# Obscure baseball records questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816 "2003-08-22T00:47:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/21 "2003-08-22T19:09:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > The 1965 LA Dodgers had an all switch hitting infield: Parker at 1st, Lefevre 2b, Wills short & Gilliam 3b. Doubt this was repeated. The 1988 Cincinnati infield (Pete Rose 1B, Ron Oester 2B, Barry Larkin SS, Buddy Bell 3B) were all Cincinnati natives. I don’t think that’s happened again since the early days of the game. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/22 "2003-08-22T19:47:07Z")
> [@](#): > > I’d be curious about absolutely unique records trivia. I.e., not the most/least stuff of normal records, but people who committed a feat that cannot or is almost certain never to be duplicated. I remember reading that there was only one occasion where a Center Fielder caught a foul ball. I read it on the back of a baseball card, but it was frustratingly short on details, so I always wondered what the circumstances were (unfortunately, I don’t remember the fielder–Cesar Cedeno maybe?) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/23 "2003-08-22T21:10:42Z")
I’ve always been curious about “hitting pitchers” – men with major-league pitching skills who were also good enough at bat to contribute to their team’s offense. What pitchers are deemed the best batsmen, all-time? Ignoring “conversions” like Ruth and Smokey Joe Wood wher a pitcher was turned into an outfielder to get his bat into the lineup daily, my guess would be Big Train Johnson – but have there been better? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/24 "2003-08-22T21:33:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xema \* > **Anyone know the record for: > Most pitches seen by a batter during one plate appearance > Most foul balls hit during one plate appearance** This is exactly what I was going to ask. (Probably, these will be the same record; you can only get so many balls and called strikes; the high pitch counts come with fouls.) I know it’s something I always wonder about when I see the batter fouling off seven or eight pitches on a full count. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/25 "2003-08-22T23:42:21Z")
I don’t feel like checking the stats, but I remember Cards great Bob Gibson striking fear in my young heart every time he came to bat against my team (the Pirates) in a close game during the 60s. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*I’ve always been curious about “hitting pitchers” – men with major-league pitching skills who were also good enough at bat to contribute to their team’s offense. > > What pitchers are deemed the best batsmen, all-time? Ignoring “conversions” like Ruth and Smokey Joe Wood wher a pitcher was turned into an outfielder to get his bat into the lineup daily, my guess would be Big Train Johnson – but have there been better? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/26 "2003-08-22T23:45:32Z")
I don’t recall the details, but NPR ran a thing during its Sunday show 4-8 weeks ago that named the major leaguer who held this record. It was one of those long, embellished accounts read on the air by the author, who sounded like Garrison Keillor, but I don’t think it was him. (A Garrison imitator? _Oy!_) I also recall that it was the batter’s first and _only_ at-bat in the big leagues. (I am 99.9% sure the account was not fiction.) IIRC, the number of pitches was in the _forties._ Sorry this is all so vague – I was listening to the radio while running. I don’t feel like searching right now, but hope this helps. (Suggest googling “NPR” and “baseball records”) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\*This is exactly what I was going to ask. (Probably, these will be the same record; you can only get so many balls and called strikes; the high pitch counts come with fouls.) I know it’s something I always wonder about when I see the batter fouling off seven or eight pitches on a full count. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/27 "2003-08-23T01:42:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\*What about the Fred Toney-Hippo Vaughn game? Didn’t that only have one hit? \*\* Nope. The [box score](http://espn.go.com/classic/s/quiz/6/14.html) shows two hits. An addition bit of trivia for that game: the winning run was driven in by Jim Thorpe (All-American). ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/28 "2003-08-23T03:47:35Z")
Eddie Gaedel owns a number of records of sort, all involving his only appearance at bat. Eddie was the midget owner Bill Veeck signed and had used as a pinch hitter in the first inning as a prank. Eddie only faced four pitches and his strikezone was reported to be only 1 1/2 inches. After his walk, another player immediately replaced him as a baserunner, but the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The league barred him as a player a day or two later. So Eddie had a perfect onbase percentage, probably the shortest player(3’7") ever to appear and perhaps the only player in major league history to have a fraction(1/8) as a player number. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/29 "2003-08-23T06:41:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*I’ve always been curious about “hitting pitchers” – men with major-league pitching skills who were also good enough at bat to contribute to their team’s offense. > \*\* Don Drysdale was a good hitter. Walter Alston used him occasionally as a pinch hitter. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/30 "2003-08-23T14:55:32Z")
I once saw Todd Zeile make three errors _on one play_ :eek:! I saw it live at Busch Stadium, back when Zeile played for the Cardinals. Here’s what happened: The opposing batter hit a Texas-league pop-up toward third base. Zeile casually steps under it… and drops it. Error #1. The batter, who until then had been taking a leisurely stroll toward first base, took off. Zeile throws it toward first base… and into the dugout. Error #2. The runner rounds second and is barrelling toward third when the Cards first baseman throws a perfect strike to Zeile at third base, just as the runner is sliding in. Zeile dropped the ball. Error #3. Has any other player ever made three (or more) errors on one play? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/31 "2003-08-23T15:25:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aahala \* > \*\*So Eddie had a perfect onbase percentage, probably the shortest player(3’7") ever to appear and perhaps the only player in major league history to have a fraction(1/8) as a player number. \*\* This is so unfair. Midgets barred from living their dream to be major league baseball players? Unconscionable. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/32 "2003-08-23T17:17:12Z")
So as a result of the Eddie Gaedel thing, is there a height requirement for baseball now? Or a strikezone size requirement? “Sorry son, your torso is too short for the pros”? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/33 "2003-08-23T17:20:05Z")
There is no height requirement per se. But all contracts for new players must be approved by the Commissioner’s Office and the Commissioner, if he so chooses, can declare a player ineligible. The White Sox tried to put Minnie Minoso on their roster a few years back and the Commissioner’s office refused to allow it because Minoso was in his late 60s. Minoso did bat in a minor league game this year at age 77 (or thereabouts). ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/34 "2003-08-23T18:19:35Z")
Johnny Van Dermeer-TWO consecutive no hitters. How can this be broken?-I think it was 1938- 1st was the initial nite game in Crosley Field. It has not been tied in 65 years. Notes: Carroll Hardy- only pinch hitter for Williams. Mike Lum- only ph for Aaron Leron Lee-only ph for Frank Robinson. There is a record by Joel Yougblood-played for TWO teams on same day. How could this be broken-chronologically not possoble. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/35 "2003-08-23T19:22:14Z")
> [@](#): > > There is a record by Joel Yougblood-played for TWO teams on same day. How could this be broken-chronologically not possoble. It’s possible, but not practical. In recent years I heard of a pitcher who relieved a game, was officially traded in the afternoon, and was in uniform in new team’s bullpen at their night game. He didn’t pitch, but it came close. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/36 "2003-08-23T21:22:24Z")
Splanky-really? How could it happen? Play for Yankees, the other team in second game, but then what? Mets are on road-so how could the guy get to Boston or Philly in time? Also, the paperwork at the league office takes time. I guess so, if he was traded soon enough by 2nd team, & he got to Boston or Philly soon enough. Would the league Ok it soon enough? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/37 "2003-08-23T21:27:15Z")
I’m not sure who the pitcher is that **Splanky** is thinking of, but that would only tie Joel Youngblood’s distinction, not surpass it. But now that I check Youngblood’s career, I don’t see how it happened. Maybe it was another player, **doctordoowop**? I know I heard of it, too. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/38 "2003-08-23T21:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > **There is a record by Joel Yougblood-played for TWO teams on same day. How could this be broken-chronologically not possoble.** I’m not sure how practical this is, but how 'bout a player who plays in a game that goes beyond midnight, then is traded and plays for both teams in a double header, for a total of three. Then there’s the hypothetical player who plays for both teams in a double-header in Japan, then flies back in time to play for two more teams on the U.S. mainland, for a totaol of four. Or a _real smart_ player who invents a time machine… ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/39 "2003-08-23T21:41:34Z")
Sorry, **RealityChuck,** baseball geek time: [http://www.indiejournal.com/indiejournal/columns/baseballtragedy.htm](http://www.indiejournal.com/indiejournal/columns/baseballtragedy.htm) Carl Mays pitched for the Yankees. And for the OP, try this as a bit of baseball lore. It’s from a minor league game of some note in 1952: > [@](#): > > **1952 - Minor-League Pitchers Faces 27, Strikes Out 27** > Ron Neccai of the Bristol Twins in the Class D Appalachian League not only threw a perfect game, he struck out all 27 opposing hitters to beat the Welch Miners, 7-0. According to Ken Burns’ _Baseball_, Neccai was the first professional baseball player to do this, and nobody has duplicated it since. He went out the next game and struck out 24, too. FISH ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816/40 "2003-08-23T23:29:26Z")
**Jim Paciorek** has the highest all-time batting average for a player with more that 1 at bat… in his career he went 3 for 3 [cite site](http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/paciojo01.shtml) As for pitchers that hit well… **Wes Ferrell** was one of the better ones, hitting 38 HR’s over the course of his career. He did play in the 30’s though, when batting averages were quite inflated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-records-questions/196816.md?page=3)