“If you think baseball is boring you need to learn more. There is always something happening. Every second of every play. Learn the game and watch again.” ~ Justin Verlander, pitcher
My blog notes are piling up again and I didn’t know how I was going to use them, so I figure it was time for another “dump”. Be sure to click the links for your viewing pleasure to go along with your reading enjoyment.
(If you’d like to check out “Hits and Runs” and “Hits and Runs II”, just click on the links).
Ted Williams had a career batting average of .344. He hit 521 home runs. He appeared in 19 All-Star games. Won 6 batting titles and 2 MPV awards, the Triple Crown twice and has the highest career on-base percentage of all time with .483. Ted’s career spanned from 1939-1960 (with almost 5 years off as he was a Marine fighter pilot in both WWII and Korea). He had the highest batting average, the most runs batted in and the most home runs during that period. So, in essence, he had a career Triple Crown.
(Ted Williams. Found on the internet. Assuming Public Domain.)
Another Ted Williams fact: In 1941 he hit .406 (last man to hit over 400 for a season), in 1942 he won the Triple Crown, in 1943 he served in WWII, in 1944 he served in WWII, in 1945 he served in WWII, in 1946 he won the AL MVP award and in 1947 he won the Triple Crown again.
(Ted Williams. Found on the internet. Assuming Public Domain.)
“Barry Bonds? I’ll tell you what, if he hit a home run off Bob Gibson or Don Drysdale and stood and admired it, they’d knock that earring out of his ear the next time up.” ~ Doug Harvey, Hall of Fame National League Umpire
There’s the story of Ron Polk an outstanding college coach who was once ejected for arguing balls and strikes. The umpire told him to go “where he could not see me.” So, Ron went and stood on home plate.
He is also the author of the “Baseball Playbook”. It’s in my baseball library. It’s the definitive coaching guide. CLICK HERE. Why not buy a copy for yourself? (I receive nothing in return for this mention).
“I had only one superstition. I made sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run.” ~ George “Babe” Ruth
Wayne Gretzky, the great one pitched for Brantford at the age of 13 in a 1973 baseball tournament. He was 13 years old. He also played shortstop and really had wanted to be a baseball player. “I would’ve taken baseball all day long. I grew up such a big Tigers fan,” he once said.
When Tom Brady (never cared for him) re-retired earlier this year from professional football, it was the end of an era for baseball. He was reported as the last active athlete drafted by the Montreal Expos (Les Expos de Montréal). The Expos drafted him as a catcher in the 1995 amateur draft. But there still is another Expo product playing, Daryl Thompson who was a pitcher in their organization, drafted in 2003, that is still pitching in a Hispanic independent league at the age of 37 (born November 2, 1985 – my wedding anniversary).
“Some people have a chip on their shoulder. Billy Martin has the whole lumberyard.” ~ Jim Murray, Sports Reporter for the L.A. Times.
In the 10th at bat in his MLB career, Ichiro Suzuki hit a single. This raised his career average to .300. It never dipped below .300 for the rest of his career.
On July 8, 2010, Ichiro was playing right field goes into foul territory and tries to catch a ball that is in the stands, accidently knocking into a young female fan. He doesn’t make the catch, but the girl doesn’t get hit by the ball either. He asked and made sure she was alright. He later gifted her with a jersey, autographed ball and other swag. Her name is Iris Skinner. CLICK HERE.
12 years later, on August 26, 2022, Iris Skinner, now known as the Ichiro girl, threw out the first pitch a Mariners game and to her surprise, Ichiro comes out to catch it. CLICK HERE.
Ichiro was an amazing hitter and a great ambassador of the game. This was a touching moment.
George Sisler, a first basemen with the old St Louis Browns had 719 hits over a three-year period (1920-1922). He hit over .400 twice and retired with a career .340 batting average.
In the months of June and July of 1968, Bob Gibson had 12 starts, 12 complete games, 12 wins, 8 shutouts and only allowed 6 runs over those 12 games. Gibby didn’t worry about his “pitch count” by the way. Also, over the last 40 years, no pitcher had pitched 300 innings, had a sub 1.50 ERA and 25 complete games; Bob did all three in 1968.
“Some kids dream of joining the circus, others of becoming a major league baseball player. I have been doubly blessed. As a member of the Ney York Yankees, I have gotten to do both.” ~ Graig Nettles
This will never happen again. On January 22, 1960, Stan “The Man” Musial asked for and received a 20% pay reduction. He went from $100,000 to $80,000 a year as he felt he didn’t produce well enough the previous season. Integrity.
On January 18, 1973, Orlando Cepeda signed with the Boston Red Sox. He was the first player sign to be specifically a designated hitter.
“All last year we tried to teach him (Fernando Venenzuela) English, and the only word he learned was million.” ~ Tommy Lasorda, L.A. Dodgers Manager
Randy Johnson is the only MLB pitcher to have a 20 strike out game, to throw a perfect game and to “vaporize a dove” game which occurred on March 21, 2001. CLICK HERE.
“I came into this game sane, and I want to leave it sane.” ~ Don Baylor when asked if he would ever consider managing the Yankees for George Steinbrenner (1987)
Hall of Fame (one of the inaugural members) pitcher Walter Johnson of the old Washington Senators threw 369.2 inning while facing 1410 batters without giving up a single home run in 1916. Walter did however hit a home run that year. In fact, he hit 24 in his career.
Ed Porray, a right-handed pitcher and batter was born on December 5, 1888, and died on July 13, 1954. He had a brief major league career. Exactly three games. His debut was on April 17, 1914, and his last MLB appearance was on May 1, 1914, both with the Buffalo Buffeds. His win loss record was 0-1, his ERA was 4.35 and he didn’t strike a batter out. Why did I bring him up? Well, he is the only major league player to be born at sea. His birth certificate listed his place of birth as the Atlantic Ocean.
Ross Grimsley, while pitching for the Baltimore Orioles was getting hit hard, just rocked. Earl Weaver went to the mound and said, “If you know how to cheat, start now.”
I hope you found this post interesting. Some quotes, some silliness, some touching moments, and some records; baseball always deliveries.
~ Coach Mike
Please feel free to share this post and site with your family, friends and 50 complete strangers if you like.
Link to: Achieves Page
Link to: About Page
Follow on Twitter: @CommentsFromCo9
Your facts are terrific🤗. Love these fun and interesting stories 💯 Thank you for this fun read🙏⚾️
Another great article. Thanks Mike.