Portal:Baseball/Did you know/Archive/May 2006 - January 2007

August 15, 2006 to February 21, 2007

...that, as ascribed to a Major League Baseball rivalry, Subway Series, a locution derived from New York City's use of a rapid transit subway, was first used to reference the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers, which teams, between 1941 and 1956, contested eight World Series, and the matchup of which teams is the most common in Series history?
...that, although the team fielded three American League All-Stars—center fielder Ron LeFlore, left fielder Rusty Staub, and starting pitcher Mark Fidrych—and the April (designated hitter Willie Horton), May (LeFlore), and June (Fidyrch) Player of the Month award winners, the Detroit Tigers finished the 1974 Major League Baseball season having won 74 and lost 87 games and having placed fifth in the East division?
...that, of the thirteen teams comprised by the Japanese Baseball League (JBL) over its existence between 1937 and 1949, four are extant in each of the Nippon Professional Baseball's Central and Pacific Leagues, and that amongst those to have moved to the former are the Yomiuri Giants (the Tokyo Kyojin through 1948), who, having won nine JBL titles, captured twenty-one league championships and thirteen Japan Series titles between 1950 and 1977?
...that, whilst seven Major League Baseball players—Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Sandy Koufax, Walter Johnson, Lefty Grove, Lefty Gómez, and Roger Clemens—have, by at least twice leading either the American or National League in earned run average, wins, and strikeouts in a single season, achieved multiple pitching Triple Crowns, only two Saint Louis Cardinals second baseman Rogers Hornsby, pictured, and Boston Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams—have, by twice leading one league in home runs, runs batted in, and batting average in a single season, achieved multiple batting Triple Crowns?

...that, although teams representing Cuba, including twice each Almendares, Cienfuegos, and Marianao, captured seven of the twelve iterations of the Caribbean World Series played between 1949 and 1960, no Cuban team has participated in the Series since the 1961 dissolution by President Fidel Castro of professional baseball in Cuba, such that the Dominican Republic (fifteen, including nine by the Tigres del Licey) and Puerto Rico (fourteen, including five by the Cangrejeros de Santurce) each now have twice the titles earned by Cuba?
...that the Northern League, a Chicago, Illinois-based independent baseball split-season league, operates in cities in the Northern United States and Western Canada not otherwise served by Major or Minor League Baseball, and included, until 2005, when the franchise joined the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, the St. Paul Saints, a league champion four times, including in 1993, when the roster featured shortstop Rey Ordóñez, first baseman Kevin Millar, and, for one game, third baseman Minnie Minoso, who played in his sixth decade of professional baseball?

July 21 to August 14, 2006

...that Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third baseman Cal Ripken, Junior, who, over his career, grounded into 350 double plays, more than any other Major League Baseball player, participated as in infielder in 1,682 double plays, the most over a career of any American League fielder?
...that Darin Erstad of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the first overall selection in the 1995 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, is the only player to have won a Gold Glove Award at each of two different positions–first baseman (2004) and outfielder (2000 and 2002)?
...that of the 16 championship series contested between 1991 and 2005 in the Taiwanese Chinese Professional Baseball League, six have been won by the Taipei-based Brother Elephants, who nevertheless contributed no players to the Chinese Taipei national baseball team that played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic?
...that Cincinnati Reds right-handed starting pitcher Jack Billingham, having conceded just one earned run in 25.3 innings pitched across the 1972 (played against the Oakland Athletics), 1975 (Boston Red Sox) and 1976 World Series (New York Yankees), over which period he won two games and saved a third, holds the Major League Baseball career World Series earned run average record from amongst players to have pitched at least 20 World Series innings or four decisions?
...that, since its 1983 inception, the Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award has been claimed in both the American and National Leagues by just two managers—Bobby Cox (with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985 and with the Atlanta Braves in 1991, 2004, and 2005) and Tony LaRussa (with the Chicago White Sox in 1983), with the Oakland Athletics in 1988 and 1992, and with the Saint Louis Cardinals in 2002)—each of whom also holds the record for most career awards won (four)?
...that, after Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Billy Koch won the American League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award in 2002, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for a trio amongst whom was Keith Foulke, who himself won the Rolaids Award in 2003?
...that teams from colleges in the California State University System have won College World Series titles in each of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, Division II, and Division III College World Series, paced in each division, respectively, by Fullerton (1979, 1984, 1995, and 2004), Polytechnic, Pomona (1976, 1980, 1983, and 1989), and Stanislaus (1976 and 1977)?

Image:Al Spalding Baseball.jpg

...that Albert Spalding, pictured, having been a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association between 1871 and 1876 and for the Chicago White Stockings of the National League in 1877), for whom he was also manager, was the first individual to be elected by the Committee on Baseball Veterans for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame as an executive or pioneer who was also a professional player?

July 4 to July 21, 2006

...that Baseball Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings best known as the manager who led the Detroit Tigers to the 1907, 1908, and 1909 American League pennants and the concomitant World Series, was, as a shortstop with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League between 1894 and 1900, hit by a pitch 221 times and ultimately was struck 287 times, setting an as-yet unequalled record?
...that the Los Angeles Dodgers battery that comprised closer Éric Gagné and catcher Russell Martin during a June 7, 2006, game against the New York Mets was the first-ever all-French-Canadian battery to have appeared in a regular season Major League Baseball game?
...that, of the ten players to have played in the most World Series games, led by catcher Yogi Berra, who appeared in 75 World Series games, only two–second baseman Frankie Frisch (New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals) and shortstop Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)–were never on a New York Yankees roster?
...that Fred Dunlap, pictured on a baseball card, often referred to as Sure Shot, played second baseman for and managed the St. Louis Maroons in 1884, when the team, for the league's sole season, was a member of the Union Association, and, having led the league in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, total bases, and home runs, and having coached the team to a record of 94 wins against only 19 losses (21 games better than the second-place Cincinnati Outlaw Reds, contributed largely to the Union Association's folding for lack of competition, after which the Maroons joined the National League?
...that first baseman Randy Bass, who served primarily as a pinch hitter during his six Major League Baseball seasons, joined the Japanese Central League's Hanshin Tigers in 1983 and twice won the league's Triple Crown, leading the team over the Seibu Lions to its only Japan Series title in 1985, when he was named series most valuable player, and setting the league's single season batting average record the next year, hitting .389?

Image:Fred Dunlap Baseball Card.jpg

...that 92 graduates of the University of Texas at Austin have appeared on Major League Baseball active rosters, nine more than from Arizona State University and more than from any other National Collegiate Athletic Association-affiliated institution?

June 17 to July 4, 2006

...that on July 17, 1990, at Fenway Park, the Minnesota Twins recorded two triple plays in a single game, each of which was begun by third baseman Gary Gaetti?
...that knuckleball pitchers Phil and Joe Niekro combined to win 539 games over their careers, the most ever by a pair of brothers, ten more than Gaylord and Jim Perry?
...that only two players, Fred Lynn (for the Boston Red Sox in 1975) and Ichiro Suzuki (for the Seattle Mariners in 2001), have won the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Awards in the same season?
...that teams in the Japanese Central League play only three extra innings should a game remain tied after the regulation nine innings, after which a game is recorded as a draw?
...that between 1969 and 1996, teams representing Chinese Taipei, most often from Tainan, won seventeen Little League World Series titles?
...that Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson recorded an earned run average of 1.12 over the 1968 season, the best mark by any modern player, unanimously earning the Cy Young Award?

May 28, 2006 to June 17, 2006

...that Saint Louis Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis hit two grand slams in a single inning on April 23, 1999, both against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park?
...that pitcher Mike Mussina has carried two perfect games into the ninth inning, eventually allowing just one hit in each, both complete game shutouts?
...that Mike Hampton won the Silver Slugger pitcher's award, given to the best-hitting pitcher in the National League, with four different teams?
...that three-time All-Star pitcher Jim Kaat won the Gold Glove pitcher's award, given to the pitcher displaying the best defensive skill in each league, in sixteen consecutive seasons (1962-1977)?
...that the 1970 World Series, won by the Baltimore Orioles in five games, was the first-ever World Series to be played on artificial turf (at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium and featured the first-ever African American umpire in a World Series game (Emmett Ashford)?

June 6, 2005 to May 28, 2006

Johnny Vander Meer is the only pitcher to throw two consecutive no-hitters. On June 11, 1938, he no-hit the Boston Braves at Crosley Field. Four nights later, in the first night game at Ebbets Field, Vander Meer no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers.

May 27 to June 6, 2005

In the 1945 World Series, the Detroit Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–3 in the 7-game series.
On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings and lost in the 13th, 1–0.
Only four players have ever been intentionally walked with the bases loaded: Nap Lajoie, Mel Ott, Bill Nicholson, and Barry Bonds.
The only pitcher to win the Cy Young Award with a losing record was Éric Gagné in 2003, when he went 2–3 with 55 saves.
Rennie Stennett is the only player to pick up 7 hits in one nine-inning game (1975) since the 20th century began.
Tris Speaker is the only major league player to have three hitting streaks of 20 or more games in a single season (1912).
Sandy Alomar (in 1997) and Roberto Alomar (in 1998) are the only set of brothers to be named MVP in the annual All-Star Game.