Quiz on nastiest headhunters
 

So here's the reverse of the other quiz. Which HOF starting pitchers tallied the most HBP per batter faced?

There were seven MLB HOF starters who hit more than 1% of all the batters they faced in their careers. That might not sound like a lot, but it's 5 to 6 times as many as the guys in the other quiz.

Hank O'Day, who was elected as an ump after being a rotten pitcher for a few years, meets this benchmark but he doesn't count. These are actual HOF pitchers.

Four or maybe five of these I think I might have guessed, as they have reputations as fierce competitors (aka "mean SOBs") on the mound. But the other two I would never have guessed.

Three are from the deadball era, or even a bit earlier.

Two from the 1960s, more or less, but Bob Gibson is not one.

And two from post-1990...

Two are lefties.

Good luck!

1. Drysdale
2. Plank
3. Randy Johnson
4. Pedro Martinez
5. Bunning
6.
7.

Well like I said in the other thread Drysdale is definitely there, less innings and more Hit batters than Gibson (while walking at a much lower rate, so these weren't accidents lol) and I'll guess Plank as I also mentioned him in the other thread

the usual suspects can surprise!
 

Just musing further -

Some of the guys with really fearsome reputations for either fastballs, meanness, or both, including Early Wynn, Lefty Grove, Carlton, Marichal, Seaver, Jesse Haines, Feller, and Gaylord Perry turn out to be in the bottom half of the HBP rates for all HOFers. Even Gibson and Burleigh Grimes aren't that high compared to their reps. (I guess it pays to cultivate the rep even if you don't actually hit that many...)

2 down, 5 to go
 

Drysdale and Plank are indeed two of the seven. I would not have guessed Plank at all, but then I never saw him pitch :)

Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez are the 90s+ guys, I think. Pretty sure RJ is one at the very least and Pedro because of the limited innings.

I know Maddux hit a surprising amount of guys, but he threw a ton of innings so he's probably outside the limit.

two more down
 

Randy and Pedro are correct!

The easier ones have been gotten ... who's gonna get the others?

Nolan Ryan?

I would also say some of the most effective pitchers are the ones that can throw high and tight without hitting the batter so they wouldn't show on the hbp meter as much.

Nolan is high but not quite
 

Two dead-ballers left, and one from the late 1950s-1960s

Walter Johnson? 1 every 114 batters.

Jim Bunning

Bob Gibson
Whitlow Wyatt

Bender
 

Looking through my T206s right now...so I'll throw out Chief Bender. For no other reason then nobody else really comes to mind in these cards and you said there's some deadballers in there...

Cheers,
Geno

A close shave
 

. I'll go with Maglie . They didn't call him Sal The Barber fur nuthin'. Plus , hey , it's New Yawk.

another one bites the dust
 

Bunning is correct!

The two remaining dead-ballers. One is definitely known as a red-a*s, as they used to call them. Maybe his headhunting ways made it easier for a great teammate to stay a little out of the mire?

The other is as well as known as a manager as a pitcher, although he does have the numbers...

Both are in T206!

Whenever I think of head hunters, I think of Don Drysdale. I met him as a kid and he seemed like a nice guy. I recall a story where Gene Oliver hit a home run off him, and while he was admiring the flight of the ball, he said, "Batboy, come and get my bat!" The next time up, Drysdale drilled Oliver, who crumpled to the dirt. "Batboy!" yelled Drysdale. "Come and get Oliver."

Since every thread needs card ...

To wrap it up
 

I guess everybody lost interest in those last two headhunters -

-Joe McGinnity is the HOF pitcher with THE highest HBP in MLB history

-Clark Griffith is the other one - clearly a hard-nosed hurler before he became a manager and owner-

Carl May was no sweetheart.

I did not read this entire thread but when I hear headhunter, I think........Clemens?

Stan Williams kept them loose in the batters box. I asked him once when requesting an autograph about that and he said they liked to crowd the plate well I didn't like it.