Pitching Prowess

Back By Popular Demand - Come and See Those Amazing Baseball Stats
For some people this is Baseball Fantasy - For some people this is Baseball Memorabilia
For me it is joy and amazement. I love perusing the baseball stats.

This article was written after the 2004 Baseball Season

Walter Johnson - One of the first to enter the Hall of Fame in 1936 - From 1912 to 1915 He won 124 games.
He started 152 games and completed 131 games - Do you think the Senators had a strong bullpen? He pitched in 196 games
Walter had 10 years with an era of under 2 and a lifetime era 2.17

Pedro Martinez - Third highest lifetime winning % all time.
2653 strike outs in 2296 innings - an average of 10.39 strike outs per game
During one period - 325 innings without allowing a home run with a man on base. - 321 starts - 42 complete games

Christy Mathewson - In his initial three years he had a record of 34-37. Not what I would call a stellar performance.
His next three years - 94-34 - He discovered spinach? Lifetime era - 2.13
He pitched in a total of 11 World Series games. His era was .97 yes .97 - And had 79 career shutouts

Babe Ruth - Won 47 games in two year period of 1916-1917
Has 15th best era lifetime. - 671 winning % is 10th highest.

Sandy Koufax - Last two years- He won 53 and lost 17
When most players careers lose steam at the end he had his best years.
In a two year period he struck out 699 batters. - Greatest pitcher I ever saw.


Grover Cleveland Alexander - From 1914-1917 He pitched at least 355 innings per year. and he won 121 games
From 1915-1916 he had 28 shutouts. In his career he Completed 437 of 599 games started -
He didn’t trust many people, most of all his bullpen. I am kidding. Had six straight years of era under 2

Nolan Ryan - Won 71 games from the ages of 40 to 46
From 1972-1974 Struck out 1079 batters and had 15 seasons of 200 or more strikeouts

Randy Johnson - Six years over 300 strikeouts + three years with between 290-299 strikeouts.
First six years in the majors his won loss statistics were 56-61. From ages 29-40 190-67 record
I love this stuff.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would enjoy reading about baseball.

A Choose Up Game - One of My Best Games

The teams were picked and the line ups were announced. I was batting third. I could not wait to hit. Hitting to me was like eating for a fat man with a tape worm. I lived for the experience. I knew even before I batted that I would get a hit. I was so young and cocky! After the first two guys on my team made outs, I strolled up to the plate, as confident as Babe Ruth - pointing to center field in the 1934 World Series when he called his famous home run. Digging in and sneering at Donnie, I was determined to smack that pill. First pitch was a high and tight fastball.

I got out of the batter’s box and stared at Donnie. I was thinking fastball for his next offering. I was right. The ball came in so big. I could see the red seams on the ball. Boom! I connected on that real sweet spot on the bat. All batters love that sound. That crack that sounds so solid. Pitchers hang their heads when they hear that noise. It’s like the strike of chalk on a backboard, they hate it. The ball jumped off my bat and sailed over the left and centerfielder’s heads. It was a shot and a half. As I rounded the bases I got a glimpse of Mr. Ginsburg, the high school coach, watching me round the bases. This was Major League stuff.
A few innings later.....

Gazing at Donnie, I thought how much more determined he looked, as I went to bat for the second time. His brow was crimped and his eyes were staring. With a runner on first he was pitching from the stretch. His leg glided toward home his arm raised high, he flung the ball at me. I do not know what kind of pitch he threw. What I do know is that I hit a rocket about 15 feet over the third baseman’s head down the left field line. As the ball rolled and rolled I scampered around the bases as if I was being chased by some animal. I saw home plate in my head as I ran. And as I rounded second base I again saw Coach Ginsburg now watching the outfielders race after the ball. I hit third base with authority and sped home for my second round tripper in two at bats. My teammates congratulated me. The stands were buzzing again. I remember my friends jumping up and down with big smiles on their faces.

I felt wonderful. Two times to bat. Two home runs, against our high school star pitcher. This game was a fantasy baseball dream come true. I was Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Willie Mays all rolled in to one that day.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would enjoy reading about baseball.