With the World Series just srounod the corner (Congratulations Brewers and Rays) Baseball Roundtable would like to bring readers an updated post on Fall Classic targets to shoot for (or to avoid).  I’ve worked to incorporate Negro League World Series records ( 1924-27, 1942-48) whenever possible (relying heavily on retrosheet.org and statehead.com).  You should keep in mind, those records are still  incomplete or, in some cases, not thoroughly documented. Note:  For a past post on Baseball Roundtable favorite World Series, click here. 

Albert Pujols & Shohei Ohtani – Pretty much a tossup for the Best World Series Game at the Plate … Ever

Photo: Herkie on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop), CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On October 22, 2011 – in Game Three of the Cardinals/Rangers World Series matchup (won by the Cardinals 16-7) – Redbirds’ 1B Albert Pujols went five-for-six with four runs scored and six RBI.  In the process, he established a new (and still-standing) record for total bases in a World Series game (14) and also earned, and still holds, a share of the World Series’ single-game records for hits (5), runs scored (4), RBI (6) and home runs (3). Ironically, in the other six games of the Series, he went one-for-nineteen, with six walks, four runs scored and no RBI.

Photo: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses+/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Still, The Roundtable found it impossible to choose between Pujols’ game and the performance of Dodgers’ DH Shohei Ohtani in Game Three of the 2025 World Series – won by the Dodgers 6-5, over the Rays, in 18 innings. Ohtani came to the plate nine times and got on base a World Series record nine times. He recorded two doubles, two home runs, five walks, three runs scored and three RBI. The five walks are also a World Series record. Even more impressive, four of the free passes were Intentional Walks, another Series single-game record. After Ohtani had peppered Rays’ pitching for his two doubles and two home runs over the first seven innings, the Rays wanted notnhing to do with him. He drew four consecutive Intentional Walks (ninth, eleventh, thirteenth and fifteenth innings), before drawing a four-pitch “unintentional” walk in the 17th frame. 

Now, let’s look at the Fall Classic record book.

SOME SINGLE-GAME WORLD SERIES MARKS TO SHOOT FOR (or avoid)

Home Runs in a World Series Game – Three

Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Albert Pujols, Pablo Sandoval

Babe Ruth … While three players have hit three home runs in a World Series game, the Yankees’ Babe Ruth is the only player to accomplish the feat twice – October 6, 1926 and October 9, 1928. In Game Four of the 1926 Series, as the Yankees topped the Cardinals 10-5, Ruth went three-for-four, with three home runs, two walks, four runs scored, four RBI and, of course, three dingers. The long-ball victims were Redbirds’ starter Flint Rhem (twice) and reliever Herman Bell. In Game Four of the 1928 World Series (a Yankees’ sweep over the Cardinals), Ruth went three-for-five with three solo home runs – two off Bill Sherdel and one off Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander.

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Reggie Jackson … The Yankees’ Reggie Jackson’s feat was unique in that he hit his three long balls (October 18, 1977) off three consecutive pitches offered up by three different pitchers. After drawing a walk to lead off the bottom of the second inning of Game Six (versus Dodgers’ starter Burt Hooton), Jackson hit the first pitch he saw from Hooton in the fourth inning for a two-run home run. He came up again in the fifth, facing Elias Sosa, and hit the first pitch in that at bat for another two-run homer. In his next at bat, leading off the eighth frame, Jackson hit the first pitch from Charlie Hough for a solo home run. A three-for-three day with four runs scored and five RBI.

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Albert Pujols … Albert Pujols hit his three home runs in Game Three of the 2011 World Series (versus the Rangers) in Texas – as part of a five-for-six day. He hit a three-run homer on a 1-1 pitch from Alexi Ogando in the top of the sixth; a two-run shot on the first pitch he saw from Mike Gonzalez in the seventh; and a solo shot homer on a 2-2 pitch from Darren Oliver in the ninth. Those six RBI – which tie for the World Series single-game record – were the only runs driven in by Pujols in the seven-game Series – won by the Redbirds four games-to-three.

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Pablo Sandoval … In Game One of the 2012 World Series (October 24), the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval  went four-for-four, with three home runs, three runs scored and four RBI. He homered in the first and third innings off the Tigers’ Justin Verlander and in the fifth off Al Alburquerque before adding a single off Jose Valverde in the seventh – as the Giants triumphed 8-3.

Pablo Sandoval hit just 12 home runs in 108 games during the 2012 season and only 153 in 14 MLB seasons. In the 2012 post-season, however, he hit six home runs in 18 games.

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Home Runs in a Single World Series – Five

Reggie Jackson, Chase Utley, George Springer

Reggie Jackson … As noted above, Yankee RF Reggie Jackson had a three-home run game  in the sixth and final matchup of the 1977 World Series.  The Yankees won the game 8-4 and the Series four games-to-two. Jackson also went deep in the Yankees’ Game Four 4-2 win over the Dodgers (a solo shot off Rick Rhoden) and in  the Yankees’ 10-4 loss in Game Five (a solo homer off Don Sutton).   Over the final three games of the Series, Jackson went   seven-for-eleven, with a double, five home runs, eight runs scores and eight RBI.

Chase Utley … Utley’s Phillies lost the 2009 World Series (four games-to-two), but it wasn’t Utley’s fault, The Philly 2B led all players with five homers and tied the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui for the Series RBI lead with eight. He hit two solo homers in the Phillies’ Game One 6-1 win, had a home run and a double in a 7-4 Game Four loss; and had a second two-homer game as the Phillies took Game Five 8-6. (Utley drove in four of the eight runs).

George Springer … Astros’ CF and leadoff hitter George Springer hit .379, with five home runs and seven RBI as the Astros topped the Dodgers four games-to-three in the 2017 World Series. This was after a Game One in which he  came to the plate four times and fanned four times (on a total of 19 pitches). He went on to homer in Games Two, Four, Five, Six and Seven.

Bases – Just Add ‘Em Up

George Springer holds the record for total bases in a single World Series at 29.  In the 2017 World Series – as his Astros topped the Dodgers four games-to-three, Springer collected 11 nits in 29 at bats,  including three doubles and five home runs. 

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Base Hits in a World Series Game – Five

Paul Molitor, Albert Pujols

Paul Molitor … Brewers’ third baseman and leadoff hitter Paul Molitor – who hit .302 with 201 hits in the 1982 regular season – grounded out to second base leading off the 1982 World Series (Inning One, Game One, in St. Louis on October 12). It would be the only time he was retired in the game, as the Brewers triumphed 10-0. Molitor followed with a single in the second inning; an RBI-single in the fourth; a single in the sixth; a single in the eighth; and an RBI single in the ninth.

Taking It One Base at a Time

When the Brewers’ Paul Molitor hit .355 (11-for-31) in the 1982 World Series, every one his safeties was a single. The Brew Crew  lost the Series to the Cardinals four games-to-three.

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Albert Pujols … Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols had his five-hit World-Series contest in Game Three (October 22) of the 2011 Series (in Texas). Like Molitor (above), Pujols grounded out in his first at bat – and then went on to record five straight hits. Unlike Molitor, his safeties were not all singles. He led off the fourth inning with a single (off Matt Harrison); led off the fifth with a single off Scott Feldman; popped a three-run home run off Alexi Ogando in the sixth; homered off Mike Gonzalez in the seventh; and homered off Darren Oliver (solo) in the ninth.  The Cardinals won the contest 16-7 and won the Series four game-to-three.

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Base Hits in a Single World Series – Fifteen

Judy Johnson

Judy Johnson … The Hilldale Club’s 3B Judy Johnson rapped 15 hits in 44 at bats in the best-of-nine 1924 Negro Leagues World Series. (The Hilldale Club topped the Kansas City Monarchs five games -to-four (with one tie).  Johnson hit .341 for the Series with  five doubles, one triple, one home run and seven runs scored.

Side Note:  The record for base hits in a best-of-seven World Series is 13, shard by Bobby Richardson, Yankees (1964); Lou Brock, Cardinals (1968); and Marty Barrett , Red Sox, 1986). Each of those Series went the full seven games. 

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Runs Batted in a World Series Game – Six

Bobby Richardson, Hideki Matsui, Albert Pujols, Addison Russell

Bobby Richardson … In Game Three of the 1960 World Series (October 8), the Yankees trounced the Pirates 10-0. Despite a lineup that included the big bats of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Bill Skowron and Elston Howard, little  5’9” second baseman Bobby Richardson  (a .252 hitter with just one home run and 26 RBI in 150 1960 regular-season games) did the most damage to the Pirates’ pitching staff.  His day included a Grand Slam home run in the first frame and a tw0-run single in the fourth (part of a two-for-five day). Richardson’s six RBI set a new MLB single-game World Series RBI record (since tied). How unlikely was the Richardson Grand Slam? In 12 MLB seasons (1,412 regular-season games), he had  just 34 home runs and one regular-season Grand Slam. Despite the Yankees losing the Series four games-to-three, Richardson, who drove in a World Series’ record 12 RBI in the seven games, was named the Series MVP – the only player from the l0sing team ever granted that honor.

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Hideki Matsui … In the final game of the 2009 World Series (Game Six on November 4), Yankee DH Hideki Matsui filled the DH role well – driving in six runs in the Yankees’ 7-3 win over the Phillies. His three-for-four day included a two-run home run (off Pedro Martinez) in the second inning; a two-run single off Martinez in the third; and a two-run double off J.A. Happ in the fifth. Matsui had quite a series, leading the Bronx Bombers in average (.615); home runs (3); and RBI (8) – and winning World Series MVP Honors. Matsui was coming off a .274-28-90 regular season.

Put Me In, Coach

In Hideki Matsui’s first  three seasons with the Yankees (2003-05), he played in every Yankee Game – going .297-70-330. Matsui joined the Yankees (and MLB) after playing ten seasons in Japan, where he hit .304-332-889.

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Albert Pujols … Yep, Albert Pujols is here again – thanks to his three-home run, six-RBI game in the 2011 World Series (Game Three, October 22). As noted earlier, in that 16-7 win, Pujols set the World Series single-game record for total bases and tied the World Series single-game records for hits (5), home runs (3), RBI (6) and runs scored (4).

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Addison Russell … The Cubs faced elimination for the second game in a row as they came into Game Six of the 2016 World  Series. (The opposing  Indians had won three of the first four games.) Cubs’ SS Addison Russell lashed a two-run double in the top of the first to put the Cubbies ahead 3-0 and, two innings later, smacked a Grand Slam to push the edge to 7-0. The Cubs eventually won 9-3 and ended  up taking the Series four games-to-three, with a ten-inning, 8-7 win in Game Seven. Russell hit just .222 for the Series, but drove in a Series-leading nine runs. Over a five-season MLB career, Russell hit .242-60-253 in 615 games. 2016 was his only All Star year and he reached career highs in runs (67), home runs (21) and RBI (95).

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RBI in a Single World Series – 12

Bobby Richardson, Freddie Freeman

Bobby Richardson … Yankees’ 2B Bobby Richardson drove in a record 12 runs (.367-1-12 for the Series), as the Yankees lost to the underdog Pittsburgh Pirates four games -to- three.  The Yankees lost the Series despite outscoring the Pirates 54-26 over the seven games. Again, (this deserves repeating), during the 1960 regular season, Richardson had driven in 26 runs in 150 games.

Freddie Freeman … Dodgers’ first baseman Freddie Freeman went .300-4-12, as the Dodgers topped the Yankees in five games in the 2024 Fall Classic. During the regular season, Freeman had gone ,282-22-89.

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Runs Scored in a World Series Game – Four

Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Frankie Crosetti, Enos Slaughter, Reggie Jackson, Kirby Puckett, Carney Lansford, Lenny Dykstra, Jeff Kent, Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman

This is a mark, I ‘d like to see broken, if only to end an 11-player tie.

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Runs Scored in a Single World Series – Ten

Monte Irvin, Reggie Jackson, Paul Molitor

Monte Irvin … Newark Eagles’ SS Monte Irvin scored ten runs as his Newark Eagles topped the Kansas City Monarchs four games-to-three in the 1946 Negro League World Series. Irvin was pretty much unstoppable in the Series, going 12-for-26 (.462), with two doubles, three homers, ten runs scored and eight RBI.  Oh, and he also stole two bases.

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Reggie Jackson … Yankees’ RF Reggie Jackson went .450-5-8 with ten runs scored as the Yankees bested the Dodgers four games-to-three in the 1977 World Series. Six of Jackson’s nine hits went for extra bases (five homers, one double).

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Paul Molitor … Blue Jays’ DH/1B Paul Molitor went 11-for-24 (.458) in the 1993 Worlds Series, won by the Blue Jays over the Phillies four games-to-two.    Molitor had one double, two triples, two homers and seven RBI in the six games.

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Stolen Bases in a World Series Game – Three

Honus Wagner, Willie Davis, Lou Brock, B.J. Upton, Rajai Davis, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. 

Lou Brock … Lets’ just note here, that Lou Brock remains the only player to steal three bases in a World Series game twice in his career. The fleet Cardinals’ outfielder accomplished the feat against the Red Sox in Game Seven of the 1967 World Series (October 12) and in Game Three of the 1968 World Series (October 5) against the Tigers.

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Stolen Bases in a Single World  Series – Seven

Lou Brock

Lou Brock … Lou Brock, who stole 938 bases in his career (regular-season), is not just the only player to steal seven bases in a single World Series, he did it twice. In 1967, as his Cardinals lost to the Red Sox 4-3, and in 1968, as St. Louis topped the Tigers 4-3. Brock was seven-for-seven in steal attempts in 1967 and seven-for-nine in 1968. Notably, in those two World Series, Brock hit .414 (1967) and .464 (1968).

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Intentional Walks in  World Series Game – Four

Shohie Ohtani

As noted earlier in this post, on October 27, 2025 (in the 18-inning Game Three of the World Series) Blue Jays’ pitchers Intentionally Walked Ohtani four times. Further, the walks came in consecutive plate apperances -in the ninth, eleventh, thirteenth and fifteenth innings.  

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Grounded into Double Plays in a World Series Game – Three

Willie Mays

Willie Mays … On October 8, 1951 – in Game Four of the Yankees/Giants World Series – Giants’ rookie CF Willie Mays came to bat four times and not only was held hitless, but grounded into a Series single-game record three double plays.Three seems to be the magic number as 22 players have grouinded into two double plays in a single World Series Game (only Iriv Noren accomplished this feat twice). 

Baseball Roundtable Extra – Whiff and Poof

While 21 players have fanned at least four times in a World Series Game – including 15 position players Josh Devore, Mickey Mantle, Joe Collins, Wayne Garrett, Devon White, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Howard, Evan Carter, Pat Burrell, Mike Napoli, George Springer, Rhys Hoskins, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez and Cody Bellinger:

• Only pitcher George Pipgras has fanned five times in a World Series Game. The Yankee righthander did it in Game Three of the 1932 Cubs/Yankees World Series – whiffing in all five of his plate appearances. Pipgras, a career .163 hitter, did get the win in a 7-5 Yankee triumph.
• Only Cody Bellinger has fanned four times in a World Series Game twice – and he did it in a span of five days. The Dodgers’ rookie 1B did it in Game Three of the 2017 Dodger/Astros World Series (October 27) – fanning four times in four at bats on fourteen pitches. He repeated the “feat” in Game Six (October 31) fanning four times in four plate appearances – this time on 24 pitches. 

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Most Times Striking Out In a Singe World Series – Seventeen

Cody Bellinger

The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger had a solid rookie season in 2017 (.267-39-97), making the NL All Star Team and winning NL Rookie of the Year honors. As the Dodgers fell to the Astros four games-to-three in the World Series, however, Bellinger had only four hits in 28 at bats (.143), although he did havce one home run and five RBI.  He did swing his way into the record books, striking out a single Series record 17 times. To add a little balance here, Bellinger did go two-for-four, with a home run, a triple, four RBI (and two strikeouts) in the Dodgers’ 13-12 loss in Game Five.

Doubles in a World Series Game – Four

Frank Isbell

Frank Isbell … In Game Five of the 1906 World Series (Cubs/White Sox), White Sox’ 2B Frank Isbell went four-for-five, rapping four doubles, as the White Sox topped the Cubs 8-6. Isbell scored three times and drove in two.  Isbell was not exactly a doubles machine.  In the 1906 regular season he hit just 18 doubles in 617 plate appearances.

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Doubles in a Single World Series – Seven

Newt Allen

Newt Allen … Kansas City Monarchs’ 2B Newt Allen rapped seven doubles in the best-of-nine 1924 Negro League World Series, as his Monarchs topped the Hilldale Club five games-to- our (one tie). Allen collected 11 hits (39 at bats) in the Series and seven of them were doubles.  During the 1924 regular season, Allen hit just eight doubles in 73 games (298 at bats).

Side Note:  The most doubles in a best-of-seven World Series is six, by Tigers’ RF Pete Fox in the 1934 World Series. For the Series (Cardinals over Tigers four games-to-three), Fox went 8-for-28 (.286). 

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Triples in a World Series Game – Two

Tommy Leach, Patsy Dougherty, Dutch Reuther, Bobby Richardson, Tommy Davis, Mark Lemke

Tommy Leach, Pirates … Game One 1903 World Series (Pirates/Boston Americans). Notably, both three-baggers were hit off Cy Young.  Part of a four-for-five day.

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Patsy Dougherty, Boston Americans … Game Five 1903 World Series, part of a three-for-six, three-RBI day.

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Dutch Reuther, Reds … Game One, 1919 World Series (Reds/White Sox). Reuther gets special mention as the only pitcher on the list. He collected two triples, a single and a walk in four plate appearances – and also pitched a one-run, six-hit, complete game as his Reds triumphed 9-1. Reuther was a solid-hitting pitcher, putting up a .258 average, with seven home runs and 111 RBI over 11 MLB seasons.

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Bobby Richardson, Yankees … Game Six 1960 World Series (Pirates/Yankees). The Yankee second-sacker went two-for-three with one run and three RBI in the game.

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Tommy Davis, Dodgers – Game Two, 1963 World Series (Dodgers/Yankees). The Dodgers’  CF went two-for-four, with one run and two RBI.

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Mark Lemke, Braves … Game Six, 1991 World Series (Braves/Twins). A two-for-three day with two runs and three RBI for the Braves’ 2B.

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Triples in a Single World Series – Four

Tommy Leach

Tommy Leach … Pirates’ 3B Tommy Leach had four triples among his nine hits (in 33 at bats) in the 1903 best-of-nine World Series, won by the Boston Americans five games-to-three.

Now Let switch to the moundsmen.

Perfect Games in the World Series – One

Don Larsen

Don Larsen, Yankees …. Game 6 1960 World Series (October 8). Don Larsen, coming off a 11-5, 2.36 season, pitched the World Series’ only Perfect Game – retiring all 27 Dodger batters on a total of 97 pitchers as the Yankees won 2-0. Larsen, who fanned seven, reached ball three on only one Dodger hitter (Dodgers’ shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the first inning). Dodgers’ pitcher Sal Maglie had the longest at bat versus Larsen – a seven-pitch at bat before fanning on a 2-2 pitch to end the sixth inning.

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No-Hitter (not a Perfect Game) in a World Series – Two

Red Grier

Red Grier … Claude “Red”  Grier of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (Eastern Colored League) tossed a no-hitter versus the Chicago American Giants (Negro National League) in a 10-0 win in Game Three of the 1926 Negro League World Series. Grier walked six and fanned eight in the outing – and also collected three hits (a double and two singles) and a walk.

Red Farrell

Red Farrell …. Luther “Red’ Farrell of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants tossed a seven-inning (game called on account of darkness) no-hitter in Game Four of the 1927 Negro League World Series – as Atlantic City topped the Chicago American Giants 3-2.  Luther gave up two unearned runs, walked five and fanned three.  (Atlantic City made four errors.)

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There have been more than 90 single-pitcher shutouts in World Series play, so let’s just look at the two narrower categories: Extra-Inning, Single-Pitcher Shutouts &  Multiple Shutouts in a Single World Series.

Extra-Inning World Series Shutouts

Johnny Markham Homestead Grays … In Game Seven of the 1943 Negro League World Series (the Series went eight games – one tie), Markham threw an eight-hit, 11-inning shutout (one walk and zero – yes, zero – strikeouts), as his Homestead Grays topped the Birmingham Black Barons 1-0. His mound opponent, Roy Partlow gave up ten hits (two walks/two whiffs) and one run in 10 2/3 innings.  Markham’s is the longest single-pitcher shutout in World Series history.

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Christy Mathewson, Giants … In Game Two of the 1913 World Series (Giants/Athletics), Christy Mathewson pitched a ten-inning, eight-hit, one-walk, five-strikeout shutout as his Giants won 3-0.  Mathewson himself drove in the game’s first run with a single off Athletics’ starter Eddie Plank. (The Giants scored three times in the top of the tenth.)

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Clem Labine, Dodgers … In Game Five of the 1956 World Series (Dodgers/Yankees), Clem Labine went ten innings and shutout the Yankees on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Bob Turley went the distance for the Yankees, giving up just one run on four hits, with eight walks and 11 whiffs.  Jackie Robinson drove in the only run of the game plating Jim Gilliam with a single with two outs in the bottom of the tenth.

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Jack Morris, Twins …  Jack Morris tossed a ten-inning, complete-game shutout as the Twins won Game Seven of the 1991 Series 1-0. Ironman Morris tossed 126 pitches in shutting out the Braves on seven hits, with two walks and eight whiffs.

Most Single-Pitcher Shutouts in a World Series – Three

Christy Mathewson

When Christy Mathewson threw a recorf three shutouts in the five-game 1905 World Series, he did it in a span of six days.  On October 9 (Game One), the New Y0rk Giants’ mounds giant shutout the Athletics 3-0 on four-hits. On October 12, still in Philadelphia, he whitewashed the A’s 9-0 on another four-hitter. Then, on October 14, he tossed a six-hit shutout in a 2-0 win that gave the Giants the Series four games to one. Notably, every game in the Series saw the winning pitcher go the distance in a shutout. 

Other Pitchers With At Least Two Shuouts In A Single World Series

• Lew Burdette shutout the favored Yankees in in Games 5 and 7 of the 1957 World Series.  At one point, the Braves’ righty threw 24 straight scoreless innings versus a powerful (and favored) Yankee squad.
• The Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax shutout the Twins in Games Five and Seven of the 1965 World Sereis. He  threw his second shutout on just two days rest.
• In the 1960 World Series, the Pirates scored zero runs in Whitey Ford‘s two starts (Games Three ans Six) and 27 runs in the other five games.  The Yankees scored 22 runs in Ford’s two starts and 33 runs in the other five games.
• Johnny Wright, who went 18-3, 2.52 (and won the Negro National II League pitching Triple Crown) for the Homesdtead Grays in 1943, started four games against Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro League World Series. He tossed shjuouts in Games Four and Six.
• Bill Dineen  of the Pirates started four games in the best-of-nine 1903 World Series (which went eight games), completed them all and went and went 3-1, 2.06, He threw shutouts against the Pirates in Games Two and Eight.

 

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Lowest Earned Run Average – Single World Series (minimum 18 innings pitched)  – 0.00

Christy Mathewson, Waite H0yte, Carl Hubbell, Whitey Ford

Christy Mathewson … Okay, this is a little repetitive, but it bears repeating. In the 1905 World Series, Giants’ righty Christy Mathewson put up a 0.00 earned run average over 27 innings . In fact, he threw three shutouts in six days.   So, three starts, 27 innings pitched, no runs, 13 hits, one walk and 18 whiffs.  (Keep in mind, in 1905, MLB pitchers average just 3.9 strikeouts per nine frames.)  That season, by the way, Mathewson went 31-9, 1.28 with 32 complete games and eight shutouts in 43 appearances (37 starts).

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Waite Hoyte … In 1921, 21-year-old Waite Hoyt (after a 19-13, 3.09 season for the Yankees) was pegged to start Game Two of the World Series (on October 6 versus the rival Giants). Hoyte responded with a two-hit shutout (five walks and five strikeouts) in a 3-0 Yankee win.  Four days later (October 10), with the Series tied at two games apiece), he started again and threw a gutsy ten-hitter giving  up just one unearned run as the Yankees won 3-1. In that game, the Giants had runners on base in seven of the nine innings. Hoyte next pitched on October 13 – in the winner-take-all Game Seven and, despite giving up just one unearned run, took the loss in a 1-0 Giants win. In that one, Hoyte gave up six hits and four walks, while fanning seven. The only run scored in the top of the first inning, on an error by shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.

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Carl Hubbell … Hubbell started two games for  the Giants, as they topped the Nationals in the 1933 World Series.  He put up a 0.00 ERA over 20 innings.  his efforts included  a complete game in a Giants’ 5-2 win in Game One (two unearned runs, five hits, two walks, ten strikeouts) and an 11-inning complete game in Game Four – one unearned run, eight hits, four walks, five strikeouts.

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Whitey Ford …  In the 1960 World Series (won by the Pirates over the Yankees in seven games), Whitey Ford pitched in two of the most lopsided shutouts in Series’ history, In Game Three, Ford pitched a four-hit (one walk/three strikeouts) shutout as New York prevailed 10-0. In Game Six, he again blanked the Pirates (seven hits, one walk, five whiffs), as the Yankees won 12-0.

In the 1960 World Series, the Yankees outhit the Pirates .338 to .256, outhomered them 10-4, and outscored them 55-27. The Pirates, however, won the Series four games to three. 

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Most Innings pitched in a World Series Game -14

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth … Babe Ruth pitched 14 innings for the Red Sox in a World Series complete-game, six-hit, 2-1 win ( over the Brooklyn Robins) on October 9, 1916. Ruth gave up just six hits (three walks/four strikeouts) over the 14 frames. He also picked up an RBI on a third-inning ground out.

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The Deacon Phillippe Standard Setter

In the 1903 World Series (best-of-nine between the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates), the Pirates Deacon Phillippe set a host of World Series records – most games started (5), most complete games (5), most innings pitched (44). (The Series went eight games.)

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Most Strikeouts in a World Series Game – 17

Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson … In the Opening Game of the 1968 World Series (October 8), the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson (facing the Tigers) struck out a World Series’ single-game record 17 hitters – getting each of the nine players in the Tigers’ starting lineup at least once. Gibson threw a five-hit shutout, as St. Louis won 4-0.

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Most Strikeouts in a Single World Series

Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson ... As you might expect, Gibson holds the record for strikeouts in a single World Series (35 in 27 innings pitched in 1968). Gibson also holds the second spot on this list with 31 strikeouts in the 1964 Series (27 innings pitched) and is tied for the number-five spot  with 26 strikeouts in the 1967 World Series. At number-three is the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, with 29 strikeouts in 24 innings in 1965. Number four is the Boston Americans’ Bill Dineen, with 28 strikeouts in 35 innings in 1903.  Tied with Gibson for the five spot are the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants’ Claude “Red” Grier (26 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings in the 1926 Negro league World Series) and the Diamondbacks’  Curt Schilling (26 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings in 200).

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Batters Hit-by-Pitch in a World Series Game   – Four

Lance McCullers,  Jr.

Lance McCullers, Jr.  … in Game Seven of the 2017 World Series (November 1), Lance McCullers of the Astros plunked four Dodgers in 2 1/3 innings. Surprisingly, despite giving up three hits and hitting four batters in 2 1/3 innings, McCullers did not surrender a run.

It went like this:

• Bottom of the first – Astros up 2-0. Dodgers’ CF Chris Taylor opens with a double; McCullers fans SS Corey Seager on a 3-2 pitch; 3B Justin Turner is hit by a 1-2 pitch; 1B Cody Bellinger fans on a 1-2 pitch; RF Yasiel Puig is hit by a 3-1 pitch loading the bases. LF Joc Pederson grounds out on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.
• Second Inning – 2B Logan Forsythe leads off with a single to left (on a 1-0 pitch); C Austin Barnes grounds out, Forsythe moving to second; PH Enrique Hernandez is it by a 3-1 pitch; Taylor lines into a double play.
• Third Inning – Seager singles to center on a 1-2 pitch; Turner is hit by an 0-0 pitch; Bellinger strikes out on a 2-2 pitch. Brad Peacock relieves McCullers and retires Puig and Pederson with no damage., The Astros go on to win the Game 5-1 and the Series four games-to-three.

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Strikeouts by A Reliever in a  World Series Game  – 11

Moe Drabowsky

Moe Drabowsky … In the Opening Game of the 1966 World Series (October 5) between the Orioles and Dodgers, Drabowsky came on in the bottom of the third inning with the Orioles up 4-1.  The Dodgers, however, had the bases loaded with one out (starter Dave McNally had walked RF Lou Johnson, LF Tommy Davis and 2B Jim Lefebvre in succession). Drabowsky got 1B Wes Parker on a strikeout; walked 2B Jim Gilliam to force in a run; and retired got C Johnny Roseboro on a foul pop up.

Drabowsky went on to fan the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Ultimately, he finished the game, pitching 6 2/3 frames – giving  up one hit and two walks and fanning 11, as the Orioles won 5-2. Those two runs would be the Dodgers only tallies in the four-game Series.  They lost the final three games by scores of 6-0, 1-0 and 1-0.

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Most Mound Appearances in a Single World Series

The record for pitching appearances in a single World Series in seven, shared by Darold Knowles (1973 A’s) – seven appearances, 6 1/3 innings, two saves and a o.oo ERA  – and Brandon Morrow (2017 Dodgers) – seven appearances, 5 1/3 innings pitched, and an 8.44 ERA. 

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Most Hits Allowed in a World Series Game – 16

Ray Brown

Ray Brown – The Homestead Grays’ Ray Brown  threw a complete-game in the 1942 Negro League World Series Game Three matchup with the Kansas City Monarchs.  The Monarch won the contest 9-6, with Brown giving up a Series-record 16 hits.

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Most Home Runs Allowed in a World Series Game – 5

Lance McCullers, Jr.

In Game Three of the 2022 World Series, Astros’ starter Lance McCullers, Jr. gave up six hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched – and five of those hits ended up in the stands.  (He also fanned five batters.)  McCullers gave up a two-run shot to the Phillie’s DH Bryce Harper in the first; solo homers to both 3B Alec Bohm and CF Brandon Marsh in the second; and a two -run homer to LF Kyle Schwarber, as well as a solo shot to 1B Rhys Hoskins in the fifth.

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Most Walks Allowed in a Word Series Game – Ten

Bill Bevens

Bill Bevens … On October 3, 1947, the Yankees’ Bill Bevens gave up just one hit (8 2/3 innings) in a 3-2 World Series loss to the Dodgers. Bevens, unfortunately, walked a World Series single-game record ten batters (one intentional), and free passes contributed to all the scoring.

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Most Runs Given Up in a World Series Game  – Ten

Brickyard Kennedy

Bill “Brickyard” Kennedy … Bill Kennedy gave up a World Series single-game record ten runs on October 7, 1903, as his Pirates lost to the Boston Americans (AL) 11-2. Kennedy was matched up in a scoreless duel with Cy Young through five innings, before giving up six runs – all unearned – on three hits and three errors in the sixth and another four runs (all earned) in the seventh.

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Most Earned Runs Given Up  In A World Series Game– Eight

Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander, Ray Brown, Cotton Williams, Jay Witasick, Guy Bush

Grover Cleveland Alexander … On October 5, 1928, Grover Cleveland  (Pete) Alexander (16-9, 3.36 in the regular season) lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees – giving up eight runs on six hits (one home run) and four walks, in a game the Yankees won 9-3. The 41-year-old Alexander, with 364 regular-season wins under his belt, pitched just five innings in the Series (a Yankee sweep), giving up 11 runs.

—–

Ray Brown … A little repetition here. The Homestead Grays’ Ray Brown  threw a complete-game  in the 1942 Negro League World Series Game Three matchup with the Kansas City Monarchs.  The Monarch won the contest 9-6, with Brown giving up a Series-record 16 hits, a total of nine runs of which eight were earned tying another Series record.

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Cotton Williams … In Game Three of the 1946 Negro League World Series (Newark Eagles versus Kansas City Monarchs), the Eagles’ Cotton Williams came on in relief to open the fifth inning (with the Eagles trailing 6-2).  Over the next 3 2/3 innings, he gave up 11 hits and nine runs – including a Series record-tying eight earned runs.

—–

Jay Witasick … On November 3, 2001 – in Game Six of the World Series –  Yankees’ reliever Jay Witasick came on in the third inning against the Diamondbacks, who already had roughed up starter Andy Pettitte for six runs (on seven hits and two walks) in just two innings. Witasick gave up a record-tying eight earned runs (plus one unearned) in 1 1/3 innings. While he gave up ten hits, Witasick walked none and recorded all four of his outs on strikeouts. Eight of the first nine batters Witasick faced collected base hits (six single and two doubles).

Guy Bush … Bush started Game One of the 1932 World Series for the Cubs (versus the Yankees) and, after retiring the first nine hitters he faced, he ran into trouble in the fourth inning – giving up three runs on a walk, a single and a home run, He came back to pitch a scoreless fifth, but th roof fell in in the sixth.  His inning went walk, walk, walk, pop out, two-run single, run-scoring fielder’s cjopice, walk before being relieved of mound duties. The Cubs eventually lost 12-6.

Most Saves in a Single World Series

John Wetteland

The Yankees’ John Wetteland appeared in five Games in the 1996 World Series – won by the Yankees (over the Braves) four games-to-two. Wetteland picked up four saves in 4 1/3 innings of work (four hits, one run, one walk, six strikeouts).

Fifteen pitchers have recorded three wins in a single World Series: Deacon Phillippe (1903): Bill Dinneen (1903); Nip Winters (1904 NLBWS); Christy Mathewson (1950;  Babe Adams (1909); Jack Coombs (1910); Joe Wood (1912); Red Faber (1917); Stan Covelski (1920); Harry Brecheen (1946); Lew Burdette (1957);  Bob Gibson (1967); Mckey Lolich (1968); Randy Johnson (2001); Yoshinobu Yamamota (2025). 

The 1903 World Series, which saw two hurlers win three games, was a best-of-nine that went eight games. Three-game winner Deacon Phillippe got five starts for Pittsburgh, while three-game winner Bill Dinneen starte four games for Boston.  The most recent three-game winner (2025), Dodger Yoshinobu Yamamoto two games as a starter and one in relief,  He pitched a complete Game four-hitter in a 5-1 Game Two win; gave up one run in six innings in a Game Six 3-1 victory; and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings of the Dodgers’ 11-inning 504 win in Game Seven.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Retrosheet.org; Baseball-Almanac.com; The World Series (Dial Press/Sports Products, Inc.);

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It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week, with the World Series nearly upon us, The Roundtable is presenting its ten favorite World Series games. A host of factors went into the selection including, but not limited to: the importance of the game (Game Sevens had an edge); the tension of the game (extra-innings and one-run games got extra consideration); whether the contest included some World Series, one-time-only unicorns (the record book counts); and whether the game included an etched-in-time  iconic moment or image (think Carlton Fisk). Basically, I was looking for games that fans might be inclined to save the ticket stubs from.

So, let’s get to it.

Number One – 1956 World Series Game Six … Don Larsen’s Perfecto

Even though it was not a Game Seven, the mounting tension of a Perfect Game in progress, coupled with its unicorn record status,  puts this at the top of The  Roundtable’s list.  Clearly, if you were a fan, this is one ticket  stub you’d probably frame.  Plus, you had the New York (Dodgers, Yankees) rivalry, the fact that the Series was knotted at two games apiece and it was being played in front of 64,000+ fans in Yankee Stadium.  For The Roundtable, the only Perfect Game in World Series history is an easy choice for the top spot.

Yankee righthander Don Larsen, coming off an 11-5, 3.26 season (and just two seasons removed from a 3-21 season as an Oriole), retired 27 consecutive Dodger batters on a total of 97 pitches (71 strikes), as the Yankees won 2-0. Larsen, who fanned seven, reached ball three on only one Dodger hitter (Dodgers’ shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the first inning). Dodgers’ pitcher Sal Maglie had the longest at bat versus Larsen – a seven-pitch at bat before fanning on a 2-2 pitch to end the sixth inning. Finally, to the delight of the  Yanbee faithful the final out came on a strikeout (pinch hitter Dale Mitchell).

Larsen’s feat also earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award … making him the first Yankee to receive that honor. (Side note: No Ruth, Gehrig or Dimaggio?  The World Series MVP Award was first presented in 1955.)

Of interest to the Roundtable, the 11 regular-season games Larsen won in 1956 were his career high.  He finished with a record of 81-91, 3.78 over 14 MLB seasons.

Putting Up Zeros

Each of the final three games of the 1956 World Series ended in a complete-game shutout: Yankee Don Larsen’s  2-0 Perfect Game Win; Dodger Clem Labine’s 10-inning, seven-hit, 1-0 victory and Yankee Johnny Kucks’ 9-0, three-hit, Game Seven victory.

Number Two – 1960 World Series Game Seven … Underdog Pirates Upset Heavily Favored Bronx Bombers

Number-two on the list is an exciting one-run, Game Seven of a World Series, with the Pirates knocking off the favored Yankees. (Doesn’t almost everyone like a true underdog victory?) Although the Series was tied at three games apiece, over the first six contests, the Bronx Bombers had outscored the Buccos 46-17, outhit them .358 to .241 and outhomered them eight-to-one.

Game Seven, in Pittsburgh, proved a back-and-forth affair, with the Pirates jumping out to a 4-0 lead over the first two innings; the Yankees up 5-4 after six; and the Pirates up 9-7 at the end of  the eighth.

Then, in the top of the ninth, the Yankees scored a pair of runs to tie it at nine and lead to the hit that put this game at number-two on my list. Pirate’s 2B Bill Mazeroski, led off the bottom of the ninth with a game-winning and Series-winning home run on a 1-0 pitch from Ralph Terry.  It remains a World Series unicorn as the only Game Seven to end on a walk-off homer. Want an iconic image? Pittsburgh put up a statue depicting Mazeroski joyous home-run trot.

Another 1960 Unicorn

Yankee 2B Bobby Richardson, who hit .362 for the Series and led both squads in RBI (12, still the single Series record) and runs scored (eight, tied with Mickey Mantle in 1960) became the first, and still only, player on a losing team to be selected the World Series Most Valuable Player.

Side Note: The Pirates, who had gone deep only once in the first six games of the Series (Mazeroski in the fourth inning of Game One), hit three homers in the finale (1B Rocky Nelson, first inning, C Hal Smith in the eighth inning and Mazeroski). 

Number Three – 1988 World Series Game One … Kirk Gibson’s Triumphant Trot (hobble) Around the Bases

How many times have we seen the iconic film of the injury-hobbled Dodgers’ Kirk Gibson moving gingerly to the plate to pinch hit in the ninth inning of Game One of the 2018 World Series – with the Dodgers trailing 4-3 and down to their last out? How serious were Gibson’s injuries? Well, he was suffering from a severe left hamstring pull and a swollen right knee. The pain was serious enough that Gibson – the key to the Dodgers’ lineup, who would be voted the 1988 National League Most Valuable Player – got only one at bat in the entire 1988 World Series. But it was big enough to earn this spot – a game-winning, walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth.

So, here’s how it went down – or up and out, if you prefer.  While the Dodgers were falling behind the favored A’s (who had won an MLB-best 104 games that season), Gibson spent a great deal of time not on the field, not even in the dugout, but in the trainer’s room – watching the game on TV and taking physical therapy (although, as the game progressed, he did, reportedly, spend a bit of time in the batting cage).

Gibson’s chance to create a lasting World Series memory came in the bottom of the ninth. The A’s led 4-3 and starter Dave Stewart was relieved by All Star closer Dennis Eckersley. Eckersley quickly got Dodgers’ C Mike Scioscia on a pop out to shortstop and 3B Jeff Hamilton on a called third strike. Dodgers’ manager Tommy Lasorda then brought in Mike Davis to pinch hit for SS Alfredo Griffin.  Davis drew a five-pitch free pass from the usual walk-stingy Eckersley, which brought up the pitcher’s spot in the lineup and – to the surprise of fans, the A’s and broadcasters alike – a gimpy Gibson emerged from the dugout to pinch hit.

In what all could see was a painful experience, Gibson fouled off the first two pitches – and the Dodgers were down to their last strike. Gibson fouled off another pitch, took a ball, fouled off another tough Eckersley offering, took ball two and ball three (while Davis stole second). Then on a 3-2 pitch, Gibson lined a home run to deep right and did a limp-laden, arm-raising and fist-pumping trot around the bases as the Dodgers won 5-4. While Gibson would not come to the plate again in the Series, his dramatic long ball set the tone – and the Dodgers topped the favored A’s in five games. For former major-leaguer and author John Paciorek’s vivid description/anlaysis of the Gibson at bat (in a Roudtable guest post), click here.

Number-Four Tie – 2018 World Series Game 3 … Dodgers Walk-Off the Red Sox in 18 innings (Subtitle: A Scorekeeper’s Nightmare)

What’s better than spending three hours watching a tight World Series contest?  How about spending a World Series record seven hours and twenty minutes (and 18 innings) on the edge of  your seat? On Friday, October 26, 2018, with the Red Sox leading the Series two games to none, the Dodgers took the field for their first home game of the Series, at 5:10 p.m., in front of more than 53,000 Dodger Stadium fans.  As Friday turned to Saturday, the two teams would still be on the field, as they set (and still hold) the record for the longest World Series game by time, and the longest World Series game (later tied) by innings.

The Dodgers scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third on a home run by LF Joc Pederson and the Red Sox tied it in the eighth on a home run by CF Jackie Bradley, Jr.

The score remained 1-1 until the top of the 13th, when the Red Sox took the lead on an RBI single by 3B Eduardo Nunez (who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the tenth).  But the duel was not over, in the bottom of the frame, the Dodgers retied the game on an RBI single by RF Yasiel Puig. Neither team scored again until the 18th.

In the bottom of the 18th, Dodgers’ 2B Max Muncy (who started the game at 1B), in his eighth plate appearance of the night/morning, led off the frame by smacking a 3-2 pitch from Nathan Eovaldi (the ninth Red Sox pitcher to take the mound) for a walk-off, game-winning four-bagger to left-center. Unfortunately, this hard-fought win did not spark the Dodgers, they lost the Series in five games.

In the contest, each team used 23 players (and, for each team, nine of those were pitchers).  The 46 player used remains a World Series single-game record, the 18 pitchers was also a record (one soon to be broken).

The two squads totaled just 18 hits over the 18 innings (a combined .153 average), while striking out 34 times.  So, this was a contest favored by those who like pitching duels. (Actually, count The Roundtable in – lots of drama and every hit came with a dose of hope.)

How the Game Had Changed

Game Three of the 2018 World Series involved more total playing time (seven hours and twenty minutes) than the entire 1939 Fall Classic. In the 1939 Series (seven hours and five minutes), the Yankees topped the Reds in four straight games.  Game One went to New York 2-1 in one hour and 33 minutes; Game Two ended 4-0 in one hour and 27 minutes; Game three, a 7-3 Yankee win, took two hours and one minute; and the finale, a 7-4 Yankee win in ten innings, took  a whopping two hours and four minutes.

Remember the title of this one … A Scorekeeper’s Nightmare? In this game:

• The teams used a combined 46 players (18 pitchers);
• Seven players played multiple defensive positions;
• There were seven pinch hitters and two pinch runners.
• Frosting on the cake; consider the Red Sox’ outfield shenanigans:
  • Red Sox’ starting CF Jackie Bradley Jr. moved to LF in the eighth; back to CF to open the ninth; back to LF with two outs in the ninth; back to CF to open the tenth; back to LF with two outs in the tenth; back to CF to open the eleventh.
  • Starting RF Mookie Betts made an equal number of moves between RF and CF;
  • D. Martinez, who started in LF, bounced between LF and RF; and
  • Starting 2B Brock Holt also saw time in LF and RF.

A Scorekeepers Nightmare  Indeed!

Number Four (Tie) – 2025 World Series Game 3 …  Ho-Hum, Another Doublehead Disguised as a single Game

The World Series only other 18-inning contest (six hours and 39 minutes this time) took place on October 27, 2025. It also involved the Dodgers (versus the Blue Jays this time), was a Game Three, was played at Dodger Stadium and ended with a walk-ff home run hit (also on a 3-2 pitch) by the first batter in the bottom of the 18th.  A bit more action in this one, 31 combined hits (37 runners left on base), in a 6-5 Dodger win.

LA scored one run in the second and another in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Toronto scored four in the top of the fourth. The Dodgers tied it at four with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Then both teams tallied one run in the seventh and the score remained 5-5 until the bottom of the 18^th, when Dodger 1B Freddie Freeman, leading off the inning, hit a 3-2 pitch from Brendon Little for a long homer to center. In this one, the two teams used 44 players and sete a new single-game World Series record by sending a combined 19 pitchersto the mound).

Bonus History

Photo: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Fans saw a bit of bonus history in this one, as LA DH Shohei Ohtani delivered an other-worldly performance,  coming to the pate nine times and reaching base nine times (two doubles, two homers, five walks), giving him the record for the most times reaching base in a single World Series  game (or any post-season game for that matter). Ohtani also set a new record for walks in a World Series game (five). He also tied the record for walks in a post-season game of any kind. (The Rangers’ Corey Seager drew five walks in Game Two of the 2023 AL Division Series). Ohtani also tied the record for extra-base hits in a World Series game at four. (In Game 5 of the 1906 World Series, the White Sox’ Frank Isbell had four doubles in a ChiSox’ 8-6 win over the Cubs.) Finally, Ohtani set a new record for Intentional Walks in a World Series (or any post-season) game at four.

For those who like less obvious trivia:

• Brad Paisley became the only professional singer to lead the crowd in the National Anthem before two World Series 18-inning games.
• Mookie Betts became the first player to start in 18-inning World Series games for two different teams. He started in RF for the Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series and at SS for the Dodgers in 2025.
• Clayton Kershaw became only player to participate in one 18-inning World Series game solely as an offensive player and another solely as a pitcher. Kershaw made a brief appearance in both games and each time he was responsible for exactly one out. Kershaw lined out as a pinch hitter in the 17th inning of the 2018 game (and did not pitch) and retired one batter in a relief role in the 12th inning of the 2025 game (and did not come to the plate).

Number Six –  1916 World Series Game 2 … Can’t Have a List Without the Babe

The Red Sox’ starter for Game 2 of the 1916 World Series (October 7) versus the Brooklyn Robins was a 21-year-old southpaw named Babe Ruth, who had gone 23-12, with an AL-best (among qualifiers) 1.75 earned run average and thrown a league-leading nine shutouts. The game got off to a shaky start as, thanks to a fielding mishap, Ruth “gave up” an inside-the-park home run to Robins’ CF Hi Myers with two out in the first. But Myers was the only Robin that would touch the plate that day, as Ruth went on to pitch a 14-inning, complete-game, six-hitter in a 2-1 Red Sox’ victory. It gave Ruth the record for the longest pitching appearance in a World Series game – a record he still holds and will likely never be broken. (It is also the longest pitching appearance in post-season history). The Red Sox had tied the game at one apiece with a tally in the third (the tying run scoring from third base on an RBI-groundout by Ruth).

The heavy workload didn’t seem to both Ruth, he held the Robins hitless from the ninth through the 14th inning, when Red Sox pinch hitter, Del Gainer hit a one-out RBI single for a walk-off win. Ruth, by the way, was pretty economical with his pitches (145 total pitches – 91 strikes).

Side Note: Robins’ starting pitcher Sherry Smith was also still in the game at the end, but the winning run was tallied after he’d gone 13 1/3 innings (still the second-longest pitching appearance in post-season history).

So why did this game make the list?  There is a bit of history and, after all, it’s Babe Ruth.

Number Seven – 1968 World Series Game One … Bob Gibson Puts An Exclamation Point Behind “The Year of the Pitcher!”

The 1968 MLB Season will forever be known as “The Year of the Pitcher,” with the overall MLB batting average a mere .237 (Carl Yastrzemski won the AL batting title at .301) and the overall MLB earned run average was a stingy 2.98.) Pitching was so dominant the 1969 season opened with a lower mound and a smaller strike zone. Consider the two eventual 1968 MLB Cy Young Award winners (announced after the World Series), who play prominently in this selection.  The AL CYA winner, the Tigers’ Denny McLain, went 31-6, with a 1.98 ERA and 28 complete games in 41 starts. (MLB’s first 30-game winner since Dizzy Dean in 1934). In the NL, the CYA went to the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson went 22-9, with a miniscule 1.12 ERA, 28 complete games and 13 shutouts in 34 starts. I’ll do the math. He threw a shuout in 38.2 percent of his starts.

A cherry on top of this fastball sundae, McLain and Gibson  faced off in the first game of the World Series.

The 1968 World Series is the only WS, to date, that has seen that season’s eventual two Cy Young Award winners starting against each other  in the opening game.

Gibson’s performance really cemented a spot for this game on The Roundtable list.  In a 4-0 Cardinals’ win (in St. Louis), Gibson fanned a World Series record (still standing) 17 batters, while tossing a five-hit shutout. He established his dominance early, fanning six of the first seven batters he faced, fanned every member of the starting Tiger lineup at least once, struck out at least one batter in each frame (two in four innings, three in two). In Gibson’s masterpiece, only two batters got as far as second base, both in the sixth inning (a single by Tigers’ 2B Dick McAuliffe and a two-out double by RF Al Kaline).  Gibson fanned C Bill Freehan to end the only threat.

Number Eight – 1977 World Series Game Six … A Triple Threat

A lot of attention to pitchers on this list.  Let’s give a little love to the hitters. There have been five three-homer games in the World Series: Babe Ruth (2); Pablo Sandoval; Albert Pujols; and Reggie Jackson. Jackson’s performance on October 18, 1977 makes the list because he thrilled the fans not only by going deep three times, but by leaving the yard on three consecutive pitches, off three different pitchers and on every strike he saw while at the plate.  Here’s a recount on Jackson’s day, like this:

• Second Inning – Four-pitch walk off the Dodgers Burt Hooten;
• Fourth Inning – Two-run homer off first pitch from Hooten;
• Fifth Inning – Two-run homer off first pitch from Elias Sosa;
• Eighth Inning – Solo homer off first pitch from Charlie Hough.

Jackson ended the game – an 8-4 Yankee win – three-for-five, with three homers and five RBI.  The New York fans (it was played in Yankee Stadium) left in high spirits and with ticket stubs worth keeping.

Number Nine – 1991 Game Seven …  Black Jack Shuts ‘em Down

There have been only three, extra-inning, complete-game World Series shutouts in MLB history.  All three were ten-inning outings (See what I did there?): the Giants’ Christy Mathewson’s 3-0 win over the Athletics in Game Two of the 1913 World Series; Dodger Clem Labine’s 1-0 win over the Yankees in Game Six of 1956 World Series; and the Twins’ Jack Morris’ 1-0 win over the Braves in Game Seven of the 1991 World Series. I put Morris’ game on the list for a few reasons: 1) It was a Game Seven, always the ultimate in tension; 2) I was at the game (a little home bias); 3) Complete-game shutouts were a bit rarer commodity in 1991 (there were 196 CG/ShO in 1913; 127 in 1956 and; and 107 in 1991).

Over his ten innings, Morris gave up seven hits and two walks, while striking out eight.  And, there was plenty of tension to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.  Morris pitched “out of trouble” more than once:

• Second inning … runner on second and one out;
• Third Inning … runners on first and second, one out;
• Fourth Inning … runner on second, two out;
• Fifth inning … runners on first and third, one out;
• Eighth Inning … Bases loaded, one out.

Morris’ performance brought a fitting end to a World Series that went the full seven games (with the home team winning each time) and featured five one-run games (three that went extra innings.)

And The Last Shall Be First

The 1991 World Series was the first, and still only, Fall Classic to feature two teams that both finished in last place the previous season.

Remarkable Similarities

There have been two extra-inning, 1-0 complete-game, World Series shutouts: Clem Labine, Dodgers, 1956, Game Four and Jack Morris, Twins, 1991, Game Seven.  There are some notable similarities, beyond the final scores:

• Labine and Morris each gave up seven hits;
• They each gave up two walks;
• In both games, one of the two walks was intentional;
• They each faced 38 batters and allowed nine baserunners;
• They each benefitted from one double play.

Number Ten –  1975 Game 6 … Fisk Waves Red Sox To Victory

Game Six of the 1975 World Series (October 21, 1975 at Fenway) was a game the BoSox had to have to force a Game Seven … and hold on to a chance to win their first World Series Championship since 1918.  It started out fine, as the Red Sox put up a three-spot thanks to a first-inning, three-run home run by CF Fred Lynn (off Reds’ starter Gary Nolan).  With Luis Tiant on the bump, that might be enough.  Not so, as the Reds scored three in the fifth (key hits by RF Ken Griffey and C Johnny Bench), two in the seventh (a two-run double by LF George Foster) and one in eighth (a homer by CF Cesar Geronimo) to take a 6-3 lead (and end Tiant’s time on the mound.)

But all was not lost, as the Red Sox roared back with three in the bottom of the eighth (a single by Lynn, an eight-pitch walk worked by 3B Rico Petrocelli and a three-run, game-tying homer  by Bernie Carbo (and Fenway was rocking).

The scored stayed at 6-6 until BoSox C Carlton Fisk brought the house down, leading off the bottom of the twelfth.

Fisk hooked a 1-0 pitch from reliever Pat Darcy down the left field line, leading to the now iconic image of Fisk going (bouncing) down the first base line using hand signals and all the body English he could muster to direct the ball fair – and, in fact, it ricocheted off the foul pole for a game-winning, walk-off home run. Side note: Although it was a Tuesday night game, the clock read 12.33 a.m. (Wednesday) when Fisk breathed life back into the Red Sox team and fans. Sadly, the BoSox lost Game Seven 4-3 or this game might have finished higher on my list.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Bob Gibson Fans 17 Tigers in Game One of the 1968 World Series, by Craig Muder (baseballhall.org); Reggie Jackson’s Three Game Six Homers Lift Yankees to World Series Title, by Craig Muder, (baseballhall.org); By Dawn’s Early Light: Paisely’s Anthems Mean An All-Nighter, by Theo DeRose, MLB.com (October 28, 2025)

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week, I  am celebrating the anniversary of, a double baseball unicorn, with a look back at (and a significant updating of) a post from eight years ago.  On this “date-plus one”  63 years ago (October 12, 1963), The Polo Grounds played host to the Latin American Players Game, now more commonly recognized as  the first (and only) MLB Latino All-Star Game – which, coincidentally, was also the last major-league contest ever played at New York’s Polo Grounds (the Mets  moved to Shea the next season).  There’s your unicorn doubleheader.  In this post, Baseball Roundtable:

• Reflects on the 1963 Latino All Star Game;
• Looks at the All-Time Latino All-Star Teams named in 2005 and 2012;
• Shares BBRT’s All-Time Latino MLB selections and current top Latino lineup.

THE 1963 MLB Latino ALL STAR GAME

The exhibition contest was held in part to raised funds for retired Latino ballplayers and the Hispanic-American Baseball Federation. Side Note: The very next day, the teams played another exhibition game (this one in Miami) to raise money funds for Cuban Refugee Relief.

The 1963 MLB Hispanic All Star Game drew a rather meager crowd of 14,235 to see such stars as Juan Marichal, Roberto Clemente, Luis Aparicio, Tony Oliva, Minnie Minoso, Felipe Alou, Orlando Cepeda and Vic Power.  (Speculation is that is why we did not see a second MLB-promoted Latino All Star game.)  In pre-game ceremonies, Vic Power was honored as the number-one Latino player; Juan Marichal as the top Latino pitcher; and Orlando Cepeda as the most popular Latino player.  Here’s the box score for the contest, won the by National Leaguers by a 5-2 score.

 

 

AL                       AB       H         R          RBI

L. Aparicio SS         4          0          0          0

V. Power 1B             3          0          0          0

J. Becquer 1B           1          0          0          0

T. Oliva RF               5          0          2          1

H. Lopez LF             2          0          1          0

M. Minoso LF            2         0           0         0

J. Azcue C                4          0          0          0

R. Majias CF            3          0          1          0

F. Mantilla 3B           4          0          0          0

Z. Versalles 2B         4          1          1          0

P. Ramos P                2         0          1          0

D. Segui P                  2          1          1          0

NL

L. Cardenas SS-2B    4        0          0          0

T. Taylor   3b-ss          3        1          0           0

F. Alou LF                   4       0          1           1

O. Cepeda 1B             3          1          1          0

R. Amaro 1B               1          0          0          0

T. Gonzalez CF           3          2          2          0

R. Clemente RF          2          0          0          0

A. McBean P               1          0          1          1

J. Pignatano C            1          0          0          0

E. Bauta P                   0          0          0          0

J. Javier 2B                 2          1          2          1

C. Fernandez 3B        2          0          0          0

C. Barragan C               3         0          0          0

J. Marichal P               1          0          0          0

M. Mota RF                 2          0          2          2

2B – Oliva; 3B – McBean; SB – Taylor, Javier, Aparicio

Pitching

AL                                        IP       H        R        ER     BB      SO

P. Ramos (L)                        5           6          4          4          1          8

D. Segui                               3           3          1          1          1            1

NL

J. Marichal                            4          2          0          0          0          6

A. McBean (W)                     4          3          0          0          2          4

E. Bauta                                1          2          2          2          1            0

 

A Little Tidbit (or good bar trivia, especially in an Irish pub) … and a side note.

Who was the winning pitcher in the only MLB Latino All-Star Game? Hint: He was the first major-league pitcher from the Virgin Islands.

The answer:  Virgin Island-native Alvin O’Neal McBean … son of O’Neal Alfredo McBean and Inger Emmanuel.

Side note: Latino catchers were apparently hard to come by as Joe Pignatano, a native New York of Italian descent, took the field for the NL squad,

 

—–ALL TIME LATINO ALL STARS (2012) AND LATINO LEGENDS (2005)—–

Now, let’s look at the All-Time Latino All-Star team of 2012 published by Jesse Sanchez  (MLB.com) , alongside the 2005 Latino Legends team selected by the fans.

                                            2012                                            2005

Catcher                        Ivan Rodriguez                         Ivan Rodriguez

First Base                     Albert Pujols                            Albert Pujols

Second Base                Roberto Alomar                      Rod Carew

Third Base                    Alex Rodriguez                       Edgar Martinez

Shortstop                     Luis Aparicio                          Alex Rodriguez

Outfield                        Roberto Clemente                  Roberto Clemente

Outfield                        Ted Williams                           Manny Ramirez

Outfield                        Reggie Jackson                      Vlad Guerrero

Designated Hitter         Edgar Martinez

RH Pitcher                   Juan Marichal                         Juan Marichal/Pedro Martinez

LH Pitcher                    Fernando Valenzuela              Pedro Martinez

Closer                          Mariano Rivera                         Mariano Rivera

Manager                       Felipe Alou

You can form your own opinions – and even put together your own all-Latino team.  Here, for what they are worth, are BBRT’s All-Time,  All-Latino selections, as well as an All-Latino team of players active in 2026 (Keep in mind, the current  selections are made in part on their body of work, not just 2026).

Catcher – Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez is a clear choice and was the backstop on both the 2005 and 2012 teams.  Hard to argue with a 21-season MLB career (1991-2011), 13 Gold Gloves, 14 All-Star selections, a league MVP Award, 2,844 hits, a .296 career average, 311 home runs and more than 1,300 runs scored and 1,332 RBI.  He hit .300 or better in ten seasons, twenty or more home runs in five, and reached double-digits in stolen bases three times.

Ivan Rodriguez won ten consecutive Gold Gloves at catcher (1992-2001).

Roundtable Honorable Mentions:  Yadier Molina has earned a mention – 19 MLB seasons (2004-2022), nine Gold Gloves, ten All-Star selections and a .277 average, with 176 home runs and 1,022 RBI. Jorge Posada played 17 seasons (1995-2011) and went .273-275-1.065. He was a five-time All Star and topped 20 homers in eight seasons. I-Rod holds a solid lead over each of these runners-up.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Catcher:  Salvador Perez played his 15th MLB season in 2026. He is a nine-time All Star, five-time Gold Glover. Perez has hit 20 or more home runs in ten seasons (a league-leading high of 48 in 2021) and drove in 100 or more runs three times.

First Base – Albert Pujols made both the 2005 and 2012 lists and the stats tell the story.  In his 22 MLB seasons (2001-22), Pujols collected 3,384 hits, put up a career .296 average, hit 703 home runs, and drove in 2,218 runs. On the way, he picked up a Rookie of the Year Award, three MVP Awards, eleven All-Star Selections, two Gold Gloves and a batting title.   Pujols led the league in: RBI once (had 14 seasons of 100+ RBI); home runs twice (seven seasons of 40+); runs scored five times (ten seasons of 100 or more); batting average once (ten seasons of .300+).

In his first ten MLB seasons Albert Pujols never hit less than .312, never smacked fewer than 32 homers and never drove in fewer than 103 runs. 

Roundtable Honorable Mention: There was some worthy competition, but Pujols was the clear winner.  The top runner-up was Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, who went .297-379-1,365 over a 17-season MLB career (1957-74). Cepeda was an 11-time All Star, the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1967 NL Most Valuable Player.

Current Roundtable All-Latino First Baseman: Vlad Guerrero, Jr. Although Guerrero slipped a bit in 2026, his stats since his 2019 rookie season (as a 20-year-old) earn him this “current” spot. In eight MLB seasons,  he has been an All Star six times and a Gold Glover once. He also hit 30+ home runs in three seasons, including a league-leading 48 in 2021 (when he went . 311-48-111, with a league-topping 123 runs scored.

Second Base – Wow, two Hall of Famers listed here – Roberto Alomar (2012 list) and Rod Carew (2005).  A tough one.   Carew clearly leads the “Awards Race” – Rookie of the Year, an MVP Award, seven batting titles, 18 All-Star selections in 19 seasons.  Still, BBRT would go with Alomar.  While Carew leads Alomar in hits (3,053 to 2,724) and career average (.328 to .300), Alomar (a 12-time All Star) leads Rapid Rodney in runs scored (1,508 to 1,424), RBI (1,134 to 1,015), home runs (210 to 92) and stolen bases (474 to 353).  The clincher, however, comes not at the plate nor on the base paths – Alomar leads in Gold Gloves 10 to 0.

Roundtable Honorable Mention: The already mentioned Rod Carew.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Second Baseman: The Astros’ Jose Altuve just completed his 16th MLB season (at age 36), His stat line is .300-271-939, with 1,306 runs scored and 330 stolen bases.He is a nine-time All Star, three-time batting champion and one-time league MVP.

Third Base – Although Alex Rodriguez made the 2012 Latino All-Time Latino All Star team at third base (and the 2005 Latino Legends team at SS) and Edgar Martinez was at third base on the 2005 Latino Legends team (and at DH on the 2012 All Time Latino All Star list),  I’m going with the Rangers’ Adrian Beltre here. My logic? Rodriguez appeared in more career games at SS (1272) than third base (1,194) and Martinez appeared in more games at DH (1,403) than 3B (562).

All that notwithstanding, Hall of Famer Beltre, a four-time All Star earned his spot here with his outstanding combination of leather and lumber. Beltre ended his 21-season MLB career (1998-2018) with five Gold Gloves, 3,166 hits, 477 home runs, 1,707 RBI, 1.,524 runs scored 121 steals and a .286 average.  He hit .300 or better in seven seasons, 30 or more home runs in five (a high of 48 in 2004), drove in 100+ runs in five seasons and reached double-digit in steals five times. 

Current Roundtable All-Latino Third Baseman: Rockies’ 3B Nolan Arenado (born in California, but of Cuban/Puerto Rican descent) played his fourteenth MLB season in 2026 and may eventually supplant Beltre as the All-Time Latino third baseman. Arenado currently has a .280-430-1,270 career stat line, with 1,072 runs scored. He also has eight All Star selections and ten Gold Gloves on his resume.   Beltre’s membership in the 3,000-hit club gave him a slight edge, but it was a very close call for the All Timer at third base –  and I did have this “current” spot open. 

Shortstop – Alex Rodriguez is my pick here. In his 22-season MLB career (1994-2013, 2015-17), A-Rod was a 14-time All Star, three-time MVP, five-time league home run leader, two-time Gold Glover and one-time batting champion.  If that’s not enough, he tallied 3,115 hits, 696 home runs, 2,086 RBI, 2,021 runs, 329 stolen bases and a .295 career average. A-Rod hit .300 or better in nine seasons (with 200+ hits three times); hit 30 or more home runs 15 times (topping 50 in three seasons); had 100 or more RBI in 14 seasons; scored 1,200 or more runs 13 times; and stole 20 or more bases six times (a high of 46 in 1998).

Roundtable Honorable Mention:  This goes to one of The Roundtable’s All-Time Favorite Latino Players – Luis Aparicio. Although not blessed with a powerful bat (.262 career average with 83 home runs), Aparicio led the AL in stolen basis nine times (and totaled 506 stolen bases), scored 1,335 runs, earned 10 All-Star selections and captured nine Gold Gloves.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Shortstop: In his 12th MLB season in 2026, Francisco Lindor has a .270-300-905 career stat line, with 1,074 runs scored and 219 stolen bases. He is a five-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover, as well.  Lindor has 30 or more bases in five seasons and hit 20 or more home runs in nine. 

Outfield – Lots of competition, but my first pick here was an easy (perhaps not an obvious) one. Hall of Famer Ted Williams (on the 2012 All-Time Latino All Star list).  For those who few who may find this pick puzzling, Teddy Ballgame’s mother was Mexican.  Williams needs no justification, but here’s a partial list of accomplishments:  17 All-Star selections; six batting titles; two MVP Awards; four home run titles;  two Triple Crowns (Avg.-HR-RBI); a .344 career average;  521 home runs; 1,798 runs scored; and 1,839 RBI.  And, he did all this while losing all of the 1942, 1943, and 1944 seasons, as well as most of 1952 and 1953 campaigns, to military service. In 19 MLB seasons (1939-42, 1946-60), Williams hit .300+ 18 times; hit 30 or more homers eight times; drove in 100+ runs nine times (leading the league four times); and scored 100+ runs nine times (leading the league six).

Next, I have to go with another Hall of Famer in Roberto Clemente (on both the 2005 and 2012 lists). Clemente was 12-time All Star; 12-time Gold Glover;  four-time batting champ and one-time NL MVP.  He collected 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, 1,416 runs scored and 1,305 RBI.  Clemente hit .300 or better 13 times (three batting titles); had 200+ hits in four seasons; scored 100+ runs in three; drove in 100+ runs twice; and dared baserunner to challenge his arm in RF.

BBRT’s third choice in the outfield is also a Hall of Famer – Carlos Beltran. Beltran was the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, a nine-time All Star and three-time Gold Glover.  In his 20 MLB seasons (1988-2017). Beltran hit .279-435-1,587, with 1,582 runs scored and 312 stolen bases. He hit over .300 in four seasons, drove in 100 or more runs in eight times; hit 20 or more homers 12 times; scored 100 or more runs seven times; and stole 20+ bases seven times.

Roundtable Honorable Mentions: Hall of Famer Vlad Guerrero (on the 2005 list) was nine-time All Star and the 2004 AL Most Valuable Player. Over his career, he hit 449 home runs,  drove in 1,496 runners and scored 1,328 runs. He also stole 181 bases in his  16 MLB  seasons (1996-2011). Hall of Famer Minnie Minoso with a .299-195-1,089 line, 1,228 runs scored and 216 steals in 20 seasons (1946-64, 1976. 1980) makes it here.   Minoso was a 13-time All Star and three-time Gold Glover. There were plenty more good choices available – like Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Tony Oliva, Manny Ramirez, Juan Gonzalez, Giancarlo Stanton and Sammy Sosa – feel free to add them as your Honorable Mentions.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Outfield: Ronald Acuan, Jr., with  line of .285-206-514, with 716 runs scored and 226 steals in nine seasons (2018-26). Acuna was the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year and the 2023 NL Most Valuable Player. In 2023, he had MLB’s first forty-homer (41) – 70-steal (73) season. Juan Sot0, .282-271-765, with 838 run scored 104 steals in nine seasons (2018-26). Soto is a five-time All Star and the 2020 NL batting champ. He has led the league in walks four times.  There’s also Giancarlo Stanton. In 17 MLB seasons (2010-2026), Stanton is .258-456-1,183, with 951 runs scored. He’s also a five-time All Star, and the 2017 NL Most Valuable Player. He’s hit over twenty homers in 14 seasons (59 in 2017) and driven 100 or more runs in three.

Special Mention

Junior Caminero is in only his fourth MLB season (2023-26) and has played only two full seasons (2025-26). However, in those two most recent campaigns, he has gone .264-45-110 and .276-42-101. He was also an All Star in both seasons (and he’s only 23-years old).  He’ll be climbing up these lists.  

DH – Hall of Famer David Ortiz, in 20 MLB seasons (1997-2016), made ten All Star teams, hitting .286, with 541 home runs, 1,768 RBI and 1,419 runs scored. Ortiz hit 30 or more homers in ten seasons and drove in 100+ runs in ten. He led the league in homers once (54 for Boston in 2006) and in RBI three times (including 2016, his age-40 season, when he drove in 127).

Honorable Mention:  Edgar Martinez.  In 18 MLB seasons, he hit for a .312 average, with  309 home runs, 1,219 runs scored and 1,261 RBI. He was a seven-time All-Star, two-time batting champ, and retired with 2,247 hits – most accumulated at DH.

Current Roundtable All-Latino DH: Have to go with Astros’ DH Yordan Alvarez, who hit a league-leading .316 in 2026, with 42 home runs and 106 RBI. In eight MLB seasons, Alvarez has goner .300-212-599, wirth 534 runs scored.

Right-Handed Starter – Tough contest, but BBRT is selecting Hall member  Pedro Martinez (who made it on the 2005 list along with Juan Marichal).  Here’s my case: While Marichal leads Martinez in wins 243 to 219, Martinez holds the edge in winning percentage .687 to .631.  Then there is earned run average – Marichal holds a slight edge 2.89 to 2.93, but measured against their peers, Martinez led his league in ERA five times to just once for Marichal. Marichal did have six twenty-win seasons to just two for Martinez, but Pedro captured three Cy Young Awards to one for Juan. Marichal also holds a big lead in complete games 244 to 46, but led the league in complete games just twice to Martinez’ once.   Martinez enjoys a big league in strikeouts 3,154 to 2,303, leading his league three times to none for Marichal.  Tough to compare pitchers from different eras, but for BBRT – when compared to his peers – Martinez was more dominant than Marichal.  So, Pedro gets a VERY SLIGHT edge.

Honorable Mentions: The aforementioned Juan Marichal tops this group. Bartolo Colon (247-188, 4.12) – how can you ignore a player known as “Big Sexy”, who also has four All Star selections, two twenty-win seasons and a Cy Young Award; Dennis Martinez (245-193, 3.70 in 22 MLB seasons), a four-time All Star; and Luis Tiant (229-172, 3.30), a four-time twenty-game winner.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Right-handed Starter: Although no single pitcher jumps off th page, I have to go with Freddy Peralta. Although he was only 10-011, 4.42 in 2026, he went 50-36, 3.65 from 2023 through 2026, leading he NL in win with 17 (versus 6 losses in 2025). Over a nine MLB seasons (2018-26, he is 80-53, 3.71).

Left-Handed Starter – For lefties, Fernando-mania (Fernando Valenzuela) reigns on both the 2005 and 2012 lists … although the statistics are far less gaudy than a handful of other Latino lefties. My selection is Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez, In 14 MLB seasons (1930-43), he went 189-102, 3.34 with 173 complete games and 28 shutouts in 320 states.  Gomez was a seven-time All Star, four-time twenty-game winner (led the AL in wins  twice), two-time AL ERA leader, three-time league leader in shutouts and three-time league leader in strikeouts.To add frosting to the cake, Gomez twice won pitching’s Triple Crown, leading the AL in wins, earned run average and strikeouts in 1934 & 1937.

Honorable Mentions: Fernando Valenzuela, a six-time All Star, rang up a 173-153, 3.54 career record (1980-91, 1993-97), with one Cy Young Award; a 3.54 ERA; one-time league leadership in wins; three-time leadership in complete games; one-time leadership in shutouts; and  2,074 strikeouts (one strikeout crown) – to go along with a personality that brought new life to and spurred greater Latino interest in West Coast baseball. From 1981 through 1986, Valenzuela went 97-68, 2.97, with 84 complete games and 26 shutouts.  Johann Santana wenty 139-78, 3.20 over 12 seasons (2000-2010, 2012). His spot here is supported by two Cy Young Awards. although he only led his league in wins once, he led in earned run average three times, strikeouts three times and innings pitched twice.  Mike Cueller went 185-130, 3.14 over 15 seasons (1959, 1954-77). He won one Cy Young Award, led the league in wins once and had three seasons of 20 or more victories.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Top Left-handed Starter (tie): Framber Valdez has run up a 91-64, 3.46 over nine MLB seasons (2018-26),winning 10 or more games over each of the last six campaigns, Christopher Sanchez vaulted into a tie for this spot with his 18-7, 2.91 campaign in 2026. Over six MLB seasons, he is 48-28, 3.15.

Closer – All you need to say is Mariano Rivera and “case closed.”  Hall of Famers Rivera racked up a major-league record 652 saves to go with an 82-60 record and 2.21 ERA, leading the AL in saves three times and earning 13 All-Star selections. Rivera racked up 30 or more saves in 16 of his 19 MLB seasons (1995-2013), 40 or more in seven of those seasons and fifty or more in two.   He posted an earned run average under 2.00 in 11 seasons..  As a closer, he was as close to a sure thing as you can get.

Honorable Mention: Francisco Rodriguez notched 437 saves over 16 MLB seasons (2002-2017, leading the league in saves twice and setting the record for saves in a season, with 62 for the 2008 Angels. He had eight seasons of 35 plus saves. Of those, six were of forty or more.  His final record was 52-53, 2,86, with those 437 saves.

Current Roundtable All-Latino Closer: Well, Aroldis Chapman was still active in in 2026 – and notched 35 saves, with a 1.92 ERA.  That and his career (2010-2026 record of 63-52, 2.48 with 402 saves make him a current All-Latino Closer. (It would also make him an Honorable  mention for the All-Time, All-Time list.) Chapman has ten seasons of 30 or more saves.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com/Baseball-Reference.com; The Forgotten & Amazing Latino All-Star Game, Michael Clair, Oct. 12, 2023 (MLB.com);

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P 1191

 

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week, we’re looking at triples and you can’t talk three-baggers without focusing on the Pirates and Forbes Field.

On September 5, 1925, the Pittsburgh Pirates set an MLB record that still stands, by legging out eight triples in their 15-5 win over the Cardinals in the second game of a doubleheader at Forbes Field (you’ll see why the location is significant later in the post). The Pirates, by the way, won the first game 4-1, without the benefit of a single three-bagger.

In their 15-5 win, the Pirates collected 19 hits (thus, 42.1 percent  of their hits in the game were three-baggers). They recorded:

• Two triples in a three-run first inning;
• Two in a four-run third frame;
• One in a four-run fourth;
• One in a two-run sixth
• One in a one-run seventh; and
• One in a one-run eighth.

In the two frames in which they did not record a triple, the Buccos did  not score.

Also of interest, at least to The Roundtable, Pirates batting in the first-through-sixth spots in the batting order all recorded at least one triple. That gave Pittsburgh a share of the record for most players notching a triple in a game (6). Here are the Pirates who tripled in the record-setting performance, in their batting order,  with their  1925 triples totals in parenthesis:

• CF Max Carey, two triples (13 triples on the season);
• 2B Eddie Moore, one triple (8);
• RF Kiki Cuyler, one triple (a league-leading 26);
• LF Clyde Barnhardt, two triples (11);
• 3B Pie Traynor, one triple (14)
• SS Glenn Wright, one triple (10).

Other teams with six players tripling in a game: 1901 Chicago White Stockings (September 15 – second game – 9-4 win over the Brewers); 1912 Athletics (May 18, 1912 in a 24-2  win over the Tigers); and 1915 Federal League Newark Peppers (in an April 19, 1915 13-2 win over the Baltimore Terrapins).

For Those Who Might Like To Know Such Things

In their September 15, 1901 win over the Brewers, the White Stockings  hit five triples in the eighth inning, still the single-inning MLB record.

 What also caught The Roundtable’s eye is that the previous record of seven triples in a game was set just 38 days earlier (April 22, 1925) by the same Pirates’ squad. It came in a 6-1 win over the Cubs (at Forbes Field) and, in that one, 63.6 percent of Pittsburgh’s 11 hits went for three bases.  In that game, Barnhardt had two triples, Traynor had two; Cuyler had one and Pirates’ pitcher Johnny Morrison (who pitched a complete-game, five-hitter) had two three-baggers. (They were Morrison’s only triples of the season and two of six he would hit in ten MLB seasons.)

Seven appears to be the magic number for triples, as teams have recorded six triples 12 times in MLB history (all before 1925), but only the Pirates have surpassed six three-baggers.

The last team to record five triples in game was the Reds, in a 17-9 win over the Rockies (in Colorado) on July 13, 2019. Those triples went to CF Nick Senzel (two); 3B Eugenio Suarez; LF Phil Ervin; 2B Jose Peraza.

A few other triples tidbits,

• There have been a total of 66 team seasons of 100 or more triples, none since the 1932 Washington Nationals (100); led by SS Joe Cronin (18); 2B Buddy Meyer (16); LF Heinie Manush (14); and CF Sam West (12). Overall, 19 Nationals hit at least one three-bagger that season.
• Of the 66 team seasons of 100 more triples, 19 belong to the Pittsburgh NL franchise.

For your viewing pleasure, a look at the decline in the frequency of triples over time.

Forbes Field, Where Triples Found a Home

In his Society For American Baseball Research article in the Baseball Research Journal “Triples, Pirates and Forbes Field,” researcher Richard L. Burtt wrote: “The size and configuration of this park was conducive to batted balls rolling a long way, to outfielders running no end while chasing the ball and then throwing to deep cutoff men.” Seamheads.com provides a pretty good look at those dimensions. A Seamheads’ chart shows when Forbes Field opened in 1909, it was just 306-feet down the LF line However, that was lengthened to 360-feet in 1911 and stayed between 360-365 feet until the Pirates last season there (1970).  CF ranged between 409-442 feet during the Pirates’ stay at Forbes, while left-center ranged between 355-406 feet and right center 363-408 feet. It was between 359 and 376 feet down the right field line from 1909 through 1925, when expanded seating cut the distance down the line to 300 feet (but hitters had to overcome a 28-foot-high wall/wire screen combination to hit fence-clearing home run).

 

Yep, triples found plenty of nourishment in Forbes Field.  In fact, in the 62-seasons Forbes Field served the Pirates, the team finished first or second in the NL in triples 46 times (leading the league in 29 seasons).  Clearly, it was a triples park.  However, I’d add that the Buccos appeared to be a “triples-forward” franchise.  In the first ten seasons after the team moved to the more traditionally dimensioned Three Rivers Stadium, the Pirates finished first or second in the NL in triples seven times.

More Triples Tidbits

• The single-season (team) record for triples is 150 (in 129 games) by the 1894 Baltimore Orioles (NL).
• The Modern Era (post-1900) team triples record is 129 by the 1912 Pirates.
• The last team to hit at least 100 triples in a season was the 1932 Washington Nationals (100). By comparison, the Diamondbacks led MLB in 2026 regular-season triples with 42.
• Only three MLB players have hit four triples in a game: George Strief, American Association Philadelphia Athletics (June 25, 1885); Bill Joyce, National League New York Giants (May 18, 1897); Rap Dixon, Negro League Chicago American Giants (August 6, 1930).
• In the Modern Era, 49 players have hit three triples in a game, but only Dave Brain did it twice in his career and he did it twice in a season (1905) and for two different teams (May 29 for the Cardinals and August 8 for the Pirates. (Elmer Flick also had two career three-triple games, but one was pre-1900 (June 20, 1898 and July 6, 1902)
• The most recent three-triple game was turned in by the Marlins’ Xavier Edwards on September 27, 2024.
• The most triples in a season by a player is 36 by the Pirates’ OF Owen Wilson in 1912. The career record for triples is 309 by Sam Crawford (seasons 1899-1917).

The Decline and Fall of the Triple

In 1900, 5.6% if all MLB hits were triples; in 1950 that figure was 3.5%; in 2000, it was 2.1%; and in 2026 it was 1.7%.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Seamheads.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; “Triples, Pirates and Forbes Field,” by  Richard L. Burtt, Society for American Baseball Research.

 

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We’ve enjoying almost-October (post-season) baseball and and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s September Wrap up – a look at the stats and stories that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month, as well as The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, Trot Index and more. I’m a bit  behind schedule on this one, as usual the final month of the season has a lot of highlights and historic moments.

Here are just a few of this month’s highlights that you will find in this post:

• Aroldis Chapman‘s 400th career save;
• Two more Immaculate Innings (Justin Martinez and Payton Tolle);
• Jose Altuve‘s 2,500th MLB hit;
• A new rccord for batter’s strikeouts in a season (Colson Montgomery);
• A new member of the 40-40 Club (Pete Crow-Armstrong);
• A pitcher surpassing 1,000 100 MPH+ pitches in a season (Jacob Misiorowski);
• A player with 56 career MLB homers … each off a different pitcher (Jordan Walker);
• and much, much more.

Read on for the stories, as well The Roundtable’s usual Players and Pitchers of the Month, stat leaders, Trot Index (and, of course, as always, trivia(l) tidbits).

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THER MONTH

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pitcher of the Month … Jared Jones, RHP, Pirates

Two bright and shiny things about Jared Jones caught my eye. One: His 0.93 September earned run average (five starts/29 innings), lowest among MLB pitchers with at least 20 September innings. Two: His forty September strikeouts, which led the NL and was second only to the Guardians’ Gavin Williams’ 44 in MLB. The case was made further by his 3-0 record; the fact that Jones walked only four batters;  a microscopic 0.59 WHIP (lowest among MLB pitchers with at least 20 September innings) and .133 average against (second only to the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler in MLB).  Jones gave up just three runs in his five September starts and they all came in a five-inning, September 16 outing versus the Brewers. Jones was a bit of a surprise. He came into September with a 2-6, 4.83 record on the season and a career MLB line (two seasons) of 8-14, 4.45. This season, he was coming off May 2025 arm surgery.

Honorable Mentions: Dodgers’ southpaw Tarik Skubal was tough down the stretch, one of just two NL pitchers (and the only NL starter) with four September victories (no losses in five starts). He put up a solid 2.25 ERA; tied for the MLB lead with 32 September innings; and fanned 33, while walking just six. Phillies’ righthander Zack Wheeler went 3-0, 1.71 in five starts, fanned 39 (just six walks) in 31 2/3 innings.

Player of the Month – Jackson Chourio, LF,  Brewers

Brewers’ LF Jackson Chourio, was second in the NL in hits (33) and led the league in September runs scored with 25 (in 24 games). Chourio also had five September homers and 18 RBI. He hit .337 for the month, which included three four-hit games. He was a sparkplug in the Brewer’s offense.

Honorable Mentions: Brewers’ 2B Brice Turang led NL batters (with at least 70 September at bats) with a .361 average, hit four homers and tied for second in the NL in September RBI (22 in 24 games). His 30 September hits tied for sixth in the NL. Reds’ SS Elly De La Cruz hit .348 for the month, tied for the league lead in September home runs (9), drove in 19 and stole six bags. His 31 hits tied for fourth in the NL.

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Pitcher of the Month – Cade Smith, RHP, Guardians

Wow!  This was a tough one.  You had the likes of the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, with a miniscule 0.63 WHIP, who gave up just 12 hits in 30 September innings (but had just two wins); the Rays’ Freddy Peralta with four wins and a 0.96 September ERA; Reid Detmers of the Angels, who went 3-0, 2.40 and fanned 37, while walking just four. The Roundtable, however, will go with Guardians’ reliever Cade Smith, who (with Cleveland fighting for a post-season positioning) delivered the goods.  Smith appeared in 11 games in September; went more than one inning in five; and picked up three wins and six saves (in six opportunities). He gave up just three hits, two walks and one HBP in 13 innings (a 0.73 average against and 0.38 WHIP) and fanned 21 batters. At one point in the month, he appeared in three of Cleveland’s games in a row, collecting two saves and a win (facing 12 batters without allowing a baserunner – and fanning five.)

Honorable Mentions: The Yankees’ Cam Schlittler  went 2-0m with a 1.20 earned run average, His 0.63 WHIP was the AL’s best (among pitchers with at least 20 September innings), as was his .119 average against. Freddy Peralta, Rays, went 4-0, 0.96 in five starts. Reid Detmers, pitching for an Angels’ team that went 9-15 in September, went 3-0, 2.40 and fanned 37 batters, while walking just four, in 30 innings.

Player of the Month – Carter Jensen, C, Royals

Carter Jensen, the 23-year-old Royals’ C, may not be one of the flashier names, but his moniker is high across the September AL leader board.  In the AL, his .338 average was third among AL players with at least 70 September at bats; his eight home runs tied for second; his 20 RBI fifth; his 19 runs scored fifth. His 19 September extra-base hits led MLB, as did his 63 total bases. All-around, a performance worthy of recognition.

Honorable Mentions: Orioles’ 1B Pete Alonso led MLB with 11 September homers and tied for the RBI lead with 22, but that .262 average placed him a bit behind Jensen. Astros’ C Yainer Diaz led the AL in hits (30) and September average at .357 (minimum 70 at bats), but lagged in runs and RBI (and just two walks versus 14 strikeouts bothered me).

Surprise Player of the Month- Tie: Javier Sanoja, 3B, Marlins

Marlins’ 24-year-old 3B Javier Sanoja led MLB with 34 September base hits and had the fifth-highest average (.351) among hitters with at least 70 September at bats.  He also had five home runs, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored. Sanoja had 12 multi-hit games in his 24 September games and was held hitless only three times. He did all this while appearing at SS, 2B and 3B. Sanoja signed with the Marlins in 2019, as an international free agent. He was a solid hitter in the minor leagues (.277 over four seasons). Coming into the 2026 season, he had a .241 average in two major-league seasons (133 games) – and had earned a 2025 Gold Glove (utility player).  Sanoja was not a total surprise. He did come into September hitting .280 on the season. The final month hot streak raised his season average to .295. More to come, for sure.

Honorable Mentions: Cardinals’ 22-year-old rookie catcher Leo Bernal, made is MLB debut September 1 (with six minor-league seasons – 485 games and a .278-16-77 2026 Triple-A season  – already under his belt).   He didn’t disappoint.  In fact, he surprised, going .284-5-21 in 24 games.  A good case could be made for Bernal over Sanja for this spot. If Pirates’ P Jared Jones hadn’t been my NL Pitcher of the Month (see that section above), he would have been in the running here.

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

For the 2026 season,  35.13% of MLB’s  183,849 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). (This compares to 34.8% for the 2025 season). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.1%); walks (8.9%); home runs (3.0%); HBP (1.2%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%).  These numbers, notably, have been relatively stable over the past few seasons.

I also looked into full-year Trot Index figures for the years I have been a fan: 30.3% in 2010; 29.9% in 2000; 31.7% in 1990; 23.1% in 1980; 27.0% in 1970; 25.1% in 1960; and 22.8% in 1950.

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——-Team Statistical Leaders September 2026 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Brewers (146); Mets (134); Padres (134)

American League – Tigers (126); Mariners (126); White Sox (121); Guardians (121)

The fewest runs in September were scored by the Red Sox  (71). In the National League, it was the Phillies (89).

2026 Full Season Leaders: NL-Cubs (850); AL-White Sox (776)

AVERAGE

National League – Padres (.281); Brewers (.276)’ Rockies (.261)

American League – Mariners (.264); Tigers (.258); Blue Jays (.256)

The lowest team average for September belonged to the Red Sox at .219. Bringing up the bottom in the NL were the Phillies (.226).

 2026 Full Season Leaders: NL-Brewers (.258); AL-Rays (.258)

HOME RUNS

National League – Mets (38); Dodgers (35); Padres (33)

American League – Astros (43); Guardians (35); Athletics (34)

The fewest home runs in September were hit by the Phillies (17). In the American League, it was the Blue Jays at 21.

2026 Full Season Leaders: NL-Cubs (220); AL-Astros (226)   

TOTAL BASES

National League – Padres (387); Dodgers (365); Rockies (363)

American League – Astros (376); Guardians (352); Tigers (361)

The Padres led MLB in September Slugging Percentage at .469. The Astros led the AL (.461)

DOUBLES

National League – Phillies (47); Dodgers (44); Nationals (43)

American League – Red Sox (56); Blue Jays (50); White Sox (48)

TRIPLES

National League – Rockies (13); Padres (11); Marlins (9)

American League – Twins (7); Tigers (6); White Sox (50; Astros (5)

For the full season, the Diamondbacks led MLB with 42 triples.  The Blue Jays were at the bottom with 8.

 STOLEN BASES

National League – Nationals (30); Padres (29); Brewers (27)

American League – Rays (27); Royals (21); Mariners (21)

The Blue Jays stole the fewest sacks in September at six – in nine attempts.  The Diamondbacks stole the fewest bags in the NL – seven in nine attempts.  

2026 Full Season Leaders: NL-Nationals (178 in 218 attempts); AL-Rays (164 in 218 attempts) 

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Dodgers (119); Brewers (100); Mets (93)

American League – Tigers (107); White Sox (98); Mariners (95)

The Dodgers led MLB in September on-base percentage at .355. The Tigers led the AL at .348. The Reds had MLB’s lowest September OBP at .293.  The Red Sox anchored the AL at .295. 

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Giants (240); Brewers (231); Reds (229)

American League – Angels (249); White Sox (247); Orioles (246)

Blue Jays’ batters fanned the fewest times in September (159). The Phillies fanned the fewest times in the NL at 172.

 On the season, no team fanned fewer times than the Rays (1,145). The Angels struck out the most times (1,550).

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Dodgers (3.13); Brewers (3.76); Braves (3.95)

American League – Yankees (3.15); Red Sox (3.17); Rays (3.37)

The Rockies had the highest September ERA at 6.30.  The Athletics had the highest ERA in the AL at 5.81. The other teams at 5.00 or worse were the Reds (5.80); Royals (5.26); and Marlins (5.03).

2026 Full Season Leaders: NL-Brewers (3.50); A:-Yankees (3.24)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Dodgers (272); Pirates (226); Brewers (221)

American League – Guardians (256); Twins (239); Mariners (229)

The Dodgers averaged an MLB-best 10.93 strikeouts per nine innings in September. The Guardians averaged an AL-best 10/38.  Twelve teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

2026 Full Season Leaders: NL-Phillies (1,577); AL-Guardians (1,530)

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League –   Dodgers (55); Mets (61); Phillies (62)

American League – Rays (68); Yankees (68); Red Sox (72)

The Dodgers walked an MLB-lowest 2.21 batters per nine innings in September.  The Reds walked an MLB-worst 4.69 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Pirates (13); Brewers (11); three with eight

American League – Red Sox (9); Orioles (7); Twins (7)

The Nationals  blew the most saves in September  – seven (in 15 opportunities). 

Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)

National League – Dodgers (1.06); Brewers (1.19); Pirates (1.22)

American League: Rays (1.11); Yankees (1.14); Tigers (1.18)

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Bonus Stats:

• The Royals gave up an MLB-high 42 home runs in August. The Red Sox gave up an MLB-low 18 home runs. On the season, the Athletics gave up an MLB-high 247 homers; the Red Sox and MLB-low 153.
• The Nationals blew an MLB-high 42 saves on the seasons (84 opportunities).

—–SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS—–

#InBaseballWeCountEverything

On September 2, as the White Sox topped the Twins 4-1 in Chicago, ChiSox’ 38 Miguel Vargas and SS Colin Montgomery each hit their 30^th home run of the season. STATS reported it was the first time two White Sox players hit their 30^th homer of a season in the same game.

250, By Josh!

On September 4, Astros’ closer Josh Hader notched his 23^rd save of the season, as the Astros beat the Diamondbacks 3-1 in Houston.  In the process, he became just the 41^st MLB pitcher (and just the sixth southpaw) to reach 250 career saves. At season’s end, Hader had 253 career saves.

That’s 30 … Finally!

On September fifth, in a 6-4 loss to the Twins (in Chicago), White Sox’ rookie 1B Munetaka Murakami popped a first-inning, two-run home run off Twins’ starter Taj Bradley. It was Murakami’s 30^th dinger of the season (and his first long ball after 74 consecutive homer-less plate appearances, dating back to August 18).  He joined ChiSox’ 3B Miguel Vargas and SS Colson Montgomery in the 30-homer club (they both reached the mark one day earlier (in a 4-1 win over the Twins). It marked just the fourth time the White Sox have had three thirty-homer players in the same season.  Murakami joined the White Sox this season after hitting 256 home runs in eight seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League … an NPB-record 56 long balls in 2022. Murakami ended the season at .207-35-77.

Another Bobblehead Long  Ball

It seems like I’m always writing about players hitting homers on their Bobblehead Day.  The Reds handed out Elly De La Cruz bobblers on September 5 – and Elly thanked them with a first-inning home run (number 22 on the season) that started the Reds on their way to a 5-3 win over the Brewers. De La Cruz finished 2026 at .283-30-79, with 30 stolen bases.

A Cole-d Start For Gerrit

On September 6, Yankee start Gerrit Cole got off to a cold start against the Padres (in San Diego). After facing three batters (RF Fernando Tatis, Jr.; 2B  Jake Cronenworth; and 3B Manny Machado) and tossing just fifteen pitches, Cole was down 3-0 and had surrendered three home runs. It was just the twelfth time in MLB history a team had opened a game with its first three batters going yard. More uniquely, in the process, Cole became the first MLB pitcher to open record two games in which the opposing team’s first three batters went deep. Cole’s other such outing came on June 9, 2022, when Twins’ 1B Luis Arreaz, CF Byron Buxton and SS Carlos Correa opened the game with long balls (those came in just eight pitches). The Yankees came back to win that one 10-7 (despite Cole giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings).

Cole, by the way, went seven innings in a 4-3 loss in the September 6 game , giving up another homer (C Luis Campusano) to open the bottom of the seventh.

400 For Chapman

On September 6, the Red Sox brought Aroldis Chapman in from the pen to close out a 3-1 win over the Red Sox. It was a bit tense as, after retiring the first batter on a fly ball, he gave  up a single to Orioles’ 1B Pete Alonso and then wild-pitched him to second.  Now, Chapman had to face the Sox’ number-three and -four hitters, DH Colby Mayo and 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand. The 38-year-old Chapman (in his 17^th MLB season) fanned them both to record his 33^rd save of the season – and to become just the ninth MLB pitcher to reach 400 career saves.  In true Chapman form, the final pitch of the game was a 101-mph fastball. 2026 is Chapman’s tenth season with thirty or more saves.

Luzardo Shuts ‘Em Down

These days, a complete-game shutout is always a highlight.  On September 7. Phillies’ southpaw Jesus Luzardo threw his first-ever MLB shutout … as the Phillies edged the Braves 1-0 (In Philadelphia). Luzardo threw a two-hitter, walking one and fanning a dozen. (The 109-pitch outing was also the first complete game of his eight-season MLB career. )

For Phillies’ readers, the only run in the game came on a Kyle Schwarber  homer in the bottom of the eighth. Luzardo finished the 2026 season at 14-5, 2.87.

Power and Speed

It’s hard to say if he Athletics’ 23-year-old rookie CF Henry Bolte was channeling Ricky Henderson or Usain Bolt.  On September 7, as the A’s edged the Blue Jays 6-5 in Sacramento, Bolte socked a home run and stole three bases – all in the first five innings. He walked, stole second and eventually scored in the first; walked, stole second and third and scored in the third; and homered to lead off the fifth. He came just the fifth A’s player to homer and steal three or more bases in a game (and the first since Ricky Henderson homered and stole four sacks in an October 1991 contest). A’s to go deep and steal at least three bases in a game: Henderson (three times); Bert Campaneris (two times); Jose Canseco; Billy Werber; and Bolte.

Yankee Doodle Dandies

On September 8, behind the seven-inning, three-hit, one-run, 10-strikeout  performance of Cam Schlittler, the Yankees topped the Rockies 5-3 (in New York) to run their 2026 record to 82-62 … and clinch their 34^th consecutive winning season. It was, by the way, Schlittler’s 13^th win, versus six losses (2.01 ERA) and the twentieth time (in 30 starts this season) he allowed no more than one run.

Thar’ She Blows!

On September 8, the Nationals took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth at San Diego. In that eighth frame, a pair of Nats’ relievers, however, game up four runs on three hits, three walks and a wild pitch (there was also a passed ball in there). It makes the Highlights because it marked Washington’s 38^th blown save of the season (breaking the previous all-time record of 37, held by the 2024 White Sox). The Nationals ended the season with 42 blown saves in 84 opportunities. Note: Saves have been an official statistic since 1960.

Three-For-Thirty … Yep, It Can Be A Positive

On September 8, Blue Jays’ rookie 3B Kazuma Okamoto hit his 30^th home run of the 2026 season, as Toronto bested the A’s 4-2 in Sacramento. It made him the third rookie to reach 30 homers this season (a new MLB record for rookies with 30 homers in a season) … joining Reds’ 1B Sal Stewart and 1B White Sox’ Munetaka Murakami.  Of course, we should take into considerations that both Okamoto and Murakami had considerable experience in Japan before signing MLB contracts.

2,500 For Altuve

On September 9, in an Astros’ 11-7 loss in Philadelphia, Houston star 2B Jose Altuve went one-for-four (a double). The two-bagger was the 2,500^th hit of Altuve’s 16-season MLB career. Altuve is a nine-time All Star, three-time batting champion and 2017 AL MVP. He has topped 200 base hits in four seasons, hit 20 or more home runs in seven seasons and stole 30 or more bases in six.

De La Cruz Be Cruzin’

From September 5 through September 9, Red SS Elly De La Cruz went 9-for 19 (.474) with five home runs and nine RBI. (He was held hitless on September 11.)  In that September 5-9 streak, he homered in five consecutive games, the longest such streak by a switch hitter in franchise history. Yes, #InBaseballWeCountEverything. De La Cruz finished the 2026 season at .283-30-79, with 30 stolen bases,

You Go, Junior

On September 11, as the Rays topped the Astros in Tampa, Rays’ 23-year-old 3B Junior Caminero smacked a two-run, bottom-of-the-ninth, walk-off homer to provide the margin of victory – and also make the Rays (88-59) the first team to clinch a post-season berth.

I would note that , while Caminero is in his fourth MLB season, he played just 50 games over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In 2025, his first full MLB season, he knocked 45 homers. Given his July 5, 2003 birth date, 2026 is considered his age-22 season. Therefore, Caminero has joined Eddie Mathews as the only players with 40-homer seasons in their age-21 and age-22 seasons (I never miss a chance to mention my all-time favorite player; Mathews.) Only one player has notched a 40-homer campaign in their age-20 season, Mel Ott of the 1929 Giants.

Another Immaculate Inning

On September 11, the Texas Rangers brought reliever Justin Martinez on in the sixth inning, trailing the Diamondbacks 4-1. Martinez threw just nine pitches, but he made them count, tossing 2026’s third Immaculate Inning (nine pitches, three outs, all strikeouts). It was Martinez’ only inning in the 9-1 loss. Others with an Immaculate Innings to that point in 2026: Taj Bradley, Twins and Michael Soroka, Diamondbacks.

That Didn’t Take Long … Tolle Joins the Immaculate Inning Club

On September 13, in a 4-1 win over the Royals (in Boston), Red Sox’ 23-year-old southpaw Payton Tolle pitched six scoreless frames (four hits, one walk, seven strikeouts, no decision.) He “announced his presence with authority” in the first frame … fanning the first three batters 3B Nick Loftin, SS Bobby Witt, Jr. and DH Jac Caglianone on nine pitches. He also fanned the first batter in the second inning (1B Salvador Perez), but needed five pitches for that one. Tolle finished the season at 9-6, 3.03 in 26 starts.

Game, Set, Match

On September 14, the Dodgers beat the Reds 4-1 in Cincinnati, behind the arm of Tarik Skubal (seven scoreless innings) and home runs by LF Teoscar Hernandez and RF Kyle Tucker.  The win ran the Dodgers 2026 record to 91-59 and enabled them to clinch a record-tying 14th consecutive post-season berth (tying the Braves 1991-2005 streak) … keeping in mind that it is easier to reach the post-season these days (then in the times when only the first-place finisher from each league went directly to the World Series.)

Then, on September 16, the Dodger again topped the Reds – this time by an 8-2 score – to clinch the NL West Crown for the  13th time in the past 14 seasons. Among the heroes this time were RF Kyle Tucker (four-for-five, two runs scored, three RBI, two doubles, one home run) and reliever Landon Knack (got the win with four innings of scoreless relief.)  For those who like to know such things, the only team to unseat the Dodgers as NL Division champs in the past 14 season is the 2021 Giants, who went 107-55 and edged the Dodgers by just one game. (The Giants had the best record in all of MLB that season).

For Pete’s Sake

On September 14, as his Cubs bested the Braves 4-3, Cubs’ leadoff hitter and CF Pete Crow-Armstrong had quite a night, going four-for-five with a double, a home run, a stolen base, one run scored and four RBI. The home run, Alonso’s 42^nd of the season, moved him into a tie with Billy Williams for the most home runs in a season by a left-handed hitter in Cubs’ (very long) history. Two days later, September 16, he broke the tie with a smacking two home runs in Cubs’ 8-4 win over the Braves.  PCA ended the season with a .280-45-107 stat line.

For Another Pete’s Sake, Again & Again

On September 15, as his Orioles topped the Mets 7-5 in 11 innings (in New York), Orioles’ 1B Pete Alonso went one-for-five, with a solo home run in the ninth (tying the game at three apiece.) For Highlights purposes, the ninth-inning long ball, Alonso’s 36^th of the season was his 300^th career homer. Elias Sports Bureau reported that Alonso is now the 19^th MLB player to reach 300 homers. In his eight MLB seasons 2019-26, Alonso has topped thirty home runs seven times (missing thirty only in the COVID-shortened 2020 season). His resume includes a rookie record 53 home runs in 2019. Alonso finished the 2026 season with a .263-47-113 stat line; leading the AL in homers and RBI.

More Pete Stuff

On September 16, the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong went three-for-for with 11 total bases (two homers and a triple). That gave him a tie with the Nelson Cruz (2019 Twins) for the Modern-Era record for most games with double-digit total bases in a single season. For those who like to know such things, the career record of 21 such games belongs to Babe Ruth.

It’s History-Making … You Can Look It Up

On September 18, as the Padres topped the Rockies (in Denver), Padres’ 20-year-old rookie catcher Ethan Salas made history. Salas, batting in the nine-hole, went two-for-four, with three  RBI.  What caught The Roundtable’s eye was that his two safeties were both home runs – a solo shot (off Mason Adams) leading off the second inning and a two-run homer in the fifth off Nick Frasso – and they were Salas’ first two MLB dingers (coming in his ninth MLB game).  The history? At 20 years – 107 days old, Salas became the youngest catcher in MLB history to record a two-homer game (and the youngest Padre, any position, to do so). #InBaseballWeCount Everything.

Salas signed with the Padres (as a 16-year-old) as an International Fee Agent in 2023. In four minor-league seasons, he hit .246-23-160 in 285 games. At the time of his callup to San Diego, he was hitting  .326-3-24 at Triple-A El Paso (24 games), after starting the seasons .286-7-37 in 72 games at Double-A San Antonio.

For Those Who Like To Know Such Things

The youngest MLB player to hit two homers in a game as Danny Murphy of the 1961 Cubs. At 19 years-35 days, Murphy (batting second and playing RF) hit a  pair of long balls in a Cubs’ 5-2 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. It was the 33 MLB game and second and third MLB homers for Murphy who made his MLB debut in 1960.

Forty for Yordy

On September 17, as the Astros bested the Royals 6-2 in Houston, Astros’ DH Yordan Alvarez went two-for-four, with a home run (a solo shot off Seth Lugo in the fifth inning). It was Alvarez’ fortieth homer of the 2026 season, his first 40-homer campaign.  Alvarez has had four seasons of 30+ homers (2021-22-23-24) in his seven MLB seasons and never hit fewer than 31 homers in a season in which he played at least 100 games.  Alvarez finished the season with a .316-42-106 stat line; leading the NL in: batting average; walks (109); on-base percentage (.432); slugging percentage (.601)and total bases (341).

A Grand Day For Jose

On September 18, as the Guardians beat the Athletics 5-3 in Cleveland, Guardians’ 3B Jose Ramirez went two-for-five with a home run and two RBI.  The solo home run, in the fourth inning produced Ramirez’ 1,000th career MLB RBI.

A Record For The Rook

September 19, in the Royals’ 6-5 loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Royals’ 23-year-old rookie catcher Carter Jensen  (leading off) popped a solo home run in the third inning. It was his 25^th long ball of the season, setting a new Royals’ franchise record for homers in a season by a rookie. Jensen ended the season at .239-27-81.

20-20 (3x) Before 23

On September 20, in a 3-0 win over the Orioles, Brewers’ leadoff hitter and LF Jackson Chourio went one-for-three with a walk.  He also stole second base after his sixth-inning walk.  That gave him 20 steals on the season and, coupled with his 24 home runs, made him the first player in MLB history with three 20-20 seasons before turning 23-years-old.  More #InBaseballWeCountEverytnhing.

Side note: It also made Chourio one of just three players (any age) to start their MLB career with three consecutive 20-20 campaigns (Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt, Jr.). Chourio ended the season at .291 (with 25 homers and 23 steals).

September Might Be MLB Pete Month

On September 21, Orioles’  1B Pete Alonso (signed by the O’s this past December), went two-for-four, with two home runs and three RBI, as Baltimore bested Toronto in Baltimore.  The long balls were Alonso’s 39^th and 40^th home runs of the season.  In the process, Alonso – who hit 53 home runs in his first MLB season (as  a Met) – became (according to Ellias Sports Bureau) just the fourth player to hit forty home runs in his first year with a franchise multiple times. He joined: Nelson Cruz (Orioles, Mariners; Twins); Juan Soto (Yankees, Mets);  and Jim Thome (Phillies, White Sox).  Not bad company.

Hot Wheels

On September 22. Phillies’ righty Zack Wheeler fanned 11 Brewers in 5 2/3 innings (three hits, three runs, one walk, no decision), as the Phillies beat Milwaukee 6-4. In the process, he set a new Phillies’ franchise record by fanning the first seven batters of the game. His third strikeout, closing out the first inning was also the 2,000^th strikeout of Wheeler’s 12-season MLB career. The 36-year-old finished 2026 at 13-5, 3.06, in 27 starts.

Strikeouts For Sale

On September 23 , Braves’ 37-year-old southpaw Chris Sale (while getting a no-decision in the Braves’ 3-2, ten-inning win over the Reds) pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, giving up four hits and one walk, while fanning ten. Sale’s tenth strikeout of the game (Reds’ 1B Sal Stewart in the sixth inning) was Sale’s 200^th strikeout of the 2026 season. Side note: Sale faced Stewart three times in the game and fanned him all three. Sale has now recorded nine seasons of 200 or more strikeouts and is one of just nine pitchers with at least nine 200-strikeout seasons (Nolan Ryan leads the way with 15 such seasons.) The Dreaded Pitch Count: Sale, having thrown 97 pitches, was replaced on the mound by Victor Maderos (with two out and no one on base.)

Sale finished the 2026 season (his sixteenth MLB campaign) at 14-9, 2.16, with one complete game in 27 starts and 200 strikeouts in 162 2/3 innings pitched.

First Season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League

The Batting Leaders:

Average (minimum 50 plate appearances): Denae Benites, NY ( .552 … 32-for-58)

Home Runs: Home Runs: Denae Benites, NY (11); Kelsie Whitmore, SF (11)

RBI: Denae Benites, NY (37)

Runs Scored: Denae Benites, NY (25)

Stolen Bases: Denae Benites, NY (15)

Pitching Wins: Michelle Roche, LA (3-1) ; Kelsie Whitmore, SF (3-1); Jaida Lee, NY (3-1); Claire O’Sullivan, NY (3-1); Liz Gilder, SF (3-2)

ERA (mínimum 15 IP); Meggie Meidlinger, LA (1.83)

Strikeouts: Jaida Lee, NY (23 K/ 17 1/3 IP)

The post-season finals – an all-California Affair – saw the San Francisco Firebells and Los Angeles Queens battling it out. LA looked to be in charge winning the first two, but San Francisco staved off elimination, winning the next two and setting up a winner-take-all final game.

In that game, the Queens Ayami Soto (who owns three Women’s Baseball World Cup MVP Awards, started on the bump for LA.  She earned the first-ever WPBL Championship MVP Award – tossing the league’s first-ever complete- game shutout, as the Queens prevailed 2-0. Exciting end to an exciting season. Congratulations to the WPBL.

Not The Record He Was Looking For

On September 24, White Sox SS Colson Montgomery went zero-for-four, with one strikeout as the ChiSox beat the Royals 9-1 in Kansas City, giving him 223 whiffs on the season and “besting” the American League record of 222 (Adam Dunn 2012), while  tying the MLB mark of 223 (Mark Reynolds, 2009).  The tie didn’t last long; Montgomery topped the overall marker with his 224^th strike out of the season the very next game (a White Sox’ 6-1 win over the Rockies in Chicago). It came in the fifth inning on a 3-2 pitch from Tomoyuki Sugano (a called third strike).

September proved a tough month for Montgomery.  After .214-29-77 in 129 games through August (fanning 185 times in 545 plate appearances … 33.9%), he put up a .099-2-10 line in 24 September games (fanning 42 times in 93 plate appearances, 45.2 percent). He ended the season at .197-31-87, with 227 strikeouts.

On the brighter side, only one player has driven in more runs in a sub-.200 season than Montgomery’s 87, that is the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, who went .197-47-104 in 2023 (Schwarber’s 47 long balls are the most in a sub-.200 season). Montgomery’s 31 homers are third in a sub-.200 season behind Schwarber, Joey Gallo (38 for the Yankees/Rangers in 2013) and Mark Reynolds (32, 2010 Diamondbacks).

Does It Seem Like Everything Is About A Pete?

On September 24, as the Cubs edged the Marlins 2-1, Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong walked and stole second in the bottom of the first.  It was PCA’s 40th steal of the 2026 season and, when coupled with his 45 homers at the time, made him just the seventh MLB player to notch at least 40 homers and steal at least 40 bases in a season. The others are:  Jose Canseco; Barry Bonds; Alex Rodriguez; Ronald Acuna, Jr; and Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is the only MLB player with a 50-50 season (54 homers and 59 steals in 2024).

Lucas Laucnhes A Few

On September 24, Astros’ 23-years-old rookie CF Lucas Spence hit his first MLB home run (in his 16^th MLB game). He also hit his second and third MLB homers in the same game – going three-for-four with five RBI. He became just the third MLB player to hit their first three MLB homers in the same game, joining Cardinal’s LF Joshua Baez, who went deep three times in his MLB debut game this August 15 (the first MLBer to homer thrice in his debut game) and White Sox’ C Seby Zavala, who homered three times in his 18^th MLB games (July 31, 2021).

Wait Until Next Year

On September 25, Cardinals’ 24-year-old RF Jordan Walker, in his 435th career MLB game, hit his 56th career home run (and 29th and final homer of the 2026 season), as the Cardinals topped the Dodgers 8-6 in ten innings (in LA). The highlight? Each of his 56 MLC career home runs has been  hit off a different pitcher. Elias Sports Bureau reported that is the second-longest, MLB career-opening home run streak off different pitchers (since at least 1900). Number-one? Willy Adames, whose first 57 MLB homers came off 57 different hurlers.

Three For Thirty/Thirty

On September 25, as the Reds lost 6-5 to the Blue Jays in Toronto, Red SS Elly De La Cruz, went one-for-four (a double) with one run scored and one RBI. Notably, after doubling in the third inning, De La Cruz stole third.  It was his 30^th double of the season and, more notably for the Highlights Sections, his 30^th 2026 stolen base.

It made De La Cruz just the fourth Reds’ player with a 30-30 (HR/SB) season (Brandon Phillips, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis) and the third MLB player to reach the mark in 2026 (Pete Crow-Armstrong and CJ Abrams). For those who like to know such things:

• 42 MLB players have reached the 30-30 mark (82 times), led by Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds (five each);
•  2025 saw the most 30-30 seasons, with seven (Corbin Carroll, Jazz Chisholm, Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Julio Rodriguez, Juan Soto);
• 42 players have reached the 30-30-30 (doubles, HRs, steals) mark, led by Afonso Soriano (four times).

Going Up In Flames

On September 27, Brewers’ flamethrower (24-year-old) Jacob Misiorowski made his final start of the 2026 regular season. It was a fairly mundane outing for The Miz … 5 1/3 innings, two hits, no runs, five strikeouts in his 16^th win (versus five losses). Notably, Misiorowski ended the season with MLB’s lowest qualifying ERA (1.80) and most strikeouts (252 in 178 2/3 innings). The highlight for The Roundtable? Misiorowski threw a record (since the pitch-tracking era began in 2008) 1,115 pitches of 100-mph or faster; breaking the old record (Jordan Hicks, 2018) by a whopping 442 pitches. In 2026, Misiorowski not only led all MLB pitchers in triple-digit offerings, he threw more pitches at 100-mph or more than any other MLB team.

They’re All In!

As the 2026 closed on September 27, the following players had appeared in all 162 games: Ozzie Albies, Braves; Junior Caminero, Rays; Pete Crowe-Armstrong, Cubs; Bryce Harper, Phillies; Matt Olson, Braves; Bryan Reynolds, Pirates; Sal Stewart, Reds.

A Bit More “Pete” Highlight History

Surprisingly, since RBIs became an official stat in 1920, no player captured both an American and National League RBI title.  Until, 2026, when the Orioles’ Pete Alonso added an American League RBI title (113 RBI) to his 2002 NL RBI Crown (131 RBI with the Mets).

Lindor Rolls A 300

On the final day of the regular season, Mets SS Francisco Lindor went two-for-four with a walk, two runs scored and one RBI. One of his two  hits was a second-inning solo home run … his 21^st of the season and, more important for these highlights, the 300^th dinger in his 12-season MLB career.  With his 219 career stolen bases, Lindor is now just the second MLB switch-hitter with at least 300 homers and 200 stolen bases, joining Carlos Beltran (435 homers and 312 stolen bases).

—INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS FOR SEPTEMBER—

BATTING AVERAGE (at least 70 at bats)

American League: Yainer Diaz, Astros (.357); Víctor Mesa, Rays (.355); Carter Jensen Royals (.338)

National League: Brice Turang, Brewers (.361); TJ Rumfield, Rockies (.359); Javier Sanoja, Marlins (.351)

The AL 2026 Batting Champion was the Astros’ Yandy Diaz (.316). In the NL, it was The Diamondbacks Gabriel Moreno (.311)

HITS

American League: Yanier Diaz, Astros (30); Randy Arozarena, Mariners (29); Dominic Canzone, Mariners (29)

National League: Javier Sanoja, Marlins (34); Jackson Chourio, Brewers (33); Cole Carrigg, Rockies (32)

The Royals’ Carter Jensen led all MLBers in September extra-base hits with 19 – ten doubles, one triple and eight home runs.  

HOME RUNS

American League: Pete Alonso, Orioles (11); Zac Gelof, A’s (8); Carter Jensen, Royals (8); Isaac Paredes, Astros (8); Vinnie Pasquatino, Royals (8)

National League: Nolan Arenado, D-backs (9); Elly De La Cruz, Reds (9); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (8)

The Royals’ Carter Jensen led all hitters with at least 70 at bats in September slugging percentage at .788. The D-backs; Nolan Arenado the NL at .723.

RUNS BATTED IN

American League: Pete Alonso, Orioles (22); Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals (22); Riley Greene, Tigers (21); Isaac Parades, Astros (21)

National League: William Contreras, Brewers (24); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (22); Bruce Turang, Brewers (22)

The full-season RBI leaders were: NL-Alec Burleson, Cardinals (116)  AL-Pete Alonso, Orioles (113). Also in triple-digits in RBI were: Sal Stewart, Reds (111); Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (107); CJ Abrams, Nationals (106); Yordan Alvarez, Astros (106); Jordan Walker, Cardinals (102); Junior Caminero, Rays (101); and Brice Turang Brewers (100).

RUNS SCORED

American League:  Randy Arozarena, Mariners (25); Zack Gelof, A’s (22); Luke Keaschall, Twins (20); Ben Rice, Yankees (20)

National League: Jackson Chourio, Brewers (25); Brice Turang, Brewers (25); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (20)

The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong led MLB in runs scored for the season at 119. Seattle’s Randy Arozarena led the AL with 113.

DOUBLES

American League: Carter Jensen, Royals (10); eight with seven

National League: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (9); Bryson Stott, Phillies (9); three with eight

TRIPLES

American League:  Luke Keaschall, Twins (3); Dominic Canzone, Mariners (2); Kevin McGonigle, Tigers (2)

National League: Jake McCarthy, Rockies (6); Dustin Harris, Padres (3); Geraldo Perdomo, D-backs (3); Javier Sanoja, Marlins (3)

Corbin Carroll led MLB in 2026 triples with 17. Carroll and Jake McCarthy (13) were the only players in double figures in three baggers.  Carroll has now led the NL in triples four consecutive seasons.

STOLEN BASES

American League:  Miguel Vargas, White Sox (9); Bobby Witt, jr., Royals (9); Chandler Simpson, Rays (8)

National League: Jackson Chourio, Brewers (9); Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (9); CJ Abrams, Nationals (8); Jonah Cox, Giants (8)

The Nationals’ Nasim Nunez led MLB in 2026 steals with 49 (59 attempts). The Phillies’ Bryson Stott stole the most bases without getting caught in 2026, with 27.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

American League:  Munetaka Murakami, White Sox (46); Colson Montgomery, White Sox (42); Spencer Jones, Yankees (34)

National League: Jordan Walker, Cardinals (35); Jonah Cox, Giants (34); Elly De La Cruz, Reds (30); Austin Riley, Braves (30)

Five players fanned at least 200 times in 2026: Colson Montgomery, White Sox (227, a new MLB single-season record); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (220); Zach Neto, Angels (215); Austin Riley Braves (201).

WALKS

American League:  Wyatt Langford, Rangers (19); Mike Trout, Angels (18); Ben Rice Yankees (17)

National League: Jake Bauers, Brewers (19); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (19); Brice Turang, Brewers (17)

The highest on-base percentage among players with at least 70 September at bats was .475, by the Brewers’ Brice Turang. The AL leader was the Yankees’ Ben Rice at .450.

PITCHING VICTORIES

American League:  Freddy Peralta, Rays (4-0); Hunter Gaddis, Guardians (4-0); Sean Burke, White Sox (4-1)

National League:  Tarik Skubal, Dodgers (4-0); Cade Gibson, Marlins (4-1); five with three wins

The 2026 season leaders in wins were the Red Sox’ Sonny Gray (18-5, 2.72) and Phillies’ Christopher Sanchez (18-7, 2.91)

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 20 September innings)

American League: Freddy Peralta, Rays (0.96); Drew Rasmussen, Rays (1.05); Ranger Suarez, Red Sox (1.09)

National League: Jared Jones, Pirates (0.93); Robert Gasser, Brewers (1.67); Zack Wheeler Phillies (1.71)

The 2026 season ERA leaders were: AL-Cam Schlittler, Yankees (1.95). NL-Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (1.80)

STRIKEOUTS

American League: Gavin Williams, Guardians (44K / 28 1/3IP); Logan Gibson, Mariners (39K / 25 2/3IP); Hunter Brown, Astros 38K / 26 1/3IP); Cam Schlittler, Yankees (38K / 30IP)

National League: Jared Jones, Pirates (40K / 29 IP); Zack Wheeler, Phillies (39K / 31 2/3IP); Tyler Glasnow, 36K / 22 1/3 IP); Tarik Skubal, Dodgers (33K / 32IP)

The Brewers Jacob Misiorowski led MLB in 2026 strikeouts (252 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings). The AL leader was Gavin Williams (248 strikeouts in 184 1/3 innings)

WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 20 August innings)

American League: Cam Schlittler, Yankees (0.63); Cal Quantrill, Rangers (0.74); Carlos Rodon, Yankees (0.75)

National League:  Jared Jones, Pirates (0.59); Michael Soroka, D-backs (0.73); Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (0.74

Among pitchers with at least 20 September innings, the Yankees Cam Schlittler’ held batters to the lowest average at .119.

SAVES

American League:  Cade Smith, Guardians (6); Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox (5); Josh Hader, Astros (5); Kenley Jansen, Tigers (5)

National League:  Mason Montgomery, Pirates (11); Mason Miller, Padres (6); Emilio Pagan, Reds (6)

Bryan Baker of the Rays and the Guardians’ Cade Smith tied for the 2026 full-season lead in saves with 41 each. The Padres Mason Miller led the NL with 38.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com; MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Side Note: The Roundtable does not carry ads. However, I am making a small exception.  On the sidebar to the right of the screen (under Links), you’ll see a “widget” that looks like a baseball with “We Fit Baseball Fans To A Tee” in it.  My brother and I – more for fun that profit – have launched (and are expanding) a line of baseball-themed T-Shirts, Mugs and Hats that you might find interesting,  Just click on the image to go to the site.

 

 

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This Tuesday, due to some family obligations, I didn’t have time for one of those in-depth statistical searches for MLB unicorns. But I did have a headline that had been stuck in my baseball brain for quite a while “”It’s George, by Henry!”  (If that phrasing rings true with you, you’re probably nearly as old as I am and are already wearing your reading glasses. And, if “That’s Your Uncle Bob!” strikes a chord, you may be even older.

Anyway, I decided to meet my Tuesday obligation with a short post on notable players named George or Henry, but not known by their given name (along with a couple of other bits of name-related minutia).  Now, in the George and Henry section, I eliminated MLB notables like Babe Ruth and Sparky Anderson (both Georges) because those are true nicknames that stuck. ( also eliminated “Hanks” like Aaron and Greenberg, since Hank is the most commonly accepted substitute for Henry.

So, let’s look at a few notable players that some fans may not know by their given names.

By George!

Tom Seaver: The Hall of Fame 311-game winner’s given name is George Thomas Seaver.

Ken Griffey, Jr.:  Hall of Famer George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. popped 630 home runs as “Ken.”

Ken Griffey, Sr.:  The original George Kenneth Griffey was the original MLB Ken Griffey and played in 19 MLB seasons. (Not in the Hall, but deserving of mention here.)

Oh, Henry!

Lou Gehrig:  Okay, I’m taking a little poetic license here, Although some sources cite Gehrig name as Henry Louis Gehrig, the Hall of Famer and 17-season Yankee star was born Heinrich (Americanized to Henry) Louis Gehrig.  Gehrig may be MLB’s king of nicknames: known during his career as Buster, Biscuit Pants, The Big Dutchman, Columbia Lou, Larruppin’ Lou and, of course, the Iron Horse.

Now, As long as we’re e on names, I’ll add The Roundtable’s favorite “coincidence” from 2026 – which takes name coincidences “to the Max.”

To The Max

On June 29, 2026, as the Dodgers took on the Athletics in Sacramento, there was a double Max Muncy sighting. Playing third base and batting seventh for the Dodgers was a Max Muncy born on August 25, 1990.  Playing third base and batting seventh for the Athletics was a Max Muncy born on August 25, 2002. Coincidence upon coincidence: Same name; same position on the field; same spot in the batting order; same birthday.

The Dodgers won the game 9-4 and also prevailed in the battle of the Muncy(s). The Dodgers’ Muncy went two-for-five with a homer, two RBI and a run scored.  The A’s Muncy went one-for-three with a walk and a run scored.  Oh, by the way, the two Muncy(s) are not related.

That’s Your Uncle Bob! … I’ll have another Miller, Please.

On August 15, 1962, the Phillies topped the Mets 9-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.  No big surprise there, as the Mets’ record going into the game was 30-88. What was more surprising was that Phillies’ outfielder Don Demeter hit his 19th and 20th home runs of the season in the game – off a right-handed and a left-handed “Bob Miller.” Oh yes, and he did it while playing two different defensive positions.

In the third inning, with the Phillies’ up 2-0, Demeter (who had started the game in left field and in the five-spot in the order) smacked a solo shot off starter (right-hander) Robert Lane Miller. Then in the ninth inning, Demeter – who had moved to center field in the seventh – hit a three-run homer (extending the Phillies’ lead to 9-2) off southpaw reliever Robert Gerald Miller. Two homers, in one game, off two Bob Millers, a right-hander and a port-sider.

Demeter was on the way to his best-ever major league season. In 1962 (his sixth of eleven MLB seasons), he achieved his career highs for average (.307), home runs (29), RBI (107), runs scored (85), hits (169) and doubles (24). Hopefully, he celebrated the day and the season with an ice-cold Miller.

The two Millers?  Starter Bob Miller went 1-12, 4.89 in 1962 (69-81, 3.37 with 52 saves in 17 MLB seasons). Reliever Bob Miller went 2-2, 7.08 in 1961, the last of his five MLB seasons (6-8, 4.72).

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary and blog post notifications.

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

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Side Note: The Roundtable does not carry ads. However, I am making a small exception.  On the sidebar to the right of the screen (under Links), you’ll see a “widget” that looks like a baseball with “We Fit Baseball Fans To A Tee” in it.  My brother and I – more for fun that profit – have launched (and are expanding) a line of baseball-themed T-Shirts, Mugs and Hats that you might find interesting,  Just click on the image to go to the site. (Check out the expanding Sandlot Section.)

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week we’re looking at multi-hit games, specifically – at the first chart shows –  the career leaders in games with five or more hits. However, the post goes much deeper – delving into such areas as:

• Players with the most five (or more)– hit games in a season;
• Players with five-hit games after turning forty;
• Teenagers with MLB games with five hits;
• The record for hits in an MLB game (nine innings and extra innings);
• Players with the most career six-hit games.

 

As you can see in the chart, Ty Cobb is the all-time MLB leader in games with five or more hits (14), followed by Pete Rose (10). No surprise there, those two are also the top two all-time hit leaders. I was a bit surprised, when looking at this top  eight, to find two players with fewer than 3,000 career hits and career batting averages below .300.

If I was going to pen (key) a trivia question here, it would be “What player, among the top eight in all-time games with five or more hits, has the fewest total career hits and lowest career batting average?”  That would be Rabbit Maranville (tied for fifth on the list with eight five-hit games and with a career average of just .258 and 2,605 total hits).  Maranville, in fact, hit .300 or better just once – in a season in which he appeared in only 11 games. He is the only player among the top eight who never hit .300 or better in a season in which qualified for the batting title.

When you look at the most games with five or more hits in a single season, you find three of those leading the way with four such games in a season can also be found in the career top eight.   The lone exception is Ichiro Suzuki, who most likely would be in the all-time top eight if he hadn’t spent so much time in Japan.

Now for some Trivia(l) Tidbit-style observations.

Oldest Players With a Game of Five or More Hits

Pete Rose leads the way here with a five-hit game at age 45 years-119 days. That’s nearly three years older than number-two on the age list (Nelson Cruz at age 42 years–302 days).  Rose’s final five-hit game came on August 11, 1986, when he had four singles and a double in five plate appearances, as the Reds lost to the Giants 13-3 in Cincinnati. (Rose drove in three of the four Reds’ tallies.) Rose had a total of 10 five-hit games (two after turning forty).

Paul Molitor had the most five-hit games after turning forty, with three.  Molitor  has a career total of seven five-hit games.  All three of those in his 40’s came with the Twins.  He also had three such games with the Brewers and one with the Blue Jays.

Others with five-hit games after turning forty (one each); Ty Cobb; Johnny Cooney; Stan Musial; Davey Lopes; Bob Boone; Carlton Fisk; Craig Biggio; and Chipper Jones.

Players with Five-Hit Games as Teenagers

Only four players have notched an MLB five-hit game before turning twenty.  The youngest was the Cubs’ Phil Cavarretta at 19 years-33 Days of age. It came on August 21, 1935, as his Cubs beat the Phillies 19-5 in Philadelphia. Cavaretta started at 1B, batting sixth, and went five-for-six (a double and four singles), with two runs scored and four RBI. Cavaretta, who debuted in the majors as a 17-year-old, was in his 121^st big-league game at the time.

Others with five-hit games as teenagers (all 19): Les Mann, 1913 Braves; Cecil Travis, 1933 Nationals; and Claudell Washington, 1974 Athletics.

Most Hits in an MLB Game of Any Length

On July 10, 1932, Indians’ SS and number-two hitter Johnny Burnett had an MLB-record nine hits, as his Indians lost to the Athletics 18-17 in 18 innings (in Cleveland). Burnett went  9-for-11, with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBI in the contest. Burnett came into the game hitting .298 on the season and was at .323 at the end of the day.  He finished the 1932 season at .297-4-53 in 129 games and had a .284 average over his nine-season MLB career.

Others with seven or more hits in an extra-inning contest (all with seven) are: Rocky Colavito, Tigers, June 24, 1962 (22 innings, 11 plate appearances); Cesar Gutierrez, Tigers, June 21, 1970 (12 innings, 7 plate appearances); and Brandon Crawford, Giants,  August 8, 2016 (14 innings, 8 plate appearances).

Five MLB players have collected seven of more hits in a game, but not one of those37  hits was a home run.

Most Hits in a Nine-Inning Game

Pirates’ 2B Rennie Stennett holds the record for the most hits in nine-inning game, with seven hits in a 22-0 Pirates win over the Cubs (in Chicago) on September 18, 1975. Stennett, batting leadoff, went seven-for-seven, with two doubles and a triple, five runs scored and two RBI. Stennett was a career .274 hitter over 11 MLB seasons.

Multiple Six-Hit Games

While MLB has seen 119 six-hit games, only four players have had two six-hit games: Jim Bottomley (1924 & 1931); Jimmie Foxx (1930 & 1932); Doc Cramer (1932 & 1935); and Kirby Puckett (1987 & 1991).

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

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Side Note: The Roundtable does not carry ads. However, I am making a small exception.  On the sidebar to the right of the screen (under Links), you’ll see a “widget” that looks like a baseball with “We Fit Baseball Fans To A Tee” in it.  My brother and I – more for fun that profit – have launched (and are expanding) a line of baseball-themed T-Shirts, Mugs and Hats that you might find interesting,  Just click on the image to go to the site. (Check out the expanding Sandlot Section.)

 

 

 

 

 

Each year, since 2014, Baseball Roundtable has announced a John Paciorek Award (JPA) honoree. The JPA recognizes players who have had short, sometimes very short, major-league careers, but whose accomplishments, nonetheless, deserve recognition.  Past winners have included:  a player who collected at least one base hit in every MLB game he played; a player whose every MLB hit (three safeties in nine career at bats) was a home run;  a player who had only one MLB at bat, but earned  a World Series ring and a Purple Heart;  a war hero who pitched in the majors on one leg; and much more.  There are links to the bios of past honorees later in this post.

(Note: Information on John Paciorek’s career – the inspiration for the JPA – can be found at the end of this post. Paciorek’s day in the sun constitutes arguably the best one-game MLB career ever.)

This year’s John Paciorek Award honoree is 6′-4″, 255 lb.  155-lb. DH/1B Larry “Bucky” Jacobsen, whose active MLB career lasted 7 1/2 weeks (Mariners) in 2004, but whose perseverance, passion for the game, power and personality made a fan favorite in Seattle.

 

When  Jacobsen made it to the big leagues with the Mariners in mid-July of 2004, he had a look about him that made you anticipate power.  He was clearly a “big” big leaguer.   Conservatively 6’4” and 255 pounds, with a bald head, a red beard, broad shoulders, huge biceps and a big smile, he looked like he could be downing trees and selling Brawny(R) paper towels. And, it didn’t take nim long to show Seattle fans that he was in the “lumber” business. In his first three MLB games (in Seattle), he went five-for-eight (.625), with two home runs, four runs scored, five RBI, four walks (.769 OBP) and three strikeouts.

But, I’m getting ahead of the Jacobsen story.  The fact is, Jacobsen’s trip to the big leagues (and his brief stay) demanded perseverance and commitment.

Jacobsen was a seventh-round pick (Brewers) in the 1997 MLB Draft – out of Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston, Idaho), where – in his final college season (1997) –  he hit .354-22-73 and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.

In six seasons in the Brewers minor-league system, Jacobsen hit .295, with 94 home runs and 501 RBI (in 550 games). He built a reputation as a big man, with broad shoulders and bulging biceps, a quick and friendly smile and the ability to launch baseballs into orbit. Yet, he still hadn’t gotten a taste of the big leagues. Along the way, he also suffered a knee injury (2001 collision with a tarp) that, while it may have hampered his mobility, did not seem to impact his ability to pulverize baseballs.  (That knee injury would eventually require multiple surgeries and cut short his career on the field.)

In mid-June, 2002, Jacobsen (hitting .253-11-39 for the BrewerS’ Huntsville Double-A club) was released by the Brewers and quickly signed as a free agent with the Cardinals. He finished the season hitting .294-4-21 in 34 games for the St. Louis Double-A New Haven Ravens. The Cardinals released Jacobsen after the season (October of 2002), then resigned him in December. He  continued to persevere and had a great season for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies in 2003 (.298-31-84 in 131 games); leading the league in home runs, runs scored and total bases, finishing second in RBI and third in slugging percentage.

Despite that performance, October, once again, did not seem to be a lucky month for Jacobsen, as the Cardinals released him in October of 2003. However, his luck, was about to change.

Jacobsen signed with a free agent with the Mariners on November 10, 2004 and his career skyrocketed with the Mariners’ Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. After 82 games with Tacoma, he had a .312 average, with 26 home runs and 86 RBI.  And, now in his eighth professional season, Jacobsen finally was called up to “The Show” – the night after he won the Pacific Coast League All Star Game Home Run Derby (where it was reported he launched one shot of more than 500-feet).    Side note: It wasn’t his first Home Run Derby win. In 2000, Jacobsen won the Southern League All Star Game Home Run Derby.

Show-time for Jacobsen was short,  but memorable – and deserving of a spot on the Baseball Roundtable John Paciorek Award honorees list.

Jacobsen made his MLB debut on July 16, 2004 (Indians at Mariners) for the 33-54 Mariners, whose fans were looking for some good news (beyond Ichiro Suzuki’s .320 average). They found it in Jacobsen, who in his first three games went 5-for-8 (.625), with four walks (.750 on-base percentage), two home runs, five RBI and four runs scored. He smacked his third home run in his sixth game (July 21) – a walk-off homer on the first pitch in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Mariners a 6-5 win over the A’s.

Jacobsen quickly developed a fan following (and proved to be especially fan friendly– quick to sign autographs and talk to fans at the ballpark and outside of it.) Over his first 42 games, he also continued to show solid power (.275-9-28), hitting safely in 32 games and recording ten multi-hit and eight multi-RBI contests.  Ultimately, his power, performance, personality and ties to the region (while he was born in Wyoming, he went to high school in Hermiston, Oregon and college in Pendleton, Oregon and Lewiston, Idaho) made him and instant hero in Seattle (keeping in mind that he plied his baseball skills for eight seasons in the minors to get there.)

Unfortunately, that past knee injury caught up with him, benched him in September and led to multiple surgeries and an end to his big-league career.  (From 2005 through 2007, Jacobsen did suit up in Triple-A, High-A, Rookie ball, the Independent Atlantics League and in Mexico.)

Primary Resources:  stathead.com; lcwarriors.com, website of the Lewis-Clark State College Warriors; Coaches Recall Big League Bucky, East Oregonian, August 7, 2004; Bucky Jacobsen Too Big to Ignore, By David Andriesen, Seattle-Post Intelligencer, July 15, 2004); Whatever Happened to Bucky Jacobsen?, by Geoff Bake, Seattle Times, January 21, 2007; Biggest Batter Blasts Most Homers at Derby, by Todd Shanesy, goupstate.com, June 20, 2000.

___________________________

PAST JPA HONOREES

Here’s a look at – and links to – past JPA Award honorees:

2014 – Brian Scott Dallimore

In his first start (not his first game) for the 2004 Giants, Dallimore had two singles, a Grand Slam (his first MLB hit and only MLB home run), a walk and a hit by pitch.  For the full JPA take on Dallimore’s 27- game MLB career, click here.

2015 – Roy Gleason

Gleason played in just eight MLB games, had a double in his only MLB at bat – but also earned a World Series ring (1963) and a Purple Heart. Ultimately, he was the only ballplayer with MLB experience to serve on the front lines in Vietnam. For the full JPA take on Gleason, click here. Note: Gleason’s life is detailed in the book “Lost in the Sun – Roy Gleason’s Odyssey from the Outfield to the Battlefield.”

2016 – John Allen Miller

Miller played just 32 MLB games (during the 1966 and 1969 seasons), taking the field (at 1B/LF/3B/2B) for the Yankees and Dodgers. Miller collected ten hits in 61 MLB at bats (.164 average) and hit just two home runs – but he made those long balls count – becoming one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major-league batter’s box. For more on Miller, click here.

2017 – Chris Saenz

RHP Chris Saenz’ big day came on April 24, 2004 – when he was called up from Double-A Huntsville (where he was 1-1, 3.86) to make a spot start against the Saint Louis Cardinals, whose powerful lineup included the likes of Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders.   The rookie went six innings, giving up just two hits, three walks and no runs, while fanning seven. Two days after this debut, he was on his way back to Huntsville, where he suffered an elbow injury and never returned to the majors. Statistics before 1900 can be sketchy, but baseball-reference.com shows that Saenz is the only pitcher to complete a one-game MLB career of at least five innings pitched, without giving up a single run (earned or unearned). For more details on this JPA honoree, click here.

2018 – Keith McDonald

McDonald’s MLB career (Cardinals 2000-2001) covered just eight games and 11 plate appearances (nine at bats) and three hits – but he made them count.  All of McDonald’s safeties were home runs – making him the only MLB player with more than one career hit who can look back on major league career in which his every hit was a home run. .For the full story, click here.

2019 – Harley Hisner

Hisner’s MLB tenure encompassed the day of September 30, 1951. That’s when the 24-year-old righty faced the New York Yankees – and a lineup that included five future Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle in RF; Joe DiMaggio in CF; Phil Rizzuto at SS; Johnny Mize at 1B; and Yogi Berra behind the plate. In his very first MLB inning, Hisner faced five batters, four of them future Hall of Famers, and gave up two singles and no runs.  His place in history? One of those singles was Joe DiMaggio’s last MLB safety. For more on Hisner and his ongoing involvement in and love of the game (he went on to earn the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Colin Lister Award for “dedication to the game of baseball and its historic legacy,” click here.

2020 – Bert Shepard

Shepard set aside his baseball mound dreams in 1943 – after four minor-league seasons – to enlist in the U.S. Army, where he became a P-38 Lightning fighter pilot. Shepard was shot down on his 34th combat mission and, while a prisoner of war, his wounds resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.  Upon his release (a prisoner exchange), Shepard did not surrender his dreams and fought his way to the major leagues. He made one major-league appearance (for the Washington Senators), pitching 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball.  While Shepard’s MLB career consisted of that sole appearance, he did continue to pitch, coach and manage in minor leagues – and his story proved an inspiration for disabled veterans.  For more of Bert Shepard story, click here.

2021 – Henry Schmidt

Henry Martin Schmidt didn’t make it to the big leagues until eight seasons after his professional (minor-league) debut.  In fact, he was just two months shy of his 30th birthday when he first took the major-league mound.   Why did it take so long?  Simple answer – location.  He had considerable difficulty “locating” his pitches.  While it took a long time for Schmidt to make it to the major leagues, it didn’t take him long to leave MLB. He lasted just one season – and is the only pitcher in MLB history who was a 20-game winner in his only major league season. Why was his MLB career so short? Simple answer – location.  He did not care for the geographic “location” of major-league baseball. For more on Henry Schmidt’s unusual career, click here.

2022 – Karl Spooner

Southpaw Spooner holds a share of the record for strikeouts in an MLB debut (15) and also threw complete-game shutouts in each of his first two starts.  After earning a late September (1954) call-up (to the Dodgers), the 23-year-old rookie was thrown right into the fire – starting on September 26 against the league-leading and Dodgers’ chief rival Giants.  His  27 strikeouts in his first two appearances also remain an MLB record.   A shoulder injury suffered in 1955 Spring Training cut Spooner’s career short. He  didn’t get his first start of the 1955 season until May 15 and finished the season, his last in the major leagues, 8-6, 3.65 in 29 games (14 starts).   Spooner pitched for three more seasons in the minors, but never recaptured 1954 glory.  For the full Karl Spooner story, click here.

2023 – Glenn Williams

Williams had a 13-game major-league career – all in June of 2005 and all with the Minnesota Twins.  Over his 13-games in “The Show,” Williams hit a robust .425 and collected at least one hit in every game he played.  Williams holds the MLB record for the longest MLB career for a player who was never held hitless in any MLB game he appeared in.  For the full Glenn William story, click here.

2024 – Irv Waldon

Waldron, who played just one MLB  season (1901) ,  still holds the record for base hits (186), runs scored (102) and total bases (226) by a player who played just one MLB campaign.   Further, Waldron made his “jump” from the minor leagues to the majors without changing cities, teams or even leagues, For the full Waldron story, click here. 

—–INSPIRATION FOR THE JPA—–

John Paciorek – signed out of Saint Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan (where he had starred in football, basketball and baseball) – appeared in his first major-league game on the final day of the 1963 season (September 29) at the age of 18.  The 6’ 1”, 200-pound outfielder had spent the 1963 season with Class-A Modesto Colts. The Colts’ parent club, the Houston Colt .45s (that was the current Astros’ franchise name back then), was suffering through a difficult season. The team was 65-96 going into that final game.  Looking to the future, Houston had, in fact, fielded an all-rookie lineup (average age 19) on September 27. Youth was still being served two days later when John Paciorek started his first MLB game. The results were surprising – and worthy of recognition.

Playing right field and batting seventh in a 13-4 win over the NY Mets, Paciorek ended up with three hits and two walks in five plate appearances, with four runs scored and three runs batted in.  Perhaps equally surprising is that it was not only Paciorek’s first major-league appearance, it was to be his only MLB appearance.  Back pain the following spring, followed by surgery (he played 49 minor league games in 1964 and missed all of the 1965 season), put an end to his MLB playing days. (Paciorek did play in four more minor-league seasons.)  Still, you will find John Paciorek in the Baseball Encyclopedia and his is arguably the greatest one-game MLB career ever.  Among one-gamers, he holds the record for times on base and runs scored, and shares the record for batting average, on base percentage and RBIs.

Paciorek, by the way, went on to become a high school teacher and multi-sport coach and is the author of the books (Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans;  The Principles of Baseball: And All There Is To Know About Hitting; and If I Knew Then What I Know Now. You also can enjoy Paciorek’s prose (and expertise) at his blog “Paciorek’s Principles of Perfect Practice” by clicking here. You can find out even more about Paciorek in Steven Wagner’s 2015 book Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder.

And for a sample chapter of Paciorek’s most recent book, “Simplicity – The Principle of Perfection in the Science of the Universe and World of Baseball,” click here.

A final note. John Paciorek’s insight into the national pastime should come as no surprise. Paciorek comes from a true “baseball family.”  He was the first born of eight siblings and was followed to the big leagues by younger brothers Jim and Tom Paciorek.  (Like John, Jim’s MLB career was short – 48 games for the Brewers in 1987. Brother Tom, however, achieved a .282 average over an 18-season MLB career.

Side Note: The Roundtable does not carry ads. However, I am making a small exception.  On the sidebar to the right of the screen (under Links), you’ll see a “widget” that looks like a baseball with “We Fit Baseball Fans To A Tee” in it.  My brother and I – more for fun that profit – have launched (and are expanding a line of baseball-themed T-Shirts, Mugs and Hats that you might find interesting,  Just click on the image to go to the site. (Check out the expanding Sandlot Section.)

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

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

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It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week’s episode is a bit of a potpourri. (How often will I get to use “potpourri” in a baseball blog?) But there is a central theme, the changing relationship of walks to strikeouts … explored from several angles.

Let me start by sharing how the topic came to be – another example of how “With the Roundtable one thing always seems to lead to another.”   It started with me pondering about the fact that there have been five nine-inning games in which a pitcher struck out a record (for a nine-inning game) twenty batters (Roger Clemens twice, Randy Johnson, Max Scherzer and Kerry Wood) and the combined total of walks in those five game was zero.

Those five 20K-0BB games, pulled me down a strikeouts-versus-walks rabbit hole … and I took a dive into games in which a pitcher fanned ten or more batters without issuing a single walk. As you might guess, and the chart below helps shed some light on, the 0-10+ outings have become much more common. In fact, this season (through September 7), there have been more such games (170) than from 1900 through 1964 (158).  The chart provides part of the explanation – showing that, while the rate of walks per nine innings has been relatively stable over the decades, the rate of strikeouts per nine innings has increased notably.

This, of course, is just a teaser.  I dug quite a bit further and, if you read on, you’ll get a look at looks at such topics as the players with the most zero-walk/double-digit strikeout games in a career and in a season; total zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout performances by decade; how the percentage of such games in which the qualifying pitcher was on the mound at least seven innings has declined; the shortest and longest outings to produce a zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout stat line; oldest and youngest with a zero-walk/double-digit strikeout game; and more.

Brief Diversion … Well, actually a 16-inning diversion.

I would guess 96% of reader know this, but the record for strikeouts by a single pitcher in an MLB game is 21 and it belongs to the Senators’ Tom Cheney (September 12, 1962 in a 2-1 win over the Orioles). Cheney pitched a 16-inning complete game that day. Eight of those strikeouts came in extra-innings, including the record 21^st, as he recorded the final out, on his 228^th pitch of the game. (He did walk four in the outing; so it was not a zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout game.)

Did that climbing pitch count wear him down? Cheney pitched seven no-hit innings from the ninth through the fifteenth.  Cheney, by the way, went 7-9. 3.17 in 1982, with four complete games and three shutouts. His career line (eight MLB seasons) was 19-29, 3.77.

Back to the original topic(s) … High Strikeout Games With Zero Walks

 

Zero-Walk-Double-Digit-Strikeout Performances by Decade

As the chart below shows, zero-walk/double-digit strikeout performances have been on the rise (and that holds true even if you factor in expansion). Remember that, as noted earlier, this season (through September 7), there have been more such games than from 1900 through 1964.

The chart also shows a drop, starting around the year 2000, in the percentage of such outings that saw the achieving pitcher on the mound for at least seven innings.

 

Most Zero-Walk/Double-Digit-Strikeout Games In A Career

Here are the pitchers with 20 or more zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout games in their careers.

This Ten-Strikeout Thing is Getting Old

Randy Johnson is the oldest pitcher to toss a zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout game (44 years – 300 days of age). Johnson, in fact, tossed 11 such games after his fortieth birthday. Others to throw a zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout game after forty years of age include: Nolan Ryan (7); Curt Schilling; Gaylord Perry; J0hn Smoltz; Max Scherzer; Rich Hill; and Roger Clemens. This, of course, leads to a great trivia question. Who is the only pitcher to toss a zero-strikeout/double-digit-strikeout game after age 40 and not record at least 3,000 career strikeouts? (You can add the hint that he didn’t even make the 1,500-strikeout club).  That w0uld be Rich Hill, with 1,432 strikeouts in 21 MLB seasons (2005-2025). Hill pitched in the major leagues from 2005 through 2025 (for 14 different MLB franchises) and went 90-76, 4.02 in 388 appearances (250 starts) and 1,432 strikeouts in 1,418 innings pitched.  

Most Zero-Walk/Double-Digit-Strikeout Games In A Season

Garrett Cole (2019 Astros) and Tarik Skubal (2025 Pirates) share the record for the most zero-walk-double-digit strikeouts games in a season at seven.

Longest Zero-Walk/Double-Digit-Strikeout Outing

The Giants’ Carl Hubbell notched the longest zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout outing.  On July 2, 1933, he went the distance in an 18-inning win over the Cardinals, giving up six hits and zero walks, while fanning twelve.

Shortest Zero-Walk Double-Digit-Strikeout Outing

On July 17, 1909, the Red Sox’ Smoky Joe Wood set the record for the shortest zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout outing, pitching four innings of relief in a 6-4 Boston win over the Cleveland Naps.  He pitched four innings of one-run ball, giving up five hits and no walks, while fanning ten.  The 19-year-old finished the season at 11-7, 2.18 in 24 appearances (19 starts).  His career stat line was 117-57, 2.-3 over 11 seasons.

On June 2, 2025, the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard (in a starting role) tied Wood. In four innings of a 7-2 loss to the Padres, he walked none and fanned ten.  He also gave up seven runs on ten hits.

Teenagers To Have a Zero-Walk-Double-Digit-Strikeout Outing

The Red’s’ Gary Nolan was the youngest pitcher to have zero-walk/double-digit-strikeout outing at 19 years and 11 days of age (June 7, 1967 versus the Giants).  A list of pitchers to throw a qualifying outing as teenagers includes: Gary Nolan (2X); Dwight Gooden (2X); Smoky Joe Wood.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

Side Note: The Roundtable does not carry ads. However, I am making a small exception.  On the sidebar to the right of the screen (under Links), you’ll see a “widget” that looks like a baseball with “We Fit Baseball Fans To A Tee” in it.  My brother and I – more for fun that profit – have launched (and are expanding a line of baseball-themed T-Shirts, Mugs and Hats that you might find interesting,  Just click on the image to go to the site. (Check out the expanding Sandlot Section.)

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

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

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It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week our primary focus in players who share the record for the most stolen bases in a single MLB game.

Side Note:  This is the Modern ERA record (the modern/current stolen base stat rules were implemented in 1898). Elias Sports Bureau does credit Billy Hamilton of the Phillies with seven steals in an August 31, 1894 game and the White Stockings’  George Gore is reported (per an article by Society of American Baseball Research  member Jerry Grillo) to have seven steals in a June 26, 1881 contest (stolen bases were not an officially recorded statistic at the time.) Special thanks to Mike Robinson for alerting The Roundtable to the pre-1898 info.

Eddie Collins, 1912 Athletics

Eddie Collins is the unicorn in this group, the only  player to steal six bases in a game twice in his career – and he did it twice in the same season (as well as twice in the same month),  Collins is also:

• The first MLB player to steal six bases in a game; and
• The only player on this list to have a caught stealing in a six-theft contest.

On September 11, 1912 – as his Athletics beat the Tigers 9-7 in Detroit – Collins (batting third and playing 2B) went three-for-five, with two runs scored and one RBI.  After grounding out in the first inning; he had an RBI single in the third and stole second; he was safe on an error  in the fourth, then stole second (going to third on an error) and then stole home; he singled again in the sixth, stole second, advanced to third on an error and was caught attempting to steal home; in the eighth, he singled and stole second and third. The speedy outburst gave him 53 steals on the season.

Then just 11 days later (September 22), as the Athletics topped the Browns 8-2 in St. Louis, Collins again broke free for six steals. Batting third and playing second base, Collins went four-for-five, with three runs scored and one RBI

He started his day reaching first base on a fielder’s choice and then stealing second.  After that: he led off the third with a bunt single and later scored (but did not steal a base); bunted for a single again in the fifth, stole second and later scored; singled to LF in the seventh, stole second (advancing to third on a bad throw by the catcher) and later stole home; hit an RBI single to center in the eighth and stole second and  third while the next batter was at the plate.

Collins finished the 1912 season at .348-0-64, with league-leading 137 runs scored and 63 steals in 85 attempts. He was second in steals in the AL to Clyde Milan’s 88.

Hall of Famer Collins played in 25 MLB seasons (1906-30 … all for the Athletics.  He went .333-47-1,299, with 1,821 runs scored, 3,315 hits and 741 steals  (eighth all-time) in 937 attempts. Collins led the league in steals four times and stole 40 or more bases in ten seasons. He also led the league in runs scored three times

Otis Nixon, 1991 Braves

For 79 years, Eddie Collins stood as the only MLB player to steal six bases in a game. Then, on June 16, 1991, Brave’s RF and leadoff hitter Otis Nixon logged six steals as the Braves lost to the Expos 7-6 in Montreal. Nixon went three-for-five, with two runs scored in the game.

Nixon opened the contest with a single and signaled what was to come by stealing second and third before scoring the game’s first run. Going forward, he led off the third with a bunt single and again stole second and third before scoring (on the second and third pitches to the next batter). Nixon then grounded out to end the fourth; and lined out to end the sixth.  With the Braves trailing 7-6 in the top of the ninth, Nixon did all he could to will them to victory. He led off with a single, and stole second; then with two out he stole third, but and was stranded.

In the 1991 season, Nixon went .297-0-26, with 81 runs scored and 72 steals in 93 attempts. His 72 steals were second in the NL to the Expos’ Marquis Grissom. Nixon played in 17 MLB seasons (1983-99 … Yankees, Indians, Expos, Braves, Red Sox, Rangers, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Twins), going .270-11-318, with 878 runs scored and 620 steals in 806 attempts. While he never led the league in stolen bases, he swiped forty or more bags in nine campaigns.

Eric Young, Sr., Rockies, June 30, 1996

June 30, 1996 was quite a day for the Dodgers and Rockies, who faced off at Coors Field. The Rockies prevailed 16-15 in a game that featured a combined 38 hits, 10 home runs, 14 stolen bases and five errors. In the entire contest, there was only one three up/three down half inning, In addition to scoring a combined 31 runs, the two teams left 20 runners on base over the nine frames.

Rockies’ 2B and leadoff hitter Eric Young, Sr. went two-for-five, with a walk, three runs scored and one RBI.  He also stole a record-tying six bases in six attempts.

Young led off the bottom of the first inning by grounding out third-to-first. He led off again in the third and singled. After SS Walt Weiss fanned, Young stole second and third base while LF Ellis Burks was at the plate. Burks eventually walked (on four pitches, apparently Young’s activity on the bases was a bit unnerving for the Dodgers’ Hideo Nomo). Then, on an 0-1 pitch to RF Dante Bichette, Young completed his trip around the bases by stealing home. With Young off the basepaths, Nomo fanned the next two batters  (1B Andres Galarraga and 3B Vinny Castilla) on eight pitches.

Young came up again in the fourth, with two out and CF Quintin McCracken on third (McCracken had walked and stole second and third during a P Roger Bailey strikeout).  Young stole second and later scored. In the fifth, Young was safe on a fielder’s choice and stole second, but was stranded. Young reached on an error in the seventh and later scored, but did  not steal any bases. In the eighth, with the Rockies up 14-12, Young singled, stole second, but was stranded.

In 1996, Young hit  .324-8-74, with 113 runs scored and a league-leading 53 steals in 72 attempts. Young played in 15 MLB seasons (1992-2006 … Rockies, Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers, Giants, Rangers, Padres), going .283-79-543, with 996 runs scored and 465 steals in 633 attempts. He stole 30 or more bases in nine seasons … 50+ three times), but led the league just once.

In 1996, Eric Young, Sr. struck out just 31 times in 643 plate appearances.  

Carl Crawford,  2009 Rays

Carl Crawford had his six-steal day in  May 3, 2009 in a Rays’ 5-3 win over the Red Sox (in Tampa). Crawford, batting second and playing LF, went four-for-four, with a walk, two runs scored and one RBI.

In the first inning, Crawford walked, stole second (going to third  on the catcher’s throwing error) and later scored. In the third, he had an infield single and stole second. In the fifth, he singled and stole second and third (but did not score).  In the seventh, he singled, stole second and eventually scored.  In the eighth, he singled and stole second.

In 2009, Crawford went .305-15-68, with 96 runs scored and 60 stolen bases (in 76 attempts).  His 60 steals were second to the Red Sox’ Jacoby Ellsbury in the AL.

Crawford played in 15 MLB seasons  (2002-2016 … Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers). He was a four-time All Star and a one-time Gold Glover. He final stat line was .290-136-766, with 998 runs scored and 480 steals (in 589 attempts). He led the league in steals four times and stole 40 or more bases in seven seasons )five of those 50 or more).

 

The Other Side of the Coin

Forty-eight players have been caught stealing at least three times in a single MLB game, but only one of those was caught four times.  That unicorn is Giants’ 2B Robby Thompson, tossed out on the basepaths four times in a Giants’ 7-6 loss to the Reds (in Cincinnati) on June 27, 1986.

In that one, Thompson, at 2B and batting in the two-hole, flied out to right in the top of the first inning. He hit a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at 1-1 in the third. He hit a single to center (with the Giants up 5-1) in the fourth, but was thrown out trying to steal second.

In the top of the sixth (Giants up 5-2), Thompson hit an RBI groundball single to extend the lead and was then again caught on a steal attempt.  In the top of the ninth, with the game now tied at six apiece, Thompson singled, but was again caught trying to swipe second. In the eleventh Thompson fanned on a wild pitch with two out, but reached first on the errant pitch.   The extra-innings and Thompson’s reaching safely on a strikeout-wild pitch gave him the opportunity to stand (unenviably) alone as the only MLB player caught stealing four times in a single game. And, he cashed in that opportunity,  again being tossed out trying to steal second.  The Giants finally scored in the top of the twelfth for a 7-6 win.

In that 1986 season, Thompson (in his rookie MLB campaign) hit .271-7-47, with 73 runs scored and 12 steals (in 27 attempts). Thompson played in 11 MLB seasons (1986-96 … Giants) and was a two-time All Star.  His final stat line was .257-119-458, with 671 runs scored and 103 steals in 165 attempts. His best season was 1993, when he hit .312-19-65, with 85 runs scored and ten steals. That season, he set his career highs in average, home runs and RBI.

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