Surprising baseball facts

[Peter_Spaeth]

Here's one that doesn't seem right -- Greg Maddux pitched for the Braves only one more season (11) than for the Cubs (10).

[Casey2296]

I’ve always liked Warren Spahns career stats:

Pitching: 363 wins — 356 with Braves, 4 with Mets, 3 with Giants
Batting: 363 hits — 356 with Braves, 4 with Mets, 3 with Giants
Playoff pitching: 4 wins
Playoff batting: 4 hits

[bnorth]

In 1919 Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell was hit by lightening during a game. He finished the game and picked up the win.

[Vintagedeputy]

Jim Palmer is the only pitcher in major league history to win World Series games in three different decades; 1966, 1970 (and 1971) and 1983.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

Jim Palmer is the only pitcher in major league history to win World Series games in three different decades; 1966, 1970 (and 1971) and 1983.

And never gave up a grand slam in his career.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Hoyt Wilhelm hit his first and only home run in his very first at bat.

[Utter Chaos]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

And never gave up a grand slam in his career.

He did give up a grand slam in the minors in 1967. Some guy named Johnny Bench.

[joshuanip]

Originally Posted by bnorth

In 1919 Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell was hit by lightening during a game. He finished the game and picked up the win.

That was randomly cool. Thank you.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I’ve always liked Warren Spahns career stats:

Pitching: 363 wins — 356 with Braves, 4 with Mets, 3 with Giants
Batting: 363 hits — 356 with Braves, 4 with Mets, 3 with Giants
Playoff pitching: 4 wins
Playoff batting: 4 hits

Speaking of Spahn, 277 of his 363 lifetime wins came AFTER the age of 30….incredible! Only Cy Young (316) and Phil Niekro (287) compiled more wins after turning 30.

[stlcardsfan]

Already posted about stanthe man.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

Speaking of Spahn, 277 of his 363 lifetime wins came AFTER the age of 30….incredible! Only Cy Young (316) and Phil Niekro (287) compiled more wins after turning 30.

Spahn is incredible. Look up his WW2 combat experience.

[ejharrington]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I’ve always liked Warren Spahns career stats:

Pitching: 363 wins — 356 with Braves, 4 with Mets, 3 with Giants
Batting: 363 hits — 356 with Braves, 4 with Mets, 3 with Giants
Playoff pitching: 4 wins
Playoff batting: 4 hits

Wow amazing.

[ejharrington]

In 1982, Dave Kingman led the NL in HRs with 37 and finished last in batting average at .204.

[ejharrington]

Dick Ruthven pitched for 14 years in MLB and won a World Series in 1980. He made two All Star Games. In one of those years, he led the league in losses and in the other, he had an ERA over 5.00.

[Gorditadogg]

Khris Davis hit .247 four years in a row.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[Snapolit1]

Columbia University, hardly a big name these days in collegiate athletics, is the only college in America that has three alumni in the baseball hall of fame.

Lou
Eddie Collins
John Montgomery Ward

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Columbia University, hardly a big name these days in collegiate athletics, is the only college in America that has three alumni in the baseball hall of fame.

Lou
Eddie Collins
John Montgomery Ward

University of Michigan has George Sisler, Charlie Gehringer and Barrly Larkin.

USC produced Randy Johnson, and both Don Sutton and Tom Seaver also went there for a year.

Still pretty amazing that Columbia produced 3 HOFers.

Speaking of Lou Gehrig--not everyone knows what a well-rounded athlete he was. He had football scholarship to Columbia and was their pitching Ace. His greatest mound performance came on April 18, 1923, the same day that Yankee Stadium opened, in a game against Williams College. Gehrig struck out 17 batters, setting a school record that stands to this day.

[ajquigs]

Chuck Finley was the first pitcher to have two four-strikeout innings. He did it three times before anyone else had done it twice. All three were in a period of less than one year.

[wagnerj03]

In 1945, Tommy Brown became the youngest to hit a MLB hr at 17 yrs old.


https://www.history.com/this-day-in-...er-tommy-brown

[Snapolit1]

Thanks! The claim sounded reasonable and I guess was correct for many years.

Gehrig had to sit out the 1921 football season at Columbia as a suspension for playing some semi-professional baseball in Hartford the preceding summer under an assumed name ("Lou Lewis" I believe). I do think he played in 1922.

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

University of Michigan has George Sisler, Charlie Gehringer and Barrly Larkin.

USC produced Randy Johnson, and both Don Sutton and Tom Seaver also went there for a year.

Still pretty amazing that Columbia produced 3 HOFers.

Speaking of Lou Gehrig--not everyone knows what a well-rounded athlete he was. He had football scholarship to Columbia and was their pitching Ace. His greatest mound performance came on April 18, 1923, the same day that Yankee Stadium opened, in a game against Williams College. Gehrig struck out 17 batters, setting a school record that stands to this day.

[cgjackson222]

Stan “the man” Musial and Ken Griffey Jr. “the kid” share a birthday (November 21) and a hometown--Donora, PA, population less than 5,000.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Thanks! The claim sounded reasonable and I guess was correct for many years.

Gehrig had to sit out the 1921 football season at Columbia as a suspension for playing some semi-professional baseball in Hartford the preceding summer under an assumed name ("Lou Lewis" I believe). I do think he played in 1922.

If you include Koufax, who attended night classes in Architecture at Columbia during his Rookie season, and actually went to class right after the Dodgers' game 7 when they finally won a World Series, then Columbia can claim 4 HOFers.

[tma4321]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

University of Michigan has George Sisler, Charlie Gehringer and Barrly Larkin.

USC produced Randy Johnson, and both Don Sutton and Tom Seaver also went there for a year.

Still pretty amazing that Columbia produced 3 HOFers.

Speaking of Lou Gehrig--not everyone knows what a well-rounded athlete he was. He had football scholarship to Columbia and was their pitching Ace. His greatest mound performance came on April 18, 1923, the same day that Yankee Stadium opened, in a game against Williams College. Gehrig struck out 17 batters, setting a school record that stands to this day.

This is a very interesting topic. Eddie Collins graduated from Columbia University and John Ward received a law degree from Columbia. Amazing considering John Ward's parents passed away when he was a teenager and he got his law degree in his late twenties while playing professional baseball. Lou Gehrig left after his sophomore year to play pro baseball. Barry Larkin went back to Michigan to complete his degree in 2010!

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

John Miller hit HRs in his first and last plate appearances. This is made especially bewildering by his .164 career BA and the fact that those were the only two HRs of his brief career.

In a ten season career, Will White won 40 games three times and 30 games twice...yet nobody ever seems to talk about him getting into Cooperstown.

[refz]

I had to look up who led the AL in hits in 1941. C. Travis… I didn’t know this as both Williams & DiMaggio outshined the entire season

[Lobo Aullando]

I had to look up Cecil Travis, too.

He should be in the Hall of Fame.

Originally Posted by refz

I had to look up who led the AL in hits in 1941. C. Travis… I didn’t know this as both Williams & DiMaggio outshined the entire season

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Lobo Aullando

I had to look up Cecil Travis, too.

He should be in the Hall of Fame.

Yeah, I've always said there'd be no argument from me on that idea.

Both Cecil and his contemporary Mel Harder, who was a friend of mine, need to be put in there. Harder has the strange distinction of getting enough votes but NOT being inducted (?!). He could have lived to see it happen, too. Stupid, stupid "institution", Cooperstown is.

[7nohitter]

Nolan Ryan was robbed of a Cy Young in 1973 by the pretty boy in Baltimore.

[molenick]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Yeah, I've always said there'd be no argument from me on that idea.

Both Cecil and his contemporary Mel Harder, who was a friend of mine, need to be put in there. Harder has the strange distinction of getting enough votes but NOT being inducted (?!). He could have lived to see it happen, too. Stupid, stupid "institution", Cooperstown is.

Not trying to be argumentative, but it doesn't look like Harder came close to getting the 75% needed to get in with the regular voting. Which election are you referring to where he got enough votes but was not inducted? Was it one of the versions of the Veteran's Committee? It's harder to find percentages for those, especially for the earlier incarnations of the committee.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by molenick

Not trying to be argumentative, but it doesn't look like Harder came close to getting the 75% needed to get in with the regular voting. Which election are you referring to where he got enough votes but was not inducted? Was it one of the versions of the Veteran's Committee? It's harder to find percentages for those, especially for the earlier incarnations of the committee.

It happened with the Veteran's Committee in 1999. He received the 75% needed, but two other players received more. At the time, only two were to be elected, so Mel was out even though he was "in".

Both Harder and Travis seem like such ideal Veteran's Committee picks, too. With the caliber of baseball surrounding them in the 1930's-40's AL, it's no surprise that they'd be lost to time and thought for an extended period. What bothers me, though, is that Mel received enough votes, was subsequently locked out on a technicality, and apparently just never thought of again for the next quarter century?!

I suppose that it shouldn't bother me so much, because I doubt it bothered Mel. He was so incredibly kind and humble and would have done Cooperstown proud in a similar way to his teammate Joe Sewell. He had also been in poor health those last few years of his life, and maybe it was a blessing in its own way. He would have zapped whatever strength he had replying to the additional boatload of autograph requests, including a handwritten letter in each envelope.

Another great Harder fact that fits in to the theme of this thread: Mel actually threw the first and the last pitches at Municipal Stadium. Going by memory from my visit to his place, regarding that final pitch, he said, "I barely got it over the plate." Well, Mel, you were 83 years old...

[This inspired me to check YouTube to watch that moment for the first time. Thankfully, somebody with a HandyCam was filming it and has uploaded their shaky footage. It was a ridiculously high pitch, but Mel did much more than "barely get it over the plate". His statement just speaks more to his incredibly humble nature.]

[irishdenny]

In 1909 Mr. Ty Cobb Hit 9 Home runs an was the Home Run Leader...

None of them went over a fence !*

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Yeah, I've always said there'd be no argument from me on that idea.

Both Cecil and his contemporary Mel Harder, who was a friend of mine, need to be put in there. Harder has the strange distinction of getting enough votes but NOT being inducted (?!). He could have lived to see it happen, too. Stupid, stupid "institution", Cooperstown is.

I'm not familiar with the careers of either Cecil Travis or Mel Harder. Looking at their stats, it looks like Travis may have had a chance to be in the Hall of Fame until he missed 3 years for military service. When he came back after WWII, he was clearly no longer the same player and was out of the majors at age 33. I can see an argument being made for him being inducted, but he probably needed a few more good years that he likely would have had if not for being in the military.

As for Harder, his stats show 4 or 5 very good seasons but overall it looks to me that he had a solid career but not one that makes me think he definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame. Regarding him getting 75% of the vote from the Veterans Committee but not getting in because 2 others were higher, does anyone have a link to the actual voting results showing that? I found a few places that mention it happened but couldn't find the actual results anywhere. If it was in 1999, then it looks like the Veterans Committee elected 4 people that year not 2.

https://baseballhall.org/discover/in...ss%20of%201999.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'm not familiar with the careers of either Cecil Travis or Mel Harder. Looking at their stats, it looks like Travis may have had a chance to be in the Hall of Fame until he missed 3 years for military service. When he came back after WWII, he was clearly no longer the same player and was out of the majors at age 33. I can see an argument being made for him being inducted, but he probably needed a few more good years that he likely would have had if not for being in the military.

As for Harder, his stats show 4 or 5 very good seasons but overall it looks to me that he had a solid career but not one that makes me think he definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame. Regarding him getting 75% of the vote from the Veterans Committee but not getting in because 2 others were higher, does anyone have a link to the actual voting results showing that? I found a few places that mention it happened but couldn't find the actual results anywhere. If it was in 1999, then it looks like the Veterans Committee elected 4 people that year not 2.

https://baseballhall.org/discover/in...ss%20of%201999.

What you say about Travis has always been the biggest strike against him.

With Mel, it's the old, "Well, if he played in New York, he'd have been a shoe-in!" argument. Alas, Mel was with the lowly Indians for his entire career, retiring the season before he'd perhaps have had a chance to win a WS ring as a player. I supposed the same could be said for Travis, as he played in Washington, but I think the argument is stronger in this regard for a 20-year career, single team man.

I agree with your assessments as to why they're not in, and most certainly why they weren't good candidates immediately following their careers, but the "why not's" are also there and they always looked like solid picks as VC selections. Lots of worse and more embarrassing selections, to be certain. I would not be embarrassed to see these two guys voted in.

[molenick]

I saw that four were elected that year, but apparently they could elect two "regular" veterans, plus (in two separate ballots) one from the 19th century and one Negro Leaguer. At least if I am understanding the rules correctly. As for the actual voting, I can't find the totals.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Lobo Aullando

I had to look up Cecil Travis, too.

He should be in the Hall of Fame.

+1,000,000 on that. Some of these guys getting in are pathetic next to him. Now he's forgotten.

[FrankWakefield]

EVERY ONE of you, +1 +1 +1 for each of you!!!

Great thread. Thank you.


Will White and Cecil Travis should both be in The H _ _ _ of F _ _ _.

[ChiSoxCardboard]

Joel Horlen's ERA in 1964 was 1.88. https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...orlejo01.shtml

Admittedly not especially interesting, though obviously very good, but I just noticed it is listed wrong on the AL ERA Leaders 1965 Topps card. (Not sure why these are sideways, for some reason I consistently have this problem on this forum.)

[Eric72]

The movie Major League is one of my favorites. Here’s one of Bob Uecker’s many, many memorable quotes:

“Just a reminder, fans, comin' up is our "Die-hard Night" here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won a pennant.”

Here’s the surprising baseball fact:

The release date of Major League is closer to the Indians winning that pennant than it is to modern day.

[Salfino]

Here's a good one for Maddux: 1995-2003; Faces 8,025 hitters and, excluding intentional walks, throws 8,006 balls, less than one per batter.

[rickalaska]

Mickey Mantle hit more than 100 RBIs in ONLY four seasons

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

Mickey Mantle hit more than 100 RBIs in ONLY four seasons

On a similar yet opposite note, I just learned today that John Kruk never had a 100 RBI season. I had taken it for granted that he would have had at least a few.

[frankbmd]

I've learned that future plans for Cooperstown include putting small plaques for future starting pitchers outside the front door. You only pay for admission if you want to enter the bullpen. If you complain, you are offered a half price ticket to visit the "Tommy John Pavilion" at the local hospital, that is actually larger than the current Hall of Fame (or bullpen). You can take a bus to the TJP or be issued a "Barry Bonds Intentional Walk".

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

On a similar yet opposite note, I just learned today that John Kruk never had a 100 RBI season. I had taken it for granted that he would have had at least a few.

I think I would have been more surprised to learn that John Kruk had a 100 RBI season. I watched him play for 6 seasons with the Phillies, and he hit for average and got on base a lot, but he was never considered a power hitter or big RBI guy for them. Also, for all but one season he was there, the Phillies weren't very good so usually weren't scoring a ton of runs.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I think I would have been more surprised to learn that John Kruk had a 100 RBI season. I watched him play for 6 seasons with the Phillies, and he hit for average and got on base a lot, but he was never considered a power hitter or big RBI guy for them. Also, for all but one season he was there, the Phillies weren't very good so usually weren't scoring a ton of runs.

I did figure that out by looking at the rest of his stats. I didn't have much of a chance to watch him, as the three cities who broadcasted games in my viewing area were all AL East teams. He just looked like such an intimidating presence that it was an assumption on my part!

[rats60]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

Mickey Mantle hit more than 100 RBIs in ONLY four seasons

Mantle walked too much. This one surprised me, Tris Speaker only had 2 100 RBI seasons and none for the Red Sox.

In 1912 he had 222 hits, 53 2b, 12 3b, 10 HR and scored 136 runs, but only drove in 90. The Red Sox won 105 games that season and won the WS.

For a guy with 3514 hits and 1131 xb hits and 162 game averages of 204 and 66 respectively, you would have thought he would have driven in more runs. Honus Wagner drove in 100 runs 9 times and Ty Cobb did so 7 times.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Mantle had seasons of 40 and 42 HR with RBI totals only in the 90s, meaning he only drove in 50 or so runners other than himself. That does seem odd given that he played on the best team in baseball at the time and was I believe batting clean up. And not like he was Adam Dunn who couldn't hit for average. I am not sure the walks completely explain it, but maybe they do.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Mantle had seasons of 40 and 42 HR with RBI totals only in the 90s, meaning he only drove in 50 or so runners other than himself. That does seem odd given that he played on the best team in baseball at the time and was I believe batting clean up. And not like he was Adam Dunn who couldn't hit for average. I am not sure the walks completely explain it, but maybe they do.

Mantle almost always batted third. His career OB% was .421, allowing cleanup hitters like DiMaggio, Berra and Maris to hit in the first inning with a runner on base. Mantle had 9 straight seasons of 100+ runs scored.

He led the league in WAR 6 times, runs 5 times, home runs 4 times and OPS+ 8 times. He had 9 seasons where he finished in the top 5 in MVP voting.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by rats60

Mantle walked too much.

Same with Ted Williams, who never had 200 or more hits in a season.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Same with Ted Williams, who never had 200 or more hits in a season.

He took endless grief from the Boston writers and fans for walking too much. Of course, that was before WAR and such.

[molenick]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

Mickey Mantle hit more than 100 RBIs in ONLY four seasons

Vaguely related, Willie Mays never led the league in RBIs (he had 10 100+ RBI seasons).