In this post, I’d like to share just a few oddball trivia tidbits I’ve come across over time.  It’s kind of a stream of consciousness post, going whatever direction the baseball winds (and my whims) take me.  (My mind does tend to wander in the off season.) The goal is to present a few tidbits that may offer you a chance to stump your baseball friends when you start to throw around trivia questions over an adult beverage or two (or on a Ballpark Tours bus ride).

Many Questions – One Answer

Jimmy Sheckard has become one of my trivia heroes.   Sheckard enjoyed a 17-season MLB career, during which time he became the answer to:

• Who was the first MLB player to poke a walk-off hit in a World Series game?
• Who was the first MLB player to lead the league in stolen bases and home runs in the same season?
• Who was the first – and still only – player to hit inside-the-park Grand Slam home runs in consecutive games?
• Who was one-half of the only pair of teammates to hit inside-the-park Grand Slams in the same game.?

In addition, Sheckard is the answer to:

• Who holds the MLB single-season record for double plays started by an outfielder?
• Who holds the MLB career mark for assists by a left fielder?

Any of these questions would make a pretty good trivial puzzler.  Wrap them altogether and you’ve got the makings of a true “trivia hero.”  I’ll provide a bit more on Sheckard – his career and his firsts – and then touch on a few additional trivia heroes.

Sheckard played in the majors from 1897 through 1913 (Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds). He was known as a speedy, strong-armed outfielder.  During his career, he led the league in stolen bases twice (a high of 77 in 1899), home runs once, triples once (with eight seasons of ten or more), runs scored once (three season of 100+), walks twice, on-base percentage once and slugging percentage once. He also led in assists, putouts and double plays as a LF four times each. He is, as already noted, the career assist leader among left fielders (243)  and number-eight in assists for outfielders overall (307).

Sheckard, at times, showed the talent to be a real star on the diamond.  However, inconsistency, worked against him.   For example, he hit a career-high .354 in 1901, fell to .265 in 1902, jumped back to  .332 in 1903 and dropped to .239 in 1904.  Similarly, his nine home runs led the NL in 1903, but  he hit a total of nine home runs over the next six campaigns.  You get the idea.

So, what about those potential trivia stumpers?

Sheckard’s Chicago Cubs came into Game Four of the 1910 World Series (October 22) trailing the Athletics three games-to-none. To that point, they had been outscored 25-to-9.  Playing in Chicago, the Cubs were tied with the Athletics 3-3 going into the bottom of the tenth inning.of Game Four. With future Hall of Famer Charles “Chief” Bender on the hill for Philadelphia, Cubs’ SS  Joe Tinker led off the bottom of the inning with a pop out to shortstop, catcher Jimmy Archer followed with a double to left, a groundout by pitcher Mordecai Brown moved Archer to third and Sheckard singled to left bringing in Archer with the winning  – and notching the first-ever World Series walk-off hit. (Unfortunately, Sheckard’s heroics only staved off defeat for a day, as the Cubs lost Game Five and the series the next day.  They couldn’t blame Sheckard. In 21 plate appearances he was one base 12 times (seven walks, five hits) and scored five of the tam fifteen runs.

How about being the first to lead the league in home runs and stolen bases in the same season? In 1903, playing for Brooklyn, Sheckard led the NL in home runs with nine and steals with 67 (tied with Frank Chance).  His .332 average was seventh in the league, his 99 runs seventh, his 29 doubles seventh, 75 RBI eighth; and 75 walks fifth.

Those inside-the-park Grand Slams in consecutive days?  They came in a September 23, 1901 in a Brooklyn 25-6 win over Cincinnati and on September 24 in a  16-2 win (again Brooklyn over Cincinnati). In the two games, Sheckard was six-for-twelve, with four runs scored and ten RBI. In 1901, the 22-year-old Sheckard set career highs for average (.354), home runs (11), RBI (104). He also scored 116 runs and had a career-high 196 hits (in 133 games).  Notably, in that September 23 25-run outburst, Sheckard’s teammate Joe Kelly also hit an inside-the-park Grand Slam, marking the only time two teammates hit ITP Grand Slams in the same game. 

Let’s move on now to a few additional Baseball Roundtable Trivia Heroes.

This Yankee Shortstop Brought ‘Em Home

The New York Yankees have had a lot of great shortstops over time: Derek Jeter; Phil Rizzuto; Tom Tresh; Frank Crosetti to name just a few.  So, who is the answer to the question: “Who holds the New York Yankees Franchise record for RBI in a season by a shortstop?”

That would be Lyn Lary, who drove in 107 tallies for the 1931 Yankees – stat line .280-10-107, with 100 runs scored and 13 steals. Lary spent six of his 12 MLB season with the New Yorkers. Notably, 1931 was the only season in his career  in which he drove in more than 77 runs (one of only two in which he reached 60 RBI). In fact, his 107 RBI in 1931 represent just over 20 percent of his career total. In 12 MLB seasons (1929-40 … Yankees, Indians, Browns, Senators, Dodgers, Cardinals, Red Sox), Brown went .269-38-526. Side note: In 1931, the Yankees scored 1,067 runs  and had six player score 100 or more runs.  Want to change up the question? ”

You’ll Have to Earn Your Way On … The Old-Fashioned Way

Here’s another surprise.  How about looking at the question: “What qualifying pitcher has the lowest single-season walks per nine innings mark since the four-ball walk rule was instituted?” (Four balls became a walk in 1888, prior to that walks were – at varying times – nine, eight, six and five balls.)  The answer? Carlos Silva, who – as a Twin in 2005 – walked just nine batters (and one of those was intentional) in 188 1/3 innings – a stingy 0.430 walks per nine frames rate.

You could follow up this question with: “How many right-handed hitters did Carlos Silva walk in 2005?”  The answer is one – the Tigers’ Craig Monroe – and that was Silva’s one intentional walk.  So, not a single righty was able to “work him” for a walk all-season.  Monroe, by the way, drew only 40 walks in 623 plate appearance n 2005.   You might also be interested to know that Silva is the only pitcher – among the 25 best single-season walks per nine rates – whose landmark season came after the four-ball walk rule came into effect.

Silva pitched nine MLB seasons (2002-10 … Phillies, Twins, Mariners, Cubs) and went 70-70, 4.68. He walked 238 batters in 1,241 2/3 innings – 1.5 per nine frames – 2005 was his only season under 1,5 walks per nine.

Rookie Fever

How about this set of questions?

• Who was the first pitcher to throw a shutout in a deciding seventh game of a World Series?
• Who was the first rookie to start a deciding Game Seven of a World Series?
• Who was the fist rookie to win three games in a single World Series?

The answer to all three?  Babe Adams.

Right-hander Charles “Babe” Adams came into the 1909 seasons having had brief  MLB “looks” in 1906-07 — no wins, three losses 7.96 in five games (so, his rookie status was intact.). Pitching in the minors in Louisville in 1908, he went 22-12. In 1909, he stuck with the Pirates, getting in 25 games (12 starts/seven complete games) and putting up a 12-3, 1.11 record.  Adams was far from the star of the Pirate  staff which included Howie Camnitz (25-6, 1.62), Vic Willis (22-11, 2.24) and Lefty Leifield (19-8, 2.37).  But manager Fred Clarke like liked Adam’s composure on  the mound, his strong finish to the season and how Adam’s  stuff  and style matched up against the Tigers.  So, Adams got the Game One start and the rest is history.

Adams earned complete-game wins in Games One and Five, giving up just four earned rust  Then came the deciding Game Seven.  (The World Series’ first-ever deciding seventh game. Adams again went the distance, shutting out the tigers on six hits (one walk and one whiff).  Thus, he pitched and won the first deciding Game Seven (as a rookie) and also became the first rookie to win three games in a best-of-seven World Series.

Adams pitched 19 MLB seasons (1906-07, 1909-16, 1918-26 … all but 1906 with the Pirates). He went 194-140, 2.76, twice was a 20-game winner, five times led the league in WHIP, four times allowed the fewest walks per nine innings (among qualifiers) and four time led   in strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

BONUS TRIVIA TIDBIT

Red Sox rookie Hugh Bedient has the unique distinction of being the  only rookie to start Game Eight of a best-of-seven World Series.  (Game Two of the 1912 Series ended in 6-6 tie after 11 innings due to darkness). Bedient, a 22-yer-old right-hander had gone 20-9, 2.92 in his rookie campaign.  In the World Series against the Giants, he tossed one scoreless inning of relief in Game Two’s 11-inning tie; one scoreless inning in relief in Game Three’s 2-1 Red Sox loss; and threw a complete-game in Boston’s Game Five 2-1 win.  He then started Game Eight (versus Christy Mathewson) and tossed seven scoreless  innings in a 3-2 Boston victory.  Bedient pitched just four MLB seasons, going 60-53, 3.08.

I Get By With a Little Help from My Friend

In 1961, the Orioles’ Jim Gentile tied an MLB record (since broken) for Grand Slams in a season (five). Who were the starting pitchers in the games in which Gentile launched a Grand Slam?  Two-word answer: Chuck Estrada. 

Here’s how it went.  In 1961 – with Yankee sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris dominating headlines in their chase of Babe Ruth’s record 60 home runs in a season – Jim Gentile of the Orioles quietly put up quite a season of his own. Gentile hit .302, with 46 home runs (including those five Grand Slams) and a league-topping 141 RBI.   In addition, he tied an MLB record with two Grand Slams in a game – May 9.

Orioles’ pitcher Chuck Estrada was the main beneficiary of Gentile’s 1961 offensive outburst – every one of Gentile’s record-tying five four-run blasts was hit in a game started by Estrada (who, as you would expect, picked up a victory in all four contests).  Notably, Gentile hit only one other Grand Slam in his career (June 26, 1960) and – you guessed it – the starting and winning pitcher in that contest was Chuck Estrada.

In 1961, Jim Gentile was pretty much an offensive juggernaut when paired with Chuck Estrada.  He played in 29 of Estrada’s 31 starts.  In those 29 games, he hit .356, with 15 home runs and 47 RBI. How potent is that?

For those of you who like a little more – Don’t baseball fans always want that next fact or stat? – here’s some background. Gentile was in the majors with the Dodgers (1957-58), Orioles (1960-63), A’s (1964-65), Astros (1965-66) and Indians (1966). In nine MLB campaigns, he was an All Star in three seasons (1960-61-62) and 1961 was his best year. His career stat line was .260-179-549. That’s 1961 season saw Gentile reach his all-time career highs in nearly every offensive category.  It was the only season in which he reached a .300 batting average, 100 or more RBI and 40 or more home runs (he had a total of five seasons of at least 20 homers – including the 46 in 1961 and 33 in 1962).

Estrada’s best season was his rookie year (1960) with the Orioles, when the 22-year-0ld led the AL with 18 wins (11 losses and a 3.58 ERA). He finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting to his Orioles’ teammate, shortstop Ron Hansen, who hit .255, with 22 home runs and 86 RBI.  Estrada was an All Star in just one season – his rookie campaign –  in a career that saw him win 50 and lose 44, with a 4.04 ERA. He pitched for the Orioles (1960-64), Cubs (1966) and Mets (1967).

How to (Not) Play Your Way into the Record Book

Charles “Cap” Peterson’s name does not come up in a host of baseball discussions.  An outfielder, Peterson played in eight MLB seasons (1962-69 … Giants, Senators, Indians).  His career stat line was .230-19-122 and he played in 100 or more games just once. In 1967 (with the Senators), he set career highs in games (122), hits (97), home runs (8) and RBI (46).  On June 12 of that season, he tied an MLB record (for inactivity) and became part of the answer to the question: Who holds the record for the longest game played in the field without recording a single fielding chance (putout, assist, error)?  It’s a two-player answer.  Billy Bruton and Cap Peterson each managed to play a 22-inning game without recording a fielding chance – Bruton in CF for the Tigers on June 24, 1962 and Peterson in RF for the Senators on June 12, 1967.

Peterson’s “chance-less” game in the outfield came in a 22-inning win over the White Sox in Washington D.C.  Peterson was a bit more active at the plate in the contest going four-for-nine with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBI. It was the only multi-homer game of his career.   Bruton’s came in a 22-inning 9-7 loss to the Yankees (in Detroit). In his game, Bruton was two-for nine (with two walks) in 11 plate appearances, with two runs scored and a stolen base.  Bruton, by the way, played 12 MLB seasons (1953-64 … Braves, Tigers). He hit .273-94-545 in 1,610 games. He also stole 207 bases leading the NL in steals in each of his first three seasons.

 If I Could Pose an Off-the-Wall Trivia Question

If I could write a zany trivia question, it might read like this:  “What is the most times on base in a doubleheader by a shortstop who had zero fielding chances in that doubleheader?  The answer is eight.  On June 25, 1976 the Texas Rangers faced the Chicago White Sox in a doubleheader (in Texas). There was plenty of action in the field, as the Rangers won Game One 8-4 and lost Game Two 14-9.  Surprisingly, Rangers’ shortstop Toby Harrah, who played all 18-innings, did not record a single fielding chance (an MLB doubleheader first for shortstops).  I might add that it’s not like the ball was not being hit around the infield. In the two games, the Rangers’ three other  infielders (we’ll leave the catcher out of it since he get a putout on a strikeout) recorded 26 putouts, 14 assists and three errors.  In response to my question, at the plate, Harrah was six-for-eight, with two walks, two runs, eight RBI, two home runs and a stolen base. 

For those that like to know these things, the Rockies’ Trevor Story holds the record for the longest game without recording a fielding chance as a shortstop. On September 24, 2019 – as the Rockies beat the Giants 8-5 in 16 innings (in San Francisco), Story played all 16 innings without recording a putout, assist or error. 

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; The ELIAS Book of Records, ELIAS Sports Bureau, 2021

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On this date (May 22) in 1962, the Yankees’ Roger Maris set an MLB record (since broken) by drawing four intentional walks in a single game. As the Yankees topped  the Angels 2-1 in 12 innings (in New York), Maris drew five walks (four intentional) in six trips to the plate.

A Bit of Irony

in his 12-season MLB career, Roger Maris had only one season in which he did not draw a single intentional walk. That was in 1961, when he won his second consecutive AL MVP Award,  broke Babe Ruth’s  long-standing single-season home run record – bashing 61 long balls – and led  the American League in runs scored (132) and RBI (141 – tied with Jim Gentile). It clearly didn’t hurt to be batting in front of Mickey Mantle.

Now, I’ve written about intentional walks (and specifically about Roger Maris’ 1961 lack thereof) in this blog before, but (as often happens) as I reflected that topic, one thing led to another – and I decided to rate the six bases-loaded intentional walks in MLB history.  The rating is based on factors such the intensity and outcome of each.  For example, a bases-loaded intentional  pass that moves the tying run to third base would be worth more than one that puts the tying run on at first base.  Similarly, a bases-loaded free pass with no outs (so three batters must be retired to escape with no further damage) would be worth more than a bases-loaded walk with two outs already recorded (given a similar situation in relation to the score).  Results also played a role, with extra credit if the strategy worked.

Nothing Like Few Walks in the Park

The Cubs’ Andre Dawson drew an MLB-record five intentional passes in a 16-inning game on May 22, 1990.  (Roger Maris still holds a share of the AL record at four.) The Giants’ Barry Bonds is the only MLB player with four intentional passes in a nine-inning contest – and he did it twice in 2004 (May 1 and September 22). The record for total walks of any kind in a game of any length is six: Cubs’ Walt Wilmot (August 22, 1891 – nine innings); Red Sox’ Jimmie Foxx (June 16, 1938 – nine innings); Nationals’ Bryce Harper (May 8, 2016 – 13 innings); Indians’ Andre Thornton (May 2, 1984 – 16 innings); Astros’ Jeff Bagwell August 20, 1999 – 16 innings).

 

–———–Rating the Bases-Loaded Intentional Walks—————

Note:  In this post, BBRT assumes credit/responsibility for implementing the Intentional Walk rests with the manager(s) – even if the pitcher(s) may (or may not) agree with the move. 

Number one (Tie)  … Del Bissonette, Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers),  May 2, 1928

The Dodgers trailed the Giants 2-0 in the top of the ninth inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs (thanks to a pair of singles and a walk). That brought up 1B and number-six hitter Del Bissonette, who had come into the game hitting .345-4-15 (in 15 games). Manager John McGraw had Giants’ pitcher Larry Benton intentionally walk Bissonette, cutting the margin to one run. Benton then pitched to 2B Henry Riconda, who came into the contest with a .220 average and just one home run. While the IBB cost him a shutout, the strategy worked, as Benton went on to fan Riconda to end the game and get the win. Benton, by  the way, had his best MLB season in 1928 (his sixth MLB campaign), leading the league in wins (25 versus nine losses), winning percentage (.735) and complete games (28) – with a 2.73 ERA.  He pitched 13 MLB seasons, going 128-128, 4.03. The other principal in this mini-drama, Bissonette, played five MLB  seasons, going .305-66-391 in 604 games.

This one is at the top for the willingness to allow a run in a two-run game and move the tying tally to third base (and go-ahead run to second) – and delivering the win.

Load ‘Em Up, I’m Ready

Del Bissonette is credited with (on April 21, 1930) being the first MLB player to hit a bases-loaded home run and a bases-loaded triple in the same game.  

Number One (tied) … Barry Bonds, Giants, May 28, 1998

Photo by kevinrushforth

The Giants trailed the Diamondbacks 8-5  in the bottom of the ninth with Gregg Olson on the mound. Olson fanned CF Darryl Hamilton on three pitches  to open the frame, then walked 3B Bill Mueller on four pitches, before giving up a double to 2B  Jeff Kent (Mueller to third) and walking 1B  Charlie Hayes  to load the bases.  Olson then got RF Stan Javier to ground out (second-to-first) with Mueller scoring and Kent and Hayes each moving up a base.   J.T Snow then came on as a pinch hitter and drew a five-pitch walk again loading the bases.  Now, up by two  runs,  manager Buck Showalter ordered Olson to intentionally walk Barry Bonds  (who had drawn an unintentional  walk as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and stayed in the game in LF) – forcing in a run and putting the tying  tally at third base and the go-ahead run at second. Olson then got C  Brent Mayne on a liner to right-center to end the contest and give the Diamondback an 8-7 win.  Bonds was hitting .305-13-41 at the time, while Mayne was no slouch at  .290-2-12 coming into the game.

Top of the List

Barry Bonds led his league in Intentional Walks a record 12 times – the last time in his final season, at age 42. 

Number Three … Napoleon Lajoie, Philadelphia Athletics, May 23, 1901

Nap Lajoie’s Athletics were down 11-7 to the White Sox in the top of the ninth inning, when they mounted a comeback – loading the bases with none out and bringing cleanup hitter 2B Napoleon Lajoie – who came into the game hitting .525 and was on his way to a  .426-14-125 triple crown  season – to the plate. White Sox player-manager Clark Griffith put himself into the game and intentionally  walked Lajoie, forcing in a run and cutting the lead to three. Griffith then got RF Socks Seybold (who would lead the AL in home runs in 1902) and 1B Harry Davis (who would lead the league in round trippers four times  in his career) on ground outs (one run scoring) to save an 11-9 win.  This intentional  walk got extra points for the courage of manager Griffith to take the responsibility on himself – and for setting up a situation in which the bases were loaded, the tying run was at first and he had to get three outs to save the game.

Clark Griffith … A Role(s) Player

Clark Griffith managed the 1901 White Sox to an 83-53 record and first  place in the National League. As a player-manager, he went 24-7, 2.67 on the mound and .303-2-14 (in 35 games) at the plate. .

Number Four … Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers, August 17, 2008

This  game  saw RF Josh Hamilton and his Rangers trailing  the rays 7-2 in the bottom of the ninth.  With Juan Salas on the mound for Tampa, Rangers’ DH Jarrod Saltalamacchia opened the inning with a single, followed by a Chris Davis (1B)  walk. Salas then fanned 3B Travis Metcalf on three pitches. before giving way to Grant Balfour on the mound. Balfour walked 2B Ramon Vazquez  to load the bases, before getting LF Brandon Boggs to hit into a fielder’s choicer (second-to-shortstop) with one run scoring. A walk to SS Michael Young loaded the bases – and Devil Rays ‘manager Joe Maddon ordered Hamilton intentionally walked,  pushing across another run, putting the tying run at first base and bringing  Dan Wheeler in from the bullpen. Wheeler ended the game by fanning Marlon Byrd on five pitches.  Hamilton has come into the game hitting .302 with 28 homers and 112 RBI, while Byrd came in at .290-8-34.

Going Four-for-Two

Josh Hamilton is one of just eighteen MLB players to hit four home runs in a single game. He did it on May 8, 2012 – hitting four two-run home runs and a double in five at bats as his Rangers topped the Orioles 10-3. 

Number 5 … Bill Nicholson, Cubs, July 23, 1944 (second game)

The Giants led the Cubs 10-7 in the top of the eighth inning, but the Cubs were mounting a comeback. Giants’ righty Ace Adams (on in relief of Bill Voiselle) walked Cubs’ 3B  Stan Hack and SS Bill Schuster to open  the inning – and was replaced on the mound by southpaw Ewald Pyle, who issued an unintentional walk to 1B Phil Cavarretta to load the bases. That brought up RF and cleanup hitter Bill Nicholson – who was having quite a  day. In the first game of the Sunday twin bill (remember those), Nicholson had banged out three home runs (three homers and a walk for the game)  as the Cubs won 7-4.   He had already homered in the second inning the second game (his 21st of the season) and Giants’manager Mel Ott wanted no part of the hot hitter. Ewald issued the free pass, plating one run.  Ewald was then replaced by right-hander Andy Hansen who retired LF  Ival Goodman (holding the runners) and then hit CF Andy Pafko with a pitch, bringing in the second run of the inning and keeping the sacks full. 2B Don Johnson then grounded into a force at second,  plating another run – and tying the contest. Righty Bob Barthelson came in to pitch and got PH Billy Holm on a pop out to at least preserve the tie.  The Giants scored twice in the top of the ninth and won the game 12-10. The bases-loaded free pass, however, did not stop the Cubs from tying the game.

Taking the Lead

Bill Nicholson led the National League in home runs and RBI in both 1943 and 1944 … finishing second and third, respectively, in the NL Most Valuable voting in those years.  

Number Six … Abner Dalrymple, Chicago White Stockings (NL), August 2, 1881

The White Stockings, already up  5-0 over the Buffalo Bisons, opened the eighth inning  by loading the bases on consecutive hits by P Fred Goldsmith, C Silver Flint and 2B Joe Quest. Bisons’ manager Jim O’Rourke (presumably) wanted nothing to do with Dalrymple (on his way to a .323 season and the 1878 NL batting champ) and had Joe Flinch walk him intentionally – forcing in a run.  The White Sox eventually won the contest 11-2. The intentional pass was of little consequence in the outcome, but is generally accepted as the first IBB with the sacks full in MLB history.

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun

On July 3, 1883, Abner Dalrymple hit four doubles in a nine-inning game tying an MLB single-game record that he still shares.

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Barry Bonds – King of the Intentional Walk

Notably, when you talk intentional walks, the conversation pretty much starts and ends Barry Bonds. (We need to keep in mind, however, that IBB’s did not become an official statistic until 1955.)   Bonds holds the records for:

• IBB in a season – 120 with the Giants in 2004.  That’s an intentional  walk in 19.4 percent – or nearly one in five – of Bonds’ plate appearances that season. His record 232 total walks for the season made up 37.6 percent of his plate appearances that campaign.
• IBB in a career – 688. Second place goes to the still active Albert Pujols of the Angels with 313 as this is written.
• Most seasons leading the league in IBB – 12.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Almanac.com; Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com. Note:  The Baseball-Almanac Resource included information from research by Bill Deane, Everett Parker and Trent McCotter.  

Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer:  The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change as Major League Baseball recognizes and incorporates Negro League records from 1920-46 into the MLB record book.

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How about a little trivia as we move through the strange 2020 baseball season?  It recently caught BBRT’s eye that the New York Giants are the only team to field an infield (1B-2B-3B-SS) made up totally of future Hall of Famers.  Not only that, they did it in three consecutive seasons (1925-27).  Now, that is unique in itself, but what really got my attention was that the Giants had a different primary second baseman in each of those seasons … and then a fourth second basemen (who did not make the HOF) in the 1928 campaign.  So, here is your question.

In 1925, 1926 and 1927, the New York Giants infield (1B-2B-3B-SS) was made up entirely of future Hall of Famers.  Notably, each of those squads had a different second baseman.  Can you name the three future Hall of Famers who played the keystone sack on those teams?  Hint:  Hint:  Read carefully one of the three was more highly acclaimed at a different position.  The chart below may (or may not) help.

Now for the answer(s) …

1925 – George “High Pockets” Kelly (107 starts at 2B)

This is where that hint comes in. Future Hall of Famer 6’4” George “High Pockets” Kelly was more HIGH-ly known as a first baseman (in his 16 MLB seasons, he made 84.8 percent of his starts at first base).  In 1925, the combination of an injury to another future Hall of Famer (2B Frankie Frisch) and the desire to get more lineup time for emerging talent (and another future Hall of Famer) Bill Terry resulted in Kelly moving over to second base, where he started 107 games. (Kelly never started more than 17 games at 2B in any other season of his career.)

For the season, Kelly’s tenth MLB campaign (sixth as a full-time player), he went .309-20-99, with 87 runs scored for the Giants.  He finished second on the squad in RBI and home runs to LF Bob Meusel. Going into the 1925 season, Kelly had a .298-90-583 stat line and had hit .300 or better in each of the previous four campaigns.  The following season (1926), Frisch returned to full-time second base duty and Kelly took back his first base job (starting 114 games there and another 17 at 2B), hitting .303-13-80. Terry served as a backup, appearing in 37 at 1B, 14 in the OF and 47 times as a pinch hitter.  He hit .289-5-43 in 225 at bats.

Before the 1927 season, the Giants – looking for outfield help – decided to install Terry and first base and traded Kelly to the Reds for Of Edd Roush (who went on to play three seasons for the Giants, getting in 301 games and hitting .304).  Kelly played five seasons after the trade – hitting .288-25-258 – but played in 100 or more games only twice in that time.  He retired after 16 MLB seasons with a .297-148-1,020 stat line. He led his league in home runs once (hitting 20 or more three times) and RBI twice (topping 100 in five seasons). He was also one of the leading defensive first basemen of his time – leading NL first sackers in putouts three times, assists three times and double plays twice.

1926 – Frankie “The Fordham Flash” Frisch (126 starts at second base)

Frankie Frisch starred in baseball, football, basketball and track at Fordham University – hence “The Fordham Flash” nickname.  In 1919, he left Fordham and signed with the Giants – going right to the major-league club. By 1921, at age 23, Frisch had established his “star quality.”  That season, Frisch hit .341, with 211 hits (eight home runs), 121 runs scored, 100 RBI and league-leading 49 steals.

By 1926, the switch-hitting Frisch was looking back at five consecutive .300+ seasons.   Injuries on the Giants’ squad in 1925 (including a hand injury to Frisch himself) had both limited his playing time (120 games compared to 145 the season before) and forced him to move about the infield.  (In 1925, Frisch started 41 games at 2B, 43 at 3B and 36 at SS.)  In 1926, he was back in his role as the Giants’ primary keystone sacker. That season, Frisch hit .314-5-44, with 75 runs scored and 23 steals.  By this time, Frisch’s relationship with Giants’ manager John McGraw had – depending on your turn of phrase – either cooled considerable or really heated up. At any rate, it had become contentious enough that Frisch was traded to the Saint Louis Cardinals (along with pitcher Jimmy Ring) for another future Hall of Famer – Rogers Hornsby. In 1926, Hornsby had had hit .317-11-93 and managed the Cardinals to the National League pennant.  (More on Hornsby coming up).

Frisch flourished with the Cardinals. In his first eight seasons with the Redbirds, he hit .300 or better seven times – and he managed the team from 1933-38 (as a player-manager until 1937) – leading Saint Louis to a World Series Championship in 1934.  Frisch played a total of 19 MLB seasons, hitting .316 (2,880 hits), with 105 home runs, 1,244 RBI, 1,532 runs scored and 419 stolen bases. He led the NL in runs scored once (topping 100 runs tallied in seven seasons); hits once (getting 200+ safeties in three seasons); and stolen bases three times (a high of 49 in 1921). He managed in the major leagues in 16 seasons (Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs), totaling 1,138 wins and 1,078 losses.

1927 – Rogers “The Rajah” Hornsby (155 starts at 2B)

Rogers Hornsby may have been the greatest right-handed hitter of all time.  He was, however, not always the easiest person to deal with (understatement there).  By December 1926, when he was traded to the Giants’ for 2B Frankie Frisch and pitcher Jimmy Ring (11-10, 4.57 in the 1926 season), Hornsby had six batting titles and two home runs crowns on his MLB resume.  He had also led the National League in runs scored three times, hits four times, doubles four times, triples once, and RBI four times.  He was also known for a notable ego and angry disputes with ownership and management. Things came to a head after Hornsby, as a player-manager, led the 1926 Cardinals to a World Series Championship.  He asked for a three-year, $150,000 per year contract (he had signed a three-year/$100,000 deal after the 1924 season).   Cardinals’ owner Sam Breadon countered with one year at $50,000.  Hornsby declined and Breadon traded Hornsby to the Giants (as noted in the Frisch paragraphs) for Frankie Frisch and Jimmy Ring.

Hornsby apparently brought his ego and attitude with him to New York.  He was in the Big Apple for just one season (.361-26-125 in 1927) before being traded to the Boston Braves for catcher Shanty Hogan and Outfielder Jimmy Welch – a pair of solid players, but not the return you might have expected for Hornsby. Hornsby’s departure ended the Giants’ string of  “All Future Hall of Famer” infields.   Hornsby also spent just one season in Boston (winning the batting title at .387, with 21 home run and 94 RBI) before being traded to the Cubs for five players and $200,000.

Hornsby played 23 MLB seasons, hitting .358 (2,930 hits), with 301 home runs, 1,584 RBI and 1,579 runs scored. He was a seven-time batting champion (and hit .400+ in three seasons), a two-time league home run leader, a-four time RBI leader (topping 100 RBI in five seasons, led the NL in runs scored four times (with 100+ runs in six seasons), four times led the league in base hits (topping 200 in seven campaigns) and led the league in total bases seven times.

Andy Cohen

The Giants’ string of seasons with four future Hall of Famers in the infield was broken in 1928, when rookie Andy Cohen (who came into the season with 35 MLB at bats) took over at second base. Future Hall of Famers Bill Terry, Freddie Lindstrom and Travis Jackson were still at 1B, 3B and SS, respectively.  At the time, Cohen looked like he had the potential to extend the streak.  Cohen, just 22-years-old, hit .353 for the Buffalo Bison of the International League (Double A) in 1927.   Then he hit .274-9-59 in 129 games for the Giants in 1928 and .294 for New York in 101 games in 1929. He had, however, tailed off a bit in the second half and started the 1930 season with the International League Newark Bears – where it was reported that he suffered (depending on sources) either an shoulder or leg injury.  He never made it back to the major leagues, but played in the minors through 1942 (when he was inducted into the Army) – including (for Minnesota readers) eight seasons with the Minneapolis Millers (American Association – Double A).

Cohen retired as a player with a .281-14-114 line in three MLB seasons and a .288 average with 78 home runs in 16 minor-league campaigns. After military service, he served a number of years as a minor league manager and major league coach.

Cohen also had a 1.000 winning percentage as an MLB manager. In 1960, Cohen was a coach on the Phillies when manager Eddie Sawyer resigned after the first game of the season. Gene Mauch was hired as a replacement, but Cohen filled in for one game until Mauch could join the team.  In that contest, the Phillies won 5-4 over the Braves in ten innings. After leaving professional ball, Cohen coached the University of El Paso baseball team for 17 years.

More #WhyIHateTheDH

Baseball Roundtable recently published a post on solid-hitting pitchers (click here for that post). I thought I’d add another story to the BBRT #WhyIHateTheDH saga.

On August 5, 2001, Livan Hernandez started on the mound for the Giants (versus the Phillies). He got the win with 6 2/3 innings of four-run ball (eighth hits, three walks, three strikeouts), but he was even better at the plate – a three-for-three day, with a double in the third inning, a single n the fourth and a single in the sixth. His next start came on August 11 against the Cubs.  Another win for Hernandez and another perfect day at the plate: run-scoring single in the second, two-run home run in the third, single in the sixth and single in the eighth. Add to that a single in Hernandez’ final at bat in his in his July 31 start against the Cubs and Hernandez hit safety in eight straight plate appearances (not bad for a pitcher). That season, Hernandez hit .296 (24-for-82) with one home run and eight RBI. Further, in four starts, between July 26 and August 11, he went 12 for 13 (.923).  In those four starts, he went 3-0, 4.39 on the mound. Hernandez was a career .221 hitter (215-for-973). with ten homers and 85 RBI. On the bump, he went 178-11, 4.44.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; “Frankie Frisch” bio, by Fred Stein, Society for American Baseball Research; “Rogers Hornsby” bio, Society for American Baseball Research, by C. Paul Rogers III; “Baseball Maniac’s Almanac, Fifth Edition, ” edited by Bert Randolph Sugar (2019).

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On this date (April 6) in 2009, as the Rockies and Diamondbacks opened their seasons in Arizona  (There had been one game the previous day … Braves at Phillies) – MLB history was made.

On that day, Diamondbacks’ second baseman Felipe Lopez became the first hitter to go yard from both sides of the plate in a season “opener.” Lopez was in his ninth professional season (and with his fifth MLB team). Going into the campaign, he had 71 long balls in 873 games (20 right-handed, 51 left-handed).

Lopez led off the bottom of the first, going deep from the left-handers’ batter’s box off Rockies’ RHP Aaron Cook. He led off again in the bottom of the fourth inning and homered (this time from the right-handers’  batter’s box off southpaw Glendon Rusch. Lopez finished the game two-for-four (two runs and two RBI), as the D-backs triumphed 9-8.

TRIVIA QUESTION: 

Now, for your trivia question. How long (after Felipe became the first major leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate in an opener) was it before MLB again saw a player homer from both sides on Opening Day – and, for bonus recognition, who was that player?

ANSWER:

How long was it until saw a second player pop home runs from both side of the plate in an Opening Day game. It was just 1 1/3 innings.  Lopez’ teammate, first baseman, Tony Clark hit a two-run homer from the left side of the plate off RH Aaron Cook in the bottom of the third inning of Lopez’ historic game, breaking a 4-4 tie and knocking Aaron Cook out of the game. Clark came up again with one out in the bottom of the fifth (and the game again tied, this time at 7-7) and hit a solo shot from the right-hand side off lefty Glendon Rusch. Clark finished the day two-for-four with two runs and three RBI.

So, after more than a century of having no switch hitter ever homering from both sides of the plate on Opening Day, we had two players from the same team, in the first 4 1/3 innings of the same game (and off the same two pitchers) achieve the feat.  (More on Lopez and Clark later in the post.)

THIRD PLAYER TO HOMER FROM BOTH SIDE OF THE PLATE IN AN OPENING DAY GAME

In addition to Felipe Lopez and Tony Clark, one more switch hitter has homered from both sides of the plate in an Opening day contest – Dodgers’ catcher Yasmani Grandl, on April 3, 2017, as his Dodgers topped the Padres 14-3 in Los Angeles.

Felipe Lopez played in 11 MLB seasons (2001-2011) – going .264-90-439, with 124 steals.  He was an All Star once – in 2005, when he went .291-23-85, with 15 steals for the Reds. It was the only season he hit more than 11 homer runs. For his career, Lopez was .261-61-285 as a left-handed batter (3,074 at bats) and .271-29-155 from the right side (1,263 at bats). He also made one pitching appearance (right-handed), pitching a scoreless inning (one walk, one hit) for the Cardinals in 2010).

Tony Clark played 15 MLB seasons (1995-2009) – going .262-251-824.  Like Lopez, he was an All Star once – in 2001, when he had a .287-16-75 campaign for the Tigers.  Clark topped 25 home runs in five seasons (for of those with 30 or more dingers) and recorded 100+ RBI in two seasons. His best year was 1998, when he went .291-34-103 for the Tigers.  Clark hit .260-189-607 as a left-handed batter (3,279 at bats) and .267-62-217 at a right-handed batter (1,253 at bats).

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

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BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA TEASER

Fill  in the blank:

  —–Career-Low Opponents’ Batting Average (MLB.com listing)—–

 

                             Nolan Ryan                         .204

                             Sandy Koufax                     .205

                             Clayton Kershaw              .208

                              _______________       .212

                             Pedro Martinez                 .214

Hint:  I initially came up with this in the a.m. hours.

Baseball Roundtable Trivia Teaser Answer

The answer is Andy Messersmith (initials A.M. per the hint), who pitched to a .212 opponents’ batting average over twelve MLB seasons (2,230 1/3 innings pitched) for the Angels (1968-72), Dodgers (1973-75 & 1979), Braves (1976-77) and Yankees (1978).

Messersmith, a 6’1”, 200-pound righthander made it to the majors In July of 1968 (at age 22). He went on to become a four-time All Star, two-time 20-game winner and two-time Gold Glover.  He did all of this with a fastball with movement, hard overhand curve, solid slider and effective change up.   His final career stat line was 130-99, with a 2.86 earned run average and 1,625 strikeouts.  He led his league one season each in wins, games started, complete games, shutouts and innings pitched. He also gave up his league’s fewest hits per nine innings (among qualifiers) in three seasons.

Reserve Clause

Andy Messersmith is also noted for his role in successfully challenging (along with Dave McNally) MLB’s reserve clause, which led to the 1975 ruling by arbitrator Peter Seitz that player who played one year for their teams without a signed contract could become free agents at the end of that year (basically ending the acceptance of unilateral contract renewals as a way to “reserve” a player).

Messersmith’s best year was arguably 1975, when he went 19-14, with a 2.29 ERA (for the Dodgers) and led the NL in starts (40), complete games (19), shutouts (7) and innings pitched (321 2/3); while also earning a Gold Glove.  This followed a 1974 season during which he went 20-6, 2.59 and was the NL All Star Game starter.

For those not familiar with Messersmith’s history, he was a high school quarterback and pitcher (going 16-2 in his senior season), before receiving a full scholarship (baseball) to the University of California Berkeley (1963), where he earned All-NCAA District and second-team All American honors.   He was a first-round draft choice (12^th overall) of the Angels in June of 1966 and was in the majors (with the Angels) by 1968 (when he went 4-2, 2.21 primarily as a reliever).  In 1969, he earned a spot in the Angels’ starting rotation (16-11, 2.52) and the rest is history. His career totals were diminished by a number of injuries:  1970 (ribs); 1972 (finger injury/surgery); 1977 (elbow/surgery); 1978 (shoulder).  When he was healthy, however, he was one of the best. Notably, Messersmith threw over 200 innings in six seasons, had an earned run average under 3.00 in seven campaigns and had at least ten complete game  seven times.

Just Watch Me.

For about a month-and-a half of the 1976 season, Ted Turner’s Atlanta Braves – perhaps foreshadowing the current MLB Players’ Weekend – wore nicknames above the numbers on their home jerseys.  For example, Biff Pocoroba wore “Poco” on his back, Dick Ruthven wore “Rufus”), Phil Niekro wore “Knucksie” and Jimmy Wynn wore “Cannon.”

The most interesting of these may have been Any Messersmith – a newcomer to the Braves that season – who (in an apparent publicity move) wore the nickname (which he had never used) “Channel” above his number 17.  (Channel 17 was where you would find Turner’s cable TV “Superstation WTCG.”) In a bit of Irony, NL President Charles Feeney (much better known by the nickname”Chub”) objected to this rather obvious bit of promotion and put an end to it, with Messersmith moving on “Bluto,” a nickname he had acquired while with the Dodgers.   Braves’ PR Director at the time, Bob Hope (No, not that Bob Hope) later said the nickname served its purpose, “We knew baseball would step in and stop it, but we would get lots of publicity.”

Sources:  Baseball-Refeence.com; MLB.com; “Uni Watch’s Friday Flashback: What in a nickname” by Paul Lucas fort ESPN.com, May 13, 2016; Andy Messersmith Society for American Baseball Research bio, by Eric Golanty.

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On this day 65 years ago – May 2, 1954 – Stan “The Man” Musial had one of the greatest days at the plate in major league history. That day, the New York Giants faced Musial’s Cardinals in a double header before 26,662 fans at Busch Stadium (I).

And, on that day, Musial became the first player to pole five home runs in a doubleheader – or, if you prefer, five home runs in a single day of the MLB schedule.