Finding Pi in hitting statistics
Just like pitching, 314, or in the case of hitters, .314, can be a significant number as well.
Over the course of MLB history, with a minimum of 100 plate appearances, 146 players have had a batting average of .314 in a season. The first to do so was Dickie Flowers, who hit .314 in 1871, the first year in MLB history. Playing for the Troy Haymakers in the National Association, he reached that mark in 109 plate appearances. He only had 17 more major league plate appearances afterwards, all coming the following year. The last players to have a batting average of Pi were Alex Pressley and Josh Reddick, both of whom hit .314 in 2017.
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Two players had a career batting average of .314 with a minimum of 1000 plate appearances – Bibb Falk and Cecil Travis. A left handed hitting outfielder, Falk played for 12 years, possessing decent pop as he hit exactly 300 doubles. Falk gained renoun as the head coach at the University of Texas, winning 20 Southwest Conference championships in his 28 year career.
Travis, an infielder, was a similar player, with solid doubles power as well. He lost three seasons of his prime due to World War Two, and losing part of his foot due to frostbite. Unable to find his balance in the batter’s box, Travis was not the same player when he returned, derailing what could have been a Hall of Fame career.
Reggie Smith is the only player in MLB history to hit exactly 314 homers over his career. He was considered more of a doubles hitter, as he led the league twice in that category, but was still a respectable power threat. Smith had eight seasons where he hit 20 or more homers, including two years where he eclipsed the 30 home run mark. In part time duty in 1981, Smith also had a .314 slugging percentage.
Finally, two players in MLB history had 314 steals – Andre Dawson and Rafael Furcal. Dawson is better remembered as a power hitting outfielder, as he had 13 seasons with 20 or more homers. However, before his knees were ruined due to the artificial turf in Montreal, he possessed incredible speed as well. Dawson stole over 20 bases in seven consecutive seasons, and reached the 30 steal mark three times. The Hall of Famer is also one of only eight players in MLB history to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases in their careers.
Furcal, on the other hand, was a known speedster. The 2000 NL Rookie of the Year, he had nine seasons of 20 or more steals, and reached the 40 stolen base plateau twice. Although he never led the league in steals, Furcal placed in the top five twice. His career was ruined by injury, as he only appeared in at least 100 games twice from 2008 through 2014.
Pi Day can be celebrated throughout MLB history as well, and not just with a shaving cream pie to the face. Although, that may be a fun way to celebrate as well.