Photo: Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia
On this day (May 20) in 2009, Red Sox’ CF Jacob Ellsbury tied the MLB record for putouts in a nine-inning game by a CF (and by an outfielder any position) – with 12 – capturing two fly balls in the first inning; two in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth, none in the seventh or eighth and one in the ninth. The record-tying putout was the final out of the game – an 8-3 Red Sox win over the Blue Jays.
In a bit of a twist, in the same game, Blue Jays’ CF Vernon Wells tied the record for fewest putouts in a nine-inning game by a CF – with zero.
Here are the single-game (nine inning) put out record for outfielders.
CF – 12
Earl Clark, Braves … May 10, 1929
Lyman Bostock, Twins … May 25, 1977
Jacob Ellsbury, Red Sox … May 20, 2009
LF – 11
Dick Harley, St. Louis Browns (NL) … June 30, 1898
Topsy Hartsel, Chicago Orphans (NL) … September 10, 1901
Paul Lehner, Athletics … June 25, 1950
Willie Horton, Tigers … July 18, 1960
RF – American League – 11 … National League – 10
Tony Armas, A’s … June 12, 1982
***
Bill Nicholson, Cubs … September 17, 1945
Raul Mondesi, Dodgers … September 25, 1999
A few other outfield putouts factoids:
- Willie Mays leads all MLB players in career outfield putouts with 7,112.
- Taylor Douthit of the 1928 Cardinal holds the record for outfield putouts in a season with 547.
This look at outfield putout records provide me with a nice segue to a look at one of my favorite players (from my younger days) – Phillies’ CF Richie Ashburn
Richie Ashburn – A Defensive Putout Machine and a “Single-ular” Force on Offense
Photo: Bowman Gum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Richie Ashburn of the Phillies led NL outfielders in putouts nine times between 1949 and 1958 (the only season in that span he didn’t lead the NL in putouts was 1955, when he finished third, behind the Braves’ Billy Bruton and Giants’ Willie Mays). The Pirates’ Max Carey shares the record for most years leading his league’s outfielders in putouts with Ashburn (9). Carey’s nine leading seasons came between 1912 and 1925.
Six of the top ten seasons for putouts by an outfielder belong to Ashburn. No other player is in the top ten more than once. Ashburn had four seasons of 500+ outfield putouts, no other player had more had more than one. Ashburn ranks sixth overall in career MLB outfield putouts with 6,089.
Ashburn, was known not only for his fine defensive ability, but also for his bunting skills – an art that contributed to his offensive contribution to the Phillies.
“Bunting is a lost art. Nobody works on it … Thirty five of my 225 hits one year were bunts, most of them pushed toward third.”
Richie Ashburn in a 1991 interview with sportswriter Norman L. Macht
Ashburn was also recognized for his ability to foul off pitches he couldn’t turn into safeties – a skill that contributed to both his on-base percentage (long at bats that turned into walks) and low strikeout totals. In his 15-season MLB carer, Ashburn never struck out more than 50 times in a season – a total of 571 whiffs (1,198 walks) in 9,737 plate appearances. In 1952, he fanned just 30 times in 702 pate appearances (154 games).
A Somewhat Foul Ashburn Story … Courtesy of the History Channel (and other sources)
On August 17, 1957, in an at bat against the Giants, Richie Ashburn hit a foul ball that struck a fan in the stands (Alice Roth) in the face. Now, here’s the rest of the story, as noted at History.com. “After being struck by a foul ball off the bat of future Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, Roth is being treated for a broken nose, when the Philadelphia Phillies’ star fouled off the very next pitch, hitting her in the leg and breaking it.” Side note: Alice Roth was the spouse of Philadelphia Bulletin Sports Editor Earl Roth.
Surprisingly, the speedy Ashburn began his professional career with a focus on being a catcher. However, his speed led quickly to a position change. In Ashburn’s Society for American Baseball Research bio (by Seamus Kearny), it is reported that a defining moment leading to the position switch came when Ashburn – playing catcher for the Class-A Utica Blue Sox – on a play with a batted ball hit to the right side (and pursued by both the first baseman and second baseman), Ashburn came out from behind the plate, tossed his mask and didn’t just back up the play at first, but beat the runner to the bag and took the throw for a 4-2 ground out.
Ashburn is the fastest man I’ve ever seen getting down to first base … Anybody who’s faster than Ashburn isn’t running, He’s flying.
Leo Durocher
Signed as an 18-year-old, Ashburn played in just two minor-league seasons (both in A-Ball), hitting .342 over 243 games. Ashburn went on to play 15 MLB seasons (1948-59, Phillies … 1960-61, Cubs … 1962 Mets,). The Hall of Famer hit. 308-29-586, with 1,322 runs scored and 234 steals. (Eight of his 29 home runs were inside-the-parkers.)
Known for his ability to slap, slash, bunt and bounce his way on base, 82 percent of Richie Ashburn’ 2,574 regular-season hits were singles.
Ashburn was an All Star in five seasons. On offense, he won two batting titles, led his league in hits three times, triples twice, stolen bases once, walks four times and on-base percentage four times. On defense, in addition to leading NL outfielders in putouts nine times, he led NL outfielders assist three times and double plays three times.
Right at the Top of the List(s)
Richie Ashburn not only led MLB outfielders in putouts in the 1950’s (1950-59) with 4,611, he also led all major leaguers in base hits over the same period with 1,875 (for a .313 average).
Richie Ashburn’s Best Season: In 1958, Richie Ashburn led the NL in batting average (.350), base hits (215), triples (13), on-base percentage (.440). He also drew a league-leading 97 walks, scored 98 runs and stole 30 bases. In addition, he led NL outfielders in putouts (495).
Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.com.
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