In the last 40 post-seasons (since 1973), these players have accomplished a feat that no other player can boast of. What is it?
| Rk | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Willie McGee |
| 2 | Joe Rudi |
| 3 | Kurt Bevacqua |
| 4 | Rick Cerone |
| 5 | Scott Leius |
| 6 | Jim Dwyer |
| 7 | Albert Belle |
| 8 | Chili Davis |
| 9 | Bob Watson |
| 10 | Bill Buckner |
| 11 | Steve Garvey |
| 12 | Willie Stargell |
Congratulations to John Autin! He correctly identified that these are the only players since 1973 to hit a World Series home run off a pitcher who won that season’s Cy Young Award.
Bevacqua sure had an interesting 1984 postseason. In his first game he pinch hit, representing the tying run in the 8th inning, and grounded into a double play. He pinch hit again in his second game, lining out with his team down 3-0. He then started Game 1 of the World Series (?) as the DH, going 1 for 3. However, he was thrown out for the first out of the 7th inning trying to stretch a double into a triple with his team down a run. In Game 2 he went 3 for 4, hitting a go-ahead 3-run home… Read more »
I actually thought you might be on to something Ed. Eight of the ten have postseason home runs in years where their regular season total was in single digits. Joe Rudi had 12 in one of his years though. Also the link for Albert Belle goes to Jim Dwyer, meaning I didn’t realise Belle was in the list util just now. That sort of kiboshes any ‘regular season ineptitude’ theory.
Tacking on … the theme seems to be World Series HRs off CYA winners:
— Rudi homered off Mike Marshall in ’74.
— Buckner homered off Hunter in ’74.
— Cerone and Watson both homered off Valenzuela in ’81.
— McGee homered twice off Pete Vuckovich in ’82.
— Dwyer homered off Denny in ’83.
— Bevacqua homered off Hernandez in ’84.
— Davis and Leius both homered off Glavine in ’91.
— Belle homered off Maddux in ’95.
Some other odd related tidbits. Starting pitchers facing each other in a WS and later winning the CYA in that season: – 1969 (games 1 and 4): Tom Seaver and Mike Cuellar. In game 1, Don Buford homered off Seaver. In game 4, Donn Clendenon homered off Cuellar. – 1968 (games 1 and 4): Denny McLain and Bob Gibson. In game 4, Lou Brock homered off McLain and Jim Northrup homered off Gibson. Most times appearing in a WS and winning CYA in same year. 3 – Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965, 1966) 2 – Tom Seaver (1969, 1973), Roger Clemens… Read more »
