In 2024, Shohei Ohtani produced 411 total bases and tied Barry Bonds from 2001 for the 10th most in National League history. Through 43 team games last year, the eventual league MVP and scripter of one of the more joyously outlandish offensive seasons ever had 108 total bases. This year, […]
When the day got started at Briggs Stadium in Detroit on July 19, 1955, rookie Babe Birrer was just a witness, two days removed from his last appearance. But when Frank Lary opened the sixth by surrendering a walk and a run-scoring double, Birrer made his entrance. Inheriting the tying […]
As the NL’s Rookie of the Year in 2023, Corbin Carroll produced 30 doubles, 10 triples and 25 homers. Last year, the doubles and home runs columns each saw the Diamondback ink in ‘22’ while adding another 14 three-base hits. This season (his age-24 campaign), he’s on pace to again […]
In the 149 NL seasons that have played out to a conclusion, a player representing the Phillies franchise has staked the claim as home run king in 29 of them. Curiously, only two of those who’ve worn the crown wore it only once. Mike Schmidt is king of all the […]
When the 1984 Tigers closed up shop for the night on May 22, the club was an astounding 33-5 (.868 winning percentage) with an equally double-look, spit-take worthy run differential of 110. That immense difference between runs scored and allowed through 38 contests hadn’t been reached since 1939, when the […]
There are 20 players in baseball history who thundered so frequently in the young portions of their careers that by the time they concluded their age-26 seasons, they already had more than 200 home runs. Seven of these precocious hammerers accompanied their potency with an uncommon level of discernment that […]
Rather famously, Willie Mays’ introduction with the Giants in 1951 started with a few too many zeroes: 0-for-5, 0-for-3, 0-for-4. That 0-for-12 start was, also rather famously, put to rest by a swing and a drive in the first inning on May 28: a solo homer to left against Warren […]
In 1988, Kirby Puckett was the most Kirby Puckett of all: more hits in a season (234) than any other in his career before or after; a higher batting average (.356) than in any other campaign across his 12-year career; a 3.33 walk rate that was (okay, fine) the second […]
When the 1911 season rolled into action, the remarkable Rube Waddell was no longer part of the big league firmament. Looking back, we can peer – with something beyond awe – at the southpaw’s knack for making batters trudge away from the plate having gone down on strikes. The numbers […]
On April 24, 1964, the Giants pummeled the Reds, 15-5. This being the mid-1960s, it’s not a shock to see that Willie Mays was greatly involved in letting Cincinnati have it. It was a bit of an everything game for the inner circle great – five runs scored, a pair […]