Obscure sports trivia

And the world's largest bottle of National Boh. Pleasant living, indeed.

Not sure what's up with the infield cutout, though.

 

This well known pitcher had the distinction of being the first pitcher in MLB to face Jackie Robinson and earlier, in 1943, while participating in a benefit game for the Red Cross, was the last man to pitch against Babe Ruth in organized baseball.

 

I believe that's Johnny Sain, probably the greatest pitching coach in MLB history.

 

For some reason, I remember the 1945 Washington Senators hitting just one home run at Griffith Stadium, and it was an inside-the-park shot. Most of the top players were still in the war and there was a shortage of new baseballs.

According to bb-ref, they hit a total of 27 that year, seventh in the league. The White Sox hit 22.

 

Since there was sports debate this week about the American League home run record, a couple. Babe Ruth was the first American Leaguer to hit 30, 40, and 50 home runs in a single season. Who were the seconds in each category not named Ruth.

 

Second to 50 was Jimmie Fox?

 

Foxx is 50. He did in 1932…12 years after Ruth first did it.

 

Second to Ruth for 30 was Ken Williams, I think.

Second to Ruth for 40 was Lou Gehrig, I think. He had 40+ in 1927.

 

Just to clarify, I typed in two Xs but autocorrect “fixxed” it.

 

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

 

Aaron Nola just became the first pitcher since 1884 to record at least 220 strikeouts and fewer than 30 walks.

Can anyone name the last guy to do it?

 

That was Old Hoss Radbourn’s 59/60 win season and I think walks were nine balls back then, so I’ll say him.