Highlighted Year: Nap Lajoie, 1901

Second Baseman, Philadelphia Athletics

Age:  27 (Sept. 5)

1^st season with Athletics

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1901:

A Rhode Island native, Napoleon Lajoie (pronounced LAJ-way) was the son of a French-Canadian immigrant (and he thus was said to prefer the French pronunciation of his name as Lah-ZHWA). Due to his father’s early death, Lajoie had to drop out of school to go to work in a textile mill in 1885. Becoming interested in baseball, by 1894 he was playing semi-pro ball in the Woonsocket area while working part-time for an auctioneer. He later became a teamster while playing baseball on the side and became known locally as “the Slugging Cabby”. In 1896 he joined the Fall River Indians of the New England League where he played center field and batted .429 with 15 home runs before his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies for $1500. Converted to first base by the Phillies he appeared in 39 games and batted .326 with 12 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 42 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, a .330 on-base percentage, and a .543 slugging percentage. In his first full major league season in 1897 Lajoie led the NL in slugging percentage (.569) and total bases (310) while hitting .361 with 197 hits, 107 runs scored, 40 doubles, 23 triples, 9 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a .392 OBP. In 1898 he was shifted to second base where the graceful fielder excelled defensively and led the league’s second sackers with 442 putouts. He also led the NL in doubles (43) and RBIs (127) while batting .324 with 197 hits, 113 runs scored, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a .354 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. With a smooth swing that allowed him to hit to all fields with decent power while rarely striking out, Lajoie continued his development in 1899, although an injury limited him to 77 games in which he hit .378 with 19 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, a .419 OBP, and a .554 slugging percentage. In 1900 he was sidelined for five weeks as the result of a broken thumb suffered during a fight with teammate Elmer Flick. In 102 games he batted .337 with 33 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 92 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Incensed upon learning that he was being paid $400 less than teammate Ed Delahanty (despite the preseason assurances by Phillies owner John Rogers that they would be paid the same), Lajoie jumped to the American League in 1901, signing with the Athletics. While the Phillies went to court to stop the deal, Lajoie played for the A’s in 1901 while the case made its way through the court system.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 131 games

2B – 119, SS – 12, SS – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 582

At Bats – 544 [16]

Runs – 145 [1]

Hits – 232 [1]

Doubles – 48 [1]

Triples – 14 [8, tied with Socks Seybold]

Home Runs – 14 [1]

RBI – 125 [1]

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 9

Stolen Bases – 27 [16, tied with Billy Hoy]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .426 [1]

OBP - .463 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .643 [1]

Total Bases – 350 [1]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 13 [3]

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading runs scored were +25 ahead of runner-up Fielder Jones

League-leading hits were +42 ahead of runner-up John Anderson

League-leading doubles were +2 ahead of runner-up John Anderson

League-leading home runs were +2 ahead of runner-up Buck Freeman

League-leading RBIs were +11 ahead of runner-up Buck Freeman

League-leading batting average was +.086 ahead of runner-up Mike Donlin

League-leading OBP was +.051 ahead of runner-up Fielder Jones

League-leading slugging percentage was +.123 ahead of runner-up Buck Freeman

League-leading total bases were +71 ahead of runner-up Jimmy Collins

Midseason snapshot: 2B –24, 3B – 8,  HR - 5, RBI – 59, AVG – .421, OBP - .459, SLG - .624

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Washington 8/9

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

HR at home – 5

HR on road – 9

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Washington 8/9, (in 3 AB) at Washington 8/10

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Washington 7/1, at Cleveland 7/30

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding (2B)

Chances – 808

Put Outs – 395

Assists – 381

Errors – 32

DP – 60

Pct. – .960

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In their first year of existence in a new league, the Athletics went 74-62 to finish fourth in the AL, 9 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox while leading the league in hits (1409), doubles (239), RBIs (665), and total bases (1927). The A’s languished in fifth and sixth place throughout July and August until rising to fourth during an 18-10 September capped by an 11-2 finish. RHP Eddie Plank quickly became a key component in the pitching staff, while Lajoie’s outstanding hitting boosted the offense. Hampered by bad weather, they drew 206,329 fans to Columbia Park,28,608 less than the NL Phillies, who finished second in their league.

Aftermath of 1901:

Prior to the 1902 season the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Lajoie could not play in the state for any other team than the Phillies. While he played in one game for the A’s at the start of the 1902 season, A’s president and manager Connie Mack arranged for his transfer to Cleveland in order to keep him in the American League, although he was forced to sit out any games played in Philadelphia. He again won the AL batting championship (.378) while also hitting 35 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and producing 65 RBIs, a .419 OBP, and a .565 slugging percentage. The peace agreement between the NL and AL in the offseason ended any claim the Phillies had on Lajoie. To great popular demand the club began to be called the Naps in honor of its star player. He won the 1903 league batting title by batting .344. He also topped the league in slugging (.518). In addition, he produced 41 doubles, 11 triples, 7 home runs, 93 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .379 OBP. In 1904 he topped the circuit in batting (.376), OBP (.413), slugging (.546), hits (208), doubles (49), RBIs (102), and total bases (302). Lajoie, also commonly referred to as Larry, missed some games in 1904 due to being suspended after an altercation with an umpire. He would miss more games in 1905 after a spike wound in one leg led to blood poisoning from the blue dye in his sock which nearly led to amputation. His leg recovered, and limited to 65 games, he hit .329 with a .377 OBP and .418 slugging percentage. By this point Lajoie was the player/manager of the Naps, a position that would have a negative effect on his batting production over time, although in 1906 he led the AL in hits (214) and doubles (48) while batting .355 with a .392 OBP and .465 slugging percentage. His manner of hand signaling pitches to his outfielders from behind his back was easily discernible to opponents and he lacked the ability to instruct his players in aspects of the game that came easily to him (a commonality with great players who became managers). With a talented club he was unable to win the AL pennant as manager, although Cleveland was typically competitive. In 1907 he hit .301 with a .347 OBP and .395 slugging percentage and in 1908, a season in which the Naps closely contended for the pennant, he hit only .289 with a .352 OBP and .375 slugging percentage. During the 1909 season Lajoie resigned as manager as the club dropped to sixth place. Lajoie the player hit .324 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, a home run, 47 RBIs, a .378 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. He returned to top batting form in 1910, a season in which he became embroiled in controversy. Battling Detroit’s Ty Cobb for the AL batting championship late in the season, and with a new Chalmers auto to be awarded to the winner, Lajoie and the Naps played a double-header against the St. Louis Browns on the season’s last day and Lajoie trailing Cobb. St. Louis manager Jack O’Connor, not wanting Cobb to win, ordered his third baseman to play deep which allowed Lajoie to beat out seven straight bunts down the third base line for hits. He also hit a triple and one more bunt was ruled a sacrifice. Despite the effort to assist Lajoie, Cobb was awarded the batting title by the closest of margins although later research showed that Cobb was erroneously credited with two additional base hits. In 1981, following the discovery of the error, Commissioner Kuhn refused to retroactively award Lajoie the 1910 AL batting title even though the adjusted figures put him in front of Cobb, .383 to .382. Chalmers chose to award cars to both players, and although Lajoie initially resisted accepting the vehicle, his wife insisted and he received the car. In 1911 a tendon injury limited Lajoie to 90 games and he hit .365 with a .420 OBP. He stayed with Cleveland through 1914 when his average dropped to .258 due to declining eyesight. Sold to the Athletics, he played two last seasons in 1915 and ’16 as his production continued to drop. For his major league career, Lajoie batted .338 with 3243 hits that included 657 doubles, 163 triples, and 82 home runs. He scored 1504 runs and compiled 1599 RBIs, 380 stolen bases, a .380 OBP, and a .466 slugging percentage. Lajoie never appeared in the postseason. He was a minor league player/manager for a time and commissioner of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League. His record as a major league manager was 377-309. Lajoie was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. He died in 1959 at age 84.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Luis Arroyo, 1961

Pitcher, New York Yankees

Age:  34

2^nd season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’8”    Weight: 178 

Prior to 1961:

A native of Puerto Rico, Arroyo grew up in the Tallaboa section of Peñuelas and came to be nicknamed “El Zurdo de Tallaboa” (the Tallaboa Lefty) as well as “Tite”. For financial reasons he left high school in 1947 to accept a $500 bonus to pitch for Ponce of the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he would go on to have a long career. He lost both of his decisions and had a 4.19 ERA in his first winter season but improved in 1947-48 to 1-4 and a 2.46 ERA. A 1948 trip to a Florida baseball school resulted in his joining Greenville of the Class D Coastal Plain League where he posted a 9-13 record and 4.34 ERA with 170 strikeouts and 114 walks over 166 innings. Finishing the year with Greensboro of the Class C Carolina League, he compiled a 5-3 tally with a 3.04 ERA, 8 complete games, and 67 strikeouts with 39 walks over 93 innings. Back with Greensboro in 1949, Arroyo, who was nicknamed “Yo-Yo” as a play on his last name, had a fine season in which he went 21-10, including a no-hitter, with a 3.67 ERA and 228 strikeouts over 270 innings. Taken by the St. Louis Cardinals during the offseason in the minor league draft, he was assigned to the Columbus Red Birds of the Class AAA American Association in 1950. But first, he pitched as usual in Puerto Rico during the winter and posted an 11-5 tally with a 1.82 ERA. With Columbus he appeared in 33 games (8 of them starts) and had a record of 4-4 and a 4.11 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 77 walks over 116 innings. It was back to Puerto Rico in the winter, and he had a fine season with a 13-8 tally and 2.48 ERA. With Columbus and Rochester in 1951 Arroyo’s record dropped off to 3-2 in 24 appearances with a 5.63 ERA. During the winter in Puerto Rico he put together a 10-10 tally and 3.09 ERA. He missed all of 1952 and ’53 due to a sore arm that deprived him of his fastball. When he returned to action in 1954 it was with the Columbus Cardinals of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League where in 27 games (14 of them starts) he was 8-6 with a 2.49 ERA before being promoted to Houston of the Class AA Texas League where his record was 8-3 with a 2.35 ERA. He threw a no-hitter against Dallas and was now featuring a screwball, which would become his best pitch. In 1955 he made it on to the Cardinals pitching staff and got off to a fast 10-3 start that led to his being selected as an All-Star. A second-half slump left his season record at 11-8 with a 4.19 ERA, 9 complete games, and 68 strikeouts over 159 innings. Ineffective in 1956 spring training, Arroyo was sent down to Omaha of the Class AAA American Association from where he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in May. Splitting time between the Hollywood Stars of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he produced a 7-5 mark and 2.82 ERA and the Pirates, who were in need of lefthanded pitchers, he was 3-3 in 18 appearances with a 4.71 ERA. Arroyo spent all of 1957 with the Pirates and appeared in 54 games (10 starts) and compiled a 3-11 record and 4.68 ERA with 101 strikeouts over 130.2 innings. In 1958 Arroyo was back in Class AAA with the Columbus Jets of the International League where he made 61 appearances, almost exclusively in relief, and posted a 10-3 record and 4.01 ERA with 102 strikeouts over 110 innings. In the offseason he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds and spent most of 1959 with the Havana Sugar Kings of the International League where he pitched in 41 games and had an 8-9 tally with a 1.15 ERA and 94 strikeouts over 117 innings. In a brief July stint with the Reds he made 10 appearances and was 1-0 with a 3.95 ERA. After a successful winter season in Puerto Rico, Arroyo started 1960 with Jersey City (the relocated Havana club in the International League) until he was purchased by the Yankees in July. He performed well out of the bullpen during the remainder of the season, appearing in 29 games and producing a 5-1 record with 7 saves, a 2.88 ERA, and 29 strikeouts over 40.2 innings. He also got his first taste of postseason action in the World Series against Pittsburgh, facing four batters and giving up one run in his lone appearance.    

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 65 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 65 [1]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 54 [1]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 15 [6, tied with five others]

Losses – 5

PCT - .750 [3]

Saves – 29 [1]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 119

Hits – 83

Runs – 34

Earned Runs – 29

Home Runs – 5

Bases on Balls – 49

Strikeouts – 87

ERA – 2.19 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 4

League-leading games pitched were +6 ahead of runners-up Turk Lown & Tom Morgan

League-leading games finished were +11 ahead of runners-up Frank Funk & Hoyt Wilhelm

League-leading saves were +11 ahead of runner-up Hoyt Wilhelm

Midseason Snapshot: 3-3, ERA - 2.01, G – 33, SV – 18, SO - 39 in 53.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 6 (in 3 IP) vs. Boston 7/8, (in 6.2 IP) vs. Baltimore 7/30, (in 4.2 IP) at Detroit 9/17

10+ strikeout games – 0

Batting

PA – 28, AB – 25, R – 2, H – 7, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 0, SO – 4, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .280, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 18

Put Outs – 2

Assists – 15

Errors – 1

DP – 0

Pct. - .944

Postseason Pitching: G – 2 (World Series vs. Cincinnati)

GS – 0, GF – 2, CG – 0, Record – 1-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 4, H – 4, R – 2, ER – 1, HR – 0, BB – 2, SO – 3, ERA – 2.25, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

6^th in AL MVP voting (95 points – 1 first place vote, 34% share)

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The Yankees went 109-53 to win the AL pennant by 8 games over the Detroit Tigers. The pitching staff led the league in saves (39). The Yankees surged to the pennant in a season dominated by the home run race between outfielders Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. They won the World Series over the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 1.

Aftermath of 1961:

The Yankees paid Arroyo $10,000 to not play winter ball following the 1961 season and, prone to be chunky, he put on weight in the offseason. An elbow injury limited him to 27 appearances and a 1-3 tally with a 4.81 ERA and 7 saves. He saw no action in the World Series against the Giants. Convincing the Yankees that it would be to his benefit, he pitched in Puerto Rico during the winter and was effective. Appearing in only six games for the Yankees in 1963, Arroyo was sent down to Richmond of the Class AAA International League in June and went on to pitch in 35 games. In September he announced his retirement and was hired as a scout by the Yankees. For his major league career, he appeared in 244 games and produced a 40-32 record with a 3.93 ERA, 45 saves, and 336 strikeouts over 531.1 innings. With the Yankees he made 127 appearances for a 22-10 tally and 3.12 ERA with 43 saves and 142 strikeouts over 199.1 innings. In addition, he won 110 games over 19 seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Appearing in three World Series games, Arroyo went 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and 4 strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched. Arroyo was a two-time All-Star. Following his playing career, Arroyo managed in Puerto Rico in addition to his scouting duties. He died in 2016 at the age of 88. He would long be remembered as the star bullpen closer for the 1961 champion Yankees.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Al Orth, 1906

Pitcher, New York Highlanders

Age:  34 (Sept. 5)

3^rd season with Highlanders (2^nd complete)

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1906:

Born in Missouri and raised in Danville, Indiana, Orth pitched for DePauw University and then went on to play professionally for the Lynchburg Hill Climbers of the Virginia League in 1895 where he posted a 24-7 record with a 2.51 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 269 innings pitched. The Hill Climbers sold his contract to the Philadelphia Phillies for $1000. He pitched in 11 games (10 of them starts) in the remainder of the 1895 NL season with the Phillies and had an 8-1 tally and 3.89 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 88 innings. With the eighth place Phillies in 1896, his record was 15-10 with a 4.41 ERA, 19 complete games, and 23 strikeouts over 196 innings. With a deceptively easy delivery and excellent control, Orth’s pitches appeared to be slow and hittable, but his ability to change speeds managed to get hitters out with regularity. He was called “the Curveless Wonder” due to his lack of a breaking pitch and was a very good hitting pitcher who was occasionally used in the outfield between starts to keep his bat in the lineup. The Phillies remained a losing team again in 1897 and Orth’s record slipped to 14-19 and a 4.62 ERA with 64 strikeouts over 282.1 innings. The club improved to register a winning record in 1898 and Orth went 15-13 with a 3.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts with 53 walks over 250 innings. Along the way he pitched and won both games in a doubleheader against Brooklyn. In 1899 the Phillies finished in third place and Orth produced a 14-3 tally and 2.49 ERA with a mere 35 strikeouts and 19 walks across 144.2 innings. In 1900 he went 14-14 with a 3.78 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 262 innings. Orth posted a 20-12 tally in 1901 along with a 2.27 ERA and led the league by averaging 1.0 walks per nine innings with his total of 32 over 281.2 innings. He also tied for the NL lead in shutouts with 6. In the offseason he jumped to the new American League and signed with the Washington Senators. He had a disappointing season with Washington in 1902, producing a 19-18 record with a 3.97 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 324 innings pitched. He also led the league by surrendering 18 home runs, a huge number by “Dead Ball Era” standards. He still kept his walks to a minimum by averaging 1.1 bases on balls per nine innings with his total of 40. In 1903 Orth compiled a 10-22 tally and 4.34 ERA with 30 complete games and 88 strikeouts over 279.2 innings while walking 88 batters. Off to a 3-4 start in 1904, he was traded to the Highlanders in July and went a solid 11-6 the rest of the way for a combined record of 14-10 with a 3.41 ERA, 18 complete games, 70 strikeouts and 34 walks over 211.1 innings. He also learned to throw a spitball (a legal pitch at the time) and proved to be adept at using it, since it tended to break sideways rather than down. A contending team in 1904, the Highlanders dropped to sixth in 1905 but Orth, relying on his new pitch more, had a solid 18-16 tally with a 2.86 ERA, 26 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 121 strikeouts over 305.1 innings.  

1906 Season Summary

Appeared in 47 games

P – 45, RF – 1, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 45 [2]

Games Started – 39 [3]

Complete Games – 36 [1]

Wins – 27 [1]

Losses – 17 [7, tied with four others]

PCT - .614 [8]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [16, tied with five others]

Innings Pitched – 338.2 [1]

Hits – 317 [1]

Runs – 115 [8]

Earned Runs – 88 [7]

Home Runs – 2

Bases on Balls – 66 [15]

Strikeouts – 133 [9]

ERA – 2.34 [14]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 1 [1, tied with ten others]

Wild Pitches – 7 [8, tied with Jack Chesbro]

League-leading complete games were +1 ahead of runner-up George Mullin

League-leading wins were +4 ahead of runner-up Jack Chesbro

League-leading innings pitched were +5 ahead of runner-up Otto Hess

League-leading hits allowed were +2 ahead of runner-up George Mullin

Midseason Snapshot: 13-8, ERA – N/A, SO – 71 in 160.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) at Bos. Americans 9/4

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 8 IP) at Chi. White Sox 6/10

Batting

PA – 144, AB – 135, R – 12, H – 37, 2B – 2, 3B – 2, HR – 1, RBI – 17, BB – 6, SO – 8, SB – 2, CS – N/A, AVG - .274, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 122

Put Outs – 13

Assists – 101

Errors – 8

DP – 1

Pct. - .934

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The Highlanders went 90-61 to finish second in the AL, 3 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox. The Highlanders got off to a 3-0 start before going 2-8 for the remainder of April to drop into the league cellar. An 18-win May in which Orth went 6-1 pulled them into contention. Entering August at 54-34 and 1.5 games out of first, by mid-month they were locked in a tight battle with the White Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cleveland Naps, but they slumped, most notably in losing four straight games at home to the White Sox while suffering from several key defensive lapses. A 15-game winning streak carried the club into September and that 20-win month’s surge included winning three of four games in a series in Chicago which could not keep them from ultimately losing out to the White Sox.

Aftermath of 1906:

The Highlanders dropped to 70-78 in 1907 and Orth posted a 14-21 record to lead the league in losses a year after topping the circuit in wins. His ERA was a respectable 2.61 and he pitched 21 complete games with 78 strikeouts over 248.2 innings. Orth was 2-13 with a 3.42 ERA in 1908 when the Highlanders released him in August. Returning to his home in Lynchburg, Virginia he became a part-owner and player/manager for the team. He returned to the Highlanders in 1909 as a second baseman and pinch-hitter who made only one ineffectual pitching appearance. Making 40 plate appearances he batted .265 with a .359 OBP in his final major league season. For his major league career Orth compiled a 204-189 record and 3.37 ERA with 324 complete games, 31 shutouts, 6 saves, and 948 strikeouts over 3354.2 innings. He issued only 661 walks to average 1.8 per nine innings. With the Highlanders he went 72-73 with a 2.72 ERA, 102 complete games, 14 shutouts, and 402 strikeouts over 1172.2 innings. He walked 230 batters for an average of 1.8 per nine innings. The good-hitting pitcher batted .273 with 61 doubles, 30 triples, 12 home runs, 184 RBIs, and a .289 on-base percentage. Following his playing career, he was a National League umpire for several seasons and was a coach at Washington & Lee University and VMI. He also served as a YMCA athletic director for troops stationed in France during World War I. Orth died in 1948 at the age of 76.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Norman “Kid” Elberfeld, 1904

Shortstop, New York Highlanders

Age: 29 (April 13)

2^nd season with Highlanders (first complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’7”    Weight: 158 

Prior to 1904:

An Ohio native who grew up in Cincinnati, Norman Elberfeld had little formal schooling and played hockey and baseball in his youth. After playing for an independent team in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1895, he joined the Dallas Navigators of the Texas Association in 1896 until a leg injury in May prematurely ended his season. Moving on to Richmond of the Atlantic League in 1897, he batted .335 with 45 stolen bases and the National League’s Philadelphia Phillies purchased his contract. A knee injury delayed Elberfeld’s first appearance with the Phillies in 1898 until May 30. He played in only 14 games for the Phillies until being sold to the Tigers (a club in the minor Western League at the time) where he hit .238 and established his reputation for aggressive and scrappy play. With Detroit in 1899, Elberfeld batted .308 with 23 stolen bases before the Cincinnati Reds bought his contract in August. Hindered by a back injury and experiencing difficulties with his fielding, he hit .261 and was unimpressive. Returning to Detroit in 1900, which was now part of the not-yet-major American League, he excelled in the field while batting .263 with 28 stolen bases. With the American League now a major league in 1901, Elberfeld was a key component of the “most aggressive and scrappiest” club in the new circuit as he hit .308 with 21 doubles, 11 triples, 3 home runs, 76 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, a .397 OBP, and a .428 slugging percentage. He led the AL’s shortstops in putouts (332) and double plays (62). Nicknamed “Kid” because he was an undersized player who played aggressively, Elberfeld followed up in 1902 by batting .260 with a .348 on-base percentage and ranked second among AL shortstops in putouts (67) and fourth in assists (459) and double plays (63). The NL’s New York Giants raided the Detroit roster and reportedly signed Elberfeld, whose temperament and style of play appealed to Giants manager John McGraw. The 1903 peace agreement between the leagues voided the deal and Elberfeld returned to the Tigers. He got off to a good start in 1903 but slumped both at bat and defensively, running afoul of manager Ed Barrow, who suspended him for “loaferish conduct” on June 2 and dealt him to the New York Highlanders (now Yankees) a few days later. He finished strong with the Highlanders, batting .287 in 90 games with a .346 OBP, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 45 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Elberfeld got in trouble off the field by being charged with disorderly conduct for throwing a bottle (or knife) at a waiter in a hotel. A New York sportswriter dubbed him “the Tabasco Kid” for his hot temper and “peppery” style of play.

1904 Season Summary

Appeared in 122 games

SS – 122

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 512

At Bats – 445

Runs – 55

Hits – 117

Doubles – 13

Triples – 5

Home Runs – 2 [20, tied with sixteen others]

RBI – 46

Bases on Balls – 37

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 20

Stolen Bases – 18

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .263

OBP - .337 [14]

Slugging Pct. - .328

Total Bases – 146

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 13 [3]

Sac Hits – 16

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 6, HR – 2, RBI – 24, AVG - .292,. OBP - .367

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Cleveland 5/14

Longest hitting streak – 6 games

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 0

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 4 AB) vs. Cleveland 5/11, (in 3 AB) vs. Detroit 7/20

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Cleveland 5/14

Fielding

Chances – 717

Put Outs – 237

Assists – 432

Errors – 48

DP – 44

Pct. - .933

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The Highlanders went 92-59 to finish second in the AL, 1.5 games behind the pennant-winning Boston Americans while leading the league in hits (1354) and fewest batting strikeouts (552). The scrappy Highlanders contended from the start and were locked in a tight battle with the Americans and Chicago White Sox in August. By September the race was between the Highlanders and Boston, as each took turns in first place. A half-game behind following two losses in a mid-September road trip to Boston, RHP Jack Chesbro, pitching on two days’ rest, put them ahead by a half-game with a home win in the climactic series against the Americans. With the team’s co-owner having rented out Hilltop Park to Columbia University for a football game, the next game in the series was transferred to Boston, creating a double-header to make up for a June rainout. Chesbro, instructed by manager Clark Griffith to remain in New York and rest up, took the train to Boston, insisted on starting, and was rocked by the Americans in the first game of the double-header.  Boston won the darkness-shortened nightcap as well to go up by 1.5 games as the clubs returned to New York for a season-capping double-header, which the Highlanders needed to sweep to capture the pennant. With Chesbro on the mound and the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the ninth and a Boston runner on third, Chesbro uncorked a spitball that went over the catcher’s head and was scored a wild pitch, allowing the Americans to take the lead. New York was unable to score in the bottom of the ninth, giving Boston a 3-2 win and the pennant. (Later claims that Chesbro’s wayward pitch should have been ruled a passed ball on catcher Jack Kleinow, Elberfeld, who had an excellent vantage point to see the pitch from his shortstop position, was quoted as saying “that ball rode so far over Kleinow’s head that he couldn’t have caught it standing on a stepladder.”)  The Highlanders won the meaningless nightcap in 10 innings to finish 1.5 games back. Elberfeld damaged the club’s pennant chances due to missing numerous games due to injuries and suspensions for his conduct on the field.

Aftermath of 1904:

Elberfeld was adept at getting on base by being hit by pitches, all while appearing to be seeking to avoid being struck, and then berating the offending hurlers after being hit. In 1905 he batted .262 with a .329 OBP, 18 doubles, 18 stolen bases, and 53 RBIs. The Highlanders were strong pennant contenders in 1906, but Elberfeld was suspended for eight key September games following the second of two incidents involving him and umpire Silk O’Laughlin. For the year he hit .306 in 99 games with a .378 OBP. Fearless in the face of oncoming baserunners in turning double plays, Elberfeld was often spiked and began wearing a shin guard on his right leg in 1907. He also feuded with several teammates and ran afoul of owner Frank Farrell, who suspended him for several weeks in July and August due to lackadaisical play until he apologized to manager Clark Griffith. For the season he batted .271 with a .343 OBP, placed third among AL shortstops in putouts (295), and second in errors (52). Offered a $2700 contract in 1908, with a $1000 incentive bonus for staying out of trouble, Elberfeld suffered an injury that effectively ended his season on May 1. But with the forced resignation of Griffith as manager in June, “the Tabasco Kid” was named manager of the Highlanders with disastrous results. The club went 27-71 under his direction and he was replaced in 1909, although he remained as a player. Often playing at third base to reduce wear on his oft-injured legs, he hit .237 and was sold to the Washington Senators in the offseason. He lasted two seasons with Washington before being sold to Montgomery of the Southern Association in 1912. He played and managed for several more minor league seasons and proved effective at developing young talent. For his major-league career, Elberfeld batted .271 with 1235 hits that included 169 doubles, 56 triples, and 10 home runs. He scored 647 runs and compiled 535 RBIs, 213 stolen bases, 427 walks, and was hit by 165 pitches. His OBP was .355. With the Highlanders he batted .268 with 647 hits, 330 runs scored, 89 doubles, 28 triples, 4 home runs, 257 RBIs, 117 stolen bases, 182 walks, a .340 OBP, and was hit by 81 pitches. A fiery, aggressive, and temperamental player, he proved surprisingly adept at working with youths, and regularly directed baseball camps until his death at age 68 due to pneumonia in 1944. His five daughters were also very athletic and competed in various sports, forming a basketball team in Chattanooga called the “Elberfeld Sisters”. One wonders if they were as aggressive as their father.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Duke Snider, 1963

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age:  37 (Sept. 19)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 179 

Prior to 1963:

A California native, Edwin Snider was tagged with the nickname “Duke” by his father due to his self-assured manner. A fine natural athlete, he was active in football, basketball, and track, as well as baseball, at Compton High School in the Los Angeles area. Following a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he signed for $250 per month with a $750 bonus and impressed the front office as a 17-year-old in spring training in 1944 with his strong throwing arm, speed, and power hitting. The club was less impressed by his temperamental attitude. Assigned to Newport News of the Class B Piedmont League he batted .294 with 34 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 50 RBIs, a .364 on-base percentage, and .438 slugging percentage. He also accounted for 25 assists in the outfield. Following the season, Snider joined the Navy and missed the 1945 season and some of 1946. Joining the Fort Worth Cats of the Class AA Texas League in ’46, he appeared in 68 games and hit .250 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .320 OBP. Graceful in the outfield and a speedster on the basepaths, he started the 1947 season with the Dodgers, where he was united with Jackie Robinson, who he admired from his days as a star athlete in the Los Angeles area, and who he appreciated for his courage in breaking baseball’s color barrier as well. In a reserve role Snider appeared in 40 games and batted .241 with a .276 OBP before being sent down to St. Paul of the Class AAA American Association in July, having gained a reputation for moodiness and immaturity although impressive in the outfield. In 66 games with St. Paul Snider hit .316 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .584 slugging percentage. Following intensive work to improve his strike zone judgment in the spring with batting coach George Sisler, Snider started the 1948 season with the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League. He was batting .327 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .403 OBP, and a .644 slugging percentage when he was called up to the Dodgers in August. In 53 games he hit .244 with 17 extra-base hits that included 5 homers, 21 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. Named the starting center fielder in 1949, Snider struck out a league-leading 92 times while batting .292 with 28 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .361 OBP, and a .493 slugging percentage. The left-handed pull hitter found Ebbets Field’s dimensions to be most conducive. Defensively, he ranked second among NL center fielders with 11 assists and a .984 fielding percentage and third with 355 putouts. In his first taste of World Series action against the Yankees he batted only .143 in five games and struck out 8 times. Brooklyn narrowly failed to repeat as NL champ in 1950, but Snider showed improvement as he cut down on strikeouts and led the circuit in hits (199) and total bases (343) while batting .321 with 31 doubles, 10 triples, 31 home runs, 107 RBIs, a .379 OBP, and a .553 slugging percentage. Along the way he had a three-home run game against the Phillies. He remained formidable in center field, was an All-Star for the first time, and placed ninth in league MVP voting. Snider was an All-Star again in 1951 as he got off to a strong start along with the rest of the club. But he slumped during the second half and finished at .277 with 26 doubles, 29 home runs, 101 RBIs, a .344 OBP, and a .483 slugging percentage. His strikeouts also increased and the Dodgers were tied atop the NL by the surging Giants, which necessitated a playoff that the Giants won in dramatic fashion. Prematurely gray in his mid-20s, Snider was criticized by teammates for his moping and complaining and he also had an often-contentious relationship with sportswriters. Benched for a time in 1952, he surged down the stretch as the Dodgers regained the NL pennant and ended up hitting .303 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .368 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage. He eliminated 20 strikeouts from his 1951 total and continued to be a top performer in center field. In the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees, Snider hit .345 with 4 homers and 8 RBIs. 1953 was another pennant-winning season for the Dodgers and “the Duke of Flatbush” contributed by leading the NL in runs scored (132), slugging (.627), and total bases (370), while batting .336 with 38 doubles, 42 home runs, 126 RBIs, and a .419 OBP. The only criticism of his defensive play was his not charging ground balls in the outfield, causing baserunners to frequently go for an extra base on balls hit toward Snider despite his strong throwing arm. The Dodgers again fell to the Yankees in the World Series despite another strong showing by Snider at the plate where he hit .320 with a home run and 5 RBIs. His performance on the season resulted in a third-place finish in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers ended up second in 1954 and Snider tied for the NL lead in runs scored (120) and he also topped the circuit in total bases (378) while contending for the batting title at .341 along with 39 doubles, 10 triples, 40 home runs, 130 RBIs, a .423 OBP, and a .647 slugging percentage. At the end of May he added to his reputation for making outstanding defensive plays with his leaping catch of a long fly ball by Philadelphia’s third baseman Willie Jones at the Connie Mack Stadium fence to preserve a Brooklyn win in the twelfth inning. He later received a trophy from Dell Baseball Annual for the catch that was judged to be the most spectacular defensive play of the 1954 season. Snider and the Dodgers got off to a strong first half in 1955 on the way to the NL pennant and he started in center field for the NL in the All-Star Game. When his performance slowed following the All-Star break, he was booed by Brooklyn fans and blasted them in the press. Further booing became cheers again when Snider returned to form and the club went on to not only win the pennant, but for the first time ever, the World Series as well. For the season, Snider topped the league in runs scored (126) and RBIs (136) while batting .309 with 34 doubles, 42 home runs, a .418 OBP, and a .628 slugging percentage. In the World Series, won in seven games against the Yankees, he hit .320 with 4 home runs and 7 RBIs. For his overall performance he was named major league Player of the Year by The Sporting News, although he finished a close second to teammate Roy Campanella in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers won the pennant again in 1956 and Snider led the NL in home runs (43), walks drawn (99), OBP(.399), and slugging (.598) while batting .292. He was the batting star of the pennant-clinching win against Pittsburgh, to cap off the regular season. Snider placed tenth in league MVP voting and in the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees he hit .304 with one home run and 4 RBIs. The Dodgers dropped to third in 1957 but Snider hit 40 home runs (giving him 40 or more for the fifth straight season) and batted .274 with 92 RBIs, a .368 OBP, and a .587 slugging percentage. With the club’s move to Los Angeles in 1958, Snider was leaving Ebbets Field, a ballpark well suited to his talents, for the oddly contoured LA Coliseum, with a spacious right field that hampered his home run power. A knee injury suffered in a spring car accident also hampered his performance and he batted .312 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage. As a native of the Los Angeles area, Snider became popular and prominent with the club’s new fans and had his own daily radio program. The Dodgers rebounded to win the NL pennant in 1959 and Snider contributed by batting .308 with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs, a .400 OBP, and a .535 slugging percentage. In a crowded outfield situation with young talent entering the picture, Snider split time in center and right field with Don Demeter and Ron Fairly. In the World Series triumph over the Chicago White Sox, he hit .200 with a home run and two RBIs. Recurring knee trouble limited Snider to 101 games in 1960 and he batted .243 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .366 OBP, and a .519 slugging percentage. In 1961 a broken right elbow held Snider to 85 games in which he hit .296 with 16 home runs, 56 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .562 slugging percentage. Honored for his 16 seasons with the Dodgers in 1962, Snider was named team captain. He accounted for the first Dodger hit at the new Dodger Stadium, but otherwise did not contribute significantly while appearing in 80 games and connecting for only 5 home runs while hitting .278. Rumored to be on his way out in the offseason, he was sold to the Mets during spring training in 1963.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 129 games

RF – 63, LF – 35, PH – 34, CF – 11

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 415

At Bats – 354

Runs – 44

Hits – 86

Doubles – 8

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 45

Bases on Balls – 56 [14, tied with Dick Groat]

Int. BB – 9 [10, tied with Billy Williams, Bill White & Stan Musial]

Strikeouts – 74

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .243

OBP - .345 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .401

Total Bases – 142

GDP – 2

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 4 

Midseason snapshot: HR - 12, RBI - 28, AVG - .230, OBP - .349

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/3, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis 8/7

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/3

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. San Francisco 5/3, vs. Cincinnati 5/12, vs. St. Louis 6/7, at San Francisco 7/25

Pinch-hitting – 6 for 29 (.207) with 4 RBI & 5 BB

Fielding

Chances – 146

Put Outs – 139

Assists – 5

Errors – 2

DP – 0

Pct. - .986 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Mets went 51-111 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 48 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1078), fewest hits (1168), fewest doubles (156), and lowest batting average (.219). In their second season, the Mets remained a collection of aging veterans, such as Snider, and young talent. An 0-8 start sent them quickly into the cellar and while a five-game May winning streak pulled them into sixth place, they were back in tenth to stay by July 4, finishing only marginally better than in their inaugural season. They still drew 1,080,108 fans in their last season in the Polo Grounds. Snider was a nostalgic favorite with the New York fans, with many of the Met fans having previously been supporters of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Aftermath of 1963:

Having appeared in his most games since 1957, Snider requested a trade to a contending team and was dealt to the San Francisco Giants (the club that had been a perpetual rival to the Dodgers) in 1964. Utilized primarily as a pinch-hitter in his final season, he appeared in 91 games and batted .210 while adding four home runs to his career total. For his major league career, Snider batted .295 with 2116 hits that included 358 doubles, 85 triples, and 407 home runs. He scored 1259 runs and compiled 1333 RBIs, a .380 OBP, and a .540 slugging percentage. Appearing in 36 World Series games, he hit .286 with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs. An eight-time All-Star, he finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting six times. The Dodgers retired his #4 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. Following baseball, he pursued his dream of owning an avocado ranch, which he sold within a few years. He scouted and managed in the minor leagues for the Dodgers and became a broadcaster for the San Diego Padres for three years. After serving as a part-time hitting instructor for the Montreal Expos, he encountered health and legal problems and died in 2011 at age 84. Criticized during his career for his temperamental nature and for controversial comments to the effect that he only played baseball for the money, Snider was also recognized as an outstanding hitter and defensive outfielder who significantly contributed to winning teams.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include Misc. players who don’t otherwise qualify but received MVP votes or were contributors to teams that reached the postseason. 

Highlighted Year: Frank Thomas, 1962

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age:  33 (June 11)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1962:

The son of Lithuanian immigrants (the original family name was Tumas), Thomas was a native of Pittsburgh and originally studied to become a Roman Catholic priest before turning his attention to pursuing a baseball career. Signed by his hometown Pirates in 1947, the aspiring outfielder was assigned to Tallahassee of the Class D Georgia-Florida League the following year and batted .295 with 39 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 132 RBIs, a .340 on-base -percentage, and a .458 slugging percentage. He was a league All-Star and advanced to two Class B teams in 1949 and hit a combined .319 with 24 doubles, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .499 slugging percentage. Assigned to the New Orleans Pelicans of the Class AA Southern Association in 1951, Thomas was again a league All-Star as he batted .289 with 23 home runs, 85 RBIs, a .342 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage. Called up to the Pirates in August, he appeared in 39 games and hit .264 with 9 doubles, 2 home runs, and 16 RBIs. Back with New Orleans in 1952, he batted .303 with 40 doubles, 6 triples, 35 home runs, 131 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .566 slugging percentage. He received another late-season call-up to Pittsburgh which set the stage for him to stick with the club in 1953, which had a significant need for better hitting, and his ability to hit long line drives to left field with his great strength seemed to be made to order. Playing primarily in center field in ’53, Thomas hit .255 with 30 home runs, 102 RBIs, a .331 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage. He wrangled with general manager Branch Rickey for a significant raise for 1954, setting the stage for regular battles over salary with the Pirates. He accepted a contract for $12,500 and batted .298 with 32 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 94 RBIs, a .359 OBP, and a .497 slugging percentage. Along the way he was an All-Star for the first time and tied for thirteenth in league All-Star voting. Thomas held out in 1955, signed for $18,000, and went on to produce a lesser season as he hit .245 with 25 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .324 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. Shifted to third base in 1956, he struggled at the new position but batted .282 with 25 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .326 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. In 1957 Thomas split time at first and third base as well as the outfield, but while not a defensive whiz with his lack of speed and despite a strong throwing arm, his bat remained productive as he hit .290 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .335 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. Receiving a raise to $25,000 in 1958, he batted .281 with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .528 slugging percentage. He started the All-Star Game at third base for the NL, his position for most of the season. Recognized particularly for his hitting, he was part of a surge to second place by the perennially losing Pirates and he placed fourth in league MVP voting. He hit particularly well on trips to the league’s new cities in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Much coveted by other teams in trade talks, he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason as part of a six-player trade in which Pittsburgh obtained third baseman Don Hoak. Dealing with a significant hand injury in 1959, Thomas was limited to 108 games and his batting production dropped to .225 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, a .278 OBP, and a mere .380 slugging percentage. He was traded again in the offseason, this time to the Chicago Cubs where he appeared at first and third base in addition to the outfield in 1960. He batted .238 with 21 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .280 OBP, and a .399 slugging percentage. Thomas started the 1961 season with the Cubs but was traded to the Milwaukee Braves in May. He hit well for his new club and produced a .284 average for Milwaukee with 25 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .335 OBP, and a .506 slugging percentage while starting in left field. In the offseason he was dealt once again, this time to the expansion Mets.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

LF – 126, 1B – 11, PH – 11, 3B – 10

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 633

At Bats – 571

Runs – 69

Hits – 152

Doubles – 23

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 34 [6]

RBI – 94 [13]

Bases on Balls – 48

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 95 [10]

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .266

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .496 [13, tied with Eddie Mathews]

Total Bases – 283 [14]

GDP – 15 [16, tied with Ken Boyer, Bill Mazeroski & Jose Pagan]

Hit by Pitches – 8 [5, tied with Chuck Hiller & Bob Aspromonte]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 6 [10, tied with nine others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 15, RBI - 50, AVG - .297, OBP - .357, SLG – .508

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Most hits, game – 3 on nine occasions

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

HR at home – 18

HR on road – 16

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Philadelphia 8/1

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 11 (.364) with 2 RBI

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 239

Put Outs – 216

Assists – 14

Errors – 9

DP – 0

Pct. - .962 

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In their inaugural season, the Mets went 40-120 to finish tenth in the NL, 60.5 games behind the pennant-winning San Francisco Giants, while leading the league in most walks drawn (616), fewest hits (1318), and lowest batting average (.240). The “Amazing Mets”, guided by veteran manager Casey Stengel (who turned 72 during the season) and with a roster filled by veteran castoffs and young prospects, rose as high as ninth in the newly expanded league thanks to a 9-3 May spurt, but settled into the cellar on the way to setting a record-for futility, often in amazingly inept fashion. The popular and highly publicized underdogs drew 922,530 fans to the Polo Grounds, their temporary home while awaiting construction of a new ballpark in Queens.

Aftermath of 1962:

In 1963, Thomas saw less playing time due to an injured shoulder and the team’s desire to give their younger players more action. He batted .260 with 15 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .317 OBP, and a .393 slugging percentage. He fit less into the Mets’ plans in 1964 and was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies in August, who were in first place and in need of a first baseman. Thomas filled the need until a broken thumb suffered in a September game knocked him out of the lineup. He hit .294 in 39 games with the Phillies, with 7 home runs, 26 RBIs, a .311 OBP, and a .517 slugging percentage. The Phillies had expanded their lead with Thomas at first base but would end up suffering an epic collapse in the season’s final weeks to lose out in the end. The arrival of Dick Stuart by offseason trade put Thomas in a backup role with the Phillies in 1965. His time in Philadelphia came to an end due to a nasty fight with teammate Dick Allen during batting practice prior to a game against the Reds. Thomas had a penchant for making provocative comments and relentlessly needling other players and was nicknamed “the Big Donkey” as a result. Remarks made to Allen went too far and it took the effort of several teammates to pull them apart. The result of the altercation was that Thomas was dealt to the Houston Astros, who in turn sent him back to the Braves in September. His career ended with the Cubs in 1966. For his major league career, he batted .266 with 1671 hits that included 262 doubles, 31 triples, and 286 home runs. Thomas scored 792 runs and compiled 962 RBIs, a .320 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage. With the Mets he batted .262 with 311 hits, 122 runs scored, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 52 home runs, 173 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. A three-time All-Star, he never appeared in the postseason. Thomas came to be most notably remembered for the altercation with Allen despite his accomplishments on the field. His 1962 home run total with the Mets remained the franchise’s single-season record until 1975. He died in 2023 at age 93.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.