as the standings, Roundtable Players and Pitchers of the Month, the Trot Index and more. Keep in mind, the stats presented are for September only and do not include games of October 1.

As usual, there a few things unusual over the past thirty days:

• The first rookie with a 25-50 season and the first-ever 40-70 campaign (HR/SB);
• A 200th career win and a 400th career home run;
• New records set for home runs and RBI out of the leadoff spot;
• A rookie getting on base via hit or walk in each of his first 29 games (streak still active);
• A team holding their opponents hitless for 10+ innings and still losing the contest;
• A player (an infielder no less) connecting for a home run in four consecutive innings ; and
• More.

Read on for these highlights – and the more. As usual, we’ll start with Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH

September 2023

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of the Month … Xander Bogaerts, SS, Padres

Padres’ SS Xander Bogaerts delivered that “shiny thing” that gets Baseball Roundtable’s attention – a .400+ average. Bogaerts hit .416 in September, leading all MLBers with at least 50 at bats.  His 42 base hits also led MLB and he delivered ten doubles (also leading MLB), two triples, four home runs, 13 RBI and 25 runs scored (third in MLB). In addition, he swiped six bases in six attempts. Bogaerts collected hits in all but three of his 24 September games and had 12 multi-hit games. From September 15-20, he had six consecutive multi-hit games, going 14-for-27 (.519).  Bogaerts finished September with a .285-19-58 line on the season (19 steals). (Side note: Marlins’ SS Jon Berti hit .417 in September, but his 48 at bats fell just short of The Roundtable’s 50 at bat cutoff.)

Honorable Mentions:  Lot of deserving players here. Another Padre, LF Juan Soto hit .340 and led MLB with 29 September RBI (26 games). His ten home runs were third in MLB and his 26 runs scored were second. In addition, he swiped six bags. He gets extra credit for walking more times (18) than he fanned (15). Soto had five three-hit games in September.

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Juan Soto had a 36-plate appearance streak – from September 13 to his fifth at bat September 23 – when he did not strikeout.

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The Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. averaged .343 for the month, scored 29 runs (leading MLB) and delivered 23 RBI.  His 11 September homers tied teammate Matt Olson for the MLB high. He also stole 11 bags in 14 tries.   A shout out also goes to to Reds’ CF TJ Freidl, who had a .333-7-18 month, and had three September triples as well.

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Pitcher of the Month: Blake Snell, LHP, Padres

An easy choice. Blake Snell was masterful in September, putting up an MLB-best (among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched during the month) 0.58 earned run average in 31 innings (and topping the NL in strikeouts with 41). That earned him a 3-0 record in five starts. Snell gave up just 13 hits in his 31 innings (a .123 opponents’ batting average), although he did walk 14.  He gave up a run (two actually) in just one of his five September starts. Snell closed out September at 14-9, 2.25 on the season.

Honorable Mentions:  Braves’ southpaw Max Fried went 3-0, 1.88 in four starts, fanning 27 batters in 24 innings; Marlins’ lefty closer Tanner Scott went 3-1, 1,65, with nine saves in 13 appearances and struck out 20 batters, with just one walk, over 16 1/3 innings.

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Tie: Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros & Marcus Semien, 2B, Rangers

Jose Altuve’s 32 September hits were just one off the American League lead – as  he put up a .308-7-17 stat line, with 18 runs scored, in 25 September games. Altuve had ten multi-hit games in September. As September came to a close, Altuve was .312-17-51, with 14 steals in 89 games this season.

On September 5, Altuve went three-for-five, with three home runs (out of the leadoff spot), as his Astros topped Texas 14-1.

Rangers’ 2B Marcus Semien was an offensive force with  .292 average with a league-topping (tied) nine homers, 19 RBI and an AL-highest (tied) September 23 runs scored. Semien had a pair of two-homer games in September. He finished September at .278-29-100, with 14 steals on the season.

Honorable Mention:  Twins’ rookie infielder Royce Lewis went .313-6-23 in an injury-shortened month.

 

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Pitcher of the Month – Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers

Tarik Skubal went 4-0, 0.90 in five September starts (and, remember, he was pitching for the Tigers). His ERA was second only to Blake Snell among pitchers with at least 20 September innings. He also fanned 43 batters (second only to the Rays’ Tyler Glasnow‘s 48) and walked just four in 30 innings. His 0.60 WHIP was the lowest among pitchers with at least 20 September innings, and he held hitter to a .135 average. In his lone September no-decision, Skubal went four innings, giving up just two hits (no runs), while walking none and fanning eight.  He finished September at 7-3, 2.80 (with 15 starts this season).

Honorable Mentions:  Yankees’ RHP Gerrit Cole went 3-0, 1.03 in five September starts , including a two-hit, complete-game shutout (versus the Blue Jays) in his last start.

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Surprise Player of the Month – Reese Olson, RHP, Tigers

A 24-year-old righty, Reese Olson made his MLB debut on June 2 – called up from Triple-A Toledo (where he was 2-3, 6.38 in ten starts). The 13^th Round draft pick (out of North Hall High School in Gainesville, GA,) came into September with a 2-6, 5.10 record, but he turned on the after burners in the season’s final full month – going 3-1, 1.44 in five starts, including a six-inning one-run outing versus the powerful Dodgers.  In September, Olson putting up a 0.77 WHIP and held hitters to a .147 average.

 

 

 

 

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through September,  35.7 percent of the MLB season’s 182,977 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.7%); walks (8.6%); home runs (3.2%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits 41,560 – 40,618.

The 35.7 percent figure is up from 2022’s full season 34.6 percent.  Other recent seasons: 2021 – 36.3 percent; 2020 –  37.3 percent;  2019 – 36.2 percent; and 2018 – 34.8 percent.  By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.  

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Observations:  There were only a handful  surprises in September.

First, the AL Central – that nobody seemed to want to win – suddenly came alive.  The Twins took charge with an 18-9 month and seemed to be hitting on all four-, six- or eight-cylinders (depending on what kind of car you have).  Offensively, they led MLB in runs scored for the month; were third in home runs (second in the AL); first in MLB in on-base percentage and walks drawn; third in total bases (first in the AL). On the mound, they were third in the AL in earned run average (seventh in MLB); second overall (and in the AL) in strikeouts; and gave up the fewest walks in the AL (second in MLB). They had MLB’s (and the AL’s) second-best September strikeouts-to-walks ratio and strikeouts per nine innings.  Key contributors were: 3B Royce Lewis (.313-6-23 in just 18 games); RF Max Kepler (.287-3-16); OF/3B Willi Castro (.312, with 18 runs scored) – and the list goes on.  In fact, seven Twins had 10+ September RBI and nine scored 10+ runs. On the hill, nine Twins’ pitchers put up ERA’s under 3.00 and seven held hitters to an under .200 average.  Don’t count them out in October.

The Tigers surprised a lot of people with their 17-10 month – led by some sterling young pitching: Tarik Skubal  (4-0, 0.90 in five starts) and Reese Olson (3-1, 1.44 in five starts) – and an offense driven in part by  24-year-old  1B Spencer Torkelson (.255-7-25 in September) and 40-year-old DH Miguel Cabrera (.324-1-10 during the month).  The Bengals also got a .297-5-11 month from C Jake Rogers and twenty runs scored from RF Matt Vierling.

The AL West was a surprise in that only the Rangers were above .500 for the month (15-13) – moving past the Mariners and Astros in a tight race.  The Orioles, notching their 100th win are no longer a surprise.

Over in the NL, the Padres had a solid 19-7 September, but their move was too late . Meanwhile the Braves, Brewers and Dodgers played well enough to hold off the competiti0n.

–——Team  Statistical Leaders for September  2023 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League –  Braves (160); Cubs (151); Dodgers (147); Padres (146)

American League – Twins (173); Orioles (143); Rangers (143)

The fewest runs in September were scored by the White Sox (82). In the National League, it was the Giants at 92.  Also under 100 runs were the Angels (94) and  A’s (99).

AVERAGE

National League – Braves (.275); Marlins (.271); Padres (.269)

American League – Astros (.265); Royals (.263); Guardians (.261)

The lowest team average for September belonged to the Angels at .220. The lowest in the NL was the Cardinals (.221). 

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (52); Phillies (46); Reds (43)

American League –  Rangers (49); Twins (46); Astros (43)

The Guardians had the fewest home runs in September at 20.  The Diamondbacks were at the bottom of the NL at 21.

The Braves led MLB in slugging percentage for at .502.  The Astros led the AL at .475. 

STOLEN BASES

National League – Phillies (39); Reds (32); Padres (32)

American League – Guardians (38); Royals (31); A’s (25)

The White Sox stole the fewest sacks in Septembers  – six  in eleven  attempts.   The Giants were at the bottom of the NL, with 10  in 13  attempts. 

WALKS DRAWN

National League –   Cardinals (113); Brewers (109); Phillies (107)

American League  Twins (125); Rangers (124); Blue Jays (109)

The Twins  led MLB in on-base percentage for September at .355. The Reds led the NL  at .349.  The White Sox  had MLB’s lowest  OBP for September at .269.  The Nationals were at the bottom of the NL at .294. Six of the bottom seven in OBP were from the American League: White Sox; Angels; A’s; Red Sox; Mariners; Yankees.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Phillies (281); Rockies (264); Pirates (264)

American League – Mariners (274); Yankees (273); Red Sox (272)

Astros’ batters fanned the fewest times in September (181). The Nationals fanned the fewest times in the NL at 195. While the Phillies led MLB in September whiffs, the next five teams were from the AL: Mariners; Yankees; Red Sox; A’s; Angels. 

 Bonus Stats:

• Braves’ batters racked up the most total bases in July at 499.  The White Sox were at the bottom of MLB at 310. 
• The Marlins were successful on all 20 of their September steal attempts. The only team with a 100% success rate.

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Brewers (2.77); Padres (3.36); Mets (.347)

American League –  Tigers (3.00); Orioles (3.30); Twins (3.64)

The Rockies had the highest September ERA at 6.52.  Nine  teams were at 5.00+ including the Rockies and the Nationals (5.51); Reds (5.49); Braves (5.45); Rangers (5.31); Cardinals (5.23); Pirates (5.14); White Sox (5.08); Royals (5.00).

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Braves (266); Phillies (264); Dodgers (260)

American League –  Rays (304); Twins (279); Blue Jays (267)

The Rays averaged an MLB-best 11.15 strikeouts per nine innings in September. The Braves averaged an NL-best 9.54.  Fourteen teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better. 

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League  – Giants (56); Dodgers (71); Diamondbacks (82)

American League – Rays (66); Twins (66); Orioles (67)

The Giants walked an MLB-lowest 2.16 batters per nine innings in September.  The A’s walked an MLB-worst 4.73 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Pirates (10); Braves (10); Marlins (10)

American League – Yankees (11); Guardians (8); Tigers (8); Royals (8); Rays (8)

The Cubs blew the most saves in August  – recoding just six saves in 16 opportunities.

Bonus Stats:

• The Braves gave up an MLB-high 47 home runs in September. (Interestingly, the Braves gave up an MLB-low 25 in August).   The Mets gave up an MLB-low 42 home runs in September.
• The Brewers held opponents to an MLB-low .202 average in September – after holding opponents to an MLB-low .206 average in August. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .306 average in September.
• The Rays strikeouts-to-walks ratio for September topped MLB at 4.61. The A’s had MLB’s worse ratio at 1.65.

–—-SEPTEMBER 2023 HIGHLIGHTS —–

 

A First (homer) on the First (swing) of the First (at bat) . which happened to be on the  on the First (of the month)

Twenty-year-old switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez made his MLB debut on September 1, playing CF and batting fifth for the Yankees (playing in Houston). His first MLB at bat came against none other than three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.  After letting a  first pitch curve go by for a strike, he took is first MLB swing at Verlander’s next offering – a 94 mph fastball – and smacked his first MLB home run.

Dominguez, by the way, was heralded as a five-tool player  ranked as the Yankees’ second-best prospect.  In his first eight games with the Yankees he hit .258, with four home runs and seven RBI. However, a scan on September 10 revealed an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery and he is now out for nine-to-ten months.

It Took Two Days, but it Was Worth It

This highlight started in the ninth inning of the Astros’ September fifth 13-6 win over the Rangers in Texas.  Astros’ 2B Jose Altuve, who had already gone deep in the sixth inning, finished off the Astros’ scoring with a solo home run off Martin Perez in the top of the ninth.

Fast forward to the very next day – Astros at Rangers again. Altuve led off the first inning with a home run off Nathan Eovaldi. He homered again the second inning (a solo shot with one out) off Eovaldi. Then, he added a homer in the third inning, this time a two-run shot off Dane Dunning.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that made Altuve the first player in the “Expansion Era” (since 1961) to homer in four consecutive innings.  More “InBaseballWeCountEverything.”  Altuve also tied the MLB record with five homers in a two-game span.

A Nice Round Number

On September 5, as the Yankees topped the Tigers 5-1, in New York, Yankee DH Giancarlo Stanton broke up 1-1 tie with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.  It was the 22nd long ball of the season for Stanton and the 400^th of his  14-season MLB career. Stanton is a five-time All Star, the 2017 National League MVP (Marlins).  He has hit 30+ homers in seven seasons (a high of 59 in 2017), led the league in homers twice and drove in 100 or more runs in three campaigns.

Let’s Get This Party Started

Angels 1b/1B Nolan Schanuel was the 11^th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft (after putting up a .386-46-176 stat line in three college seasons at Florida Atlantic). Forty days and 22 minor-league games later, he was in the big leagues – and he’s not slowing down a bit.  He made his debut August 18 and quickly ran off a ten-game hitting streak to start his MLB career. His first hitless game came on September 1, but he got on base via a walk in that contest,  In fact, as of September 29, he had appeared in 29 MLB gams and been on base via hit or walk in every one.  His 2023 stat line as of September 30 – 29 games,  .275-1-6, with 19 runs, 20 walks and 19 strikeouts.

Happy Birthday, Joey!

On Sunday, September 10, Reds 1B Joey Votto celebrated his fortieth birthday in style – leading off the eighth inning with a home run off the Cardinals’ Andrew Suarez (part of a 7-1 Reds Win in in St. Louis).  It was Votto’s 14^th long ball of the season and the 356^th homer of his 17-season MLB career. Votto is a six-time All Star and was the 2010 National League MVP.

A Tough Way To Lose

On September 10, three Brewers hurlers (Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams, Abner Uribe) held the Yankees not just scoreless – but hitless – over the first ten innings at Yankee Stadium. The Brewers, however, had managed just three hits and no runs.

The Brewers scored in the top of the eleventh – a single plating that “placed” runner. (Don’t even get me started on that.) The Yankees also plated their gift runner in the bottom of the inning.

Each team scored twice in the twelfth, before the Yankees finally won it 4-3 in the thirteenth – with five of the seven total runs scored being  ‘gifted” baserunners.” (Okay, that got me started.)

And a Happy Birthday to you, too, Freddie!

Dodgers’ 1B Freddie Freeman turned 34 on September 12th, but he didn’t show his age. In an 11-2 Dodgers win against the Padres (in LA), Freeman went four-for-five, with a homer, a double, four runs scored and two RBI. It was the fourth time Freeman has gone yard on his birthday – one shy of the MB record (more #InBaseballWeCountEverything).

It’s A Grand Old Game

On September 15, Twins’ 24-year-oold rookie infielder Royce Lewis laced a second-inning Grand Slam off of The White Sox’ Jesse Scholtens – breaking a 0-0 tie and starting the Twins toward a 10-2 victory in Chicago. And the Grand Slam was one of the record books.

• It was Lewis fourth grand slam in 18 games – shortest span of games for four Grand Slams in MLB history;
• It gave Lewis a share of the record for most Grand Slams by a rookie in a season;
• It gave Lewis the Twins’ franchise record for Grand Slams in a season.

Here a list of Lewis 2023 Grand Slams:

August 27, sixth inning  – off the Rangers’ Chris Stratton;

August 28, second inning – off the Guardians’ Xzavion Curry (gotta be the only MLBer whose first name starts XZ);

September 4, second inning – off the Guardians’ Lucas Giolito;

September 15, second inning – off the White Sox’ Jesse Scholtens.

Side Note; Lewis also had a Grand slam in 2022, when he played only 12 games (keeping his rookie status intact), giving him five Grand Slams in his first 66 MLB games,

Lewis, hampered by injury concerns, finished the 2023 season with a .309-15-52 stat line in just 58 games.

Sometimes It’s Not So Grand 

When Twins’ C Ryan Jeffers watched a called third strike from Angels’ righthander Andrew Wantz – in the second inning of a Twins 9-3 win over the Angels on September 24, it marked a not so grand MLB moment.  It was the Twins hitters’ 1,597th strikeout of the season – setting a new MLB single-season record. Notably, the Twins winning record this season is the exception, rather than the rule, among MLB’s top swing-and-miss teams.

A Braves New World

On September 16, as the Braves lost to the Marlins 11-5 in Miami, Braves’1B Matt Olson  went two-for-three with a home run .  It was his 52nd long ball of the season and gave him the Braves franchise single-season record for home runs (topping Andruw Jones … 51 in 2005). Olson, finished September with a .282-54-137 stat line (all career highs).  In fact, with one game left to play, Olson had reached career highs in hits, runs scored, triples, homers, total bases, RBI and average.  Note: On September 28, Olson drove in his 135^th and 136^th runs of the season, setting a modern-era (post 1900) franchise record for RBI (topping Eddie Mathews 135 in 1953).

The Time is WainwRIGHT

On September 18, Cardinals’ righthander Adam Wainwright – in his 18^th MLB season – came into his start against the Brewers with a sore right shoulder and a back impacted by the wear and tear of more than 2,500 MLB innings.  He had 199 MLB wins and a career 3.54 earned run average on his resume – but a 4-11, 7.95 record on the 2023 season.  On this day, Wainwright captured some of the old magic. He pitched seven strong innings (his longest start of the season), gave up just four hits (two walks) and held the Brewers scoreless (his first scoreless outing of the season) – as his Cardinals won 1-0.

The win, Wainwright’s 200^th MLB victory – proved to be his final MLB win. A few days later, Wainwright, who had already given notice that this would be his last season in uniform – confirmed that his back and shoulder issues would prevent him from taking the mound again begore retirement. (For trivia buffs, his last pitch was a 2-2 curveball to Brewers’ 3B Josh Donaldson (that Donaldson it for a flyout to center).

In the five seasons from 2009-214, Adam Wainwright went 92-50, 2.83 in 165 starts.

Wainwright will retire with a 200-128, 3.53 record. A three-time All Star, he twice led the NL in victories, owns a pair of Gold Gloves and three times finished in the top three in Cy Young Award voting. As a hitter, he homered on the very first pitch he ever saw (from the batter’s box) off the Giants’ Noah Lowry on May 24, 2006).  He went on to hit  .193, with ten homers and 75 RBI in 742 career at bats. For trivia buffs, what appears to be Adam Wainwright’s last MLB appearance was as a pinch hitter (in front of a Cardinals home crowd) in the sixth inning of a September 29 game against the Reds.  He hit for DH Luken Baker (in the cleanup spot) and grounded out against Brandon Williamson. (At the time, the Cardinals trailed 14-2.)

The Zero Heroes

September saw three complete-game shutouts.

September 8 – Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks, in a 1-0 win over the Cubs in Chicago. Gallen used 107 pitches, giving up three hits, walking one and fanning nine.

September 11 – Brian Woodruff, Brewers, in a 12-0 win over the Marlins in Milwaukee. Woodruff used 106 pitches to toss a seven-hitter, with one walk and seven whiffs.

September 27 – Gerrit Cole, Yankees, in a 6-0 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto.  Cole used 105 pitches, gave up two hits, walked none and fanned five.

Through September there were 21 single-pitcher shutouts in MLB. In 2022, there were 16.

Taking This Twins Thing Seriously

On September 17^th Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and his wife Allie added to their family with the birth of – of course – twins (both boys).

A Rookie First

On September 20, as the Diamondbacks topped the Giants  7-1 in Arizona, D-back’s rookie Corbin Carroll – starting in RF and leading off – had a big day. He went four-for-five, with a home run, three runs scored and two stolen baes. Not only did he lead the D-backs to a win, but he also hit his 25^th homer  of the season and stole his 49^th and 50^th bases – making him the first AL/NL rookie ever with a 25-50 season.

Another National Leaguer Goes “Clubbing”

On September 22, as the Braves topped the Nationals 9-6 in Washington D.C., Braves’ RF Ronald Acuna Jr. clubbed his 40th home run of the 2023 season. (He went two-for four, with a homer, double, hit-by-pitch, three runs scored and one RBI in the game). At the time, Acuna also had 68 stolen bases (in 81 attempts).  In the process, he became just the fifth member of the unique 40-40 club (forty homers and at least forty steals in the same season – joining Joe Canseco, A’s (42/40 in  1988); Barry Bonds, Giants (42/40 1996); Alex Rodriguez, Mariners (42/46 in 1998); Alfonso Soriano, Nationals (46/41 in  2006).

With that homer, Acuna also established a new exclusive club – the 40- homer/sixty-steal club. As September closed, they had to rename Acuna’s club the 40-70  Club (41 homers and 73 steals to go with a .338 average).

A Good Year to Lead Off

Ronald Acuna, Jr.’s September 22, home run gave him the record for home runs hit out of the leadoff spot in the  lineup in a single season at 40. In September 26, he extended that record to 41. As September closed, the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts had 39 home runs out of the leadoff spot this season, tying for second on the list.

Ditto the Above Headline

On September 23, Dodgers; 2B/OF Mookie Betts smacked a pair of doubles and drove in two runs, as the Dodgers topped the Giants 7-0 in LA.  Betts’ two RBI were his 104^th and 105^th of the season, giving him the single-season MLB record for RBI out of the leadoff spot. Charlie Blackman had held the record at 103 (2017). By September’s end Betts had extended his record to 107 RBI (.306-39-107).

Well, That’s Kind Of Surprising

On September 23, Aaron Judge had a big day versus the Diamondbacks (in New York).  Batting second and starting in RF for the Yankees, Judge:

• Doubled off Brandon Pfaadt in the bottom of the first inning;
• Hit a three-run homer to right-center off Pfaadt in the third;
• Hit a two-run homer off Pfaadt in the fifth;
• Hit a solo shot off Slade Cecconi in the seventh.

It was Judge’s second three-homer game of the 2023 season – which is why it is mentioned here.  Given a history that includes such sluggers as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle, it is surprising that Judge is the first Yankee with two three-homer games in a season. The Yankees, by the way, prevailed 7-1, with Judge collecting six RBI

More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

On September 24, with the Phillies leading the Mets 5-2 (in Philadelphia), the Phils called Mike Lorenzen in from the bullpen in the top of the ninth inning. Two groundouts and a strikeout later, Lorenzen had his first save of 2023. It came in just his second 2023 relief appearance – following 25 starts.  Why is it a highlight?  On August ninth, Lorenzen pitched a complete-game, no-hitter.  The save made him just the tenth  pitcher (since saves became an official stat in 1969) to toss a no-hitter and pick up a save in the same season.  Other names on the list Bob Moose (1969). Jim Bibby (1973); Nolan Ryan (1973); John Candelario (1973); Jerry Reuss (1976); Chris Bosio (1980); Matt Garza (1993); Tim Lincecum (2010).

They call Him the Streak

Between August 26 and September 27, the Padres’ Juan Soto ran off a streak of 30-games getting on base. During that streak her hit .349 (38-for-109), with 11 home runs, 32 RBI and 27 runs scored.,  He also drew 23 walks and was hit by a pitch (.463 on-base percentage).

 

–——Individual Statistical Leaders for September 2023——––

AVERAGE (minimum 75 September at  bats)

National League – Xander Bogaerts, Padres (.416); Noelvi Marte, Reds (.387); Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (.370)

American League –  Yandy Diaz, Rays (.345); Andres Gimenez, Guardians (.333); Josh Lowe, Rays (.318)

The lowest September average (among players with at least 50 at bats in the month)  belonged to Giants’ C Patrick Bailey  at .121 (7-for-58).

HOME RUNS

National League – Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (11); Matt Olson, Braves (11); Juan Soto, Padres (10); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (10)

American League – Marcus Semien, Rangers (9); Nelson Valazquez, Royals (9); Logan O’Hoppe, Angels (9)

The Dodgers J.D. Martinez had the highest September slugging percentage (at least 75 at bats) at .724.  The AL leader was the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez at .629.

HITS

National League – Xander Bogaerts, Padres (42); Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (40); Ozzie Albies, Braves (38)

American League –  Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (33); Marcus Semien, Rangers (33); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (33)

The top seven hitters – in terms of base hits – for September were from the National League.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Juan Soto, Padres (29); Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (26); J.D. Martinez, Dodgers (25); Matt Olson, Braves (25)

American League –  Jose Abreu, Astros (26); Spencer Torkelson, Tigers (25); Royce Lewis, Twins (23)

The Rockies Nolan Jones led MLB (at least 75 September at bats) players in on-base percentage at .460. The AL  leader was the Yankees Aaron Judge at .452.  

DOUBLES

National League –   Willy Adames, Brewers (10); Xander Bogaerts, Padres (10); Michael Harris II, Braves (10); Marcell Ozuna, Braves (10)

American League –  Adley Rutschman, Orioles (9); Anthony Santander, Orioles (9); six with eight

TRIPLES

National League – Brenton Doyle, Rockies (4); TJ Freidl, Reds (3); Nolan Jones, Rockies (3)

American League –  Kyle Tucker, Astros (4); Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (3); five with two

The Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki  and Braves’ Marcel Ozuna led MLB in September extra-base hits with 18. The  Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson and Rangers’’  Marcus Semien led the AL with 17.

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks (13); Elly De La Cruz, Reds (12); three with 11

American League – Esteury Ruiz, A’s (13); Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (11); Andres Gimenez, Guardians (8)

The Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll  stole his MLB-leading 13 bases in September  without ever getting caught.

WALKS

National League –  Bryce Harper, Phillies (24); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (24); Nolan Jones, Rockies (20)

American League –  Aaron Judge, Yankees (27); Edouard Julien, Twins (24); Andy Rutschman, Orioles (19)

The Astros’ Alex Bregman  led in walks/strikeouts ratio (among batters with at least 75 September plate appearances)  at 2.00 … 16 walks versus 8 whiffs in 26 games.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (43); Ryan McMahon, Rockies (33); Nick Castellanos, Phillies (33)

American League – Ryan Noda, A’s (45); Teoscar Hernandez, Mariners (40); Eugenio Suarez, Mariners (40)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Spencer Strider, Braves (4-1); Michael Wacha, Padres (4-2); 13 with three

American League –  Tarik Skubal, Tigers (4-0); Brito, Yankees (4-1); 20 with three

Leading MLB with four September losses were: John Brebbia, Giants (1-4, 4.82); Hunter Brown, Astros (1-4, 9.14); Griffin Canning, Angels (0-4, 4.13); Carlos Rodon, Yankees (2-4, 8.10)

Right Place Right Time & Vice Versa

The Rangers’ Dane Dunning went 3-0, in five September games (four starts) with a 5.02 ERA. The Yankees Michael King went 1-2 in five starts, with a 1.30 ERA.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 September innings pitched)

National League –  Blake Snell, Padres (0.58); Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (1.67); Logan Webb, Giants (2.02)

American League – Tarik Skubal, Tigers (0.90); Michael King, Yankees (1.30): Reese Olson, Tigers (1.44)

The Royals’ James McArthur  threw the most September  innings without giving  up an earned run (14 1/3). In 11 September  appearances, he gave up just  hits and no runs, while fanning 15 and not walking a single batter.

 INNINGS PITCHED

National League: Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (36 2/3); Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks (36 1/3); Logan Webb, Giants (35 2/3)

American League:  Justin Verlander (39); Jordan Montgomery, Rangers (36 1/3); Logan Gilbert (35 2/3)

 STRIKEOUTS

National League – Blake Snell, Padres (41K / 31 IP); Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks (40K / 36 1/3 IP); Zac Gallen (38K / 36 2/3 IP)

American League – Tyler Glasnow, Rays (48K / 33 1/3 IP); Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (43K / 33 1/3 IP); Tarik Skubal, Tigers (43K / 30 IP)

SAVES

National League – David Bednar, Pirates (9); Tanner Scott, Marlins (8); three with six

American League – Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (8); Clay Holmes, Yankees (8); Pete Fairbanks, Rays (7)

The Pirates’  David  had the most saves without a blown saves in September at nine.

WHIP (Walks +  Hits per Inning Pitched – minimum 25 August innings)

National League – Ryan Pepiot, Dodgers (0.76); Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (0.81); Freddy Peralta, Brewers (0.83)

American League – Tarik Skubal, Tigers (0.60); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (0.69);  Reese Olson, Tigers (0.77)

The Padres’ Blake Snell (among pitchers with at least 25 September inning) held hitter to the lowest average (.123). In the AL, that honor went to Tarik Skubal of the Tigers at .135.

 Random  Bonus Stats:

• Lucas Giolito of the White Sox gave up the most September homers (10 in 25 2/3 IP), He went 1-3, 6.66.
• The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole pitched the most September innings without giving up home run – 35.
• The Pirate’s Johan Oviedo walked the most batters in September (19 in 23 1/3 innings).

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

 

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P1005

 

In today’s post, Baseball Roundtable takes a look at (possibly) the streakiest team in MLB history. As is the Baseball Roundtable tradition, when I look into baseball events (past and current) “one thing always leads to another.” This journey began with my interest in the remarkable 1916 season of New York Giants’ pitcher Ferdie Schupp (more on that in a bit.) However, I soon became distracted by the remarkably streaky season of the 1916 Giants as a whole.

On this date (September 7) in 1916, the aforementioned Schupp started for the Giants against Nap Rucker and the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) at the Polo Grounds. Southpaw Schupp went the distance for the Giants, tossing a two-hitter. Lefty Rucker also went the distance (a six-hitter) and all four runs scored against him were unearned. The win brought the fourth-place Giants record to 60-62 and dropped the second-place Robins to 74-51.

More important, the win was the first of an MLB-record 26-game winning streak for the Giants.  (Side note: the streak was interrupted after 12 games by a 1-1 tie.  However, ties were not counted in MLB standings and, at the time, games were replayed not resumed. Therefore, MLB recognizes the Giants’ streak as the record.)

That the Giants would go on a streak is no surprise.  During the 1916 season, looking at streaks of five or more games, the Giants:

• Had winning streaks of 26 and 17 games;
• Suffered losing streaks of eight games (part of 13 losses in 15 games), five games and six games (the latter two part of a streak of 11 losses in 12 games).

The 1916 Giants are the only team with a 20 (or more)-game, in-season winning streak that did not finish in first place. In fact, the Giants started their record winning streak in fourth place, ended the streak in fourth place and finished the season in fourth place. 

The Giants’ two winning streaks provided a record-book bonanza.

• The 26-game winning streak (September 7 through September 30) involved all home games (part of a 31-game homestand). That gave the Giants the record for the overall MLB winning streak and home winning streak.
• The 17-game winning streak involved all road games (part of a 21-game road trip). That streak gave the Giants the record for consecutive road wins.  While the Tigers broke the overall record for consecutive road wins in 1983-84, the Giants still share the single-season record of 17 consecutive road wins (with the 1984 Tigers).

A Tiger by the Tail

The 1983 Tigers won their final four road games. Detroit then opened the 1984 season by winning their first 17 road games (on their way to a 35-5 start).  The 17 road wins tied the single-season record for consecutive road wins and (with the four final road wins of 1983) helped set a new multi-season mark for consecutive road wins.

Now, let’s get back to those 1916 Giants.  In their 26-game winning streak, they outscored their opponents 121-32 (not counting the 1-1 tie). The streak included ten shutouts and four one-run victories.

During the streak, southpaw, Ferdie Schupp, the original topic of the research behind this post, started six games and went 6-0, with a 0.33 earned run average.  He tossed six compete games and gave up just three runs (two earned) and just 17 hits in 54 innings.

Schupp (who made his first 1916 MLB appearance on June 13) finished the 1916 season with a 9-3, record and a 0.90 earned run average in 140 1/3 innings. Notably, Schupp’s 0.90 earned run average was – at the time – recognized as the MLB single-season earned run average record. If you look at today’s record books, the single-season lowest ERA record (post-1900) is assigned to the Red Sox’ Dutch Leonard (0.96 in 1914), with statisticians applying the current qualifying standard of at least one inning pitched per team’s game played. But as Daniel Levitt pointed out in his superb article in the 1996 Society of American Baseball Research “Baseball Research Journal (“Lowest Season ERA? Ferdie Schupp.  He meets the Criteria”), the standard for qualifying at the time was a season of with at least ten complete games. Levitt makes a strong case that Schupp should still have the record on the basis of the criteria at the time,  longevity of that recognition and the  lack of new evidence to the contrary. Baseball Roundtable agrees (that was the original focus of this post).

Schupp followed up his 1916 season with a 21-7, 1.95 record for the 1917 Giants (with 25 complete games in 32 starts). His career MLB mark (10 seasons) was  61-39, 3.32.

Here are a few other factoids about 20+ game MLB winning streaks:

• In their 2017 22-game wining streak, the Cleveland Indians outscored their opponents 142-37, threw seven shutouts and won four one-run games. The streak covered 11 home games and 11 away games. The Indians’ big four starters of Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevenger, Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber picked up wins in 17 of the 22 games (they also got the wins in 65 of the team’s 102 2017 victories).
• The 1935 Cubs outscored their opponents 137-50 in their 1935 21-game winning streak. It included four shutouts and five one-run games – and 18 home games (versus three road games). Eighteen of the Cubs’ 21 wins involved complete games by the Cubs’ starting pitcher (#HowTheGameHasChanged).
• The 2002 A’s outscored their opponents 141-65 in their 20-game winning streak, which included four shutouts, four one-run games, ten home wins and ten road wins. The final three wins in the A’s streak were walk-off wins at home.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; “Best Season ERA? Try Freddie Schupp,” by Daniel R. Levitt, The Baseball Research Journal, Society for American Baseball Research, 1996.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

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

 

P1002

As we approach the 2022 MLB All Star break, it seems appropriate to revisit past All Star Performances that Baseball Roundtable finds particularly memorable.  In this post, we will look at Baseball Roundtable’s “Fifteen Most Memorable All Star Game Moments,” as well as some All Star Game Trivia Tidbits,  quotes about the game from All Stars, some comparisons that show how the All Star Game has changed over the years and more.  The Top Fifteen Memorable Moments will be headlined in RED, the “extras” will be in BLUE or GREEN.    Note: These figures do not include the Negro Leagues East-West Games, as  that data is not yet fully compiled.  

ASG Memorable Moment Number One … Bill Freehan Behind the Plate for 15 Innings – 1967

In 1967, when the National League topped the junior circuit 2-1 in 15 innings  (at the time, the longest All Star Game ever, later matched by the 2008 All Star contest), Bill Freehan was behind the plate for the AL for  all 15 innings – handling five different pitchers. and crouching behind 19 different batters (52 plate appearances).  By contrast, the National League used three different backstops.  That, for Baseball Roundtable, was a most impressive/memorable feat of stamina.  It was also a pretty bold move for AL manager Hank Bauer (Orioles), keeping the Detroit Tiger catcher in the crouch for 15 innings.   Got to wonder how Tigers” Skipper Mayo Smith felt about that.  By comparison, the NL squad used three catchers in the game.

For those who like to know such things, Freehan was indeed a workhorse that season – appearing in 155 of the Tigers’ 163 games – and spending time behind the plate in in 147. Freehan was an All Star in nine of his fifteen seasons (1961, 1963-76 … all with the Tigers).  The five-time Gold Glover  was behind the plate in 1,577 of 1,774 MLB games.  His final stat line was .262-200-758.

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Ten Players Played All 15 Innings in the 1967 MLB All Star Game

American League

Bill Freehan, Tigers, C 

Brooks Robinson, Orioles, 3B

Tony Oliva, Twins, Twins, CF

Harmon Killebrew, Twins, 1B

Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox, RF

Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox, LF

National League

Roberto Clemente, Pirates, RF

Hank Aaron, Braves, started in CF and finished in LF

Orlando Cepeda, Giants, 1B

Gene Alley, Pirates, SS

By comparison, in the 2022 All Star Game, the AL used 32 players and the NL used 30 – and  not a single player played the whole nine innings. 

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Roundtable ASG Extra … A Trivia Tidbit

When the American League won the 1942 All Star Game, they used an ASG record-low 11 players. All eight position players went the distance and the team used one pinch hitter and one relief pitcher. 

Here’s the AL lineup:

Lou Boudreau SS

Tommy Henrich RF

Ted Williams LF

Joe DiMaggio CF

Rudy York 1B

Joe Gordon 2B

Ken Keltner 3B

Birdie Tebbetts C

Spud Chandler P

Bob Johnson PH

Al Benton P

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ASG Memorable Moments Number Two … The Splendid Splinter Shreds (splinters?) the All Star Record Books – 1946

Ted Williams went the distance in the 1946 All Star game – played in front of the hometown fans at Fenway and – thanks to that full-game experience – wrote his way into the ASG records books. Williams came into the game hitting .347, with 23 home runs, 82 runs scored and 71 RBI in 79 regular-season games.  Compared to the day he was about to have that would look like a slump. Here’s how Williams’ day went.

In the first inning, batting third and facing the Cubs’ Claude Passeau, Williams drew a walk and then scored on a home run by Yankees’ RF Charlie Keller.

In the bottom of the fourth, leading off against new NL hurler Kirby Higbe of the Dodgers, Williams homered to give the AL a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, with Higbe still in the game, Teddy Ballgame came up again – this time with one out the Senators’ CF Stan Spence on third and the Browns’ SS Vern Stephens on second.   This time, Williams delivered a run-scoring single.

In the bottom of the seventh, facing the Reds’ Ewell Blackwell with none on and two out, Williams singled again.

Finally, in the bottom of the eighth – facing the Pirates’ Rip Sewell and his Ephus pitch – with Stephens and Browns’ P Jack Kramer on base, William capped off his day with a three-run homer.

The AL squad prevailed by a 12-0 score – and Williams’ final tally was:  four-for-four, plus a walk, two home runs, four runs scored and five runs driven in.   In the process, Williams set or tied the following All Star Game single-game records:

• Runs Scored (four – Williams still stands alone);
• Total bases (ten – Williams stands alone);
• Runs Batted in (five – later, 1954, tied by the Indians’ Al Rosen);
• Base Hits (four – tying the Cardinals’ Ducky Medwick, 1937, and later matched by the Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski, 1970);
• Home Runs (two – tying Pirates’ Arky Vaughn, who did it in 1942; later tied by the Indians’ Al Rosen in 1954; Giants’ Willie McCovey in 1969; and Expos’ Gary Carter in 1981).

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ASG EXTRA – TEDDY SAID IT

“They invented the All Star Game for Willie Mays.”

                                                         Ted Williams, 19-time All Star

ASG Memorable Moment Number Three… Carl Hubbell Fans Six Future Hall of Famers … 1934

The record for strikeouts by a pitcher in an All Star Game is six – Carl Hubbell (1934); Johnny Vander Meer (1943); Larry Jansen (1950); Fergie Jenkins (1967).  Given today’s hard-throwing/free swinging brand of baseball, we may very well see that six-whiff record equaled or surpassed. But I doubt if anyone will match Hubbell’s 1934 feat of fanning six future Hall of Famers in the same All Star Game (five consecutively). King Carl, on his way to a 21-win season (the second of five straight 20+ win campaigns), came into the game with a 12-5, 2.76 ERA regular-season stat line. Hubbell had struck out 58 hitters in 156 1/3 innings pitched to that point (it was, indeed, a difference game back then), but he was about to make the strikeout a much bigger part of his game.

The game was played on July 10, 1934 at New York’s Polo Grounds – with screwball-specialist Hubbell starting for the NL and Yankee Lefty Gomez starting for the AL.  Facing an AL line up stacked with some of the game’s greatest hitters, Hubbell got off to a rocky start, giving up a lead-off single to Detroit 2B Charlie Gehringer, followed by a walk to Senators’ LF Heinie Manusch. Then the fun began, as Hubbell set down five straight future Hall of Famers – all on strikeouts – Yankees’ RF Babe Ruth, Yankees’ 1B Lou Gehrig, and Athletics’ 3B Jimmie Foxx to close out the first. Hubbell then fanned   White Sox’ CF Al Simmons and Senators’  SS Joe Cronin to open the second – giving him five straight strikeouts, all future HOFers. Hubbell then gave up a single to Yankees’ C Bill Dickey, before whiffing Yankees’ P Lefty Gomez (also a future Hall of Famer, although as a pitcher not a hitter) to end the inning. After an uneventful third inning – two fly outs, a ground out and walk – Hubbell left the game credited with three scoreless innings, two hits, two walks and six strikeouts.

Oh yes, the AL won the game 9-7, and Hubbell’s feat was amplified by how those HOF whiff victims fared over the rest of the game.  Against pitchers not named Hubbell, they went seven-for-sixteen, with four doubles, five runs scored and three RBI.

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ASG EXTRA – KING CARL SAID IT

“There were 50,00 fans or more there, and they wanted to see the best you’ve got. There was an obligation to the people, as well as to ourselves, to go all out. “

                     Carl Hubbell, nine -time All Star, comment on the 1934 All Star Game  

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The Year of the Pitcher, Indeed

Not a single run batted in was recorded  in the 1968 All Star Game (despite the presence of such future Hall of Fame batsmen as Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Carl Yastrzemski, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard and more).  The game’s only run scored in the bottom of the first inning. CF Willie Mays led off with a single to left (off Luis Tiant). Mays went to second on an errant pick-off attempt and to third on a wild pitch that was part of a walk to LF Curt Flood. 1B Willie McCovey then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, with Mays scoring,  (No RBI is awarded on a double play.  The game ended by that 1-0 score, with the AL getting just three hits and the NL only five. A total of 12 pttchers gave up the eight hits,and six walks, while fanning 20. 

ASG Memorable Moment Number Four … Larry Jansen in relief – 1950

Giants’ right-hander Larry Jansen came into the 1950 All Star Game with a 9-5, 2.98 record. He came on in the seventh inning, with his NL squad trailing 3-2, He turned in a truly memorable performance.  It went like this:

Seventh Inning

Tigers’ P Art Houtteman – Strikeout

Yankees’ SS  Phil Rizzuto – Pop Out (C)

Indians’ CF Larry Doby – Strikeout

Eighth Inning

Tigers’ 3B George Kell – Strikeout

Red Sox ‘ LF Ted Williams –  Strikeout

Athletics’ 1B Ferris Fain – Fly Out (SS)

Ninth Inning

Yankees’ RF Joe DiMaggio – Fly Out (CF)

Indians’ C Jim Hegan – Strikeout

Yankees’ 2B Jerry Coleman – Strikeout

Tenth Inning

Yankees’ P Allie Reynolds – Ground out (3B-1B)

Rizzuto – Fly Out (SS)

Doby – Single (CF)

Kell – Ground out (SS-2B)

Eleventh Inning

Red Sox’ LF Dom DiMaggio – Ground out (SS-1B)

Fain – Ground out (1B-P)

J. DiMaggio – Foul pop out (C)

There it was:

• Five innings of relief (second-most innings ever pitched in an All Star Game);
• Six strikeouts (tied for the most in an All Star Game);
• No runs, just one hit and only two balls it out of the infield.

When Jansen left the game, the score was tied at three apiece, with the NL eventually winning 4-3 in 14 frames.  Jansen,by the way, pitched in nine MLB seasons, going 122-89, 3.58. He was a two-time All Star (1950-151) and led the NL in wins with 23 (23-11, 3.04) in 1951. He won 21 games (five losses, 3.16 ERA) as a 26-year-old rookie in 1947 – finishing second to Jackie Robinson in the Rookie of the Year Voting.

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Ouch!

The 1950 All Star Game was made even more memorable by the fact that Ted William made a leaping, off-the-wall catch on a line drive by Ralph Kiner in the first inning.  Williams played through the pain (nine innings) and even drove in a run with a fifth-inning single off Don Newcombe.  The pain persisted  and, it turns out, William had fractured his elbow making that first-inning catch and didn’t play again until early September. 

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ASG Memorable Moments Number Five … Lefty Gomez’ Quality Start – 1935

MLB defines a quality start as one of six innings or more with three or fewer earned runs given up.  Now, you can argue (correctly, I believe) that 4.50 ERA may not constitute a quality start. Given today’s All Star Game expectation of one, two or at the very most three-inning pitching appearances, you can confidently say we will not see another quality start in the All Star Game. Historically, there has only been one.  The Yankees’ Lefty Gomez (a future Hall of Famer) tossed an All Star Game-record six innings in 1935 – giving up just three hits and one run. Also falling into the “We’ll never see that again” category – the American League used just two pitchers in their 4-1 win, Gomez and the Indians’ Mel Harder.

Gomez came into  the game 8-8, 2.83 on the season, with ten complete games in 15 starts.

By comparison, in the  2022 All Star Game, the two teams used 20 pitchers – and no hurler threw more than one inning.

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 ASG EXTRA … A Pitcher starting two All Star Games in a Single Season

From 1959-1962, MLB featured two All Star Games each season. In 1959, Don Drysdale became the only pitcher to start two MLB All Star Games in a season.  On July 7, he started at Forbes Field and held the AL hitless – with four strikeouts – for three innings. (The NL won 5-4). On August 3, he started at the Los Angeles Coliseum and again went three innings, this time giving up three runs on four hits and three walks (fanning five).

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ASG EXTRA – GARY SAID IT

“It’s (getting elected to the All Star Game) right  up there with lobster.”

                                          Gary Gaetti, tw0-time All Star

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ASG Extra – Spreading It Around – Three Five Spots

Gary Sheffield and Moises Alou share the record for the most tams represented at the All Star game at five.  Sheffield: Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees.  Alou:  Expos, Marlins, Astros,Cubs, Giants.

Pete Rose played the most positions in All Star Game competition with five – first bases, second base, third base left field, right field. 

ASG Memorable Moments Number Six … Gary Carter’s Two-Homer Game – 1981

There have been only five multi-homer games (by a single player) in ASG history (all two-homer contests) and only Hall of Famer Expos’ C Gary Carter managed to hit two long balls in just three plate appearances (all the others took four or five) – and the dingers were key to the National Leagues’ 5-4 win (in Cleveland).

Carter started for the NL and popped out to first base in his first plate appearance (the top of the second in a scoreless game).  Carter next led off the top of the fifth with his NL squad trailing 1-0 – and tied the game with a solo shot to left off the first pitch he saw from the Angels’ Ken Forsch (who had just come into the game). Carter again found himself leading off in the seventh, against new pitcher Ron Davis of the Yankees (with the NL now trailing 4-2). Carter again wasted no time, hitting Davis’ first offering over the CF wall to cut the deficit to one.  His performance earned him ASG MVP honors. Carter came into the game with a .245-7-30 line on the season.  Over his 19-season career (1974-92 … Expos, Mets, Giants Dodgers), the Hall of Famer was a 11-time All Star.  He won three Gold Gloves and put up a ,262-324-1,225 offensive stat lie.

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Players with Two Home Runs in an MLB All Star Game

Arky Vaughn, Pirates …. 1941 (four plate appearances)

Ted Williams, Red Sox …..1946 (five PA)

Al Rosen, Indians ….. 1954 (5 PA)

Willie McCovey, Giants ….. 1969 (4 PA)

Gary Carter, Expos …… 1981 (3 PA)

 

ASG EXTRA – DEREK  SAID IT

“Any player who says they don’t want to go to an All Star Game is lying to you.”

                                            Derek Jeter, 14-time All Star

ASG Memorable Moment Number Seven … Al Rosen’s Two Home Runs and Five RBI – 1954

In 1954, The Indians’ Al Rosen started at 1B for the AL All Star squad; coming into the game with a .313-14-59 record on the season (71 games  played). The AL prevailed 11-9, but it’s unlikely they would have won without Rosen’s bat. In the game, Rosen:

• Had three hits (fourth-most in an All Star Game, tie);
• Hit two home runs (tied for the most in an All Star Game);
• Drove in five runs (tied for the most in an All Star Game);
• Collected nine total bases (tied for second-most  in an All Star Game).

Here’s how his day went:

• Strikeout to end the first inning (versus the Phillies’ Robin Roberts);
• Three-run homer in the third inning (off Roberts) to break a 0-0 tie;
• Two-run homer in the fifth (off the Giants’ Johnny Antonelli) to tie the game at 7-7;
• Single (off the Braves’ Warren Spahn) in the sixth;
• Walk (off the Braves’ Gene Conley in the eighth).

Rosen was a four-time All Star in his 10-season MLB career (1947-56, all Indians), going .285-192-717. From 1950 through 1953, he averaged .298, with 33 home runs and 117 RBI per season.

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ASG Memorable Moment Number Eight … Ichiro Suzuki’s Home “RUN” – 2007

The Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki started the 2007 All Star Game (in San Francisco) leading off (and playing CF) for the AL squad. He had a three-for-three day, won the game’s MVP Award and made a bit of history.

Suzuki singled (off the Padres’ Jake Peavy) to open the game and added a second single (off Ben Sheets of the Brewers) with two outs in the third. The plate appearance that got him on this list came in the fifth inning. Ichiro came up with one out, a runner on first and the AL trailing 1-0.  Suzuki stroked the first pitch he saw from the Padres’ Chris Young off the centerfield wall, it took a crazy carom and, before  the ball back into the infield, Suzuki had circled the bases, coasting into home plate with a 15-second, two-RUN home RUN – still the only inside-the-parker in All Star Game history.  Note: In his MLB career, Suzuki hit 117 regular season home runs and one post-season homer – none of which were inside-the-parkers. 

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ASG Memorable Moment Number Nine … Johnny Vander Meer’s Six Whiffs – 1943

The Cardinals’ Mort Cooper started the 1943 All Star for the National League squad, but the Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer made the most memorable impression. He came on in relief of Cooper in the bottom of the third, with the AL up 4-1, a runner on third and one out. Vander Meer ended the threat by fanning Tigers’ 1B Rudy York and Browns’ CF Chet Laabs. Vander Meer then whiffed Senators’ C Jake Early to open the fourth before giving up a single to Red Sox’ 2B Bobby Doerr and then coming off the mound to field a bunt by Tigers’ pitcher Hall Newhouser and turning it into a pitcher-shortstop-second base (covering first) double play. Although Vander Meer gave up an unearned  run in the fifth (on  a single, a walk and an error), he also fanned three batters in the inning: Indians’ 3B Ken Keltner, Tigers’ LF Dick Wakefield and York for a second time.   In the process, Vander Meer tied the All Star Game record for strikeouts in a game (six). To date, four pitchers have fanned  six batters in an All Star Game and Vander Meer is the only one to do it in less than three innings pitched (2 2/3).

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Pitchers to Fan Six batters in an All Star Game

1934 Carl Hubbell

1943 Johnny Vander Meer

1950 Larry Jansen

1967 Fergie Jenkins

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ASG Extra – Let’s Get This Party Started

Pedro Martinez holds the record for the most consecutive strikeouts to start an All Star Game – at four.  The victims were Barry Larkin , Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.

ASG Memorable Moment 10-11-12 (tie) … Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Johnny Callison – Walk – Off Home Runs – 1941, 1955, 1964

There have been just three All Star games ending in a walk-off home run.  We’ll call it a tie.

In 1941 (July 8), the NL All Stars were leading the AL squad 5-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. The AL had cut the lead to 5-4, when the Red Sox’ Ted Williams came up (against the Cubs’ Claude Passeau) with a pair of AL “Yankee Joes” on base (DiMaggio on first and Gordon on third. Williams popped a 2-1 pitch  for a walk-off, three-run home run and a 7-5 AL win.   Williams was two-for-four with four RBI in the game.

On July 12, 1955, the MLB All Star Game (being held in Milwaukee) went into the bottom of the twelfth inning knotted at five apiece. The Cardinals’ Stan Musial led off the bottom of the 12th with a solo, walk-off game winner  – deep into the right field seats – off the Red Sox’ Frank Sullivan (who had entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning).

On July 7,  1964, the AL went into the bottom of the ninth (at Shea Stadium) with a 4-3 lead over the NL squad. With the Red Sox’ Dick Radatz on the mound (he had come on in the seventh), Giants’ CF Willie Mays led off with a walk, stole second and scored the tying run on a single by fellow Giant 1B Orlando Cepeda (who was replaced by pinch runner Curt Flood of the Cardinals.) Radatz then got Cardinals’ 3B Ken Boyer on a pop out, intentionally walked Reds’ C Johnny Edwards and struck out pinch hitter Henry Aaron of the Braves. The Phillies’ Johnny Callison (who had entered the game in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter and then took over RF) put an end to the contest with a walk-off, three -run homer to right.

Now,  I’m sure all Roundtable readers know plenty about Hall of Famers Williams and Musial, so here’s a bit abut Johnny Callison.  Callison enjoyed a 16-season MLB carer (1958-73 … White Sox, Phillies, Cubs, Yankees).  He was a three-time All Star and had a career .264-226-840 stat line. He had four seasons of 20+ home runs, with a high of 32 in 1965) and twice led the NL in triples.

ASG Memorable Moment Number Thirteen – Rod Carew’s Two Triples – 1978

A triple is a thing of excitement and beauty and – on July 11, 1978 – batsman Rod Carew provided both for All Star Game fans. Carew led off the game with a triple to left center off  the Giants’ Vida Blue and then repeated the feat with another triple off Blue leading off the third.  It remains the only two-triple game in All Star Game history. Carew scored after each of his three-baggers, but the American League still lost 7-3.  The Hall of Famer won seven batting titles in his 19-season MLB career (1967-85 … Twins, Angels). He was a All Star in 18 of his nineteen seasons – missing only in his age-39 final season, when he hit .280 in 127 games.  Carew’s final stat line was .328-92-1,05.

ASG Memorable Moments Number 14-15 … A Tie Among Performances that were more Unforgettable than Memorable

14-15 – Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine Giving Up Seven Straight Hits -1992

Hall of Famer Tom Glavine started the 1992 All Star Game (he came in with a  13-3, 2.57 record). After retiring American League leadoff hitter Blue Jays’ 2B Robert Alomar on a grounder to second, he surrendered seven consecutive hits – all singles, by the way – to Red Sox ‘ 3B Wade Boggs,  Twins’ LF Kirby Puckett, Blue Jays’ RF Joe Carter, A’s 1B Mark McGwire, Orioles’ SS Cal Ripken Jr., Mariners’ CF Ken Griffey Jr. and Indians’ C Sandy Alomar – with the AL plating four runs.

In the process, Glavine set the (still) All Star Game record for hits allowed in an inning – seven.  Surprisingly, he finished the frame and came out for the second inning – giving up two more hits and another run before being pulled.  He set another record – most hits allowed in an All Star Game appearance at nine. I suppose it could happen, but I seriously doubt in manager would leave pitcher in for this kind of treatment any longer.

14-15 – Roberto Clemente’s Four Strikeouts in an All Star Game – 1967

In the 1967 All Star Game, future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente fanned in four consecutive at bats against four different pitchers: the Twins’ Dean Chance (third inning); White Sox’ Gary Peters (sixth); Yankees’ Al Downing (ninth); A’s Catfish Hunter (eleventh). He also had a single in the first (Chance) and a ground out in the fourteenth (Hunter).  The four whiffs is an All Star Game single-game  record for batters. 

Roundtable ASG Extra

Atlee Hammaker, holds the record for the most runs surrendered in an All-star Appearance. In the 1983 All Star contest, he  gave up seven earned runs on six nits and a walk in just 2/3 of an inning. The big hit was a Fred Lynn Grand Slam – still the only bases-loaded blast in an All Star Game.  1983 was Hammaker only All Star selection in a 12-season MLB career. 

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—–A FEW CAREER ALL STAR GAME TIDBITS—— 

Youngest and Oldest MLB All Stars

The youngest and oldest All Stars ever were both pitchers: Dwight Gooden (19 years-seven month-24 Days) and Satchel Paige (47 years-seven days).

First and still only All Star Game Steal of Home … 1934 AS game, fifth inning, two out, two on, NL trailing 8-6, NL 3B Pie Traynor (Pirates) notched the first (and still only) AS Game steal of home. (AL won game 9-7.)

First and still only All Star Game Grand Slam … 1983 All Star Game, third inning, bases loaded, two outs, AL leading 5-1, AL CF Fred Lynn hit the first – and still only – All Star Game Grand Slam. (AL wins 13-3)

First All Star Game MVP … MLB began recognizing the All Star Game MVP in 1962 and the first winner was the Dodgers’ Maury Wills – who didn’t enter the game until the sixth inning (the Pirates’ Dick Groat started at SS) and only came to the plate once.  Wills came in as a pinch runner for Stan Musial, who had singled off the Twins’ Camilo Pascual to open the inning. Wills quickly stole second and scored the game’s first run on a single by Groat (whom Wills would replace at SS). Wills came to the plate  in the eighth, with his NL squad up 2-1. He led off the inning with a single (off the Indians’ Dick Donovan), advanced to third on a single by Giants’ 3B Jim Davenport and scored on a foul ball fly out off the bat of Giants’ RF Felipe Alou.

–—ALL STAR GAME TARGETS—–

Most Hits in an All Star Game … Four – Joe Medwick (1937); Ted Williams (1946); Carl Yastrzemski (1970)

Most Doubles in an ASG … Two – Nine players (Most recently, the Brewers’ Jonathan LeCroy in 2014.  (No surprise, LeCroy had a league-leading 53 doubles that season.)

Most Triples in an ASG …  Two – Rod Carew (1978)

Most Home Runs in an ASG … Two – Arky Vaughn (1941); Ted Williams (1946); Al Rosen (1954); Willie McCovey (1969); Gary Carter (1981)

Most RBI in an ASG … Five – Ted Williams (1946); Al Rosen (1954)

Most Walks in an ASG … Three – Charlie Gehringer (1934); Phil Cavarretta (1944)

Most Stolen Bases in an ASG …  Two – Willie Mays (1963); Kelly Gruber (1990); Roberto Alomar (1992); Kenny Lofton (1996); Starlin Castro (2011)

Most Innings Pitched in an ASG …  Six –  Lefty Gomez (1935)

Most Strikeouts in an ASG … Six –  Carl Hubbell (1934); Johnny Vander Meer (1943); Larry Jansen (1950: Fergie Jenkins (1967)

Most Consecutive Strikeouts in an ASG …  Five – Carl Hubbell (1934); Fernando Valenzuela (1986)

 

–—CAREER ALL STAR GAME RECORDS—–

AS Game Hits … Willie Mays – 23

AS Game Doubles … Dave Winfield – 7

AS Game Triples …Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson – 3

AS Game Home Runs … Stan Musial – 6

Stan Musial hit .317 in 24 All Star games with two doubles, six home runs,10 RBI, and 11 runs scored.

AS Game RBI… Ted Williams – 12

AS Game Walks …Ted Williams – 11

Ted Williams hit .304 in 19 All Star Games, with two doubles, one triple, four home runs, 12 RBI and a.439 on-base percentage. 

AS Game Stolen Bases … Willie Mays – 6

Willie Mays stole six ASG bases in seven attempts. The most ASG steals without being caught belong to Roberto Alomar and Kenny Lofton at five each. 

AS Game Runs Scored …Willie Mays – 20

PHOTO: New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer, William C. Greene, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Willie Mays hit .307 in 24 All Star games, with two doubles, three triples, three home runs, nine RBI, 20 runs scored and six stolen bases.

AS Game Pitcher Wins … Lefty Gomez – 3

AS Game Total Pitching Appearances … Roger Clemens – 10

AS Games Started (pitcher) … Lefty Gomez, Robin Roberts, Don Drysdale – 5

Lefty Gomez went 3-1, 2.50 in five All Star Game starts (18 innings pitched). 

AS Game Saves ... Mariano Rivera – 4

AS Games Innings Pitched … Don Drysdale – 19 1/3

Mel Harder has pitched the most All Star Game innings without surrendering an earned run (13).

AS Game Strikeouts … Don Drysdale – 19

Don Drysdale went 2-1, 1.40 in All Star games, fanning 19 batters in 19 1/3 innings (10 hits, four walks). 

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All Star Game Scoring Bookends

The highest scoring All Star Game ever took place in 1998 at (Where Else?) Coors Field – as the teams combined for 21 runs in a 13-8 American League win.  Side note: Thirteen is the highest run total ever up by an All Star squad, accomplished by The AL in 1983, 1992 and 1998.

The lowest scoring game (combined) took place in (When else?) in 1968 (The Year of the Pitcher) – as the NL topped the AL 1-0. with the only run scoring on a double play (no RBI in the contest).

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Finally, to wrap up, here’s a dozen AS Game firsts from 1933.

First Venue: Comiskey Park 1 (July 6, 1933).

First AS Game Attendance: 47,595

Final Score of First AS Game: AL 4 – NL -2

First Batter/Pitcher Match Up: NL 3B Pepper Martin (Cardinals) versus Lefty Gomez (Yankees). Gomez retired Martin on a grounder to shortstop.

First Starting Pitchers: AL, Lefty Gomez (Yankees) – NL, Bill Hallahan (Cardinals). Gomez got the first All Star win, Hallahan the first loss.

First Hit: Cardinals’ Chick Hafey (leading off second inning – off the Yankees’ Lefty Gomez). Hafey was starting in LF and batting fourth for the NL.

First Run Scored: AL starting 3B Jimmy Dykes (White Sox).

First RBI: AL starting pitcher Lefty Gomez (Yankees) – drove home Jimmy Dykes (White Sox), who had walked, with a single to center field. Take that, DH Rule.

First Double: Pie Traynor (Pirates), NL pinch hitter – top of seventh off Lefty Grove (Yankees).

First Triple: NL pitcher Lon Warneke (Cubs) – top of the sixth inning off Alvin Crowder (Senators). Take that again, DH Rule.

First Home Run: AL RF Babe Ruth (Yankees), two-run home run, bottom of the third, off Bill Hallahan (Cardinals). So, your first All Star Game double, triple and homer were hit by pitchers or former pitchers.

First Stolen Base: Bottom of first, AL 2B Charlie Gehringer (Tigers).

First Strikeout: Final out, top of second. Pitcher – Lefty Gomez (Yankees). Hitter – NL SS Dick Bartell (Phillies).

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

 

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On this date – June 24 – in 1962, Yankee outfielder Jack Reed hit the only home run of his three-season MLB career.  Despite the long line of Yankee home run hitters – from Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris to Aaron Judge – Reed’s homer has a unique place in Bronx Bomber history.  Reed’s only career MLB homer,  a two-run shot (Roger Maris was on base), provided the winning margin in the longest game in Yankee history – a 9-7, 22-inning win over the Tigers (in Detroit).

Notably, Reed hadn’t even started the game that day.  He was, in fact, the third Yankee to man right field in the contest. Mickey Mantle started in RF (Roger Maris was in center). Joe Pepitone replaced Mantle  in the seventh inning. Phil Linz pinch hit for Pepitone in the thirteenth and Reed took over right field (Linz going to the bench) in bottom of the inning. For the game, Reed was one-for-four with a run scored and two RBI.  (Reed would collect only six RBI in 222 MLB games.

The fact that Reed did not start the game should be no surprise.  Reed made a career out of being a late-inning defensive replacement, pinch runner and occasional pinch hitter.  In fact, in 222 MLB games (1961-63), he  found himself in the starting lineup just 18 times and had a total of just 144 plate appearances,   His final MLB stat line was .233-1-6.

Jack Reed’s best MLB season was 1962, when he went .302-1-4, with two steals in 88 games.  (In 88 games, Reed had just 48 plate appearances.)

Often a late-inning replacement for Mickey Mantle on defense or on the base paths (Reed was Mantle’s replacement in 64 of his 222 MLB games), Reed was often referred to as “Mantle’s Legs” or “Mantle’s Caddie).”  During his career, Reed came in to replace not only Mantle, but also Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Tom Tresh, Johnny Blanchard, Hector Lopez, Bob Cerv and Phil Linz.

Turning the Tables

On September 19, 1961, Jack Reed started in CF for the Yankees (versus the Orioles in Baltimore). In the top of the ninth, with the Yankees trailing 1-0, a runner on first and two out, Mantle replaced Reed (turnabout is fair play) at the plate (and struck out).

Here’s just a bit more background on Reed. Reed was a  versatile athlete in high school.  He won the Mississippi State Championship in the quarter-mile run and lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track. In college (University of Mississippi), he was a three-sport athlete – baseball, football, track & field.

Reed signed a contract with the Yankees at age 20 (1953). In 1954, he hit .287-5-49, with 18 steals in 99 Class-B Games.  In 1955, he moved up to Class-A and went .308-6-48, with 20 steals in 132 games. He then lost the 1956 and 1957 seasons to military service, before hitting .308-19-79, with 22 steals at Double-A in 1958.  He didn’t fare as well offensively at Triple-A (.262-7-36 in 1959; .240-4-25 in 1960; and .255-3-13 in 1961). However, he continued to show speed on the base paths and superior defense in the field, which earned him a spot on a Yankees’ roster filled with outfield options (at least in Casey Stengel’s managing system).

In the 1964 season Reed found himself back in the minors, as a player-coach with the Triple-A  Richmond Virginians. He went on to manage in the Yankee system from 1965 through 1967.

Primary References: Baseball-Reference.com; Jack Reed Society for American Baseball Research bio, by Thomas Van Hyning.

 

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