Obscure sports trivia

Good guess, but nope. Radbourn had 98 walks that year.

 

Fergie Jenkins?

 

About 85 years too late.

 

Tim Keefe?

 

Nope.

Hints:

— He’s not a Hall of Famer.
— He died less than a year after pitching his last game.

 

Silver King? Aka, he’s about the only pitcher of that era I know who isn’t in the HOF. Unless, it’s Tony Mullane.

 

Charlie Ferguson? I remember reading about a young Phillies star pitcher who died in his 20s, as a lot of guys did back then.

 

Nope, nope and nope.

Last hint: He did it for the Boston Beaneaters, and I believe he’s still the Braves’ franchise leader in K/BB ratio.

 

But he came close! In 1971 he had 263 strikeouts and only 37 walks, six of which were intentional. Having 226 more strikeouts than walks in a season is remarkable. Even more remarkable is 311 more Ks than walks, which Koufax did in 1965 (382-71).

 

Seeing no more takers, the answer is Grasshopper Jim Whitney, who fanned 270 and walked 27 for the Beaneaters in 1884.

 

What team owner gave Sparky Anderson his first managing job in professional baseball?

 

Bill Veeck?