Un-sung record holders

[GaryPassamonte]

Ross Barnes- 1.91 runs per game in 1876 and 1.4 runs per game for his career are records that still stand.

[GeoPoto]

Cliff Blankenship did nothing noteworthy during three MLB seasons. He had an OBP of .249 in 234 plate appearances spread across the three years. He had a total of four doubles and a triple. But, in 1907, his second year in the bigs, he was picked by his manager to go to Idaho and look over a 19-year old, who was burning up the Snake River Valley Semi-Pro League. Once Blankenship saw Walter Johnson pitch, he signed him on the spot for $500 -- Johnson said he would agree to the deal if Blankenship promised him train fare home in case he didn't make it. Blankenship's response was "Kid, a one-way ticket’s all you’re gonna need."
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1591560172

[Hankphenom]

Unsung and presumably unrecorded. Germany Schaefer stole first base not once but twice in a game in 1911. He stole second in-between, and said he should be credited with three steals in one attempt.

[GeoPoto]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Germany Schaefer stole first base.

What made Rickey the GOAT was not that he stole all those bases, but that "you can't steal first base" -- his OBP was incredible, especially leading off. The last thing any pitcher wanted to do was to let him get on base. And yet you could "steal" first base, until Schaefer prompted an explicit rule making it unallowable.
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1591617481

[cammb]

I remember reading that Richie Allen had two inside the park home runs in a game.

[triwak]

Great thread!! Keep 'em coming!!

[birdman42]

Blankenship got sent to Idaho because he was injured at the time. Earlier on that trip he signed Clyde Milan, who became Walter's roommate and was their regular center fielder from 1908-1921. Milan got the bigger signing bonus.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

Cliff Blankenship did nothing noteworthy during three MLB seasons. He had an OBP of .249 in 234 plate appearances spread across the three years. He had a total of four doubles and a triple. But, in 1907, his second year in the bigs, he was picked by his manager to go to Idaho and look over a 19-year old, who was burning up the Snake River Valley Semi-Pro League. Once Blankenship saw Walter Johnson pitch, he signed him on the spot for $500 -- Johnson said he would agree to the deal if Blankenship promised him train fare home in case he didn't make it. Blankenship's response was "Kid, a one-way ticket’s all you’re gonna need."
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1591560172

Cliff Blankenship was the first player born in Columbus to make it to the Majors.

.