Tagged: MLB Draft
United States of Baseball- Tennessee
It seems inevitable that Major League Baseball will expand to 32 teams. When it does, Nashville has a good chance of landing one of the new teams. Tennessee’s baseball history runs deep and the addition of a MLB team would further that legacy. The Volunteer State has sent 405 players to the Major Leagues. The greatest pitcher born in Tennessee is Tommy Bridges. His 51.62 career WAR is the 27th highest among state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player from the Volunteer State is Todd Helton. His 61.78 career WAR is the 32nd highest among state and territory position player leaders. Combined Tennessee has 113.40 WAR, ranking the Volunteer State 32nd in the United States of Baseball.
Tommy Bridges was born in Gordonsville and found baseball success in Detroit. The Right Hander attended the University of Tennessee, but left to pursue baseball. He played 16 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1930-1943, 1945-1946). Despite a small build, Bridges gave opposing batters stomach ulcers with his curveball and fastball combination. Making his Major League debut on August 13, 1930 at Yankee Stadium, Bridges was immediately put to the test. The first batter he faced was Babe Ruth, who popped out to Third. Next, Tony Lazzeri Singled. Bridges then struck out Lou Gehrig. Finally, Harry Rice grounded out to Second. The first three batters of his career were Hall of Famers, two of which are among the greatest ever. After escaping the Bronx, Bridges pitched in 424 career Games, made 362 Starts, with 47 Games Finished, 200 Complete Games, including 33 Shutouts, in 2,826.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,675 Hits, 1,321 Runs, 1,122 Earned Runs, 181 Home Runs, 1,192 Walks, 1,674 Strikeouts, posted a 194-138 record, 3.57 ERA, 1.368 WHIP, and 126 ERA+. He was a six time All Star.
Bridges fell one out short of a Perfect Game on August 5, 1932. The Tigers were dismantling the Washington Senators at Navin Field in Detroit. Leading 13 to 0 with two outs in the 9th Inning, Senators Manager Walter Johnson sent Dave Harris to Pinch Hit for Pitcher Bobby Burke. Harris Singled to break up the Perfecto. Bridges composed himself and induced a groundout from Sam Rice. He narrowly missed pitching the sixth Perfect Game in MLB history. It took nearly a quarter century until Don Larsen threw the next Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series.
Despite his success, Bridges’ number would have been better had he not spent the 1944 season in the Army during World War II. In 1949, he declined an offer from the Yankees choosing to continue pitching for the Minor League Portland Beavers.
The best season of Bridges’ career was 1936. He pitched in 39 Games for the Tigers, made 38 Starts, with 1 Game Finished, 26 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, in 294.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 289 Hits, 141 Runs, 118 Earned Runs, 21 Home Runs, 115 Walks, 175 Strikeouts, posted a 23-11 record, with a 3.60 ERA, 1.371 WHIP, and 137 ERA+. Bridges led the Junior Circuit in Starts, Wins, and Strikeouts. He set career bests in Games Pitched, Starts, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Hits allowed, Runs, Earned Runs, Strikeouts, and Wins. He was an All Star and finished ninth in the American League MVP voting.
Detroit was excellent throughout Bridges’ career. The Tigers appeared in the Fall Classic four times: 1934, 1935, 1940, and 1945. They won twice, in 1935 and 1945. In the World Series, Bridges pitched in 7 Games, made 5 Starts, threw 4 Complete Games, in 46.0 Innings Pitched, allowed 52 Hits, 22 Runs, 18 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 9 Walks, 27 Strikeouts, posted a 4-1 record, with a 3.52 ERA, and 1.326 WHIP. Bridges’ success in the Regular Season carried into October. He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for seven years, peaking with 7.5% in 1964.
Todd Helton has lived every kid’s dream. The Knoxville native was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Padres, but chose to accept a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee and walked on the baseball team. Helton played 12 games for the Volunteers at Quarterback before an injury allowed Peyton Manning to replace him. Helton turned his attention to the diamond. He played Firstbase and was the Closer. He won the 1995 Dick Howser Trophy as the National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year. The same year, the Rockies selected Helton with the 8th overall pick in the MLB Draft.
After spending just two seasons in the Minor Leagues, Helton was called up. He spent his entire 17 season career with the Colorado Rockies (1997- 2013). He played in 2,247 career Games, scored 1,401 Runs, collected 2,519 Hits, including 592 Doubles, 37 Triples, 369 Home Runs, 1,406 RBI, 37 Stolen Bases, drew 1,335 Walks, 1,175 Strikeouts, with a .316 BA, .414 OBP, .539 SLG, .953 OPS, and 133 OPS+. Helton was a five time All Star, won three Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, and the 2000 National League Batting Title. He finished second behind Kerry Wood for the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Helton is the first player to collect 100 extra base hits in back to back seasons, 2000 and 2001. He is also the first player to hit 35 Doubles in 10 consecutive seasons. He was inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame in 2003 and the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame in 2017. Helton is Colorado’s all time Home Run leader. He was the first Rockie to have his number retired, when Colorado retired his #17 in 2014. Helton has appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for five years. In 2023, he received 72.2% of the vote, falling just 11 votes short of induction. Helton appears headed to Cooperstown in 2024.
The best season of Helton’s career came in 2000. He played in 160 Games, scored 138 Runs, collected 216 Hits, including 59 Doubles, 2 Triples, 42 Home Runs, 147 RBI, with 5 Stolen Bases, 103 Walks, 61 Strikeouts, .372 BA, .463 OBP, .698 SLG, 1.162 OPS, and 163 OPS+. He led the National League in Hits, Doubles, RBI, Batting Average, On-Base Percentage, Slugging, and OPS. His 59 Doubles were the most in the Senior Circuit since Joe Medwick’s record 64 Doubles in 1936. Helton’s 103 Extra Base Hits were the second highest single season total in National League history, and the fourth highest in MLB history. He set career bests in Games Played, Runs scored, Hits, Doubles, RBI, Batting Average, Slugging, and OPS. Helton flirted with hitting .400 into August. He was an All Star, won the Silver Slugger, the Hank Aaron Award, and finished fifth in the National League MVP voting.
It took 10 seasons before Helton reached the Postseason. They reached the 2007 Postseason after defeating the San Diego Padres in a winner take all play-in tiebreaker to determine the National League Wild Card. The Rockies then swept the Phillies and Diamondbacks to reach their first World Series. The quick work left Colorado ideal for over a week between clinching the National League pennant and the start of the World Series. The Red Sox swept the Rockies to win the Fall Classic. Helton returned to October in 2009 as the Rockies lost in the Divisional Series to the Phillies. In 15 Postseason Games, Helton scored 11 Runs, collected 12 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, 4 RBI, 8 Walks, 11 Strikeouts, with a .211 BA, .303 OBP, .281 SLG, and .584 OPS. He did not play his best, but the Postseason is a small sample size even for great players.
Tennessee has two Hall of Famers in Lee MacPhail (Executive) and Turkey Stearnes. Todd Helton should join them in 2024. He will not be the last from the Volunteer State to reach Cooperstown. Next, the United States of Baseball heads west to the Lone Star State. Texas is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- South Carolina
The relaxed pace of life in South Carolina mirrors baseball’s leisurely pace. The Palmetto State has sent 241 players to the Major Leagues. South Carolina is a hub for Minor League Baseball with five professional teams spread across the state. The greatest pitcher born in South Carolina is Bobo Newsom. His 51.25 career WAR is the 28th highest for a state or territory pitching leader. The greatest position player from the Palmetto State is Willie Randolph. His 65.90 is the 30th highest for a state or territory position player leader. Combined, South Carolina has 117.15 WAR, the 31st highest in the United States of Baseball.
Bobo Newsom had more terms in Washington than President Franklin Roosevelt, so the joke went. Louis Norman “Bobo” Newsom was born in Hartsville. The Right Hander pitched for nine teams during his 20 season career: Brooklyn Robins/ Dodgers (1929-1930, 1942-1943), Chicago Cubs (1932), St. Louis Browns (1934-1935, 1938-1939, 1943), Washington Senators (1935-1937, 1942, 1943, 1946-1947, 1952), Boston Red Sox (1937), Detroit Tigers (1939-1941), Philadelphia Athletics (1944-1946, 1952-1953), New York Yankees (1947), and New York Giants (1948). The journeyman often sought his release so he could negotiate new contracts with other teams. Seeking his release and being traded five times meant Newsom’s longest stint with any team was two and a half seasons.
Baseball history is filled with superstitious players. Newsom was among the most superstitious. He would not pitch if there was paper on the dirt mound. Newsom meticulously picked up every tiny piece of paper, often left by the opposing team, before pitching. Opponents felt this could get Newsom out of rhythm and give them a chance. Newsom pitched in 600 career Games, made 483 Starts, Finished 71 Games, threw 246 Complete Games, including 31 Shutouts, 3,759.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 3,769 Hits, 1,908 Runs, 1,664 Earned Runs, 206 Home Runs, 1,732 Walks, 2,082 Strikeouts, posted a 211-222 record, with a 3.98 ERA, 1.463 WHIP, and 107 ERA+. He was a four time All Star. Newsom won the 1947 World Series with the Yankees. He pitched a 9 inning No Hitter against the Red Sox on September 18, 1934, but lost 2-1 after surrendering a game winning Single in the 10th. Newsom is one of two pitchers, Jack Powell, to win 200 games and post a career losing record.
The best season of Newsom’s career came with the 1940 Detroit Tigers. He pitched in 36 Games, made 34 Starts, Finished 1 Game, threw 20 Complete Games, including 3 Shutouts, 264 Innings Pitched, allowed 235 Hits, 110 Runs, 83 Earned Runs, 19 Home Runs, 100 Walks, 164 Strikeouts, posted a 21-5 record, with a 2.83 ERA, 1.269 WHIP, and 168 ERA+. Newsom led the Junior Circuit in ERA+. Detroit won the American League Pennant by a single game over Cleveland before losing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games.
Newsom pitched in the Fall Classic twice, 1940 with the Tigers and 1947 with the Yankees. He pitched in 5 World Series Games, made 4 Starts, threw 3 Complete Games, including 1 Shutout, 28.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 24 Hits, 9 Runs, 9 Earned Runs, 0 Home Runs, 6 Walks, 17 Strikeouts, posted a 2-2 record, with a 2.86 ERA, and 1.059 WHIP. Winning the 1947 World Series was a reward for a long career on bad teams. Newsom was an odd but solid Major League pitcher.
Willie Randolph never gets the respect he deserves from New York fans. The Holy Hill native grew up in Brownsville Brooklyn before escaping poverty to reach the Majors. Randolph was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 7th round of the 1972 Draft. He moved quickly through the Minor Leagues to reach Pittsburgh in 1975. The Pirates played their young Second Baseman sparingly in his lone season at Three Rivers Stadium. He was traded to the Yankees with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis for Doc Medich in December 1975. Randolph played for six teams during his 18 seasons career: Pittsburgh Pirates (1975), New York Yankees (1976-1988), Los Angeles Dodgers (1989-1990), Oakland Athletics (1990), Milwaukee Brewers (1991), and New York Mets (1992).
After changing teams Willie Randolph had a long and productive career. He played in 2,202 career Games, scored 1,239 Runs, collected 2,210 Hits, 316 Doubles, 65 Triples, 54 Home Runs, 687 RBI, 271 Stolen Bases, 1,243 Walks, 675 Strikeouts, with a .276 BA, .373 OBP, .351 SLG, .724 OPS, and 104 OPS+. He won a Silver Slugger and was a six time All Star.
Randolph’s best season came with the 1980 Yankees. He played in 138 Games, scored 99 Runs, collected 151 Hits, 23 Doubles, 7 Triples, 7 Home Runs, 46 RBI, 30 Stolen Bases, drew 119 Walks, 45 Strikeouts, posted a .294 BA, .427 OBP, .407 SLG, .834 OPS, and 133 OPS+. He led the American League in Walks. Randolph set a career high in Runs scored and tied his career highs in Home Runs, Walks, OBP, OPS, and OPS+. He was an All Star, won a Silver Slugger, and finished 15th for the American League MVP.
Randolph made it to the Fall Classic four times, but only the 1977 Yankees came away victorious. In 47 Postseason Games, he scored 19 Runs, collected 36 Hits, 6 Doubles, 1 Triple, 4 Home Runs, 14 RBI, 3 Stolen Bases, drew 20 Walks, 15 Strikeouts, with a .222 BA, .304 OBP, .346 SLG, and .650 OPS. On defense, Randolph never committed a Postseason error. He played on several good teams, but never found much success with the bat in October.
After a year in the Front Office, Randolph returned to the field as a coach for the Yankees and Brewers. He won three more World Series in the Bronx before the opportunity to manage his favorite team from childhood, the Mets, arrived in 2005. Randolph led the Amazins from 2005 to 2008, posting a 302-253 record. His .554 winning % is the second best in franchise history behind Davey Johnson’s .588. Ultimately, Randolph, Pitching Coach Rick Peterson, and First Base Coach Tom Nieto were fired while in California on a road trip at 3:15 AM EST. The fires happened following a Mets victory, and winning three of their last four games. The dismissal was strange then and remains so a decade and a half later. Willie Randolph has not received another opportunity to manage despite his success in Queens.
The Palmetto State has sent three players to the Hall of Fame: Larry Doby, Jim Rice, and Ben Taylor. There should be a fourth in Shoeless Joe Jackson, but that is an argument for another day. Next, the United States of Baseball heads west to the Mount Rushmore State. South Dakota is next.
DJ
Be My Valentine
Montreal is not known for its warm weather in early April. However, for the first time the Expos were not concerned about the weather. Instead of fighting the elements at Jerry Park, the ball club was warm and dry inside Olympic Stadium. Montreal had hosted the Summer Olympics the previous summer and now Olympic Stadium was the Expos’ new home. After splitting their first four games on the road, Montreal came home to christen their new ballpark on April 15, 1977. 57,592 fans greeted the Expos as they faced eventual Cy Young winner Steve Carlton. In the Bottom of the 3rd Inning, the Phillies had given Carlton a 3-0 lead. The excitement of Opening Day in a new ballpark was fading. After retiring the first two batters, Montreal’s starting Right Fielder Ellis Valentine stepped to the plate and drove Carlton’s pitch over the high outfield wall. Valentine cut into the lead and gave the fans something to cheer about with the first Home Run in Olympic Stadium.
Ellis Valentine was born on July 30, 1954 in Helena, Arkansas. His family did not stay in the South long, moving to Los Angeles when Ellis was 3 years old. A natural athlete that garnered plenty of attention, Valentine broke his leg and needed surgery to insert a metal rod during the summer before his senior year at Crenshaw High School, the same school that later produced Darryl Strawberry. The injury limited him to playing only First Base. Despite the setback, the Montreal Expos drafted Valentine in the Second Round with the 29th overall pick of the 1972 MLB Draft. He was selected one round before Montreal selected another high schooler from California, Gary Carter.
It did not take long for Valentine to reach Montreal. He debuted for the Expos on September 3, 1975 at just 21 years old. His talents led to a successful 10 season career with four different teams: Montreal Expos (1975-1981), New York Mets (1981-1982), California Angels (1983), and Texas Rangers (1985). Valentine played in 894 career Games, scored 380 Runs, collected 881 Hits, 169 Doubles, 15 Triples, 123 Home Runs, 474 RBI, 59 Stolen Bases, 180 Walks, 462 Strikeouts, posted a .278 BA, .315 OBP, .458 SLG, .773 OPS, and 113 OPS+. He was the lone Expos All Star in 1977.
The best season of Valentine’s career came with the 1978 Expos. He played in 151 Games, scored 75 Runs, collected 165 Hits, 35 Doubles, 2 Triples, 25 Home Runs, 76 RBI, 13 Stolen Bases, 35 Walks, 88 Strikeouts, posted a .289 BA, .330 OBP, .489 SLG, .820 OPS, and 129 OPS+. Valentine set career highs in Games Played, Runs scored, Hits, Doubles, Walks, Strikeouts, and Total Bases. He also tied his career high in Home Runs. On defense, Valentine won his only Gold Glove.
Despite having the best season of his career, Valentine created controversy. In addition to hitting the first Home Run at Olympic Stadium, he was also the first Expo to be suspended. On September 19 against the Phillies, Valentine led off the Bottom of the 4th inning. He drove a ball to left-center. Valentine watched as the ball bounced off the top of the wall and stayed in play. He took off, hustling into Second Base while the fans booed. As Dick Ruthven settled in to face the next batter, Tony Perez, he wheeled around and threw to Second, starting a rundown. Valentine was eventually tagged out. Showered by jeers while leaving the field, Valentine shrugged his shoulders. He repeated the act in a mock curtain call. Expos Manager Dick Williams pulled Valentine from the game, suspended him for the next game, and fined him $500.
The highs and lows of Valentine’s career continued. In May 1980, his cheek was shattered by a pitch to the face. The trauma was more than physical. How could it not? You are not human if a bone breaking baseball to the face does not give you pause as you step into the batter’s box. Beyond the physical toll of playing baseball on Montreal’s hard turf, Valentine’s alcohol and drug use took a toll on his career.
Eventually Valentine needed a fresh start and was traded to the Mets for Dan Norman and Jeff Reardon in May 1981. His stay in Queens lasted a season and a half before he was granted free agency. Valentine signed with the California Angels for the 1983 season. Injuries plagued Valentine, allowing him to play only two Minor League games in 1984. He was released after the season. He played 11 games with the Texas Rangers in 1985 before calling it a career.
Ellis Valentine fought his demons and won in retirement, getting sober in 1986. A victory far greater than any he could ever achieve on the diamond. Valentine has worked as a drug and alcohol counselor, helping others fight their addictions. In 1991, Ellis Valentine appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot. He received a single vote, 0.2%, far below the necessary 5% to remain on the ballot. Ellis Valentine had plenty of talent, but the grind of baseball, injuries, and addiction took their toll on his career. He found sobriety off the diamond after contributing to the game.
DJ
Back to School
Baseball is more than MLB. There is high level baseball played in leagues not currently locked out. Over the weekend I went to a college game and it was just as exciting as MLB, honestly maybe more so. The University of Cincinnati Bearcats hosted the Northwestern University Wildcats. This was a NCAA Division 1 matchup between the American Athletic Conference and the Big Ten Conference. Due to impending bad weather Sunday the teams played a Doubleheader on Friday and another on Saturday. We caught the second game of the Saturday Doubleheader. My brother in law, my oldest daughter, and I sat as far down the Left Field line as we could. No one needs to take a foul ball off the dome, especially a toddler.
Admittedly I knew little about either team before the game, so I did a little research. The University of Cincinnati has had 50 players drafted and seven make it to the Majors. The most successful alumni is Kevin Youkilis and his 32.4 career WAR. The recent other notable alumni for the Bearcats are Josh Harrison and Ian Happ. Northwestern has had 133 Wildcats drafted and 29 reached the Majors. The highest profile alumni is current Phillies manager Joe Girardi. Other former Wildcat players include J.A. Happ and Mark Loretta. Undoubtedly there are other great players who for various reasons never reached or achieved success in the Majors.
One of the biggest complaints about MLB is the cost of attending a game. Tickets, parking, food, and drinks can quickly run over $100. It would have taken quite an effort to reach the $100 plateau at this game. Tickets were $5 for the adults and free for my daughter. Parking was also $5, even this could have been reduced if we found street parking and walked to the field. There was no sticker shock at the concession stand either. Two beers, two hot dogs, and popcorn for less than $25. The food was solid, some of the best hot dogs I have had at a ballpark in a while.
The game itself was great. It was close early before Cincinnati pulled away thanks to a three Home Run game from JP Sponseller. The Bearcats cruised to a 16-5 victory. There were plenty of opportunities to cheer, which my daughter was more than happy to do for both teams. The game’s outcome did not matter to me. It was about spending time at the ballpark with my brother in law and daughter. We watched and talked baseball while she colored, ate hot dogs, and walked up and down the aisle. She liked looking down at the Cincinnati bullpen and cheering when something happened. Three hours of entertainment for everyone. I was in my happy place.
One of the great things about watching college baseball is not being blasted with advertisements or unnecessarily noise. One of the biggest takeaways from the 30 in 30 roadtrip is how MLB never allows fans to simply enjoy the pause between innings. There is always something in your face or ears. Yes there was a race between a cow and a hot dog, the hot dog won, but this felt like the entertainment from Minor League Baseball, not the overstimulation at a Major League game.
It was great going to the game just the three of us. Ultimately going to the ballpark is about watching the game and spending time with your friends and family. The game itself is secondary to the time you set aside to ignore the real world, relax in the sun, and watch a children’s game. I will take my daughter back to many more college baseball games. There is nothing better than some quality time together with baseball.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Ohio
In 1869 the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team, many have since followed. Ohio is the birthplace of professional baseball. The Buckeye State has produced 1,082 MLB players. The greatest pitcher born in Ohio is Cy Young. His 165.72 career WAR is the highest among state and territory pitching leaders. No pitcher will likely ever surpass his career WAR. The best position player born in the Buckeye State is Mike Schmidt. His 106.86 career WAR is the 12th highest among position player leaders. Combined Ohio’s 272.58 WAR is the 2nd highest in the United States of Baseball.
Greatness is defined in many ways. Cy Young had the rare combination of longevity to create unbreakable records and the skill to be among the best during his career. The Gilmore native pitched 22 seasons with five teams: Cleveland Spiders (1890-1898), St. Louis Perfectos/ Cardinals (1899-1900), Boston Americans/ Red Sox (1901-1908), Cleveland Naps (1909-1911), and Boston Rustlers (1911). Young appeared in 906 career Games, made 815 Starts, Finished 84 Games, threw 749 Complete Games, including 76 Shutouts, 7,356 Innings Pitched, allowed 7,092 Hits, 3,167 Runs, 2,147 Earned Runs, 138 Home Runs, 1,217 Walks, 2,803 Strikeouts, posted a 511-315 record, 2.63 ERA, 1.130 WHIP, 138 ERA+, with 29,565 Batters Faced. He recorded five 30 Win seasons, six seasons with an ERA below 2.00, 17 seasons with 30 Complete Games and nine seasons with 40 Complete Games. Young led the league in Shutouts seven times, pitched 400 innings five times and 300 innings 16 times. He had six seasons with a WHIP below 1.000 and 20 seasons with an ERA+ over 100. He remains the all time leader in Wins, Losses, Games Started, Complete Games, Innings Pitched, Hits allowed, Earned Runs, and Batters Faced. He is fourth in Shutouts.
Cy Young signed his first professional contract at 23 years old. He debuted with the Cleveland Spiders on August 6, 1890. Young arrived in the Majors earlier than planned as National League teams called up minor leaguers to fill the void left by those jumping to the Players League. He won the National League ERA title in 1892 and the first American League ERA Title in 1901. The blazing fastball Young enjoyed early in his career eventually gave way to breaking pitches. He threw the first of three No Hitters on September 19, 1897 against the Cincinnati Reds. Young’s time in Cleveland was cut short because Frank and Stanley Robinson owned both the Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Perfectos. The now prohibited practice of owning multiple franchises enabled the Robinson’s to move the best players to St. Louis, leaving Cleveland a glorified sandlot team. After the 1900 season, Young jumped to the new American League. He won the first game in the history of the Boston Americans, who later became the Red Sox. Young spent his offseasons as the pitching coach at Harvard. His success in Boston included the first Perfect Game in the Junior Circuit’s history on May 5, 1904 against Rube Waddell and the Philadelphia Athletics. The Perfecto was part of 24 consecutive perfect innings and 45 scoreless innings. Young continued pitching until 1911 when age and innings finally caught up with the 44 year old hurler.
In retirement, Young managed the Cleveland Green Sox of the Federal League in 1913 before returning to his farm to live a quiet life. Young was elected in the first Hall of Fame class in 1937 with 76.1% of the vote. The Cy Young Award, honoring the best pitcher in baseball, was introduced a year after his death in 1955.
The best season of Cy Young’s Hall of Fame career came with the 1901 Boston Americans. He appeared in 43 Games, made 41 Starts, Finished 2 Games, threw 38 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, 371.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 324 Hits, 112 Runs, 67 Earned Runs, 6 Home Runs, 158 Strikeouts, 37 Walks, posted a 33-10 record, 1.62 ERA, 0.972 WHIP, and 219 ERA+. Young led the American League in Wins, ERA, Shutouts, Strikeouts, WHIP, and ERA+. He won the Pitching Triple Crown in the Junior Circuit’s inaugural season. Young also set a career high in ERA+.
Young pitched in the Temple Cup and later the World Series. He appeared in the Fall Classic twice, in 1892 and 1903, winning with the 1903 Boston Americans. He pitched in 7 World Series Games, made 6 Starts, Finished 1 Game, threw 6 Complete Games, including 1 Shutout, 61 Innings Pitched, allowed 57 Hits, 24 Runs, 16 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 26 Strikeouts, 7 Walks, posted a 2-3 record, 2.36 ERA, and 1.049 WHIP. In Starting Game 1 of the 1903 World Series, Young threw the first pitch of the modern World Series.
Cy Young’s longevity was helped by his ability to avoid injury. Mike Schmidt on the other hand began his career with two bad knees, yet still produced one of the great careers in baseball history. Schmidt was selected by the Phillies in the 2nd Round of the 1971 MLB Draft out of Ohio University. The Dayton native played 18 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1989). He played in 2,404 Games, collected 2,234 Hits, 408 Doubles, 59 Triples, 548 Home Runs, 1,595 RBI, scored 1,506 Runs, 174 Stolen Bases, 1,507 Walks, 1,883 Strikeouts, with a .267 BA, .380 OBP, .527 SLG, .908 OPS, and 148 OPS+. He was a 12 time All Star, six time Silver Slugger, and three time National League MVP.
Schmidt was consistently great. He scored 100 Runs seven times, hit 25 Doubles 11 times, slugged 40 Home Runs three times and 30 Home Runs 13 times. He led the National League in Home Runs eight times and led baseball in Home Runs during the 1980’s. Schmidt had 100 RBI nine times, leading the Senior Circuit four times. He learned patience at the plate to Walk 100 times seven times, but still led the National League in Strikeouts four times. He topped the league in OBP three times. Schmidt led the league five times in SLG, with 13 seasons over .500. Twice his OPS was over 1.000 and 15 times had an OPS+ above 100.
The end of a Hall of Fame career is rarely joyful. Schmidt knew it was time after misplaying an easy ground ball. He was the active leader in Home Runs, RBI, Total Bases, Intentional Walks, and Strikeouts when he retired on May 29, 1989. Schmidt hit the seventh most Home Runs, he is now 16th. He took the fourth fewest At Bats to reach 500 Home Runs, behind only Babe Ruth, Harmon Killebrew, and Mickey Mantle. Schmidt remains 39th in RBI, 18th in Walks, 14th in Strikeouts, and 35th in Extra Base Hits. A career of consistency.
Schmidt had the glove at the Hot Corner to go with his bat. He played 2,212 Games, 18,948 Innings, had 6,949 Chances, made 1,591 Putouts, 5,045 Assists, committed 313 Errors, turned 450 Double Plays, .955 FLD% against .949 lgFLD%, 8 Rtot, 3.15 RF/9 against 2.87 lgRF/9, and 3.00 RF/G against 2.86 lgRF/G. Schmidt earned 18.4 dWAR and won 10 Gold Gloves. He played the sixth most Games at Third Base, is fourth in Assists, 30th in Putouts, and fifth in Double Plays turned. He made great plays on the rock hard astroturf at Veterans Stadium.
Schmidt worked as a broadcaster in 1989 and 1990. However, it was clear to Schmidt and others that he was not a good fit. His group failed in their attempt to be the original owners of the Florida Marlins. Schmidt was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1995 with 96.5% of the vote. The then fifth highest vote total ever. The long running tension with Phillies fans thawed after Schmidt thanked them in his Hall of Fame speech. A satisfying end to the career of one of the greatest Third Basemen in baseball history.
The best season of Mike Schmidt’s career was 1980. He played in 150 Games, collected 157 Hits, 25 Doubles, 8 Triples, 48 Home Runs, 121 RBI, scored 104 Runs, 12 Stolen Bases, 89 Walks, 119 Strikeouts, with a .286 BA, .380 OBP, .624 SLG, 1.004 OPS, and 171 OPS+. He led the National League in Home Runs, RBI, SLG, OPS, and OPS+. Schmidt set career highs in Home Runs, RBI, and Total Bases. His 48 Home Runs broke Eddie Mathews’ single season Home Run record for Third Basemen. Schmidt was an All Star, won a Gold Glove, the Silver Slugger, and the National League MVP. His success continued in October.
Schmidt helped Philadelphia become a winning team and find success in October. During Schmidt’s career, the Phillies played in the Postseason six times. They reached the World Series twice, winning in 1980. Schmidt played in 36 Postseason Games, collected 33 Hits, 9 Doubles, 4 Home Runs, 16 RBI, scored 19 Runs, 1 Stolen Base, 15 Walks, 27 Strikeouts, with a .236 BA, .304 OBP, .386 SLG, and .690 OPS. The 1980 World Series was the pinnacle of Schmidt’s career. He played in all 6 Games, collected 8 Hits, 1 Double, 2 Home Runs, 7 RBI, scored 6 Runs, 4 Walks, 3 Strikeouts, with a .381 BA, .462 OBP, .714 SLG, and 1.176 OPS. He added the World Series MVP to his Regular Season MVP.
Ohio continues to produce MLB quality players. Thus far, 19 Ohioians have been enshrined in Cooperstown. The 19 Hall of Famers are: Walter Alston (Manager), Roger Bresnahan, Ray Brown, Ed Delahanty, Buck Ewing, Rollie Fingers, Elmer Flick, Jesse Haines, Miller Huggins (Manager), Ban Johnson (Executive), Kennesaw Mountain Landis (Commissioner), Barry Larkin, Rube Marquard, Phil Niekro, Branch Rickey (Executive), Mike Schmidt, George Sisler, Sol White (Executive), and Cy Young. The Buckeye State should reach 20 in the near future. Next week the United States of Baseball heads west to the Sooner State. Oklahoma is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- New Mexico
New Mexico’s baseball legacy is centered on amatuer and minor league baseball more than the Majors. The Connie Mack World Series has been held yearly in Farmington since 1965. The Albuquerque Isotopes are the Colorado Rockies Triple-A team. The Roswell Invaders and Santa Fe Fuego of the independent Pecos League also call the Land of Enchantment home. New Mexico has sent 31 native sons to the Majors. The greatest pitcher born in New Mexico is Duane Ward. His 10.15 career WAR ranks 53rd among state and territory leaders, the lowest for any state leader. The best position player from the Land of Enchantment is Ralph Kiner. His 47.93 career WAR ranks 38th highest among position player leaders. Combined, New Mexico’s WAR is 58.08, ranking the state 48th highest in the United States of Baseball.
Baseball can be cruel. One moment you are at the top of the game and the next it is all over. Duane Ward was born in Park View, New Mexico. The Right Hander was drafted 9th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 1982 MLB Draft out of Farmington High School. Ward pitched for nine seasons with two teams: Atlanta Braves (1986) and Toronto Blue Jays (1986-1993, 1995). After a handful of appearances with the Braves, Ward was traded to the Blue Jays for Doyle Alexander. Atlanta later traded Alexander for a minor leaguer named John Smoltz. In 462 career Games, Ward made 2 Starts, Finished 272 Games, recorded 121 Saves, 666.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 551 Hits, 268 Runs, 243 Earned Runs, 32 Home Runs, 286 Walks, 679 Strikeouts, posted a 32-37 record, 3.28 ERA, 1.256 WHIP, and 124 ERA+. He was an All Star and twice won the World Series with Toronto.
The best season of Ward’s career was with the 1993 Blue Jays. He appeared in 71 Games, Finished 70 Games, recorded 45 Saves, 71.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 49 Hits, 17 Runs, 17 Earned Runs, 4 Home Runs, 25 Walks, 97 Strikeouts, posted a 2-3 record, 2.13 ERA, 1.033 WHIP, and 204 ERA+. Ward was selected to his only All Star team. He led the American League in Games Finished and Saves. His 45 Saves remain a Blue Jays record. Ward’s success in the Bullpen saw him finish 22nd in MVP voting and fifth for the Cy Young Award. In the Postseason, he recorded Saves in Games 1 and 4 of the World Series. He was also the winning pitcher in Game 6 after Joe Carter’s series clinching walk off Home Run. Ward did not record another Save after 1993 as biceps tendinitis forced his early retirement.
Ward peaked at the same time as the Blue Jays. He pitched in the Postseason four times, across six series including two World Series. Ward pitched in 19 Postseason Games, Finished 11 Games, with 5 Saves, 24.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 24 Hits, 14 Runs, 13 Earned Runs, 3 Home Runs, 10 Walks, 34 Strikeouts, posted a 4-1 record, 4.74 ERA, and 1.378 WHIP. He was his best in the Fall Classic, appeared in 8 World Series Games, Finished 5 Games, with 2 Saves, 8.0 Innings Pitched, allowed 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 1 Earned Run, 1 Home Run, 1 Walk, 13 Strikeouts, posted a 3-0 record, 1.13 ERA, and 0.625 WHIP. Ward slammed the door as the Blue Jays won back to back World Series in 1992 and 1993. He reached baseball’s highest peak only for his body to revolt.
Ralph Kiner was a baseball lifer. He played 10 seasons with three teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1946-1953), Chicago Cubs (1953-1954), and Cleveland Indians (1955). Back problems forced him to retire at 32 years old. However the Santa Rita native never left the game. He became the General Manager of the Pacific Coast League’s San Diego Padres, then a Cleveland Indians minor league team. Kiner soon found himself behind a microphone as an announcer because there was no budget to hire one. He had found his second act. In 1961, the White Sox and General Manager Hank Greenberg hired Kiner to call games on the South Side of Chicago. A year later, Kiner left for the expansion New York Mets. He remained in Queens until a stroke forced his retirement in 2013.
Kiner left New Mexico for Alhambra, California when he was four years old after his father died. Working his way through the Pirates Minor League system, Kiner’s career was interrupted by World War II. He was drafted into the Navy in 1943, flying anti-submarine missions over the Pacific. Returning to baseball after the war, Kiner put together a terrific career. In 1,472 career Games, he collected 1,451 Hits, 216 Doubles, 39 Triples, 369 Home Runs, 1,015 RBI, 971 Runs, 22 Stolen Bases, 1,011 Walks, 740 Strikeouts, .279 BA, .398 OBP, .548 SLG, .946 OPS, and 149 OPS+. Kiner was a slightly below average Left Fielder, but his bat made up for his glove.
As a rookie, Kiner led the National League in Home Runs, 23, and Strikeouts, 109. He never struck out 100 times again. Kiner’s 23 Home Runs tied the Pirates single season record, set by Johnny Rizzo in 1938. Playing home games at Forbes Field was daunting, the notoriously large park allowed few Home Runs. In 1947, Hank Greenberg joined the Pirates. The beginning of a lifelong friendship between Greenberg and Kiner paid immediate dividends as the veteran mentored the young slugger. Pittsburgh brought in the fences to make Forbes Field friendlier to Greenberg. The shorter porch, now a normal depth, was dubbed Greenberg Garden. The new dimensions also helped Kiner. He led the Senior Circuit in Home Runs in each of his first seven seasons, 1946-1952. Kiner posted six straight seasons with 100 Walks. He scored 100 Runs in six of seven seasons and slugged 35 Home Runs in seven consecutive seasons. He was a six time All Star and the first Pirate to hit three Home Runs in a game. Kiner is the only National League player to hit 50 Home Runs in a season twice before the schedule was expanded to 162 games. Despite his prowess at the plate, Pittsburgh had just one winning season with Kiner.
The lack of success led Pittsburgh to hire Branch Rickey in hopes of rejuvenating the franchise. Despite success in St. Louis and Brooklyn, Rickey could not turn around the Pirates. He eventually traded Kiner. Some felt the slugger’s growing salary was a scapegoat for the team’s lack of success. Rickey questioned Kiner’s salary, “We can finish last without you”. Kiner was traded to the Chicago Cubs, who after a season and a half sold him to Cleveland and their General Manager Hank Greenberg. Kiner never played in the World Series, toiling away on bad teams. When he retired, Kiner’s 369 Home Runs were the sixth most. He hit a Home Run every 14.11 At Bats, which remains the sixth highest ever. In 1975, Ralph Kiner was elected to the Hall of Fame in his final year of eligibility. He received 273 votes, 75.4%, just one more than required for induction.
The best season of Kiner’s career came with the 1949 Pirates. He played in 152 Games, collected 170 Hits, 19 Doubles, 5 Triples, 54 Home Runs, 127 RBI, 116 Runs scored, 6 Stolen Bases, 117 Walks, 61 Strikeouts, .310 BA, .432 OBP, .658 SLG, 1.089 OPS, and 186 OPS+. Kiner led the National League in Home Runs, RBI, Walks, SLG, OPS, and OPS+. He set career highs in Home Runs, Stolen Bases, SLG, OPS, and OPS+. Kiner tied his career high in RBI. Pirate fans renamed Greenberg Gardens to Kiner’s Korner as he finished just two Home Runs shy of Hack Wilson’s National League record 56 Home Runs. Kiner was an All Star and finished fourth for the MVP. Despite his brilliance, the Pirates finished 12 games under .500. Good players can play on bad teams, sometimes for an entire career.
The Baseball Hall of Fame has only one member born in New Mexico. Ralph Kiner was elected to Cooperstown by the slimmest of margins, but he made it. Next week the United States of Baseball visits the Empire State and the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. New York is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- New Hampshire
Live Free or Die. The official state motto of New Hampshire accurately describes the best players from the Granite State. The trials and tribulations players endure to play professional baseball are numerous but the reward is worth the struggle. New Hampshire has sent 54 players to the Major Leagues. The best pitcher born in the Granite State is Chris Carpenter. His 35.24 career WAR is the 41st highest among pitching state and territory leaders. The best position player from New Hampshire is Arlie Latham. His 30.51 career WAR is the 47th highest among position player leaders. Collectively, New Hampshire’s WAR is 65.75, ranking the state 45th in the United States of Baseball.
Chris Carpenter’s persistence enabled him to pitch in the Majors. He endured multiple surgeries to his elbow, shoulder, and the removal of a rib to continue pitching. The Right Hander was born in Exeter and highly touted coming out of high school. Carpenter signed with Creighton University before the Toronto Blue Jays selected him 15th overall pick in the 1993 MLB Draft. He was the first New Hampshirite drafted in the first round.
Despite numerous injuries, Carpenter pitched 15 seasons in the Majors with the Toronto Blues Jays (1997-2002) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004-2012). He struggled with Toronto, posting a 49-50 record and 4.83 ERA. He never became a critical part of the Blue Jays rotation like the team hoped. Eventually, Toronto sent Carpenter back to the Minors, but he refused and was given his release. The Cardinals quickly swooped in. Despite missing all of 2003 due to injury, St. Louis still believed in Carpenter. He went 95-44 with a 3.76 ERA with the Cardinals. Carpenter won the 2004 and 2009 Comeback Player of the Year awards. He was a three time All Star, won the 2009 National League ERA Title, and the 2005 National League Cy Young Award. Carpenter was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2016. In his career, Carpenter pitched in 350 Games, made 332 Starts, threw 33 Complete Games, including 15 Shutouts, in 2,219.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,205 Hits, 1,021 Runs, 927 Earned Runs, 220 Home Runs, 627 Walks, 1,697 Strikeouts, posted a 144-94 record, 3.76 ERA, 1.276 WHIP, and 116 ERA+. He appeared on the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.5% of the vote.
The best season of Chris Carpenter’s career was with the 2005 Cardinals. He made 33 Starts, threw 7 Complete Games, including 4 Shutouts, in 241.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 204 Hits, 82 Runs, 76 Earned Runs, 18 Home Runs, 51 Walks, 213 Strikeouts, posted a 21-5 record, 2.83 ERA, 1.055 WHIP, and 150 ERA+. Carpenter went 16 consecutive starts without a loss, going 13-0 with a 1.36 ERA from June 14 to September 8. He led the National League in Complete Games, was a first time All Star, finished 8th for the MVP, and won the Cy Young award.
The Cardinals are usually in the hunt for the Postseason. Carpenter pitched in October five times for St. Louis. He pitched in 11 Postseason Series: 5 National League Divisional Series, 4 National League Championship Series, and 2 World Series. He made 18 Starts, threw 1 Complete Game Shutout, in 108 Innings Pitched, allowed 104 Hits, 43 Runs, 36 Earned Runs, 36 Walks, 68 Strikeouts, posted a 10-4 record, 3.00 ERA, and 1.296 WHIP. Carpenter helped the Cardinals win the 2006 and 2011 World Series. He started Game 7 of the 2011 World Series on three days rest, pitching 6 strong innings. Carpenter was successful with the Cardinals despite years of injuries. Imagine if his body had not rebelled.
Baseball attracts characters of all types. Few equaled Arlie Latham in the early days of baseball. The West Lebanon native was nicknamed The Freshest Man on Earth and one of the early Clown Princes of Baseball. Latham began his career as a catcher, but quickly transitioned to the hot corner after taking a beating behind the plate. He played 17 seasons with six teams: Buffalo Bisons (1880), St. Louis Browns (1883-1889, 1896), Chicago Pirates (Players League) (1890), Cincinnati Reds (1890-1895), Washington Senators (1899), and New York Giants (1909). Latham played in the Minors between stints in the Majors before becoming a coach. His return to the diamond in 1909 was more comedic relief than competition. However, he did steal a base, making him the oldest thief ever at 49 years old. In 1,629 career Games, Latham collected 1,836 Hits, 245 Doubles, 85 Triples, 27 Home Runs, 563 RBI, scored 1,481 Runs, 742 Stolen Bases, 589 Walks, 305 Strikeouts, .269 BA, .334 OBP, .341 SLG, .676 OPS, and 92 OPS+. Defensively, Latham was a slightly above average Third Baseman. His long career also enabled him to become the all time leader in Errors at Third Base. Latham’s 822 Errors are over 200 more than second place. He committed the 12th most Errors by any player in Major League history. When the Hall of Fame opened in 1936, Latham was on the Veterans Committee ballot. He received 1.3% of the vote.
The best season of Latham’s career was with the 1887 St. Louis Browns. He played in 136 Games, collected 198 Hits, 35 Doubles, 10 Triples, 2 Home Runs, 83 RBI, 163 Runs scored, 129 Stolen Bases, 45 Walks, 29 Strikeouts, .316 BA, .366 OBP, .413 SLG, .779 OPS, and 108 OPS+. He led the American Association in Plate Appearances, 677, and At Bats, 627. Latham led the Browns to the World Series, losing to the Detroit Wolverines 10 games to 5.
The Postseason during Latham’s career was an end of the season exhibition to put a few more dollars in the pockets of teams and players. Exhibition or not, Latham continued playing well, helping the Browns reach four consecutive World Series from 1885 to 1888. Latham collected 38 Hits, 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 8 RBI, 31 Runs scored, 28 Stolen Bases, 19 Walks, 12 Strikeouts, .266 BA, .352 OBP, .308 SLG, and .660 OPS. The Browns winning the 1886 World Series helped Latham financially through the offseason.
After retiring Latham continued working in baseball. He was one of the first permanent base coaches, working Third Base for the New York Giants. Along with coaching, Latham also tried to distract opposing pitchers. He yelled and ran down the baseline while the pitcher was in the middle of his wind up. His antics led to the coach’s box and a rule requiring coaches be in, or near, the box. Beyond coaching, Latham spread baseball to Great Britain. He lived in England for 17 years, teaching the game and serving as the Administrator (Commissioner) of Baseball. Arlie Latham lived one of the most unique lives in baseball.
New Hampshire has not sent many players to the Major Leagues, but the Granite State does have a native son in Cooperstown. Manager Frank Selee won five pennants (1891-1893, 1897-1898) with the Boston Beaneaters and more than 1,200 games with Boston and the Chicago Cubs. Next week the United States of Baseball sails down the coast to the Garden State. New Jersey is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Nevada
Las Vegas is high on the list of cities for future MLB expansion. How does Nevada, a state of vast openness and underrated natural beauty, fit within the United States of Baseball? The Silver State has sent 49 players to the Majors. The greatest pitcher born in Nevada is Barry Zito. His 33.05 career WAR ranks 43rd highest among state and territory leaders. The greatest position player from the Silver State is Bryce Harper. His 40.10 career WAR is the 41st highest and climbing. Nevada has a combined 73.15 WAR, giving the Silver State the 43rd highest WAR for any state or territory.
Barry Zito was born in Las Vegas and raised in San Diego. He trained with former Cy Young winner Randy Jones throughout high school. The Lefthander was drafted 9th overall by the Athletics out of the University of Southern California in the 1999 MLB Draft. Zito spent just one season in the Minors, moving from Single A to Double A to Triple A. He pitched for 15 seasons in the Majors with two teams: Oakland Athletics (2000-2006, 2015) and San Francisco Giants (2007-2013). Zito pitched in 433 career Games, made 421 Starts, threw 12 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, 2,576.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,381 Hits, 1,254 Runs, 1,157 Earned Runs, 282 Home Runs, 1,064 Walks, 1,885 Strikeouts, posted a 165-143 record, 4.04 ERA, 1.337 WHIP, and 105 ERA+.
A once promising career never quite lived up to its potential. In Oakland, Zito was part of the big three in the Athletics rotation with Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. The trio led the Athletics to three Division titles and a Wild Card berth from 2000 to 2004. Zito finished sixth for the 2000 American League Rookie of the Year Award. He was a three time All Star and won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award. He dominated on the mound, pitching at least 210 innings in six consecutive seasons and posting nine consecutive seasons with at least 10 Wins. Zito was also durable, making at least 33 Starts in 10 consecutive seasons.
After the 2006 season, Zito moved across the Bay. He signed the then largest free agent contract ever for a pitcher, 7 years and $126 million with the San Francisco Giants. The move coincided with the downturn of his career. In 7 seasons with the Giants, Zito went 63-80 with a 4.62 ERA. His struggles and paycheck made him an easy target for criticism. Zito was left off the 2010 Postseason roster due to his ineffectiveness in the Regular Season, but rebounded to help win the Fall Classic in 2010. Despite his struggles on the mound, Zito spent much of his free time doing charity work and was the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award nominee for the Giants. Zito received 0.2% of the vote on the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot, falling off in his first year of eligibility.
Unquestionably the best season of Zito’s career was with the 2002 Athletics. In 35 Starts, he threw 1 Complete Game, 229.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 182 Hits, 79 Runs, 70 Earned Runs, 24 Home Runs, 78 Walks, 182 Strikeouts, posted a 23-5 record, 2.75 ERA, 1.134 WHIP, and 175 ERA+. He led the American League in Starts and Wins. Zito held opposing batters to a .185 Batting Average with Runners In Scoring Position. He was a first time All Star, finished 13th for the MVP, and won the American League Cy Young Award.
Zito found success in October with the Athletics. As a Rookie, he shut down the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2000 American League Divisional Series in his Postseason debut. Zito baffled the Yankees, as Oakland defeated Roger Clemens 11-1 at Yankee Stadium. In his Postseason career, Zito made 10 Starts, 60.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 50 Hits, 19 Runs, 19 Earned Runs, 7 Home Runs, 23 Walks, 46 Strikeouts, posted a 6-3 record, 2.83 ERA, and 1.210 WHIP. While his career was not perfect, Zito often delivered when needed.
Few players were hyped as much as Bryce Harper. The Las Vegas native was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16 years old. Harper left high school after his sophomore year. He received his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada so he could begin his professional career sooner. In his lone season of college baseball, Harper played in 66 Games, hit 31 Home Runs, 98 RBI, with a .443 BA, .526 OBP, and .987 SLG. He won the Golden Spikes Award as the best amatuer player in the country. Harper was drafted 1st overall by the Nationals in the 2010 MLB Draft. While undergoing an eye exam in the Minors, the Optometrist was baffled. Eyesight this bad should have made it nearly impossible for Harper to hit a baseball. Vision corrected, his march towards Washington continued.
Time will tell how Harper’s career plays out. He appears headed for Cooperstown. Harper has played 10 seasons with two teams: Washington Nationals (2012-2018) and Philadelphia Phillies (2019-2021). In 1,283 career Games, Harper has collected 1,273 Hits, 270 Doubles, 22 Triples, 267 Home Runs, 752 RBI, scored 850 Runs, 111 Stolen Bases, 833 Walks, 1,189 Strikeouts, .279 BA, .392 OBP, .524 SLG, .916 OPS, and 142 OPS+. He reached the Majors at just 19 years old and showed the hype was real. He was also the first teenager to steal home since 1964. Harper was named a 2012 All Star, becoming the third youngest All Star ever, after Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller, and the youngest position player. He capped the season by winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Harper’s accomplishments are not confined to his rookie season. He has twice won the Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Awards. Harper was the 2015 and 2021 National League MVP. He won the 2018 Home Run Derby and is a six time All Star. His free agency was the biggest story in baseball ahead of the 2019 season. The Nationals were unable to re-sign their former number one pick. Instead, he signed with the rival Phillies for 13 years and $330 million, the then largest contract ever. There is no opt out clause, Harper is committed to Philadelphia for the long haul.
The best season of Harper’s career could be ahead of him. He is the reigning National League MVP, but 2021 was not his best. His greatest season was 2015, his first MVP season. In 153 Games with the Nationals, Harper collected 172 Hits, 38 Doubles, 1 Triple, 42 Home Runs, 99 RBI, scored 118 Runs, 6 Stolen Bases, 124 Walks, 131 Strikeouts, .330 BA, .460 OBP, .649 SLG, 1.109 OPS, and 198 OPS+. He led the National League in Home Runs, Runs scored, OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+. He was elected to his third All Star game and won his first Silver Slugger Award. Harper was the youngest unanimous MVP ever, at just 23 years old.
Baseball is a fickle sport. The best players cannot always carry their team or come to the plate with the game on the line. While Harper is a terrific talent, he has limited Postseason success. He has never advanced beyond the Divisional Series in four attempts. In 19 Games, Harper has collected 16 Hits, 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 5 Home Runs, 10 RBI, scored 12 Runs, 4 Stolen Bases, 11 Walks, 23 Strikeouts, with a .211 BA, .315 OBP, .487 SLG, and .801 OPS. After signing with the Phillies, Harper said he wanted to bring a championship to DC. He was right, the Nationals won their first World Series the season after he left. Philadelphia is hoping they will find October success while Harper is wearing a Phillies uniform.
There are currently no Hall of Famers from Nevada. Harper seems poised to change this. Only Dale Murphy and Roger Maris have won multiple MVPs and were not elected to the Hall of Fame. We shall see with Harper. Next week the United States of Baseball heads to New England and the Granite State. New Hampshire is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Montana
Anyone who has been to Montana understands the state is huge and its small population is scattered across the state. Montana baseball took a hit with Minor League Baseball’s realignment as Billings and Missoula lost their affiliation. Both teams, and others, have since formed the independent Pioneer League. Baseball continues in Big Sky Country without a direct path to the Majors. 26 native Montanans have reached the Major Leagues. The greatest Montana born pitcher is Dave McNally. His 25.54 career WAR ranks 46th highest of all state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player from Montana is John Lowenstein. His 9.96 career WAR ranks 52nd highest of all state and territory. Lowenstein has the lowest WAR for a state leader in the Lower 48. Montana has a combined WAR of 35.50. Big Sky Country ranks 52nd, the worst of any state.
Dave McNally lived his entire non-baseball life in Billings. He left his hometown to pursue baseball after signing for $80,000 with the Orioles in September 1960. The Lefthander pitched for 14 seasons with two teams: Baltimore Orioles (1962-1974) and Montreal Expos (1975). McNally pitched in 424 career Games, made 396 Starts, threw 120 Complete Games, including 33 Shutouts, Pitched 2,730 Innings, allowed 2,488 Hits, 1,070 Runs, 982 Earned Runs, 230 Home Runs, 826 Walks, 1,512 Strikeouts, posted a 184-119 record, with a 3.24 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, and 106 ERA+. He was a three time All Star and the first pitcher to earn more than $100,000 a season. McNally was one of four Orioles to win 20 games in 1971 and the first of the quartet to earn his 20th win.
McNally pitched in five ALCS and four World Series. He pitched in 14 Postseason Games, made 12 Starts, threw 6 Complete Games, including 2 Shutouts, Pitched 90.1 Innings, allowed 65 Hits, 30 Runs, 25 Earned Runs, 12 Home Runs, 34 Walks, 65 Strikeouts, posted a 7-4 record, with a 2.49 ERA, and 1.096 WHIP. McNally helped Baltimore win the Fall Classic twice, 1966 and 1970. Manager Hank Bauer started the young lefty in Games 1 and 4 during the 1966 World Series. McNally is one of two pitchers to hit a World Series Home Run, with Bob Gibson, and the only to hit a Grand Slam.
Unquestionably the best season of Dave McNally’s career was with the 1968 Orioles. He made 35 Starts, threw 18 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, Pitched 273 Innings, allowed 175 Hits, 67 Runs, 59 Earned Runs, 24 Home Runs, 55 Walks, 202 Strikeouts, posted a 22-10 record, with a 1.95 ERA, 0.842 WHIP, and 150 ERA+. He started the Year of the Pitcher 15-0, finally losing on August 3rd. McNally led the American League in WHIP and was the American League Comeback Player of the Year after an injury plagued 1967. Despite his success, McNally received no Cy Young votes and finished fifth in the MVP voting. He was great, but Denny McLain redefined baseball.
After a trade to Montreal in a bid to restart his career, McNally walked away from baseball. He never filed for retirement and was officially considered an active player. The head of the Player’s Union, Marvin Miller, successfully used McNally and Andy Messersmith to challenge baseball’s reserve clause, ushering in free agency. McNally did not return to baseball after the ruling. He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for four years, peaking at 2.8% in 1986. He was named to the Orioles All Century team and Montana’s Athlete of the Century by Sports Illustrated in 1999. Dave McNally helped grow baseball on and off the mound.
John Lowenstein despised fan clubs. His hatred for them led to the creation of the Lowenstein Apathy Club, which fans reluctantly joined without much enthusiasm. A quirky guy capable of playing all over the diamond, Lowenstein was a true utility player. He was born in Wolf Point and moved to Southern California before high school. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 18th round of the 1968 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Riverside. He played 16 seasons with three teams: Cleveland Indians (1970-1977), Texas Rangers (1978), and Baltimore Orioles (1979-1985). He was briefly a member of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays prior to the 1977 season, as he was traded to and from Canada during the offseason. Lowenstein played in 1,368 career Games, collected 881 Hits, 137 Doubles, 18 Triples, 116 Home Runs, 441 RBI, scored 510 Runs, 128 Stolen Bases, 446 Walks, 596 Strikeouts, with a .253 BA, .337 OBP, .403 SLG, .741 OPS, and 108 OPS+.
While playing in Baltimore, Lowenstein platooned with Gary Roenicke in Left Field. Despite his part time play, Lowenstein enjoyed the best season of his career in 1982. He played in 122 Games, collected 103 Hits, including 15 Doubles, 2 Triples, 24 Home Runs, 66 RBI, scored 69 Runs, 7 Stolen Bases, 54 Walks, 59 Strikeouts, with a .320 BA, .415 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.017 OPS, and 176 OPS+. The Orioles finished one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the American League East title.
Lowenstein played in two World Series, losing in 1979 and winning in 1983. In the Fall Classic, he played in 10 Games, collected 8 Hits, including 2 Doubles, 1 Home Run, 4 RBI, scored 4 Runs, 1 Walk, 6 Strikeouts, with a .308 BA, .333 OBP, .500 SLG, and .833 OPS. However, the peak of Lowenstein’s Postseason career was a 10th Inning Pinch Hit walk off three run Home Run in Game 1 of the 1979 ALCS against the California Angels. Memorial Stadium exploded into ecstasy as Lowenstein rounded the bases.
Lowenstein retired after the Orioles released him in 1985 and began working as a broadcaster. He called games for the Orioles and the NBC Game of the Week. In 1991, Lowenstein appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.2% of the vote.
There are no Montanans in Cooperstown, hopefully this changes some day. Next week the United States of Baseball heads towards the middle of the country and the Cornhusker State. Nebraska is next.
DJ
Non-Tendered
Fans get excited about free agency, especially if their team lands one of the winter’s big names. The Phillies and Bryce Harper, the Yankees and Gerrit Cole, the Mariners and Robinson Cano (which worked out well), and so on. The MLB Draft is gaining importance in the minds of baseball fans, but it is not on the same level as the NFL and NBA Drafts. Baseball’s Draft is becoming more relevant despite the delayed or non-arrivals of the top picks. Arbitration is the third avenue for teams to build. Most focus on teams maintaining the status quo, but it is the non-tendered players who can make a difference for a new team.
The Cubs decision to non-tender Kyle Schwarber, thus making him a free agent, has garnered the most attention. However, he is not the only non-tendered player. More than 50 players suddenly became free agents Wednesday. There are a variety of reasons why. Under performance, better replacement player under team control, cost. The peril of every non-tendered player is best shown by Matt Wisler and David Dahl. They are now free agents largely for things beyond their control.
The Twins non-tendering Matt Wisler took many by surprise. Wisler’s 2020 was the best season of his career. Prior to 2020 he was 19-27 and 1 Save with a 5.20 ERA and 1.395 WHIP in 389.1 innings in five seasons. In 2020, he went 0-1, with 1 Save, 1.07 ERA, and 1.145 WHIP in 25.1 innings. A career year which normally would have made him an All Star. The choice to non-tender Wisler was strange as the bullpen was a strength for Minnesota. The Twins led baseball in Save Opportunities, while posting the American League’s 6th lowest bullpen ERA. Wisler is not a lock down closer, but rather a critical bridge. A closer is useless if the team cannot hold a lead before the 9th inning. Minnesota paid Wisler $725,000 after picking him up off waivers from the Mariners last off-season. After a career year, he was looking to make $1 to $2 million in arbitration. While his history is not as a dominant reliever, the Twins would not commit themselves to a full season, hopefully, with Wisler in their bullpen. In free agency, Minnesota may have difficulty finding an equal replacement at a lower cost. Time will tell if non-tendering Wisler was the right decision.
Minnesota’s decision to non-tender Matt Wisler was puzzling, while Colorado’s decision to non-tender David Dahl was surprising but understandable. Simply, Dahl could not stay healthy. While he has developed into a solid player, injuries have prevented Dahl from reaching the potential the Rockies saw when they drafted him 10th overall in 2012. 2019 was Dahl’s breakout season, he hit .302, with 15 Home Runs and 61 RBI in 100 games and was named to his first All Star team. A leg injury derailed his season in early August. Colorado hoped Dahl would continue his success in 2020, but a throwing shoulder injury in January derailed his season before it began. No player chooses to be injured and Dahl knew 2020 was an important season for his career, so he chose to not disclose the injury to the team over growing durability concerns. He tried to play through the pain but the numbers never lie. In 24 games Dahl hit .183 with no Home Runs and 9 RBI. His OPS tumbled off the mountains overlooking Denver, falling from .877 to .470. His injury history and $2.55 to $2.6 million expected price tag in arbitration was enough for the Rockies non-tender their former first round pick.
Baseball is a hard game. The game is unfair and does not care about your past performance or potential. Big free agent signings raise the hopes for immediate team success. The Draft is hope for the future. Arbitration is judgement day for teams and players. Did the team develop the players and have players lived up to their potential. Schwarber, Wisler, and Dahl will find new teams. Not every non-tendered player returns to the Majors. Some return to the minor to finish their careers, while others move on to their next stage in life. Baseball is a cruel game, and the business of baseball only adds another layer to that cruelty.
DJ
The Winning Run 