Tagged: Colonels

United States of Baseball- Kentucky

It has been over a century since Kentucky had a Major League team. The Louisville Colonels/ Eclipse were absorbed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1899. Despite the lack of a Major League team, the Bluegrass State has produced 125 Major League players. The greatest Kentucky born pitcher is Jim Bunning. His 60.37 career WAR ranks him 34th among state and territory pitching leaders. Pee Wee Reese is the greatest position player. His 68.23 career WAR ranks 19th among state and territory leaders. Bunning and Reese give the Bluegrass State 128.60 WAR, 25th highest among all states and territories. 

Jim Bunning grew up across the Ohio River from the Cincinnati Reds. The Southgate native pitched for 17 seasons with 4 teams: Detroit Tigers (1955-1963), Philadelphia Phillies (1964-1967, 1970-1971), Pittsburgh Pirates (1968-1969), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1969). The Righty appeared in 591 career Games, made 519 Starts, threw 151 Complete Games, including 40 Shutouts, pitched 3,760.1 Innings, allowed 3,433 Hits, 1,527 Runs, 1,366 Earned Runs, 372 Home Runs, 1,000 Walks, 2,855 Strikeouts, posted a 224-184 record, 3.27 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, and 115 ERA+. 

Career numbers never tell the full story of a player. Bunning was a nine time All Star. The former Xavier University basketball player threw a No Hitter on July 20, 1957. He then threw an Immaculate Inning on August 8, 1959. Five years later on June 21, 1964, he was perfect. Bunning’s Perfect Game was the fifth in Major League history, the first since 1922, and the first in the National League since 1880. He also played a critical role in recruiting Marvin Miller as the first leader of the Player’s Union. After retiring, Bunning managed in the Phillies Minor League system before entering politics. He was elected to the Kentucky State Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the United States Senate. In 1996, Bunning was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee. His final baseball honor came in 2001 when the Phillies retired his #14. 

Jim Bunning began his career in Detroit before becoming a Hall of Famer with the Phillies. (Bettmann/ Getty Images)

The best season of Jim Bunning’s career was with the 1967 Phillies. He made 40 Starts, threw 16 Complete Games, including 6 Shutouts, pitched 302.1 Innings, allowed 241 Hits, 94 Runs, 77 Earned Runs, 18 Home Runs, 73 Walks, 253 Strikeouts, posted a 17-15 record, 2.29 ERA, 1.039 WHIP, and 149 ERA+. He led the National League in Starts, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Strikeouts, Hit By Pitch, and Batters Faced. Philadelphia finished two games above .500, but Bunning still finished second for the Cy Young and 22nd for the MVP. Great seasons can happen for players on less than great teams.

Pee Wee Reese never wanted to go to Brooklyn. The Dodgers legend thought he was heading to Boston. When Joe Cronin kept playing despite his age, the Red Sox traded the minor leaguer to the Dodgers. Harold Henry Reese gained his nickname from his love of playing marbles. The Ekron native played Shortstop for 16 seasons with the Brooklyn/ Los Angeles Dodgers. He missed three full seasons serving in the Navy Seabees during World War II. Despite the lost time, Reese still played in 2,166 career Games, collected 2,170 Hits, 330 Doubles, 80 Triples, 126 Home Runs, 885 RBI, scored 1,338 Runs, 232 Stolen Bases, 1,210 Walks, 890 Strikeouts, .269 BA, .366 OBP, .377 SLG, .743 OPS, and 99 OPS+. Reese was a solid Shortstop. He played 17,707.1 Innings, had 10,319 Chances, made 4,040 Putouts, 5,891 Assists, 388 Errors, turned 1,246 Double Plays, with a .962 FLD%, 5.05 RF/9, 4.93 RF/G, and 22 Rtot. His skills made Reese a 10 time All Star, named Dodger captain in 1949, his #1 retired by the Dodgers, and elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984. 

Pee Wee Reese’s greatest moment had little to do with baseball. (www.peeweereese.com)

Reese played in seven World Series, all against the Yankees. Brooklyn won only once, 1955, in their sixth attempt. In 44 World Series Games, Reese collected 46 Hits, 3 Doubles, 2 Triples, 2 Home Runs, 16 RBI, scored 20 Runs, 5 Stolen Bases, 18 Walks, 17 Strikeouts, .272 BA, .346 OBP, .349 SLG, and .695 OPS. 

Pee Wee Reese’s best season was 1954. He played in 141 Games, collected 171 Hits, 35 Doubles, 8 Triples, 10 Home Runs, 69 RBI, scored 98 Runs, 8 Stolen Bases, 90 Walks, 62 Strikeouts, .309 BA, .404 OBP, .455 SLG, .859 OPS, and 121 OPS+. He was named an All Star and finished ninth for the MVP. Reese set career highs in Doubles, Batting Average, SLG, OPS, and OPS+. It was his only season hitting over .300. 

Perhaps the greatest moment of Reese’s career was a simple act. It is debated where it occurred, Cincinnati or Boston. What is not debated is Reese putting his arm on Jackie Robinson’s shoulder in a public show of support. Reese could not shield Robinson from the horrific abuse he took from opposing players and fans, but showing his support for his teammate let everyone know where he stood. Reese’s support helped Robinson succeed. 

The Bluegrass State has a proud baseball legacy. Kentucky is home to several Minor and Independent League teams. Four native Kentuckians are enshrined in Cooperstown: Jim Bunning, Happy Chandler (Commissioner), Earle Combs, and Pee Wee Reese. More will surely follow. Next week the United States of Baseball heads to the Gulf Coast. The Pelican State is next, Louisiana.

DJ

The Twelfth Lousy Day of Baseball Christmas

On the Twelfth Lousy Day of Baseball Christmas the baseball gods sent to me: the most Batters Faced without recording an out, the lowest Batting Average for a position player, the most Passed Balls in a game, the worst ERA, the worst ERA with a Win, the most Runners Left on Base in a season, the most times Caught Stealing without a Stolen Base, the most Hits without an RBI, the most Innings Pitched without a Win or Save, the most Games Managed without finishing first, the most Home Runs without a Triple, and the most Complete Games without a Shutout.

Bill Childers and Doc Hamann suffered through the worst possible days on a mound in Major League history. They each faced seven batters, retired none, and never returned. Childers’ horrific day occurred on July 27, 1895 in Louisville. He pitched for the Colonels against the Baltimore Orioles in a 22-6 loss. Childers faced 7 batters, allowed 2 Hits, 5 Walks, threw 3 Wild Pitches, allowed 6 Runs, all Earned, an infinite ERA and WHIP, and 3 ERA+. He stood alone as the king of ineptitude for nearly three decades.

Doc Hamann joined Bill Childers in having the worst day in MLB history. (www.browncountyhistorymn,org)

Nothing is guaranteed in baseball or life. Cleveland trailed the Red Sox 9-5 entering the 9th Inning on September 21, 1922. Doc Hamann was summoned to finish the game. Boston’s Johnny Mitchell drew a lead off walk. Ed Chaplin also walked before Red Sox pitcher Jack Quinn was Hit By a Pitch to load the bases. Not great. Next,  Mike Menosky drew the third walk of the Inning, forcing Mitchell home. Elmer Miller laced a bases clearing Triple, scoring Chaplin, Quinn, and Menosky. George Burns drove Miller in with an RBI Single. After a Wild Pitch, Del Pratt delivered an RBI Single, chasing Hamann from the game. He faced 7 Batters, allowed 3 Hits, 3 Walks, 1 Hit Batter, 1 Wild Pitch, 6 Runs, 6 Earned Runs, an infinite ERA and WHIP, and a 3 ERA+. Cleveland lost 15-5. 

Bill Childers and Doc Hamann each faced 7 Major League batters and did not retire any of them. Success and failure are inches apart on a baseball field. The changes in baseball since the early live ball era makes it nearly impossible for another pitcher to join Childers and Hamann in their unenviable club. Everyone leaves a mark on the game, some wish their mark would remain hidden.

Happy Twelfth Lousy Day of Baseball Christmas.

DJ