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Post by inger on Aug 13, 2024 7:22:18 GMT -5
RUBE WADDELL Waddell’s Ks = 302 in 1903 & 349 in 1904, for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s. Waddell played for CHC (Now the Cubs) in 1901. He was the first pitcher to top 300 K’s in consecutive seasons. Waddell bested BOS’ Cy Young on 04-Jul-1905. game itself, below.Waddell beat Cy Young on July 4, 1905. In perhaps the first great pitching duel of the Modern Era, he and his opposite number both pitched every inning until the tie was broken in the 20th. However, he still had enough strength to do CARTWHEELS ON THE FIELD after defeating his famous opponent. The write up of the game is at the end of this post. On 01-Jul-1902, in the 3rd inning, Waddell set down 3 Baltimore Oriole batters on 9 straight strikes. He was the second pitcher to record an immaculate inning. (John Clarkson was first). #################### www.philadelphiaathletics.org/history/rube-vs-cy/ |
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Post by pippsheadache on Aug 13, 2024 15:29:12 GMT -5
MONTE IRVIN 25-Feb-1919 in Haleburg. AL; graduated from Orange HS in Orange NJ (Newark Suburb) & attended Lincoln University in the city of the same name in PA.* In the 1st G of the 1951 WS, NYG’s Irvin stole home off Allie Reynolds & Yogi Berra, scoring the 2nd R of a 5-2 W over NYY. Imagine having the guts to steal home in the first inning of your first-ever World Series contest!… *Pipps would be quite familiar with Lincoln U., I’m sure. pippsheadacheHey there Inger -- just returned from our little sojourn and catching up here. Yeah I'm very familiar with Lincoln University -- for one thing their choir used to give an annual concert at my school. They were a thing of beauty and always much anticipated. Even as a teenaged ignoramus I could appreciate their skill, although they would most likely be banned today if they attempted a program that featured gospel music and nineteenth century spirituals. I believe Lincoln was the first degree-granting black University in the US. Although I was unaware of Monte Irvin's association with the school, some of their most famous alumni include Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Langston Hughes and several African Presidents. For many years Lincoln was sort of a finishing school for well-heeled Africans who aspired to Cabinet-level positions. Later in life I worked with several professors there who were well-connected to whatever African country du jour was of interest to US policymakers. Lincoln was considered one of the elite black universities until a series of administrative scandals and horrific financial mismanagement undermined its reputation. It has slowly tried to turn things around. Actually Lincoln was geographically probably closer to where you grew up than where I grew up. It’s not far from the Herr's Potato Chip factory. Which by the way gives great tours and generous helpings of chips! |
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Post by inger on Aug 13, 2024 15:43:47 GMT -5
MONTE IRVIN 25-Feb-1919 in Haleburg. AL; graduated from Orange HS in Orange NJ (Newark Suburb) & attended Lincoln University in the city of the same name in PA.* In the 1st G of the 1951 WS, NYG’s Irvin stole home off Allie Reynolds & Yogi Berra, scoring the 2nd R of a 5-2 W over NYY. Imagine having the guts to steal home in the first inning of your first-ever World Series contest!… *Pipps would be quite familiar with Lincoln U., I’m sure. pippsheadacheHey there Inger -- just returned from our little sojourn and catching up here. Yeah I'm very familiar with Lincoln University -- for one thing their choir used to give an annual concert at my school. They were a thing of beauty and always much anticipated. Even as a teenaged ignoramus I could appreciate their skill, although they would most likely be banned today if they attempted a program that featured gospel music and nineteenth century spirituals. I believe Lincoln was the first degree-granting black University in the US. Although I was unaware of Monte Irvin's association with the school, some of their most famous alumni include Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Langston Hughes and several African Presidents. For many years Lincoln was sort of a finishing school for well-heeled Africans who aspired to Cabinet-level positions. Later in life I worked with several professors there who were well-connected to whatever African country du jour was of interest to US policymakers. Lincoln was considered one of the elite black universities until a series of administrative scandals and horrific financial mismanagement undermined its reputation. It has slowly tried to turn things around. Actually Lincoln was geographically probably closer to where you grew up than where I grew up. It’s not far from the Herr's Potato Chip factory. Which by the way gives great tours and generous helpings of chips! For about two weeks I was transferred to the Oxford Western Auto Store to help turn it around. It was a very bad deal for me because all of the problems there within the ownership family. One side issue they had was they they were also serving as the town’s Greyhound Station. This was the early 70’s with civil unrest still quite an active situation. Many of the students at Lincoln were arriving that way and with multiple stops along the way with bus changeovers, I much luggage was loaded for the wrong route. Nothing like having a store full of customers clamoring for service and multiple bus riders hollering very loudly and angrily about lost luggage, demanding to be waited on immediately…Oxford was one of the blacker towns in the area but the race factor didn’t help. These were city people for the most part, in a hurry and not afraid to push… |
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Post by inger on Aug 14, 2024 8:07:23 GMT -5
WILLARD BROWN
Anyone recall the first HR ever hit by a black player in the AL? Yep, Willard Brown, known for an enormous and heavy baseball bat and a willingness to swing at pitches way out of the strike zone. It was his only AL homer…
Willard hit his historic HR off Hal Newhouser on 13-Aug-1947(2) in St. Louis…
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Post by inger on Aug 14, 2024 8:17:27 GMT -5
Note: While there is a pounding beat in the background, the
Song is spoken rather than sung
What we're gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time
When the only people that existed were troglodytes...cave men...
Cave women...Neanderthal...troglodytes. Let's take the average
Cave man at home, listening to his stereo. Sometimes he'd get up
Try to do his thing. He'd begin to move, something like this:
"Dance...dance". When he got tired of dancing alone, he'd look
In the mirror: "Gotta find a woman gotta find a woman gotta find a
Woman gotta find a woman". He'd go down to the lake where all the
Woman would be swimming or washing clothes or something. He'd look
He'd grab her by the hair. You can't do that today, fellas, cause
It might come off. You'd have a piece of hair in your hand and she'd
Be swimming away from you (ha-ha). This one woman just lay there
Wet and frightened. He said: "Move...move". She got up. She was a
Big woman. BIG woman. Her name was Bertha. Bertha Butt. She was one
Of the Butt sisters. He didn't care. He looked up at her and said:
"Sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me
Sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me!". She looked down on him
She was ready to crush him, but she began to like him. She said
(falsetto):
"I'll sock it to ya, Daddy". He said: "Wha?". She said (falsetto):
"I'll sock it to ya, Daddy". You know what he said? He started it way
Back then. I wouldn't lie to you. When she said (falsetto)
"I'll sock it to ya, Daddy" he said "Right on! Right on! Hotpants!
Hotpants! Ugh...ugh...ugh"
Okay, okay. I know. I’m not really gonna go back as far as the Jimmy Castor bunch did. But I do wanna go back to the 1890’s. To the player’s league… hold on. More to come…
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Post by inger on Aug 14, 2024 8:21:27 GMT -5
Don’t worry about first names for now if you don’t know these guys. Individual posts will follow for each. It was an historic time in the history of the game.
Statistical Leaders for the 1890 Players’ League.* Opposed to baseball's reserve clause & a growing movement led by Albert Spalding to cap players' salaries, John Montgomery Ward & other players in 1885 formed the first players’ union in baseball—the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players.
These are therefore the one-season & career leaders of the Players’ League*.
* The apostrophe is mine. Sorry. I can’t help myself.
Leader Stat # Team Career WAR
Baldwin
................................... W.......... 33........... CHI................... 19.3
................................... G........... 58
................................... CG........ 53
BECKLEY................. 3B......... 22.......... PLP.................. 61.2
BROUTHERS............ OGP... .466......... BOS................. 78.7
Browning.................. BA....... .373......... CLE.................. 40.4
................................... 2B......... 40
CONNOR................... SLG.... .548......... NYI................... 84.3
................................... OPS.... .998
Daley......................... W%..... .720......... BOS................... 1.9
DUFFY....................... R......... 161......... NYI................... 43.1
................................... H......... 191
................................... G......... 137*
King........................... WAR... 12.4......... CHI................... 50.4
................................... ERA.... 2.69
................................... ERA+.. 162
................................... GS........ 56
................................... SHO...... 4
O’Neill........................ G......... 137*........ CHI................... 25.4
Richardson............... HR........ 16.......... BOS................. 41.0
................................... RBI...... 152
................................... TB....... 291
Stovey....................... SB........ 97.......... BOS................. 41.0
ALL CAPS = HOF
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Post by inger on Aug 14, 2024 8:34:14 GMT -5
HUGH DUFFY
Duffy hit .440* (Not a typo) in 1894 with Boston’s National League team, ATL today. I want to say the highest BA ever recorded in MLB history. I want to, but with the retroactive recognition of negro league stats and with some not wanting to recognize the Player’s League, it all gets a bit fuzzy…
Before Hugh Duffy no one ever strung together more than 4 consecutive 100+ RBI seasons. Duffy did it 7 times in a row. From 1893-99 he registered 118, 145, 100, 113, 129, 108 & 102 respectively. He didn’t lead the league even once in that run even though he had in 1891 with 110.
His HOF manager said of him, he plays the outfield like he carries a crystal ball. He’s always there to make the catch. (People sure expressed themselves strangely back then.)
Cap Anson, player/manager of the Chicago Colts, Cubs today. His comment is ironic since Anson was the one who rejected Duffy earlier because he, “…looked more like a batboy than a player.”…
I hope these posts go over well, because I’m enjoying the insights into players who have only been a name on a list up until now…
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Post by pippsheadache on Aug 14, 2024 13:53:35 GMT -5
Note: While there is a pounding beat in the background, the Song is spoken rather than sung What we're gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time When the only people that existed were troglodytes...cave men... Cave women...Neanderthal...troglodytes. Let's take the average Cave man at home, listening to his stereo. Sometimes he'd get up Try to do his thing. He'd begin to move, something like this: "Dance...dance". When he got tired of dancing alone, he'd look In the mirror: "Gotta find a woman gotta find a woman gotta find a Woman gotta find a woman". He'd go down to the lake where all the Woman would be swimming or washing clothes or something. He'd look He'd grab her by the hair. You can't do that today, fellas, cause It might come off. You'd have a piece of hair in your hand and she'd Be swimming away from you (ha-ha). This one woman just lay there Wet and frightened. He said: "Move...move". She got up. She was a Big woman. BIG woman. Her name was Bertha. Bertha Butt. She was one Of the Butt sisters. He didn't care. He looked up at her and said: "Sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me Sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me!". She looked down on him She was ready to crush him, but she began to like him. She said (falsetto): "I'll sock it to ya, Daddy". He said: "Wha?". She said (falsetto): "I'll sock it to ya, Daddy". You know what he said? He started it way Back then. I wouldn't lie to you. When she said (falsetto) "I'll sock it to ya, Daddy" he said "Right on! Right on! Hotpants! Hotpants! Ugh...ugh...ugh" Okay, okay. I know. I’m not really gonna go back as far as the Jimmy Castor bunch did. But I do wanna go back to the 1890’s. To the player’s league… hold on. More to come… I should post this in the music thread rather than here, but when I see a hanging curve I have to swing at it. Nice job exhuming the lyrics to "Troglodyte" Inger. From 1972 if memory serves. You may recall that Bertha Butt resurfaced a few years later in TJCB's "Bertha Butt Boogie" which was also a pretty big hit. Castor was a riot. The first hit song I remember from him was 1967's "Hey Leroy, Your Momma's Calling." But long before that, he wrote and recorded "I Promise To Remember" in 1956 when he was 15 years old. That recording went nowhere, but his friend and neighbor in Harlem, Frankie Lyman, jumped on it and it became his third big hit in 1956, following "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and "I Want You To Be My Girl." Castor at that point sounded quite a bit like Lyman and supposedly replaced him at some gigs with The Teenagers when Frankie was indisposed, as was sometimes the case with his heroin addiction. Jimmy Castor was enormously talented, although his hits were few and far between and definitely not for everyone. I can remember coming home late one night in the glorious year of 1975 and turning on the TV to watch the always formidable "Soul Train" and seeing The Jimmy Castor Bunch performing their latest hit "King Kong." Jimmy made Kong grunting noises and a guy in an ape suit came up on stage to dance, and then went into the audience to join the dancers, who quickly got into the spirit of dancing with the ape guy. Even by Soul Train standards this was inspired programming. It made you feel like running out to stock up on Afro Sheen products so you could be more like the people on that show. I recall reading somewhere that Jimmy Castor was heavily sampled by rap artists, although I have no first hand knowledge if this is the case. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Aug 14, 2024 14:03:51 GMT -5
HUGH DUFFY Duffy hit .440* (Not a typo) in 1894 with Boston’s National League team, ATL today. I want to say the highest BA ever recorded in MLB history. I want to, but with the retroactive recognition of negro league stats and with some not wanting to recognize the Player’s League, it all gets a bit fuzzy… Before Hugh Duffy no one ever strung together more than 4 consecutive 100+ RBI seasons. Duffy did it 7 times in a row. From 1893-99 he registered 118, 145, 100, 113, 129, 108 & 102 respectively. He didn’t lead the league even once in that run even though he had in 1891 with 110. His HOF manager said of him, he plays the outfield like he carries a crystal ball. He’s always there to make the catch. (People sure expressed themselves strangely back then.) Cap Anson, player/manager of the Chicago Colts, Cubs today. His comment is ironic since Anson was the one who rejected Duffy earlier because he, “…looked more like a batboy than a player.”… I hope these posts go over well, because I’m enjoying the insights into players who have only been a name on a list up until now… Nineteenth century baseball posts will go down well with me Inger. I knew a man who saw Hugh Duffy play, although he was past his prime. Duffy put up that insane BA in the second year after the mound had been moved back by five feet to its current distance in 1893 and averages went crazy until pitchers adjusted. He worked as a scout for the Red Sox until he was 86 years old, so he clearly kept his head in the game. Duffy has the distinction of being a .300 career hitter in four different purportedly major leagues -- the National, American, American Association and Players League. |
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Post by inger on Aug 15, 2024 7:16:13 GMT -5
Note: While there is a pounding beat in the background, the Song is spoken rather than sung What we're gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time When the only people that existed were troglodytes...cave men... Cave women...Neanderthal...troglodytes. Let's take the average Cave man at home, listening to his stereo. Sometimes he'd get up Try to do his thing. He'd begin to move, something like this: "Dance...dance". When he got tired of dancing alone, he'd look In the mirror: "Gotta find a woman gotta find a woman gotta find a Woman gotta find a woman". He'd go down to the lake where all the Woman would be swimming or washing clothes or something. He'd look He'd grab her by the hair. You can't do that today, fellas, cause It might come off. You'd have a piece of hair in your hand and she'd Be swimming away from you (ha-ha). This one woman just lay there Wet and frightened. He said: "Move...move". She got up. She was a Big woman. BIG woman. Her name was Bertha. Bertha Butt. She was one Of the Butt sisters. He didn't care. He looked up at her and said: "Sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me Sock it to me sock it to me sock it to me!". She looked down on him She was ready to crush him, but she began to like him. She said (falsetto): "I'll sock it to ya, Daddy". He said: "Wha?". She said (falsetto): "I'll sock it to ya, Daddy". You know what he said? He started it way Back then. I wouldn't lie to you. When she said (falsetto) "I'll sock it to ya, Daddy" he said "Right on! Right on! Hotpants! Hotpants! Ugh...ugh...ugh" Okay, okay. I know. I’m not really gonna go back as far as the Jimmy Castor bunch did. But I do wanna go back to the 1890’s. To the player’s league… hold on. More to come… I should post this in the music thread rather than here, but when I see a hanging curve I have to swing at it. Nice job exhuming the lyrics to "Troglodyte" Inger. From 1972 if memory serves. You may recall that Bertha Butt resurfaced a few years later in TJCB's "Bertha Butt Boogie" which was also a pretty big hit. Castor was a riot. The first hit song I remember from him was 1967's "Hey Leroy, Your Momma's Calling." But long before that, he wrote and recorded "I Promise To Remember" in 1956 when he was 15 years old. That recording went nowhere, but his friend and neighbor in Harlem, Frankie Lyman, jumped on it and it became his third big hit in 1956, following "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and "I Want You To Be My Girl." Castor at that point sounded quite a bit like Lyman and supposedly replaced him at some gigs with The Teenagers when Frankie was indisposed, as was sometimes the case with his heroin addiction. Jimmy Castor was enormously talented, although his hits were few and far between and definitely not for everyone. I can remember coming home late one night in the glorious year of 1975 and turning on the TV to watch the always formidable "Soul Train" and seeing The Jimmy Castor Bunch performing their latest hit "King Kong." Jimmy made Kong grunting noises and a guy in an ape suit came up on stage to dance, and then went into the audience to join the dancers, who quickly got into the spirit of dancing with the ape guy. Even by Soul Train standards this was inspired programming. It made you feel like running out to stock up on Afro Sheen products so you could be more like the people on that show. I recall reading somewhere that Jimmy Castor was heavily sampled by rap artists, although I have no first hand knowledge if this is the case. I know it belonged in the music thread (sort of), but I was in the mood to lighten up the thought of of going back. I doubt if Afro Sheen would have turned the ladies on with my blond hair stuck to my scalp, but for all the luck I had I might as well tried it… The Castor’s, Dickie Goodman’s, Jim Staffords’, and Al Yankovitz types can be congratulated for not taking themselves too serious… |
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Post by inger on Aug 15, 2024 12:01:58 GMT -5
DAN BROUTHERS Brouthers had 15 TB in a G on 10-Sep-1886. Klein racked up 16 in a G on 10-Jul-1936. Get a load of the black ink! www.baseball-reference.comIn case you didn’t notice, he led the NL in OPS and OPS + for six consecutive seasons. Upon retirement he served as a night watchman and press box attendant at the Polo Grounds. Dennis James Brothers somehow got the nickname, “Big Dan” "Brouthers really was a great hitter, one of the most powerful batters of all time... I don't think I ever saw a stronger hitter." - John McGraw "Frank Bancroft... thinks that Brouthers is the greatest hitter the world ever saw..." - Sporting Life, October 28, 1893 His 171 adjusted OPS was the best of his century and #7 all time. Most don’t know the correct pronunciation of his name is BROO-thers… |
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Post by donniebaseball23 on Aug 15, 2024 13:01:17 GMT -5
Tony Gwynn = pretty decent hitter
Since the 1988 season, STATS Inc has kept a record of batting performance on the two-strike counts. They discovered the average non-pitcher sees his batting average decline by about 28% when down to his last strike, which means that most players hit under .200 in those at-bats.
In the twenty years worth of data, there is only one player who has been a .300 hitter when down to his last strike, and no one else is even close. It's Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
The data covers his last 14 seasons and nearly 70% of his career plate appearances. In over 2000 plate appearances where he was down to his last strike, Gwynn hit .302.
That's miles ahead of the next best player, Ichiro Suzuki, who trails Gwynn by nearly 35 points, way back at .268.
When Gwynn was having his worst seasons hitting with two strikes, he was still better than anyone else. If you split Gwynn's 14 seasons into his best and worst seasons, in the bottom seven seasons he hit .272, still 4 points better than Ichiro's overall 2-strike average.
Gwynn's most amazing accomplishment came in the five-year span from 1993 to 1997 (age 34-37). In that period, Gwynn hit an incredible .337 when he was down to his last strike. That two-strike average was only 8% less than his overall batting mark of .368.
To emphasize even further how remarkable this was, consider: Gwynn had a higher batting average with two strikes on him during that five-year span than any other hitter achieved in all his at-bats! Mike Piazza came the closest, hitting .3367 in all his ABs.
RELATED FACT: In 2009, Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox hit 18 points higher after 0-2 counts (an MLB-best .319) than he did overall (.301).
Some other wild stats on Gwynn:
After hitting .289 upon being called up in 1982, Gwynn hit at least .309 in each of his final 19 seasons. Including his last, at age 41, when he hit .324, mainly as a pinch hitter at that point.
In "full seasons" (400 or more PA), he struck out <20 times 8 times, including 6 straight seasons (1991-1996). He struck out just 434 times in his 20 year career, or ~22 times a season.
The MOST he struck out in 1 season was 40, in 1988 (521 PA).
Gwynn hit no lower than .317 in any of his last 11 seasons.
He won 4 straight batting titles from 1994-97 and hit .371 during that span
Gwynn's best season was arguably 1997 in which he hit .372 (220-592), with a career best 17 HR and 119 RBI, to go along with 49 2B. He finished just 6th in the MVP voting.
Gwynn finished with a remarkable 3141 hits, but he battled minor/nagging injuries throughout his career. Only 5 times would he play >150 games and over his last 14 seasons, missed an average of 43 games per season. Imagine how many hits he would've finished with f he could have stayed healthy.
Safe to say, we'll probably never see another hitter quite like Tony Gwynn.
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Post by kaybli on Aug 15, 2024 14:47:13 GMT -5
Tony Gwynn = pretty decent hitter Since the 1988 season, STATS Inc has kept a record of batting performance on the two-strike counts. They discovered the average non-pitcher sees his batting average decline by about 28% when down to his last strike, which means that most players hit under .200 in those at-bats. In the twenty years worth of data, there is only one player who has been a .300 hitter when down to his last strike, and no one else is even close. It's Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The data covers his last 14 seasons and nearly 70% of his career plate appearances. In over 2000 plate appearances where he was down to his last strike, Gwynn hit .302. That's miles ahead of the next best player, Ichiro Suzuki, who trails Gwynn by nearly 35 points, way back at .268. When Gwynn was having his worst seasons hitting with two strikes, he was still better than anyone else. If you split Gwynn's 14 seasons into his best and worst seasons, in the bottom seven seasons he hit .272, still 4 points better than Ichiro's overall 2-strike average. Gwynn's most amazing accomplishment came in the five-year span from 1993 to 1997 (age 34-37). In that period, Gwynn hit an incredible .337 when he was down to his last strike. That two-strike average was only 8% less than his overall batting mark of .368. To emphasize even further how remarkable this was, consider: Gwynn had a higher batting average with two strikes on him during that five-year span than any other hitter achieved in all his at-bats! Mike Piazza came the closest, hitting .3367 in all his ABs. RELATED FACT: In 2009, Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox hit 18 points higher after 0-2 counts (an MLB-best .319) than he did overall (.301). Some other wild stats on Gwynn: After hitting .289 upon being called up in 1982, Gwynn hit at least .309 in each of his final 19 seasons. Including his last, at age 41, when he hit .324, mainly as a pinch hitter at that point. In "full seasons" (400 or more PA), he struck out <20 times 8 times, including 6 straight seasons (1991-1996). He struck out just 434 times in his 20 year career, or ~22 times a season. The MOST he struck out in 1 season was 40, in 1988 (521 PA). Gwynn hit no lower than .317 in any of his last 11 seasons. He won 4 straight batting titles from 1994-97 and hit .371 during that span Gwynn's best season was arguably 1997 in which he hit .372 (220-592), with a career best 17 HR and 119 RBI, to go along with 49 2B. He finished just 6th in the MVP voting. Gwynn finished with a remarkable 3141 hits, but he battled minor/nagging injuries throughout his career. Only 5 times would he play >150 games and over his last 14 seasons, missed an average of 43 games per season. Imagine how many hits he would've finished with f he could have stayed healthy. Safe to say, we'll probably never see another hitter quite like Tony Gwynn. Great writeup on Gwynn! Sorry to say I didn't follow baseball as much back then to appreciate him when he was playing. I think he would have been one of my favorite players. |
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Post by inger on Aug 15, 2024 15:17:44 GMT -5
Tony Gwynn = pretty decent hitter Since the 1988 season, STATS Inc has kept a record of batting performance on the two-strike counts. They discovered the average non-pitcher sees his batting average decline by about 28% when down to his last strike, which means that most players hit under .200 in those at-bats. In the twenty years worth of data, there is only one player who has been a .300 hitter when down to his last strike, and no one else is even close. It's Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The data covers his last 14 seasons and nearly 70% of his career plate appearances. In over 2000 plate appearances where he was down to his last strike, Gwynn hit .302. That's miles ahead of the next best player, Ichiro Suzuki, who trails Gwynn by nearly 35 points, way back at .268. When Gwynn was having his worst seasons hitting with two strikes, he was still better than anyone else. If you split Gwynn's 14 seasons into his best and worst seasons, in the bottom seven seasons he hit .272, still 4 points better than Ichiro's overall 2-strike average. Gwynn's most amazing accomplishment came in the five-year span from 1993 to 1997 (age 34-37). In that period, Gwynn hit an incredible .337 when he was down to his last strike. That two-strike average was only 8% less than his overall batting mark of .368. To emphasize even further how remarkable this was, consider: Gwynn had a higher batting average with two strikes on him during that five-year span than any other hitter achieved in all his at-bats! Mike Piazza came the closest, hitting .3367 in all his ABs. RELATED FACT: In 2009, Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox hit 18 points higher after 0-2 counts (an MLB-best .319) than he did overall (.301). Some other wild stats on Gwynn: After hitting .289 upon being called up in 1982, Gwynn hit at least .309 in each of his final 19 seasons. Including his last, at age 41, when he hit .324, mainly as a pinch hitter at that point. In "full seasons" (400 or more PA), he struck out <20 times 8 times, including 6 straight seasons (1991-1996). He struck out just 434 times in his 20 year career, or ~22 times a season. The MOST he struck out in 1 season was 40, in 1988 (521 PA). Gwynn hit no lower than .317 in any of his last 11 seasons. He won 4 straight batting titles from 1994-97 and hit .371 during that span Gwynn's best season was arguably 1997 in which he hit .372 (220-592), with a career best 17 HR and 119 RBI, to go along with 49 2B. He finished just 6th in the MVP voting. Gwynn finished with a remarkable 3141 hits, but he battled minor/nagging injuries throughout his career. Only 5 times would he play >150 games and over his last 14 seasons, missed an average of 43 games per season. Imagine how many hits he would've finished with f he could have stayed healthy. Safe to say, we'll probably never see another hitter quite like Tony Gwynn. Wonderful post about an incredible hitter. |
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Post by inger on Aug 15, 2024 15:19:01 GMT -5
Tony Gwynn = pretty decent hitter Since the 1988 season, STATS Inc has kept a record of batting performance on the two-strike counts. They discovered the average non-pitcher sees his batting average decline by about 28% when down to his last strike, which means that most players hit under .200 in those at-bats. In the twenty years worth of data, there is only one player who has been a .300 hitter when down to his last strike, and no one else is even close. It's Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The data covers his last 14 seasons and nearly 70% of his career plate appearances. In over 2000 plate appearances where he was down to his last strike, Gwynn hit .302. That's miles ahead of the next best player, Ichiro Suzuki, who trails Gwynn by nearly 35 points, way back at .268. When Gwynn was having his worst seasons hitting with two strikes, he was still better than anyone else. If you split Gwynn's 14 seasons into his best and worst seasons, in the bottom seven seasons he hit .272, still 4 points better than Ichiro's overall 2-strike average. Gwynn's most amazing accomplishment came in the five-year span from 1993 to 1997 (age 34-37). In that period, Gwynn hit an incredible .337 when he was down to his last strike. That two-strike average was only 8% less than his overall batting mark of .368. To emphasize even further how remarkable this was, consider: Gwynn had a higher batting average with two strikes on him during that five-year span than any other hitter achieved in all his at-bats! Mike Piazza came the closest, hitting .3367 in all his ABs. RELATED FACT: In 2009, Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox hit 18 points higher after 0-2 counts (an MLB-best .319) than he did overall (.301). Some other wild stats on Gwynn: After hitting .289 upon being called up in 1982, Gwynn hit at least .309 in each of his final 19 seasons. Including his last, at age 41, when he hit .324, mainly as a pinch hitter at that point. In "full seasons" (400 or more PA), he struck out <20 times 8 times, including 6 straight seasons (1991-1996). He struck out just 434 times in his 20 year career, or ~22 times a season. The MOST he struck out in 1 season was 40, in 1988 (521 PA). Gwynn hit no lower than .317 in any of his last 11 seasons. He won 4 straight batting titles from 1994-97 and hit .371 during that span Gwynn's best season was arguably 1997 in which he hit .372 (220-592), with a career best 17 HR and 119 RBI, to go along with 49 2B. He finished just 6th in the MVP voting. Gwynn finished with a remarkable 3141 hits, but he battled minor/nagging injuries throughout his career. Only 5 times would he play >150 games and over his last 14 seasons, missed an average of 43 games per season. Imagine how many hits he would've finished with f he could have stayed healthy. Safe to say, we'll probably never see another hitter quite like Tony Gwynn. Great writeup on Gwynn! Sorry to say I didn't follow baseball as much back then to appreciate him when he was playing. I think he would have been one of my favorite players. No doubt! One of a kind player whose early death was so sad… |
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