FC/OT: Mindboggling baseball stats/records.....

[Midnighter]

Brother and I have been going down a rabbit hole on amazing major league baseball stats/records lately. Tony Gwynn looms large in a lot of them. But, a favorite I read was this - Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs in his career; if you take all of them away, he still has over 3,000 hits.

More fun ones:

- Stan Musial retired with 3,630 hits; he hit 1,815 at home, and 1,815 away.
- Rickey Henderson spent more of his career as all time steals leader than not; in fact, half of his steal total (703) is good enough for top ten all time.
- Don Mattingly set a single season record for grand slams in 1987 with six. Those are the only grand slams he hit in his career.
- Tom Brady was the last professional athlete drafted by the Montreal Expos.
- Nolan Ryan pitched 7 no-hitters but also pitched 12 1-hitters...(and never won a Cy Young award).
- Tony Gwynn struck out 434 times in a 20 year career. For comparison, Aaron Judge struck out 208 times when he won Rookie of the Year in 2017.
- One more Gwynn nugget - he had more 4-hit games than multi-strikeout games.
- Okay, last Gwynn one - he could have went 0 for his last ~1,100 at bats and still would have finished his career a .300 hitter.
- Wait, one more for Gwynn - he struck out a total of three times in 314 at bats against Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez.
- Tony Gwynn and Ty Cobb never had a season where they hit below .300 save their rookie years.
- Sammy Sosa is the only player to hit 60 more more HRs in a season three times. And, he did not lead the league in HRs in any of those three seasons.
- The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla.

Okay, who else has some crazy baseball stats?

 

[Grant Green]

- The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

Brother and I have been going down a rabbit hole on amazing major league baseball stats/records lately. Tony Gwynn looms large in a lot of them. But, a favorite I read was this - Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs in his career; if you take all of them away, he still has over 3,000 hits.

More fun ones:

- Stan Musial retired with 3,630 hits; he hit 1,815 at home, and 1,815 away.
- Rickey Henderson spent more of his career as all time steals leader than not; in fact, half of his steal total (703) is good enough for top ten all time.
- Don Mattingly set a single season record for grand slams in 1987 with six. Those are the only grand slams he hit in his career.
- Tom Brady was the last professional athlete drafted by the Montreal Expos.
- Nolan Ryan pitched 7 no-hitters but also pitched 12 1-hitters...(and never won a Cy Young award).
- Tony Gwynn struck out 434 times in a 20 year career. For comparison, Aaron Judge struck out 208 times when he won Rookie of the Year in 2017.
- One more Gwynn nugget - he had more 4-hit games than multi-strikeout games.
- Okay, last Gwynn one - he could have went 0 for his last ~1,100 at bats and still would have finished his career a .300 hitter.
- Wait, one more for Gwynn - he struck out a total of three times in 314 at bats against Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez.
- Tony Gwynn and Ty Cobb never had a season where they hit below .300 save their rookie years.
- Sammy Sosa is the only player to hit 60 more more HRs in a season three times. And, he did not lead the league in HRs in any of those three seasons.
- The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla.

Okay, who else has some crazy baseball stats?

Greg Maddux -

“You just can’t do it,” Maddux said. “Sometimes hitters can pick up differences in spin. They can identify pitches if there are different release points or if a curveball starts with an upward hump as it leaves the pitcher’s hand. But if a pitcher can change speeds, every hitter is helpless, limited by human vision.

“Except for that (expletive) Tony Gwynn.”

 

[LionJim]

Not a stat, just a fact. Bill James figured that the fewest batters a pitcher can face and get credited for a complete game is 13. This is how: the pitcher is on the visiting team, faces 13 batters in four innings pitched, 12 of these 13 are put out and the 13th hits a home run, game is called due to rain after the top of the fifth inning, home team wins 1-0. It’s actually happened.

 

[PSUJam]

Brother and I have been going down a rabbit hole on amazing major league baseball stats/records lately. Tony Gwynn looms large in a lot of them. But, a favorite I read was this - Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs in his career; if you take all of them away, he still has over 3,000 hits.

More fun ones:

- Stan Musial retired with 3,630 hits; he hit 1,815 at home, and 1,815 away.
- Rickey Henderson spent more of his career as all time steals leader than not; in fact, half of his steal total (703) is good enough for top ten all time.
- Don Mattingly set a single season record for grand slams in 1987 with six. Those are the only grand slams he hit in his career.
- Tom Brady was the last professional athlete drafted by the Montreal Expos.
- Nolan Ryan pitched 7 no-hitters but also pitched 12 1-hitters...(and never won a Cy Young award).
- Tony Gwynn struck out 434 times in a 20 year career. For comparison, Aaron Judge struck out 208 times when he won Rookie of the Year in 2017.
- One more Gwynn nugget - he had more 4-hit games than multi-strikeout games.
- Okay, last Gwynn one - he could have went 0 for his last ~1,100 at bats and still would have finished his career a .300 hitter.
- Wait, one more for Gwynn - he struck out a total of three times in 314 at bats against Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez.
- Tony Gwynn and Ty Cobb never had a season where they hit below .300 save their rookie years.
- Sammy Sosa is the only player to hit 60 more more HRs in a season three times. And, he did not lead the league in HRs in any of those three seasons.
- The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla.

Okay, who else has some crazy baseball stats?

Wade Boggs once drank 73 beers on a flight from Boston to LA, then drank 34 more in LA that night.

 

[Grant Green]

Wade Boggs once drank 73 beers on a flight from Boston to LA, then drank 34 more in LA that night.

Charlie crushed that...

 

[manatree]

Steve Jeltz had five home runs in his eight year career. Two of those came in the infamous Jim Rooker walk home to Pittsburgh game. One from each side of the plate.

 

[LionJim]

Steve Jeltz had five home runs in his eight year career. Two of those came in the infamous Jim Rooker walk home to Pittsburgh game. One from each side of the plate.

Hoyt Wilhelm, the knuckleballer, was one of the worst hitting pitchers ever. 493 plate appearances, averaged .088, on-base percentage .139, slugging percentage .106. He hit exactly one home run in his 21-year career, this in his very first major league at-bat.

 

[VicVaselino]

Wade Boggs once drank 73 beers on a flight from Boston to LA, then drank 34 more in LA that night.

That's over ten gallons. I call BS.

On the other hand, I can eat 50 eggs.

 

[BostonNit]

Willie Mays is the only player to have a three triple game and a three HR game.

 

[BostonNit]

John Miller, a first baseman for the Yankees in the 60's, hit a HR in his first career at bat, and his last career at bat. They are his only two HR's in a 3 year career.

 

[PSUJam]

That's over ten gallons. I call BS.

On the other hand, I can eat 50 eggs.

He's confirmed it on multiple social media outlets recently. He also said he went 2-3 the next day with a pair of doubles.

 

[VicVaselino]

He's confirmed it on multiple social media outlets recently. He also said he went 2-3 the next day with a pair of doubles.

I can confirm that i can eat 50 eggs.

Believe me?

 

[Connorpozlee]

I can confirm that i can eat 50 eggs.

Believe me?

How long is the flight from Boston to LA, about 5 hours? 6? So we’re looking at around a 12-pack an hour? Yeah, I’m not buying that one at all. You’d have to be drinking while you’re urinating for the last three hours of that binge.
For the record, here’s a story about it:

Baseball Legend Wade Boggs Confirms He Drank 73 Beers On One Flight: “Then It Went To 107”

A RIFF on what country is really about.

www.whiskeyriff.com

 

[PSUJam]

I can confirm that i can eat 50 eggs.

Believe me?

If they're Robin eggs. Maybe he meant pony bottles?

 

[SleepyLion]

Wade Boggs once drank 73 beers on a flight from Boston to LA, then drank 34 more in LA that night.

He got de-pantsed on Cheers too!

 

[fairgambit]

Cy Young started 815 games and completed 749.
AND...Although he won 511.....he never won the Cy Young Award!

 

[BostonNit]

Prince Fielder has two inside the park HR's. Ricky Henderson has none.

 

[PSUJam]

He got de-pantsed on Cheers too!

 

[fairgambit]

Joe Nuxhall was the youngest player to ever play in a Major League Game at age 15. On June 10, 1944, in relief, he pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendered five runs (and five walks) before he was yanked, leaving him with a single-game (and single-season) ERA of 67.50. He was sent to the minors and didn't return to the Bigs until 1952, eight years later. He went on to win 135 games and was a 2 time All Star.

 

[BostonNit]

Joe Nuxhall was the youngest player to ever play in a Major League Game. On June 10, 1944, in relief, he pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendered five runs (and five walks) before he was yanked, leaving him with a single-game (and single-season) ERA of 67.50. He was sent to the minors and didn't return to the Bigs until 1952, eight years later.

Pretty sure he hadn't yet turned 16, right?

 

[fairgambit]

Pretty sure he hadn't yet turned 16, right?

Right and thanks. Sorry I left the age out. I corrected it.

 

[PSUFTG2]

Joe Nuxhall was the youngest player to ever play in a Major League Game at age 15. On June 10, 1944, in relief, he pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendered five runs (and five walks) before he was yanked, leaving him with a single-game (and single-season) ERA of 67.50. He was sent to the minors and didn't return to the Bigs until 1952, eight years later.

The Pirates are trying to reach his agent. They think he could be a step up from their current bullpen depth.
(Is he still alive? No matter, either way they have a contract ready for him.)

 

[Grant Green]

How long is the flight from Boston to LA, about 5 hours? 6? So we’re looking at around a 12-pack an hour? Yeah, I’m not buying that one at all. You’d have to be drinking while you’re urinating for the last three hours of that binge.
For the record, here’s a story about it:

Baseball Legend Wade Boggs Confirms He Drank 73 Beers On One Flight: “Then It Went To 107”

A RIFF on what country is really about.

www.whiskeyriff.com

I've always assumed this is tongue in cheek folklore because I swear that number has grown over the years. I think it's almost physically impossible for a normal human (not named Andre the Giant) to process that much liquid in that period of time. I recall doing the "Century Club" in high school - a 1 ounce shot of beer every minute for 100 minutes. That's 5 beers an hour and by the end, my stomach was so full I could barely move.

 

[fairgambit]

The Pirates are trying to reach his agent. They think he could be a step up from their current bullpen depth.
(Is he still alive? No matter, either way they have a contract ready for him.)

Sadly Joe, like the Pirates, died years ago.
Of course, as you suggest, their bullpen is basically dead anyway so......

 

[Connorpozlee]

I've always assumed this is tongue in cheek folklore because I swear that number has grown over the years. I think it's almost physically impossible for a normal human (not named Andre the Giant) to process that much liquid in that period of time. I recall doing the "Century Club" in high school - a 1 ounce shot of beer every minute for 100 minutes. That's 5 beers an hour and by the end, my stomach was so full I could barely move.

I did that in my early 20s. I got the 88th (I think) beer. I fell out because I had to urinate so long that I missed the next shot of beer.

 

[Connorpozlee]

Joe Nuxhall was the youngest player to ever play in a Major League Game at age 15. On June 10, 1944, in relief, he pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendered five runs (and five walks) before he was yanked, leaving him with a single-game (and single-season) ERA of 67.50. He was sent to the minors and didn't return to the Bigs until 1952, eight years later. He went on to win 135 games and was a 2 time All Star.

I used to listen to him doing Reds games on the radio with Marty Brenneman. Nuxhall’s closing line was, “This is the old left hander rounding third and heading for home.” They were on 700 WLW, the Big One! I would listen through static from Jersey. The games would come in clearer as the night went on. Loved when they were on west coast so I could hear a whole game.

 

[PSUFTG2]

I've always assumed this is tongue in cheek folklore because I swear that number has grown over the years. I think it's almost physically impossible for a normal human (not named Andre the Giant) to process that much liquid in that period of time. I recall doing the "Century Club" in high school - a 1 ounce shot of beer every minute for 100 minutes. That's 5 beers an hour and by the end, my stomach was so full I could barely move.

Less believable than the tale of Uncle Rico throwing a football over the mountain.

 

[manatree]

Prince Fielder has two inside the park HR's. Ricky Henderson has none.

Ricky has one, but this is still remarkable.

July 6, 1980. His sixth homer.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA198007062.shtml

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/home_run.php?p=henderi01

 

[Grant Green]

Less believable than the tale of Uncle Rico throwing a football over the mountain.

What!? I will not have Uncle Rico's name besmirched like this

 

[prt]

Cy Young started 815 games and completed 749.
AND...Although he won 511.....he never won the Cy Young Award!

This ^. Active complete game leader is Justin Verlander (41 years of age) with 26. Only 8 guys with more than 10. To top Cy Young would take 30 starts per year for 25 years and complete them all. Evidence of how the game today is completely different.

 

[LionJim]

This ^. Active complete game leader is Justin Verlander (41 years of age) with 26. Only 8 guys with more than 10. To top Cy Young would take 30 starts per year for 25 years and complete them all. Evidence of how the game today is completely different.

Pretty much the biggest indicator of how the game is different, yeah. Also, back in the dead-ball era pitchers wouldn’t throw as hard as they could every pitch and batters wouldn’t cadge walks as much as they do now. I think plenty of pitchers in the early days would be superstars nowadays, but they’d have to be fast. Walter Johnson, Smoky Joe Wood (pre arm injury). It makes for a nice discussion.

 

[Woodpecker]

Pittston's own, Hughie Jennings was hit by a pitch three times in one game. In 1896, he was hit by pitches 51 times—a Major League record that still stands. In just five seasons with the Orioles from 1894 to 1898, Jennings was hit by pitches an unprecedented 202 times. During one game, Jennings was hit in the head by a pitch from Amos Rusie in the 3rd inning, but managed to finish the game. As soon as the game ended, Jennings collapsed and was unconscious for three days.

 

[LionJim]

As a player the old-time NY Giants manager John McGraw was an a-hole, universally despised by players and umpires alike. One time he’s at bat and gets hit by the first pitch. As he dusts himself off and starts toward first, the umpire tells him to get back in the batters box, says he didn’t try to get out of the way. He gets hit by the second pitch, “Get back in the box.” Gets hit by the third pitch, “Get back in the box.” Gets hit by the fourth pitch, “Ball four.” Lol. I’ll try to find something online.

 

[Erial_Lion]

My most unusual/memorable baseball situation in my 20ish years of umpiring on the fields of South Jersey...probably about 10 years ago, I was doing a 13u or 14u Travel game in West Deptford, NJ (to tie it back to PSU, it's the home of Anthony Scirrotto...it's possible one of his brothers was playing in it or his dad was coaching, but I don't think so that day).

Top of the inning, one of the teams loaded the bases...kid his a low liner to 2nd. The second baseman caught it, tagged the runner going from 1st to 2nd, then threw it to 2nd to complete the triple play as that runner was almost at 3rd (he could have gotten the unassisted triple play had he wanted to). We go to the bottom of the inning, first pitch is a pop up to the pitcher. Second pitch is a long flyout. Third pitch is a lineout to the pitcher.

The holy grail of umpiring is the 3 pitch inning, and that's the only one I've had in all my years (pretty much every coach will have that 3rd batter take a pitch if the first two pitches are outs). The fact that it followed a triple play is crazy. We had 6 outs in just 4 pitches.

 

[LionJim]

And of course you’ve heard of Babe Herman doubling into a double play. Here’s how it transpired: Runners on second and first, a pitcher, a slow runner, was on second. Herman hits the ball into the outfield and the runner at second gets a late jump and gets himself into a rundown between third and home. Herman gets to second base, sees the rundown and (standard procedure) heads for third, thinking that the guy on second had long since scored and that the rundown involved the runner who was originally at first. When Herman gets to third, there are his two teammates already there and he’s the third guy standing on third base.

 

[wbcbus]

In 2004, Barry Bonds had 373 at bats. He reached base safely 376 times.

 

[Ironman2]

Brother and I have been going down a rabbit hole on amazing major league baseball stats/records lately. Tony Gwynn looms large in a lot of them. But, a favorite I read was this - Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs in his career; if you take all of them away, he still has over 3,000 hits.

More fun ones:

- Stan Musial retired with 3,630 hits; he hit 1,815 at home, and 1,815 away.
- Rickey Henderson spent more of his career as all time steals leader than not; in fact, half of his steal total (703) is good enough for top ten all time.
- Don Mattingly set a single season record for grand slams in 1987 with six. Those are the only grand slams he hit in his career.
- Tom Brady was the last professional athlete drafted by the Montreal Expos.
- Nolan Ryan pitched 7 no-hitters but also pitched 12 1-hitters...(and never won a Cy Young award).
- Tony Gwynn struck out 434 times in a 20 year career. For comparison, Aaron Judge struck out 208 times when he won Rookie of the Year in 2017.
- One more Gwynn nugget - he had more 4-hit games than multi-strikeout games.
- Okay, last Gwynn one - he could have went 0 for his last ~1,100 at bats and still would have finished his career a .300 hitter.
- Wait, one more for Gwynn - he struck out a total of three times in 314 at bats against Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez.
- Tony Gwynn and Ty Cobb never had a season where they hit below .300 save their rookie years.
- Sammy Sosa is the only player to hit 60 more more HRs in a season three times. And, he did not lead the league in HRs in any of those three seasons.
- The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla.

Okay, who else has some crazy baseball stats?

In 1972 Lefty Steve Carlton won 27 games and the Phillies only won 59 total.

 

[Pennstatel0]

So, this isn’t a baseball record.

But a record in a related American ball sport (hand-egg ball).

A dude named Mike Reid has the record for most safeties in a career = 3.

Same dude, most safeties in a year = 3.

Same dude, most safeties in a GAME = 3.

I doubt that any player comes close to that record.

 

[Chris92]

So, this isn’t a baseball record.

But a record in a related American ball sport (hand-egg ball).

A dude named Mike Reid has the record for most safeties in a career = 3.

Same dude, most safeties in a year = 3.

Same dude, most safeties in a GAME = 3.

I doubt that any player comes close to that record.

Bizarre, I thought of this exact Mike Reid stat reading thru this thread.