JIMMIE FOXX [SABR Bio] was a Maryland native was known as “The Beast.” - B. 22-Oct-1908, Sudlersville, Maryland He was traded from a perennial winner to a team that would never win during his career. Went to the World Series w/PHA in 1929, 1930 & 1931. The next pennant for BOS was the year after he retired, 1946. Won two MVPs for his first team and one for the second. MVP in 1932, 1933 & 1938, the first one unanimously.
YOGI BERRA [SABR Bio] Bill James deemed him the best catcher of all time. James so stated 04-May-2019 in a public interview at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Only Berra and Mike Trout have finished in the top four in league MVP voting for seven consecutive seasons - MVP top 4 1950-1956, winning in 1951, 54 & 55; finished 2nd in 1953 & 56; finished 3rd in 1950; and 4th in 1952. He received AL MVP votes every season from 1947 through 1962, i.e., 17 straight years! In his first professional postseason action, his team was beat by a team starring Jackie Robinson. In 1946, Berra’s Newark Bears lost to Robinson’s Montreal Royals. Click here for an excellent article about the series.
SAM THOMPSON [SABR Bio] has the all-time record of career RBI-per-game, racking up .923 RBI over the 1,410 G of his 15-season MLB career. SABR estimates that it “…probably will never be broken.” He played for teams in both the American League and National League in the same city. Played for the NL’s Detroit Wolverines from 1885-1888 and for the AL’s Detroit Tigers in 1906. He played with or for eleven Hall of Famers. Was a teammate of Dan Brouthers, Deacon White, Ned Hanlon, Ed Delahanty, Tim Keefe, Roger Connor, Billy Hamilton, Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford and was managed by Harry Wright. He was born before the war. B. 05-Mar-1860. The Civil War began in 1861.
TONY LAZZERI [SABR Bio] the one-time Cubs coach was the first player to hit a natural cycle, culminating with a grand slam. Cycle 03-Jun-1932. Three Hall of Fame teammates homered in that game as did two Hall of Famers on the opposing team. HRs that day by Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Earle Combs on NYY as well as Mickey Cochrane and Jimmie Foxx on PHA. He coached CHC in 1938. He broke Babe Ruth’s home run record when he hit 60 home runs in the Pacific Coast League in 1925, he bested the 59 that Ruth had hit in 1921 for the record home runs by a professional baseball player in a single season. He grew up in Cow Hollow, loved boxing and dreamt of becoming a prize fighter. Cow Hollow was a rough San Francisco neighborhood in the early 20th century. It has significantly gentrified since then.
NAPOLEON LAJOIE [SABR Bio] was the first player to rack up, in one season, 157 singles, 48 doubles, 9 triples but 0 home runs. Had 214 hits in 1906, mais pas un seul coup de circuit! He didn’t lead his league in triples or singles that year but led the majors in hits. He once cost himself weeks on the DL during a season after wounding himself in fisticuffs with a Hall of Fame teammate. Sparred with Phillies teammate Elmer Flick in 1900. He spent 5 weeks out of action. His team won their franchise’s first pennant their first year without him. Philadelphia A’s released him 21-Apr-1902, two days before Opening Day. He signed on with Cleveland (AL) 31-May-1902. PHA then won the AL’s second ever pennant, 14 games ahead of 5th place CLE.
JIM BOTTOMLEY [SABR Bio] is the only player to hit 40 doubles, 20 triples and 30 home runs in a single season. In 1925, in addition to his 42 doubles, Bottomley led the NL with 20 3b, 31 HR, 136 RBI and 362 total bases. It was not enough to win him the, but he did so 3 years later NL MVP. He reached the doubles total in two other seasons as well but could never duplicate his highs in triples nor homers. His 40 2b in 1926 led the NL. His 44 in 1925 led the majors. For six seasons did he receive MVP votes, but only once did he land in the Top 5. Also received MVP votes in 1924, 25, 27, 31 and 32. Had a fascination with astrology that some found quirky.
RON SANTO [SABR Bio] has the 2nd all-time in career WAR on a franchise that debuted with the National League in 1876. Career WAR of 72.1 trails only that of Cap Anson (84.7). His team won a double header sweep against the eventual World Series champs in his first two games in the majors, halting a nine-game losing streak. His contribution was significant, overcoming early jitters. Debut Gs 26-Jun-1960 (1) & 26-Jun-1960 (2). He was a regular speaker with civic groups during and following his playing career. Suffered diabetes and often gave talks on its prevention and management.
ROGERS HORNSBY [SABR Bio] is the only member of the 40–400 club. In 1922 w/STL, he hit .401 and had 42 HRs. In the spring of 1962, he uttered one of his lesser-known quotes is, “I’ve posed with some real major leaguers, not bush leaguers like he is (Roger Maris). He couldn’t carry my bat. He didn’t hit in two years what I hit in one." Quote source: NY Mets Spring Training Press Conference (22-Mar-1962). His nickname made him sound like an Indian chief. “Rajah” is an Indian king or prince and a title extended to petty dignitaries and nobles in India during the British Raj.
WEEKLY THEME – Select Hall of Fame players who began their career in one city and ended it in the same city by with a different team in a different league. We purposely excluded Ruth, Mays and Aaron even though they qualify here because of the imminent danger of possible baseball trivia over-exposure.
Player Debut Team Final Team HOF
WADE BOGGS [SABR Bio] owns more Silver Slugger awards than any other third baseman. Has 8 SS. Mike Schmidt is 2nd w/6. His proclivity for a certain pre-game meal and routine became well-known. Always ate chicken on game days. He had the historic first home run for an expansion franchise. 1st Devil Rays HR 31-Mar-1998.
MICHAEL YOUNG is the only Texas Ranger to be an American League All-Star at three different positions. AS @ SS in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008; @ 3b in 2009; and @ DH in 2011. His Gold Glove season came three seasons after his batting championship. GG in 2008. His .331 led the Junior Circuit in 2005. In college he attended a traditional “party school.” Was twice drafted by avian teams. Attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and was drafted by The Orioles and Blue Jays.
CHARLIE GEHRINGER (Why is this man smiling?) [SABR Bio] a Hall of Famer, won his only MVP award the year he hit over .370 and led the league in that category. Received MVP votes 11 times in his career 6 times in the Top Ten. Was the first player in the modern era to hit an inside-the-park home run and a grand slam in the same game - 2 HR = 04-Aug-1930, both off Hall of Fame pitcher Ted Lyons. Only 3 of Gehringer’s 184 career HR were ITP. In fourteen straight seasons, the only time he didn’t bat over .300, he hit .298 - 1927-1940 he hit .300+ save 1932, where he was 2 hits shy. Batted from the left side.
ICHIRO SUZUKI is the only player to win the Rookie of the Year Award and be named Most Valuable Player in the same season this century - ROY & MVP 2001. He received MVP votes in 9 of his 1st 10 seasons. He did not, however, receive any more ROY votes. One would have to say he had a very good year as he won his first Gold Glove ad Silver Slugger and was a starter in the All-Star Game. GG was the first of 10 straight; the SS was the first of 3; and the ASG appearances was the first of 10 straight. The same pitcher who surrendered his first professional home run was the same guy who first hit him with a pitch in the majors. Hideo Nomo hit him with a pitch 02-May-2001 but it may have been in retaliation for the HR Ichiro hit off him 12-Jun-1993 when the Orix Blue Wave played the Kinetsu Buffaloes in Japan.
WEE WILLIE KEELER [SABR Bio] was the first native of Brooklyn inducted to the Hall of Fame. B. 03-Mar-1872 in Brooklyn, New York. Played for three teams in the Tri-State area, but had his best years for a team elsewhere. In fact, his first three seasons away from New York, his team won the championship. (A century later to be referred to as a “three-peat.”) Won the NL championship with the Baltimore Orioles 1894, 95, 96, taking the silver in 1897 & 98 before returning to New York. In those five seasons, he amassed well over 1,000 hits and hit .388, including his world-leading .424 in 1897. In his five years “elsewhere” he had five Hall of Fame teammates who all played for a Hall of Fame manager. Dan Brouthers, Hughie Jennings, Joe Kelley, John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson, and played for manager Ned Hanlon.
AL SIMMONS [SABR Bio] was the first American League player to score twice in a single inning of World Series - 1929 WS, G 4, b 7th inning. Jimmie Foxx was the 2nd to do it, 2 seconds later. Sports Illustrated once suggested in a cover story that the team he was on at the time, could possibly be the best of all time - SI 19-Aug-1996 issue. His team’s professional level of play in that World Series, particularly—his—were believed by many to be the provenance of a future widely-held conviction that caprine forces on and beyond the field of play, were going to block future postseason success until lifted - The Billy Goat Curse.
CHUCK KLEIN [SABR Bio] his record of 44 outfield assists in one season, is the MLB standard for the modern era. 1930 was the big year. Only two other players even had more than 35 and they were in 1903 and 1907. Jimmy Sheckard had 36 in 1903 and Mike Mitchell had 39 in 1907. That same year he had two hitting streaks of 26 games and set the National League record for runs scored in a modern era season. He did all this for a last-place team. His Phillies finished 8th out of 8 NL teams at 52-102, 40 G behind 1st-place STL.
WEEKLY THEME – Players who amassed 200 hits a season for five or more consecutive years. Number of hits bolded indicates led league; bolded & italicized indicate led majors.
Boggs = 8 yrs With
1983........ 210.......... BOS
1984........ 203.......... BOS
1985........ 240 ......... BOS
1986........ 207.......... BOS**
1987........ 200.......... BOS
1988........ 214.......... BOS*
1989........ 205.......... BOS
Gehringer = 5 yrs... With
1933......... 204........ DET
1934......... 214........ DET**
1935......... 201........ DET
1936......... 227........ DET
1937......... 209........ DET
Keeler = 8 YRS With
1894......... 219........ BLN**
1895......... 213........ BLN**
1896......... 210........ BLN**
1897......... 239........ BLN
1898......... 216........ BLN
1899......... 216........ BRO**
1900......... 204........ BRO**
1901......... 202........ BRO
Klein = 5 yrs With
1929......... 219........ PHI
1930......... 250........ PHI
1931......... 200........ PHI
1932......... 226........ PHI
1933......... 223........ PHI
1930 tied for 6th highest all-time (didn’t even lead league)
1930......... 211........ PHA***
1931......... 200........ PHA**
1932......... 216........ PHA
1933......... 200........ CHW
His 253 in 1925 is the 5th highest all-time
Ichiro = 10 yrs____ With
2001......... 242........ SEA*
2002......... 208........ SEA
2003......... 212........ SEA
2004......... 262........ SEA
2005......... 206........ SEA
2006......... 224........ SEA
2007......... 238........ SEA
2008......... 213........ SEA
2009......... 225........ SEA
2010......... 214........ SEA
2004 all-time record for one season.
Young = 5 yrs......... With
2003......... 204........ TEX
2004......... 216........ TEX
2005......... 221........ TEX
2006......... 217........ TEX
2007......... 201........ TEX
Young led MLB again in 2011 w/TEX w/213
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