Stuff

[DOUGHBOYS]

Some of the information contained here are from sites 'untested', but it was on the internet, so it must be true...

Giancarlo Stanton let the Marlins waste weeks dealing with teams in which he would turn down a trade.
What a guy.
What can you expect from a guy who takes years to decide his first name though...
Anyway, because of last year and the timing of an election of the President, Stanton has the most home runs during the Trump presidency.
Mike Schmidt and Babe Ruth loved Democrats and Republicans alike as you'll see.
Here are the other leaders from past and present administrations....


Trump- Giancarlo Stanton
Obama- Albert Pujols
Bush- Alex Rodriguez
Clinton- Ken Griffey Jr.
Bush- Fred McGriff
Reagan- Mike Schmidt
Carter- Mike Schmidt
Ford- Mike Schmidt
Nixon- Hank Aaron
Johnson- Willie Mays
Kennedy- Harmon Killebrew
Eisenhower- Eddie Mathews
Truman- Ralph Kiner
Roosevelt- Jimmy Foxx
Hoover- Babe Ruth
Coolidge- Babe Ruth
Harding- Babe Ruth

Speaking of the Babe, he has done a lot of things that most people know.
Here is something you may not know about him....
He started his career as a pitcher with the Red Sox.
No, that's not the something you may not know...
When being traded to the Yankees, he began his terror on American League teams.
Including, the Red Sox.
To this day, no hitter has more home runs vs the Boston Red Sox than Babe Ruth.
BAM!.....bino.

Several hitters have infiltrated all-time home run stats since 1984.
Why do I pick 1984?
Because I loved that year and I'm writing this.
Van Halen....Ryne Sandberg leading the Cubs to a division crown...The Tigers cruising after a 35-5 start
Good stuff.
Now, what was I saying? Oh yeah....
So many home run hitters have enjoyed the steroid era and smaller parks and live(lier) ball to push aside past home run hitters on the all-time list.
But what about batting average hitters?
Eh, not so much.
Since 1984 (33 years ago in baseball player years), only 14 players have entered the All-Time top 100 list.
Here they are...

Ichiro Suzuki
Miguel Cabrera
Albert Pujols
Derek Jeter
Todd Helton
Manny Ramirez
Larry Walker
Magglio Ordonez
Edgar Martinez
Tony Gwynn
Wade Boggs
Nomar Garciaparra
Vladimir Guerrero
Kirby Puckett

As you can see, only three of those players are active.
One problem with 'modern' players and their batting average is the willingness to 'hold on' past their prime.
All three current players are going through this phase of their careers now.
One of Mickey Mantle's regrets is that he didn't retire soon enough to keep his lifetime batting average at .300
Mantle finished at .298

The New York Mets have seemingly had a problem at first base throughout its franchise history.
This belief is buoyed by the fact that Ed Kranepool has played more games at that position than any other Met first baseman.
In a strange twist of fate though, the Mets have something at first base that few teams in baseball can boast.
The Mets have had six Hall of Fame players play first base for them.
Six!
Granted, Eddie Murray was the only player to play more than 100 games (306) at the position.
Here are the Mets 1B Hall of Fame players....

Eddie Murray
Joe Torre
Mike Piazza
Gil Hodges
Willie Mays
Gary Carter

And for good measure, we can add one more by name, even though it wasn't the same player.......
Frank Thomas.

Every pitcher, not named Clemens or Schilling, who have 3,000 strike outs are in the Hall of Fame.
CC Sabathia has 2,846. Does he belong if getting 3,000?

Here is one of my favorite trivia questions.
It's a question that nobody can get because it is so predicated on timing....
Here it is...
Name the four players who have stolen a base in four different decades.
A player would almost have to start his career in a year ending with a '9' and play over 20 years.
And even if guessing fast players, one player throws a turd in that punch bowl....

Rickey Henderson
Tim Raines
Omar Vizquel
Ted Williams
Yes, behead Ted stole a base in 1960.

Three hitters have had 2,000 hits in a decade.
If this trend continues, it won't happen again until the 2040's.
Here they are....

1920's- Rogers Hornsby (2085)

1960's- Pete Rose (2045)

2000's- Ichiro Suzuki (2030)

Robinson Cano leads this decade with 1501 hits...no threat to 2,000

Ok, one more thing about Babe Ruth that you may not know.
The Babe is the all time Yankee leader for home runs from a right fielder
Who was the all time Yankee leader for home runs from a left fielder?
It was Babe Ruth!
Back in the day, it was believed that looking into the sun would hurt a player's eyesight.
There were no night games.
Manager Miller Huggins would have the Babe play left or right field depending on the sun.
And since the Yankees haven't had a long-lasting power corner outfielder since, the Babe is the leader at both positions.
Will Aaron Judge show contempt for his right field record?
That is Stuff for another day....

[jdryan]

The President stat might be the greatest baseball stat ever.. You always bring good reading...... What can you expect from a guy who takes years to decide his first name though... I work for he Boston Globe & Worcester Telegram & Gazette wish the they more writers like you... Great Job, keeps my winters going!!!

[DOUGHBOYS]

Thank you so much!
I enjoy doing them....

[Edwards Kings]

Several hitters have infiltrated all-time home run stats since 1984.
Why do I pick 1984?
Because I loved that year and I'm writing this.
Van Halen....Ryne Sandberg leading the Cubs to a division crown...The Tigers cruising after a 35-5 start
Good stuff.

Man I loved 1984 too. I was 24 and Regan-nomics had caught on and we were flying into the boom-boom portion of the '80's!

And I won my fantasy baseball league (a points league) behind some savvy picks like Aurelio "Señor Smoke" Lopez (10-1 out of a set-up guy) and a trade that got me Rick Sutcliffe just before he went to the Cubs and rattled of a 16-1 record in 20 games there.

sniff...sniff...excuse me...I have to go play some Van Halen "Jump"...

[DOUGHBOYS]

We got WGN on a satelite dish (10 feet) for the first time.
A softball trip to Las Vegas had me putting down $$$ on the Cubs to win the pennant.
They made a trade for Sarge and Dernier before Opening Day.
Got a great year from Sandberg.
Added Sutcliffe and what a wonderful year of watching baseball.
Harry Carey and Steve Stone on the mic.
WGN played 'Jump' before every game and for the next few years after.
"Arnie, let's see some hats...."
Good times...