BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: 11 Points: 11 Major League Baseball Feats That Have Only Happened Once

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Friday, June 12, 2009

11 Points: 11 Major League Baseball Feats That Have Only Happened Once

Singular lore of yore…

Caught stealing four times in one game. Accomplished by Robby Thompson, San Francisco Giants, June 27, 1986. It was a 12-inning game and the Giants kept sending their “fast” rookie, Thompson. And he kept getting caught. Four times.

What makes that even crazier is that, in the 149 games he played that season, he only successfully stole 12 bases (and was caught 15 times). So by late June, the Giants should’ve figured out that maybe he wasn’t the track star they thought he was.

FWIW, I love this guy’s site, as I imagine will a number of pop-culture interested (not obsessed) Primates with an obvious love of sports. Too bad he’s a Cleveland fan.

Jeff K. Posted: June 12, 2009 at 10:06 AM | 150 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, History, Special Topics, Awards

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 2 pages 1 2 >

1. Anonymous Observer Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:13 PM (#3216013)

My favorite of these is the Kevin Kouzmanoff one because for some reason, it fascinates me when a player hits a home run on the first pitch they see as a major leaguer. I know it's been done a handful of times. The other two that I know of for sure are, oddly enough, by pitchers: Esteban Yan and Gene Stechschulte (according to Wikipedia, Stech was pinch hitting).

AO

2. JRVJ (formerly Delta Socrates) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:26 PM (#3216033)

I did not know about the possibility of stealing a base backwards.

I wonder if there's a report or some such from an old-time reporter mentioning this: it must have been a riot to see this in person!!! (can you imagine being in the stands for something as bizarre as this?).

3. Paul The Paranoid Android Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:33 PM (#3216044)

Marcus Thames hit a HR on his first career pitch against Randy Johnson. Pretty neat.

4. Jeff K. Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:37 PM (#3216048)

Will Clark's very first MLB swing came on a 2-1 count fastball from Nolan Ryan, which he deposited in the seats.

5. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:39 PM (#3216052)

I did not know about the possibility of stealing a base backwards.

I remember reading about this when I was a kid in a book filled with stuff like that. I'm pretty sure this prompted a rule that you are no longer able to steal backwards.

Along those lines, tagging up once required fielders to catch the ball, not merely touch it. One old-time outfielder, when a runner was on third, would purposely bobble the ball while running toward the infield, only catching it when the runner was no longer a danger of scoring. The rule on contact was created to address this situation (but I'll be damned if I can find who the outfielder was who prompted the change. I used to think it was King Kelly, because he specialized in things like that, but I can't find evidence he was behind it).

6. Harmon "Thread Killer" Microbrew Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:45 PM (#3216064)

A bit more technical, but the Jays 2-0 win over the White Sox a couple of years ago was the first time a team won without having had a man "on base". Two solo homers and no other hits.

7. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:47 PM (#3216067)

One that he missed: Don Baylor is (I'm fairly certain) the only player to be caught stealing twice in the same inning. That should rank higher on the list of unbreakable "records" than it's ever given credit for.

8. Jeff K. Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:47 PM (#3216068)

A bit more technical, but the Jays 2-0 win over the White Sox a couple of years ago was the first time a team won without having had a man "on base". Two solo homers and no other hits.

No way. It's impossible that some team hasn't won 1-0 on a solo homer and zilch otherwise. Really?

9. RJ in TO Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:48 PM (#3216070)

No way. It's impossible that some team hasn't won 1-0 on a solo homer and zilch otherwise. Really?

A one-hitter, with no walks, errors or HPB, and the only hit being a HR? I'd imagine that we would have heard about it, if it had happened.

10. Jeff K. Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:56 PM (#3216082)

Well, unlike Treder or Emeigh, I'm far from able to recall every game I ever heard about, even assuming that I would necessarily have heard about it.

11. BeanoCook Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:57 PM (#3216085)

I see Chan Ho Park is mentioned for the 2 GS-HR he gave up to F Tatis, but didn't a pitcher serve up 3 grand slams in a game somewhat recently?

12. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3216088)

One that he missed: Don Baylor is (I'm fairly certain) the only player to be caught stealing twice in the same inning. That should rank higher on the list of unbreakable "records" than it's ever given credit for.

I find it hard to believe Baylor is the only one. Getting caught stealing without being put out isn't that uncommon, so I'd have guessed it has happened more than once.

And I'm glad Vander Meer's accomplishment is properly termed a feat. I hate when people say it's the one "record" that won't be broken, because until Vander Meer did it, no one ever recorded the number of consecutive no-hitters thrown.

13. DCW3 Posted: June 12, 2009 at 01:59 PM (#3216090)

A one-hitter, with no walks, errors or HPB, and the only hit being a HR? I'd imagine that we would have heard about it, if it had happened.

July 30, 1971.

Orioles beat the Royals 1-0 on Frank Robinson's homer. No other Oriole reaches base.

Now, okay, the game only lasted 4 1/2 innings. But still, it happened.

14. Jeff K. Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:01 PM (#3216096)

And I'm glad Vander Meer's accomplishment is properly termed a feat. I hate when people say it's the one "record" that won't be broken, because until Vander Meer did it, no one ever recorded the number of consecutive no-hitters thrown.

Yes they did. Every time.

15. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:01 PM (#3216098)

That makes him the only player in MLB history to steal the same base twice in one inning.

Rickey was never the first and tenth batter of an inning?

16. Dr Love Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:02 PM (#3216100)

On June 25, 1976, Harrah became the only shortstop ever to play every inning of a doubleheader and not get a single ball hit to him.

That's incredible, 18 innings and nothing to do in the field. He must have been pretty bored.

17. Jeff K. Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:08 PM (#3216109)

Didn't a first baseman go a game without a putout?

18. Davo the Magnificent Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:09 PM (#3216114)

I used to think it was King Kelly, because he specialized in things like that, but I can't find evidence he was behind it).

I'm at work and unable to double-check, but I seem to recall in the Bill James Abstract that Kelly had the highest rates of both outfield assists and errors of all-time...and that his totals in both categories were huge outliers. I'd say that supports your theory... someone who intentionally bobbles flyballs with runners on base would probably have stats like that.

19. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:14 PM (#3216121)

That's interesting davoarid.

And Jeff, I think you were just having fun, but just to clarify, I don't think after any of the no-hitters that were thrown before Vander Meer, anyone said, "he's just tied the record for most consecutive no-hitters thrown."

I guess the other way of looking at it is: "If everyone else who has ever thrown a no-hitter is tied for second in this particular category, it's not something we should consider a record."

20. Harris Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:18 PM (#3216123)

liked the snark of #11 thrown in. And I'll give him credit....because he still came up with 10, and then threw it in as intentional snark without killing a reasonable entry in the top 10.

If this was one item out of 10, it would have killed the article.

21. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:22 PM (#3216126)

Getting caught stealing without being put out isn't that uncommon, so I'd have guessed it has happened more than once.

SoSH, Baylor was caught stealing, got on base again when the team batted around, and was caught stealing a second time. I know I've read that he's the only one to do it, which is not to say my source was correct or that others might have been caught stealing but not put out twice in one innning.

22. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:23 PM (#3216127)

#11 was lame. Also really didn't like the caption for the Abbott photo. This article is why bloggers have a bad name.

23. Dr Love Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:26 PM (#3216133)

liked the snark of #11 thrown in. And I'll give him credit....because he still came up with 10, and then threw it in as intentional snark without killing a reasonable entry in the top 10.

The entire site is based on top 11 lists and he came up with 10, so putting Bonds at #11 the end is lame. Another amazing feat would have been great, instead he ends it poorly.

24. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:32 PM (#3216140)

SoSH, Baylor was caught stealing, got on base again when the team batted around, and was caught stealing a second time. I know I've read that he's the only one to do it, which is not to say my source was correct.

And I'm surprised that no one in the history of baseball has reached first, gotten picked off but the first baseman threw the ball wide of the shortstop and the runner was safe at second. Then, on the next pitch, he got caught trying to steal third.

That would be two caught stealings in the same inning, though only one putout.

I wouldn't be shocked if Baylor was the only player in history to get put out twice on caught stealings in the same inning.

25. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:35 PM (#3216142)

Rickey was never the first and tenth batter of an inning?

The author meant that Schaefer is the only one to steal the same base during the same plate appearance/time-on-base in one inning. He was on first, stole second, stole his way bask to first, then stole second again. Different from stealing second twice after two plate appearances.

26. Sandlapper Spike Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:41 PM (#3216148)

The entire site is based on top 11 lists and he came up with 10, so putting Bonds at #11 the end is lame. Another amazing feat would have been great, instead he ends it poorly.

Well, he really had 11 even without the Bonds thing, because the Toby Harrah entry was a two-fer.

27. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:46 PM (#3216159)

I remember number 6 well, because I had traded for Cameron in my fantasy baseball league. Unfortunately, the transaction wasn't being processed until the next day.

28. Dag Nabbit and his imaginary friends Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:50 PM (#3216164)

Caught stealing four times in one game. Accomplished by Robby Thompson, San Francisco Giants, June 27, 1986. It was a 12-inning game and the Giants kept sending their “fast” rookie, Thompson. And he kept getting caught. Four times.

Great factoid. However, I think Jeffrey Leonard shares some of the blame here.

Roger Craig loved the hit-and-run, causing his teams to consistently have substandard stolen base percentages year after year. (The hitter would swing and miss, and suddenly Will Clark has 17 caught steals in 22 stolen base attempts on the year).

Well, Leonard was 0-for-6 that day with three strikeouts. Twice he struck out on Thompson caught steals. The other times Thompson's CS ended the inning. Looks like Leonard kept missing when he Craig called the play.

That's incredible, 18 innings and nothing to do in the field. He must have been pretty bored.

He passed the time by hitting a walk-off grandslam in one of the games.

29. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:51 PM (#3216166)

Has anybody besides Tippy Martinex picked off three guys in one inning?

30. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:51 PM (#3216168)

The entire site is based on top 11 lists and he came up with 10, so putting Bonds at #11 the end is lame. Another amazing feat would have been great, instead he ends it poorly.

He could have split up the Toby Harrah ones. I remember the "do-nothing record" appearing in the late-1970's Guinness book we had.

31. salvomania Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:52 PM (#3216169)

A one-hitter, with no walks, errors or HPB, and the only hit being a HR? I'd imagine that we would have heard about it, if it had happened.

Anthony Reyes almost accomplished this, against the White Sox a few years ago: he threw a complete-game one-hitter with no walks, with the only hit being a Jim Thome homer to give the Sox a 1-0 win. One other batter did reach, though, on an error by So Taguchi.

32. Dr Love Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:55 PM (#3216176)

Well, he really had 11 even without the Bonds thing, because the Toby Harrah entry was a two-fer.

Yeah, but it's still lame. If you're going to do something like that, make it funny.

He passed the time by hitting a walk-off grandslam in one of the games.

Even more amazing. And then intentionally walked the previous batter. Ouch.

33. RJ in TO Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:56 PM (#3216178)

Has anybody besides Tippy Martinex picked off three guys in one inning?

Surely you meant to ask "Has anyone besides Tippy Martinez been able to get away with three uncalled balks in the same inning?"

34. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:56 PM (#3216179)

He could have split up the Toby Harrah ones. I remember the "do-nothing record" appearing in the late-1970's Guinness book we had.

And for a spell, Toby was the only active big leaguer with a palindromic last name.

35. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: June 12, 2009 at 02:58 PM (#3216183)

Surely you meant to ask "Has anyone besides Tippy Martinez been able to get away with three uncalled balks in the same inning?"

That happens about every time Andy Pettite pitches.

36. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:00 PM (#3216187)

And for a spell, Toby was the only big leaguer with a palindromic last name.

There haven't been many. Mark Salas is another. I think battersbox.ca had an entry on this once.

37. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:01 PM (#3216190)

One that he missed: Don Baylor is (I'm fairly certain) the only player to be caught stealing twice in the same inning. That should rank higher on the list of unbreakable "records" than it's ever given credit for.

I find it hard to believe Baylor is the only one. Getting caught stealing without being put out isn't that uncommon, so I'd have guessed it has happened more than once.

Baylor was the only one; now he's just the first one. Jim Morrison 1987 and Donell Nixon 1988. Neither was the result of the team batting around; rather, both were safe on errors. Morrison stole home, was CS but safe back at third, and then stole home and was CS again. (If at first you don't succeed...) Nixon stole second, was CS but safe on an error, and then was later caught stealing home.

38. ess eff Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:06 PM (#3216196)

And for a spell, Toby was the only active big leaguer with a palindromic last name.

GGC beat me to Salas, who arrived late in Harrah's career. Dave Otto is another. I tried to do the all-Palindrome team once, but couldn't come up with enough names.

39. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:07 PM (#3216197)

A few from the Baseball Guru (http://baseballguru.com/attiyeh/analysismikeattiyeh02.html), not sure that all still are true:

Who could have predicted the bang the 1986 season opened with? Boston Red Sox right fielder Dwight Evans that year became, and remains, the only batter ever to hit the major league season's first pitch out for a homer. Evans timed Detroit's Jack Morris just perfectly.

Another manager, Joe Torre, remains the only player to homer twice on opening day two straight years, doing so in 1965-66.

Detroit Tigers' Gerald Walker on April 20, 1937 became, and remains, the only player to ever record a cycle on Opening Day. Against the Cleveland Indians, Walker achieved the feat in descending order, homering, tripling, doubling and then singling.

The Milwaukee Brewers' Sixto Lezcano is the only player in major league history to hit two career grand slams on opening day. Lezcano first accomplished the feat in 1978 as part of the team's record barrage that included a slam in each of the team's first three games against Baltimore. Lezcano came through again in 1980, clubbing a walk-off bases-loaded homer with two out in the ninth for a 9-5 win against the Red Sox.

40. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:10 PM (#3216201)

Frank Chance played in a double header on May 30, 1904, and became the only player to ever get hit by a pitch five times during a double header.

Courtesy of Baseball Almanac

41. Dag Nabbit and his imaginary friends Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:10 PM (#3216202)

In 1969, two Twins stole home plate in the same plate appearance. Has that ever happened any other time?

42. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:13 PM (#3216207)

Ichiro Suzuki is the only player to ever hit an inside-the-park home run in an All-Star game.

43. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:14 PM (#3216209)

It is also odd that he had to put a 4 HR in quotes as a "feat" and said its been done by tons of guys. Try 15 times, or the same number of perfect games.

44. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:15 PM (#3216210)

George Mitterwald caught the clap from the same groupie twice in one season.

45. Dag Nabbit and his imaginary friends Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:15 PM (#3216211)

Ichiro Suzuki is the only player to ever hit an inside-the-park home run in an All-Star game.

Fred Lynn is the only person to hit a grandslam in an All-Star game.

46. puck Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:18 PM (#3216215)

Interesting, I didn't know you could be charged with a CS if safe on an error. I wonder how often that happens.

Is that the wrong game for Nixon? Was it Donell or Otis? That game featured a 3-for-3 w/2 BB performance by Otis, but it seemed from the game description that his two CS's were in separate innings (once in the 1st, once in the 4th).

47. AndrewJ Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:28 PM (#3216226)

Caught stealing four times in one game. Accomplished by Robby Thompson, San Francisco Giants, June 27, 1986.

48. Steve Treder Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:32 PM (#3216230)

Roger Craig loved the hit-and-run, causing his teams to consistently have substandard stolen base percentages year after year. (The hitter would swing and miss, and suddenly Will Clark has 17 caught steals in 22 stolen base attempts on the year).

Well, Leonard was 0-for-6 that day with three strikeouts. Twice he struck out on Thompson caught steals. The other times Thompson's CS ended the inning. Looks like Leonard kept missing when he Craig called the play.

Craig certainly did have a fetish for the hit-and-run, and the squeeze, both of which contributed to a high proportion of the CS of his teams.

But in this particular game (which I listened to on the radio), only one of Thompson's CS was a botched hit-and-run. The first two times he was just attempting to steal because there were two outs, trying to get into scoring position, and the final time he got picked off, and it was scored a CS because they threw him out going for second after the pitcher picked him off first.

49. Steve Treder Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:33 PM (#3216232)

I'd put an asterisk next to this one -- "caught stealing" was only intermittently kept as an official stat by the AL until 1920 and the NL until 1951 (h/t BB-Ref Bullpen). I'm reasonably sure somebody matched Thompson's feat 90-100 years ago.

Given the extremely high rate of CS that we know of in those days, I'd be surprised if no one did it before Thompson.

50. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:40 PM (#3216244)

So nobody's ever stolen the same base twice in an inning the normal way (i.e., team bats around, player singles twice, steals second both times)? That's a little surprising.

To continue the back-to-back inside the park HR thing...I believe IPHRs by both teams in the same inning has only happened once. Sosa for the Cubs, Womack for the Bucs on memorial day 1997. Think I remember ESPN saying that was unprecedented. Any way to confirm?

51. regfairfield Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:43 PM (#3216248)

It is also odd that he had to put a 4 HR in quotes as a "feat" and said its been done by tons of guys. Try 15 times, or the same number of perfect games.

It's almost as if he was exaggerating for comedic effect.

52. RJ in TO Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:45 PM (#3216253)

So nobody's ever stolen the same base twice in an inning the normal way (i.e., team bats around, player singles twice, steals second both times)? That's a little surprising.

53. Moe Greene Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:46 PM (#3216254)

Jeff K.:

Well, unlike Treder or Emeigh, I'm far from able to recall every game I ever heard about, even assuming that I would necessarily have heard about it.

Steve Treder:

But in this particular game (which I listened to on the radio), only one of Thompson's CS was a botched hit-and-run. The first two times he was just attempting to steal because there were two outs, trying to get into scoring position, and the final time he got picked off, and it was scored a CS because they threw him out going for second after the pitcher picked him off first.

Perfect.

54. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:46 PM (#3216256)

There haven't been many. Mark Salas is another.

Dick Nen. Harrah's probably the longest palindrome though.

55. Crispix Attacks Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:49 PM (#3216260)

Untrue fact!: Billy North is the only player ever to have more career times caught stealing than extra-base hits.
(minimum 10-year career)

(Actually, his ratio was only 162 CS to 171 XBH)

It may be that no player has ever achieved that feat, at least since they started keeping track of stolen-base ratio in 1950. Most players with no power and lots of speed manage to hit doubles, at least. Not Billy North.

Billy North was also the first player ever used as a DH by the Athletics, during the 1973 World Series season. He was third on the team in average, OBP, and walks, with a 110 OPS+ despite a .348 slugging percentage. Seems like kind of an unusual set of skills.

56. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:51 PM (#3216265)

So what I'm extrapolating from this list is that the Angels losing a no-hitter last summer is not a unique feat in MLB history. How many times has that happened?

57. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:51 PM (#3216266)

If a team is hitting so well that a guy has the chance to get on first twice in the same inning, I'd imagine that the manager would probably kill him if he risked getting caught stealing the second time he got on base. Also, the odds are going to be good that the base in front of him is blocked with another runner, and that the unwritten rules of baseball ("Don't run with a big lead") are going to kick in.

Well, yeah, but the odds are almost as good that the bases would've been cleared by a homer. The first point (probably combined with the "unwritten rule" point), I can see.

Still surprising it's NEVER happened.

58. phredbird

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:55 PM (#3216271)

A bit more technical, but the Jays 2-0 win over the White Sox a couple of years ago was the first time a team won without having had a man "on base". Two solo homers and no other hits.

i'm sorry, but this does not compute. of course the jays had men 'on base'. they touched first, second and third on the way home. they sure as heck were credited with the bases in their stats. to my way of thinking, the only way to win a game with no one on base is to be awarded a forfeit if the other team doesn't show up or you have a big rhubarb on the field before getting a man on base, the umps toss everybody on the field and the other team gets the forfeit. something like that.

59. regfairfield Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:56 PM (#3216273)

So what I'm extrapolating from this list is that the Angels losing a no-hitter last summer is not a unique feat in MLB history. How many times has that happened?

I think its four or five based on my memories of that post game show.

60. phredbird

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:57 PM (#3216275)

btw, i remember the braves winning a game 1-0 in 91 when they were one-hit by the pirates (?) and their only run was an otis nixon homer. did the braves have no other men on base?

61. vortex of dissipation Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:57 PM (#3216278)

Didn't a first baseman go a game without a putout?

It's happened several times. Rip Collins (twice), Earl Torgeson, Dolph Camilli, Gary Thomasson, and Len Matuszek all played full games at first base without recording a putout.

62. Tom Nawrocki Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:58 PM (#3216279)

Interesting, I didn't know you could be charged with a CS if safe on an error. I wonder how often that happens.

I seem to recall that someone once had two sacrifice flies in an inning based on the same principle. The first time, the outfielder dropped the fly ball for an error, but they gave the batter a SF anyway. Then the second time, it was a legit sacrifice fly.

I'll try to look it up if I have time.

63. RJ in TO Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:58 PM (#3216280)

An Otis Nixon homer? There's been a lot of crazy #### in the history of baseball, but there's no way I'm going to believe that happened.

EDIT: As a side note, Otis went homerless in 1991. It must have been another year.

64. Anonymous Observer Posted: June 12, 2009 at 03:59 PM (#3216284)

Who could have predicted the bang the 1986 season opened with? Boston Red Sox right fielder Dwight Evans that year became, and remains, the only batter ever to hit the major league season's first pitch out for a homer. Evans timed Detroit's Jack Morris just perfectly.

Juan Encarnicion did this for the Tigers against the Rangers in 1999. However, I don't know if this was the first game of the day, or if there was a game played the day before this.

AO

65. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM (#3216286)

Interesting, I didn't know you could be charged with a CS if safe on an error. I wonder how often that happens.

Is that the wrong game for Nixon? Was it Donell or Otis? That game featured a 3-for-3 w/2 BB performance by Otis, but it seemed from the game description that his two CS's were in separate innings (once in the 1st, once in the 4th).

Yes, it's the wrong game. Don't know how that happened at all. Too many things on my clipboard, I guess. Here's the right game.

66. Crispix Attacks Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM (#3216287)

Billy North is also the only player to injure both Reggie Jackson and Ray Fosse in one day, while they were his teammates!

Also:

In the second game of a July 28, 1974 doubleheader, he accomplished an unassisted double play against the Chicago White Sox. North caught Brian Downing's fly ball and continued to the second-base bag to double up Dick Allen, who had been running on the play.

Is there a way to search for all the double plays that can be scored "8"? How common is that?

67. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM (#3216288)

There haven't been many. Mark Salas is another. I think battersbox.ca had an entry on this once.

Robb Nen? This is tough...

68. Scott Lange Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM (#3216289)

purposely bobble the ball while running toward the infield

Is there any reason you can't do this on a medium depth (too shallow to tag) flyball to the outfield with runners in a would-be infield fly rule situation? Begin bobbling the ball as you move toward the infield. If a runner takes off, catch the ball and throw him out. If not, bobble until you're close to the infield, drop the ball, and throw to third to begin a double play.

69. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:04 PM (#3216296)

Mark Salas
Dick Nen
Robb Nen
Eddie Kazak
Toby Harrah
Johnny Reder
Dave Otto
Truck Hannah

70. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:05 PM (#3216298)

and anybody named Bob

71. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:06 PM (#3216300)

Is there any reason you can't do this on a medium depth (too shallow to tag) flyball to the outfield with runners in a would-be infield fly rule situation? Begin bobbling the ball as you move toward the infield. If a runner takes off, catch the ball and throw him out. If not, bobble until you're close to the infield, drop the ball, and throw to third to begin a double play.

I'm pretty sure the rules specify you can't intentionally drop a ball (flyball or line drive) to create a forceout.

72. phredbird

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:11 PM (#3216306)

An Otis Nixon homer? There's been a lot of crazy #### in the history of baseball, but there's no way I'm going to believe that happened.

EDIT: As a side note, Otis went homerless in 1991. It must have been another year.

i am mixed up. what i'm trying to remember is a 1-0 victory by the braves wherein their only hit was a solo homer. nixon saved the game by going over the fence and stealing a homer from the other team. i keep thinking it was the pirates, and it keep thinking nixon had hit the homer, but now i'm not sure. i believe it was 92. too lazy to look it up.

73. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:20 PM (#3216312)

Robb Nen? This is tough...

Hah--and I named Dick, rather than Robb. I'm old...

R. Nen should've gone by "Bob." Double palindrome!

74. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:22 PM (#3216316)

An Otis Nixon homer? There's been a lot of crazy #### in the history of baseball, but there's no way I'm going to believe that happened.

A Duane Kuiper homer only happened once...

75. Lujack Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:26 PM (#3216320)

What's the most hits a team has gotten without scoring a run in an inning, or in a game?

Theoretically you can get 6 hits in an inning, without scoring, I didn't know if any team had done that.

76. Steve Treder Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:28 PM (#3216321)

I'm pretty sure the rules specify you can't intentionally drop a ball (flyball or line drive) to create a forceout.

They do.

Moreover, the bobbling of the ball thing was a whole lot easier to pull off when one was wearing a King Kelly-style glove than a modern behemoth.

77. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:30 PM (#3216328)

and anybody named Bob

Did someone say Bob?

78. ess eff Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:35 PM (#3216334)

What's the most hits a team has gotten without scoring a run in an inning, or in a game?

Larry Cheney of the Cubs pitched a 14-hit shutout on Sept. 14, 1913. So did Milt Gaston of the Senators, on July 10, 1928.

It's possible someone got even more hits in a combined shutout, but I wouldn't bet on it.

(To better answer the question, Cheney pitched against the Giants, Gaston against the Indians)

79. ess eff Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:38 PM (#3216340)

I saw Henry Aaron hit one out, only to be called out for not being inside the batter's box. Could that be one of a kind?

There was also a game where Nippy Jones hit one out, but it didn't count because of a balk (rule was subsequently changed). Could that be one of a kind?

80. zenbitz Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:41 PM (#3216344)

i'm sorry, but this does not compute. of course the jays had men 'on base'. they touched first, second and third on the way home. they sure as heck were credited with the bases in their stats.

Needs a rewording: Only time a team has ever lost a (9 inning) game without a pitcher throwing a pitch with a man on base.

81. phredbird

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 04:55 PM (#3216356)

i guess the other rewording is only time a team won a game with 0 men LOB, though i imagine that could have happened some time, where the winner did all their scoring in innings where the bases were cleared by the third out, went 1-2-3 in other innings and nobody noticed.

82. phredbird

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:02 PM (#3216367)

this is the game

justice hit a solo homer, nixon made a highlight catch to steal a homer from pittsburgh. atlanta's only other baserunner was jeff blauser on a walk. worst year of my life, but this game was a little bright spot.

83. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:07 PM (#3216373)

btw, i remember the braves winning a game 1-0 in 91 when they were one-hit by the pirates (?) and their only run was an otis nixon homer. did the braves have no other men on base?

During my first and only visit to Fulton-Co. Stadium and a separate 1-0 game in 1991 involving the Braves, Darren Lewis lead off the game with a home run for the Giants and that was it for the scoring. There were other hits, but that was Darren Lewis' only HR in 262 plate appearances.

I wonder how many times that has happened, visiting team lead off HR being the only scoring.

84. Chris Dial Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:14 PM (#3216378)

I thought that Germany Schafer thing was debunked at SABR a year or two ago.

85. Chris Dial Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:17 PM (#3216381)

Is there a way to search for all the double plays that can be scored "8"? How common is that?

Really common back in the day. tris Speaker has a bunch of unassisted double plays as a CF. He just played shallow and could pick off a linedrive and jog into second base.

86. Chris Dial Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3216382)

The HR that Nixon brought back was Van Slyke's IIRC. I was at Brent Beals' lake house at a party. Crazy game.

87. Chris Dial Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3216386)

Also, Fat Sid Fernandez pitched a game with no assists (excluding Ks).

88. Random Transaction Generator Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:34 PM (#3216417)

It's happened several times. Rip Collins (twice), Earl Torgeson, Dolph Camilli, Gary Thomasson, and Len Matuszek all played full games at first base without recording a putout.

How about no putouts or assists (fielding the ball and tossing it to the pitcher at first, or a force out at 2nd)?

How about a catcher with no putouts (or a team pitching an entire game without a strikeout)?

89. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:39 PM (#3216424)

That Braves-Pirates game was awesome. My dentist has an oil painting of Otis Nixon making that catch, it's pretty bodacious.

90. Steve Treder Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:42 PM (#3216429)

How about a catcher with no putouts (or a team pitching an entire game without a strikeout)?

That wasn't extremely unusual in the old days.

91. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:45 PM (#3216434)

90 posts and no mention that Hugh "One-Arm" Daily also pitched a no-hitter. For shame, Primates, for shame.

92. Random Transaction Generator Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:56 PM (#3216451)

90 posts and no mention that Hugh "One-Arm" Daily also pitched a no-hitter. For shame, Primates, for shame.

A one-handed man throwing a no-hitter?
Talk to me when you find something unique in baseball history.

93. Random Transaction Generator Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:57 PM (#3216455)

How about a catcher with no putouts (or a team pitching an entire game without a strikeout)?

That wasn't extremely unusual in the old days.

I guess that also means no foul-ball outs near home or plays at the plate.

94. Adam S

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 05:58 PM (#3216457)

So what I'm extrapolating from this list is that the Angels losing a no-hitter last summer is not a unique feat in MLB history. How many times has that happened?

The Indians beat the Red Sox 2-1 with no hits (they had 7 walks, 7 steals and one error) on April 12, 1992. they then lost the second game of the Double header 3-0 with Clemens throwing a two-hitter. (I've no idea idea if any other team has ever managed to split a double header behind two or fewer combined hits - feels like it has a pretty strong chance of being unique).

95. phredbird

Posted: June 12, 2009 at 06:00 PM (#3216459)

er, every nohit game has been pitched by a man with one arm.

think about it. :-)

96. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: June 12, 2009 at 06:02 PM (#3216462)

A one-handed man throwing a no-hitter?
Talk to me when you find something unique in baseball history.

My post was in reference to the fact that Jim Abbott was not the only man to do it, despite what the article claims.

97. MSalfino Posted: June 12, 2009 at 06:04 PM (#3216464)

Missed fewest batters faced in a complete game: 13 by Dick Drago on July 30, 1971. (Frank Robinson homer.)

98. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: June 12, 2009 at 06:05 PM (#3216467)

I'm still waiting for a five homer game. Has this been done at all in professional baseball?

I would think that of all the things that haven't happened but conceivably could, that would be near the top of the list.

99. Morally Excellent Posted: June 12, 2009 at 06:11 PM (#3216480)

So what I'm extrapolating from this list is that the Angels losing a no-hitter last summer is not a unique feat in MLB history. How many times has that happened?

Did Dock Ellis win his? I kind of think he shouldn't have.

100. Tom Nawrocki Posted: June 12, 2009 at 06:16 PM (#3216489)

I'm still waiting for a five homer game. Has this been done at all in professional baseball?

There was the famous Nig Clarke eight-homer game, in the Texas League in 1902. Strangely enough, I've never heard of a five-, six- or seven-homer game, but they surely must have happened somewhere.

Page 1 of 2 pages 1 2 >

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Friday, June 12, 2009

11 Points: 11 Major League Baseball Feats That Have Only Happened Once

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics