Oddities

[jtur88]

I thought there used to be a catch-all thread of oddities. Here's one:

The pitcher who still holds the NAIA record for games started in a season pitched 674 games in the majors, without a single start. Dan Quisenberry started 25 games in 1975, pitching for LaVerne College, CA.

Here's another one that very few people know about:

The national record for touchdowns on kickoff returns in a single high school football game is four and the record-holder is still Roger Maris of Fargo, N.D.

That must have been a really bizarre matchup. Mariis' team allowed the opponents to score at least three times, but at the same time had a player capable of running back the kickoffs with virtual impunity.

[jtur88]

The Red Sox have set a record that wil not be broken for a very very long time, and might not even be tied. Most countries played in prior to home opener: 3 (Japan, USA, Canada)

[jtur88]

Last night (4/11), Cardinal outfielders threw out two Giants at the plate in one inning. Has any catcher ever tagged out three baserunners in the same inning?

[jtur88]

This surprised me: Who is the oldest position players in the majors now?
---------------

Since nobody looked this up, I believe the correct answer is Matt Stairs.

Ten years ago, if asked what current player would someday be the oldest position player in the majors, who would have guessed Matt Stairs?

[jtur88]

Manny Ramirez played for the Indians when they set the record for most consecutive sellouts. Then, he was with the Red Sox through their current second-longest string of sellouts. I would presume from that that Ramirez holds, by quite a margin, the MLB record for playing the most games before a sellout crowd?

[fabio61]

Last night (4/11), Cardinal outfielders threw out two Giants at the plate in one inning. Has any catcher ever tagged out three baserunners in the same inning?

I have never heard of such an occurrence, but I'm reminded of two instances of two runners getting cut down at the plate on the same play. I believe Fisk was involved in one (not sure when) and LoDuca did it in the playoffs against LA in 2006.

Actually... I found a page that lists a few of these plays.

http://http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/doubletag2.htm

[jtur88]

What is the most runs ever scored in the first inning of a game that followed a tie that lasted 20 or more innings?

Six. (Rockies, today)


Extra credit:

What is the most runs ever allowed by pitchers in the first inning of a game that followed a tie that lasted 20 or more innings?

Six. (Padres, today)

[LongtimeBravesFan]

The other night, John Smoltz went five innings, struck out ten and left without allowing a run. The Braves' bullpen finished the shutout.

That was the first time in 100 years a pitcher has K'd 10 in just five innings of work and left with a shutout that ended in a shutout.

[jtur88]

A double-play that was, literally, off-the-wall. Rangers (4/26) had Blaylock on second, Botts doubles off the wall. Runner is thrown out at the plate, and then Botts gunned down trying to go to third on the throw. 8-6-2-5. This might also be the first time a runner from second ever failed to score on a double off the wall, without any tag-up confusion on whether the catch was made.

[jtur88]

Yesterday (4/26) four teams with walk-of wins (Cards, Padres, WSox, Indians). Anybody wanna take a guess at what the record might be? Of course, about half of all extra-inning games are walkoffs.

[jtur88]

The Cardinals have a couple of rare exclusive clusters in the field. Around the infield, there are single-digit uniform numbers at all five positions. (Molina-4, Pujols-5, Kennedy-7, Iztrutis-4, Glaus-8). In the outfield, all four regulars are white Anglos who either bat or throw left handed (Ludwick, Schumaker, Ankiel, Duncan).

[Triad]

Originally Posted by jtur88

The Cardinals have a couple of rare exclusive clusters in the field. Around the infield, there are single-digit uniform numbers at all five positions. (Molina-4, Pujols-5, Kennedy-7, Iztrutis-4, Glaus-8). In the outfield, all four regulars are white Anglos who either bat or throw left handed (Ludwick, Schumaker, Ankiel, Duncan).

If the Cardinals win the World Series with their current starting outfield, it would be the first World Series champion in 47 years with an all-white starting outfield. The last was the '61 Yankees with Maris, Mantle and Berra.

[jtur88]

I wonder if anybody has ever done this before: Albert Pujols knocked two players onto the disabled list in a single plate appearance. He lined back to Padres pitcher Chris Young, breaking his nose. Then rounded the bases to slide into catcher Josh Bard, who had to be helped off the field with a sprained ankle.

[Triad]

I once saw Rickey Henderson when he was on the Seattle Mariners safely steal 2nd base standing up, with a throw made to 2nd base where the fielder caught it on the bag and tagged Henderson. Picture that. I don't think I've seen that before.

I also remember when Mike Piazza was starting out with the Dodgers, and he would hit these ropes. I remember once he hit a ball so hard, that even though it took a bounce on the infield dirt near 2nd base, it carried all the way to the wall.

Another odd play was when Doug Jones was on the hill for the A's and Chad Allen of the Twins was on 1st base. Jones was doddling on the mound, and all the fielders were staring at the ground, so Allen took off for 2nd base. Jones didn't notice him until he was almost there. Jones turned and threw. The problem was, neither the 2nd baseman nor the shortstop were anywhere near 2nd base, so the ball went into center field. Allen didn't break stride and continued on to 3rd. The center fielder got a late jump on the play, so he wasn't even at the ball when Allen got to 3rd, so Allen proceeded home to score.

Another oddity I saw on a baseball blooper video was when Mike Schmidt was on 1st base, and the pitcher threw a wild pitch. It skipped along the edge of the fence toward the dugout, so Schmidt continued to 3rd. When the catcher, Gary Carter, picked it up, no one was covering home plate, so Schmidt ran on home. 1st to home on a wild pitch, with no throws.

Another neat blooper play was when Bobby Bonilla was playing 3rd base. The runner on 2nd broke for 3rd, the batter swung and missed and the bat came out of his hands. The catcher threw the ball to Bonilla at 3rd, and just before he was about to catch it, the flying bat hit the ball and then Bonilla on the arm, causing him to miss the ball. A perfect example of a batter protecting the runner.

I like the one of Paul O'Neill playing right field for the Reds. There was a runner on 2nd, and the batter hit a line drive single to right. O'Neill bobbled the ball, and in his disgust at not making the play, he kicked at the ball, which produced a perfect drop-kick to the 1st basemen, which ended up holding the runner at 3rd.

[jtur88]

LaRussa, Cox and Torre are getting up there among the all time leaders in games managed, and may have a shot at topping a record set on April 23, 1950, when the Red Sox, behind Mel Parnell, beat the A's 12-2 in a one-hour-45 minute game before 14,000 fans in Boston. When Connie Mack and Joe McCarthy handed in their lineup cards for game two of that double-header, they had managed 11,042 games between them. LaRussa and Cox could reach that milestone, if still in the same league, in late 2017. LaRussa would be 73 and Cox 76.