On this day (August 16) in 2002, a group of Little Leaguers – all pushing 60-years-old – was honored at the Little League World Series.  They were a group that, as 11- and 12-year-olds, made the trip to Williamsport as a team, but never had the opportunity to play a game.  Still, this team – the 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All Stars (Charleston, South Carolina) – has been recognized for its contributions racial understanding and equality on and off the field.

Jackie Robinson may have broken Major League Baseball’s “color line” in 1947, but in 1955, there was still plenty of controversy surrounding integration – as evidenced by the events surrounding the 1955 Little League World Series.

In the summer of 1955, there were more than 62 chartered Little League programs in South Carolina.  All but one of those leagues – the Cannon Street YMCA Little League in Charleston – was made up entirely of white players.  As the season progressed, the Cannon Street League played its full schedule and then selected a team to represent the league in the tournament leading up to the Little League World Series.

You can learn more about their season …

Cannon Street’s All Star squad advanced in the tournament without losing a game – not because they overpowered the opposition, but because all of the teams representing South Carolina’s “white” Little League simply refused to play them.  Cannon Street won their city and state championship tournaments by forfeit.  Then, when championship teams from the seven other Southern Region states refused to play the Cannon Street team, Little League declared the squad the regional champion as well.  (The “white” leagues eventually went so far as to leave Little League and form a new association, Dixie Baseball for Boys.)

Little League, to its credit, held firm to its non-discrimination policy, rejected the South Carolina affiliate’s request for an all-white tournament and ruled that if a team refused to play against a duly franchised Little League, that team would not be allowed to participate in the Little League tournament. That left only one team standing in North Carolina – the Cannon Street squad. The next step should have been competing in the Little League Series – but here’s where rules overruled common sense.  Little League officials also held firm on a rule prohibiting teams from playing for the World Series title after advancing by forfeits.

The organization did, however, invite the Cannon Street team to Williamsport as guests.  The story has it that the team made the 750-mile trip to Williamsport in an old school bus that broke down a few times and even caught fire along the way.  Once in Williamsport, the team stayed in the dorms with other teams and took part in the festivities surrounding the World Series (even on-field warm-ups) – but were not allowed to play a game.

Notably, after their on-field warm-ups, the crowd in the stands (estimated at about 5,000) began a stadium-rattling chant of “Let them play! Let them play!”  (A shining moment for a crowd of Little League families.)  Clearly, the team may have not won a game in Williamsport, but they won quite a few hearts.  And, over the years, members of the team lived their lives and told their story with dignity – opening quite a few eyes (and hearts) as well.

Forty-seven-years later, members of that team were honored at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Little League World Series.  At that ceremony, Little League president and CEO Stephen Keener told the crowd and the team,  “There is no way to right the wrong perpetrated on the boys of the Cannon Street YMCA Little League team, just as there is no way to right the wrongs perpetrated throughout history on people because of their skin color.  Little League will be honored to have the Cannon Street team with us as our special guests.”  A big day for Little League.

And there have been other accolades.

In 2006, the team was inducted into the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame and, in 2012, the city of Charleston unveiled an historical marker honoring the players for their accomplishments and contributions on and off the field

Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), read the following tribute into the Congressional Record:

In the heart of Charleston, SC, lies Cannon Street; it’s a modest street spanning just a few city blocks. However, within its history lies the story of what Dr. Creighton Hale, the former CEO of little league baseball, called “the most significant amateur team in baseball history.”

In 1955, the area surrounding this street was one of economic blight and social unease. In an effort to keep kids out of trouble and teach skills that only team sports can provide, the local YMCA organized four little league teams for the neighborhood kids. The Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars consisted of seventeen players: John Bailey, Charles Bradley, Vermont Brown, William Godfrey, Vernon Grey, Allen Jackson, Carl Johnson, John Mack, Leroy Major, David Middleton, Arthur Peoples, John Rivers, Norman Robinson, Maurice Singleton, Leroy Carter, George Gregory, and Augustus Holt. They were coached and founded by: Lee J. Bennett, Walter Burke, Rufus Dilligard, A.O. Graham, Robert Morrison, R.H. Penn, and Benjamin Singleton. The team would advance to the Charleston City Little League playoff games, but would never be given the opportunity to earn a spot in the Little League World Series. It was not because they were unworthy players or because they could not afford to go. The color of their skin stifled the dreams of these twelve-year-old boys.

The Charleston playoff games were boycotted in 1955 to preserve racial segregation. Because teams again refused to play against them, the Cannon Street All-Stars advanced past the state and regional playoffs. The National Little League invited the All-Stars to the Little League World Series as special guests; they could not compete for the title because technically they hadn’t played their way to the championships. They returned to Charleston, dismayed and disappointed.

As children, they embodied the very characteristics that organized sports aim to impart–teamwork, courage and respect. As adults they have worked in productive and valuable careers such as architecture, law enforcement and education. As they have grown older, they are now volunteers in their communities–giving back, yet again. While they never had the opportunity to compete, their story has demonstrated where we have come from as a nation.

Last month members of my staff had the opportunity to meet several of the original Cannon Street Little Leaguers who traveled to Washington, DC to be recognized at Nationals Stadium before the Nationals-Phillies game. Their story remains powerful more than 65 years later, and I know my staff will never forget having the opportunity to meet them.

Today, the neighborhood that encompasses Cannon Street has developed into an integral part of the Charleston education and science community. It is home to a number of colleges and universities and a world-class research hospital. The boys of the Cannon Street Little League Team are men who through their careers and service to the community have become assets to their neighborhoods. In spite of the adversity they encountered and the challenges they confronted, these young people illustrated to the world the absurdity of segregation and the hatred inherent in racism.

In the 55 years since they were excluded from competing to earn a spot at the Little League World Series in their own right, America has matured. I would like to believe that a handful of twelve-year-olds contributed to our maturity.

It is with great admiration that I share their story and my respect for these men with you, my colleagues.

You can learn more about the Cannon Street YMCA All Stars in William Godfrey’s book, “The Team Nobody Would Play,” in the film “The Cannon Street Boys,” in Margo Theis Raven’s children’s book “Let Them Play” and in Carole Boston Weatherford children’s book “Champions on the Bench.”

My Minnesota Twins (BBRT hails from Minnesota) are currently excited about 27-year-old rookie lefthander Andrew Albers, who has started his major league career with 17 1/3 scoreless innings pitched (two starts, two wins, one complete game shutout, six hits, one walk, four strikeouts).   Albers, in fact, might have two complete game whitewashes to his credit, except Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire thought he was tiring and pulled him from his last start with one down and two runners on (single, walk) in the ninth.

Gardenhire didn’t prove to be much of a prognosticator before Albers took the mound yesterday for his second start, noting that “If he goes out and tries to duplicate what he did before, he’ll get in trouble.”  Albers not only duplicated his first start, he took it to the next level, in a 102-pitch, 3-0 win over the Indians.

The publicity surrounding Albers’ start got BBRT to thinking about the MLB record holder for scoreless innings at the start of a career – current Diamondbacks’ reliever Brad Ziegler, who came up with the A’s in 2008 and pitched 39 major league innings before being touched for a run.  Albers and Zeigler, it turns out, have a lot in common – including college stardom, significant injuries, being released by the MLB team that originally signed them, stints in independent league ball, making the best of second chances and PERSEVERANCE.  Note:  It’s stories like these that help fuel BBRT’s love of the game.

Albers, who was a standout hurler at the University of Kentucky, was drafted in the tenth round (Padres) of the 2008 draft, and made five appearances in the 2008 Arizona Rookie League.  He injured his pitching elbow during 2009 Spring Training and missed the entire season (and was released by the Padres) after Tommy John surgery.  In 2010, Albers pitched (and pitched well … 3-0, 17 saves, 1.40 ERA) for the Québec Capitales of the independent Can-Am Association.  After a 2011 tryout, the Twins signed Albers to a minor league contract.  He went on to put up a 24-10 record, with a 2.91 ERA over the past three minor league seasons, 11-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 22 Triple A starts this year.

Brad Ziegler, despite two skull fractures, he is giving HITTERS headaches.

Ziegler, like Albers, was a standout pitcher in college, setting Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) records for starts, wins and strikeouts.  He was drafted by the Phillies in the 20^th round of the 2003 MLB draft.  Ziegler, however, threw only six minor-league innings, before being sidelined by shoulder tendinitis.  Like Albers, Zeigler was released by his first MLB organization (just before the start of the 2004 season) and ended up pitching in the independent leagues (Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League) – where his performance (four starts, three wins, 1.50 ERA) earned him a spot in the Oakland A’s organization.  (Oakland had originally drafted Zeigler in 2002, but he elected to return for his senior year at MSU.)

Zeigler pitched well at Oakland’s Modest0 (High A) club in 2004, going 9-2, 3.90, as Modesto made the playoffs. Then, while pitching in the playoffs, injury struck again – in the form of a line drive that fractured Ziegler’s skull.  Zeigler, however, recovered and pushed.   From 2005 until his call up in 2008, he moved steadily up the A’s minor league ladder.

It was during this time, actually in 2007, that the A’s asked Ziegler to try more of a sidearm approach – and Ziegler went 12-3, 2.41 as a reliever (Double A and Triple A) in 2007.   He continued to refine his new delivery in 2008 and was 2-0, 0.37 ERA in 19 appearances at Triple A Sacramento, when the A’s called him up in late May. (Note: If all of Ziegler trials weren’t enough, he also suffered a second skull fracture in January of 2008, the result of a deflected throw at a youth baseball camp.)

In his first MLB game, Ziegler pitched one-third of an inning (giving up a single) in an 8-4 loss to Texas.  Twenty-eight appearances, and 38 2/3 innings pitched, later, Ziegler still had not given up an earned run.  In those 39 innings, he gave up just 21 hits, while walking 11 and striking out 18 – and, as of August 8, earned the A’s closer role.

Ziegler’s streak came in the ninth inning of an August 14^th game against the Tampa Bay Rays.  After pitching a 1-2-3 eighth, Ziegler gave up a run on a single by Akinori Iwamura and a double by B.J. Upton (the first extra base hit Ziegler had allowed).  Ziegler ended the season with 47 games pitched, a 3-0 record, 11 saves and a 1.06 ERA.  He remains active today, pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he has a 6-1 record, with seven saves and a 2.19 ERA.

Zeigler and Albers, persevering, despite the odds.

Jason Giambi – historic walk off homer.

Jason Giambi of the Cleveland Indian yesterday punched his 436^th career home run in dramatic fashion.  It was a ninth-inning, pinch-hit, walk-off homer that gave the Indian a 3-2 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox.  It also made Giambi, in his 19^th major league season, the oldest player to hit a walk-off homer; at 42 years, 202 days.  The record had been held by Hank Aaron, who hit a walk-off in 1976 at 42 years, 157 days of age. It was Giambi’s 7 homer of the season, to go with a .194 average and 24 RBI.

Giambi might hold the only home run record not in the pocket of the ageless wonder – Julio Franco.  Franco is the oldest player to homer in a MLB game.   He turned the trick just shy of his 49^th birthday (48 years, 254 days), hitting a two-run shot off Arizona’s Randy Johnson as Franco’s Mets topped the Diamondbacks 5-3.  (Franco started at first base in that game and went two-for-three.)  Franco is also the oldest player to hit a grand slam (46 years, 308 days) – connecting as a pinch hitter for the Atlanta Braves in a 7-2 win over the Marlins on June 27, 2005.  He’s the oldest player to record a multi-homer game, belting a pair of homers on June 18, 2005 (age 46 years, 299 days), as his Atlanta Braves topped the Reds at Great American Ball Park.  Franco started at first base and went two-for-four with two homers and three RBI.  And, finally, he’s also the oldest player to hit a pinch hit home run, in the eighth inning of a Mets’ 7-2 win over the Padres at San Diego (April 20, 2006 – 47 years, 240 days old).  Note:  Only 25 MLB home runs have been hit by players 45 or older – and 20 of those belong to Franco. 

Julio Franco – Old Guys rule and he is their king!

In this post, BBRT would also like to reflect on another Julio Franco record – the oldest player ever put in as a pinch runner (47 year, 340 days).   It came on July 29, 2006, when the Mets’ first baseman and cleanup hitter Carlos Delgado was hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning in the New Yorkers’ 11-3 win at Atlanta.  Franco came in as a pinch runner (stayed in at first base, going two-for-three) and promptly stole second base, going to third on an errant throw.  Wow?  The old guy still had wheels.  (he’s the second-oldest player to steal a base, but that’s for another post.)

Now, here’s BBRT’s blatant pitch – Julio Franco for the BB Hall of Fame.  Let’s look at his career.  Franco came to the big leagues in 1982 at age 23.  From 1982 to 1994, he played primarily as a middle infielder and DH for the Phillies, Indians, Rangers and White Sox – making three All Star teams (MVP of the 1990 All Star game) and leading the league in hitting .341 for the Rangers in 1991 (went he collected 201 hits, 15 homers, 78 RBI, 108 runs scored and 36 steals.). In 1994, when the remainder of the season was lost to a strike, Franco was in the midst of his best season.  After 112 games, he was hitting .319, with 138 hits, 20 home runs, 98 RBI, 72 runs scored, and eight steals.

Franco was determined to stay active and signed to play in Japan with the Pacific League Chiba Lotte Marines In the 1995 Japanese season, Franco hit .306 and won the league’s equivalent of the Gold Glove at first base. Franco returned to MLB in 1996, joining the Cleveland Indians and going .322-14-76 in 112 games. In August 1997, the Indians released Franco –who was hitting .284-3-25 at the time, and he finished the season with the Brewers by hitting .241 in 14 games with Milwaukee.

In 1998, at age 39, Franco was back in Japan playing for Chiba Lotte. Then in 1999, he celebrated his fortieth year by hitting for a .423 average in the Mexican League and getting one more MLB late season at bat with the Marlins.

As he moved into his forties, Franco was far from finished as a player. He played in South Korea in 2000 (age 41) and then was back in the Mexican League in 2001 (Angelopolis Tigers), where stellar play earned him a spot on the Atlanta Braves roster.  From 2001 to 2007, the ageless wonder – professional hitter and pretty darn good first sacker – played for the Braves and Mets.  He finally retired from the field in 2008, while playing for the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League (where he hit .250 in 36 games.)

Why the Hall of Fame?  In addition to the accomplishments above, in 23 MLB seasons, Franco hit .298, with 2,586 hits, a .298 average, 173 homers, 1,285 runs, 1,194 RBI and 281 stolen bases. He also collected 618 minor league (U.S) hits, 316 in the Mexican League, 286 in Japan, 267 in the Dominican Winter League and 156 in South Korea.  Clearly, Julio Franco is a player whose skills were evident across time and geography and whose contributions and character deserve HOF consideration.

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The finals of yesterday’s All Star Celebration Home Run Derby featured two second-year major leaguers – with the A’s Yeonis Cespedes topping the Nationals’ Bryce Harper.  The fact that the two finalists have a combined 405 major league games and 73 career home runs to their credit underscores a positive trend – the emergence of a cadre of young, talented players who promise an exciting, new post-steroids (hopefully) era and aura for our national past time.   Although BBRT often likes to reflect on baseball’s past glories, in this post, I’d like to take at some emerging young “stars” that BBRT looks forward to watching in the future.  I’ve arbitrarily defined young as 24-years-old and under, and will start with a look at a few 2013 All Stars who meet the criteria.

Bryce Harper … An Exciting Future

Bryce Harper, Nationals’ outfielder, age 20.

Harper, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, is already on his second All Star team.  He’s had some injury problems this season (58 games played), but still stands at .264, with 13 home runs, 29 RBI and six stolen bases.  In 2012, as a 19-year-old, Harper (6’2”, 230 lbs.) hit .270, with 22 home runs, 59 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Mike Trout, Angels’ outfielder, age 21.

Trout made his debut in July of 2011 (at age 19).  In 2012, his first full MLB season, he won AL Rookie of the Year honors and made his first All Star team.  He finished the season, with a .326 average, 30 home runs, 83 RBI, while leading the AL in runs scored (129) and stolen bases (49).  Trout (6’2”, 230 lbs.) is again on the AL All Star squad, with 2013 stats that include a .322 average, 15 home runs, 59 RBI, 65 runs scored and 21 steals.

Manny Machado, Orioles’ third base, age 21.

Machado debuted with the Orioles in early August 2012, going .262-7-26 in 51 games.  The 6’2”, 185-pound, 2013 All Star continues to show good power, leading the AL in doubles (39) at the All Star break – along with a .310 average, 7 homers and 45 RBI.  It will be interesting to see if Machado can maintain his pace.  In 219 minor league games, he hit .263, with 23 home runs and 114 RBI.

Jean Segura, Brewers’ rising star.

Jean Segura, Brewers’ shortstop, age 23.

Segura made his MLB debut last July 24 and hit just .259, with no homers, 14 RBI and seven steals in 45 games. A .313 hitter (with 139 steals) in 399 minor league games, Segura came into his own at the major league level this year, earning an All Star berth by leading the NL in hits (121) at the break.  The 5’10”, 200-pounder’s 2013 line is:  .325, 11 homers, 36 RBI, 54 runs and 27 steals in 92 games.

Pat Corbin, Diamondbacks’ LHP, age 23.

Corbin made his MLB debut last April and went 6-8, 2.54 in 2012.  A 2013 All Star, Corbin stands at 11-1, 2.35 with 109 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings pitched.  Corbin’s (6’2”, 185-pounds) minor league stats (80 games, 79 starts) are 31-16, 3.78 with 404 strikeouts in 430 2/3 innings.

Matt Harvey, Met’s’ ace.

Matt Harvey, Mets RHP, age 24.

The 6’4”, 225-pound starter made his MLB debut in 2012, going 3-5, 2.73 with 156 strikeouts in 135 2/3 innings.  This season, Harvey earned his way onto the All Star squad with a 7-2 record, a 2.35 ERA and an NL-leading 147 strikeouts in 130 innings pitched.

There are also some pretty exciting “under-25ers,” who did not make the 2013 All Star Game – but deserve watching going forward.

Yasiel Puig, Dodgers’ outfielder, age 22.

Puig, who defected from Cuba in 2012, came up to the Dodgers on June 3.  In 38 games, Puig (6’3”, 240-pounds) has hit .391, with 8 home runs, 19 RBI and 5 steals.

Shelby Miller, Cardinals’ RHP, age 22.

The (6’3”, 215-pound) rookie – just six appearances in 2012 – has posted a 9-6 record with a .2.92 ERA, 29 walks and 112 strikeouts in 18 starts.   In 78 minor league starts, Miller went 29-21, 3.73 and struck out 472 batters in 383 2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve, Astros’ second baseman, age 23.

At 23, Altuve is in his third major league season (called up in July 2011).  The 5’5” 175-pound infielder was an All Star in 2012, when he hit .290, with seven homers, 37 RBI, 80 runs scored and 33 steals.  He remains a steady and solid performer in 2013, with a .280 average, three homers, 28 RBI, 37 runs and 21 steals in 86 games.

There’s a look at some of the “under-25” players that should be exciting to watch in the future.  Now, let’s briefly touch on a few players who fell just outside the “under-25” limitation, but also reflect baseball’s “changing of the guard.”

Aroldis Chapman – “bringing” excitement at 104 mph.

Aroldis Chapman, Red’s closer, age 25.

At 25, and in his fourth MLB season and second All Star game, Chapman (of the 104 mph fastball) took a 3-3 record, with a 2.79 ERA, 21 saves and 64 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings into the break.  In 2012, his first full year as closer, he notched 38 saves, with a 1.51 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.

Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks’ first baseman, age 25.

A 2013 All Star, Goldschmidt seems to just keep getting better.  As a rookie, in 2011, he hit .250, with eight homers and 26 RBI in 48 games.  In 2012, he played 145 games, with a .286-20-82 line (and 18 steals).  This season, he is hitting .313 and already has 21 home runs and an NL-leading 77 RBI, along with nine stolen bases.

Pedro Alvarez, Pirates’ third baseman, age 26.

Another 2013 All Star, at 26 Alvarez is in his fourth MLB season. A .240 career hitter, Alvarez has shown tape-measure power.  In 2012, he finished with 30 home runs and 85 RBI.  At the break this year, he stands at 24 homers and 62 RBI.

Lance Lynn, Cardinals’ RHP, age 26.

Lynn made the All Star as a rookie in 2012, when he went 18-7, 3.78.  Through the break in 2013, he is 11-4, 4.00.

Buster Posey, Giants’ catcher, age 26.

Hard to think of Posey as one of the up and coming youngsters, but – despite being in his fifth MLB season – he is only 26 (and already a Rookie of the Year, NL MVP, batting champ and two-time All Star).  At the break, Posey (a .316 hitter in 398 MLB games) sits at .325-13-56.

Chris Davis, Orioles’ first baseman, age 27.

A 2013 All Star, Davis makes this list at age 27 because he only became a player to watch in 2012.  In his first four MLB seasons, Davis averaged 74 games, a .251 batting average, 11 home runs and 34 RBI.  In 2012, he broke out with .270-33-85 and, this year, he went into the All Star break leading all of baseball with 37 home runs, boasted a .315 average and was second only to Miguel Cabrera with 93 RBI.

So, there are some of the “youngsters” BBRT thinks will make for some pretty good baseball over the next five to ten years.  There are others, of course (feel free to make suggestions in the comments), but these are a few that stand out for me.

BBRT tips its cap to the comeback (and then some) of Jason Grilli.

One final player, BBRT will be keeping an eye on is Pirates’ closer Jason Grilli, who seems to have found himself at age 36 (actually at age 34, but I’ll get to that).  In his first 11 MLB seasons, Grilli had five saves and an ERA north of 4.00.  The 2013 All Star, this year has an NL-leading 29 saves, 1.99 ERA, nine walks and 63 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.

Grilli’s is an interesting and inspiring story.  He made his major league debut in 2000 (Florida Marlins) and between 2000 and 2009 spent time with the Marlins, White Sox, Tigers and Rockies.  He suffered a severe knee injury during Spring Training 2010 (with the Indians), missed the entire season and ultimately filed for free agency.  In January 2011, Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and pitched well at Triple A before being released on July 20 (and signing a minor league deal with the Pirates the very next day).  Since joining the Pirates, Grilli has pitched 135 games, with a 2.52 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 132 innings.   BBRT will be watching for the Pirates to break their 20-year string losing seasons and make it to the playoffs – behind a league-leading performance in saves by Grilli.

Just a few days ago, Tigers’ third baseman Miguel Cabrera made headlines as the first MLB player to record 30 home runs and 90 RBIs by the All Star break – making him the sole member of an exclusive, if somewhat arbitrary, MLB “club.”  I use the term arbitrary because, while 30/90 are nice round numbers, neither are pre-All Star break records. More on that later, but BBRT can report that, thanks to a four-RBI performance on Sunday, Orioles’ first sacker Chris Davis – the main obstacle to a repeat Triple Crown by Cabrera – has doubled the size of the pre-All Star 30/90 club.

As we head into the break Cabrera stands at .365, with 30 home runs and 95 RBI – leading MLB in average and RBI and second (to Davis) in home runs.  Notably, Cabrera’s numbers are up in all three categories over those at the break in last year’s Triple Crown season (.324-18-71 at the 86-game mark).  Davis goes into the break at .316, with 37 home runs (leading MLB) and 93 RBI (second only to Cabrera).

Now about those AS break records. Davis’ 37 home runs are second to Barry Bonds, who had 39 HRs at the 2001 break.  Also at 37 homers at the break are Mark McGwire in 1998 and Reggie Jackson in 1969. (For a complete look at the 30-homers at-the-break club, see BBRT’s post of July 7, just add Cabrera to the list).

Hank Greenberg – 103 RBI at the break.

The record for RBI at the break is 103, by the Tigers’ Hank Greenberg in 1935 (at the 76-game mark).  Greenberg finished the season at 170 RBI.  The Tiger, the first to carry the nickname “Hammerin’ Hank,” was an RBI machine, leading the AL four times in his 13 MLB seasons and topping 130 in a season five times, with high of 183 in 1937.  In his peak years (1936-40), Greenberg averaged better than an RBI per game (777 RBI in 759 games).  The only other player to top 100 RBI at the break was Juan Gonzalez of the Rangers, who had 101 at the 1998 All Star break (87 games in), finishing the season at 157.  Gonzalez only led the league once in his 17 seasons, but did top 130 RBI four times.

Also making waves at the break is 41-year-old Mariners’ outfielder Raul Ibanez, who goes into the break at .267, with 24 home runs and 56 RBI – with the HR and RBI totals at the break the highest ever for a forty-plus player.  Ibanez is fast closing in on Ted Williams’ record of 29 homers in a full season for a player after his fortieth birthday. In his final season (1960), at age 41, Williams hit 29 homers in 113 games. Ibanez, who was an All Star only once (2009, when he hit a career-high 34 homers for the Phillies), is not on the All Star team.  He has 295 home runs to date, in an 18-year MLB career.

Another “oldie-but-goodie” who will be at the All Star Game is Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.  The 43-year-old Rivera has an MLB record 638 saves.  This season he has 30 saves and a 1.83 ERA – the saves represent his highest total ever at the break.  Rivera, in his final season, is going out in style. The record for saves at the AS break, by the way, belongs to Francisco Rodriguez, who had 35 saves for the Angels at the break in 2008 – on his way to an MLB record 62-save season.  In his peak four seasons (2005-2008), Rodriguez ran up 194 saves.  John Smoltz is close behind (and holds the NL record for saves at the break) with 34 saves for the Braves at the 2003 All Star break.  Smoltz, a full-time reliever for only three of his 22 seasons, recorded 144 saves from 2002-2004.  For you trivia buffs, Smoltz and Dennis Eckersley are the only two MLB pitchers to record seasons of 20 or more wins as a starter and 50 or more saves as a reliever.  This season, Jim Johnson of the Orioles is the saves leader at the break with 33 saves to go with a 2-7 record and a 3.71 ERA.

Rickey Henderson – 84 steals at the break.

A couple of other All Star break facts.  Rickey Henderson holds the record for stolen bases at the break.  In 1982, while with the A’s and on the way to an MLB single season record 130 steals, Henderson had 84 stolen bags at the break.   This year’s stolen base leader at the break is the Red Sox’ Jacoby Ellsbury with 36.

When it comes to wins at the AS break, your leader is the White Sox’ Wilbur Wood, who had 18 wins at the break in 1973. (He also had 14 losses, was not selected for the All Star Team and finished the season 24-20.)

Wilbur Wood 18 wins and the break and not an All Star selection.

The most wins for a pitcher who made the All Star team is 17 by the A’s Vida Blue (17-3 at the 1971 break) and the Tigers’ Mickey Lolich (17-6 at the 1972 break).  Blue finished 24-8 on the year, while Lolich ended up 22-14.  This year’s wins leaders at the break are Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore (13-3) and the Tigers’ Max Scherzer (13-1).

Chris Davis in the “Club of Clubbers” 30 or more homers at the break.

In 2012, the Orioles’ Chris Davis, at age 26, had a career year – finishing with a .270 average and a career-high 33 home runs and 85 RBI.  In 2013, the 6’ 3”, 230-pound first baseman is hitting .324 and has already matched his 33 round trippers and 85 RBI of the 2012 season – with a week of games to go before the All Star break.  Here’s some background on the “30-HR before the break” club and Davis’ targets for the coming week.

First, only six players have hit more than 33 homers before the break – led by Barry Bonds 39 in 2007, when he finished with all-time MLB high of 73 dingers for the Giants.

Reggie Jackson and Mark McGwire are next with 37 pre-All Star Game homers.  Jackson for the A’s in 1969 (he finished with 47) and McGwire for the Cardinals in 1998 (finishing with 70).  Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Mariners had 35 at the break in 1998 (finishing with 56), as did Louis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks in 2001 (ending the season with 57 homers).  Frank Howard of Senators reached 34 homers by the 1969 All Star break (finishing with 48).  We can expect Davis to move up this list over the coming week, although Bonds’ 39 seems out of reach.

Overall, 30 or more home runs before the All Star break has been achieved 34 times, by 26 different players, in MLB history (including Davis this year.)  Mark McGwire has done it most often – in 1987, 1997, 1998, and 2000.  The only others to reach the thirty mark at break time more than once are Ken Griffey, Jr. (three times); and Willie Stargell, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds (twice each).   Perhaps, the most surprising member of this “club of clubbers” is the Orioles’ Brady Anderson – who had 30 HRs at the break in 1996, on his way to a 50-homer season.  In his 15-year career, Anderson totaled 210 homers and his second-highest season total was 24.

McGwire is the only player to reach the 30 homer-mark before the break in both leagues (as well as for more than one team).  He achieved the feat with the A’s in in 1987 and 1997 and the Cardinals in 1998 and 2000.  McGwire holds some other distinctions among members of this club. He is the only player to be traded during a season in which he reached the 30-homer level by the break.  In 1997, McGwire had 33 homers at the All Star break and hit one more for the A’s before they traded him (July 31) to the Cardinals (where he went on to hit 24 more home runs).  McGwire is also the only rookie to reach 30 homers by the All Star break, with 33 in 1987, when the 23-year-old A’s rookie hit 49 and captured Rookie of the Year honors.

By decade, the 1950’s saw 30 homers reached before the break once; the 1960’s – five times; the 1970’s – four times; the 1980’s – three times; the 1990’s – 12 times; 2000-2009 – seven times; 2010-13 – twice.  1998 was the single most prolific year for “thirty-before-the break,” with the Cardinals’ McGwire going into the break with 37 HRs, the Mariners’ Griffey, Jr. at 35; the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa at 30; and the Padres Greg Vaughn at 30.

Here’s the full list of players with 30 or more homers at the break, with season-ending total in parenthesis.

39 HRs … Barry Bonds, Giants, 2001 (73)

37 … Reggie Jackson, A’s, 1969 (47)

37 … Mark McGwire, Cardinals, 1998 (70)

35 … Luis Gonzalez, Diamond backs, 2001 (57)

35 … Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, 1998 (56)

34 … Frank Howard,   Senators, 1969 (48)

33 and counting, Chris Davis, Orioles, 2013

33 … Roger Maris, Yankees, 1961 (61)

33 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs, 1998 (66)

33 … Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, 1994 (40)

33 … Matt Williams, Giants, 1994 (43)

33 … Mark McGwire, A’s, 1987 (49)

32 … Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 2009 (47)

32 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs, 1999 (63)

32 … Frank Thomas, White Sox, 1994 (38)

31 … Jose Bautista, Blue Jays, 2011 (43)

31 … David Ortiz, Red Sox, 2006 (54)

31… Jose Canseco, Devil Rays, 1999 (34)

31 … Mark McGwire, A’s & Cardinals, 1997 (58)

31 … Kevin Mitchell, Giants, 1989 (47)

31 … Mike Schmidt, Phillies, 1979 (45)

31 … Willie Mays, Giants, 1954 (41)

30 … Alex Rodriguez   , Yankees, 2007 (54)

30 … Jim Thome, White Sox, 2006 (42)

30 … Barry Bonds, Giants, 2003 (45)

30 … Mark McGwire, Cardinals, 2000 (32)

30 … Greg Vaughn, Padres, 1998 (50)

30 … Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, 1997 (56)

30 … Brady Anderson, Orioles, 1996 (50)

30 … Dave Kingman, Mets, 1976 (37)

30 … Willie Stargell, Pirates     30, 1973 (44)

30 … Willie Stargell, Pirates, 1971 (48)

30 … Willie McCovey, Giants, 1969 (45)

30 … Harmon Killebrew, Twins, 1964 (49)

Homer Bailey – who threw 2012’s last no hitter – throws 2013’s first.

Reds’ right-hander Homer Bailey (“Homer” – unfortunate name for a pitcher) threw MLB’s first no-hitter Tuesday (July 2) night, as well as the last no-hitter of the 2012 season (September 28, 2012).  Pitching in Cincinnati’s  very hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark, Bailey shutdown the Giants 3-0 on 109 pitchers, walking just one, striking out nine. (Bailey took a perfect game into to the seventh.)  It was MLB’s 280^th recognized no-hitter, and Bailey became just the 31^st pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters.  A list of those hurlers follows, but first a few no-hitter factoids.

Consecutive no-hitters:  Two – by Johnny Vander Meer of the Reds, as he shut down the Boston Braves 3-0 on June 11, 1938 and the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-0 on June 15, 1938.

Two no-hitters in one season:  Johnny Vander Meer, Reds, 1938; Allie Reynolds, Yankees, 1951; Virgil Trucks, Tigers, 1952; Nolan Ryan, Angels, 1973; Roy Halladay, Phillies, 2010 (one in post-season).

Pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter in both the AL and NL:  Cy Young (Cleveland Spiders/NL and Boston Americans and Red Sox/AL);  Jim Bunning (Detroit Tigers/Philadelphia Phillies); Hideo Nomo (LA Dodgers/Boston Red Sox); Randy Johnson (Seattle Mariners/Arizona Diamondbacks); Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros/California Angels/Texas Rangers).

Opening Day no-hitters:  On April 16, 1940, the Indians’ Bob Feller threw the only Opening Day no-hitter, topping the White Sox 1-0 at Comiskey.

World Series no-hitter: Yankee Don Larsen’s October 8, 1956, perfect game against the Dodgers in game six of the ’56 Series is the only World Series no-hitter.  Roy Halladay threw the only other post season no-hitter to date, as he topped the Reds in game one of the 2010 NL Division Series (October 6, 2010).

Most pitchers used in a combined no-hitter:  Six.  On June 11, 2003,  Roy Oswalt started for the Astros against the Yankees, but aggravated a groin injury in the second inning (having not given up a hit).  Oswalt was followed to the mound by Pete Munro, Kirk Sarloos, Brad Lidge, Octoavio Dotel and Billy Wagner – and the six hurlers combined to no-hit the “Bombers” 8-0.

Pitchers who hit homers while pitching a no-hitter:  On June 23, 1971 Rick Wise of the Phillies went two-for-four, with two homers and three RBI, while no-hitting the Reds 4-0 in Cincinnati.  Wise is the only hurler to go deep twice while tossing a no-hit game.  And this was no easy no-no.  It was against the “Big Red Machine,” with a lineup featuring such hitters as Pete Rose, George Foster, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Lee May. Other pitchers to homer (once) in the midst of a no-hit game are the Indians’  Wes Ferrell, in a April 29, 1931, 9-0 no-hit win over the Saint Louis Browns and the Tigers’ Earl Wilson, in a June 26, 1962, no-hitter victory over the Angels.

Most walks in a no-hitter:  Eleven by Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios, as the White Sox topped the A’s (Odom was with the White Sox by then) 2-1 on July 28, 1976.  Odom lasted just five innings.  He was relieved – holding a 2-1 lead – after walking the lead-off hitter in the bottom of the sixth (and going 1-0 on the next batter).  Francisco Barrios came on and finished the game, allowing no hits, but walking two more in four innings of work.

Most walks in a no-hitter by one pitcher: Ten by Steve Barber in a combined no hitter.  Barber took a no-hitter, albeit with seven walks, and a 1-0 lead into the top of the ninth as his Orioles played the Tigers in Detroit on April 30, 1967.  Barber walked the first two batters in the final inning. Then a sacrifice move them to second and third.  A wild pitch followed, plating the tying run.  Barber walked the next hitter, and was relieved by Stu Miller.  Miller finished up the no-hitter, but the go ahead run scored on an error, giving the Tigers a 2-1 win without the benefit of a hit.   The Reds’ Jim Maloney also walked ten (and struck out twelve)  in no-hitting the Cubs 3-0 in ten innings on August 19, 1965.

Most walks in a nine-inning “solo” no hitter by one pitcher:  Nine by A.J. Burnett as his Marlins topped the Cubs 3-0 on May 12, 2001.  Burnett also hit one batter and threw one wild pitch.

Most no-hitters thrown under the influence of LSD:  One by Dock Ellis, see post of June 12, 2013.

Now here’s your multiple no-hitter list:

Seven no-hitters:   Nolan Ryan

Four:  Sandy Koufax

Three:  Larry Corcoran, Bob Feller, Cy Young

Two:  Homer Bailey, Mark Buehrle, Jim Bunning, Carl Erskine, Bob Forsch, Pud Galvin, Roy Halladay, Ken Holtzman, Randy Johnson, Addie Joss, Dutch Leonard, Jim Maloney, Christy Mathewson, Hideo Noma, Alllie Reynolds, Frank Smith, Warren Spahn, Bill Stoneman, Virgil Trucks, Johnny Vander Meer,  Justin Verlander, Ed Walsh, Don Wilson

For more on no-hitters, see BBRT 2012 posts of  Sept. 29, August 16, July 15 and June 9. 

Another month of the MLB season in the books and it’s time for BBRT to again look at a few of 2013’s surprises and disappointments.  In past end-of-the-month posts, I’ve covered such surprises as Brewers’ shortstop Juan Segura (still hitting .326 as June closed), Matt Harvey’s great start (and he closed June at 7-1 with a NL-low 2.00 ERA); Clay Bucholz’ sub-2.00 ERA for Boston; Carlos Gomez’ new found offense with Milwaukee and the performance of the Pirates, Red Sox and A’s.   We’ve also looked at a few disappointments like R.A. Dickey, Josh Hamilton, David Price and the Blue Jays, Angels, Dodgers and Nationals.  In this post, I’ll try not to repeat those past observations and shed some light on a few new surprises that have emerged.

Yasil Puig – surprisingly good!

The number one surprise on most lists is the Dodgers 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig.  No one is surprised that he’s been good since his June 3 call up, but what is surprising is just how good.  Puig has put up some impressive numbers including a .436 average in his first MLB month (26 games).  But should we be that surprised?  This is the player who, in 2012, hit .400 in nine games in the Rookie league, .327 in 14 games at High A, then hit .526 in Spring Training, followed by a .313 average with eight homers and 26 RBI at Double A before his call-up.

There’s been a lot of talk about Puig’s 44 hits (in his first MLB month) being second only to Joe DiMaggio’s 48 hits as a rookie in May of 1936.  Here’s an in-depth comparison of the first month of action for Yasil and Joe.

Size:  Puig – 6’3”, 245 lbs.; DiMaggio – 6’2”, 193 lbs.

Age:  Puig – 22: DiMaggio – 21

Games Played:  Both – 26

At bats:  Puig – 101; DiMaggio – 126

Hits: Puig – 44; DiMaggio – 48

Averagre:  Puig – 436; DiMaggio -.381

Runs: Puig – 19; DiMaggio – 30

RBI: Puig – 16; DiMaggio – 28

Doubles: Puig – 5; DiMaggio – 15

Triples: Puig – 1; DiMaggio – 4

Home Runs:  Puig – 7; DiMaggio 4.

Two surprising stat lines for a first month’s work in the majors.

The two teams with the best won-loss records for the month of June are a bit of a surprise, the Pirates and the Blue Jays both ran up 17-9 records for the month.  However, that leaves the disappointing Blue Jays still in last place in the AL East (after a dismal start), while the surprising Pirates ended June leading the NL Central and with the most wins (51) of any MLB team.  It looks like they might surprise us with their first winning season in 21 years. Go Buccos!

The NL West standings are a surprise, with Arizona leading the pack, followed by Colorado, San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Most projections saw a near reversal of that order – but as the month closed only 4 games separated the five NL West teams, so we can expect some change.

On the morning of July 1, the very “streaky” Cleveland Indians gave their fans a surprise – sitting atop the NL Central (tied with the Tigers).  Later that day, a Detroit loss put the Indians in sole possession of the Division lead.  How the Indians will fare in the second half remains to be seen, but their surprising success thus far helps identify the Tigers – with their power hitting and power pitching making them prohibitive pre-season Central Division favorite – a 2013 disappointment through June.  (BBRT still expect the Tigers to take the Central).

Michael Cuddyer of the Rockies has also been a 2013 surprise, finishing June on 27-game hitting streak (during which he has averaged .372).  Cuddyer – a career .274 hitter – was hitting .344 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI as June came to a close.

Forty-three-year-old Yankee closer Mariano Rivera continues to surprise on his “farewell tour,” with 26 saves and a 1.55 ERA as June came to a “close.”  Perhaps more unexpected is the performance of forty-year-old Oakland starter Bartolo Colon.  Now in his 16^th season, Colon is 11-2 with a 2.79 ERA.

It also a bit surprising to see three catchers hitting .320 or better at the end of June, but not so much when they are Yadier Molina (.345), Buster Posey (.322) and Joe Mauer (.320).

Then there is the ongoing American League Miguel Cabrera/Chris Davis “show.”  As of June 30, Cabrera has the AL’s number one average (.373), followed by Davis (.332); Davis is the AL home run leader (31), with Cabrera number-two (25).  Cabrera leads the AL in RBI at 82, with Davis in the two spot at 80.  The pair also rank 1 & 2 in runs scored, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and total bases.  As it stands, Cabrera is actually improving on his 2012 Triple Crown season, but may not capture the TC this year, while Davis is exceeding 2012 “career year” of .270-33-85.

The Diamondbacks’ Pat Corbin has also surprised, going 9-0, 2.22 through June.  Corbin’s performance is a big reason the Diamondbacks sit atop the tight NL West (at the end of June, Corbin was the only Arizona starting pitcher with a winning record).  First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, building off a solid 2012 was the surprise NL RBI leader as of June 30, with a .305-19-67 line.  No other Diamondback had more than 27 RBI or 7 homers.

So, there’s a look at a few 2013 MLB surprises through June.  More to come as the season progresses.

Scherzer — 12 and O and a long way to go.

The Tigers’ Max Scherzer last night became the first hurler since Roger Clemens (in 1986) to start a season 12-0.  He is also the first Tiger to accomplish that feat.  Scherzer now stands at 12-0, 3.10 ERA with 131 strikeouts (second in the AL to Yu Darvish) in 110 innings. And, how about that Tiger pitching?  As a whole, the staff is leading MLB with 736 strikeouts,  averaging 9.33 per nine innings.  Among the starters, Scherzer is at 10.69 K’s per nine, Justin Verlander at 10.21 and Anibel Sanchez at 11.13.

The next consecutive win targets for Mad Max? 

The AL record for wins to start a season is shared by Cleveland’s Johnny Allen and Baltimore’s Dave McNally – who each ran off 15 wins before their first lost.  Allen accomplished his streak in 1937 (ending the season 15-1, 2.55), while McNally’s streak came in 1969, when he went 20-7, 3.22.

The NL and MLB records for consecutive victories to start a campaign belong to Hall of Famer Rube Marquard, who ran off 19 wins for the New York Giant before his first 1912 loss.  Marquard led the NL in wins that year at 26, while losing 11 and posting a 2.57 ERA.

How about total wins before the All Star break?  Out of reach.  In 1973, White Sox knuckleballer Wilbur Wood notched a record 18 victories by the break – and didn’t make the All Star team.  (He also had 14 losses on the way to a 24-20, 3.46 record).  His 24 wins led the AL, and he was saved from leading the league in losses by team mate Stan Bahnsen, who went 18-21.  For Wood, by the way, it was the third in a string of four straight twenty-win seasons (1971-74).

For you trivia buffs, the last hurler to league his league in wins and losses in the same season was Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who went 21-20, 3.39 for the Braves in 1979.   Phil tied for the lead in wins with none other than his brother Joe, who went 21-11, 3.00 for the Astros. The Niekro brothers are the answer to the trivia query “What two brothers have the most MLB wins?”  Phil (318) and Joe (221) combined for 539 MLB victories. (Hall of Famer Phil, notably, led the NL in losses four straight seasons, 1977-80, going 71-76 in that span.  He pitched 24 seasons (until age 48) and went 318-274, 3.35.