Baseball Roundtable

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 some of MLB’s wildest innings – whether they are defined by walks, batters hit or wild pitches.

A Record Eight Bases Loaded Walks In One Inning

On April 22, 1959, the Chicago White Sox completed what may be the wildest MLB offensive inning ever – an event Baseball Roundtable feels is worth revisiting. In the seventh inning of a 20-6 road win over the Kansas City Athletics, the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs on just one base hit. In fact, they got only one ball out of the infield.

How “wild” was the inning?

• Three Athletics’ pitchers walked ten batters and hit one.
• There were also three Athletics’ errors.
• There were an MLB, single-inning record eight bases-loaded walks (and one bases-loaded hit by pitch).
• Nellie Fox drew two bases-loaded walks in the inning.

This unique offensive “outburst” would prove to be a portent of things to come. The 1959 AL pennant-winning White Sox became known as the “Go-Go Sox” for their ability to manufacture runs despite a punchless offense. (The Sox finished last in the league in home runs and sixth – out of the eight AL teams – in batting average and runs scored, but first in stolen bases and second in walks).

A few other tidbits from the game:

• The Sox sent 17 batters to the plate, but collected just one hit – and, in fact, got only one ball out of the infield.
• Sox hitters batted with the bases loaded 12 times and never got the ball past the pitcher.
• Eight different White Sox’ players drew walks.

Here’s how it went that inning:

Tom Gorman starts the inning on the mound for the Athletics.

• White Sox’ 1B Ray Boone safe on a throwing error by A’s shortstop Joe DeMaestri.
• RF Al Smith attempts to sacrifice Boone to second (score was 8-6 at the time) and reaches safely on an error by A’s third baseman Hal Smith.
• LF Johnny Callison singles to right, scoring Boone and Smith (with the help of an error by A’s right fielder Roger Maris). Callison ended up on third.
• SS Luis Aparicio walks – then steals second (runners now on second and third).
• P Bob Shaw walks (loading the bases).
• PH Earl Torgeson (batting for 3B Sammy Esposito) walks (scoring Callison). Note: Gorman got an 2-0 count on Torgeson and was replaced on the hill by Mark Freeman, who completed the walk.
• 2B Nellie Fox walks (scoring Aparicio).
• CF Jim Landis reaches on fielder’s choice – grounding back to pitcher Mark Freeman, who takes the force at home (bases still loaded).
• C Sherman Lollar walks (scoring Torgeson, bases still loaded).
• Boone makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks.
• Smith makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Landis).
• Callison, who had the only hit of the inning in his first plate appearance, is hit by a pitch (scoring Lollar, bases still loaded). Lou Skizas comes in to run for Callison.
• Aparicio draws his second walk of the inning (scoring Boone, bases still loaded).
• Shaw strikes out.
• PH Bubba Phillips (batting for Torgeson, who batted for Esposito earlier in the inning) walks (scoring Smith, bases still full).
• Fox draws his second bases-loaded walk of the inning (scoring Skizas).
• Landis grounds out pitcher-to-first to end the inning.

The 20-runs the White Sox scored that day were the most they plated in any game that season.  Side note: It did not start out like it was going to be a good day for the White Sox.  The A’s knocked Chicago’s starting pitcher Early Wynn – who would go on to lead the AL in wins with 22 – out of the game with six runs on six hits and two walks in the first 1 2/3 innings. The Sox actually trailed 6-1 after two frames.

Of course, with Baseball Roundtable, one thing to another.  So, I began looking for other “Wild Innings.”  Read on for those.

Most Walks Drawn in an Inning – 11 … Yankees, third inning, September 11, 1949 (versus Nationals)

Okay, this game was already a mismatch. The Yankees came into the contest 83-50, in first place in the American League.  The Nationals were 44-91, in last place 40 games off the pace.  Starting for the Bronx bombers was Allie Reynolds (15-4, 4.07 on the season). On the bump for the Nationals was Paul Calvert (6-14, 5.48).  Still, when the Yankees came up in the bottom of the third frame, the score was 0-0.

Then this happened.

Calvert starts the inning on the mound.

• Yankee SS Phil Rizzuto walks.
• RF Cliff Mapes walks.
• 3B Bobby Brown hits a two-run double to right.
• CF Joe DiMaggio reaches on a throwing error by Nationals’ 3B Eddie Yost, with Brown scoring and DiMaggio ending up on third.
• C Yogi Berra hits an RBI double.

Dick Welteroth replaces Calvert on the mound.

• LF Charlie Keller walks.
• 1B Joe Collins walks, loading the bases.
• 2B Jerry Coleman walks, forcing in Berra, sacks still full.
• P Allie Reynolds helps his own cause with a two-run single; Coleman goes to second.
• During Rizzuto’s second plate appearance of the inning, Coleman is picked off second.
• Rizzuto singles, Reynolds goes to third.
• Mapes draws his second walk of the inning. Rizzuto goes to second.

Julio Gonzalez comes in to relieve Welteroth.

• Brown walks, loading the bases.
• DiMaggio flies out to left, Rizzuto scores and Mapes goes to third.
• Berra walks, loading the bases.
• Keller walks, forcing in Mapes.
• Collins walks, forcing in Brown.

Buzz Dozier comes in to pitch.

• Coleman walks, forcing in Berra.
• Reynolds ends the inning by popping out to second.

End result:  12 runs on four hits, 11 walks and an error. The Yankees went on to win 20-0, as four Nationals pitchers give up 17 hits and 17 walks.

Wildest Game Ever?   A Pretty Good Bet.

On May 9, 1916, the Tigers took on the Athletics in Philadelphia. The contest was “no-contest”,” as the visiting Bengals topped the Athletics 16-2.   While the approximately 4,500 Athletics’ fans in attendances did not get to see an As’ win, they did have the “pleasure” of witnessing some dubious (Modern Era – post-1900) record-setting (records that still stand today).

The Tigers not only pounded out 12 hits, they also drew a Modern Era (for a nine-inning game) 18 walks off a trio of Athletics’ hurlers.   In fact, eight of the 12 Tigers who crossed the plate got on base via a free pass. Twelve of the free passes were surrendered by Athletics’ southpaw Carl Ray, who came into the game in the top of the third, with the A’s already trailing 9-0. Ray pitched the final seven frames (Taking one for the team?) and gave up seven runs (just four earned … there were four Athletics’ errors during his time on the mound) on six hits and that dozen walks.  Ray, by the way, pitched in just two MLB seasons (1915-16) … a total of 16 2/3 innings, putting up a 0-2, 4.82 record, with 20 hits and 20 walks surrendered. He fanned 11.

But, back to our regularly scheduled program. The Tigers tried hard to keep up with the Athletics in terms of traveling on the wild side. Tiger pitchers issued 12 free passe in the game – and the combined 30 walks remains the MLB record for a single game. The damage was limited to just two runs by the fact that Tiger hurlers gave up just three hits and the Tigers’ defense made no miscues.

A little surprise, despite a total of 18 runs, 15 hits, 30 walks and five errors the game took just two hours and 30 minutes.

For those who like to know such things, the all-time record for walks drawn by a team in a nine-inning game is 19. On September 21, 1887, when the America Association’s Louisville Colonels drew 19 walks in a 16-8 win over the Cleveland Blues in Louisville. This record gets a special nod since, in 1887, it took five balls to draw a walk.

From Both Sides Now. A Wild Unicorn.

On May 6, 2019, Giants hurlers tied the MLB record for batters hit in an inning with four – and they did it with a twist – as switch-pitcher Pat Venditte became the first (and still only) moundsman to hit a batter while pitching right-handed and left-handed in the same inning, while also tying the MLB single-pitcher record for batters hit in an inning with three (shared by more than 30 hurlers).   It all happened in the bottom of the sixth.

Venditte, who replaced Nick Vincent on the mound in the fifth, was on the hill for the Giants.

• LH-hitting 1B Joey Votto flies out to left. (Venditte throwing LH.)
• RH- hitting 3B Eugenio Suarez is hit by Venditte’s first pitch. (Venditte throwing RH.)
• RH-hitting RF Yasiel Puig walks on a 3-2 pitch. (Venditte throwing RH.)
• RH-hitting 2B Kyle Farmer singles to short, loading the bases. (Venditte throwing RH.)
• RH-hitting SS Jose Iglesias hits a two-run single to left. (Venditte throwing RH.)
• RH-hitting Curt Casali hits an RBI single to center. (Venditte throwing RH.)
• RH-hitting Lf Jose Peraza is hit by a pitch, again Venditte’s first pitch. (Venditte throwing RH.)
• LH-hitting Josh VanMeter pinch hits for pitcher Anthony DeSclafani,
• VanMeter hit by Venditte’s first pitch (Venditte pitching left-handed.)

Sam Dyson relieves Venditte.

• CF Nick Senzel strikes out looking.
• Votto is hit by an 0-2 pitch.
• Suarez grounds out to third.

Five runs, three hits, one walk, four hit by pitch.

The Giants, by the way, lost to the Reds by a 12-4 score.

For those who like to know such things, The only other MLB game in which four players were hit by a pitch in the same half inning took place in the second inning of an August 19, 1893 game between the Boston Beaneaters and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The hurlers were the Pirates’ Philip “Red” Ehret and William “Adonis” Terry (who each hit two batters). The most batters hit in a game by one pitcher is six John Grimes of the National League Saint Louis Browns on July 31, 1897 and Ed Knouff of the American Association Baltimore Orioles on April 25, 1887.

Baseball Roundtable Extra

On October 3, 2000 – in the top of the third inning of Game One of the National League Division Series between St. Louis and Atlanta, Redbird’s starter 21-year-old rookie Rick Ankiel (who had gone 11-7, 3.50 during the season) did something that has never been matched in the Modern Era and occurred only only one other time in MLB history.  He threw five wild pitches in a single inning. His inning went like this:

• Atlanta P Greg Maddux walked on four pitches.
• 2B Rafael Furcal, popped out to first on a 1-2 pitch.
• Maddux took second on an 0-1 wild pitch to CF Andruw Jones.
• Maddux took third on a 2-1 wild pitch to Jones.
• Jones walked on a 3-1 pitch.
• Andruw Jones went to second on a 2-2 wild pitch to 3B Chipper Jones.
• Jones struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch.
• 1B Andres Galarraga walked on a 3-2 wild pitch, Maddux scoring and A. Jones going to second.
• RF Brian Jordan singled home A. Jones on the first pitch from Ankiel.
• Galarraga went to third and Jordan to second on 1-1 wild pitch to LF Reggie Sanders.
• Sanders walked on a 3-1 pitch.
• SS Walt Weiss hit a two-run single on an 0-1 pitch.
• Mike James relieved Ankiel and got C Javy Lopez to pop out to end the inning.

The Cardinals, by the way, won the game 7-5.

Post-season records are separate from the regular season, so the record of five wild pitches in an inning of a regular-season game still belong to Bert Cunningham of the Buffalo Bisons (Players League), who threw five wild pitches in the first inning of a loss to the Chicago Pirates on September 15, 1890.

Side note:  It is generally agreed that rookie Ankiel got a grand case of the “yips” in the 2000 post-season.  A noted earlier, during the 2000 season, he went 11-7, 3.50 in 31 games (30 starts), finishing second to Rafael Furcal in NL Rookie of the Year voting.  In 175 innings, he threw just 12 wild pitches. (I ‘ll do the math, that’s one per every 14.6 innings.) He also walked 4.6 batters per nine frames.  Ankiel pitched in three games in the 2000 post season – one in the NL Division Series and two in the NL Championship Series. In four innings, he gave up seven runs on five hits and 11 walks and threw nine wild pitches.

There was, by the way, plenty of reason to expect Akiel to shine in the big leagues. He was second-round Cardinals’ Draft pick in 1997 (after being name the USA Today High School Player of the Year). In 1998, Ankiel was a Carolina League All Star and the Cardinals Minor-League Player of the year,  after going 12-6, 2.63 and fanning 222 batters, at A and High-A.   He was also Minor League Player of the Year for Baseball America and USA Today in 1999, after going 13-3, 2.35 and fanning 194 batters in 137 2/3 innings.

To make a long story short (or at least less long), Ankiel did not bounce right back after that 2000 post-season melt-down. After that 11-win rookie campaign, he saw more minor-league than major-league action, went 2-2, 6.62 in 11 MLB games (34 innings) from 2001-2004, and underwent elbow surgery along the way.  By 2005, Ankiel reportedly was ready to retire from baseball. The Cardinals, however, saw potential in Ankiel’s athleticism and baseball skills and convinced him to “reboot” as an outfielder.

By August 9, 2007, Ankiel was back in the major-leagues, starting in right field for the Cardinals and popping a three-run homer in his first MLB outfield start. He went on play seven MLB seasons in the outfield (2007-2017), primarily center field. His final MLB batting stat line was .240-76-251 and, in 2008, he hit .264-25-71 in 120 games for the Cardinals.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Rick Ankiel;s triumph over the yips should make him a Hall of Famer, by Kale Mintz, Cut4 (by MLB.com), December 30, 2018.

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.

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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, we’re looking at games in which a team came away with a victory (in a non-shortened game) without the benefit of a single base hit.  It’s happened just six times in Modern Era (post-1900) MLB history (Disclaimer: Negro Leagues individual game records from 1920-48 have not been fully incorporated into the MLB record book.)

 

Two of those games were officially recognized no-hitters.  The four others were games in which the home team was hitless, but leading, and did not bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.  (In 1991, MLB adopted a rule that to be a no-hitter, the pitcher or pitchers must have pitched at least nine innings.)

First, the two recognized no-hitters.

April 23, 1964 … Reds 1 – Colt .45s 0

The April 23, 1964 Reds/Colt .45s contest (in Houston) was a real nail-biter. After eight innings, the game was still scoreless and Colt .45s’ starter Ken Johnson had held the Reds without a hit. In fact, he had allowed only two baserunners (both on walks), while fanning nine.

Reds’ starter Joe Nuxhall had also pitched well, although not as spectacularly. Over the first eight frames, he had allowed no runs on five hits and a walk, with four strikeouts.

In the ninth, Johnson stayed on his no-hit pace, but started his own problems with an error.  The inning started with Johnson retiring Nuxhall on a groundball to third. Then, Reds’ 2B Pete Rose attempted to bunt for a hit. Johnson fielded the ball but threw wildly to first base, with Rose not only safe on the error, but making it to second base. Next up was 3B Chico Ruiz, who added injury to insult, hitting a line drive off Johnson’s leg that ricocheted to Colt .45s’ 3B Bob Aspromonte, whose strong-armed throw beat Ruiz to first (1-5-3 if you’re keeping score). The hustling Rose went to third on the play. Next up was CF Vada Pinson, who hit a grounder to veteran 2B Nellie Fox, who bobbled it, allowing Pinson to reach first and Rose to score. Johnson, pitching on adrenalin and a sore leg, next retired RF and cleanup hitter Frank Robinson (fly out to LF) to end the inning – no hitter intact, but down by a 1-0 score.

The Colt .45s had a chance to tie it in the ninth, as 1B Pete Runnels reached first with two outs on a disputed play (ruled an error on Reds’ 1B Deron Johnson). Nuxhall retired the next batter, PH John Weekly, on strikes. And, Ken Johnson ended up as – and still is – the only MLB pitcher to complete a nine-inning, single- pitcher, no-hitter and lose.  A Roundtable unicorn.

In his loss, Johnson gave up one unearned run, allowed no hits, walked two and fanned nine.

April 30, 1967 … Tigers 2 – Orioles 1

On April 30, 1967, the Orioles faced the Tigers in a Sunday doubleheader (in Baltimore). The Tigers prevailed in Game One by a 2-1 score – despite being held hitless by Orioles’ starter Steve Barber and reliever Stu Miller. The game was scoreless through the first seven innings; although it wasn’t a typical pitcher’s duel.  Through the seventh, Tigers’ starter Earl Wilson had allowed just two baserunners (both singles), while Barber (who had not given up a hit) had walked five batters, hit two and managed to strand seven Detroit baserunners.

Barber pitched around a pair of walks (one intentional) in a scoreless top of the eighth (no-hitter still intact). In the bottom of the inning, the Orioles finally got to Wilson.  LF Curt Blefary walked to open the inning and was sacrificed to second by 2B Woodie Held. Wilson them intentionally walked PH Charley Lau to get to Barber.  The move backfired as Barber walked (unintentionally) to load the baes. A sacrifice fly by SS Luis Aparicio scored Blefary before an infield fly out by CF Russ Snyder ended the inning with Barber and the Orioles now up 1-0 (and looking toward a no-hit/no-run victory).

Then came the ninth, and Barber’s undoing. Tigers’ 1B Norm Cash walked to open the inning (and Dick Tracewski came in as a pinch runner).  Tracewski did not have to run to second, as Barber next walked SS Ray Oyler (with Jake Wood coming in to run for Oyler).  Wilson next laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third. Still, there was hope, as Barber got dangerous pinch hitter Willie Horton on a foul pop out.  Unfortunately, Barber uncorked a wild pitch to the next batter (CF Mickey Stanley), scoring Tracewski and went on to walk Stanley (Barber’s tenth walk of the game). At this point, Miller was brought in to relieve Barber. Tigers’ 3B Don Wert was up next and grounded to Orioles’ SS Aparicio for what looked like the final out. Aparicio went for the force at second base, but second baseman Mark Belanger mishandled the ball and a second run scored.  Tigers’ RF Al Kaline then grounded out to end the frame with Detroit, still hitless, now up 2-1.

Reliever Fred Gladding came on for the Tigers in the ninth and retired the Orioles in order.  End result: 2-1 Tigers’ victory; a win for Wilson; a save for Gladding; a loss for Barber; and an official combined no-hitter for Miller and Barber. Barber was credited with 8 2/3 innings pitched, no hits, two runs (one earned), ten walks and three strikeouts. Miller pitched 1/3 of an inning, facing just two batters (one reached base due to an error) and, of course, allowing no hits.

Now, let’s look at the remaining games from our chart. In each case, the home (and hitless) team was leading and, therefore, did not bat in the bottom of the ninth – preventing the pitchers on the losing (visiting) squad from completing the minimum of nine innings pitched for a no-hitter.  (I’d like to see this rule changed to recognize no-hitters in games in which the pitcher or pitchers pitched eight innings, if the game ended because the home team had the lead going into the bottom of the ninth.)

July 1, 1990 … White Sox 4- Yankees 0

Of all these, the White Sox scored the most runs in a hitless victory – four.  They all came in the eighth inning of a scoreless game (in Chicago).  Hawkins, working on a no-hitter, had retired the first 15 batters he faced and, through seven innings, had given up three walks (three strikeouts). Notably, the eighth inning started with Yankees’ starter Andy Hawkins retiring the first two ChiSox’ hitters (C Ron Karkovice and 2B Scott Fletcher) on easy infield pop ups. Then, with two out in the eighth, disaster struck. Hawkins got RF Sammy Sosa to ground a 1-2 pitch to third baseman Mike Blowers (who knocked down the ball – on his backhand side – but whose throw to first was late).  The scorekeeper ruled what should have been the final out of the frame as an error on Blowers – and Sosa ended up perched on first (with Hawkins’ no-no still intact).  Sosa then stole second, in the middle of a walk to SS Ozzie Guillen. Hawkins, perhaps flustered, walked CF Lance Johnson on four pitches, loading the bases. Still, it looked like he had pitched his way out of the inning on his next pitch (to 3B Robin Ventura), which resulted in a flyball to LF Jim Leyritz. The ball clanked off Leyritz’ glove and all three runners scored (with Ventura ending up on second). Next up was DH Ivan Calderon, who hit a fly ball to deep right on a 1-2 pitch. Yankees’ RF Jesse Barfield mishandled this this one for another error and a fourth run. Finally, the inning ended – with four runs across – on a pop out to short by LF Dan Pasqua. Four runs (all unearned), on no hits, two walks and three errors (all after two outs). For the game, Hawkins was credited with a complete game (loss), eight innings pitched, no hits allowed, five walks and three strikeouts.

Well, at least Hawkins had nis no-hitter. Oops! The following year, MLB passed a rule that, in order for a game to be officially recognized as a no-hitter the pitcher (or pitchers) must have pitched at least nine innings.  Since the home team White Sox (leading 4-0) did not bat in the bottom of the ninth, Hawkins, who lost the game in 1990, lost nis no-hitter in 1991.

April 12, 1992 … Indians 2 – Red Sox 1

This game was the first contest in a doubleheader – played on April 12, 1992 in Cleveland. Matt Young started for the Red Sox and Charles Nagy opened on the mound for the Indians.  It was Young’s first start of the season and Nagy’s second (Nagy had tossed a complete game in a 2-0 loss at Baltimore on April 6.)  In the April 12 game, the Red Sox outhit the Indians 9-0, but the Indians won the game 2-1.  Young took the loss and, while he did not give up a hit in eight innings of work, he did walk seven (six strikeouts) and both runners who scored reached base via a free pass.

The Indians scored in the bottom of the first, as leadoff hitter CF Kenny Lofton drew a four-pitch walk. Then, with number-two hitter DH Glenallen Hill at the plate, Lofton stole second and third base, swiping third as Hill fanned on a 3-2 pitch. Lofton scored the game’s first run as number-three hitter 2B Carlos Baerga reached on an errant throw by Red Sox’ shortstop Luis Rivera. Young then retired the next two batters – LF Albert Belle and RF Mark Whiten – on outfield flies.

The Indians scored again in the third frame. Young walked number-nine hitter SS Mark Lewis and Lofton to open the inning, then a Hill grounder resulted in the force of Lofton at second base.  Hill, who had reached on the fielder’s choice, stole second on Young’s second pitch Baerga. Lewis then scored on a groundball by Baerga.

The Red Sox did get one run back in the fourth inning on a single by CF Ellis Burks, a walk to 1B Mo Vaughn and a Rivera single – but it wasn’t enough. In the contest, the Red Sox left 11 men on base.

Young threw 120 pitches in his eight hitless innings – seven walks, six strikeouts and two earned runs.

June 28, 2008 …. Dodgers 1 – Angels 0

On Saturday night June 28, 2008, more than 55,000 fans showed up at Dodger Stadium to see the Dodgers take on the Angels.  The pitching matchup featured the Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley (6-7, 3.64) versus the Angels’ Jered Weaver 7-7, 4.15). While Dodgers’ fans got see their hometown heroes held hitless by a pair of Angels’ hurlers, they also got to see a 1-0 Dodgers’ win – thanks to a couple of Angel errors and the speed of Dodgers’ CF Matt Kemp.

The game was scoreless for the first 4 1/2 innings. Billingsley had given up just one hit and two walks in five innings of work (six strikeouts), while Weaver had allowed just one baserunner (a walk to Dodger C Russell Martin) and fanned two over four innings.

The bottom of the fifth saw the Dodgers produce what would be the game’s only run – in the space of two Dodger batters, four pitches and two Angels’ fielding miscues.  Kemp reached base on a little “nubber” in front of home that Weaver couldn’t handle.  Then, with 3B Blake DeWitt at the plate, Kemp stole second on a 0-1 pitch and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Angels’ C Jeff Mathis.  Kemp then scored on a DeWitt sacrifice fly and that was it for the evening’s offense. Weaver went on to pitch six innings, giving up no hits (three walks) and the one unearned run, while walking three and fanning six (a total of 97 pitches, 59 strikes).  Jose Arredondo pitched the seventh and eighth (the Dodgers, leading, did not bat in the ninth).  Arredondo retired six straight batters, fanning three.

Meanwhile, Billingsley pitched seven innings, giving up three hits and three walks, holding the Angels scoreless and fanning seven.

Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth for the Dodgers giving up one hit (and fanning) one, while Takashi Saito pitched the ninth and survived a two-out double and walk without surrendering a run. For the hitless Dodgers, Billingsley got the win, Broxton a hold and Saito a save. Weaver, of course, took the loss for the Angels.

The Angels, who came into Dodger Stadium as the AL West leaders (48-32) did not do much against the Dodger pitching (the Dodgers were 36-42 as the crosstown series began). The Halos scored just one run in the three games, losing the first game 6-0, the second game 1-0 and winning the finale 1-0.  The Dodgers and Angels, by the way, finished the season first in their respective division races: the Angels at 100-62, the Dodgers at 84-78.

May 15, 2022 … Pirates 1- Reds O

On May 15, 2022 – as the Reds and Pirates faced off in Pittsburgh – few, if any, fans were expecting a pitchers’ duel. Starting for the Reds was 22-year-old rookie righthander Hunter Greene (making just his seventh MLB start and sporting a 1-5, 7.62 record). On the mound for the Pirates was veteran southpaw Jose Quintana (in his 12^th MLB campaign and with a 1-1, 2.70 record on the season).

The two starters both made it through seven innings with allowing a run. In his seven frames, Quintana allowed just three hits (all singles) and one walk, while fanning five.  The rookie Greene was even better. Through seven frames had had yet to allow a hit (three walks and nine strikeouts).

In the top of the eight, Chris Statton replaced Quintana (at 89 pitches) on the mound and held the Reds scoreless, pitching around a double and a walk. Greene faltered in the bottom of the eighth, although he did not give up a hit. After retiring Reds’ RF Jack Suwinski on a grounder to first, Greene walked the number-eight and number-nine hitters – SS Rodolfo Castro and C Michael Perez – both on 3-2 pitches. By this time, Greene had thrown 118 pitches and manager David Bell brought in Art Warren in relief. Warren walked the first batter he faced, Pirates’ LF Ben Gamel, on four pitches, loading the bases with one out. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes was up next and grounded to second (producing a 4-6 force-out second base), with Castro scoring on the play. The next batter, CF Bryan Reynolds, popped out to short to end the inning – Pirates, without a hit, up 1-0.

David Bednar came on to pitch the ninth for the Pirates and retired the Reds in order. Greene took the loss, Stratton got a win and Bednar logged a save.  Greene was credited with 7 1/3 innings pitched, no hits one run (earned), five walks and nine strikeouts. Warren pitched 2/3 of an inning, no hits, one walk).  Here again, since the home (and hitless) team was ahead and did not bat in the ninth, Greene and Warren did not complete the nine innings pitched to qualify for an official no-hitter.

For those who like to know such things. Greene went on to a 5-13, 4.44 rookie season and Quintana finished 2022 at 6-7, 2.93 (and in a Cardinals uniform).

Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.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 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. And sometimes, like this week, it’s an event in the category of “We’ll probably never see that again.”

This week’s Tidbit focuses on a September, 12, 1969 Mets/Pirate doubleheader. Right away, the odds against a repeat are high, since this was a single-admission Twilight-Night Twin Bill.  (How many of those can we expect in the future?) But it gets rarer. The Mets won both games by 1-0 score. Side note: You would think that is the fewest runs ever scored in a doubleheader, but there was, in fact, one Twin Bill that saw only one run scored (more on that later).  Finally, to top off the uniqueness of this doubleheader: In each game the only (and, of course, winning) run was driven in by the starting (and winning) pitcher.  With the paucity of single-admission doubleheaders and the universal DH now in force, I think we can safely say, we’re looking at a unicorn.

In Game One (scheduled to makeup a July 5 rainout), southpaw Jerry Koosman started on the mound for the Mets (Koosman, a 1969 All Star, was 13-9, 2.48 at the time). Opposing him was the Pirates’ righty Bob Moose (10-2, 3.30). The expected pitcher’s duel materialized, as the two matched zeroes over the first four innings.  Then, in the top of the fifth, Mets’ 3B Bobby Pfeil singled to LF after RF Ron Swoboda opened the frame with a strikeout.  C Duffy Dyer then singled to CF, sending Pfeil to third (Dwyer went to second as the throw in went to third).  Koosman (3-for-69 on the season) was up next and singled to RF – driving in what proved to be the game’s only tally (and Koosman’s only RBI of the season). Koosman, ultimately, went the distance, tossing a three-hit shutout (three walks, four strikeouts).  Moose gave up one run over eight innings (five hits, three walks, ten whiffs). Chuck Hartenstein pitched a scoreless ninth for the Pirates.

The Game Two pitching matchup was less “anticipated.” It featured starters Don Cardwell (6-9, 3.10) for the Mets and Dock Ellis (9-15, 3.92) for the Pirates.  However, another pitchers’ duel did materialize.  The only tally came early, in the top of the second, as the Mets again edged the Pirates by a 1-0 score. The run scored when Mets SS Bud Harrelson doubled of Ellis with two outs and no one on – and was then driven home on a Don Cardwell single. (Cardwell was hitting .171 – 7-for-41 at the time). It was Cardwell’s fifth RBI of the campaign.

Ultimately, Cardwell went eight innings and gave up four nits (one walk and three strikeouts). Closer Tug McGraw pitched a scoreless ninth for the victorious Mets. Ellis also went eight frames, giving up one run on six hits, with three walks and eleven strikeouts. Hartenstein again pitched a scoreless ninth for the Pirates.

To illustrate how times have changed. That September 12 Twin Bill was the 19^th of 21 doubleheaders the Mets would play that season and the 15th of 19 doubleheaders played by the Pirates. Further, in 1969, 17.3 percent of all NL games and 18.9 percent of all AL games played were part of doubleheaders. In 2025, there were a total of 30 doubleheaders (about 1.2 percent of all games), no team had more than six (Cardinals and Orioles) and nine teams played no Twin Bills (Rays, Mariners, Astros, Rangers, A’s, Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks). For an intriguing look at the origin, rise and decline of doubleheaders in MLB, I suggest The Hardball Times three-part Series “History of the Doubleheader” by Chris Jaffe.

Now for a few more Twin Bill Tidbits.

A Bit of a Scoring Drought

The fewest runs scored in a doubleheader? It may surprise you (because it’s not two.)   The answer is one.  On September 4, 1902, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Beaneaters matched up in a doubleheader in Boston. Game One went to Boston 1-0 (in one hour and twenty minutes). Game Two ended in a nine-inning 0-0 tie (one hour and 30 minutes)

A Bit of a Scoring Deluge

The record for runs scored in a doubleheader – both teams – is 54.  It has been done twice.  On August 21, 1894, the National League Boston Beaneaters swept a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds by score of 18-3 and 25-8. Then, on Independence Day in 1939, there were lots of fireworks on the field in Philadelphia, as the Red Sox topped the Athletics 17-7 and 18-12.

The most hits in a doubleheader is 73, in a July 6, 1929 Cardinals/Phillies Twin Bill (in Philadelphus), In Game one the Phillies toped the Cardinals 10-6, with the Cardinals outhitting the Phillies 15-13. The Phillies got revenge in game two, blasting the Phillies 28-6 and outhitting them 28-17. Sign of the times: Each of these high-scoring games took slightly less than 2 ½ hours to complete.

18 Games in 12 Days

The 1928 Boston Braves played a record nine consecutive doubleheaders over a 12-day span (September 4-15). During the streak, they swept one doubleheader, were swept six times and split two – for a four win-fourteen loss record.  Notably, six players played every inning of those games (RF Lance Richbourg; LF Eddie Brown; 1B George Sisler; 2B Rogers Hornsby; 3B Les Bell; SS Doc Farrell). The team used eight different starting pitchers during the 18-game stretch – none more often than Bob Smith, who started four contests (including both ends of one doubleheader).

Nearly 60 percent doubleheaders … Now, that’s a Tough Schedule

The 1945 Boston Braves played an MLB-record 46 doubleheaders. Let’s put that in perspective – 59.7 percent of the games they played that season were part of doubleheaders. How did they do?  They won 42 of those games, lost 48 and tied two.  Basically, they played .466 ball in twin bills, a bit better than their .403 winning percentage on days when they played just one game.  By the way, just so you don’t think those 46 doubleheaders were a one-off event, the 1943 White Sox hold the AL record for doubleheaders in a season at 44.  Both extreme totals can be attributed to wartime scheduling.

Let’s Play …. Three?

While, there have been three occasions in which major-league teams have played three games in a single day, research by Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) member Bill Nowlin indicates there has been only one “true” (read single-admission) triple header.  That came on October 2, 1920, with the 80-69 Reds facing the 77-73 Pirates at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.  With four contests left in the season, the previous two Pirates-Reds games cancelled due to weather and third place and a World Series’ share at stake, the teams faced off in a one-day, three-game series starting at noon. Long story short, the Reds won the first two games (13-4 and 7-3), while the Pirates took the final game 6-0 (called – darkness – after six innings).  Only five players played in all three games (making them all, of course, single-day MLB record holders). They were the Reds’ Morrie Rath (2B-RF) and Pat Duncan (LF) and the Pirates’ Cotton Tierney (2B-SS), Clyde Barnhart (3B) and Fred Nicholson (PH-RF-LF).

Two other instances of three-games-in-a-day matchups have occurred – on September 1, 1890 (Brooklyn Bridegrooms versus Pittsburgh Innocents) and September 7, 1896 (Baltimore Orioles versus Louisville Colonels). In both of those, the first contest was a separate-admission morning game, with a second admission required for the afternoon doubleheader.

A Good Day’s Work (Back to our “Pitchers’ Rule Focus)

On September 26, 1908, Cubs’ righty Ed Reulbach started both games of a doubleheader against Brooklyn (Superbas).  He went the distance in both contests, giving up just nine hits – and no runs – over the 18 innings.  Reulbach is the only MLB pitcher ever to record two complete-game shutouts in a single day. The final scores were 3-0 and 6-0.

 

Don’t Worry – I Got This

In August of 1903, the Giants’ Joe McGinnity started both games of a doubleheader three times – August 1, August 8 and August 31.  In those starts, he picked up six complete-game victories – giving up a total of 10 runs in the six contests. By the way, the Giants played 11 doubleheaders that month. Surprisingly, on the August days when he pitched only one game (another six starts), McGinnity went 1-5 and gave up 28 runs. For the season, he was 31-20, 2.43, with 44 complete games in 48 starts.  No wonder his nickname was “Iron Joe.”

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; History of the Doubleheader, by Chris Jaffe, July 2010; October 2, 1920: Reds, Pirates Split Three Games in the Last Major-League Tripleheader, Bill Knowlin, Society for American Baseball Research.

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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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, we’re looking at a double unicorn: The only player to win a league MVP Award, while leading  the league in both strikeouts and errors, as well as the only player to win a Gold Glove in a season in which he led MLB in errors. 

The player was Twins’ shortstop Zoilo Versalles, who helped lead the Twins to the AL pennant, while leading the AL with 122 strikeouts and leading the major leagues in total errors with 39.

Versalles put up a .273-19-77 line at the plate, with a league-leading 126 runs scored and 27 steals in 32 attempts (in 160 games). He also led the league in doubles with 45, triples with 12 and total bases with 308. In the field, while he may have led MLB with 39 errors, among AL shortstops, he was first in double plays turned, second in assists and fourth in putouts. He is seen as the spark plug that led the Twins to the 1965 American League pennant.  That season, he reached his career highs in games (160), at bats (666); hits (182); doubles; runs; RBI; steals; total bases; On-Base Percentage (.319); and Slugging Percentage (.462).

Side note:  In Versalles’ 1965 MVP and Gold Glove season, White Sox’ shortstop Ron Hansen … who played one more game than Versalles … finished ahead of Versalles in putouts (287 to 248), assists (527 to 487), trailed Versalles in double plays 97 to 105) and led Versalles in Fielding Percentage (.969 to .950) and Range Factor (5.06 to 4.59).

Versalles, by the way, is one of nine MLB players to win an MVP Award, while leading the league in strikeouts.Primary Resource: Baseball-REference.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 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.

P 1150

 

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, rather than digging into (what some might deem) obscure statistics, I decided on something more festive – an updated version of Baseball Roundtable’s all nickname (best and worst) teams.

Ted Williams collected nicknames like he collected base hits – The Kid, Splendid Splinter, The Thumper, Teddy Ballgame.

Nicknames have always been a part of our national pastime – some complimentary (Joe “The Yankee Clipper” DiMaggio and David “Big Papi” Ortiz); some less so (Fred “Bootnose” Hoffman and Dick “Dr. Strangeglove” Stuart). Here are two purely subjective nickname-based lineups – one focused on baseball’s best nicknames, the other on some of the national pastime’s worst.  Keep in mind, obscure or “inside joke” nicknames, did not qualify.  I tried to limit myself to nicknames that were in common use and likely to be recognized by even casual fans of the national pastime. Also, the ranking reflects a rating of the nicknames, not player performance.  Although, as you will see, solid performance often results in a solid (and memorable) nickname.  Let’s lead off with the Roundtable’s Best Nicknames Lineup.

—–BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE’S BEST BASEBALL NICKNAMES—

Starting Pitcher – “Sudden” Sam McDowell

Yes, there are some Hall of Fame Pitchers with great nicknames. Walter “Big Train” Johnson and “Rapid Robert” Feller are just two. However, that “Sudden” nickname is my favorite.  McDowell – whose blazing heater could be past you with amazing suddenness – was a six-time All Star and five-time league strikeout leader. In a 15-year MLB career (1961-75, with the Indians, Giants, Yankees and Pirates), McDowell went 141-134, 3.17 and fanned 2,453 hitters in 2,492 1/3 innings.

Honorable Mentions: Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson; Walter “Big Train” Johnson; Leroy “Satchel” Paige; “Rapid Robert” Feller. Hall of Famers all, they each more than earned a spot on this list. As for the nicknames: The Big Unit comes in at 6’ 10”; The Big Train’s fastball was compared to his era’s powerful and speedy express trains; Satchel held a childhood “job” carrying rail passengers’ luggage; Rapid Robert was recognized as having the quickest fastball of his time.

Relief Pitcher: Mariano “The Sandman” Rivera

Rivera, who entered games to the tune of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” was known for his ability to put opponents’ bats “to sleep” with his devastating cutter.  In his 19-season MLB career (1995-2013 … Yankees), the 13-time All Star and Hall of Famer amassed an MLB-record 652 saves (plus 82 wins – versus 60 losses) and a 2.21 earned run average.  He led the league in saves three times and had had 30 or more saves in 15 seasons.

Honorable Mentions: Marc “Scrabble” Rzepczynski and Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky.  Scrabble was lesser known than many on this list. He put up a 14-27, 3.89 record, with two saves, over ten MLB seasons (2009-2018 … Blue Jays, Cardinals, Indians, Padres, A’s, Nationals, Mariners), but just look at that name. This nickname makes me smile and belongs on any best baseball nickname list. The Mad Hungarian is a nod to Hrabosky’s Hungarian ancestry and his demeanor on the mound.

C – Johnny “The Little General” Bench

Catchers are supposed to take charge on the field and this nickname fits Hall of Famer Johnny Bench both behind and at the plate. Bench was a leader for the Reds for 17 seasons (1967-83). He was a 14-time All Star, ten-time Gold Glover, two-time league HR leader, two-time league MVP, 1968 Rookie of the Year and 1976 World Series MVP.  When Bench was on the field, he was in charge.

Honorable Mention: Cal “The Big Dumper” Raleigh.  Now, here’s a nickname that could have been headed for the “worst” list, but Raleigh turned it into one of the best MLB nicknames. The nickname was coined by a teammate – a reference to the Seattle backstop’s ample backside. Reportedly, Raleigh was not initially pleased with the moniker, but as he began dumping home runs over outfield walls, the nickname took on a very positive life of its own.  In 2025, when Raleigh won the All Star Game Home Run Derby and turned in a 60-homer campaign, the deal was sealed.  The Big Dumper joined MLB’s beat nicknames.  Side note:  Raleigh has not only hit 124 home runs over the past three seasons, he won a Gold Glove in 2024 – and Big Dumper merchandise has been a home run with the fans.

1B – Tie Lou “The Iron Man” Gehrig and Stan “The Man” Musial

Lou “The Iron Man” Gehrig earned his nickname and spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame for with combination of power and durability (until it was broken by Cal Ripken, Jr. in 1995, Gehrig held the record for consecutive games played at 2,130). Gehrig played 17 seasons with the Yankees (1923-39), producing a .340 career average, with 493 home runs, 1,995 RBI and 1,888 runs scored. He was a seven-time All Star, two-time AL MVP, won one batting, title, led the AL in home runs three times, RBI five times, runs scored four times, doubles three times and triples once.

Hall of Famer Stan “The Man” Musial goes head-to head with Gehrig at first base (despite playing more than half his career games in the outfield, I had to put Musial here because he played more games at 1B than any other position).  What could be more of an honor than being simply known as “The Man.”   Musial was indeed The Man – and not just in Saint Louis (where he played from 1941-63).  He was respected for his bat and his attitude around baseball.  Musial was a seven-time batting champ and three-time MVP, who also led the NL in hits six times, runs scored five-times, doubles eight times, triples five times and RBI twice. He retired with a .331 average, 3,630 hits 1,946 runs scored and 1,951 RBI.

Honorable Mentions: Frank “The Big Hurt” Thomas; Jimmy “The Beast” Foxx; Don “Donnie Baseball” Mattingly.  The Big Hurt (at 6’5”/240 lbs.) put the hurt on baseballs and opposing pitchers to the tune of a .301-521-1,704 stat line (and a spot in the Hall of Fame); The Beast, another Hall of Famer, put fear into the hearts of moundsmen with  a .325-534-1,922 stat line; Donnie Baseball was known for his hardworking professionalism and consistent performance at the plate an in the field. (He was the 1985 AL MVP, a six-time All Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner and put up a.307-222-1,099 career stat line.)

2B – Felix “The Cat” Millan

Felix Millan earned his nickname with his catlike reflexes and slick fielding around the keystone sack.  In 12 MLB seasons (1966-77, with the Braves and Mets), Millan was a three-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover. He put up respectable offensive numbers with a career line of .279-22-403, with 699 runs scored.  The tie-in with the popular Felix the Cat cartoon character (and the public acceptance of the nickname) give this moniker a slight edge over the honorable mention.

Honorable Mention: Charlie “The Mechanical Man” Gehringer – noted for flawless, but not flashy All Star level play, Gehringer was given this nickname by Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Gomez. The 1937 AL MVP, Gehringer finished in the top four in MVP voting five times.  He stat line of .320-184-1,427 outpaced Millan, but this lineup is about nicknames not stats.

Third Base: Brooks “Hoover” Robinson

Brooks Robinson, a Hall of Famer with 16 Gold Gloves and 18 All Star selections, was known as both “Hoover” and “The Human Vacuum Cleaner.” He really did scoop everything up over at the hot corner. He played 23 seasons (1955-77 … all for the Orioles). At the plate, he went .267-268-1,357. He holds the MLB record among third baseman for defensive games played, put outs, assists and double plays.

SS – Ozzie “The Wizard of Oz” Smith

In Ozzie Smith’s 19 MLB seasons (1978-96, with the Padres and Cardinals), the Hall of Famer’s defensive wizardry earned him 13 Gold Gloves. He was truly a Wizard in the center of the diamond. The 15-time All Star had a career average of .262, with 28 home runs, 793 RBI, and 1,257 runs scored.

Honorable Mention:  Ernie “Mr. Cub” Banks. Let’s face it, for close to two decades, Hall of Famer Banks was the face of the Cubbies.

LF – Ted “The Splendid Splinter” Williams

Ted Williams’ nickname – the Splendid Splinter – reflects his lanky, splinter-like build and his splendid skills.  Notably, Williams’ play earned him a team’s worth of nicknames – The Kid, Teddy Ballgame and The Thumper also among them.  Williams’ career on-base percentage of .482 is the best in baseball history.  Think about it – reaching base, basically, one of every two trips to the plate. Williams was a 19-time All Star, two-time MVP and two-time Triple Crown winner.  In 19 seasons with the Red Sox (1939-60, time lost for service in WWII and the Korean Conflict), Williams won six batting titles, and lead the AL in runs six times, RBI four times, home runs four times, doubles twice, walks eight times and total bases six times. He retired with a .344-521-1,839 stat line – and is the last MLBer to hit .400 for a season (.406 in 1941).

CF – Tie – Joe “The Yankee Clipper” DiMaggio and Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn

I really wanted this to be far-ranging outfielder Franklin “Death to Flying Things” Gutierrez, but his case was hurt by a lack of common knowledge of the nickname and the fact two other players from the 1800s – Jack Chapman and Bob Ferguson – were honored with the nickname before Gutierrez, who played 12 seasons (2005-13, 2015-17 … Indians, Mariners Dodgers).

Joe “The Yankee Clipper” DiMaggio. Pretty much every baseball fan knows this classic nickname for a “class” ballplayer. The Hall of Famer played in 13 seasons for the Yankees (1936-42, 1943-52), losing three seasons to military service. A three-time AL MVP, DiMaggio was thought to be near flawless at the plate, on the field and in the clubhouse. His final stat line was .325-361-1,537. He was an All Star in every one of his 13 seasons. The imagery of this one got my attention.

Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn’s nickname stems from the cannon-like power he delivered from his small frame (5’20”/160 pounds). He played in 15 MLB seasons (1963-77 … Astros, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Brewers), going .250-291-964.

Honorable Mentions:  Willie “The Say Hey Kid” Mays and James “Cool Papa” Bell. The Say Hey Kid emerged in response to a young Willie Mays’ youthful energy, and penchant for greeting everyone with some version of a high-pitched “Say Hey.” Cool Papa was known for his class, composure and “cool” on and off the field – not to mention his Hall of Fame skills and performance.

RF – Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron

Let’s face, Henry Aaron – who I knew as a kid by the nickname “Bad Henry” and who also was sometime referred to simply as “The Hammer,” did bad things to baseballs (at least from the opposition’s point of view.   Over his 23 seasons MLB career (1954-76 … Braves, Brewers), he hammered 755 (regular seasons) horsehides over the fence, to go along with a .305 average and an MLB-record 2,297 career RBI (also 3,771 base hits). The nickname says it all, and Aaron lived up to its implications on the field.

Honorable Mentions:  Jose “Joey Bats” Bautista.  How can you not like a nickname with “Bats” right there in it? I might have put Joey Bats ahead of Hammerin’ Hank, except I had to consider that Bats had the advantage of social media to promote the nickname, Still, it deserves mention, as does Bautista’s 15-season MLB career (2004-18 … Orioles, Devil Rays, Royals, Pirates, Blue Jays, Braves, Mets, Phillies). He did most of his bat-driven damage while with the Blue Jays, made six All Star teams and put up a career stat line of .247-344-975. Harry “Suitcase” Simpson’s nickname takes us back to a time when playing for six teams, in three leagues, in 11 MLB seasons could earn you the nickname “Suitcase.” (Movement from team to team is not so unusual anymore.)  Simpson played for the Negro National League II Philadelphia Stars (1946-48); the American League Indians (1951-53, 1955); AL Athletics (1955-59); AL Yankees (1957-58); AL White Sox (1959); National League Pirates (1959). He played for two MLB teams in three seasons and three MLB teams in another. His final state line was .269-76-434 (1,012 games)

Utility – Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose

Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader (4,256) hustled all over the diamond, playing more than 500 games each at 1B, 2B, 3B, LF and RF. I had to make a place for a player whose nickname so accurately reflected his aggressive style of play. Rose played 24 seasons in the majors (1963-86) – with the Reds (19), Phillies and Expos. Rose was a 17-time All Star, three-time batting champion and two-time Gold Glover, as well as the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year and 1973 NL MVP. He led the NL in games played five times, hits seven times, double five times and runs scored four times.

DH: David “Big Papi” Ortiz

Hall of Famer David “Big Papi” Ortiz earned the nickname and the affection of Boston Fans as one of the best clutch hitters and largest personalities in the history of the game. He played 29 MLB seasons (1997-2016 … Twins, Red Sox), made 10 All Star squads and put up a .286-541-1,768 stat line. And, Big Papi  got big hits, in big spots in big games.,

 

—BASEBALL’S WORST NICKNAMES LINEUP—

 

P – Hugh “Losing Pitcher” Mulcahy

Ouch! Hugh Mulcahy “enjoyed” a nine-season major league career (1935-47, minus five WWII years), during which he earned his nickname. He ran up a career record of 45-89, with a 4.49 ERA (all with the Phillies), leading the NL in losses twice, hits allowed once, earned runs allowed twice, walks allowed once, hit batsmen twice and wild pitches once. Notably, he made one MLB All Star squad; in 1944, when he led the NL with 22 losses (versus 13 wins), despite a respectable 3.60 ERA.

C – Gabby “Old Tomato Face” Hartnett

Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett reportedly picked up his nickname as he gained weight and developed a ruddy complexion. Notably, even “Gabby” was a nickname (real name Charles Leo Hartnett) – reflecting Hartnett’s career-long shyness and reluctance to speak to anyone, particularly reporters. Harnett played 20 MLB seasons (1922-41, all but the last season with the Cubs), hitting .297, with 236 home runs and 1,179 RBI. He was a six-time All Star and the 1935 NL MVP.

1B – Lou “Biscuit Pants” Gehrig

Lou Gehrig was a great player with multiple nicknames –ranging from Biscuit Pants on the low end to Buster in the middle to Iron Man on the high side.  Biscuit Pants – an early Gehrig nickname – acknowledged Gehrig’s baggy uniform pants, thick legs and sturdy derriere. Read about nis career in the Best Nicknames section.

2B – Charlie “Piano Legs” Hickman

At 5’9” and 215-pounds, it’s easy to imagine the source of Charlie Hickman’s nickname. Hickman played 1B, 2B and OF during his 12-year MLB career (1897-1908), delivering a .295 career average, with 50 home runs and 614 RBI. Hickman led the AL in hits and total bases in 1902, when he split time between Boston and Cleveland.

3B – Gary “The Rat” Gaetti

Despite the uncomplimentary nickname, Gary Gaetti was anything but a rat on the field. Also known as G-Man, Gaetti had a 20-season MLB career (1981-2000 with the Twins, Angels, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs and Red Sox). He was a career .255 hitter, with 360 home runs and 1,341 RBI.  Gaetti was a two-time All Star, four-time Gold Glover at third base and the 1987 American League Championship Series MVP.

SS – Bill “Wagon Tongue” Keister

Unlike Gabby Hartnett (see the catcher on this list), Bill Keister earned a reputation as a player who just wouldn’t shut up. Couple Wagon Tongue withKiester and you’ve got quite a baseball name.  In a seven-season MLB career (1896-1903), Keister played for Brooklyn, Boston, Saint Louis and Philadelphia in the NL and Baltimore and Washington in the AL.  He hit .312, with 18 home runs, 400 RBI and 131 stolen bases – spending time at shortstop, third base and second base.

LF – Johnny “Ugly” Dickshot

Not the best looking of men, it’s reported that Johnny Dickshot granted himself the title of the ugliest man in baseball.  Clearly, the combination of his nickname and actual name earns Dickshot a spot on this list of worst baseball nicknames.  In six major-league seasons (spread over 1936-45), he played in 322 games (Pirates, Giants, White Sox), hitting .276, with seven home runs and 116 RBI. More than half his career offensive production came in his final season (1945, White Sox), when he hit .302, with seven home runs and 58 RBI.

CF – Hunter “Captain Underpants” Pence

The story has it that, during a minor-league game, an aggressive heckler thought that (on the minor-league PA system) “Hunter Pence” sounded a lot like “Underpants” and proceeded to taunt him with the Underpants chant, which apparently had more staying power when teammates promoted Mr. Underpants to “Captain.”  Pence played 14 MLB seasons (2007-20 … Astros, Phillies, Giants), going .279-244-292. He was a three-time All Star.  Remember, the “worst” label in this lineup reflects the nickname, not player performance.

RF – “Bucketfoot” Al Simmons

Hall of Famer Al Simmons’ nickname (which he disliked) was drawn from his batting stance.  The bucketfoot stance seemed to work for him. In 20 MLB seasons (1924-1944; Athletics, White Sox, Tigers, Senators, Braves, Reds, Red Sox), Simmons hit .334, with 307 home runs and 1,828 RBI. He led his league in batting average, hits and total bases twice each and RBI once.

So, there is BBRT’s worst nickname lineup. If I had a bench, it would be manned by such notables as: Fred “Bootnose” Hoffman; Walt “No Neck” Williams; Jeff “Penitentiary Face” Leonard; Ernie “Schnozz” Lombardi; Harry “Stinky” Davis; Dick “Dr. Strangeglove” Stuart; and Bris “The Human Eyeball” Lord.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Having Fun with Baseball Nicknames, by Phil Blazovich, MLC Publications 1996.

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.

P 1149

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. (Keep in mind the usual disclaimer that Negro League game-by-game records from 1920-48 are not fully incorporated into MLB records.)

Now, in the spirit of the Baseball Roundtable mantra of “one thing always seems to lead to another,” this post started out to be a look at moundsmen who faced only one batter in their MLB career and struck that batter out.   (Kind of in line with the recent Tidbit on batters who had just one plate appearance and were hit by a pitch.) Turns out only four moundsmen can look back on an MLB career with one batter faced and one strikeout – and they were all position players called on to take to the hill (Kevin Seitzer, 1993 Athletics; Scott Sheldon, 2000 Rangers; Danny Valencia, 2018 Orioles; Romy Gonzalez, 2021 White Sox).

What caught my interest about this group is that Sheldon’s lone strikeout came in a game in which he played all nine defensive positions – a feat which has been documented just five times in MLB history. Of further interest was the fact that Sheldon is the only player to achieve the nine-position feat in a game he did not start.  In fact, he didn’t come into the game until the fourth inning. And that’s how I was sent off on another statistical (for me) adventure. Here’s a bit of what I found.

There have only been two “pure” (in my opinion) nine-position games, which I define as a game in which the player makes the circuit of nine defensive positions while playing at least one full inning at each defensive spot. Those belong to the Athletics’ Bert Campaneris (1965) and the Twins’ Cesar Tovar (1968). A full inning on the mound seems the biggest obstacle, as in the other three nine-position games the “traveling” player has faced just one batter from the bump.

Campaneris – the first player to play all nine defensive positions in a game – is the only one of the five qualifiers who would not be described as a “utility player.”   He appeared at SS in 2,097 of his 2,328 games and no more than 77 (3B) at any other position. His nine-position game marked his only career appearance at P, C 1B or RF.  In 13 of his 19 MLB seasons, the only defensive position he played was SS.

More Campy Tidbits

While Campaneris’ Athletics lost his nine-position game 5-3 to the Angels in 13 innings, Campaneris was not around to see the finish. He moved to catcher (from pitcher) to open the top of the ninth (with the Angels leading his Athletics 3-1).  The catcher position completed his circuit of all nine fielding spots. On the final play of the inning, Campaneris was injured (knocked from the game) in a collision at the plate.  The Athletics tied it up in the bottom of the inning, before losing in the thirteenth.

A few other tidbits:

• The team with the nine-position player has won three of the five games;
• The nine-position player has played for the home team in three of the five games;
• All the nine-position games have been low-impact games played late in the season – all of the teams that have seen a player take all nine positions in a game had losing records and three of the five were in last place;
• The most players used in a nine-position game are 24 (1965 Athletics), but that game did go 13 innings. In that game the A’s had the fewest players (five) play multiple defensive positions in a nine-position game;
• The fewest players used in a nine-position game are 13 (1968 Twins) and, as you might expect, the Twins also had the most players to assume multiple defensive positions in nine-position game (seven);
• In his nine-position game, Scott Sheldon played left field, pitcher and third base in the eighth inning (his Rangers’ final inning in the field);
• The last two nine-position games have been delivered by Tigers’ players, both times against the Twins;
• The Twins have been involved in the most nine-position games (three – two against them, one by them).

Side Note: I know these Tidbits may be getting a little deep into the statistical woods, but after more than 1,100 posts, you need to look a little deeper to avoid repetitiveness. 

So, let’s get a little deeper into the details.  Here’s more about those five nine-position games.

Bert Campaneris, Athletics, September 8, 1965 … versus the Angels (in Kansas City)

Bert Campaneris was the first MLB player to field his way through all nine positions in a single game – and he did it in his first full MLB season. (He did play 67 games in 1964 after a late July call up to the Athletics.)

Campaneris started the game at SS, which was his primary position during his 19-season MLB career (1964-81, 1983 … Athletics, Rangers, Angels, Yankees).

In his tour around the field, Campaneris played the first inning at SS; the second at 2B; the third at 3B; the fourth in LF; the fifth in CF; The sixth in RF; the seventh at 1B; the eighth on the mound; and the ninth at C.   To facilitate Campaneris’ feat, four additional Athletics players played more than one position during the game, including Jim Landis and Jose Tartabull, who each played all three outfield positions.  The Athletics used a total of 24 players in the game (eight pitchers, including Campaneris).

There was a certain symmetry to Campaneris’ nine-position game.  He played one full inning at each position (no mid-inning switches).

For the game, Campaneris, batting leadoff, went zero-for-three (with one walk, one stolen base and one run scored) in four plate appearances. In his one inning of mound work, he gave up one run on two hits and a walk and fanned one batter.  In the field, he recorded one putout and four assists with one error (made in RF).

Campaneris was a six-time All Star and put up a .259-79-646 line, with 1,181 runs scored and 649 steals (14^th all time). He led the league in steals six times and in hits and triples once each. He also led the league in sacrifice bunts three times (a career-high of 40 in 1977.)  Side note: We’re not likely to see 40 SH in a season again. The last time we saw at least 20 was 2007  and the last time we saw at least 40 – other than Campaneris in 1977 – was 1929.  For those who like to know such things, the single-season record is 67, by Ray Chapman in 1917.

Cesar Tovar, Twins, September 22, 1968 … versus the Athletics (in Minnesota)

The first player to record a nine-position game (Bert Campaneris, above) was on the field when MLB’s second nine-position game went into the books. The Twins’ Cesar Tovar played all nine defensive positions, as the Twins edged Campaneris and the Athletics 2-1 in Minnesota. Unlike Campaneris (primarily a shortstop), Tovar was a true utility man. During his career he appeared in more than 200 games at five different positions (2B, 3B, LF, CF, RF). Over his 12-season MLB career, he had only one season in which he played just one defensive position (1976, his final season, when he played 13 games for the Yankees three at 2B and ten at PH/DH).  Distracting coincidence: Campaneris and Tovar both played their final MLB game in a Yankee uniform, despite each playing just one season with the Bronx Bombers.

In his nine-position game, Tovar started on the mound and pitched a scoreless top of the first inning (a walk and a balk, two foul pop outs and one strikeout).  The strikeout victim was RF Reggie Jackson. Tovar then played the second inning at C; the third at 1B; the fourth at 2B; the fifth at SS; the sixth at 3B; the seventh in LF; the eighth in CF; and the ninth in RF. (No mid-inning switches.) I kind of wish Tovar had gone to 3B the inning before shortstop. Then he would have completed his circuit in scorekeeper’s numerical order.

In the field, he recorded five putouts and one assist, with no errors. At the plate, he went one-for-three, with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. The Twins used just 13 players (three pitchers, including Tovar) in Tovar’s nine-position game. Seven players, including Tovar, played multiple positions.

In his 12 MLB seasons (1965-76 … Twins, Rangers, Athletics, Phillies, Yankees), Tovar went .278-46-435, with 834 runs scored and 226 steals. He led the AL in hits with 204 in 1971; in 1970 topped the AL in doubles (36) and triples (13); and, in 1972, led the league in HBP (14). Tovar’s nine-position game was the only time he ever appeared at 1B, C or P.

Scott Sheldon, Rangers September 6, 2000 … versus the White Sox (in Chicago)

Okay, now we get to the player whose nine-position game spurred this post. (We’ll go into a little more detail here.)  Scott Sheldon was in the fourth of his five MLB seasons (1997-2001 … Athletics, Rangers) when he became the third player to notch a nine-position game –– and the utility infielder wasn’t even in the starting lineup. In fact, he didn’t enter the game until the bottom of the fourth inning, when he replaced Bill Hasselman behind the plate.  The position-by-position merry-go-round was conjured up by Sheldon and manager Johnny Oates after the White Sox fell behind 7-0 in the first inning and were down 10-1 in the fourth frame of a less than critical game (the Rangers were out of the race and in last place with a 62-76 record at the time).  The Rangers eventually lost 13-1.

Sheldon’s Rangers used 18 players (five pitchers, including Sheldon) in the contest and six players, including Sheldon, played multiple positions.  Sheldon’s game was less “pure” than the previous two nine-position games in that Sheldon did not play a full inning at each position.  He played two positions each in the sixth and seventh innings and three positions in the eighth.

Sheldon’s day went like this:

Bottom of the Fourth: Sheldon replaces Bill Hasselman behind the plate to open the inning and plays the entire frame at backstop.

Bottom of the Fifth:  Sheldon plays the inning at 1B, as B.J. Waszgis comes in at C and 1B Rafael Palmeiro leaves the game.

Bottom of the Sixth:  Sheldon (who had been at 1B) changes positions with 2B Frank Catalanotto.

One out in the Sixth: Sheldon (then at 2B) changes positions with shortstop Kelly Dransfeldt.

Bottom of the Seventh: A true Merry-Go-Round, as the inning opens, Sheldon moves from SS to RF – a move made possible as LF Chad Curtis leaves the game, Ricky Ledee moves from RF to LF, Dransfeldt moves from 2B to SS; Catalanotto moves from 1B to 2B; Waszgis moves from C to 1B; Randy Knorr comes in to C; and Matt Perisho replaces Darwin Cubillan on the mound.

One out in the Seventh: Sheldon (then in RF) changes positions with CF Gabe Kapler.

Bottom of the Eighth: Sheldon (then in CF) changes positions with LF Ricky Ledee.

One out in the Eighth: Sheldon moves from LF to pitcher, Perisho leaves the game. Sheldon faces just one batter – Jeff Liefer – and strikes him out on five pitches.

Two out in the eighth: Sheldon moves from pitcher to 3B, Francisco Cordero replaces Sheldon on the mound and 3B Mike Lamb leaves the game.

Sheldon went one-for-two at the plate in the game and had just one chance in the field (not exactly in the field, he recorded a putout as P Brian Sikorski fanned White Sox’ RF Magglio Ordonez. The game marked the only time Sheldon appeared in an MLB game at pitcher or CF.

Sheldon played five MLB seasons (1997-2001 … Athletics, Rangers).  He hit .235-8-33, with 34 runs scored and one steal in 141 total games. He made the bulk of his appearances at 3B (59) and SS (52), appearing in no more than 13 games at any other position.  His nine posistino game was his only MLB contest at P or CF.

Shane Halter, Tigers, October 1, 2000 …. versus the Twins (in Detroit)

Shane Halter started the his nine-position game at 1B, batting eighth, in a contest that saw his Tigers top the Twins 12-11 in Detroit.  He was at 3B in the second inning; RF in the third; CF in the fourth; LF in the fifth; SS in the sixth; and C in the seventh.

The eighth inning was a little more complicated. Halter (who had ended the seventh at C) moved to the mound replacing Nelson Cruz; Javier Cardona came in to play C; 2B Damion Easley left the game; Brad Ausmus moved from 3B to 2B; Dusty Allen moved from LF to 3B; and Buddy Higginson moved from DH to LF.  Halter pitched to just one batter (Twins’ C Matt LeCroy) and walked him. Then Matt Anderson came in to pitch (1B Robert Fick left the game); Ausmus moved from 2B to 1B; and Halter moved from P to 2B).

The only change in the ninth as saw Todd Jones relieve Anderson with two out and a runner on second.

The Tigers used 23 players in the slugfest (eight pitchers including Halter) and six players (including Halter) played multiple defensive positions.

Shane Halter had the best game of the plate of any player in a nine-position game.  He went four-for-five, with two runs scored and three RBI.  In the field, he recorded one putout and four assists, with no errors.

Halter played in eight MLB seasons (1987-2004 … Royals, Mets, Tigers, Angels), going .246-45-197, with 201 runs scored in 690 games. He played primarily at 3B and SS, but played at least two games at each of the nine positions. (He appeared in 262 games each at 3B and SS, 68 at 2B, 55 at 1B, 61 in the various OF spots, and two each at C and P.) His best season was 2001, when he went .284-12-65 in 136 games for the Tigers.

Andrew Romine, Tigers, September 30, 2017 … versus the Twins (in Minnesota)

Andrew Romine was in his eighth of 11 MLB seasons (2010-2018, 2020-21 … Angels, Tigers, Mariners, Rangers, Cubs) when he had his nine-position game – part of a 3-2 win over the Twins in Minnesota.

Romine started the game in LF, batting seventh. He moved to CF for the second inning; to RF for the third (getting the last of the OF spots off his dance card). He was at 3B for the fourth frame; SS for the fifth; and 2B for the sixth.

The seventh and eighth were a bit more complicated.

To open the bottom of seventh, Romine previously at 2B, traded positions with C Bryan Holaday and Blaine Hardy replaced Chad Bell on the mound.  Then, with one out and one run in and two on base, Romine moved back to 2B, Holaday left the game, James McCann moved from DH to C (with the Tigers losing the DH) and Hardy was placed in the sixth spot (Holaday’s) in the batting order.  Note: Romine’s move from 2B to C and then from C back to 2B is the only instance in the five games when the nine-position player returned to a position he had previously played and vacated. Might be a good, but tough, trivia question.

To open the bottom of the eighth, Romine moved from 2B to P (replacing Hardy) and Ian Kinsler took over at 2B. After Romine pitched to one batter (Miguel Sano) and retired him on a groundout, Romine moved to 1B, Daniel Stumpf came in to pitch and starting 1B Efren Navarro left the game.

In the ninth, Shane Greene replaced Stumpf on the mound, but everyone else stayed put.

The Tigers used 16 players in the game (six pitchers including Romine) and six players (including Romine) played multiple positions.

Romine went one-for-three, with a walk in the game and recorded six putouts and one assist. His only miscure was a passed ball.

In his 11 MLB seasons, Romine hit .233-11-86, with 157 runs scored and 40 steals (609 games). His nine-position game marked his only  appearance at C (he actually pitched in eight games). In his MLB career, he played in 75 or more games at 1B (75), 2B (89), 3B (160); and SS (205).  He appeared in a total of 83 games in the OF, more than half of those in CF (48).

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; September 8, 1965: Bert Campaneris plays all Nine Positions for the Athletics, by Mike Huber, Society for American Baseball Research

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P 1148

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.

Special thanks to reader Dean Mauro for asking a question in response to last week’s Tidbit on players who had the longest careers without ever getting hit by a pitch (Mark Lemke – 1,069 games) and sending me on another statistical adventure.  Dean asked “Has there ever been player who was hit by a pitch in his only major league plate appearance?”   Just the kind of question the RoundTable loves to explore.  (Dang, I wish I’d have thought of it myself.)  It sent me off on a journey that took me to players like Charles Victor (Victory) Faust, who made his mark as an eccentric/erratic good luck charm and has a unique tie to Rube Marquard; Cy Malis, who appeared in movies with the likes of Gregory Peck, Lucille Ball, John Wayne and Cary Grant; and Fred Van Dusen, who jumped to the major leagues at age 18.

Now, at first I thought I might have a unicorn here, but it turns out a half dozen players (from 1911 to 2006) have been plunked in their one and only MLB plate appearance.

Here’s the obligatory chart, followed a bit about each of the qualifiers – with quite a bit on the unusual life and times of Charlie Faust.

Abraham Lincoln “Ham” Wade – Giants, September 9, 1907

Ham Wade, an outfielder, played in just one MLB game. (He hit .239 in 357 minor-league contests in four minor-league seasons, during which he pitched and played outfield.)  In his lone MLB game, Wade came in as a late-inning replacement for Giants’ starting LF Spike Shannon in a 10-0 loss to the Boston Doves.  A noted, he got just one plate appearance, got plunked (by Doves’ righty Vive Lindaman) and never came to the plate in an MLB game again. Wade also recorded two putouts as an outfielder in his one and only major-league contest. The hit by pitch was probably no surprise, as Lindaman tied for second with 15 HBPs in 1907.

 

Charlie “Victory” Faust — Giants, October 12, 1911

Photo: http://davyjonesbats.com/about-us/memorials, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Charlie Faust is probably the most renowned player on this list – known for his status as a good luck charm, rather than his talents as a ballplayer. His story is one of legend, bordering on myth. And, while the details of its telling are sometimes slightly different, there is enough consistency to validate Faust’s place in MLB history.  My sources for the Faust story are listed under “Primary Resources” at the end of this post; but special recognition goes out to Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) members Thomas S. Busch and Gabriel Schechter, whose work supplied much of the foundation for this Faust-ian tale.   What follows are the most consistently recounted details of his career.

 In 1911, the 30-year-old Faust, who was not a ballplayer at the time, was told by a fortune teller at a country fair that he would pitch the New York Giants to a championship, meet and marry a girl named Lulu and father a future generation of baseball stars.  So, Faust traveled from Marion, Kansas to St. Louis, Missouri (where the third-place Giants were facing the Cardinals) in mid-summer, introduced himself to Giants’ manager John McGraw in a hotel lobby and told him of his predicted destiny.   Perhaps impressed by Faust’s commitment and  enthusiasm, swayed by his own superstitions or merely because McGraw had a sense of humor, the Giants’ placated Faust, inviting him to an on-field tryout before that afternoon’s (July 28) game.  The eccentric Faust showed up in a “Sunday” suit, dress shoes and derby hat. McGraw sent Faust to the mound to display his stuff (or lack thereof) and then sent him to the plate, with instructions to run out anything he hit.  Faust dribbled an easy grounder to short, but the players – essentially “playing along” with the situation, kept mishandling the ball as Faust awkwardly rounded the bases (reportedly having to slide into more than one – again, still in his Sunday suit – before reaching home plate). The crowd and players, it was reported, loved Faust’s stumbling performance.  Faust, however, was not yet established as a good luck charm.  The Giants lost 5-2.

 When the determined and enthusiastic Faust – still convinced of his foretold destiny to lead the Giants to a championship –   showed up the next day, he was outfitted with an ill-fitting uniform, seriously repeated his pregame antics (to the joy of the fans and players alike) and the Giants won the game 8-0.  The next two games, again with Faust in uniform, were won by the Giants 6-0 and 3-2.

 Then the team left for Pittsburgh – without a disappointed Faust – and fell into a slump, going 2-4 in Pittsburgh and Chicago.   (Reportedly, when Faust showed up at the train station, he was told his ticket must have been left at the hotel and, while he was dashing back to the hotel to retrieve the non-existent ticket, the team left without him.)  

Undaunted, and still convinced of his destiny (and apparently short on cash), Faust made his way from St, Louis to New York by hopping freight trains – and a disheveled Faust was waiting for McGraw and the Giants when they returned to the Polo Grounds. McGraw relented and let Faust continue his pre-game “entertainment,” as well as take a spot on the bench during games. The Giants won nine of their next eleven and the die was cast, with the team (somewhere along the way) issuing a uniform, giving Faust a spot on the bench (and even sending him to the bullpen on occasion) and taking him on the road.

Faust became sort of a mascot, pre-game entertainer and good luck charm, shagging flies in warmups, occasionally pitching batting practice and cheering on his teammates during the games. However, he still maintained that his destiny was to pitch the Giants to a championship.   Finally on October 7, with the pennant already clinched, McGraw relented and put Faust into a game. He pitched the final inning of a 5-2 loss to Boston – giving up one earned run.  Five days later, Faust made his second and final MLB appearance, pitching one scoreless inning (the ninth) in a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. In this one, he made his only MLB plate appearance, reached base on a Hit By Pitch, stole second and third (apparently with the visiting Brooklyn squad “playing along” with the Faust experience) and scored on a sacrifice fly. 

Backtracking a bit, Faust’s reputation as either a good luck charm for the Giants or a bench-bound jinx for opponents (which grew with each New York win) got a boost, when the now very popular (almost folk hero) New York benchwarmer left the team to take on a vaudeville engagement.  The Giants lost the first three games they played during Faust’s foray into show business – and Faust quickly returned to the team (which won the first ten games after his return.).

Was the eccentric (maybe even erratic) Faust really a good luck charm? As Gabriel Schechter reported in his SABR bio of Faust “From the day he (Faust) met McGraw in St. Louis to the day the Giants clinched the pennant, the team had a record of 39-9. When he was in uniform and exerting his jinxing powers, their record as an astonishing n 36-2.” Unfortunately, Faust’s mojo did not work as well in the World Series, which the Giants lost to the Athletics Four Games to two.  When the Giants lost the World Series, his good luck charm status faded a bit and, perhaps the novelty was wearing off.

In 1912, McGraw, kept Faust on the bench, but reportedly did not allow him to don a Giants uniform and the team no longer paid his expense on road trips.  Faust, still convinced of, even obsessed with, the belief that his destiny was as a pitcher, responded by repeatedly asking the league to force McGraw to reinstate him.  The rift was widening. Still, Faust hung in there and the Giants got off to a blazing start, going 54-11 over the first 65 games (through July 3). Still, Faust’s constant, vigorous and unbending insistence that he was a pitcher who belonged on the mound pitching the Giants to a championship was apparently getting on McGraw nerves (and likely causing clubhouse tension). While considerable efforts to convince Faust to voluntarily leave the team were not successful, a bit of deception got him to depart (he thought temporarily) in early July. The players convinced Faust he should go back to Kansas and, when his absence made it clear to McGraw how important he was, a victorious recall would be in the offing. The recall never came. Note: I wasn’t able to pinpoint the date Faust left the team, but after going 54-11, with a 16 ½ game lead over the second-place Cubs through July 3, the club went 49-37 (with the lead dwindling to 10 games) over the remained of the season. Going back to Schechter’s article, he tells us Giants’ pitcher Rube “Marquard won his first 19 decisions in 1912; in the week after Faust’s departure, he lost three times, and he was a sub-.500 pitcher the rest of the season.”   For the sake of timing Faust’s departure, Marquard was 19-0 on July 3 and lost three games between July 7 and 14.

In the end, Giants won the pennant, but lost the World Series to the Red Sox in seven games.

While Faust was out of baseball in 1913, he continued to pursue reinstatement to the Giants and fulfillment of his destiny (some reports indicate he also wanted back pay for his contributions to the Giants’ two pennants.)  By 1914, he had been diagnosed with dementia, spent time institutionalized and he died in June 1915 (tuberculosis) at Western State Hospital (near Tacoma).

 But no matter the final outcome, you can – as they say – look it up, Charlie Faust was a major leaguer.  You’ll also find his name – along with such luminaries as Bob Feller, Catfish Hunter, Al Kaline, Harmons Killebrew and Dave Winfield – among those who bypassed the minor leagues and went directly to the majors.

 

Now back to the rest of the One Plate Appearance – One Hit By Pitch Club.

Harvey Grubb – Naps, September 27, 1912

Harvey Grubb came into the game at third base in the top of the seventh inning (replacing Terry Turner). At the time, his Naps were leading the Tigers 14-5 (in Cleveland). He immediately saw action in his first (and only) MLB game, as the immortal Ty Cobb led off the inning and popped out to Grubb. Grubb came to the plate in the bottom of the frame with one runner (Ray Chapman) on base and one out.  Grubb was hit by a pitch from Charlie Wheatley, sending Chapman to second. Grubb finished the game (won by the Naps 16-5), but did not come to the plate again and did not get another fielding chance. Grubb’s lone plate appearance came in his fourth professional season. He took the field in a total of 15 minor-league campaigns.

Cy Malis – Phillies, August 17, 1934

Cy Mallis was a right-handed pitcher whose only MLB game – and only MLB plate appearance – came in a 12-2 Phillies’ loss to the Cardinals.  Malis came on with one out in the bottom of the fifth, with his Phillies trailing 7-2, Cardinal runners on second and third and one out.  He gave up a two-run double to the first batter he faced (Ripper Collins) – and went on to pitch 3 2/3 innings, giving up two of his own runs on four hits and two walks (one strikeout). Malis came to the plate leading off the top of the seventh and was hit by a pitch from Paul “Daffy” Dean.

Malis played several seasons of semi-pro ball and information about his professional minor-league experience is sketchy.  However, an article by baseball historian, artist and writer Gary Joseph Cieradkowski indicates he played in the minor-leagues at least in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1935; was a World War II Navy veteran; and built a successful career as an actor (working in movies with the likes of Gregory Peck, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant and John Wayne). A Naval training accident and subsequent treatment for pain (morphine) led to drug and alcohol dependence issues and, ultimately, Malis was among a small group that laid the foundation for Narcotics Anonymous. He also also spurred efforts to build prison-based addiction-treatment programs. I include that here to explain why, in the Primary Resources section, the title for Cieradkowki’s article on Malis is “Cy Malis: The Best Friend We Dope Fiends Have.”

Fred Van Dusen – Phillies, September 11, 1955

And outfielder by trade, Fred Van Dusen’s only taste of the major-leagues came as a pinch hitter – at the tender age of 18.

A highly rated prospect, Van Dusen was signed out OF Bryant High School in Altoona New York, under the “Bonus Baby” rule that existed from 1947-1958 and 1962-65 (before the establishment of the MLB draft). At the time of Van Dusen’s signing a team that signed a player to a contract in excess of $4,000 was required to keep that player on the 25-man roster for two seasons (or expose the player to the Waiver Wire.)  Side note:  Included among past Bonus Babies are: Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax and Catfish Hunter.

In his only MLB appearance (also his first professional plate appearance), Van Dusen came to the plate (pinch hitting for pitcher Lynn Lovenguth) in the top of the ninth inning, with his Phillies’ trailing the Braves (in Milwaukee) 9-1, with one out and one runner on base. Van Dusen was hit by a pitch from Humberto Robinson.  The next two batters went strikeout/flyout, VanDusen was stranded and his MLB career was over.

VanDusen went on to play in six minor-league seasons, going .260-86-350 in 650 games. His best season was in 1957 (his age-19 season), when he went .310-25-93 in 119 games for the Class-B High-Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms (not exactly a creative team moniker).

John Rheinecker – Giants, June 28, 2006

John Rheinecker appeared in the most MLB games of all the players on this list. He secured his spot largely due a combination of the Designated Hitter Rule and interleague play.  A left-handed pitcher, Rheinecker pitched in the major leagues, for the Texas Rangers, in 2006-2007, putting up an 8-9, 5.65 record in 44 appearances (20 starts).  He was in his sixth professional season and first MLB season when he made his one and only plate appearance. At the time, the Designated Hitter rule was in place in the American League only and Rheinecker, in his seventh career MLB appearance, was starting on the mound against the NL Giants in San Francisco, taking the ninth spot in the batting order. Rheinecker found himself at the plate leading off the top of the third inning of a scoreless game. He was plunked on an 0-1 pitch from Noah Lowry, but left stranded. In the top of the fifth, with his Rangers trailing 5-0, Rheinecker was pinch hit for (by Jason Botts) and his game (and his MLB career as a hitter) were over.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Cy Malis: The Best Friend We Dope Fiends Have, by Gary Joseph Cieradkowski; Charlie Faust, Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) bio, by Gabriel Schechter; Searching for Victory: The Story of Charles Victor(y) Faust, by Thomas S. Busch, 1983 Baseball Research Journal; Destined by a Fortune Teller: Charlie Faust’s Kansas Roots and the Magic That changed the Giants, The Pechko Perspective (the-pechko-perspective.com), June 14, 2025; Farewell: What’s Left of Charlie Faust, FoxSports.com, March 4, 2020.

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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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 we are focusing on hit-by-pitch – or, more accurately “missed-by-pitch.

When it comes to “taking one for the team,” nobody did it more often in the major leagues than infielder Hughie Jennings, who was hit by a pitch an MLB-record 287 times in his 18-season major-league career (1891-1903, 1907, 1909-10, 1912, 1918 … AA/NL Louisville Colonels, NL Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas, Phillies, Tigers). He took those 287 “hits” over 1,284 games/5,648 plate appearances.  For those who like to know such things, Hall of Famer Jennings was a career .312 hitter, with 18 home runs, 849 RBI and 992 runs scored. He led the league in HBP five times, including a still MLB-record 51 in 1896.

Craig Biggio, while he played quite a few more games, was just a bit behind Jennings at 285 HBP.  He took his “hits” over 2,850 games/12,504 plate appearances. Biggio, also a Hall of Famer, played in 20 MLB seasons (1988-2007 … Astros). His final stat line was .281-291-1,175, with 1,844 runs and 414 steals. (He also had 3,060 hits, 26th all-time.) Biggio led the league in HBP five times, with a high of 34 in 1997.

But getting hit by a pitch is not what this Tidbit is about. It’s about the other side of that coin, with a main focus on infielder Mark Lemke, who holds the MLB record for career (regular season) plate appearances without ever being nicked by a pitch (3,664 plate appearances over 1069 games in 11 MLB seasons).  Note: He also had 257 post-season plate appearances without “taking a hit.”\

Lemke played in 11 MLB seasons (1988-1998 … all for the Braves, except 1998 with the Red Sox).  The switch-hitting 2B/3B went .246-32-270, with 349 runs scored over his career.  His best season was 1994, when he went .294-3-31 in 104 games. It was the only season in his career when he hit above .255.  Another “one thing leads to another” from the Roundtable: In 2,209 minor-league plate appearances, Lemke was hit by a pitch 23 times.,

Bill Bergen was a right-handed hitting catcher known for his defensive skills. He played in 11 MLB seasons (1901-1911 … Reds, Dodgers). His career stats were .170-2-193, with 138 runs scored and 23 steals in 947 games. He hit .200 or better in just one season (1903), when he went .227-0-19 in 58 games.

Mickey Witek was a right-handed hitting utility infielder who played in seven MLB seasons (1949-43, 1946-47, 1949 … Giants, Yankees), going .277-22-196, with 239 runs scored in 581 games.  His best season was 1943, when he hit .314-6-55, with 68 runs scored for the Giants. All but one of Witek’s MLB at bats were as a New York Giant.  He also had one at bat (and one hit) as a Yankee 1949).

Herm Winningham was a left-handed hitting outfielder over nine MLB seasons (1984-93 … Mets, Expos, Reds, Red Sox), going .239-19-147, with 212 runs scored and 105 steals. His best season was 1987 (Expos) when he hit .239 and set career highs in home runs (4), RBI (41), hits (83), doubles (20) and stolen bases (29).

A few more HBP tidbits:

• Only two players have been HBP at least 50 times in a season: Hughie Jennings (51 with the 1896 NL Orioles) and Ron Hunt (50 with the 1971 Expos).
• Ron Hunt led the league in a record seven consecutive seasons – for three different teams (Expos, Giants, Cardinals).
• Minnie Minoso led the league in HBP a record ten times – all for the white Sox (1952-54; 1956-1961). His consecutive seasons of leadership were interrupted in 1955 by teammate Nellie Fox.
• The record for getting hit by a pitch in a game is three – shared by 34 players. The only players to be plunked three times in a game more than once are Reed Johnson (three times); Jurickson Profar (twice). Frank Chance (twice); Damion Easley (twice); Brandon Guyer (twice).

Primary Resources: Sports-Reference.com; Baseball Almanac.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 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, for some reason, I found myself noodling around in Most Valuable Player trivia … everything from the positions most and least represented among MVP winners to players to win MVP Awards at different primary positions to MVP winners who did not make that season’s All Star Game (and the players who started the ASG at their positions).

So, let’s get started.

Most MVP Awards by Primary Position

First basemen have garnered the most MVP Awards at 37.  At the other end of the spectrum relief pitchers and designated hitters have taken home the fewest MVP Awards (four each).

Relievers and Designated Hitters

Going a little deeper into DH and reliever MVP’s, Shohei Ohtani is the only DH to win an MVP Award – and he won all four MVP recognitions awarded (to date) to designated hitters.  It is the only position at which one player is the only player to been recognized as a league MVP while playing primarily at that position.  (In baseball, we do love “qualifiers.”)

Shohei Ohtani also qualifies as a “unicorn.” He is the only player to be unanimously selected as a league MVP more than once – and he has earned that status three times (2023, 2024, 2025.) Ohtani has a total of four MVP Awards on his current MLB resume. Ohtani, of course, is a special case. While, in each of his MVP seasons, he played the bulk of his games at DH, he also was recognized for notable contributions as a pitcher in two of them.

As noted earlier, a relief pitcher has been declared MVP just four times.  The first relief pitcher to win an MVP Award was Jim Konstanty of the 1950 Phillies. (In fact, it would be 31 years before a second reliever would win an MVP Award and Konstanty is still the only National League pitcher (unicorn alert) to win MVP recognition.

By today standards, Konstanty’s was an unusual season for a reliever.  In his age-33 campaign, he went 16-7, 2.66, with an NL-best 22 saves (recognized retroactively, saves were not an official stat at the time) in a league-leading 74 appearances (no starts).  Over the course of the season, he made 17 appearances of three innings or more, including one of ten innings (innings nine through 18 of a 19-inning 8-7 win over the Reds on September 15) and one of nine frames (the final nine innings of a 15-inning 9-7 win over the Pirates on August 25).  Notably, at least for the Roundtable, Konstanty was not an “overpowering” pitcher, but relied on his study of hitters’ strengths and weaknesses, solid control and effective off-speed pitches (particularly his palm ball). That season, in 152 innings pitched, he struck out only 56 batters (while walking 50).  Konstanty pitched in 11 MLB seasons (1944, 1946, 1948-56), going 66-48, 3.46 with 76 saves in 433 appearances (36 starts). His MVP season was his only All Star year.

Other relief pitchers to earn MVP Awards (all American League) are: Rollie Fingers, 1981 Brewers (6-3, 1.04, with a league-leading 28 saves); Willie Hernandez, 1984 Tigers (9-3, 1.92, with 32 saves); and Dennis Eckersley, 1992 Athletics (7-1. 1.01 with a league-topping 51 saves).

Sure, I’ll Make a Move

Five players have won league MVP Awards at multiple positions:

• Aaron Judge as a center fielder in 2022 and 2024 and as a right fielder in 2025;
• Alex Rodriguez as a SS in 2003 and as a third baseman in 2005 and 2007;
• Robin Yount as a shortstop in 1982 and as a center fielder in 1989;
• Stan Musial as a right fielder in 1943 and 1948 and as a first baseman in 1946;
• Hank Greenberg as a first baseman in 1935 and as a left fielder in 1940.

Let’s Get This Party Started!

Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki are the only players to win the MVP Award in their Rookie season (and by default also the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

Lucky Seven

The Giant’ Barry Bonds has the most league MVP Awards at seven (1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004). He also holds the record for the most consecutive MVP Awards (four). Bonds also won consecutive NL MVP awards in 1992 and 1993.

Others with consecutive MVP Awards include: Shohei Ohtani (2023-24-25); Aaron Judge (2024-25); Miguel Cabrera (2012-13); Albert Pujols (2008-09); Frank Thomas (1993-94); Dale Murphy (1982-83); Mike Schmidt (1980-81); Joe Morgan (1976-76); Roger Maris (1960-61); Ernie Banks (1958-59); Mickey Mantle (1956-57); Yogi Berra (1954-55); Hal Newhouser (1944-45); and Jimmie Foxx (1932-33).

The Young and The Old of It

Barry Bonds is the oldest player to win a league MVP Award (40-years-old). In fact, if you look at a list of eleven MVP Awards presented to players after their 35^th birthday, Bonds name comes up four times (no other name is on the list more than once.)

The youngest player to win an MVP is the Athletics’ Vida Blue, who was named AL MVP at the age of 21 – after a 20-89, 1.82 season, with 24 complete games and eight shutouts in 39 starts.

I’d Rather Have the MVP Award

Just 11 players have won a League MVP Award in a season in which they did not make the All Star Team (does not include seasons in which there was no All Star Game). Here they are, along with the player who started the All Star Game at their position.

• Hank Greenberg, 1B, Tigers, 1935 (Starter: Lou Gehrig, Yankees)
• Don Newcombe, SP, Dodgers, 1956 (Starter: Bob Friend, Pirates)
• Dave Parker, RF, Pirates, 1978 (Starter: Rick Monday, Dodgers)
• Willie Stargell, 1B, Pirates, 1979 (Starter: Steve Garvey, Dodgers)
• Kirk Gibson, LF. Dodgers, 1988 (Starter: Vince Coleman, Cardinals)
• Robin Yount, CF, Brewers, 1989 (Starter: Kirby Puckett, Twins)
• Terry Pendleton, 3B, Braves, 1991 (Starter: Chris Sabo, Reds)
• Juan Gonzalez, RF, Rangers, 1996 (Starter: Brady Anderson, Orioles)
• Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves, 1999 (Starter: Matt Williams, Diamondbacks)
• Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins, 2006 (Starter: David Ortiz, Red Sox)
• Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies, 2007 (Starter: Jose Reyes, Mets)
• Bryce Harper, RF, Phillies, 2021 (Starter: Nick Castellanos, Reds)

 

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Goldy Joins List of Oldest MVP Winners, by Sarah Langs, MLB.com; All For One; Unanimous MVP Award Winners, by Dylan Svoboda, MLB.com; Which Position Has Produced the Most MVPs?, by Thomas Harrigan, MLB.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 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, I got drawn into the Web (pun intended) of Cy Young Award trivia – triggered by the Pirates’ CYA winner Paul Skenes tying for the fewest wins ever by a starting pitcher winning the CYA (in a non-shortened season) and also becoming the first starting pitcher to capture a CYA without posting more wins than losses on the season.

The Pirates’ Paul Skenes, 2024’s NL Rookie of the Year, was unanimously selected as the 2025 NL Young Award Winner – after posting a 10-10, 1.97 record.

In addition, Tarik Skubal of the Tigers won the AL CYA with a 13-6, 2.21 record.  The combined 23 wins notched by Skubal and Skenes set a new record the fewest combined wins ever by a pair of CYA winners in a (non-shortened) season. #AtBaseballRoundtableWeCountEverything.

The previous “record holders?” In 2021, CYA winners the Blue Jays’ Robbie Ray (13-7) and Brewers’ Corbin Burnes (11-5) combined for 24 wins.  And, in 2003, when the NL Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne of the 2003 Dodgers went 2-3, 1.30 (55 saves), posted the fewest wins ever by a CYA winner and became the still-only only CYA winner who posted more losses than victories, AL winner Roy Hallady chipped in a 22-7 record to bring the combined total to 24.

Now, this post is all about starting pitchers who have won the Cy Young.  Here are a few tidbits that jumped out at me.

• From 1956 (when the CYA was first awarded) through 1980, there were 37 CYA winners – all starting pitchers and 36 (97.3%) won at least 20 games. The lone exception was Tom Seaver, who won the 1973 NL CYA with a 19-10, 2.08 record; making him, of course, the answer to the trivia question, “Who was the first pitcher to win a CYA, while winning less than 20 games in his CYA season?”
• From 1981 through 2005 (minus the shortened seasons of 1981, 1994 and 1995), another 37 CYA winners were starting pitchers and 28 (75.7%) won at least 20 games.
• From 2006 through 2025 (minus the 2020 COVID-shortened season), starting pitchers won 38 CYA’s – and just 14 of those winners (36.8%) won at least 20 games.
• In the past five seasons, (2021-25), starting pitchers have won all ten Cy Young Awards and not one of those pitchers reached 20 wins in their CYA season.

Why this change among CYA credentials? Let’s look at just a couple of factors.

Pitcher usage is one. There just aren’t that many twenty-game winners anymore, just like there aren’t that many 250+ innings pitched seasons or any double-digit complete-game campaigns. Consider, there have been only three MLB twenty-game winners in the five seasons since 2021: Spencer Strider, Braves (20-5 in 2023); Kyle Wright, Braves (20-5 in 2022); and Julio Urias, Dodgers (20-3 in 2021). By comparison, in 1956 (the year the CYA was launched), there were nine MLB 20-game winners and in the first five years of the CYA’s existence, there were 23 20-game winners. Also, In the five seasons from 1956 through 1960, there were 51 pitcher-seasons of 250 or more innings pitched. In the most recent five MLB seasons, there were zero pitcher-seasons of 250 or more innings pitched and only 24 of 200 or more innings. And, don’t get me started on complete games.

Second, a change in baseball’s statistical menu. With the lack of “big” win totals, voters are looking more toward ERA and (some would say more advanced) stats like WHIP and WAR. Skenes finished 16^th in the NL in wins, but led all MLB qualifiers in Earned Run Average (1.97) and led the NL in Walks + Hits Per Inning Pitched (0.95).  Skubal finished fifth in the AL in wins, but led the AL in ERA at (2.21) and led MLB qualifiers in WHIP at 0.89. In addition, Skubal (6.5) and Skenes (7.7) were second and third in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for qualifying pitchers. Similarly, if you look at Jacob deGrom, who won the 2018 NL Cy Young Award with a 10-9 record, you’ll see that he finished tied for 22nd in the NL in wins, but led the NL in ERA (1.70), was second in the league in WHIP (0.912 to Max Scherzer’s 0.911) and was second in the league in WAR (9.4). Oh, and those three twenty-game winners over the past five seasons I mentioned earlier – Strider, Wright and Urias – finished fourth, tenth and seventh in NL CYA voting, respectively.  The NL CYA winners those seasons won 14, 14 and 11 games, respectively.

How About a Trivia Question for Your Friends?

Q:  There has been only one tie in the voting for the Cy Young Award. Which two pitchers tied for the CYA? Hint: American League; one righty and one lefty.

A:  In 1969, he Tigers’ Denny McLain (23-9, 2.80) and Orioles’ Mike Cueller (23-11, 2.38) each got ten out of possible 24 votes (voters cast a vote for just one pitcher). The following season, a ranked voting system was adopted.   

A few other tidbits, many of which you may already know.

• The first MLB CYA winner was the Dodgers’ Don Newcombe (27-7, 3.06 in 1956).
• Only one CYA was awarded from 1956 through 1966.
• Roger Clemens has won the most Cy Young Awards (seven) 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004. He won 20 or more games in five of those seven seasons.
• Juan Marichal had three seasons of 25 or more wins (1963, 1966 and 1968) and, in those seasons, never got a single CYA vote. He had three additional seasons of 20 or more wins and never got a CYA vote in those. The Hall of Famer and ten-time All Star, in fact, only got one CYA vote in his 16-season career and it was not a first-place vote (1971, when Marichal finished tied for eighth in the NL CYA balloting). Ironically, he received MVP votes in eight seasons.  The CYA winners Marichal lost to:  Sandy Koufax (three times), Bob Gibson, Dean Chance, Tom Seaver.
• Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux share the record for consecutive CYA seasons at four. Maddux 1992-95, Johnson 1999-2002. They each won 20 or more games in two of their four consecutive CYA campaign.

A Change of Scenery

In 1984, right-hander Rick Sutcliffe started the season 4-5, 5.15 in 15 starts for the Indians.  In mid-June, he was sent to the Cubs as part of a multi-player trade.  With the Cubs, he went 16-1, 2.69 in 20 starts – earning the NL Cy Young Award – and unicorn status as the only player to win a Cy Young Award during a season during which he was traded, as well as the only pitcher to pitch in both the NL and AL in a season in which he won a Cy Young Award. (NL CYA voters did not hold those 15 AL starts against him.) 

• Dwight Gooden, 1985 Mets, is MLB’s youngest-ever Cy Young Award winner (20 years-324 days-old at the end of the 1985 season.
• Roger Clemens, 2004 Astros) is the oldest Cy Young Award winner, 2004 Astros, 42 years/60 days old at the end of the 2004 season. Notably, 41-year-old Randy Johnson finished second and would have been the oldest CYA winner if not for Clemens. Apparently, it was an “Old Guys Rule” kind of season.
• It was 18 seasons (1986-2004) between Roger Clemens’ first and final Cy Young Awards (an MLB record).
• To date, nine relief pitchers have won a CYA (no relief pitcher is a multiple winner).

Oh, What A Relief It is.

In 1974, the Dodgers’ Mike Marshall became the first relief pitcher to win a Cy Young Award. That season, Marshall appeared in a still MLB-record 106 games (all in relief) – going 15-12, 2.42, with a league-leading 21 saves. He threw a still-record 208 1/3 innings in relief. He pitched more than one inning in 74 games and three or more innings in 22.

 

Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.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 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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