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.

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