This post is for voting and discussion in the 48th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This is the first of two rounds of voting for players born in 1931. Rules and lists are after the jump.
After runner-up finishes in the previous two rounds of voting, Al Kaline swamped the field as the voters’ resounding choice to become the next inductee into the Circle of Greats. A mainstay in the Tiger outfield for more than two decades, Kaline was an outstanding player in all facets of the game, retiring in 1974 as the all-time AL career leader for right-fielders in WAR, Offensive WAR, Defensive WAR and WAR Baserunning Runs.
More on Al Kaline after the jump.
In the wake of Homer Bailey‘s big contract … Since 1916, what feat is shared by only Bailey and Allie Reynolds?
(My quizzes have often given too much info up front. Not this time!)
Congratulations to Bix and Jim! Both correctly answered that Allie Reynolds and Homer Bailey are the only pitchers from 1916-2013 with at least two no-hitters in which the opposing starting pitcher had already thrown a no-hitter or would do so in the future.
In fact, Reynolds and Bailey both had one of each:
Incidentally, none of the seven pitchers whom Nolan Ryan defeated in his no-hitters ever threw one themselves.
These are the only players who, in the 1901 to 1960 period, had a career accomplishment that has become rather more common since then. What is it?
| Rk | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dots Miller |
| 2 | Jimmy Dykes |
| 3 | Marty McManus |
| 4 | Joe Sewell |
| 5 | Terry Turner |
| 6 | Stan Musial |
| 7 | Vic Wertz |
| 8 | Tommy Leach |
| 9 | Buddy Lewis |
Congratulations mostly to ATarwerdi96! And a nod to Richard Chester for getting the final detail. They teamed up to identify that these are the only players to compile 600 games from 1901 to 1960 at each of two positions, with at least one of them in the infield. With expansion has come expanded opportunities for versatile players to shine all over the ball field. More after the jump.
Following up from the AL version, here’s a collection of statistical tidbits for last year’s NL teams that you probably won’t find anywhere else.
Enjoy.
Jim Fregosi died last Friday at age 71, after a half-century in major league baseball as a player, manager and front-office adviser. (Read his obituary in the Los Angeles Times and his SABR biography.) Some reflections on Fregosi’s career, and tangential wanderings:
As we wait impatiently for the new season, here’s a quick look back at last year and some of the more unusual team accomplishments of that season. And I do mean unusual – chances are you won’t find these stats anywhere but HHS.
More after the jump.
Unless you’re a backup catcher with exactly one stolen base in your career. Then it’s a great play … especially if it works.
That’s what happened back in 1982, four hours into this game on what was no doubt a steamy August afternoon in St. Louis. Tom Tango posted a discussion of this play on his website last month, and I thought it might also interest our readers here at HHS.
More after the jump on the rules implications of stealing home with two strikes on the batter.
This post is for voting and discussion in the 47th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round is for voting on the group of players born in 1932. Rules and lists are after the jump.
Bob “Hoot” Gibson has been elected as the latest inductee to the Circle of Greats. Gibson was a consistent winner over a 17-year career with the Cardinals, with 20 wins in 5 of 6 seasons (1965-70), 15 wins in 10 of 11 seasons (1962-72) and 12+ wins with a winning record for 13 straight seasons (1961-73). Gibson’s 251 career wins are tops for his generation of pitchers with their entire careers between 1955 and 1980.
As impressive as his career accomplishments are, Gibson is probably most remembered for an iconic 1968 season, and for his dominating post-season performances in three memorable 7-game World Series. More on Bob Gibson after the jump.