Chipper Jones has a flair for the dramatic – commemorates his own bobble head night with two home runs.

Last night (August 16, 2012), Chipper Jones – in his farewell season – again showed the keen sense of timing that has part of his Hall of Fame career.   In front of 33,157 fans, gathered for Chipper Jones Bobble Head Night, he became the thirty-eighth major leaguer to have a multi-homer game after reaching age 40, going two-for-four with three RBIs and collecting his 2,700 career hit, 466^th homer and 1,614 RBI.  It was, appropriately, also Jones’ 40^th career multi-home game.

After the game, Braves manager Freddie Gonzalez indicated Jones’ historic performance should not come as a surprise because Jones has the ability to “raise his game” when the situation arises.  In post-game interviews, Jones said he was especially motivated by his personal bobble head night, wanting to “make a splash and bring people to their feet.”  That he did, indeed.

(For more on Jones’ farewell season, see the BBRT posts of March 25 and April 25.)

Other “forty-plus” players to recently join the multi-homer-game club are Jim Thome and Jason Giambi, who accomplished the feat in 2011.  Thome, in fact, had two two-homer games last season, while Giambi joined an even more exclusive club – on May 19, 2011, he became only the fourth player past the age of forty to hit three home runs in a single game.  Giambi joined Babe Ruth (May 25, 1935); Stan Musial (July 8, 1962); and Reggie Jackson (September 18, 1986) in this more exclusive fraternity.  Jones has a long way to match the king of the 40-year-old multi-homer club.  Hank Sauer – who hit a total of 288 home runs (1941-59) – had eight multi-homer games after passing the forty mark.

Meanwhile, Chipper Jones marches on to a stellar final season, hitting .315 with 12 homers and 53 RBI (in 76 games) for a Braves team that is twenty games over .500, trails NL East leader Washington by just four games and sits atop the NL wild card race.

“King” Felix Hernandez last night tossed MLB’s third 2012 perfect game.

Here we go again … for the record-setting third time this season, we’re talking about a perfect game.  Last night, King Felix (Hernandez) threw a “perfecto” (break out the cigars and champagne once more) against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 1-0 win in Seattle.  Hernandez threw 113 pitches in his 12-strikeout performance – becoming the third major leaguer to toss a perfect game in 2012.  Hernandez was preceded in perfection on April 21 by the White Sox Phil Humber, who achieved perfection versus Seattle (at Seattle) 4-0 and the Giants’ Matt Cain, who threw his perfect nine innings in a 10-0 win over Houston at San Francisco.  Notably, these events make Seattle the first team to be on both the winning and losing sides of a perfect game in the same season and Matt Cain the winner in the most lopsided perfect game ever.

So, what’s it take to reach perfection (again, accomplished only 23 times in MLB history)?  From BBRT’s perspective great stuff, a bit of luck and plenty of pressure (not just the pressure that comes near the end of the performance, but pressure from the opposing hurler along the way.)  The fact is, the most common score of a perfect game is 1-0 (seven perfect outings have ended in that score) – and 1-0 and 2-0 contests make up nearly half the perfect outings (11 of the 23).  Here is the tally:  1-0 (seven perfect games); 4-0 (five); 2-0 (four); 3, 5 and 6-0 (two each); 10-0 (once).  Clearly, a close game can help keep the pitcher hurling toward perfect sharp.

For more on perfect games and no-hitters, see the posts of April 21, May 3, June 9, June 14 and July 15.  Wow, with all these post on mound gems, it does seem like the year of the pitcher doesn’t it?

There are few perfect shapes … and this is one of them.

On Friday August 3, Justin and B.J. Upton became only the sixth pair of brothers in major league history to each achieve 100 home runs.  Justin reached the century mark with a solo shot in the second inning of Arizona’s 4-2 win at Philadelphia (his ninth round-tripper of the season).  B.J.’s 100^th was also a solo homer, in the fourth inning of Tampa Bay’s 2-0 home victory over Baltimore.  Notably, it was the only time in MB history when two brothers hit a “milestone” home run on the same day.  And, in fact, on July 20^th the Upton brothers each hit their 99^th home run – Justin’s a two-run shot in the third inning of an Arizona 13-8 home win over Houston and B.J. with a solo homer in the sixth inning of a 4-3 win over Seattle.  Overall, the Upton’s have homered on the same day 13 times in their major league careers.

Other pairs of siblings who have reached the 100 homer mark include:  Joe and Vince DiMaggio (361 and 125 homers, respectively); Roberto (210) and Sandy (112) Alomar, Jr.; Ken (282) and Clete (162) Boyer; Brett (252) and Aaron (126) Boone; and Bob (156) and Emil “Irish” (106) Meusel.

The Uptons – at 200 combined home runs – have a ways to go to catch the sibling leaders:  Hank (755) and Tommie (13) Aaron at 768.

BBRT would like to use the Upton’s feat to comment on my picks for MLB’s best brother combinations ever.

1.  Paul and Lloyd Waner

This pair of outfielders spent 14 years of their careers as teammates on the Pittsburgh Pirates.  In 1927, the 21-year-old Lloyd averaged .355, with 223 hits and a league-leading 133 runs scored – only to be outdistanced by his 24-year-old brother Paul, who lead the league in batting average (.380), hits (237) and RBI (131).

In a 20-year career, Paul made the all-star team 4 times (the first all-star game came seven years after Paul made the major leagues), won three batting titles, lead the league in runs twice, hits twice, and RBI once.  His career line:  .333 average, 3,157 hits, 113 homers, 1,309 RBI and 1,627 runs.

In his 18-year major league run, Lloyd was a one-time all-star, led the league in hits once and runs once.  His final line: .316 average, 2,459 hits, 27 homers, 598 RBI and 1,201 runs.

Both Paul and Lloyd are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  (Paul elected in 1952, Lloyd by the Veterans Committee in 1967.)

2.  Gaylord and Jim Perry

These two pitching brothers – who combined for 529 victories, three Cy Young Awards and eight all-star selections – finish a close second to the Waners on the BBRT brothers list.  Consider 1970, when Gaylord led the NL in wins for the Giants, going 23-13 with a 3.20 ERA, while Jim led the AL in wins for the Twins, with a 24-12 record and a 3.04 ERA.

Gaylord, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, finished his career at 314-265, 3.11 – with two Cy Young Awards, and five all-star selections.  He was a five-time 20-game winner and topped the NL in wins three times.

Jim notched a 215-174 record, a 3.45 ERA, three all-star selections and one Cy Young Award.  He led the AL in victories twice.

 3.  Joe, Dom and Vince DiMaggio

Very close race for the third spot, but the DiMaggio’s get the edge since Joe and Dom lost three prime seasons each to World War II (deflating their career numbers).  Let’s look at these brother outfielders in order of prominence.

Joe – 13 major league seasons and 13 all-star selections (kinda tells the story).  The Yankee Clipper also won three Most Valuable Player Awards, two batting titles, one home run title and led the AL in RBI twice.  Joe ended up with a career .325 average, 2,214 hits, 361 home runs, 1,537 RBI and 1,390 runs.

Dom – played in the outfield for the Yankees’ top rival Boston Red Sox (and in the shadow of Brother Joe).  Dom held up his end of the brother tandem, with seven all-star selections in 11 big league seasons.   He twice led the league in runs scored, once in stolen bases.  Finished with a .298 average, 1,680 hits, 87 homers, 618 RBI, 1,046 runs.

Vince – the least stellar of the DiMaggio brothers, like Dom, Vince played for the Red Sox.  Only a .249 career hitter, Vince was known for his defensive excellence in the outfield.  He was a two-time all-star and finished with a .249 average, 125 homers, 584 RBI and 491 runs.

4.  Joe and Phil Niekro

These pitching brothers won 539 games in a combined 46 major league seasons.   In 1970, Joe and Phil tied for the NL lead in wins – Joe going 21-11 with a 3.00 ERA for the Astros and Phil going 21-20 (he also led the league in losses) with a 3.39 ERA for the Braves.

In a 24-year ML career, Phil won 318 games, while losing 274, with a 3.78 ERA.  He was a five-time all-star, two-time 20-game winner, led his league in ERA once and won five Gold Glove Awards.  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, Phil also led the NL in games started, complete games, innings pitched and games lost four times each. In 1982, at age 43, he led the NL in winning percentage with a 17-4 (.810) record.

Joe finished his 22-year ML career with a 221-204 record and a 3.59 ERA.  He was a one-time all-star and two-time twenty-game winner.

5.  Sandy, Jr. and Roberto Alomar – Pedro and Ramon Martinez (tie)

The fifth and final spot on BBRT’s list of the major league’s best brother combinations proved the hardest to determine.  The candidates were:  Felipe, Matty and Jesus Alou; Dizzy and Daffy Dean; Pedro and Ramon Martinez; and Sandy, Jr. and Roberto Alomar.  A good case could be made for all four sets of brothers.  Here’s the evidence in support of Roberto and Sandy, Jr. Alomar and Pedro and Ramon Martinez – who tied for this final sport.

The Alomar Brothers

In Roberto’s 17-year career at second base, he earned 12 all-star selections, led the league in runs scored once, and captured ten gold Gloves.  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, Roberto put up solid numbers to earn this spot:  a .300 average; 2,724 hits; 210 home runs; 1,134 RBI; 1,508 runs; and 474 stolen bases.

Sandy Jr.  enjoyed a 20-year ML career at the tough catcher position.  While his numbers were not as flashy as Roberto’s, Sandy was a Rookie of the Year, a six-time all-star and one-time Gold Glover.  His final numbers – .273 average; 1,236 hits; 112 home runs; 588 RBI; and 520 runs scored.

The Martinez Brothers

Pedro, the younger of the brothers, provides the sparkle in this pairing of hurlers, who won a combined 354 games and both had a career winning percentages north of .600.  Pedro notched 219 wins versus only 100 losses (.687 pct.) with a career 2.93 ERA.  The younger Martinez was an 8-time all-star, won three Cy Young Awards, was a two-time 20-game winner and lead his league in ERA five times, winning percentage three times, strikeouts three times and wins once.  In 1999, with Boston, he went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts.

Ramon had a 14-year ML career in which he went 135-88 (.605 winning percentage) with a 3.67 ERA.  He was a one-time all-star and one-time 20-game winner.  His best year was 1990, when he went 20-6, 2.92 for the Dodgers, with a league-leading 12 complete games – finishing second in the Cy Young voting to the Pirates’ Doug Drabek (22-6, 2.76).

All BBRT can say about all these siblings is “Oh brother, could they play the game.”  Drop in a comment, if you have additional brother combinations that you’d put up for consideration in the top five.

Ryan Doumit, on July 22, became the third Minnesota Twin to homer from both sides of the plate in one game – following in the footsteps of Roy Smalley (1986) and Chili Davis (1992).   He also became the fourth switch hitter to go deep from both sides of the plate this season (Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Yasmani Grandal).  Doumit’s offensive accomplishment underscores the value the off-season pickup (signed to a two-year, $7 million extension recently) brings to the Twins.  He’s currently hitting .290 (third on the team), with ten homers (fourth on the Twins) and 46 RBI (second) and has played catcher, first base, outfield and designated hitter.  (A key factor here is Doumit’s ability to provide valuable “breathers” for Twins stars Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.)

Doumit’s display of power from both sides of the plate prompted BBRT to take a look at the record book (when it comes to going yard from the both batter’s boxes in the same contest).  Turns out it’s not as rare as you might think.

– It’s been accomplished   271 times (162 in the American League, 109 in the National League).

Mark Teixeira has homered from both sides of the plate in a record 13 games – contributing to a Yankee tradition.

– Mark Teixeira holds the record for most times homering from both sides of the plate in the same game at 13, as well as the American League record of 11.  (He accomplished the feat eight times with the Yankees and three times with the Rangers in theALand twice with the NL Braves.)  Ken Caminiti holds the National League record at 10 – 7 times with the Padres, three with the Astros.

– The Yankees hold the MLB franchise record  (and, of course, the AL record) for most times having a player homer from both sides of the plate in a game with 49 (30%) of the AL’s 162 occurrences.  The list of Yankees who have accomplished the feat is long and impressive:  Mickey Mantle; Tom Tresh; Roy White; Roy Smalley, Jr.; Bernie Williams; Ruben Sierra; Jorge Posada; Tony Clark; Melky Cabrera; Nick Swisher; and Mark Teixeira.

– Surprisingly, the NL franchise record holder is not an old, established franchise like the Yankees, but the much younger New York Mets – with 20 of the NL’s 109 occurrences.  The roster of Mets who have homered from both side of the plate in the same contest includes:   Lee Mazilli; Howard Johnson; Bobby Bonilla; Todd Hundley; Carl Everett; Tony Clark; Jose Reyes; and Carlos Beltran.

– A final tidbit, no pair of hitters has had more ambidextrous home run games while teammates than Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher who, as Yankees since 2009, have accomplished the feat a combined 11 times (eight for Teixeira and three for Swisher.) Swisher by the way trails only Teixeira on the MLB total list – with 11 right-/left-handed homer games.  Also at 11 you’ll find Chili Davis and Eddie Murray

On June 21, 2012, the Saint Louis Cardinals pushed across 12 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as they trounced the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis.  The final one-inning totals for the Cardinals – 12 runs on 10 hits (seven doubles, one triple, two singles) and three walks.  Interestingly, at least to BBRT, the seventh was the only inning in which the Cardinals (who have struggled offensively lately) scored.  The game was a 12-0 Saint Louis win) and the only inning in which the Redbirds notched more than one hit.  Now the Cards did tie an MLB record with seven doubles in one inning – but when it came to hits and runs they felt short of the single inning – or even the seventh inning – record.  The Cardinals also fell short of the most lopsided shutout win ever – a Providence Grays 28-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on August 21, 1883.

Note:  Since 1900, there have been five shutout victories when the winning team scored twenty or more runs – most recently the Indians 22-0 win over the Yankees on August 31, 2004.  BBRT is still searching to see if 12-0 is the most lopsided score in which all of a game’s runs were scored in a single half inning. 

Now back to the Cards’ seventh inning.  Turns out both the AL and NL records for runs scored in an inning took place in the seventh inning of those games – and in both cases, Detroit was the victim.

While with the Red Sox, Johnny Damon become one of only five major leaguers to notch three hits in one inning.

In the NL, the Chicago White Stockings (later to become the Cubs) scored an NL and MLB record 18 runs in the seventh inning of a 26-6 home win over the Detroit Wolverines.  In the inning, they tallied another MLB record 18 hits (10 singles, six doubles, one triple and one home run – amazingly, no walks).  Further, three Chicago batters (Tommy Burns, Fred Pfeffer, and Ned Williamson) each had three hits in the inning.  How significant is that?  In baseball history, three hits in an inning has been accomplished only five times (the last by Johnny Damon on June 27, 2003, in the first inning of a 25-8 Boston Red Sox win over the Florida Marlins, when the Sox scored 14 first-inning runs, including a MLB-record 10 runs before the first out.)

Gene Stephens, another three-hit inning performer for the BoSox.

In the AL, the one-inning scoring record was set in the seventh inning (lucky number seven for both leagues) of a June 18, 1953, 23-3 victory for the Boston Red Sox over the Detroit Tigers.  In their big inning, the Red Sox logged 14 hits (11 singles, 2 doubles and 1 home run) and six walks.  In this game, Boston leftfielder Gene Stephens notched three hits in the inning – his only hits in the game (3 for 6 with a walk.)

Hope you enjoyed this look back at MLB’s biggest innings.

On June 29, Aaron Hill – for the second time in 11 days – hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run in one game).  This made him the first player with a two-cycle season since 1931 (Babe Herman,Brooklyn) – and only the fourth in major league history (it was accomplished twice in the ML American Association of the 1880s (John Reilly, Cincinnati, 1883 and Tip O’Neill, St. Louis, 1887).

Two cycles in a season, a rare feat indeed.  Let’s look, however, at an even rarer feat – the “Home Run Cycle,” accomplished just once in all of professional baseball.   On July 27, 1998, Tyrone Horne of the Double-A Arkansas Travelers hit a solo home run, two-run homer, three-run homer and a grand slam in a 13-4 road victory over the San Antonio Mission.  The term “Home Run Cycle” was coined for Horne’s accomplishment – never done before and not duplicated since.

Although it was surprising, the feat was, perhaps, not totally unexpected.  Horne was in the midst of a stellar minor league season in which he would go .313 with 37 home runs, 140 RBI, 95 runs scored and even throw in 18 stolen bases.  And, right after the historic game, Horne headed off to the Texas League All-Star Game where, of course, he proceeded to win the Home Run Derby.  Horne, by the way, never made it to the major leagues – completing a 13-year (1,286 game) minor league career with a .288 average and 143 home runs.  The bat he used that historic day, however, has made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

A final thought on hitting for the cycle.  Yankee third baseman Tony Lazzeri may have had the major league’s most overshadowed cycle.  On June 3, 1932 – in a 20-13 win over the Athletics – Lazzeri completed his cycle (1B, 2B, 3B, HR) with a grand slam.  On the same day, however, Lou Gehrig notched the American League’s first-ever four-homer game.   Oh yes, and if you’re interested, the career cycle record is three by the Yankees’ Bob Meusel.

So, here we are talking about a no-hitter AGAIN – see BBRT posts of May 3 and June 9 for more on baseball’s no-hit gems.  This time it’s the Giants’ Matt Cain and last night’s perfect game, a 10-0, 14-strikeout win over the Astros.

Perfect games are always surprising, although this one is less so than some others.  It was, after all, the fifth no-hitter and second perfect game already this season.  Second, Matt Cain was a pretty good candidate to toss a “perfecto” or at least a no-hitter.  Cain, who has a truly “nasty” four-pitch repertoire (four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and changeup – complemented by a less frequently used two-seamer) has taken no-hitters into the seventh inning five times in his career.  He has a 2.76 ERA since 2009, and has been touted for having “ace” stuff since he came to the major leagues in 2005.  He was also coming into last night’s game with a victory in each of his past six starts.

A long-time victim of poor run support – a 77-75 career record despite a 3.28 ERA, and 31 losses when he had given up three or fewer runs –  Cain had this moment in the sun (or, in this case, under the lights) coming.  BBRT says congrats Matt Cain, we knew you had it in you.

Now, if you want to talk about surprising pitching performances, how about Mets’ knuckleballer R.A. Dickey’s one-hit (of the infield variety), no-walk,  12-strikeout. complete game performance of last night.  This  makes Dickey – who came into the season with a 41-50 career record and an ERA north of 4.00 – 10-1, 2.20 ERA on the year, with 19 walks and 90 strikeouts in 90 innings.   His ten wins tie Dickey for the league lead with another surprising hurler – Lance Lynn, who last night went to 10-2 (2.42 ERA) for the Cardinals, striking out 12 in 7.1 innings of 3-hit, shutout ball.   On the season, Lynn has walked 27 and struck out 86 in 81.2 innings pitched.  The 25-year-old Lynn, who was slated to spend the year in the Redbird’s bullpen, was called into starting service due to injuries to Carpenter and Wainwright, and he’s made the most of it.

Matt Cain’s perfect fame – mildly surprising.  Dickey and Lynn leading the NL in victories, even more so.

R.A. Dickey’s 10 wins for the Mets. Now there’s a surprising performance.

A-Rod continues his "trot" to the Hall of Fame.

On June 12, 2012, Alex Rodriguez continued his march to the Hall of Fame by stroking his 23^rd “Grand Slam” home run.  It was an historic and momentous blast.  Historic because it tied A-Rod with Lou Gehrig for the all-time lead in career grand Slams.  Momentous because it tied a game the Yankees were trailing (4-0 to the Braves in the eighth) and led to a 6-4 win that kept the Yankees in sole possession of first place (one game ahead of the Orioles).

A-Rod acknowledged history and momentum.  “Lou Gehrig is not only one of the all-time greats, but he’s one of ours,” A-Rod said after the game.  “He was a Yankee.”  Noting the Yankees’ building momentum, he said, “I really felt it was a swing for the team.  I feel like everybody needed that hit and we’ve all been waiting for it.”

BBRT says congrats to A-Rod, and would like to share some Grand Slam trivia with it blog followers.

– While A-Rod and Lou Gehrig top the career Grand Slam list with 23, they are joined in the top five positions (six actually, a tie for fifth) by Manny Ramirez (21), Eddie Murray (19), Willie McCovey (18 and the NL record holder), and Robin Ventura (18).

– Another Yankee, Don Mattingly, set the current single season record in 1987 with six Grand Slams (tied by Travis Hafner of the Indians in 2006).  Notably, Mattingly’s six Grand Slams were the only base-loaded homers of his 14-year career.

– Sticking with the Yankees, they are the only ML team to hit 3 grand slams in one game – coming on August 25, 2011 against the Oakland As at Yankee Stadium (Robinson Cano, 5^th inning; Russell Martin-6^th; Curtis Granderson-8^th).  The Yankees, who trailed 7-1 after three innings, won the game 22-9.

– The NL record for Grand Slams in a season is 5, held by Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks and former Cardinal Albert Pujols.

– Four players have hit a Grand Slam in their very first major league at bat:  Bill Duggleby (Philadelphia, NL, 1898); Jeremy Hermida (Florida, 2005); Kevin Kouzmanoff (Cleveland, 2006); and Daniel Nava (Boston, 2010). Duggleby, Kouzmanoff and Nava all hit their Slams on the first pitch they ever saw in the majors.

– In 1961, when the Orioles’ Jim Gentile hit a then record-tying 5 Grand Slams in a season,  Baltimore’s Chuck Estrada was the Orioles’ starting pitcher each time Gentile struck a four-run blow – winning all four games (On May 9, Gentile hit two Grand Slams in a game against the Twins at Minnesota).

– Only 13 players have hit two grand slams in a game – and only once did the player accomplish this feat in his home park.  Nomar Garciaparra hit two Slams for the Red Sox at Fenway in a May 10, 1999, win over the Mariners.

– Bill Mueller of the Red Sox is the only switch hitter to hit Grand Slams from both sides of the plate in the same game –  in the 7^th and 8^th innings of a 14-7 Red Sox win at Texas on July 29, 2003.

–  Atlanta Braves pitcher  Tony Cloninger  was the first National Leaguer to hit two Grand Slams in one game – a July 3, 1966,  17-3 complete game victory over the Giants at Candlestick.  He remains the only pitcher with a two-GS game.

– Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in the same inning – an 11-run third inning as the Cards beat the Dodgers 12-5 on April 23, 1999.   Dodgers’ starting pitcher Chan Ho Park gave up both grand slams (Why was he still in there?) becoming the answer to the question, Who is the only pitcher to give up two grand slams to the same batter in one inning?

Park’s inning went like this:

Single; Hit By Pitch; Single; Tatis Grand Slam; Ground Out; Home Run;  Walk; Walk; Safe on Fielder’s Choice (attempted sacrifice); Safe on Error; Single; Fly Out; Tatis’ Second Grand Slam; Call to Bull Pen; Pop Out.

Grand Slams – a grand part of the grand old game.