Let’s jump into a little bit of MLB history with our pitcher quiz challenge. Do you have what it takes?
There’s something wonderful about the hitting pitcher in MLB history, the American League notwithstanding now, of course. The hurler who contributes by hitting is a double bonus in the lineup – no “automatic out” and the possibility of an effective offensive contribution.
One of my recent, favorite hitting pitcher moments involved Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff’s MLB debut, Aug. 21, 2015. Not only did the 25-year-old throw six shutout innings against Miami, he also drove in two runs with a single in his second professional at-bat. That is correct. He had never batted in four-plus seasons in the minors.
So, today we have some MLB history hitting pitcher challenges:
1) Who holds the all-time record for home runs as a pitcher and how many Big Flies did he hit?
2) Who had the greatest single season hitting as a pitcher, and can you come within 20 points of his batting average? When did this occur?
3) Make a good argument for the best hitting pitcher for a career – who was it, and what was his most impressive statistic?
4) After the player you named above, give the next four hitting pitchers in terms of on-base-plus-slugging while pitching (excluding pinch-hitting appearances).
MLB history hitting pitcher challenges. The Answers:
1) A tempting and intelligent guess would be Babe Ruth. However, the pitcher turned slugger is tied for only 19th on the list with 14 HRs while he pitched. Current bomber-hurler, Madison Bumgarner, has 17. The correct answer here is Wes Ferrell, with 38. Or is that 37? We have a rare disagreement between Baseball-Reference.com and Baseball-Almanc.com on this, a real oddity for a figure at the top of a database’s list. Ferrell’s top HR total in a season was nine for the 1931 Indians.
2) In 107 plate appearances at the age of 37 in 1925, Walter Johnson hit .433, the highest ever average, by the way, for anyone in MLB history with at least that many PAs. This answer is somewhat subjective, of course: Ferrell’s 1931 campaign included the nine HRs mentioned above, a .319 BA and 30 RBI. Johnson hit two HRs and drove in 20 in 1925.
3) A very solid argument here can be made for Ken Brett (George’s older brother), who posted a lifetime .772 OPS figure while pitching, and an overall .698 OPS. (He was sent up to pinch hit 27 times, but only got four hits.) He hit 10 HRs and drove in 44 in a 14-year regular season career, and compiled a .262 overall average with three seasons over .300. He homered for the Red Sox, Phillies, and Pirates. (Once again, numbers are iffy when it comes to counting for a hitting pitcher. SBNation.com credits Brett with 42 RBI. Baseball-Reference.com gives him 44.) Brett is also the youngest player to have appeared in a World Series, twice for the Red Sox in 1967 when he was 18.
4) 2nd best OPS while pitching: Sloppy Thurston (Browns, White Sox, Senators, Dodgers) – .682; 3rd: Les Sweetland (Phillies, Cubs) – .679; 4th: Jack Scott (Pirates, Red Sox, Reds, Giants, Phillies) – .673; 5th: Dontrelle Willis (Marlins, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Reds) – .665.
Next: Yankees series of unfortunate events
So, go ahead and track your favorite position players’ figures. I’m keeping my eye on hitting pitcher Vince Velasquez, who is currently hitting .400 for the Phillies.