A 24-Hour Turn Around … 20 hits for a Loss – No Hits for a Win

On this date (April 12) in 1992, the Cleveland failed to get a single hit against the Reed Sox in the opening game of a Sunday doubleheader (remember those?) – and yet came away with the win.  What makes this just a little zany is that the day before – the Indians’ 1992 home opener – the Indians collected 20 hits off the Red Sox’ pitching staff and lost.

Here’s how it all went down.  Let’s start with the April 12 victory.  Matt Young started for the Red Sox, while Charles Nagy took the mound for the Indians. Young pitched an eight-inning complete game – holding the Indians without a hit and fanning seven.

Unfortunately, Young walked seven – which led to two earned runs and a 2-1 Red Sox loss. In fact, the very first batter Young faced scored.  Cleveland CF Kenny Loft0n led off the bottom of the first with a four-pitch walk (a portent of things to come). While DH Glenallen Hill was at the plate (ultimately striking out), Lofton stole second and third. He then scored as Carlos Baerga was safe at first on an error by Red Sox SS Luis Rivera.  In the third inning, the Indians pushed across a second run as Young walked Mark Lewis and Lofton (again) on a total of nine pitches.  The Lofton was forced at second on a Hill ground out – sending Lewis to third. Lewis then scored on a grounder to short by Baerga.  Lofton, by the way, was a thorn in Young’s  side all afternoon. He walked again in the fifth inning – and, just like in the first frame, stole second and third – giving him three walks and four steals in the game.

The Red Sox only run came in the top of the fourth inning on a single by CF Ellis Burks, a walk to 1B Mo Vaughn and an RBI single by  SS Luis Rivera.  Winning pitcher Nagy went seven innings, gave up eight hits and one run, while walking four and fanning ten. Brad Arnsberg and Derek Lilliquist each tossed an inning of scoreless relief.

So, the Indians collected no hits, but still got a win.  This just a day after the Indians’ home opener, when they collected 20 hits (to the Red Sox’ 14) and suffered a 7-5 loss.  That one went 19 innings with the Red Sox winning on a two-run home run by SS Tim Naehring (one of only three homers he would hit that year). A few side notes, in this game:  14 pitchers were used; Carlos Baerga had six hits, but no RBI an just one run scored; Mo Vaughn, Jody Reed and Naehring homered for Boston; there were a total of 16 walks and 29 strikeouts.

Okay, so the Cleveland hoe season starts with a game in which the Indians smack 20 hits and take a loss, followed by a game in which no Cleveland batter this safety and they get a win.  What more could happen?  Well, in game two of that April 12 doubleheader, Roger Clemens held the Indians to just two singles s in a 3-0 Boston win. That gave the Indians the  MLB record for the fewest hits ever in a doubleheader – yet they still got a split.  Side note:  The Red Sox had nine hits in this game and, as with the Indians, they were all singles.

For a look at the last single-admission double header I ever was privileged to attend, as well as stories on MLB’s 32-inning doubleheader, the only pitcher to throw complete-game shutouts in both ends of the same twin bill, the team that played nine consecutive doubleheaders and more … click here.

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Ah, back in the ballpark.  I attended my first MLB game since the October 7, 2019 Twins/Yankees Playoff Game – a contest I had to leave in the second inning due to an Atrial Fibrillation incident that sent me to a five-hour Emergency Room visit.  But, that’s a story for another day.  Today it’s the joy of being back in the ballpark.

A few observations about the day and season and then, in honor of the return of fans to MLB parks, a look back at one of my earliest Baseball Roundtable posts – “Why I Love Baseball.”

So, how about a look at yesterday’s game?  First, given COVID attendance limits (with seasons ticket holders getting preference) and the timing of my second Pfizer vaccine, I was not able to get to Opening Day this season.  It’s long been my strategy to make sure I get to Opening Day and the final day of the season (and others along the way, of course) – a strategy designed to guarantee me the fewest possible days without baseball in the off season.  I did miss the Opening Day “hoopla” – team intros, fireworks, celebrity National Anthem performance, flyovers and the like.  However, thanks to a good friend and fellow fan (Connie), I was able to score good seats for yesterday’s second Twins home game of the season.

Now, we (I went with another good friend, Scott), arrived at the ballpark about an hour before game time.  My bad. I gauged my expected drive time and parking search by past experience (crowds of 35,000-40,000).  With COVID-era attendance of just under 10,000, getting to the park was a lot less time-consuming.  Getting through the gate with e-tickets on my phone was also a snap; just scan them and walk on in. It was convenient, but I have to admit, I miss the old stiff paper tickets – with their graphics and “memory value.”

Once in the park, I picked up the Twins free scorecard (Note: If you keep score and prefer to use you own scorebook, pick up a scorecard anyway.  It’s is a great way to have players’ names and numbers at your fingertips – and it’s FREE.)

On the way to my seat, I stopped for my first ball park sausage (a Polish), I like to get my snacking in before the game (and my score-keeping) starts.  Okay, it wasn’t a gourmet treat (and there are some of those at Target Field), but as Humphrey Bogart was once quoted “A hot dog at the ballpark beats roast beer at the Ritz.”  Side note:  1) Some sources quote Bogart as comparing “steak” at the Ritz to a dog at the game, but I found many more citing “roast beef.” 2) This quote may be expiring, you can get roast beef and/or steak at MLB parks these days. 3) I know I should have started the season with a hot dog, but when you name is Karpinski, you have to upgrade to a Polish.

It was a chilly day at Target Field although: 1) Mid- to high-40’s is not that chilly for Minnesotans. 2) The green grass, sound of the crowd and the game, smiling children (and adults) and live interactions were heartwarming enough to counteract the weather.

As for the game, my Twins lost 4-3 in ten innings.  I did, however, get to see a tight and exciting game; a two-run home run from the apparently ageless Nelson Cruz; my first 6-4-3 double play (the 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 twin killings are my favorite baseball plays); the speed of Byron Buxton turn what looked like a fairly routine ground out into an infield single, with an advance to second on a misguided, rushed throw to first; and three stolen bases.  On the other side of the coin, I also saw two of my least favorite current baseball rules come into play – the wave -‘em-to-first intentional walk and the opening of extra innings with a runner on second.

–———————-Let’s Get This Party Started————————

Clearly, the baseball spirits are committed to making up for 2020’s short, strange and (for many fans) somewhat lost season.  Here were are just ten days into the new season and not only have we seen fans back in the ball park.  We’ve seen:

• The season’ first no-hitter of the season (April 9 by the Padres’ Joe Musgrove) – which was also just one hit batsman away from a perfect game and the very first no-hitter in Padres’ history.
• A rookie, Rule-Five Draft pick – Detroit ‘s Akil Baddoo – hit a home run on the very first MLB pitch he ever saw, smack his first Grand Slam and collect his first, walk-off game winning hit – all in his first three MLB games.
• Another rookie, the White Sox Yermin Mercedes – collect eight hits (five singles, two doubles and a home runs) in his first eight at bats of the season. (He had one previous MLB at bat, a ground out, in 2020.) Just a few days later, in just his sixth game of the season and seventh MLB game, Mercedes thrilled fans with a 485-foot home run – the longest HR of the MLB season thus far.
• Reds’ outfielder Tim Locastro stealing two bases in two tries – giving him 28 stolen bases in 28 career (2017-2012, 154 games) attempts; setting the record for the most consecutive stolen base attempts to start an MLB career.
• Trey Mancini’s 427-foot home run (April 10) – not just his first long ball of the season, but his first since returning to the Orioles after a bout with Stage Three colon cancer.  (Mancini missed the 2020 season.)
• The Angels’ pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani starting on the mound on April 4 against the White Sox, throwing nine pitches of 100+ mph and fanning seven in 4 2/3 innings and popping a 451-foot home run ( his second dinger of the season) – to give himself a lead in the bottom of the first.

I could go on, but you get the idea.  Once again, baseball is giving fans the opportunity to see something special during every game.   So, Let’s enjoy.

And, with that, I’d like to open my season by revisiting  the ten reasons I love the national pastime.

———TEN REASONS I LOVE BASEBALL———

1.  Baseball comes along every spring – a new beginning – accompanied by sunshine and optimism.

Baseball is the harbinger of better times.  It signifies the end of winter (not a small thing if you’re from Minnesota) and the coming of spring – a season of rebirth, new life and abundant optimism.   Each season, you start with a clean slate.   Last year’s successes can still be savored, but last year’s failures can be set aside (although rival fans may try to refresh your memory), replaced by hope and anticipation.   On Opening Day, in our hearts, we can all be in contention.

People ask me what I do in winter, when there’s no baseball. 

I’ll tell you what I do.  I stare out the window and wait for spring.

 Honus Wagner, Hall of Famer

 2.  The pace of the game invites contemplation.

Between innings, between batters or pitchers, and even between pitches, baseball leaves us time to contemplate what just occurred, speculate on what might happen next and even share those thoughts with nearby spectators.  Baseball is indeed a thinking person’s game.

3.  Baseball is timeless and, ultimately, fair in the offering of opportunity.

The clock doesn’t run out.  There is no coin flip to determine who gets the ball first in sudden death overtime.  No matter what the score, your team gets its 27 outs and an equal opportunity to secure victory.  What could be more fair?   And then there is the prospect of endless “extra” innings, bonus baseball for FREE.

4.  Plays and players are distinct (in space and time).

Baseball, while a game of inches, is also a game of considerable space.   The players are not gathered along an offensive line or elbow-to-elbow under a basket. They are widely spaced, each with his own area of responsibility and each acting (as part of a continuing play) in their own time frame.  (The first baseman can’t catch the ball, for example, until after the shortstop throws it.)   This enable fans to follow, understand  and analyze each play (maybe not always accurately) in detail.   And, baseball’s distinct spacing and timing makes it possible to see the game even when you are not there.  A lot of people grinned at President Gerald Ford’s comment that he “watched a lot of baseball on the radio.”  In my view, he was spot on.  You can see baseball on the radio – you can create a “visual” of the game in your mind with minimal description.    That’s why on summer nights, in parks, backyards and garages across the country, you’ll find radios tuned to the national pastime.

 5. The scorecard.

Can there be anything more satisfying than keeping an accurate scorecard at the ball park?  It serves so many purposes.  The keeping of a scorecard ensures your attention to the happenings on the field.

Maintaining the score card also makes you, in a way understandable only to fellow fans, more a part of the game.   That magical combination of names, numbers and symbols also enables you to go back and check the progress of the game at any time.  “Oh, Johnson’s up next.  He’s walked and grounded out twice.”  It’s also a conversation starter, when the fan in the row behind you asks, “How many strikeouts does Ryan have today?”   And, it leaves you (if you choose to keep it) with a permanent record of the game, allowing you to replay it in your mind (or share it with others) at will.  Ultimately, a well-kept score card enhances the game experience and offers a true post-game sense of accomplishment.

6.  The long season.

Baseball, so many have pointed out, is a marathon rather than a sprint.  It’s a long season with ample opportunity to prove yourself and lots of chances to redeem yourself.  For fans, the long season also represents a test of your passion for the game.  Endurance is part of the nature of the true baseball fan.  And, and in the end, the rigors of a 162-game season prove your mettle and that of your team.   Not only that, but like a true friend … baseball is there for you every day.

 7.  Baseball invites, encourages, even demands , conversation.

Reason number two hinted at the importance of conversation, noting that the pace of the game offers time to contemplate the action (past and future) and share those thoughts with others.   I love that about the game, but I also love the fact that whenever baseball fans gather, their passion comes out in conversation – and they find plenty to talk about:

•  Statistics,  statistics, statistics.  Baseball and its fans will count anything.  Did you know that Yankee Jim Bouton’s hat flew off 37 times in his 2-1, complete-game victory over the Cardinals in game three of the 1964 World Series?  More seriously, statistics are part of a common language and shared passion that bring baseball fans together in spirited conversation.  As best-selling author Pat Conroy observed “Baseball fans love numbers.  They love to swirl them around in their mouths like Bordeaux wine.”  I agree, to the fan, statistics are intoxicating.

• Stories, stories, stories.  Baseball and its fans celebrate the game’s history.  And, I’m not talking just about statistics.  I’m talking about the stories that give this great game color, character and characters.  Ty Cobb sharpening his spikes on the dugout steps, Babe Ruth’s called shot, Louis Tiant’s wind-up, Willie Mays’ basket catch, Dock Ellis’s LSD-fueled no-hitter.

• Trivia, trivia, trivia.  This may fall close to the “stories, stories , stories” category, but fans cherish the trivia that surrounds our national pastime – whether that trivia is iconic or ironic.  For example, it’s ironic that the iconic Babe Ruth holds the best winning percentage against the Yankees of any pitcher with 15 or more decision against them (17-5, .773). And, it’s ironic that the more recent player to steal home twice in one game (Vic Power, August 14, 1958) did it in a season when he only stole a total of three bases).  Then there is the iconic performance of Ralph Kiner, who led the NL in home runs as a rookie in 1948 – and successfully defended that title in each of the next six seasons – the most consecutive home runs titles by any major leaguer ever.

Basically, I took a long time to say I love the fact that baseball fans will talk with passion about something that happened in today’s game, yesterday’s game, over time or even in a game that took place on May 30, 1894 (Bobby Lowe of the Boston Beaneaters records MLB’s first four-homer game).  And, as a bonus, all this conversation – all the statistics, stories and trivia – make the games, moments within the games and the characters of the game (heroes, goats and mere participants) as timeless as baseball itself.

I am looking forward to the time when fans will be again be able  to again meet and trade baseball facts and opinions in close quarters. 

 8.  The box score. 

BBRT editor’s  mother used to refer to an accordion as “an orchestra in a box.”  That’s how I view the daily box score – the symphony of a game recorded in a space one-column wide by four inches deep.   Some would say the box score reduces the game to statistics, I would say it elevates the game to history.  What do you want to know about the contest?   Who played where, when?  At bats, hits, stolen bases, strikeouts, errors, caught stealing, time, attendance, even the umpires’ names?   It’s all there and more – so much information, captured for baseball fans in a compact and orderly space.  I am, of course, dating myself here, but during baseball season, the morning newspaper, through its box scores, is a treasure trove of information for baseball fans.  (In today’s game, baseball-reference.com provides all that information and more.)

 9. The irony of a team game made up of individual performances.

While baseball and baseball fans live for individual statistics and, while the spacing of the players drives individual accountability, the game is, ironically, deeply dependent on the concept of “team.”

Consider the offense.  Unlike other sports , where you can deliver victory by giving the ball or puck – time and time again (particularly as the clock runs down) –  to your best runner, skater, receiver or shooter, in baseball, your line-up determines who will be “on the spot” and at the plate when the game is on the line.  It may be your .230-hitting second basemen, rather than your .320-hitting outfielder.  Yet, even as the team depends on the hitter, he is totally alone in his individual battle with the pitcher.  And, achieving individual statistics that signify exceptional performance also demands a sense of team.  You don’t score 100 runs without a team mate to drive you in (although the statistic remains your measure of performance) …  and, you don’t drive in 100 runs if no one gets on base in front of you.   And, can you think of any other sport that keeps track of – and honors – the team-oriented “sacrifice.”

On defense, the story is the same.  A ground ball pitcher, for example, needs a good infield behind him to optimize his statistical presence in the “win” column.  And the six-four-three double play requires masterful teamwork as well as individual performance –  duly recorded in the record books as an assist for the shortstop, a putout and an assist for the second baseman and a put out for the first baseman.  Then there is the outfield assist – a perfect throw from a right fielder to nail a runner at third earns an assist – even if the third baseman drops the ball and earns an error.  Two individual results (one good / one bad) highlighted, but without the necessary team work – a good play on both ends – a negative outcome in terms of the game.

Ultimately, baseball is a game of individual accomplishments that must be connected by the thread of “team” to produce a positive outcome.

10. Baseball’s assault on the senses.  (Indoor ballparks fall a bit short here).

The sight of a blue sky and bright sun above the ballpark or a full moon over a black sky above a well-lit stadium.  The feel of the warm sun or a crisp evening breeze.  The scent of freshly mowed grass or steaming hot dogs.  The taste of cold beer and peanuts.  The sound of the crack of the bat, the cheers (or moans) of the crowd, the musical pitch of the vendors.  Even the taste of today’s ballpark gourmet offerings.

Baseball assaults all the senses ―  in  a good way.  

Now, I could go on and on, there are lots more reasons to love this game: its combination of conformity (all infields are laid out the same) and individualism (outfield configurations not so much); its contributions to culture (literature and movies); its strategy (hit-and-run, run-and-hit, sacrifice bunts, infield / outfield positioning, pitching changes, etc.); triples; the 6-4-3 double play; knuckleballs; and more.  But to protect myself – and BBRT’s readers – I’ve limited myself to ten.   I probably could have saved a lot of time and words  had I just started with this so-perfect comment from sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, “The other sports are just sports.  Baseball is love.”  That says it all.

 

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Frank Ernaga – hit for the cycle in his first five at bats versus Warren Spahn

On May 24, 1957, Frank Ernaga – 26-year old outfielder for the Cubs – made his first major-league appearance. In his fifth professional season (in 1956, Ernaga had gone .273-18-97 for the Double A Tulsa Oilers), the rookie was facing future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, coming off his seventh twenty-win season (and on his way to a 21-11, 2.69 year and the World Series in 1957). Ernaga was not overwhelmed.

In his first major-league plate appearance, Ernaga took Spahn deep – a second-inning solo home run to left field. Two innings later, he launched an RBI-triple to left center. Before Ernaga’s next at bat ,Spahn had been lifted for a pinch hitter.

Flash forward to September 20 – the next time Ernaga faced Spahn.  The southpaw got a measure of revenge, fanning Ernaga in the second inning. Ernaga faced Spahn again with two out in the fourth – and recorded an RBI single.  He came up again with two-out in the sixth and launched an RBI double to center. That was Ernaga’s last 1957 at bat versus Spahn.  At this point, he had faced the Braves’ ace lefty five times and recorded a single, double, triple and home run (.800 average) and four RBI.  Ernaga, by the way, would get only on more at bat versus Spahn in his career (a foul pop out in 1958).  In fact, Ernaga’s major-league career would encompass only two seasons (1957-58), 29 games and 43 at bats (.279-2-7). Spahn, of course, would become the MLB’s winnings left-hander and still be on the mound (at age 44) seven season after Ernaga’s final MLB plate appearance.

Thus, starts Baseball Roundtable’s “Who’s Your Daddy?” … Warren Spahn Edition.

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Who’s Your Daddy?  What’s it all about?

That’s right, it’s time for the next edition of Baseball Roundtable’s  “Who’s Your Daddy?” series … focusing on some of  MLB’s premier pitchers – like Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan, as well as contemporary hurlers like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

In this series, BBRT presents lineups of players who performed unexpectedly well against baseball’s top pitchers. (An explanation of the inspiration behind the Who’s Your Daddy? series can be found the end of this post.)  As always, I would stress that the pitchers included in the Who’s Your Daddy? series are among the “best in the business.”  They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because success among hitters when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.

Before we get started on this edition – focusing on Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, here are links to the previous editions of this series:

• Nolan Ryan, click here.
• Sandy Koufax, click here. 
• Pedro Martinez, click here.
• Bob Gibson, click here. 
• Randy Johnson, click here. 
• Greg Maddux, click here. 
• Justin Verlander, click here. 
• Bob Feller, click here. 
• Roger Clemens, click here. 
• Max Scherzer, click here. 
• Tom Seaver, click here.
• Mariano Rivera, click here. 

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Now, let’s take a look at Warren Spahn and a lineup of players who fared pretty well against the legendary lefty.

Warren Spahn is the winningest southpaw in MLB history (363-245) and his 363 regular-season MLB victories are sixth-most all-time (had he not lost three prime years to military service, he would be higher on that list). Consider these Hall of Fame credentials. Spahn pitched 21 MLB seasons (1942-65 – missing 1943-45 for military service).  He was an All Star in 14 of those seasons and the NL Cy Young Award winner in 1957. Spahn led the NL in victories eight times and won 20 or more games in 13 seasons (going 23-7, 2.60 in 1963 – at the age of 42). He also led the NL in ERA three times, complete games nine times, shutouts four times and innings pitched four times. Despite never fanning 200 batters in a season, Spahn led the NL in strikeouts for four straight seasons (1949-52) – it was a different game back then.    Spahn threw a pair no-hitters – one at age 39 and one at age 40. Spahn’s final stat line was 363-245, 3.09, with 382 complete games (5,243 2/3 innings pitched), 63 shutouts, 1,434 walks and 2,583 strikeouts.

So who could handle this Hall of Famer’s stuff?

Note on chart: Baseball-References indicates game logs before 1973 are not complete. In the chart above, game logs (versus Spahn) are missing for Stan Musial (eight games); Del Ennis (six games); and Wes Westrum (two games). Throughout this post, I have noted instances of incomplete game logs. 

 

Here’s the lineup.

Catcher – Bob Scheffing  (.455 versus Spahn in 1947)

While the Spahn “Whose Your Daddy?” lineup reads a bit like a Hall of Fame primer (Mays, Musial, Clemente in the outfield, for example), little-known Bob Scheffing gets the start behind the plate.  Scheffing first faced Spahn on July 19, 1946 (Spahn’s first-season back in the majors after three years of military service).  Spahn was on his way to an 8-5, 2.94 record. The future Hall of Famer had a 4-0 lead with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the eighth, when the Cubs sent Scheffing up to pinch hit. Scheffing singled and scored the Cubs’ only run of the contest.

Scheffing went on to face Spahn a total of 26 times in 12 games over five seasons and hit a solid .360 against him.

Note: Two games (logs) versus Spahn are missing from Scheffing’s totals.

Scheffing played in eight major-league campaigns (like Spahn he missed three seasons due to military service) from 1941 to 1955.  He played for the Cubs, Reds and Cardinals. He appeared in a total of 517 games, hitting .263, with 20 home runs and 187 RBI. His best season was 1949, when he got into 102 games for the Cubs, going .300-5-45. His ten career RBI against Spahn are the second-most he garnered against any pitcher (he had 12 RBI versus Joe Hatten); his two home runs against Spahn are the most against any pitcher (he also had two against Hatten); and his nine hits against Spahn are the fourth-most he had against any pitcher.

Honorable Mention: Gus Triandos faced Warren Spahn 14 times in six games and went six-for-thirteen (.462), including a four-for-four game (all singles) on May 24, 1965 (when Triandos was with the Phillies and Spahn was with the Mets).  The fact that Triandos’ safeties all came in Spahn’s final two seasons clearly gives Scheffing the edge.

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First Base –  Orlando Cepeda (.344, with ten long balls)

Orlando Cepeda managed a .344 average against Spahn, despite striking out in one of every 5.4 plate appearances. His ten regular-season long balls are the fourth-most against Spahn and his .625 slugging percentage is the sixth-best among players with at least 25 at bats versus the lefty.

Off to a Good Start

Between July 17 and August 30, 1962, Cepeda started three games against Spahn and homered in his first at bat in each of them. 

Cepeda’s ten regular-season career home runs are the most he hit against any pitcher.  He reached that number against both Spahn and Spahn’s teammate Lew Burdette.

Cepeda played 17 MLB seasons (1958-74 … Giants, Cardinals, Braves, A’s, Red Sox, Royals), hitting .297, with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBI. He was an 11-time All Star, the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1967 NL Most Valuable Player. Cepeda led his league in RBI twice (five times topping 100 RBI in a season) and home runs once (five times hitting 30+ home runs). He also hit.300 or better in ten campaigns).  BBRT rates his best season as 1961, when he went .311-46-142; leading the league (and reaching career highs) in home runs and RBI.

Honorable Mention: In 1961, when Warren Spahn went 21-13 with the NL’s lowest qualifying earned run average (3.02), Reds’ 1B Gordy Coleman faced Spahn 17 times and collected 10 hits, three walks, two home runs and five RBI (.714 average, .765 on-base percentage, 1.215 slugging percentage).  For his career (31 at bats) versus Spahn, Coleman hit .516-3-7.

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Things Turned Around Pretty Fast

In his rookie season (1959), Willie McCovey faced Warren Spahn ten times and collected four hits and a walk (.444 average), with one home run.  Over the remainder of his career, McCovey faced Spahn 59 more times and collected just four more singles and one more walk – finishing with a .136 career average versus Spahn.

Second Base – Red Schoendienst (.313 average)

Warren Spahn was probably happy to have Red Schoendienst as a teammate from 1957 through 1960 (the Giants traded Schoendienst to the Braves on June 15, 1957 for Ray Crone, Danny O’Connell and Bobby Thomson). When he joined the Braves, Schoendienst had a .320 career average against Spahn (with 73 hits in 66 games). He had faced Spahn in one game in 1957 and had gone four-for-five.

Schoendienst faced Spahn only five times after leaving the Braves- and went zero-for-five – dropping his career average against the left-hander to .313.  Schoendienst’s 73 career safeties against Spahn are second only to Stan Musial. They are also the most hits Schoendienst had against any pitcher.  The redhead twice reached double digits in hits against Spahn in a season (ten hits in 1949 for a .435 average and ten hits in 1954 for a .345 average).

Note: Eight games (logs) versus Spahn are missing from Schoendienst’s totals.

Schoendienst enjoyed a 19-season MLB career (1945-63 … Cardinals, Giants, Braves), during which he hit .289, with 84 home runs, 773 RBI and 1,223 runs scored.  The Hall of Famer was a ten-time All Star and hit .300 or better in nine seasons – reaching at least 190 hits four times. His best season was probably 1953, when he went .342-15-79, with 107 runs scored for the Cardinals – all career highs.  He led the NL in hits once (200 in 1957), doubles once (43 in 1950) and stolen bases once (26 as a rookie in 1945).

Honorable Mention: Pete Rose hit .531 in ten games (starting all ten at second base) versus Spahn (17-for-32), with two home runs and five RBI. While those stats are impressive, BBRT took into account that all Rose’s at bats were Spahn came after the southpaw’s 42^nd birthday.

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Third Base … Ken Boyer (11 home runs in 51 games)

Cardinals’ third sacker Ken Boyer hit .301 in 51 games versus Spahn – more telling was his 11 career regular-season home runs off the Hall of Famer – the third-most of any batter (trailing only Willie Mays and Stan Musial). Boyer’s 27 RBIs are also the third-most against Spahn (again trailing only Mays and Musial) and his 50 hits are seventh. Boyer faced Spahn in 11 seasons and hit over .350 in four of them.

Note: One  game (log) versus Spahn is missing from Boyer’s totals.

It’s in the Genes

Ken Boyer was one of three brothers (joined by Clete and Cloyd) to play in the major leagues.

Boyer played 15 MLB seasons (1955-69 … Cardinals, Mets, White Sox, Dodgers). He was a career .287 hitter, with 282 home runs, 1,141 RBI and 1,104 runs scored. He was a seven-time All Star, five-time Gold Glover and the 1964 National League MVP.  Boyer hit 20+ home runs in eight seasons and drove in 100+ runs twice (leading the NL with 119 RBI in 1964). He hit .300+ in five seasons, a high of .329 in 1961). His best season was was 1961, when he hit .329-24-95 and won a Gold Glove (although some might pick his 1964 MVP campaign; .295-24-199).

Honorable Mention: Don Hoak (Pirates) hit .345 (39-for-113) versus Spahn, with eight doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI.  While his average topped Boyer, the Cardinal gets the edge due to his power numbers (11 home runs versus five), 27 RBI versus 17. Still, I could have gone with Hoak or Boyer on this one and felt justified.  Note: One game (log) versus Spahn is missing from Hoak’s totals.

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NOrNOte

Note: Eight games (logs) from versus Spahn from Musial and one from Ken Boyer are missing from the chart totals; 

Shortstop … Pee Wee Reese (two homers, 11 RBI, 23 walks)

Pee Wee Reese’s 38 hits are the 19^th-most against Spahn – and the most by any shortstop.  Reese also showed a bit of punch off Spahn, with nine extra base hits.  In addition, Reese’s 23 career walks versus Spahn are third among all hitters and give him a solid .391 on-base percentage.

Pee Wee Reese played 16 MLB seasons (1940-58 … all for the Dodgers) and, like Spahn, lost three seasons due to military service.  Reese was a ten-time All Star and led the league in runs scored, stolen bases and walks once each. His career line was .269-126-885, with 1,338 runs scored and 232 stolen bases.  Reese scored 100+ runs in two seasons, stole 20 or more bases in five and twice drew 100+ walks.

Take Your Base, Out of Respect, Pee Wee

Pee Wee Reese drew an NL-leading 29 intentional walks in 1947 – tied for 27^th highest season total all-time.

Honorable Mention:  Maury Wills hit .339, in 19 games versus Spahn. That gaudy number attracted BBRT at first.  But digging deeper, I found reasons to relegate Wills to honorable mention.  Seven of his 21 hits versus the left-handed mound master came in 11 1965 at bats – when Spahn was 44-years-old and in his final MLB season. Going into that final season, Wills was hitting .275 against Spahn.   Also, Wills did not do a lot of damage with his 21 hits.  He had only three extra base hits, just one RBI, scored just five runs off those hits and recorded just one stolen base (four tries) while Spahn was on the mound.

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Outfield – Stan Musial (96 hits, 14 home runs, 45 RBI, .318 average)

Stan Musial, the only left-handed hitter in this lineup, played from 1941-1963 (missing one season due to military service), and Spahn played  from 1942-1965 (missing three seasons while in the military). As you might expect, these two warriors faced each other a lot of times (353 to be exact). Little wonder Stan the Man is first in hits, second in home runs and first in RBI against Spahn.  In 18 seasons versus Spahn, Musial hit .350 or better seven times. In seven games in 1948, he touched up Spahn for 19 hits and four walks in 23 plate appearances (.526 average/.609 on-base percentage).   From June 3, 1947 through September 22, 1948, Musial ran off an 11-game hitting streak versus Spahn in which he hit .500 (16-for-32) with a double, triple and four home runs.  Still, Spahn “held” Musial to a .318 average over 100 games – 13 points below Musial’s .331 career mark. 

Note: Eight games (logs) versus Spahn are missing from Musial’s totals.

Musial played 22 seasons for the Cardinals and was an All Star in 20 of them. He was the National League Most Valuable player in three seasons.   And, Stan The Man was a “leader.” He led the NL in batting average seven times, doubles seven times, runs scored five times, hits five times, triples five times and RBI twice.  Musial had 200 or more hits in six seasons, 100+ runs ten times, 50 or more doubles three times, twenty triples twice, 30 or more home runs five times and 100+ RBI 10 times. He hit over .300 in 17 full seasons – .330 or better 13 times.

Side Note:  Those who follow Baseball Roundtable know how, when I begin to do research “one thing leads to another.” Working on this post, I found that Sam “Toothpick” Jones may have been Stan Musial’s greatest nemesis (holding him to six hits in 49 at bats – a .122 career average). Look for a post on Jones in the near future.

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Outfield – Willie Mays (18 home runs)

No one hit more home runs off Warren Spahn than Willie Mays, who took the Hall of Fame lefty deep 18 times.  Next on the list is Stan Musial with 14 dingers, but in 79 more at bats. Mays took Spahn yard once in every 12.4 at bats during his career. Mays also had the second-most RBI versus Spahn (40), second-most walks (25) and third-most hits (68).  All this with a solid .305 average against Spahn. In 14 seasons versus Spahn, Mays hit .300+ eight times (.400 or better in five of those campaigns).  Mays’ 18 home runs against Spahn are the most he launched off any pitcher. Also among Mays’ top five long ball victims are Vernon Law (14), Don Drysdale (13), Lew Burdette (12)and Bob Buhl (11).

Nice Set of Bookends

As a rookie in 1951, Willie Mays homered in his first career plate appearance versus the Braves’ Warren Spahn (May 28). It was Mays’ fourth MLB game and his first major league hit. Fourteen seasons later (on April 25, 1965), in Spahn’s final season, Mays homered in his final plate appearance versus the lefty (then a New York Met.) In between, Mays took Spahn deep 16 more times, notching the most career regular-season home runs against him.

Willie Mays played 22 MLB seasons (1951-73, missing 1953 due to military service). He final stat line was .302 (3,283 hits) – 660-1,903, with 2,062 runs scored and 338 stolen bases. He was an All Star in 20 seasons, a 12-time Gold Glover, the 1951 NL Rookie of the Year and the League’s Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1965.  Mays led the NL in runs scored twice (scoring 100+ runs in 12 seasons); hits once; triples three times; home runs four times (topping 40 dingers in six times); stolen bases four times: and batting average once (.345 in 1954). While he never led the league in RBI, he did drive in 100 or more runs in ten seasons.

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Outfield – Roberto Clemente (.425 average)

Roberto Clemente hit .425 against Spahn during his career – raking at .400 or better against the lefty in eight of the 11 seasons he faced him. Like Willie Mays, Clemente foreshadowed his success again Spahn, homering in his first plate appearance against him (May 3, 1955). In his last game against Spahn (August 23, 1965), Clemente went three-for-three, with a triple and two RBI.

Note: Note: Six games  (logs) versus Spahn are missing from Clemente’s totals.

It’s a Numbers Game

Warren Spahn and Roberto Clemente, who both wore number 21, were both inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973

Clemente played 18 MLB seasons (1955-72), all for the Pirates. He was an All Star in 12 of those campaigns, a Gold Glover 12 times and the 1996 NL Most Valuable Player. Clemente was a four-time batting champion (hitting .300+ in 12 seasons – a high of .357 in 1967). He also led the NL in hits twice (getting 200+ hits in four seasons) and triples once. He scored 100 or more runs in three seasons and drove in 100+ in two.  His final line was .317 (3,000 hits)-240-1,305, with 1,416 runs scored.

A Truly “Grand” Slam

On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, with the bases load, no outs and his Pirates trailing the Chicago Cubs 8-5. He hit the first pitch from Jim Brosnan off the light standard in left field and, as Cubs’ LF Jim King chased down the ball, all three base runners AND Clemente circled the bases – giving Clemente what remains MLB’s only walk-off, inside-the-park Grand Slam.  (Further proof that “In baseball we count everything.)

Honorable Mention:  Got to give a shout out here to outfielder Wally Post – a career .266 hitter –  who hit .322, with ten home runs and 18 RBI in 49 games against Spahn – despite a slow start.  (In his first seven at bats against Spahn, Post was 0-for-7, with four strikeouts.) Post played 15 MLB seasons and went .266-210-699.

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Pitcher … Bob Rush (.417 average)

Bob Rush faced Warren Spahn 12 time in six games and handled himself pretty well – five hits (one double) for a .417 average. This performance comes as a bit of a surprise as Rush was a career .173 hitter.  Rush did, however have a solid year at the plate in 1952, when he hit .292 (28-for-96), with five doubles, a triple and 15 RBI. He did not face Spahn that season.

In the six games he faced off against Spahn, Rush went 2-4, with a 5.01 earned run average, while Spahn went 4-2, with a 2.06 ERA.  For his career (1948-60), Rush went 125-152, with a 3.65 ERA.

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Who’s Your Daddy?  The Inspiration.

On September 24, 2004, in the middle of a tight pennant race, the Yankees handed future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox a tough 6-4 loss.  Martinez went 7 1/3 innings giving up nine hits and five earned runs.  The game came just five days after (in his previous start) Martinez had lasted just five frames against the Bronx Bombers (eight hits, eight earned runs) in a 16-7 loss.

After that second loss, Martinez candidly commented, “What can I say? I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.”  Little did he know that his comment – and a Yankee fans’ chant of “Who’s your daddy?” would follow him into future starts in New York (all the way to his final MLB start – against the Yankees for the Phillies – in Game Six of the 2009 World Series.)

The concept of “Who’s your daddy?” became the inspiration for Baseball Roundtable to take a look at the players who “had the number” of some of MLB’s premier pitchers.  Again, you can find links to the previous “editions” of “Who’s Your Daddy?” near the top of this post. 

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Primary Resource:  Baseball Reference.com

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The Baseball Writers Association’s (BBWAA) official 2021 Hall of Fame balloting is open, so it seems like an appropriate time to offer up a Hall of Fame Nickname(s) quiz (particularly given that we are in “lock down.”)  Let’s see how you can do on these questions.  Once, you complete the quiz, here’s link to the answers  – answers here.

1. Give me the name of each of the following “bigger than life” Hall of Famers.

`               The Big Six … The Big Unit … The Big Cat … The Big Train … The Big Hurt

2. There are a pair of hurlers in the Hall of Fame known more by their nicknames –  “Dizzy” and “Dazzy” – than their given names.  What are their real names (first and last)?

3. The Waner Brothers were known as “Big Poison” and “Little Poison.” What first name goes with each nickname?

The Man and the Kid

Stan Musial was born on November 21, 1921 in Donora, Pennsylvania.  Ken Griffey Jr. was born on the same date (November 21) in 1969, also in Donora, Pennsylvania. The former became known as “The Man,” the latter as “The Kid.”

4. Name the two Hall of Fame catchers known as ‘Pudge.”

5. What is Ken Griffey, Hr.’s real first name?

From “The Iron Horse” to “Biscuit Pants” – Lou Gehrig’s Nickname Legacy

Lou Gehrig had a host of nicknames over his lifetime… The best of the lot was probably “The Iron Horse,” the worst “Biscuit Pants.”  Along the way there was also “Larrupin’ Lou” and even “Buster.” For Baseball Roundtable’s take on MLB best and worse nicknames, click here.

6. What is Tom Seaver’s real first name?

7. Which of these pitchers best known as “Lefty” notched the most MLB wins – Grove or Gomez?

8. What was “Home Run: Baker’s first name?

Baseball Roundtable Fan Hall of Fame Ballot

Baseball Roundtable fan Hall of Fame balloting still open.  Want to vote in BBRT’s unofficial Hall of Fame fan ballot?  There’s still time, click here to go the ballot.   Click here for BBRT’s 2021 Hall of Fame preferences and predictions.

9. Hall of Famer Kiki Cuyler’s middle name was Shirley, what was his given first name?

10. What are the real first names of these famous mound “Rubes?”

Rube Waddell   &  Rube Marquard

11. Give me the real first names of the following Hall of Famers.

Sparky Anderson

Cool Papa Bell

Yogi Berra

Bert Blyleven

Red Faber

Lefty Gomez

Lefty Grove

Chipper Jones

Satchel Paige

Pee Wee Reese

Red Ruffing

Red Schoendienst

Duke Snider

Casey Stengel

Mule Suttles

Turkey Stearnes

Pie Traynor

Hack Wilson

Cy Young

 

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

The Baseball Writers Association of America voting on Hall of Fame candidates for 2012 has begun – which seems to offer an appropriate segue to a post looking back at past balloting. In this case, there will be an emphasis on players who had to wait until their final year of eligibility to have their Hall of Fame ticket validated. (Although, we’ll briefly touch on those elected in their first appearance on the ballot.)  I’ll also provide a link to the BBRT (unofficial) Hall of Fame Ballot for 2021.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S 2021 BASEBALL HALL OF FAME (unofficial) FAN BALLOT

Baseball Roundtable is once again offering readers the opportunity to vote in BBRT’s (unofficial) Hall of Fame Fan Ballot (based on the 2021 BBWAA list of candidates).  To take a look at the players on the ballot, BBRT’s predictions and preferences and find a link to the fan ballot, click here.  To go directly to the fan ballot, click here.

Since 1936, 235 individual have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as players, with 134 of those through the traditional Baseball Writers Association balloting (as opposed various Veterans, Negro Leagues or ERA Committees).  Of those 134 elected in the traditional BBWAA balloting, 57 have been first-ballot electees.  This number of course, includes the five players elected in the very first year of balloting (for 1936 induction) – Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. Since it was the first-ever Hall of Fame ballot, those five were all automatically  “first-ballot” electees.  Notably, there would not be another first-ballot electee until 1962, when Jackie Robinson and Bob Feller both achieved that status.  In the interim the BBWAA had elected 31 players to the Hall.

Now, a lot has been written about those first-ballot Hall of Famers.  They, after all, should represent the acknowledged “best of the best.” In this post I would like to look in more depth at a rarer group, those players who had to wait until their final year of eligibility to celebrate election to the Hall of Fame.  There are only seven players in this group. In this post, Baseball Roundtable will take a look at the “patient seven,” ranking them in order or BBRT’s surprise that they had to wait that long.

As you read through the profiles of the last-chance electees, you will see some numbers that don’t seem to match up with current BBWAA voting rules. Under current rules, players first are eligible to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot five years after their retirement; players must have played in at least ten MLB seasons and may remain on the ballot only until reaching 15 years post-retirement; players must be approved for placement on the ballot by a Hall of Fame  Steering Committee; and players must receive at least 5 percent of  the vote to remain on the ballot for the following year.   Why the discrepancies? The rules have changed a lot over time.  For example, until 1945, there was no waiting period before a player could appear on the HOF ballot. Then from 1946-53, a player had to be retired at least one year before taking a spot on the ballot. In 1954, the current five-year (after retirement) waiting period was established. Similarly, there originally was no limit as to how long a player could remain on the ballot after retirement. In 1946, that was changed to 25 years after retirement; in 1956 it was changed to 30 years; in 1962 it was dropped to 20 years; and, in 2014, the present 15-year limit was adopted.  Over time, there also have been changes in the frequency of election; the use of a steering committee to pare the ballot; and even the use of a second round of “run-off” voting in years when no player got the needed support on the first ballot.

Now, here’s a look at the seven players who had to wait until their final year of ballot eligibility to be voted in by the writers – presented in order of BBRT’s surprise at the wait.

Joe Medwick, inducted 1968 … 84.8 percent support the year of his election.

From 1962 to 2014, a player could remain on the Hall of Fame Ballot for up to twenty years after retirement – and it took all twenty for Joe “Ducky” Medwick to make his way into the Hall. He tops the Baseball Roundtable’s “surprised he had to wait so long” list – thanks to a career batting average of .324, 10 All Star selections, an MVP Award and a Triple Crown.

Medwick played 17 MLB seasons – Cardinals (1932-1940, 1947-48), Dodgers (1940-1943, 46), Giants (1943-45), Braves (1945). Medwick put up a .324 career average (2,471 hits), led the NL in batting average once (.374 in 1937), hits twice, doubles three times, triples once, home runs once, RBI three times, and total bases three times. He was the NL MVP in 1937, when he won the NL Triple Crown. His final MLB line was .324-205-1,383, with 1,198 runs scored.  He also hit .326 in 12 World Series gamers.

Wear that Crown Proudly

Joe “Ducky” Medwick is the National League’s last (most recent) Triple Crown (batting) winner – .374-31-154 for the 1937 Cardinals.

Ducky Medwick first appeared on the Hall of Fame Ballot in 1948 – and he got just one vote. Some attributed Medwick’s 20-year wait for his ticket to the Hall of Fame on the colorful and combative player’s often difficult relationship with sportswriters, opponents and sometimes even teammates.

Joe Medwick’s Baseball Hall of Fame balloting percentages: 1948 (0.8%); 1956 (16.1%); 1958 (18.8%); 1960 (14.1%); 1962 (21.2%); 1964 (64.7%); 1966 (61.5%); 1967 (72.6%); 1968 (84.8%). Note: I am not sure why Medwick garnered that one vote in 1948 and then did not appear in the voting again until 1956 – still looking into that.)

Joe “Ducky Medwick’s Best Season:  In 1938, Joe Medwick played in an NL-tops 156 games.  He led the league in hitting (.374), home runs (31), RBI (154), runs scored (111), hits (237), doubles (56) and total bases (406).

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Ralph Kiner, OF/1B, inducted 1975 …  75.4 percent support the year of election.

Hall of Fame voting rules require a player to appear in the major leagues ten seasons to appear on the ballot.  A back injury limited Kiner, who retired at age 32, to ten MLB campaigns on the button.

Kiner won (or tied for), the National League home run crown in his first seven seasons (1946-52) – and he remains the only player with seven consecutive home run crowns.  Kiner was also an All Star in six of his ten MLB seasons, led the league in games played twice, runs once, RBI once, walks three times, on-base percentage once, slugging percentage three times and total bases once.  He finished in the top ten in NL Most Valuable Player balloting four times.

A couple of factors may have slowed Kiner’s trip to the Hall: 1) His injury-shortened career kept him from reaching the kind of milestone numbers that quickly pushed the door to the Hall open (like 500 home runs); 2) He was on the ballot at a time when votes seemed at a premium (From 1960 through 1974, the BBWAA voted only 14 players into the Hall). Kiner was elected in his final year of eligibility (20 years post-retirement). In the year he was finally elected (1975), it took 272 votes to reach the Hall. Kiner beat that by just one – and was the only player elected by the BBWAA that year. He should not have had to wait that long.

Fifty, that’s a Nice Number

Ralph Kiner was the first National Leaguer to log two 50-HR seasons.

Kiner played for the Pirates (1946-53), Cubs (1953-54) and Indians (1955). He hit .279, with 369 home runs and 1.015 RBI in 1,472 games. He also drew 1,011 walks, while fanning 749 times.

Ralph Kiner’s Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 1960 (1.1%); 1962 (3.1%); 1964 (15.4%); 1966 (24.5%); 1967 (42.5%); 1968 (41.7%); 1969 (40.3%); 1970 (55.7%); 1971 (58.9%); 1972 (59.3%);1973 (61.8%); 1974 (58.9%); 1975 (75.4%); Note:  From 1957-1965, the BBWAA balloting occurred every other year. Previous to 1979, there was no five percent requirement for a player to remain on the ballot.

Ralph Kiner’s Best Season:  In 1949, Ralph Kiner hit .310, with a league-leading 54 home runs and a league-topping 127 RBI. He also led the NL in walks (117) and slugging percentage (.658).

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Larry Walker, 2020 inductee – 76.6 percent support the year of election

Larry Walker made a jump of more than 20 percentage points in his final year on the ballot.   It seems the the fact that Walker played nearly one-third of his MLB career in hitter-friendly Coors Field may have hurt his vote totals over time – he hit .383 for his career in Coors, .271 elsewhere.    I’m not much for punishing a player for taking full advantage of his home-field conditions. I believe the numbers and Walker’s status as a multi-tool player – three Silver Slugger Awards, seven Gold Gloves, 383 home runs and 230 stolen bases – indicate his election was both well-deserved and overdue.

Walker played for the Expos (1989-1994), Rockies (1995-2004) and Cardinals (2004-2005).  In his 17 MLB seasons, he recorded 2,160 hits, a .313 average and three batting titles.  Between 1997 and 2001, he hit .350 or better in four of five seasons. The five-time All Star (and 1997 NL MVP) hit 383 home runs (a high of 49 in 1997) and stole 230 bases (a high of 33 in 1997).  Walker hit just .230 in 28 post-season games, but did rack up seven home runs, 15 RBI and sixteen walks in those contests.

The 400 Club

In 1997, Larry Walker led the NL with 409 total bases – the 18th highest single-season total all-time. There have been only 29 seasons of 400 or more total bases (by 18 different players) in MLB history.  Babe Ruth hold the record with 457 total bases in 1921.

Larry Walker’s Hall of Fame Balloting Percentages: 2011 (20.3%); 2012 (22.9%); 2013 (21.6%); 2014 (10.2%); 2015 (11.8%); 2016 (15.5%); 2017 (21.9%); 2018 (34.1%); 2019 (54.5%); 2020 (76.6%).

Larry Walker’s Best Season:  In his 1997 NL MVP year (Rockies), Larry Walker hit .366, with a league-leading 49 home runs. He drove in 130 runs, scored 143, rapped 46 doubles, led the league in total bases at 409, topped the league in slugging percentage at .720 and even threw in 33 stolen bases and a Gold Glove.  That’s using all five tools.

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Jim Rice, inducted 2009 … 76.4 percent support the year of election.

Jim Rice got solid support as he waited for his election – collecting more than 50 percent of the vote in each of his last ten years on the ballot.  The eight-time All Star and 1978 American League MVP played 16 MLB seasons (1974-89), all with the Red Sox.

Rice was a three-time league home-run leader (topping 30 home runs in four seasons); twice lead the AL in RBI (topping 100 eight times); four-times lead the league in total bases; and hit over .300 in seven full seasons.   He finished his career with a .298 average, 382 home runs, and 1,451 RBI. In his ten peak seasons (1977-86), he averaged .305-30-109 per campaign.  It has been speculated that several factors contributed to Rice’s long wait for induction: 1) His was on the ballot with a number PED-suspects, competing with some inflated numbers and facing some skeptical voters; he was not known as a particularly strong fielder; and his stats took a bit a slide over this final three seasons (averaging just 100 games, .263, 10 home runs and 54 RBI over those campaigns.)

Jim Rice’s Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 1995 (29.8%); 1996 (35.3%); 1997 (37.6%); 1998 (42.9%); 1999 (29.4%); 2000 (51.4%); 2001 (57.9%); 2002 (55.1%); 2003 (52.2%); 2004 (54.5%); 2005 (59.5%); 2006 (64.8%); 2007 (63.5%); 2008 (72.2%); 2009 (76.4%).

Jim Rice’s Best Season:  In his 1978 American League MVP season Jim Rice led the league in games (163), plate appearances (746); at bats (677); hits (213); triples (15); home runs (46); RBI (139); slugging percentage (.600); and total bases (408).  He hit .315 and scored 121 runs.

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Edgar Martinez, 2019 … 85.4 percent support in the year of election.

Edgar Martinez’ .312 career batting average points to him as a strong Hall of Fame candidate.  He was disadvantaged, however, by a long-running prejudice against designated hitters among voters (71.7 percent of Martinez’ MLB plate appearances came as a DH).   With that in mind, Martinez’s wait is less of a surprise to BBRT than some of the others on this list.  Martinez’ candidacy, in fact, looked to in jeopardy for a while. After topping 30 percent support in each of his first four years on the ballot, Martinez dropped below 30 percent for two ballots (2014-15). He then jumped to 43.4 percent in 2016 and steadily made the climb to election in 2019. BBRT would have put him in much sooner.

The fact is, Martinez clearly, and expertly, defined the DH role.  In an 18-season MLB career (all with the Mariners), Martinez was named to seven All Star teams; won a pair of batting titles (hitting a high of .356 in 1995); earned five Silver Slugger Awards; topped 100 RBI in six seasons (leading the league with 145 in 2000); and scored 100 or more runs five times (leading the league with 121 in 1995). He finished his career with a .312 average; 2,247 hits; 1,219 runs; 1,261 RBI; 309 home runs; and 514 doubles.

Martinez hit .571 in the 1995 AL Championship Series (12-for-21), with two home runs, six walks and 10 RBI in five games.  In 34 post-season games, he hit .266, with eight home runs and 24 RBI.

That’s Recognition Right There

In 2004, MLB renamed the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award “The Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.” That says a lot, right there.

Edgar Martinez’ Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 2010 (36.1%); 2011 (32.9%); 2012 (36.5% );  2013 (35.9%); 2014 (25.2%); 2015 (27.0%); 2016 (43.4%); 2017 (58.6%); 2018 (70.4%); 2019 (85.4%).

Edgar Martinez’ Best Season: One of two here, in 1995, Martinez led the league in batting average (.356), runs scored (121) and doubles (52), adding 29 home runs and 113 RBI.  In 2005, Martinez put up a .324 average, 37 home runs, a league-leading 145 RBI and 100 runs scored.

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Tim Raines, 2017 … 86.05 percent support the year of election.

Tim Raines may have been a bit overlooked because he did not reach of those magic “markers” for Hall of Fame selection – like a .300 career average, 3,000 hits, 500 home runs. He also did not have an MVP Award on his resume; gained the most recognition early in his career (seven All Star selections in his first nine seasons, none in his final 14).  He also had some drug-related issues that may have swayed some voters. He was, however, one of the top leadoff hitters in baseball – a bit of a Rickey Henderson-lite.

Raines put up some impressive numbers in his 23 MLB seasons – a  .294 average, 2,605 hits, 1,571 runs scored (55^th all time), 170 home runs, 980 RBI and 808 stolen bases (fifth all time). He was a seven-time All Star; led the NL in stolen bases four consecutive years (1981-84); had a streak of six seasons with at least 70 steals; won the NL batting title in 1986 with a .334 average; led the league in runs scored twice and doubles once.

Just How much of a threat was Raines on the bases?   Over 23 seasons, he averaged 35 steals a year (and that included six seasons in which he played in less than half his team’s games).  Over his MLB career – from age 19 to 42 – Raines averaged 52 stolen bases for every 162 games played. In 34 post-season games, The Rock hit .270 with one home run, six RBI, 18 runs scored and three steals. Raines played for the Expos (1979-1990 and 2001); White Sox (1991-1995); Yankees (1996-1998); A’s (1999); Orioles (2001); and Marlins (2002).

Good Genes

On October 4, 2001, the 42-year-old Raines started in left field for the Orioles, alongside his 22–year-old son Tim Raines, Jr. (CF).

Tim Raines’ Hall of Fame Voting Percentages: 2008 (24.3%); 2009 (22.6%); 2010 (30.4%); 2011 (37.5%); 2012 (48.7%); 2013 (52.2%); 2014 (46.1%); 2015 (55.0%); 2016 (69.8%); 2017 (86.0%)

Tim Raines’ Best Season:  Despite his 1986 batting title (.334 average), BBRT thinks Raines’ top season was 1983 (Expos) – 156 games, 179 hits, .298 average, league-leading 133 runs scored, 11 homers, 71 RBI, league-leading 90 steals.

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Red Ruffing, 1967 … 86.9 percent support the year of election.

Not only did Red Ruffing have to wait until his fifteenth and final year of HOF ballot eligibility, he had to wait until a runoff vote to see his ticket to the HOF stamped.  In that final year of eligibility, Ruffing had received 72.6 percent of the vote in the BBWAA balloting (tied with Ducky Medwick). At the time (from 1960-68), HOF balloting rules called for a run off ballot (among the top 30 vote gets) if no one was elected on the original ballot.  Ruffing was elected in that run-off.

Red Ruffing won 273 MLB games – despite losing two seasons to military service (1943-44). Ruffing’s candidacy was dampened a bit by his 3.80 career earned run average (at the time the highest-ever for a HOF inductee, now second to Jack Morris’ 3,90) and a couple of seasons when he led the American League in losses (10-25 in 1928 and 9-22 in 1929).

Still he put in 22 MLB seasons, won 273 games (225 losses), was a twenty-game winner four times (leading the league in wins once) and was an All Star in six campaigns (1934 & 1938-42 with the Yankees). Ruffing also led the league in complete games once, shutouts once and strikeouts once.  He fanned 1,987 batters (and walked 1,541) in 4,344 innings pitched.  Had he not spent the 1943-44 season in the military, Ruffing likely would have recorded 300 MLB wins and made his way to Cooperstown much earlier.

Big Game Arm

Red Ruffing started ten World Series Games (all for the Yankees) and went 7-2, 2.63, with eight complete games.

Ruffing pitched for the Red Sox (1924-1930); Yankees (1930-42, 1945-46): and White Sox (1947).

Red Ruffing’s Hall of Fame Vote Percentages: 1948 (3.3%); 1949 (14.4%); 1950 (7.1%); 1951 (4.0%); 1952 (4.3%); 1953 (9.1%); 1954 (11.5%); 1955 (23.9%);  1956 (50.3%); 1958 (37.2%); 1960 (32.0%); 1962 (45.0%); 1964 (70.1% – lost in runoff to Luke Appling); 1966 (68.9%); 1967 (72.6% – runoff 86.9%).

A Trade … and a New Trajectory

Red Ruffing’s trade from the Red Sox to the Yankees in May of 1930 was a career turning point. At the time, he was 39-96, 4.61 in seven seasons for the Red Sox (0-3, 6.38 for Boston to that point in 1930).  Ruffing went 15-5, 4.14 for the remainder of the season in a Yankee uniform. He went on to pitch 15 seasons for New York, going 231-124, 3.47.

Red Ruffing’s Best Season: One of two here. In 1938, Red Ruffing led the American League in wins with 21 (seven losses), put up a 3.31 earned run average and completed 22 of 31 starts.  The very next season he duplicated his 21-7 record (but did not lead the league in wins), with a 2.93 ERA, another 22 complete games (28 starts) and a league–leading five shutouts.

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

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Regular readers of BBRT know that Baseball Roundtable has a particular fondness for players that bring “lumber and leather” to their game. This post (an annual BBRT tradition) will focus on players who have captured what BBRT thinks of as “MLB’s Heavy Metal Doubleheader” – winning a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the same season.  You have to admire those players who can earn recognition as the best at their positions both defensively and offensively.

Note: The Hillerich and Bradsby Silver Slugger Awards were first presented in 1980 (the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were launched in 1957), so the list of double winners is relatively recent (at least as defined by someone who went to their first World Series game the year the Gold Glove Awards were initiated).

In 2020’s shortened season, only one player achieved “Heavy Metal” status, Dodgers’ rightfielder Mookie Betts. It was only the second time in Silver Slugger/Gold Glove history that only one MLB player earned both recognitions in the same campaign.  (The first was Dodgers’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez n 2014.) In the 2019 season four players earned Gold Glove and Silver Slugger recognition: Betts in right field for the Red Sox; Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto; Dodgers’ RF Cody Bellinger; and Diamondbacks’ pitcher Zack Greinke.

Let’s look at Mookie Betts’ 2020 Heavy Metal Season.

Mookie Betts, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers

On the offensive side, Betts’ hit .292-16-39, with 47 runs scored and ten steals in 55 games during his first year in a Dodgers uniform.  His 47 runs were fourth overall and first among outfielders in the National League. His 64 base hits were tenth in the NL; his 123 total bases seventh; his 16 home runs tied for third.  His performance at the plate earned him his fourth Silver Slugger Award in six full MLB seasons.

On defense, he topped  NL right fielders in putouts (113) and Defensive Runs Saved (11); leading in the range and positioning components of DRS among right fielders.  Betts also won the 2020 Fielding Bible Award for right fielders. It was Betts’ fifth consecutive Gold Glove and fourth Fielding Bible Award (the Awards were established in 2006), the most won by any rightfielder.

 

Change of Venue?  No Problem.

In. 2020 Mookie Betts joined Adrian Gonzalez (1B) and Matt Williams (3B) as the only players to capture a SS/GG single-season combination in both the AL and NL.  Betts accomplished the feat with the Red Sox in 2016-18-19 and, of course, with the Dodgers in 2020. Gonzalez achieved the combination with the Red Sox in 2011 and the Dodgers in 2014.  Williams did it with the  Indians in 1997 and  Giants in 1993-94.

–A FEW ADDITIONAL BITS OF SAME-SEASON SILVER SLUGGER AND GOLD GLOVER TRIVIA–

• The Chicago White Sox are the only team to never have a player capture a Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove in the same season.
• The most players to achieve the GG/SS combo in a season is nine – back in 1984: Lance Parrish, C, Tigers; Keith Hernandez, 1B, Mets; Eddie Murray, 1B, Orioles; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Buddy Bell, 3B, Rangers; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves.
• Roberto Alomar (2B) is the only player to win the single-season Gold Glove/Silver Slugger combo with three different teams (Blue Jays-1992; Orioles-1996; Indians-1999, 2000).
• Scott Rolen (3B) and Zack Greinke are the only players to win the SS/GG combo in a season in which they played for two different teams. In 2002, Rolen was traded from the Phillies to the Cardinals on July 29. He played 100 games for the Phillies and 55 for the Cardinals in what would be his only SS/GG combo season.  Greinke did it in 2019, , when he started the season with the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Astros at the July deadline. Despite moving to the AL with its DH, Geinke’s .280-3-8 season was goo enough to earn him a Silver Slugger.
• The only team to have three SS/GG winners in the same season is the 1993 Giants (Robby Thompson (2B), Matt Williams (3B), Barry Bonds (OF).

Zack Greinke (2019 Diamondbacks/Astros) and Mike Hampton (2003 Braves) are the only pitchers to win a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the same season. 

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Now that we’ve looked at 2020’s “Heavy Metal Doubleheader” winner, here’s a look back at those who have won both awards in the same season in the past.  Since 1980, the combination of a Gold Glove/Silver Slugger has been achieved in a season 195 times by 104 different players – with 39 players accomplishing the feat more than once and 26 of those winning two or more consecutive SS/GG combinations.   Here are a couple of lists that might be of interest.  (Note: Since the Silver Slugger is awarded to three outfielders annually regardless of their position, the GG/SS combo lists in this post do not break outfielders out by position.)

—Full List of Same-Year Gold Glove/Silver Slugger Winners by Season—

2020

Mookie Betts,RF, Dodgers

2019

J.T. Realmuto, C, Phillies; Mookie Betts, RF, Red Sox; Cody Bellinger, RF, Dodgers; Zack Greinke, P, D-backs/Astros

2018

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Mookie Betts, OF, Red Sox; Nick Markakis, OF, Braves; Salvador Perez, C, Royals

2017

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks; Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals; Marcell Ozuna, OF, Marlins

2016

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Mookie Betts, Of, Red Sox; Salvador Perez, C, Royals; Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs

2015

Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros; Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks; Dee Gordon, 2B, Marlins; Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies; Brandon Crawford, SS, Giants.

2014

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Dodgers

2013

Yadier Molina, C, Cardinals; Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks; J.J. Hardy, SS, Orioles; Adam Jones, OF, Orioles

2012

Adam LaRoche, 1B, Nationals; Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees; Chase Headley, 3B, Padres; Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates

2011

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox; Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds; Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers; Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies; Jacob Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox; Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers

2010

Joe Mauer, C, Twins; Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals; Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees; Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies; Carl Crawford, OF, Rays; Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies

2009

Joe Mauer, C, Twins; Mark Tiexiera, 1B, Yankees; Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals; Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees; Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers; Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners; Torii Hunter, OF, Angels

2008

Joe Mauer, C, Twins; Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox; David Wright, 3B, Mets; Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians

2007

Russell Martin, C, Dodgers; Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers; David Wright, 3B, Mets; Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies; Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets; Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners

2006

Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees; Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets

2005

Jason Varitek, C, Red Sox; Mark Tiexierea, 1B, Rangers; Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs; Andruw Jones, OF, Braves

2004

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Tigers; Jim Edmonds, OF, Cardinals

2003

Brett Boone, 2B, Mariners; Edgar Renteria, SS, Cardinals; Alex Rodriguez, SS, Rangers; Mike Hampton, P, Braves

2002

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies; Scott Rolen, 3B, Cardinals/Phillies; Eric Chavez, 3B, A’s; Edgar Renteria, SS, Cardinals; Alex Rodriguez, SS, Rangers

2001

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies; Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners

2000

Roberto Alomar, 2B, Indians; Darin Erstad, OF, Angels

1999

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Robert Alomar, 2B, Indians; Larry Walker, OF, Rockies; Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Mariners; Shawn Green, OF, Blue Jays

1998

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Rafael Palmeiro, 1B, Rangers; Ken Griffey, Jr. OF, Mariners

1997

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Craig Biggio, 2B, Astros; Chuck Knoblauch, 2B, Twins; Matt Williams, 3B, Indians; Larry Walker, OF, Rockies; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr, OF, Mariners

1996

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Roberto Alomar, 2B, Orioles; Ken Caminiti, 3B, Padres; Barry Larkin, SS, Reds; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr. OF, Mariners

1995

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Craig, Biggio, 2B, Astros; Barry Larkin, SS, Reds

1994

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers; Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Astros; Craig Biggio, 2B, Astros; Matt Williams, 3B, Giants; Wade Boggs, 3B, Yankees; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Mariners

1993

Robby Thompson, 2B, Giants; Matt Williams, 3B, Giants; Jay Bell, SS, Pirates; Barry Bonds, OF, Giants; Ken Griffey, Jr, OF, Mariners

1992

Roberto Alomar, 2B, Blue Jays; Larry Walker, OF, Expos; Andy Van Slyke, OF, Pirates; Barry Bonds, OF, Pirates; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins

1991

Will Clark, 1B, Giants; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Cal Ripken, Jr., SS, Orioles; Barry Bonds, OF, Pirates’ Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Mariners

1990

Benito Santiago, C, Padres; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Kelly Gruber, 3B, Blue Jays; Barry Bonds, OF, Pirates; Ellis Burks, OF, Red Sox

1989

Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Eric Davis, OF, Reds; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins; Tony Gwynn, OF, Padres

1988

Benito Santiago, C, Padres; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Andy Van Slyke, OF, Pirates; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins

1987

Don Mattingly, 1B, Yankees; Ozzie Smith, SS, Cardinals; Tony Gwynn, OF, Padres; Eric Davis, OF, Reds; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins; Andre Dawson, OF, Cubs

1986

Don Mattingly, 1B, Yankees; Frank White, 2B, Royals; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Tony Gwynn, OF, Padres; Kirby Puckett, OF, Twins

1985

Don Mattingly, 1B, Yankees; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Tim Wallach, 3B, Expos; George Brett, 3B, Royals; Willie McGee, OF, Cardinals; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees

1984

Lance Parrish, C, Tigers; Keith Hernandez, 1B, Mets; Eddie Murray, 1B, Orioles; Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Cubs; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Buddy Bell, 3B, Rangers; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves

1983

Lance Parrish, C, Tigers; Eddie Murray, 1B, Orioles; Lou Whitaker, 2B, Tigers; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees; Andre Dawson, OF, Expos

1982

Gary Carter, C, Expos; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Robin Yount, SS, Brewers; Dale Murphy, OF, Braves; Dave Winfield, OF, Yankees

1981

Gary Carter, C, Expos; Manny Trillo, 2B, Phillies; Mike Schmidt, 3B, Phillies; Andre Dawson, OF, Expos; Rickey Henderson, OF, A’s; Dwight Evans, OF, Red Sox; Dusty Baker, OF, Dodgers

1980

Keith Hernandez, 1B, Cardinals; Cecil Cooper, 1B, Brewers; Andre Dawson, OF, Expos; Willie Wilson, OF, Royals

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If you want to look up your favorite player(s), here is:

Your Same-Season, Gold Glove/Silver Slugger combo winners listed alphabetically:

Alomar, Roberto … 1992; 1996; 1999; 2000

Altuve, Jose … 2015

Arenado, Nolan … 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018

Baker, Dusty … 1981

Bagwell, Jeff … 1994

Bell, Buddy … 1984

Bell, Jay (SS) … 1993

Cody Bellinger … 2019

Beltre, Adrian (3B) … 2011

Beltran, Carlos (OF) … 2006; 2007

Biggio, Craig (2B) … 1994; 1995; 1997

Betts, Mookie (OF) … 2016; 2018; 2019; 2020

Boggs, Wade (3B) … 1994

Bonds, Barry … 1990; 1991; 1992; 1993; 1994; 1996; 1997

Boone, Brett … 2003

Brett, George … 1985

Burks, Ellis … 1990

Caminiti, Ken … 1996

Cano, Robinson … 2010; 2012

Carter, Gary … 1981; 1982

Chavez, Eric … 2002

Clark, Will … 1991

Cooper, Cecil …1980

Crawford, Brandon … 2015

Crawford, Carl … 2010

Dawson, Andre … 1980; 1981; 1983; 1987

Davis, Eric … 1987; 1989

Edmonds, Jim … 2004

Ellsbury, Jacob … 2011

Erstad, Darin … 2000

Evans, Dwight … 1981

Goldschmidt, Paul … 2013; 2015; 2017

Gonzalez, Adrian … 2011; 2014

Gonzalez, Carlos … 2010

Gordon, Dee … 2015

Green, Shawn … 1999

Zack Greinke … 2019

Griffey, Ken Jr. … 1991; 1993; 1994; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999

Gruber, Kelly … 1990

Gwynn, Tony … 1986; 1987; 1989

Hampton, Mike … 2003

Hardy, J.J. … 2013

Headley, Chase … 2012

Helton, Todd … 2002

Henderson, Rickey … 1981

Hernandez, Keith … 1980; 1984

Eric Hosmer … 2017

Hunter, Torii … 2009

Jeter, Derek … 2006; 2009

Jones, Adam … 2013

Jones, Andruw … 2005

Kemp, Matt … 2009; 2011

Knoblauch, Chuck … 1997

Larkin, Barry … 1995; 1996

LaRoche, Adam … 2012\

Lee, Derrek … 2005

Markakis, Nick … 2018

Martin, Russell … 2008\

Mattingly, Don … 1985; 1986; 1987

Mauer, Joe … 2008; 2009; 2010

McCutchen, Andrew … 2012

McGee, Willie … 1985

Molina, Yadier … 2013

Murphy, Dale … 1982; 1983; 1984; 1985

Murray, Eddie … 1983; 1984

Marcell Ozuna … 2017

Polanco, Placido … 2007

Palmeiro, Rafael … 1998

Parrish, Lance … 1983; 1984

Pedroia, Dustin … 2008

Salvador, Perez … 2016; 2018

Phillips, Brandon … 2011

Puckett, Kirby … 1986; 1987; 1988; 1989; 1992

Pujols, Albert … 2010

J.T. Realmuto … 2019

Renteria, Edgar … 2002

Ripken, Cal, Jr. … 1991

Anthony Rizzo … 2016

Rodriguez, Alex … 2002; 2003

Rodriguez, Ivan … 1994; 1995; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2004

Rolen, Scott … 2002

Rollins, Jimmy … 2007

Sandberg, Ryne … 1984; 1985; 1988; 1989; 1990; 1991

Santiago, Benito … 1988; 1990

Schmidt, Mike … 1981; 1982; 1983; 1984; 1986

Sizemore, Grady … 2008

Smith, Ozzie … 1987

Suzuki, Ichiro … 2001; 2007; 2009

Thompson, Robby … 1993

Tiexiera, Mark … 2005, 2009

Trillo, Manny … 1981

Tulowitzki, Troy … 2010; 2011

Van Slyke, Andy … 1988; 1992

Varitek, Jason … 2005

Walker, Larry … 1992; 1997; 1999

Wallach, Tim … 1985

White, Frank … 1986

Whitaker, Lou … 1983; 1984; 1985

Williams, Matt … 1993; 1994; 1997

Wilson, Willie … 1980\

Winfield, Dave … 1982; 1983; 1984; 1985

Wright, David … 2007; 2008

Yount, Robin … 1982

Ryan Zimmerman … 2009

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

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

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