As
with all older records, we need to refrain from jawboning about how
times were different and the rules weren't the same. All players in
the eras to be mentioned lived in the same baseball atmospheres,
regardless of what leagues they played in, but only the men noted
below accomplished what they did. That accurate preview will satisfy
all rational minds.
Of
course there are many records that are likely to never be broken.
But, the pitcher is on the mound, a runner is on base and the batter
is at the plate. So, let's look at these five amazing records:
Amazing
record #5: Runs scored
The
Philadelphia Phillies once had a player score almost 200 runs in a
season. Doing so certainly helped Hall of Fame outfielder Billy
Hamilton to earn the nickname 'Sliding Billy'.
During
the 1894 season Hamilton scored 198 runs in 132 games.
The
next closest player to him on the all-time list is Boston Reds
outfielder Tom Brown, who scored 177 runs in 1891. In 1931, New York
Yankee Hall of Famer Babe Ruth scored the same amount, which tied
with Brown for second place.
Amazing
record #4: Most pitching wins in one season
In
1884, Providence Grays Hall of Fame pitcher Charles 'Old Hoss'
Radbourn went 59-12.
He did that over the course of 678 2/3 innings.
We
also must add that in the prior season, he went 48-25, which meant
that Radbourn won 107 games in two seasons.
Amazing
record #3: Errors committed
In
1892, Boston Beaneaters 'fielder' Herman Long committed 99 errors at
shortstop and 3 errors in the outfield during the course of 151
games.
He
returned in 1893 to commit another 98 errors at shortstop and 2
errors at second base.
Amazing
record #2: Complete games
Cincinnati
Reds right-handed pitcher Will White started and completed 75 games
in 1879.
He
threw 680 innings that season, had a record of 43-31 and posted a
1.99 ERA.
White
completed more than 50 games in four other seasons and more than 60
in one other season.
Amazing
record #1: Batting average
In
1894 Boston Beaneaters Hall of Fame outfielder Hugh Duffy had a .440
batting average.
In
125 games 'Sir Hugh' had 237 hits in 539 at bats. Duffy's .363
average in the prior season was the closest that he ever came to that
unbelievable mark during his 17-year career.
(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's platform in 2011. Photo via totalsportscomplex.)
As
with all older records, we need to refrain from jawboning about how
times were different and the rules weren't the same. All players in
the eras to be mentioned lived in the same baseball atmospheres,
regardless of what leagues they played in, but only the men noted
below accomplished what they did. That accurate preview will satisfy
all rational minds.
Of
course there are many records that are likely to never be broken.
But, the pitcher is on the mound, a runner is on base and the batter
is at the plate. So, let's look at these five amazing records:
Amazing
record #5: Runs scored
The
Philadelphia Phillies once had a player score almost 200 runs in a
season. Doing so certainly helped Hall of Fame outfielder Billy
Hamilton to earn the nickname 'Sliding Billy'.
During
the 1894 season Hamilton scored 198 runs in 132 games.
The
next closest player to him on the all-time list is Boston Reds
outfielder Tom Brown, who scored 177 runs in 1891. In 1931, New York
Yankee Hall of Famer Babe Ruth scored the same amount, which tied
with Brown for second place.
Amazing
record #4: Most pitching wins in one season
In
1884, Providence Grays Hall of Fame pitcher Charles 'Old Hoss'
Radbourn went 59-12.
He did that over the course of 678 2/3 innings.
We
also must add that in the prior season, he went 48-25, which meant
that Radbourn won 107 games in two seasons.
Amazing
record #3: Errors committed
In
1892, Boston Beaneaters 'fielder' Herman Long committed 99 errors at
shortstop and 3 errors in the outfield during the course of 151
games.
He
returned in 1893 to commit another 98 errors at shortstop and 2
errors at second base.
Amazing
record #2: Complete games
Cincinnati
Reds right-handed pitcher Will White started and completed 75 games
in 1879.
He
threw 680 innings that season, had a record of 43-31 and posted a
1.99 ERA.
White
completed more than 50 games in four other seasons and more than 60
in one other season.
Amazing
record #1: Batting average
In
1894 Boston Beaneaters Hall of Fame outfielder Hugh Duffy had a .440
batting average.
In
125 games 'Sir Hugh' had 237 hits in 539 at bats. Duffy's .363
average in the prior season was the closest that he ever came to that
unbelievable mark during his 17-year career.
(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's platform in 2011. Photo via totalsportscomplex.)
