This post was originally published on 4 April 2021. It appeared on my personal training website, www.CoachMikesPersonalTraining.com/comments-from-coach-mike- - -blog/. It was a convenient place to use to start up again, to see if my interest held and how far I’d go. The platform wasn’t the greatest, but it got me started and lead me to this current platform.
The “Amazing Stats” theme is re-occurring. You’ll definitely see this revisited in the future. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Analyzing baseball yields many numbers of interest and value. Yet far and away – far, far and away – the most critical number in all of baseball is 3: the three outs that define an inning. Until the third out, anything is possible; after it, nothing is.” ~ Eric Walker
Baseball is a game of numbers. Every game has a scorecard, the local papers print the box score. Every game has an official scorer, and they take their scorecard, transfer the information to the official scoresheets (basically an extended box score) and send it to Elias Sports Bureau to store, compile and break down the data. This is how the games stats are compiled, manipulated and stored.
Let’s check out some stats and such that I find interesting, hope you will too!
Ted Kluszewski was a first baseman who played for Cincinnati Reds (1947-1957), Pittsburg Pirates (1958-1959), Chicago White Sox (1959-1960) and the Los Angeles Angels (1961). He debuted on April 18, 1947, and made his last MLB appearance on October 1st, 1961. He was 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighted 225lbs. He threw and batted left-handed.
Amazing Stat: Ted had a 4- year run of 40, 49, 47 and 35 home runs with .300+ batting average between 1953-1956.
Side Note: Ted had arms so big he had to modify his shirts; the 1956 Cincinnati sleeveless jersey was made to accommodate his “guns”.
Luke Appling was a shortstop who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox. He made his MLB debut on September 10, 1930, and finished his playing career on October 1, 1950. He was a righted-handed batter and thrower who stood 5 foot 10 inches. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.
Amazing Stat: Luke has the record for most bunts (1,424) in a career.
Side Note: He also hit a home run in 1982 at the Cracker Jack Old-Timers game at age 75 off Warren Spahn (1942-1965). The game was played at RFK (Robert F. Kennedy) Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C which at the time was configured for the football season, so it traveled about 265 feet into the left field bleachers, but still pretty good for a 75-year-old man.
Cecil Fielder made his MLB debut on June 20, 1985, and finished his career on September 13, 1998. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1985-1988), Hanshin Tigers (1989), Detroit Tigers (1990-1996), New York Yankees (1996-1997), Anaheim Angels (1998) and the Cleveland Indians (1998). He was a first baseman and designated hitter who stood 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighted 275lbs. He threw and batted right-handed.
Prince Fielder made his MLB debut on June 13, 2005, and finished his career on July 18, 2016. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers (2005-2011), Detroit Tigers (2012-2013) and the Texas Rangers (2014-2016). He was a first baseman and designated hitter who stood 5 foot 11 inches tall and weighted 275lbs. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed.
Amazing Stat: Father and son, each finished their careers with 319 home runs.
Joe Sewell who made his MLB debut on September 10, 1920, and his final appearance on September 24, 1933. He played for the Cleveland Indians (1920-1930 and the New York Yankees (1931-1933). Was a 5-foot 6-inch shortstop and third baseman. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.
Amazing Stat: Sewell only struck out 114 times in his whole career with 7,132 At Bats; that is one time for every 62.2 At Bats. He holds the records for least strikeouts in a season with 3 in 1932 in 353 At Bats. And add to that, he also holds the records of going 115 consecutive games without recording a strike out.
The numbers are fascinating, the players were great, and we still talk about these players; does it get any better than this. More amazing stats in the future.
~ Coach Mike
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These are amazing stats‼️ So fun learning some great baseball trivia from the master, Coach Mike🤩. Thanks 🙏