On the surface, baseball may appear to be a simple sport, but in reality nothing could be more complicated. A man stands on a raised dirt platform and attempts to throw a rawhide sphere over a distance of sixty feet, six inches into an invisible quadrant measuring slightly more than three square feet past an opponent armed with a wooden club who has practiced the art of hitting flying projectiles for most of his life. All this under the scrutiny of an official who has been given the authority to make arbitrary and at times unjust decisions. Put in its proper perspective, the so-called "immaculate inning" is one of the most stupendous feats in all of sports.
Three pitches--Nine Strikes--Three Outs--One Inning
There are seventy four pitchers currently residing in the Hall of Fame. Of those men, only eleven have completed an immaculate inning. Details are as follows:
Rube Waddell of Philadelphia A's against Baltimore Orioles at Columbia Park in Philadelphia. July 1, 1902.
Third Inning. Catcher: Ossee Schreckengost. Batters: Billy Gilbert, Harry Howell and Jack Cronin. Final Score: A's 2 Orioles 0.
Dazzy Vance of Brooklyn Robins against Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. September 14, 1924.
Second Inning. Catcher: Hank DeBerry. Umpire: Bob Hart. Batters: Sam Bohne, Bubbles Hargrave, Eppa Rixey. Final Score: Robins 2 Reds 0.
Lefty Grove of Philadelphia A's against Cleveland Indians at at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. August 23, 1928.
Second Inning. Catcher: Mickey Cochrane. Umpire: Dan Barry. Batters: Eddie Morgan, Luther Harvel and Chick Autry. Final Score: A's 3 Indians 1.
Lefty Grove of Philadelphia A's against Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago. September 27, 1928.
Seventh Inning. Catcher: Mickey Cochrane. Umpire: Harry Geisel. Batters: Moe Berg, Tommy Thomas, Johnny Mostil. Final Score: A's 5 White Sox 3.
Robin Roberts of Philadelphia Phillies against Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. April 17, 1956.
Sixth Inning. Catcher: Andy Seminick. Umpire: Jocko Conlon. Batters: Carl Furillo, Charlie Neal, Sandy Amoros. Final Score: Phillies 8 Dodgers 6.
Jim Bunning of Detroit Tigers against Boston Red Sox at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. August 2, 1959.
Ninth Inning. Catcher: Red Wilson. Umpire: Nestor Chylak. Batters: Sammy White, Jim Mahoney, Ike DeLock. Final Score Red Sox 5 Tigers 4. (This was a one-inning relief appearance for Bunning)
Sandy Koufax of Los Angeles Dodgers against New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. June 30, 1962.
First Inning. Catcher: John Roseboro. Umpire: Mel Steiner. Batters: Richie Ashburn, Rod Kanehl, Felix Mantilla. Final Score: Dodgers 5 Mets 0.
Sandy Koufax of Los Angeles Dodgers against Houston Colt .45s at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. April 19, 1963.
Fifth Inning. Catcher: John Roseboro. Umpire: Bill Jackowski. Batters: Bob Aspromonte, Jim Campbell, Turk Farrell. Final Score: Dodgers 2 Colt .45s 0.
Sandy Koufax of Los Angeles Dodgers against Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. April 18, 1964.
Third Inning. Catcher: John Roseboro. Umpire: Al Barlick. Batters: Leo Cardenas, Johnny Edwards, Jim Maloney. Final Score: Reds 3 Dodgers 0.
Nolan Ryan of New York Mets against Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea Stadium in New York. April 19, 1968.
Third Inning. Catcher: Jerry Grote. Umpire: Tom Gorman. Batters: Claude Osteen, Wes Parkeer, Zoilo Versalles. Final Score: Dodgers 3 Mets 2.
Bob Gibson of St. Louis Cardinals againsst Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St Louis. May 12, 1969.
Seventh Inning. Catcher: Joe Torre. Umpire: Al Barlick. Batters: Len Gabrielson, Paul Popovich, John Miller. Final Score: Cardinals 6 Dodgers 2.
Nolan Ryan of California Angels against Red Sox at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim. July 9, 1972.
Second Inning. Catcher: John Stephenson. Umpire: John Rice. Batters: Carlton Fisk, Bob Burda, Juan Beniquez. Final Score: Angels 3 Red Sox 0.
Bruce Sutter of Chicago Cubs against Montreal Expos at Wrigley Field in Chicago. September 8, 1977.
Ninth Inning. Catcher: Steve Swisher. Umpire: Terry Tata. Batters: Ellis Valentine, Gary Carter, Larry Parrish. final Score: Cubs 3 Expos 2.
Randy Johnson of Houston Astros against Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in Atlanta. September 2, 1998.
Sixth Inning. Catcher: Brad Ausmus. Umpire: Gary Darling. Batters: Javy Lopez, Andruw Jones, Greg Colbrunn. Final Score: Astros 4 Braves 2.
Randy Johnson of Arizona Diamondbacks against Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. August 23, 2001.
Sixth Inning. Catcher: Damian Miller. Umpire: Mike Fichter. Batters: Tony McKnight, Gary Matthews, Jack Wilson. Final Score: Pirates 5 Diamondbacks 1.
Pedro Martinez of Boston Red Sox against Seattle Marineers at Fenway Park in Boston. May 18, 2002.
First Inning. Catcher: Jason Varitek. Umpire: Jerry Meals. Batters: Ichiro Suzuki, Mark McLemore, Ruben Sierra. Final Score: Red Sox 4 Mariners 1.
In examining the data, I believe that Randy Johnson's immaculate inning against the Braves in 1998 is the most impressive. With all the chanting and tomahawk chopping, Atlanta's Turner Field was a tough place for opposing pitchers during that time. Lopez and Jones were imminent power threats with 65 homers between them that year. Colbrunn was no slouch with a bat either, entering the game with a .307 average. Johnson had already thrown more than 200 innings at that point in the season and the Braves were making their third pass through the lineup against him. At least he had the benefit of Gary Darling's notoriously wide strike zone.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Fast Facts About Every Perfect Game
More than 300,000 games have been played over the course of baseball history. Only twenty-three of them featured a pitcher retiring all 27 batters in order. Here are some miscellaneous items of interest for each perfect game.
On June 12, 1880, Lee Richmond of the Worcester Worcesters tossed the first recorded perfect game in history. In Richmond's day, one umpire presided over the entire field and it's possible (even likely) that he got the benefit of some questionable calls.
On June 17, 1880, John Montgomery Ward pitched a perfect game over the Buffalo Bisons. At twenty years of age, Ward remains the youngest pitcher to record a perfecto. An interesting side note, the mound was only fifty feet from home plate in 1880.
On May 5, 1904, Cy Young completely dominated the Philadelphia A's. Parks were smaller in those days and only 10,000-plus Bostonians witness Young's historic feat. By then, the mound had been moved to its current distance of 60 feet, 6 inches.
On Oct. 2, 1908, Hall of Famer Addie Joss turned in one of the most efficient pitching performances of all time, using just 74 pitches to retire every White Sox opponent who came to the plate that day. The game was over in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
On Apr. 30, 1922, Charlie Robertson of the White Sox was perfect against the Tigers at Detroit. Despite his masterpiece, Robertson never recorded a .500 record in any season. He was 49-80 lifetime with a bulky 4.44 ERA. There would not be another perfect game in the majors for forty-two years.
On Oct. 8, 1956, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history. Witnessed by a huge crowd of 64,000-plus, he shut down the Dodgers, 2-0. Larsen had such a notoriously weak fastball, writer Shirley Povich once remarked that it "ought to have been equipped with backup lights."
On June 21, 1964, Phillies right-hander Jim Bunning was perfect against the hapless Mets at Shea Stadium. Of all the pitchers who have achieved perfection, Bunning is the only one to have served as a United States Senator. Bunning chatted with teammates between innings throughout this game--a somewhat unusual practice considering what was at stake.
On Sept. 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax pitched a masterpiece against the Cubs at Los Angeles. This perfecto was unique in that it featured the fewest hits by either team (1) and the fewest base runners (3). The Dodgers' only run was unearned.
On May 8, 1968, Catfish Hunter got his name on the map with a perfect game over the Twins. When it was over, A's owner Charlie Finley called Catfish and informed him that he had just cost the team $5,000. When Hunter apologized and asked why, Finley told Hunter that he would be increasing the hurler's salary by that much the following year.
On May 15, 1981,Len Barker of the Indians efficiently disposed of every Toronto hitter he faced. This was the second most sparsely attended perfect game in history with just over 7,000 fans on hand. Only Hunter's perfect game in'68 drew fewer witnesses.
On September 30, 1984, Mike Witt of the Angels completely derailed the Texas Rangers. This was the last game of the season. Witt would participate in a combined no-hitter with Mark Langston six years later.
On Sept. 16, 1988, Cincinnati's Tom Browning threw a perfecto against the Dodgers. Browning had come close to a no-hitter earlier that year, going eight and a third innings against the Padres without yielding a hit. Predictably, it was Tony Gwynn who broke up Browning's bid with a grounder through the hole at short.
On July 28, 1991, Dennis Martinez completed a perfect game over the Dodgers. Hailing from Nicaragua, he was the first pitcher born outside the U.S. to attain the feat. At thirty-six years of age, he was the second oldest. (Cy Young was thirty-seven.)
On July 28, 1994, Kenny Rogers of the Rangers etched his name into the record books against the Angels. Interestingly, the home plate umpire was a minor league substitute working in place of veteran Ken Kaiser. He had only six games of major league experience calling balls and strikes.
On May 17, 1998, Yankee bad boy David Wells completed a gem against the Twins. Wells claimed to have been hung over from the night before. Actor Billy Crystal came to the clubhouse to congratulate Wells and joked: "I got here late--what happened?"
On July 18, 1999, David Cone became the third Yankee hurler to attain immortality. His historic game occurred on "Yogi Berra Day" at Yankee Stadium. As fate would have it, Don Larsen had thrown a ceremonial pitch to Berra before the game commemorating Larsen's '56 World Series perfecto.
On May 18, 2004, left-handed strikeout king Randy Johnson vanquished the Braves in spectacular fashion, striking out 13. At forty years-old, he became the oldest pitcher to toss a perfect game.
On July 23, 2009, Mark Buehrle of the White Sox threw the only perfect game in the history of US Cellular Field. In the game following Buehrle's historic effort, he retired the first 17 batters he faced. His 45 consecutive outs broke a record previously held by teammate Bobby Jenks.
In 2010, Dallas Braden of the A's and Roy Halladay of the Phillies pitched perfect games just twenty days apart--the shortest time span between any two perfectos. Halladay pitched a no-hitter later that year against the Reds in the NLDS, becoming the second pitcher to turn the trick in postseason play.
2012 was a historic year as Philip Humber of the White Sox, Matt Cain of the Giants and Felix Hernandez of the Mariners all achieved perfection. This had never happened before and quite possibly never will again. Humber is perhaps the most undistinguished pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. He played in less than a hundred contests from 2006-20013 and left the majors with a 5.31 ERA.
Just goes to show you that on any given day...
On June 12, 1880, Lee Richmond of the Worcester Worcesters tossed the first recorded perfect game in history. In Richmond's day, one umpire presided over the entire field and it's possible (even likely) that he got the benefit of some questionable calls.
On June 17, 1880, John Montgomery Ward pitched a perfect game over the Buffalo Bisons. At twenty years of age, Ward remains the youngest pitcher to record a perfecto. An interesting side note, the mound was only fifty feet from home plate in 1880.
On May 5, 1904, Cy Young completely dominated the Philadelphia A's. Parks were smaller in those days and only 10,000-plus Bostonians witness Young's historic feat. By then, the mound had been moved to its current distance of 60 feet, 6 inches.
On Oct. 2, 1908, Hall of Famer Addie Joss turned in one of the most efficient pitching performances of all time, using just 74 pitches to retire every White Sox opponent who came to the plate that day. The game was over in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
On Apr. 30, 1922, Charlie Robertson of the White Sox was perfect against the Tigers at Detroit. Despite his masterpiece, Robertson never recorded a .500 record in any season. He was 49-80 lifetime with a bulky 4.44 ERA. There would not be another perfect game in the majors for forty-two years.
On Oct. 8, 1956, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history. Witnessed by a huge crowd of 64,000-plus, he shut down the Dodgers, 2-0. Larsen had such a notoriously weak fastball, writer Shirley Povich once remarked that it "ought to have been equipped with backup lights."
On June 21, 1964, Phillies right-hander Jim Bunning was perfect against the hapless Mets at Shea Stadium. Of all the pitchers who have achieved perfection, Bunning is the only one to have served as a United States Senator. Bunning chatted with teammates between innings throughout this game--a somewhat unusual practice considering what was at stake.
On Sept. 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax pitched a masterpiece against the Cubs at Los Angeles. This perfecto was unique in that it featured the fewest hits by either team (1) and the fewest base runners (3). The Dodgers' only run was unearned.
On May 8, 1968, Catfish Hunter got his name on the map with a perfect game over the Twins. When it was over, A's owner Charlie Finley called Catfish and informed him that he had just cost the team $5,000. When Hunter apologized and asked why, Finley told Hunter that he would be increasing the hurler's salary by that much the following year.
On May 15, 1981,Len Barker of the Indians efficiently disposed of every Toronto hitter he faced. This was the second most sparsely attended perfect game in history with just over 7,000 fans on hand. Only Hunter's perfect game in'68 drew fewer witnesses.
On September 30, 1984, Mike Witt of the Angels completely derailed the Texas Rangers. This was the last game of the season. Witt would participate in a combined no-hitter with Mark Langston six years later.
On Sept. 16, 1988, Cincinnati's Tom Browning threw a perfecto against the Dodgers. Browning had come close to a no-hitter earlier that year, going eight and a third innings against the Padres without yielding a hit. Predictably, it was Tony Gwynn who broke up Browning's bid with a grounder through the hole at short.
On July 28, 1991, Dennis Martinez completed a perfect game over the Dodgers. Hailing from Nicaragua, he was the first pitcher born outside the U.S. to attain the feat. At thirty-six years of age, he was the second oldest. (Cy Young was thirty-seven.)
On July 28, 1994, Kenny Rogers of the Rangers etched his name into the record books against the Angels. Interestingly, the home plate umpire was a minor league substitute working in place of veteran Ken Kaiser. He had only six games of major league experience calling balls and strikes.
On May 17, 1998, Yankee bad boy David Wells completed a gem against the Twins. Wells claimed to have been hung over from the night before. Actor Billy Crystal came to the clubhouse to congratulate Wells and joked: "I got here late--what happened?"
On July 18, 1999, David Cone became the third Yankee hurler to attain immortality. His historic game occurred on "Yogi Berra Day" at Yankee Stadium. As fate would have it, Don Larsen had thrown a ceremonial pitch to Berra before the game commemorating Larsen's '56 World Series perfecto.
On May 18, 2004, left-handed strikeout king Randy Johnson vanquished the Braves in spectacular fashion, striking out 13. At forty years-old, he became the oldest pitcher to toss a perfect game.
On July 23, 2009, Mark Buehrle of the White Sox threw the only perfect game in the history of US Cellular Field. In the game following Buehrle's historic effort, he retired the first 17 batters he faced. His 45 consecutive outs broke a record previously held by teammate Bobby Jenks.
In 2010, Dallas Braden of the A's and Roy Halladay of the Phillies pitched perfect games just twenty days apart--the shortest time span between any two perfectos. Halladay pitched a no-hitter later that year against the Reds in the NLDS, becoming the second pitcher to turn the trick in postseason play.
2012 was a historic year as Philip Humber of the White Sox, Matt Cain of the Giants and Felix Hernandez of the Mariners all achieved perfection. This had never happened before and quite possibly never will again. Humber is perhaps the most undistinguished pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. He played in less than a hundred contests from 2006-20013 and left the majors with a 5.31 ERA.
Just goes to show you that on any given day...
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Perfect Games Spoiled (Part II)
Over the course of baseball history, eight major league pitchers were able to retire 27 batters without a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch only to have their perfect games ruined by errors. The following unlucky hurlers came close to immortality:
CHRISTY MATHEWSON:
On June 13, 1905, Mathewson was facing the Cubs at the West Side Grounds in Chicago. The Cubs had their own ace, Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown on the mound. Matty retired the first 10 Chicago batters before shortstop Bill Dahlen misplayed a grounder, allowing a runner to reach safely. Second baseman Billy Gilbert added another error in the sixth. There were no other baserunners in the game for Chicago as Mathewson came away with his second career no-hitter. Mathewson won 31 games in 1905 and added 3 complete-game shutouts in the World Series.
NAP RUCKER:
On September 5, 1908, Superbas hurler Nap Rucker came close to perfection against the Boston Doves at Washington Park in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, three miscues by the Superbas spoiled Rucker's bid. He had 14 strikeouts that afternoon. The Superbas were terrible during Rucker's tenure with the club, prompting one writer to comment: "The fates have tied him up with an aggregation that has steadfastly refused to make a bid for championship honors." From 1907-1910, Rucker's won/loss record was above .500 only once though his earned run averages ranged from 2.06 to 2.58. He came close to a second no-hitter in 1911, pitching 8.2 hitless innings before yielding a single.
WALTER JOHNSON:
On July 1, 1920, "The Big Train" was wheeling and dealing against the Red Sox and had mowed down 18 straight before the normally reliable Bucky Harris bungled a grounder, allowing Harry Hooper to reach base. Johnson retired every other batter he faced that day. A right-hander, Johnson used a sidearm delivery that made it difficult for opponents to pick up the movement of his pitches. Though his fastball was widely praised by contemporaries, it has been estimated that he probably threw in the low-nineties--average by today's standards. Johnson tossed a second no-hitter in 1924, but it was shortened by inclement weather.
BILL McCAHAN:
On September 3, 1947, Little known right-hander Bill McCahan missed out on a perfecto at Shibe Park in Philadelphia when first baseman Ferris Fain made a throwing error, allowing Stan Spence of the Senators to reach safely in the second inning. None of Spence's teammates were as successful against McCahan that day. McCahan had a short career, winning 16 of 30 decisions over portions of three seasons. Fain lasted nine years in the majors and won two batting crowns. Prone to throwing difficulty at times, Fain was once instructed by A's manager Connie Mack to hang onto the ball after he fielded it.
"What do you want me to do with the ball, stick it up my ass?" Fain replied sarcastically.
"Well, Ferris," Mack dead-panned, "You'll have to admit it would be safer up there."
JERRY REUSS:
On June 27, 1980, Dodger shortstop Bill Russell made a first inning throwing error, allowing Jack Clark of the Giants to reach base. The play seemed inconsequential until starter Jerry Reuss retired the next 25 batters in order. "I just threw it away. It's as simple as that," Russell said after the game. "Later I thought, 'There's nothing I can do about it now. He can't get a perfect game, so let's go for a no-hitter." Reuss was not upset with the way things turned out. "I just threw a no-hitter!" he said to reporters. "What could be bigger thrill?!"
TERRY MULHOLLAND:
On August 15, 1990, Mulholland set down 18 straight Giants hitters before Charlie Hayes made a poor throw on a Rich Parker grounder, pulling John Kruk off the bag at first. Mulholland finished with a no-hitter. He wasn't having a great year to that point, entering the game with a 6-6 record and 4.34 ERA. During warm-ups, he didn't feel as if he had good control. The Veterans Stadium crowd was chanting his name in the ninth when Hall of Famer Gary Carter ripped a hot liner to third base. Hayes handled it this time. "You can't realize what went through my mind when he caught that ball," said Mulholland. "It was such a rush of emotion." Mulholland's gem was the first no-hitter thrown at "the Vet."
JONATHAN SANCHEZ:
On July 10, 2009, Sanchez was on his way to perfection against the Padres when Juan Uribe botched a routine grounder with one out in the eighth. Before that, Adrian Gonzalez had hit a deep fly to the warning track that had most fans holding their breath. Sanchez followed Uribe's muff with a wild pitch, allowing the runner to advance. In the end, he kept his no-hitter. After concluding a post game interview, Sanchez said "Dios es Grande." (God is big.)
CLAYTON KERSHAW:
An obvious candidate for a perfect game, Kershaw settled for a no-hitter on June 18, 2014 when a seventh inning throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez gave the Rockies their only baserunner of the game. In a gesture of support, Kershaw picked Ramirez's hat up off the infield grass and handed it back to him. Kershaw struck out 15 and had a 3-ball count on only one of the Colorado batters he faced. He used 107 pitches in all. "I'm so amazed," he said. "It was just so much fun I can't explain it."
CHRISTY MATHEWSON:
On June 13, 1905, Mathewson was facing the Cubs at the West Side Grounds in Chicago. The Cubs had their own ace, Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown on the mound. Matty retired the first 10 Chicago batters before shortstop Bill Dahlen misplayed a grounder, allowing a runner to reach safely. Second baseman Billy Gilbert added another error in the sixth. There were no other baserunners in the game for Chicago as Mathewson came away with his second career no-hitter. Mathewson won 31 games in 1905 and added 3 complete-game shutouts in the World Series.
NAP RUCKER:
On September 5, 1908, Superbas hurler Nap Rucker came close to perfection against the Boston Doves at Washington Park in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, three miscues by the Superbas spoiled Rucker's bid. He had 14 strikeouts that afternoon. The Superbas were terrible during Rucker's tenure with the club, prompting one writer to comment: "The fates have tied him up with an aggregation that has steadfastly refused to make a bid for championship honors." From 1907-1910, Rucker's won/loss record was above .500 only once though his earned run averages ranged from 2.06 to 2.58. He came close to a second no-hitter in 1911, pitching 8.2 hitless innings before yielding a single.
WALTER JOHNSON:
On July 1, 1920, "The Big Train" was wheeling and dealing against the Red Sox and had mowed down 18 straight before the normally reliable Bucky Harris bungled a grounder, allowing Harry Hooper to reach base. Johnson retired every other batter he faced that day. A right-hander, Johnson used a sidearm delivery that made it difficult for opponents to pick up the movement of his pitches. Though his fastball was widely praised by contemporaries, it has been estimated that he probably threw in the low-nineties--average by today's standards. Johnson tossed a second no-hitter in 1924, but it was shortened by inclement weather.
BILL McCAHAN:
On September 3, 1947, Little known right-hander Bill McCahan missed out on a perfecto at Shibe Park in Philadelphia when first baseman Ferris Fain made a throwing error, allowing Stan Spence of the Senators to reach safely in the second inning. None of Spence's teammates were as successful against McCahan that day. McCahan had a short career, winning 16 of 30 decisions over portions of three seasons. Fain lasted nine years in the majors and won two batting crowns. Prone to throwing difficulty at times, Fain was once instructed by A's manager Connie Mack to hang onto the ball after he fielded it.
"What do you want me to do with the ball, stick it up my ass?" Fain replied sarcastically.
"Well, Ferris," Mack dead-panned, "You'll have to admit it would be safer up there."
JERRY REUSS:
On June 27, 1980, Dodger shortstop Bill Russell made a first inning throwing error, allowing Jack Clark of the Giants to reach base. The play seemed inconsequential until starter Jerry Reuss retired the next 25 batters in order. "I just threw it away. It's as simple as that," Russell said after the game. "Later I thought, 'There's nothing I can do about it now. He can't get a perfect game, so let's go for a no-hitter." Reuss was not upset with the way things turned out. "I just threw a no-hitter!" he said to reporters. "What could be bigger thrill?!"
TERRY MULHOLLAND:
On August 15, 1990, Mulholland set down 18 straight Giants hitters before Charlie Hayes made a poor throw on a Rich Parker grounder, pulling John Kruk off the bag at first. Mulholland finished with a no-hitter. He wasn't having a great year to that point, entering the game with a 6-6 record and 4.34 ERA. During warm-ups, he didn't feel as if he had good control. The Veterans Stadium crowd was chanting his name in the ninth when Hall of Famer Gary Carter ripped a hot liner to third base. Hayes handled it this time. "You can't realize what went through my mind when he caught that ball," said Mulholland. "It was such a rush of emotion." Mulholland's gem was the first no-hitter thrown at "the Vet."
JONATHAN SANCHEZ:
On July 10, 2009, Sanchez was on his way to perfection against the Padres when Juan Uribe botched a routine grounder with one out in the eighth. Before that, Adrian Gonzalez had hit a deep fly to the warning track that had most fans holding their breath. Sanchez followed Uribe's muff with a wild pitch, allowing the runner to advance. In the end, he kept his no-hitter. After concluding a post game interview, Sanchez said "Dios es Grande." (God is big.)
CLAYTON KERSHAW:
An obvious candidate for a perfect game, Kershaw settled for a no-hitter on June 18, 2014 when a seventh inning throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez gave the Rockies their only baserunner of the game. In a gesture of support, Kershaw picked Ramirez's hat up off the infield grass and handed it back to him. Kershaw struck out 15 and had a 3-ball count on only one of the Colorado batters he faced. He used 107 pitches in all. "I'm so amazed," he said. "It was just so much fun I can't explain it."
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Perfect Games Spoiled (Part I)
On thirteen occasions, the 27th batter of a game has broken up a bid for perfection. The most recent example came on June 20 of the current season, when Max Scherzer of the Nationals mowed down 26 straight opponents before hitting Jose Tabata on the elbow with a 2-2 offering. Replays showed that Tabata made very little effort to get out of the way. Scherzer ended up with a no-hitter. Other excruciating examples are as follows:
July 4, 1908: Hooks Wiltse of the Giants was facing opposing moundsman George McQuillan with a 2-2 count and two outs in the ninth. Wiltse hit McQuillan, spoiling his quest for perfection. The Giants beat the Phillies, 1-0, in ten innings. This was the only scoreless near perfect game disrupted by the 27th batter and the longest complete game no-hitter (a record that has been tied twice).
August 5, 1932: Senators pinch-hitter Dave Harris singled off of Tiger ace Tommy Bridges with two outs in the ninth. Though disappointed, Bridges was okay with it, commenting that he didn't want the game to come "gift-wrapped."
June 27, 1958: Billy Pierce of the White Sox gave up a double to Senators' back-up catcher Ed Fitz Gerald on the first pitch. Fitz Gerald fared pretty well as a pinch-hitter that year, accruing a .375 average with 12 hits and 3 walks. Reportedly, his double off of Pierce just barely landed in fair territory, proving definitively that baseball is a game of inches.
September 2, 1972: Cubs right-hander Milt Pappas came up shy of a perfect game when umpire Bruce Froemming made a controversial call on a 3-2 pitch that resulted in a walk to Larry Stahl. Froemming was behind the plate for eleven no-hitters in his career and Pappas reportedly held a long-standing grudge against him.
April 15, 1983: Detroit's Milt Wilcox coughed up a pinch-hit single to Jerry Hairston of the White Sox, spoiling his bid for a perfecto. Wilcox reportedly "felt rotten" and wandered the streets of Chicago that night.
May 2, 1988: Ron Robinson's bid ended in disaster. Facing Wallace Johnson of the Expos with two strikes and his perfect game on the line, he gave up a single. The next batter, Tim Raines, drilled a 2-run homer. Robinson was removed from the game, but ended up with a win as the Reds prevailed, 3-2.
April 4, 1989: Roberto Kelly's double ended a would-be perfect game for Toronto's Dave Stieb. Steve Sax then spoiled a shutout with an RBI single. The Blue Jays won, 2-1, but it was the third time Stieb had lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth. He pitched the first no-hitter in 'Jays history in 1990 and retired with five 1-hitters on his resume.
April 20, 1990: Brian Holman of the Mariners lost his perfecto when Ken Phelps of the A's smashed a homer. Phelps ended up with 8 pinch-hit homers during his career and this was the last. The closest Holman came to matching this performance was a 3-hitter in 1989.
September 2, 2001: Carl Everett lined a single off of Mike Mussina with two strikes, breaking up the Yankee right-hander's bid for a perfect game. It would have been the first of its kind at Fenway Park, which is known as a hitter's paradise. It was the third time in Mussina's career that he had taken a no-hitter as far as the eighth inning.
June 20, 2010: Perhaps the most infamous incident of its kind, Armando Galarraga lost his bid for immortality when first base umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly called Jason Donald of the Indians safe at first on what replays clearly showed was a ground ball out. Donald made it to third on defensive indifference as Galarraga retired the next batter. Joyce called Galarraga to the umpire's room so he could issue an apology. The pitcher appreciated the gesture, commenting afterward: "He feels really bad, probably more bad than me."
September 6, 2013: Yusmeiro Petit of the Giants gave up a single to Arizona pinch-hitter Eric Chavez, spoiling his quest for perfection. Right fielder Hunter Pence made a valiant effort at a diving catch but came up short. Petit had no regrets, commenting that he was just "happy to be [there]."
July 4, 1908: Hooks Wiltse of the Giants was facing opposing moundsman George McQuillan with a 2-2 count and two outs in the ninth. Wiltse hit McQuillan, spoiling his quest for perfection. The Giants beat the Phillies, 1-0, in ten innings. This was the only scoreless near perfect game disrupted by the 27th batter and the longest complete game no-hitter (a record that has been tied twice).
August 5, 1932: Senators pinch-hitter Dave Harris singled off of Tiger ace Tommy Bridges with two outs in the ninth. Though disappointed, Bridges was okay with it, commenting that he didn't want the game to come "gift-wrapped."
June 27, 1958: Billy Pierce of the White Sox gave up a double to Senators' back-up catcher Ed Fitz Gerald on the first pitch. Fitz Gerald fared pretty well as a pinch-hitter that year, accruing a .375 average with 12 hits and 3 walks. Reportedly, his double off of Pierce just barely landed in fair territory, proving definitively that baseball is a game of inches.
September 2, 1972: Cubs right-hander Milt Pappas came up shy of a perfect game when umpire Bruce Froemming made a controversial call on a 3-2 pitch that resulted in a walk to Larry Stahl. Froemming was behind the plate for eleven no-hitters in his career and Pappas reportedly held a long-standing grudge against him.
April 15, 1983: Detroit's Milt Wilcox coughed up a pinch-hit single to Jerry Hairston of the White Sox, spoiling his bid for a perfecto. Wilcox reportedly "felt rotten" and wandered the streets of Chicago that night.
May 2, 1988: Ron Robinson's bid ended in disaster. Facing Wallace Johnson of the Expos with two strikes and his perfect game on the line, he gave up a single. The next batter, Tim Raines, drilled a 2-run homer. Robinson was removed from the game, but ended up with a win as the Reds prevailed, 3-2.
April 4, 1989: Roberto Kelly's double ended a would-be perfect game for Toronto's Dave Stieb. Steve Sax then spoiled a shutout with an RBI single. The Blue Jays won, 2-1, but it was the third time Stieb had lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth. He pitched the first no-hitter in 'Jays history in 1990 and retired with five 1-hitters on his resume.
April 20, 1990: Brian Holman of the Mariners lost his perfecto when Ken Phelps of the A's smashed a homer. Phelps ended up with 8 pinch-hit homers during his career and this was the last. The closest Holman came to matching this performance was a 3-hitter in 1989.
September 2, 2001: Carl Everett lined a single off of Mike Mussina with two strikes, breaking up the Yankee right-hander's bid for a perfect game. It would have been the first of its kind at Fenway Park, which is known as a hitter's paradise. It was the third time in Mussina's career that he had taken a no-hitter as far as the eighth inning.
June 20, 2010: Perhaps the most infamous incident of its kind, Armando Galarraga lost his bid for immortality when first base umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly called Jason Donald of the Indians safe at first on what replays clearly showed was a ground ball out. Donald made it to third on defensive indifference as Galarraga retired the next batter. Joyce called Galarraga to the umpire's room so he could issue an apology. The pitcher appreciated the gesture, commenting afterward: "He feels really bad, probably more bad than me."
September 6, 2013: Yusmeiro Petit of the Giants gave up a single to Arizona pinch-hitter Eric Chavez, spoiling his quest for perfection. Right fielder Hunter Pence made a valiant effort at a diving catch but came up short. Petit had no regrets, commenting that he was just "happy to be [there]."
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Baseball's Most Poorly Conceived Transactions (Concluded)
Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez
In a recent post, I discussed the Expos' penchant for trading away great players. In 1989, they made an unforgivable error when they dealt left-hander Randy Johnson to the Mariners after he got off to an 0-4 start. 300 wins, five Cy Young Awards and nine strikeout titles would follow.
A few years later, the Expos missed the boat on another Hall of Famer. After capturing a Cy Young Award with Montreal in '97, Pedro Martinez was shipped to Boston, where he enjoyed his most dominant seasons. Together, Martinez and Johnson combined for 522 career victories and over 8,000 strikeouts. Kind of makes you wonder where the Expos would have ended up if they had hung on to these guys.
Greg Maddux
It's hard to imagine what the Cubs were thinking when they granted Maddux free agency after the '92 slate. Maddux, who had won his first Cy Young Award that year, signed with Atlanta. Three more Cy Young selections would follow as the right-hander went on to capture eighteen Gold Gloves and collect at least 15 wins in seventeen straight seasons--a major league record.
Ryne Sanberg
How could the Phillies do it? After a productive season at the Triple-A level in '81, future Hall of Famer Ryne Sanberg was called to Philadelphia that September. Demonstrating zero patience, the Phillies traded him to the Cubs when he didn't sparkle in his debut. Sanberg developed into one of the greatest second basemen in Chicago history with ten All-Star selections, nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Slugger Awards to his credit. The Cubs' sacrifice was minimal as they sent Ivan DeJesus, who had hit just .194 in '81, to Philly. DeJesus was a highly competent shortstop, but he was no Sanberg.
Nolan Ryan
With 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters on his resume, it's mind-boggling to think that this iconic pitcher was ever traded. But in '71, the Mets dealt him to the Angels in exchange for journeyman infielder Jim Fregosi. In November of '79, the Angels allowed him to sign with the Astros and, in December of '88, the Astros sat on their hands as "The Ryan Express" departed for Texas. In all, Ryan logged more than two decades of quality major league experience.
John Smoltz
Somebody should have lost their job over this one. Midway through the 1987 campaign, the Tigers traded twenty year old pitching prospect John Smoltz to the Braves for veteran right-hander Doyle Alexander. Alexander filled an immediate need, going 9-0 in 11 starts for Detroit that year, but his age began to show over the next two seasons as he posted a 20-29 record with a 4.38 ERA. Meanwhile, Smoltz became an integral part of the dominant pitching trio that led the Braves to a slew of consecutive playoff appearances. Smoltz ended up saving 154 games in addition to his 200-plus career victories--a rare combination that landed him in the Hall with Atlanta staff mates Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.
Mark McGwire
McGwire was the heart and soul of the A's offense during the late-'80s/ early-'90s. After launching 52 homers in '96, he was off to another productive start the following year when the Cardinals offered to part with three players to obtain his services. None of those three had a major impact in Oakland as "Big Mac"--with the help of performance enhancing substances--entered his prime slugging years. His epic home run race with Sammy Sosa in '98 has become legendary. During his five seasons in St. Louis, he averaged 44 homers and 95 RBIs per year.
Jeff Bagwell
Based on his minor league stats, the Red Sox had no reason to believe that Bagwell would be anything but spectacular. Still, they traded him to the Astros in August of 1990 for pitcher Larry Andersen. Andersen had a long and moderately successful career as a relief pitcher, toiling in relative anonymity for several clubs. Bagwell, on the other hand, became a household name in Houston. Over fifteen seasons, he averaged 30 homers and 102 RBIs--presumably without the aid of steroids. His lifetime on-base percentage of .408 is among the top forty totals of all time. Last year, he received 55.7 percent of the Cooperstown vote.
Jay Buhner
The trade of Buhner to Seattle in July of '88 was so ill-advised that it was referenced on the Seinfeld show. The Yankees got Ken Phelps in the deal, who hit just .240 with 17 homers over portions of two seasons with New York. In contrast, Buhner became one of the most popular players on the Mariners. He smashed 305 homers and drove in 946 runs in a thirteen-year span. His finest stretch came between '95 and '97, when he averaged 41 bombs and 123 ribbies per year. On "Buhner Buzz Cut Nights," fans who showed up at the park with shaved heads received free admission and t-shirts that read: "Bald is Buhnerful" or "Take Me Out to the Bald-Game."
Barry Bonds
After winning his second MVP Award in '92, Bonds decided to test the free agent market. The Pirates were foolish enough to let him go as he entered the prime of his career in San Francisco. Bonds was a five-time MVP winner with the Giants, inspiring fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. Between 2002 and 2004, he was intentionally walked 249 times. In the latter campaign, his on-base percentage was a staggering .609. Baseball's all time leader in homers and walks, he ranks among the top ten in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases and RBI's. A fact that is often obscured by his steroid-fueled offensive numbers, he won eight Gold Gloves.
In a recent post, I discussed the Expos' penchant for trading away great players. In 1989, they made an unforgivable error when they dealt left-hander Randy Johnson to the Mariners after he got off to an 0-4 start. 300 wins, five Cy Young Awards and nine strikeout titles would follow.
A few years later, the Expos missed the boat on another Hall of Famer. After capturing a Cy Young Award with Montreal in '97, Pedro Martinez was shipped to Boston, where he enjoyed his most dominant seasons. Together, Martinez and Johnson combined for 522 career victories and over 8,000 strikeouts. Kind of makes you wonder where the Expos would have ended up if they had hung on to these guys.
Greg Maddux
It's hard to imagine what the Cubs were thinking when they granted Maddux free agency after the '92 slate. Maddux, who had won his first Cy Young Award that year, signed with Atlanta. Three more Cy Young selections would follow as the right-hander went on to capture eighteen Gold Gloves and collect at least 15 wins in seventeen straight seasons--a major league record.
Ryne Sanberg
How could the Phillies do it? After a productive season at the Triple-A level in '81, future Hall of Famer Ryne Sanberg was called to Philadelphia that September. Demonstrating zero patience, the Phillies traded him to the Cubs when he didn't sparkle in his debut. Sanberg developed into one of the greatest second basemen in Chicago history with ten All-Star selections, nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Slugger Awards to his credit. The Cubs' sacrifice was minimal as they sent Ivan DeJesus, who had hit just .194 in '81, to Philly. DeJesus was a highly competent shortstop, but he was no Sanberg.
Nolan Ryan
With 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters on his resume, it's mind-boggling to think that this iconic pitcher was ever traded. But in '71, the Mets dealt him to the Angels in exchange for journeyman infielder Jim Fregosi. In November of '79, the Angels allowed him to sign with the Astros and, in December of '88, the Astros sat on their hands as "The Ryan Express" departed for Texas. In all, Ryan logged more than two decades of quality major league experience.
John Smoltz
Somebody should have lost their job over this one. Midway through the 1987 campaign, the Tigers traded twenty year old pitching prospect John Smoltz to the Braves for veteran right-hander Doyle Alexander. Alexander filled an immediate need, going 9-0 in 11 starts for Detroit that year, but his age began to show over the next two seasons as he posted a 20-29 record with a 4.38 ERA. Meanwhile, Smoltz became an integral part of the dominant pitching trio that led the Braves to a slew of consecutive playoff appearances. Smoltz ended up saving 154 games in addition to his 200-plus career victories--a rare combination that landed him in the Hall with Atlanta staff mates Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.
Mark McGwire
McGwire was the heart and soul of the A's offense during the late-'80s/ early-'90s. After launching 52 homers in '96, he was off to another productive start the following year when the Cardinals offered to part with three players to obtain his services. None of those three had a major impact in Oakland as "Big Mac"--with the help of performance enhancing substances--entered his prime slugging years. His epic home run race with Sammy Sosa in '98 has become legendary. During his five seasons in St. Louis, he averaged 44 homers and 95 RBIs per year.
Jeff Bagwell
Based on his minor league stats, the Red Sox had no reason to believe that Bagwell would be anything but spectacular. Still, they traded him to the Astros in August of 1990 for pitcher Larry Andersen. Andersen had a long and moderately successful career as a relief pitcher, toiling in relative anonymity for several clubs. Bagwell, on the other hand, became a household name in Houston. Over fifteen seasons, he averaged 30 homers and 102 RBIs--presumably without the aid of steroids. His lifetime on-base percentage of .408 is among the top forty totals of all time. Last year, he received 55.7 percent of the Cooperstown vote.
Jay Buhner
The trade of Buhner to Seattle in July of '88 was so ill-advised that it was referenced on the Seinfeld show. The Yankees got Ken Phelps in the deal, who hit just .240 with 17 homers over portions of two seasons with New York. In contrast, Buhner became one of the most popular players on the Mariners. He smashed 305 homers and drove in 946 runs in a thirteen-year span. His finest stretch came between '95 and '97, when he averaged 41 bombs and 123 ribbies per year. On "Buhner Buzz Cut Nights," fans who showed up at the park with shaved heads received free admission and t-shirts that read: "Bald is Buhnerful" or "Take Me Out to the Bald-Game."
Barry Bonds
After winning his second MVP Award in '92, Bonds decided to test the free agent market. The Pirates were foolish enough to let him go as he entered the prime of his career in San Francisco. Bonds was a five-time MVP winner with the Giants, inspiring fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. Between 2002 and 2004, he was intentionally walked 249 times. In the latter campaign, his on-base percentage was a staggering .609. Baseball's all time leader in homers and walks, he ranks among the top ten in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases and RBI's. A fact that is often obscured by his steroid-fueled offensive numbers, he won eight Gold Gloves.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Baseball's Most Poorly Conceived Transactions (Part II)
1914
After being swept by the Boston Braves in the World Series, Philadelphia A's owner/manager Connie Mack decided to liquidate his roster, releasing two of his best pitchers--Chief Bender and Eddie Plank (Hall of Famers both). Mack then proceeded to target his coveted "$100,000 Infield," sending Cooperstown-bound second baseman Eddie Collins to the White Sox. Frank "Home Run" Baker, Mack's star third baseman, (who would eventually join Collins in Cooperstown) opted to sit out the 1915 campaign on the heels of a bitter salary dispute. Other disastrous transactions would follow, including the loss of sure-handed shortstop Jack Barry. As a result, the A's wallowed in the American League basement for seven straight seasons.
1916
Although the rise of Babe Ruth helped fans forget, the Red Sox made a huge mistake when they traded Hall of Fame center fielder Tris Speaker to Cleveland during the spring of 1916. Speaker had won an MVP Award (then known as the Chalmers Award) with Boston in 1912 and was still very much in his prime. In his first season with the Indians, he led the American League in hits, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He spent eleven years in Cleveland altogether, compiling a cumulative .354 batting average while helping the Indians to the first championship in franchise history (during the 1920 slate).
1919-1923
Nearly everyone has heard about Red Sox owner Harry Frazee's misguided sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees before the 1920 campaign. But Ruth was not the only player that Frazee cast aside to keep his business interests afloat. In July of 1919, he allowed temperamental pitcher Carl Mays to jump to the Yankees, provoking the ire of AL President Ban Johnson in the process. In 1921, Frazee sent catcher Wally Schang and Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt to the Bronx. In 1922, he added Sad Sam Jones and Bullet Joe Bush to the Yankee rotation. Shoring up the Yankee infield, he included marquis shortstop Everett Scott in the deal. Midway through the '22 campaign, Frazee sent third baseman "Jumpin' Joe" Dugan to New York as well. And then, completing a series of ridiculously generous transactions, the impulsive Red Sox owner donated Hall of Fame moundsman Herb Pennock to the Yankee cause in 1923. The BoSox sank like a stone while the Yankees, making the most of their acquisitions, appeared in three consecutive World Series from 1921-1923.
1925
It wasn't like Giants manager John McGraw to miss the boat when it came to spotting talent. But his roster was so cluttered with stars already, he traded twenty-five year old center fielder Hack Wilson to Toledo of the American Association in September of 1925. Wilson forged a Hall of Fame career mostly with the Cubs, packing his best seasons into a seven-year span from 1926 through 1932. He averaged 30 homers and 127 RBIs per year in that stretch. His 191 runs-batted-in during the '33 slate are still an all time record.
1926-1929
Rogers Hornsby had a lot of undesirable traits. He was mean and prickly. He tended to alienate teammates and engage in salary disputes with owners. Still, it's hard to believe that baseball's greatest second baseman was traded as often as he was. Hornsby began his career in St. Louis, where he won six straight batting titles. After the 1926 campaign, he was dealt to the Giants. He hit .361 in New York while scoring a league-high 133 runs. The following year, he was shipped to Boston, where he won a batting crown and led the NL with a superhuman .498 on-base percentage. His travels continued in '29 as he hit .380 for the Cubs while pacing the circuit with 409 total bases. The Cubs were smart enough to hang onto him until his skills went into decline. To date, Hornsby's lifetime batting average is the second highest of all time behind Ty Cobb.
1935
Connie Mack was faced with some tough decisions during his fifty years at the helm of the A's. With his team in decline and the Great Depression putting the squeeze on him, he was forced to part with his best offensive player before the '36 campaign. First baseman Jimmie Foxx, winner of consecutive MVP Awards in '32/'33, had several more phenomenal seasons after leaving Philadelphia, narrowly missing a second triple crown with the Red Sox in 1938. Though Foxx's lifetime total of 534 homers has been surpassed by several players, he was second on the all time list when he retired.
1974-1977
During the 1970s, the A's became the first team outside New York to win three consecutive World Series titles. A's owner Charlie Finley--among the most tight-fisted executives in baseball history--began dishing off most of his high-priced players shortly afterward. Catfish Hunter was the first to go, signing with the Yankees for the '75 campaign. Reggie Jackson was the next in line, defecting to Baltimore in '76. With free agency in full swing, Finley attempted a full scale roster purge, trading closer Rollie Fingers and outfielder Joe Rudi to the Red Sox in June of '76. On the same day, he dealt staff ace Vida Blue to the Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided both deals, citing that Finley's fire sale was "not in the best interest of baseball." Rudi and Fingers left after the '76 slate anyway. Finley tried to get rid of Blue again the following year, trading him to the Reds, but Kuhn intervened a second time, commenting that the deal would tip the balance of the NL West. Determined to part ways with his star southpaw (who had averaged 17 wins per season between '71 and '77), Finley sent Blue to the San Francisco Giants before the '78 slate. By then, every starting player from the '74 championship squad (with the exception of outfielder Bill North) was gone.
1980
Dave Winfield began his career with San Diego, slowly emerging as one of the premier outfielders in the National League. After four consecutive All-Star appearances, the Padres granted him free agency. The blockbuster contract Winfield signed with the Yankees in 1980 made him the highest paid player in baseball. For nearly a decade, he lived up to expectations, getting named to eight All-Star teams while adding five Gold Gloves to his collection. But tempestuous Yankee owner George Steinbrenner didn't like Winfield. In the wake of a World Series defeat in '81, he referred to Winfield as "Mr. May"--a derogatory comparison to slugger Reggie Jackson, who had earned the prestigious title of "Mr. October" for his World Series heroics with the Yankees. After Winfield sued the club for failing to contribute to a charity bearing his name (a stipulation of his contract), Steinbrenner hired gambler Howard Spira to dig up "dirt" on the high-priced outfielder. When Commissioner Fay Vincent found out, he banned Steinbrenner from day-to-day management of the Yankees. Winfield later requested that he be enshrined at Cooperstown as a member of the Padres. He became the first San Diego player to make it to the Hall.
After being swept by the Boston Braves in the World Series, Philadelphia A's owner/manager Connie Mack decided to liquidate his roster, releasing two of his best pitchers--Chief Bender and Eddie Plank (Hall of Famers both). Mack then proceeded to target his coveted "$100,000 Infield," sending Cooperstown-bound second baseman Eddie Collins to the White Sox. Frank "Home Run" Baker, Mack's star third baseman, (who would eventually join Collins in Cooperstown) opted to sit out the 1915 campaign on the heels of a bitter salary dispute. Other disastrous transactions would follow, including the loss of sure-handed shortstop Jack Barry. As a result, the A's wallowed in the American League basement for seven straight seasons.
1916
Although the rise of Babe Ruth helped fans forget, the Red Sox made a huge mistake when they traded Hall of Fame center fielder Tris Speaker to Cleveland during the spring of 1916. Speaker had won an MVP Award (then known as the Chalmers Award) with Boston in 1912 and was still very much in his prime. In his first season with the Indians, he led the American League in hits, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He spent eleven years in Cleveland altogether, compiling a cumulative .354 batting average while helping the Indians to the first championship in franchise history (during the 1920 slate).
1919-1923
Nearly everyone has heard about Red Sox owner Harry Frazee's misguided sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees before the 1920 campaign. But Ruth was not the only player that Frazee cast aside to keep his business interests afloat. In July of 1919, he allowed temperamental pitcher Carl Mays to jump to the Yankees, provoking the ire of AL President Ban Johnson in the process. In 1921, Frazee sent catcher Wally Schang and Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt to the Bronx. In 1922, he added Sad Sam Jones and Bullet Joe Bush to the Yankee rotation. Shoring up the Yankee infield, he included marquis shortstop Everett Scott in the deal. Midway through the '22 campaign, Frazee sent third baseman "Jumpin' Joe" Dugan to New York as well. And then, completing a series of ridiculously generous transactions, the impulsive Red Sox owner donated Hall of Fame moundsman Herb Pennock to the Yankee cause in 1923. The BoSox sank like a stone while the Yankees, making the most of their acquisitions, appeared in three consecutive World Series from 1921-1923.
1925
It wasn't like Giants manager John McGraw to miss the boat when it came to spotting talent. But his roster was so cluttered with stars already, he traded twenty-five year old center fielder Hack Wilson to Toledo of the American Association in September of 1925. Wilson forged a Hall of Fame career mostly with the Cubs, packing his best seasons into a seven-year span from 1926 through 1932. He averaged 30 homers and 127 RBIs per year in that stretch. His 191 runs-batted-in during the '33 slate are still an all time record.
1926-1929
Rogers Hornsby had a lot of undesirable traits. He was mean and prickly. He tended to alienate teammates and engage in salary disputes with owners. Still, it's hard to believe that baseball's greatest second baseman was traded as often as he was. Hornsby began his career in St. Louis, where he won six straight batting titles. After the 1926 campaign, he was dealt to the Giants. He hit .361 in New York while scoring a league-high 133 runs. The following year, he was shipped to Boston, where he won a batting crown and led the NL with a superhuman .498 on-base percentage. His travels continued in '29 as he hit .380 for the Cubs while pacing the circuit with 409 total bases. The Cubs were smart enough to hang onto him until his skills went into decline. To date, Hornsby's lifetime batting average is the second highest of all time behind Ty Cobb.
1935
Connie Mack was faced with some tough decisions during his fifty years at the helm of the A's. With his team in decline and the Great Depression putting the squeeze on him, he was forced to part with his best offensive player before the '36 campaign. First baseman Jimmie Foxx, winner of consecutive MVP Awards in '32/'33, had several more phenomenal seasons after leaving Philadelphia, narrowly missing a second triple crown with the Red Sox in 1938. Though Foxx's lifetime total of 534 homers has been surpassed by several players, he was second on the all time list when he retired.
1974-1977
During the 1970s, the A's became the first team outside New York to win three consecutive World Series titles. A's owner Charlie Finley--among the most tight-fisted executives in baseball history--began dishing off most of his high-priced players shortly afterward. Catfish Hunter was the first to go, signing with the Yankees for the '75 campaign. Reggie Jackson was the next in line, defecting to Baltimore in '76. With free agency in full swing, Finley attempted a full scale roster purge, trading closer Rollie Fingers and outfielder Joe Rudi to the Red Sox in June of '76. On the same day, he dealt staff ace Vida Blue to the Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided both deals, citing that Finley's fire sale was "not in the best interest of baseball." Rudi and Fingers left after the '76 slate anyway. Finley tried to get rid of Blue again the following year, trading him to the Reds, but Kuhn intervened a second time, commenting that the deal would tip the balance of the NL West. Determined to part ways with his star southpaw (who had averaged 17 wins per season between '71 and '77), Finley sent Blue to the San Francisco Giants before the '78 slate. By then, every starting player from the '74 championship squad (with the exception of outfielder Bill North) was gone.
1980
Dave Winfield began his career with San Diego, slowly emerging as one of the premier outfielders in the National League. After four consecutive All-Star appearances, the Padres granted him free agency. The blockbuster contract Winfield signed with the Yankees in 1980 made him the highest paid player in baseball. For nearly a decade, he lived up to expectations, getting named to eight All-Star teams while adding five Gold Gloves to his collection. But tempestuous Yankee owner George Steinbrenner didn't like Winfield. In the wake of a World Series defeat in '81, he referred to Winfield as "Mr. May"--a derogatory comparison to slugger Reggie Jackson, who had earned the prestigious title of "Mr. October" for his World Series heroics with the Yankees. After Winfield sued the club for failing to contribute to a charity bearing his name (a stipulation of his contract), Steinbrenner hired gambler Howard Spira to dig up "dirt" on the high-priced outfielder. When Commissioner Fay Vincent found out, he banned Steinbrenner from day-to-day management of the Yankees. Winfield later requested that he be enshrined at Cooperstown as a member of the Padres. He became the first San Diego player to make it to the Hall.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Baseball's Most Poorly Conceived Transactions (Part I)
1890
Twenty-three year old Cy Young (then known as "Dent" which was a shortened version of his first name) was pitching in the Tri-State League for a team from Canton, Ohio. The owner was so financially strapped, he traded the hurler to the Cleveland Spiders for $300 and a new suit. Young became baseball's all time wins leader and ended up having a prestigious award named after him.
1920
A young Lefty Grove was still learning the ropes for a Blue Ridge League team known as the Martinsburg Mountaineers. The team's stadium was in need of a new outfield fence since a storm had blown the old one down. Baltimore Orioles owner Jack Dunn offered to cover the cost in exchange for Grove. After dominating the International League, Grove ended up with the Philadelphia Athletics, winning a pair of triple crowns and seven consecutive strikeout titles.
1926
For a period of time, Frankie Frisch served as team captain of the New York Giants. He was among manager John McGraw's favorites. But McGraw was notoriously hard on his players and Frisch grew tired of being berated in front of teammates. He left the team for a little while and McGraw ended up trading him to the Cardinals in December of 1926 for Rogers Hornsby. Frisch spent eleven seasons with St. Louis--several as a player/manager. He guided the club to four World Series berths and wound up in the Hall of Fame. Hornsby hit .361 for the Giants in '27, but didn't stick around New York long enough to make a lasting impression. He signed with the Braves for the 1928 campaign, receiving a $4,500 salary increase.
1935
Braves owner Emil Fuchs offered an aging Babe Ruth a position as "Assistant Manager" and "Vice President" before the '35 slate. Fuchs's $25,000 salary offer was a substantial pay cut for the Babe, but the two worthless titles appealed to his vain and arrogant nature. Ruth played in just 28 games and hit .181. He quit the team in early-June.
1966
During his first ten seasons in Cincinnati, slugger Frank Robinson averaged 32 homers and 100 RBIs per year. Reds GM Bob Howsam made a vast miscalculation when he said that Robinson was "an old thirty" before the 1966 campaign. Traded to the Orioles, Robinson made Howsam regret that statement by capturing a triple crown. He was named MVP. Several more fruitful seasons would follow.
1971
Though he struggled with control issues, Nolan Ryan averaged roughly a strikeout per inning during his time with the New York Mets. When he posted a 10-14 record with a 3.97 ERA in 1971, the Mets gave up on him, trading him to the Angels for Jim Fregosi. Ryan collected more than 300 victories, tossed seven no-hitters and became baseball's all time strikeout leader.
1976
In the prime of his career, Reggie Jackson left Oakland for a significant pay raise. He led the league with a .502 slugging percentage in '76 with Baltimore. Enamored with the slugger's talents, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner personally wined and dined Jackson, ultimately convincing him to come to the Bronx. Just as Reggie had predicted, a candy bar was named after him. He became a World Series legend in New York. The Orioles were in contention throughout the decade and it will never be known what Jackson's prolonged presence might have done for them.
1979
Rod Carew had established himself as the American League's top hitter with seven batting titles to his credit before the '79 campaign. But the Twins were non-contenders and the Angels had money to throw around, quadrupling Carew's salary while additionally parting with four players. Carew made six consecutive All-Star appearances with California and compiled a .314 batting average over a seven-year span. The four players the Twins received have all been forgotten (deservedly so).
1981
By the end of the '81 season, Ozzie Smith was universally recognized as the National League's premier defensive shortstop. The Padres clearly missed the boat, sending him to St. Louis in a multi-player deal. The Padres did get Sixto Lezcano and Garry Templeton, but neither player made an impact significant enough to justify losing a future Hall of Famer who would end up setting the all time record for assists at his position. Smith helped St. Louis to three World Series appearances and won thirteen consecutive Gold Gloves.
Twenty-three year old Cy Young (then known as "Dent" which was a shortened version of his first name) was pitching in the Tri-State League for a team from Canton, Ohio. The owner was so financially strapped, he traded the hurler to the Cleveland Spiders for $300 and a new suit. Young became baseball's all time wins leader and ended up having a prestigious award named after him.
1920
A young Lefty Grove was still learning the ropes for a Blue Ridge League team known as the Martinsburg Mountaineers. The team's stadium was in need of a new outfield fence since a storm had blown the old one down. Baltimore Orioles owner Jack Dunn offered to cover the cost in exchange for Grove. After dominating the International League, Grove ended up with the Philadelphia Athletics, winning a pair of triple crowns and seven consecutive strikeout titles.
1926
For a period of time, Frankie Frisch served as team captain of the New York Giants. He was among manager John McGraw's favorites. But McGraw was notoriously hard on his players and Frisch grew tired of being berated in front of teammates. He left the team for a little while and McGraw ended up trading him to the Cardinals in December of 1926 for Rogers Hornsby. Frisch spent eleven seasons with St. Louis--several as a player/manager. He guided the club to four World Series berths and wound up in the Hall of Fame. Hornsby hit .361 for the Giants in '27, but didn't stick around New York long enough to make a lasting impression. He signed with the Braves for the 1928 campaign, receiving a $4,500 salary increase.
1935
Braves owner Emil Fuchs offered an aging Babe Ruth a position as "Assistant Manager" and "Vice President" before the '35 slate. Fuchs's $25,000 salary offer was a substantial pay cut for the Babe, but the two worthless titles appealed to his vain and arrogant nature. Ruth played in just 28 games and hit .181. He quit the team in early-June.
1966
During his first ten seasons in Cincinnati, slugger Frank Robinson averaged 32 homers and 100 RBIs per year. Reds GM Bob Howsam made a vast miscalculation when he said that Robinson was "an old thirty" before the 1966 campaign. Traded to the Orioles, Robinson made Howsam regret that statement by capturing a triple crown. He was named MVP. Several more fruitful seasons would follow.
1971
Though he struggled with control issues, Nolan Ryan averaged roughly a strikeout per inning during his time with the New York Mets. When he posted a 10-14 record with a 3.97 ERA in 1971, the Mets gave up on him, trading him to the Angels for Jim Fregosi. Ryan collected more than 300 victories, tossed seven no-hitters and became baseball's all time strikeout leader.
1976
In the prime of his career, Reggie Jackson left Oakland for a significant pay raise. He led the league with a .502 slugging percentage in '76 with Baltimore. Enamored with the slugger's talents, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner personally wined and dined Jackson, ultimately convincing him to come to the Bronx. Just as Reggie had predicted, a candy bar was named after him. He became a World Series legend in New York. The Orioles were in contention throughout the decade and it will never be known what Jackson's prolonged presence might have done for them.
1979
Rod Carew had established himself as the American League's top hitter with seven batting titles to his credit before the '79 campaign. But the Twins were non-contenders and the Angels had money to throw around, quadrupling Carew's salary while additionally parting with four players. Carew made six consecutive All-Star appearances with California and compiled a .314 batting average over a seven-year span. The four players the Twins received have all been forgotten (deservedly so).
1981
By the end of the '81 season, Ozzie Smith was universally recognized as the National League's premier defensive shortstop. The Padres clearly missed the boat, sending him to St. Louis in a multi-player deal. The Padres did get Sixto Lezcano and Garry Templeton, but neither player made an impact significant enough to justify losing a future Hall of Famer who would end up setting the all time record for assists at his position. Smith helped St. Louis to three World Series appearances and won thirteen consecutive Gold Gloves.
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